Tuesday, December 24, 2013

You don't get me I'm part of "The Union"

On the evening of Monday 11th November Tracey & I, went down to the Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth to see The Union play live, the two support bands played good sets as well.
Kodiak Jack

Tax The Heat

The Union




Hatch Pond Poole

7th November, and I was working on a site in Poole Dorset, and across the road was Hatch pond, so at lunch time I had a walk around seeing 28 species of bird, even with some work being carried out clearing the water lilies.



Red-necked & Slavonian grebes at Farmoor reservoir

6th November I had work in Redhill Surrey in the afternoon, so I left home early and headed to Farmoor reservoir for the Red-necked and Slavonian grebes. I arrived at the car park to find the gates still closed, soon after another car arrived, which had a local fisherman in, who said that the gates would be opened soon. It was a grey day with light rain, but I soon had my waterproof clothing on and headed up to view the reservoir. I walked in an anti-clockwise direction, and around a quarter of the way round I came across the Slavonian grebe close to the bank, giving great views. Walked on and as I came to the small jetty I saw the bright blue that could only be a Kingfisher. Moved on and a little further round the reservoir, found the Red-necked grebe, and like the Slavonian was close to the bank, giving great views.



2013 Year List = 187

Friday, November 1, 2013

Little Marlow GP 30th October 2013

As I was working in High Wycombe, I had a lunchtime walk around Little Marlow GP, seeing 38 species of bird, which included Red Kite, Buzzard, 7 different duck (Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard & Tufted Duck) and a Pair of Black Swans.





After the storm (St Jude's)

Monday 28th October the day after St Judes's storm, I headed of to High Wycombe for work, had to turn around once due to a fallen tree across the road near Crowthorne. I arrived at High Wycombe only to sent to Bournemouth as another Support Professional had manged to flood his engine going through a flood.
Journey down to Bournemouth was incident free, at lunchtime I drove to Mudeford Quay to do a sea watch, hoping that the storm had blown in some goodies. But as it turned out to be very disappointing, I enjoyed watching and getting close to the Starlings that were on and in the lobster pots.



Back to Boomtown

Saturday 26th October 2013, The Roundhouse, Camden, London, Tracey & I went to see "The Boomtown Rats" again in concert, and another new venue for us as well.






An afternoon at Elmley Marshes

While fault finding on the PC call in Maidstone, found the problem to be some failed memory, so not the system board. I called in and ordered some replacement memory and was given an ETA, which was late afternoon. This gave me time to make the short drive to Elmley Marshes. Turned on to the track and on the two mile journey to the car park had close views of Lapwings. Parked up at Kingshill Farm, looked at the owl box in one of the oak trees and standing in the entrance was a Barn Owl. I then started on the one mile walk to the first hide (Wellmarsh), when inside there was not alot to be seen, just a couple of Black-tailed Godwits. I could the hide (South Fleet) further round, and that there were alot of birds around and some birders in the hide as well. So of I went to join them, when inside they informed me that things should start to get better as the tide was coming in, and that would push the birds of the Swale. In my short visit as I had to return to Maidstone to install the memory and test the PC, I saw 38 species of bird, highlights being the Marsh Harriers and the female Peregrine that flew in and settled on a gate post to give herself a good preen.