Skylarks Hares and Harriers at Elmley NNR

I've joined the friends of Elmley and would urge others to do similar as there's some good work going on down there and I'm sure the extra funding would help all concerned.

Log onto http://www.elmleynaturereserve.co.uk/friends

 The following images were obtained today during a brief visit.

Hare 

Marsh Harrier 

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Pheasant

Skylark

Skylark

Nice to meet Gareth on the reserve today who's clearly committed to the project.

Notable on birdguides

Pleased to see birdguides issued a notable on my Firecrest shot from the weekend.
check out the link here......http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5595

Short-eared Owl at Elmley

A few more Owl shots from Good Friday at Elmley

SEO 

Short-eared Owl at Elmley NNR

Short-eared Owl 

What a bird!

Jack Snipe at Elmley

Jack Snipe

Jack Snipe from the entrance track at Elmley NNR

Jack Snipe at Elmley NNR

Jack Snipe

Another day in Kent

As for ticks today delivered just the one in the form of a loan Swallow in off the sea at Dunge.
As for the sea watch well lot's of Brents and Scoters flew up whist Fulmars and Gannets were present in smaller numbers but nothing else of note.

Firecrest at Dungeness Lighthouse

Firecrest

The lighthouse garden held at least twenty Firecrest and a single Chiffchaff and Black Redstart were also present here.  The bushes between the lighthouse and the Obs held plenty more with yesterday seeing over a hundred noted.

Marsh Harrier being mobbed by a Lapwing

At Elmley there was no sign of the Jack Snipe but seven Common Snipe showed well. The wind and rain made it difficult and everything was hunkered down to avoid the worst of the weather. Tomorrow is set to be worse as storm Katie hits our shores over night.

Coot chase

Snipe

Redshank

Redshank

Lapwing in the rain

Year list now at 184

Firecrests at Dungeness

A few more images from Good Friday when we found large numbers of Firecrest at Dunge.

Firecrest in the lighthouse garden feeding on the ground

Firecrest feeding in the lighthouse garden

Firecrest

Firecrest

Firecrest

Firecrest

Firecrest

Firecrest

Little jewels

Whilst taking these images I had the surprise of one landing on my camera lens really bringing home the tiny size of them. The bird took a quick look at me turned and flew back the way it had come in.

Year list moved to 183 today with a local Lesser spot.

Now that's what I call a Good Friday

7am this morning and we're walking around the lighthouse garden at Dunge with four Black Redstart already in the bag and a few Chiffchaff from the car before we start walking between the lighthouse and obs where we quickly find at least fifteen Firecrest probably a good few more. They are in good company with plenty of Goldcrest too and wow! do they give us good views.

Chiffchaff

Firecrest

Goldcrest

A Woodcock flew up and away from the power station as we approached and in the Lighthouse garden we found more Chiffchaff, at least three more Firecrest and two Continental Coal Tits along with a few more Goldcrest.

A walk along the beach delivers me a first Wheatear of the year whilst the Jims sat it out in the car taking a much needed rest. Plenty of Mipits and Skyarks about along with good numbers of Blackbird and Thrush but no Ring Ouzel was found on our visit today.

Meadow Pipit

On the reserve we found two drake Smew and a redhead along with a Great White Egret and we had great views of Mipit, Reed Bunting, Stonechat and Sprawk from the Dengemarsh track.

Reed Bunting

Leaving Dunge we detoured to take in the sites of Elmley and what a good call that was with great views of Marsh Harrier and the usual waders whilst we also located the Jack Snipe and a loan Short-eared Owl towards dusk before leaving for the relatively short drive home.  Again a magical stop at Elmley which really is buzzing at the moment.

Jack Snipe at Elmley

Short-eared Owl at Elmley

More images to follow from Good Fridays good trip to Kent.

Year list now 182

Marsh Harriers

A few more Marsh Harrier pics

Marsh Harrier 

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier 

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Visit the friends of Elmley
http://www.elmleynaturereserve.co.uk/friends

ORANGE 63 at Elmley

A morning trip to Elmley today delivered a surprise or two. Whilst parked up on the track enjoying the company of a Lapwing and a pair of Skylarks I was briefly joined by a pair of Marsh Harriers that decided to land about twenty yards from where I was parked. One bird had an Orange wing tag numbered 63.
A little research and I found that the bird was ringed in the nest at Elmley back in July 2013 where it fledged and moved later that year into Norfolk spending time at Strumpshaw Fen and Loddon and then dissapearing in January 2014 until returning to Elmley this March where it's hoped she's looking to breed and it would appear from watching today that she is partnered with a male and looking for a nest site so fingers crossed for her.

Orange 63 

Marsh Harrier

Another pair were observed from the car busily taking nest material to the reed bed so it should be a good year on the reserve for the Harriers again.

I don't pretend to know much about landscape management but I have at times questioned the management of Elmley usually when the birds don't come out to play but I have to say the place looks great and perfect for the breeding season that's about to take hold on the marsh with lot's of Lapwing, Redshank, Skylark all sorting territories today. Two Snipe were seen but if the Jack was present I missed it. Other waders included Ruff, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Curlew. I offer my congratulations to all concerned for what it's worth.

Lapwing

Ruff

Skylark

Little Egret

Hares were present in good numbers but a little distant but always entertaining.

Hares

Hare chase

Hare 

A cracking morning enjoyed from the comfort of the car and in the company of some cracking birds with the brief appearance of the Harriers being the big highlight.

CHECK OUT THE FRIENDS OF ELMLEY HERE: http://www.elmleynaturereserve.co.uk/friends