Guillemots and geese

There was a sad sight on the beach today, as Guillemots are coming ashore, oiled by the pollution from the timber ship Ice Prince, which sank off the Devon coast over a month ago. The planks of wood have also started to be washed ashore, and the bird rescue people say that they were warned that the tide conditions would have this result this weekend.
After calling the Dover rescue service (01304-205810) and being told that they were busy with oiled birds in Dover Harbour, we decided to try to catch one ourselves. Unfortunately the bird easily eluded us, skittering across the water and out to sea.
More were found, and we decided to wait for the experts to arrive - however the RSPCA staff's attempts were no more successful than ours. Only about 60% of oiled birds are likely to survive, and apparently those that are treated have a far higher chance - otherwise they would either drown or starve, so it is preferable to catch them and take them to a rehabilitation centre.

Geese were on the move today, and there were large numbers of Barnacle and White-Fronted Geese near Restharrow Scrape. A low-flying airliner put them up, but after circling a few times they returned to their grazing.

A mixed flock of Teal and Widgeon joined them in their flight.

Spoonbill in Sussex

A sunny but chilly walk along the Cuckmere river, with geese flying overhead.

Barnacle Geese, surprisingly, and there were 27 in this skein.

There was plenty of timber on the beach, washed off a ship recently, and there were signs warning people against taking it. There will be some great bonfires and barbecues here when it gets warmer.

The walk was in good company, and Paddy came too.

Looking across the pools behind the shingle bar, there was a strange bird which, on closer inspection, turned out to be a Spoonbill - only my second ever sighting (as all the visitors to the Kent coast disappear before I get there).

It is a bizarre creature, compared to the elegant Little Egret (below on the left).

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day!

May you all have somebody to scratch.

Fog, slowly clearing

No sunrise today, but a fog spreading dew overall - ferry foghorns moaning in the Channel.

Plovers (Golden Plovers and Lapwings)

The first lambs have been born, and quickly numbered by the shepherd. What will their future be, after such problems in the food production industry (sorry, farming) over the last few years?

Gradually, the fog lifted, giving a blue sky sunny lunchtime before it closed in again. The Little Owl was on its stump at 1pm.
It was (briefly) warm enough to put the top down, for the first time this year. Useful for taking photos of owls on stumps.

Gazen Salts

A short trip today to Gazen Salts nature reserve in Sandwich - a small patch of wet woodland with a few captive ducks including a Red-Crested Pochard, and the ubiquitous Mallards.

There was a light frost this morning, but spring has clearly sprung, with plenty of birdsong (although no drumming from Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers) and plant growth coming on apace, despite being only mid-February.
Catkins and pussy willow are bursting, and the daffodils in the gardens should be out soon - normally they would be expected to appear on St David's Day - March 1st. The Welsh spring has come early this year.

Rising tide

A favourite place for birdwatching in winter is Foreness in good light with a rising tide - the last of the chalk rocks are slowly covered, bringing the waders closer to the shore before they are forced to fly off to a high-tide roost.
In the lovely weather this week the rocks seem like a distant tropical archipelago (I bet Thanet hasn't been called that before).

This group - Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers and an Oystercatcher - seem to be unconcerned by the rising water.
It seems that the Purple Sandpipers are always the last to leave, as the final rock is inundated. For the record, we counted 9 (or maybe 10) in total.

Why.....?

...is that Parakeet sitting on that branch while people walk by near him? Is he displaying? He is a fine specimen, with his ring round his neck.
Ah, that's why.....he has a mate.
It's his job to look out for trouble, while she.......


....digs out the nest-hole, sawdust spraying everywhere. And he continues to sit there, because he's on a promise.