Waxwings at the Beaconsfield Services

On the morning of the 8th January I went to Hemel Hempstead for work and in the afternoon I went to High Wycombe, so on the way to High Wycombe I dropped into the Beaconsfield Services, M40 Junction 2 to look for the Waxwings. I parked up and there was a Red Kite over head, Pied Wagtail in the car park plus a Blue and a Great Tit feeding in the small trees in the car park. I then started to look for the Waxwings and I found them (20+) high in a tree to the rear of the services.

As I walked closer to the tree, most of the Waxwings flew away, leaving just 8 behind, and when I was nearly at the tree a Moorhen ran for cover.

Another view of the tree with the 8 Waxwings at the top, and the stream to the rear of the services.
On way back to the car a Robin was seen as well.

2013 Year list = 33

Beaconsfield Services M40 Junction 2

Monday 7th January, dropped into the Beaconsfield Services M40 Junction 2, on my way to Harrow from High Wycombe, hoping to see the Waxwings. No Waxwings seen, just a Red Kite over, Mistle Thrush in the mistletoe and a Blue tit feeding low down.

2013 Year list = 31

Headstone Manor, Harrow, Greater London

Friday 4th January, I was working at Kodak, and one of the pedestrian exits is opposite Victor Road which goes down to Headstone Manor and recreation ground. In the grounds of Kodak I had Feral Pigeon, Magpie, Starling and Carrion crow.

Walking down Victor road had Robin, and then I viewed the small wood and Yeading brook at the end of Victor road, adding Ring-necked parakeet, Nuthatch, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Blue tit, Blackbird, Dunnock and Collared dove.

Then onto Headstone manor to look at the birds (Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Grey Heron and House sparrow) on and around the moat.

Then out onto the recreation ground, Black-headed gull and Common gull.

A quick look and the allotments seeing Jay, Chaffinch and Goldfinch,

and finally when back at my car in the Kodak car park a Sparrowhawk drifted slowly over, heading towards Headstone manor.

2013 Year list = 29

Birding 2013 starts here

3rd January 2013 and my first chance to go birding, a lunch time walk around the Tower of London and St Katherine Docks.

First birds seen were Feral pigeon, Black-headed gull & Starling all being fed by tourists,

Starling in full song,

HMS Belfast, flying along the river Cormorant, Herring gull and Lesser Black-backed gull,

Carrion crow flew over as I was entering St Katherine Docks, on the water Mallard, Tufted duck & Coot, and in the residential area Woodpigeon, Blue tit and House sparrows near a feeder.

2013 Year list = 13

Some Urban birding down at Southampton

I had Friday 28th December off as using up my holiday before the end of the year, and Tracey had to go down to Southampton for a work meeting, so I went down as well. While Tracey was in her meeting I had a walk around, seeing Goldfinches feeding in Alders near Gate 10

On top of a warehouse was a Plastic Peregrine and close by a Herring Gull

Tugela - Valletta

Black-headed gulls and Herring gull in Mayflower Park

Oystercatchers also Mayflower Park.

(Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed gull, Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, Pied wagtail, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, Goldfinch).

Thunder - Christmas Show Fri 21st Dec 2012 Manchester Academy

Tracey and I took the day off and drove up to Manchester for the Thunder Christmas show at the Manchester Academy, stayed at the Jury's Inn hotel. Thunder and some guests put on a great show.

A walk around the Tower of London

17th December 2012, back to Aldgate for work, so at lunchtime went for a walk around the Tower of London and then St Katherine Docks.

Lots of Feral Pigeons, Black-headed Gulls and Starlings getting fed by the tourists,
Low tide, and on the shore line there was a Herring Gull,

and also a Lesser Black-backed Gull,

In St Katherine docks the Tufted ducks had gone up to 20.
(Mallard, Tufted duck, Coot, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Feral pigeon, Carrion crow, Starling, House sparrow).