January 17, 2006
Southend specialities
Today was supposed to be a break from the grey, rainy weather we've been having recently, so I decided to bird my way along the Southend seafront. My first stop was Hadleigh Castle Country Park, where I spotted 2 birds sitting in a distant treetop. First thought was Fieldfare and Redwing. Lifted bins, and 'Redwing' appeared to have no bill! Finally got scope on them, and couldn't have been more wrong - it was a male Sparrowhawk being mobbed by a Jay!
The clouds were so dark at this point I could only manage 1/8 second shutter speed - fortunately it brightened up later in the day!
Next on the agenda was the annual pilgrimage to see Rossi, the Ring-billed Gull which has wintered on the same stretch of the seafront for several years now. Sometimes, the bird is nowhere to be seen amongst the masses of gulls. Today, Rossi was the only gull present!
Since Rossi was so obliging, I had no need of the loaf I had taken as bait, which went down a treat with the local Sanderlings.
A brisk walk eastwards took me past Southend Pier, where a distant Great Northern Diver was briefly visible off the lifeboat station. I then turned my attention to a large mixed roost of Dunlins, Sanderlings and Ringed Plovers...
... amongst which was a lethargic Purple Sandpiper.
Also in the vicinity was the Snow Bunting flock I first encountered on Christmas Day.
They looked a little bedraggled after the morning rain and spent much of the time I observed them preening.
