Grey Plover

The Grey Plover is a bird that breeds in the Arctic with adults leaving here in July and August and migrating south. The birds start to arrive on our shores in July with juveniles arriving a month later. They spend the winter on the coasts of Europe, Africa, southern Asia, North and South America and Australia and are capable of flying 6,500 km non-stop.

The bird is known in America as the Black-bellied Plover due to having a stunning black belly in its breeding finery, the pictures below are of a bird in its winter plumage, so not quite as fine. These birds spend the winter months all around the coast of Britain, especially The Wash in East Anglia and will start to migrate north in May. Recently the winter population in Britain has increased with as many as 53,000 birds being present.

The bird below was present at Titchwell RSPB in Norfolk a few weeks back and was surprisingly approachable which lent itself to me being able to get these digiscoped images.

Wheatear

The first Wheatear on Autumn migration appeared at Maxey GP the other day. The bird was only present for the morning of the 19th and has obviously moved on somewhere else to continue its migration to Africa. Hopefully it will survive and return next Spring, perhaps even stopping off at Maxey as it passes through on its way to its breeding grounds!

Another Chat

Well, the same one as my previous post actually, just a closer shot!

Just lately I have had a bit of luck at Maxey GP. I found this Whinchat on Wednesday and it was still present Thursday and Friday, then I found an Avocet, then today there was a Wood Sandpiper in the morning and then 3 Ruff dropped in. Unfortunately these birds were too far away for any kind of photo, although Mike Weedon managed to get a shot of a Wood Sand this afternoon when there were 2 of these birds present.

Shore Lark

The Shore Lark is another migrant to our shores in the winter months. They normally arrive in October and November having flown through Sweden, Denmark and Germany and then crossing the North Sea, which is why they are mostly seen in East Anglia. They make the return trip in March.

In Britain they are normally found by the coast, often feeding along the strand line, or on grazing marsh, dunes or stubble fields that are close to the sea. They breed in mountains above the tree line and on Arctic tundra, although a pair nested in Britain in 1977.


The Shore Lark is also known as the Horned Lark because the male has two small `horns` on top of the crown when in breeding plumage. They are a specially protected species, ensuring full protection if there are further attempts to nest in Britain.

All digiscoped using Lumix FS15 and Kowa TSN-883 x30

And now, another short break in proceedings to announce that another award has been bestowed upon my humble blog. This is `The Stylish Blogger` award and has been given by my friend The Mask, for which I am very grateful.

Now the conditions of this award is to tell you 5 of my favourite things and then to pass it on to others, so here goes;

1. My most favourite thing is being married to Lisa (pass the bucket). I know this is corny, but it`s true.

2. My family, all members, both young and old!

3. Obviously, birds (of the feathered variety). Not just birds, but all nature, both pretty and ugly and all that lies in between.

4. The first shoots of Spring and the first frost of Autumn.

5. Having won `The Ashes` in Australia!

Now to pass it on;

1. Gary at klahanie for being truly stylish.

2. Cat at The Whimsical Gardener for taking truly awe inspiring photo`s.

3. Britta at Gardening in high heels, need I say more?

4. Rebecca at The Snee for also being stylish

and finally,

5. Raining Acorns at Raining Acorns.

There all done and dusted!