Thursday, 15 January 2026

couple of hours local birding

I'm still busy with family commitments, running around trying to keep on top of things for everybody but in between I'm stealing a little time for the hobby. An hour at KGV with the Dad and Jim on 11th saw us add a few year ticks. Two Common Scoter were easily picked up in the middle of south basin followed by a distant Black Redstart scoped along the fenceline on the west bank. I picked up a 2cy Caspian Gull close in as we got about half way to the causeway, a smart bird that pleased the Jims as it saved them a trip to Snaresbrook to twitch the wintering bird there. Jim picked up a distant Black-necked Grebe and from the causeway I found the juvenile Great northern Diver to conclude the visit. 

On the 14th I did the school run and then had an hour on the river wall at Rainham where I added Pintail and Skylark to the year list. I found a couple of Rock Pipits and three Meadow Pipits too and had a large movement of Fieldfare and the smaller numbers of Redwing passing through. The river was full of Teal and Wigeon and a good number of Lapwing and Redshank were present. A single Red Kite over and double figures of Snipe was the best of the rest.

Year list now 118

Caspian Gull is a new bird for my modest KGV (133) list and indeed the Lee Valley (169) list too. 


Fieldfare

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit and Goldfinch

Rock Pipit and Goldfinch

Rock Pipit


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