'On Reflection'- Great Crested Grebe

The Great Crested Grebe,  not one of the rarest of Grebes these days, but arguably one of the most spectacular, especially if you can track down a courting pair in full breeding plumage engaged in their courtship rituals, the icing on the cake obviously is to witness the famous 'penguin dance' or weed dance as I know it, the pair rush together, feet frantically paddling until they are upright, chest to chest, flicking beaks full of water weed at each other.

I have only witnessed this once many years ago and very distantly, so this is high on my ' bucket list of wanted photographic opportunities '

February seems to be the best time to try and witness this courtship ritual, just a matter of finding a lake occupied by a breeding pair, not so easy.

I became aware of just such a pair on a fishing lake not too far from where I live. I arrived relatively early in the morning, parked the car and almost immediately could see a pair of Grebes swimming very closely together which looked promising, problem being the sun was directly behind them,
I needed to get to the other side of the lake so the sun was behind me.

I set off around the fishing lake, plenty of other waterfowl on the lakes, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, a single Egyptian Goose, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, and Mallard, I also came across another pair of Grebes and a single individual, five altogether.

As I approached the lake I could see the two Grebes which had now moved further into a narrow section of the lake, there were a few industrial buildings on the lakeside which were making some nice colourful reflections on the water, the Grebes were obviously happy with each other's company calling to each other occasionally, but no real sign of courtship at first.

I watched these Grebes for sometime before they began to show any ritual signs of courtship, it followed a period of prolonged fishing, the Grebes coming together after preening, no dancing for me but I did witness various courtship mirroring moves.

Even though I did not witness the 'dancing' it was very nice to watch this courting pair. I may try again later to spend some more time watching this pair as they hopefully raise the next generation.

I watched the Grebes fishing and moving through the various reflective water surfaces looking for some different shots.

I spent most of the morning watching these Grebes, mostly at a distance but every now and again swimming quite close. During this time I caught sight of a bonus bird in the form of a Kingfisher, they were particularly interested in a small storm drain which entered the lake, fishing must have been good there because they kept returning. I could only get a distance shot from my position on the other side of the lake although I did manage a sneaky shot through the branches of a lakeside tree as I walked back to my car.

A great mornings bird watching and a definite return is on the cards.

Winter Garden Summary !

I find it very difficult to pass a window without spending a few minutes watching the garden feeders, always nice to watch the regular garden visitors, and the hoped for scarcity.

But it's the usual suspects mainly, House Sparrows, a pair of Blackbirds and a few Dunnocks usally seen skulking around the garden shrubs, Starlings en-masse, at least five Collared Doves chasing each other around the garden, can't quite work out who is paired with who though, Wood Pigeons have consumed most of the Ivy berries now but always a few seen beneath the feeders. Ring Necked Parakeets fly into the Pear Tree early morning and late afternoon, particularly fond of peanuts, sunflower seeds and apples.

The briefest view of a Wren on the garden fence was the only one seen this winter.

The local Sparrowhawks seem to have moved on, none seen  for a few months now.

 A few Chaffinches seen daily, normally females and occasionally a nicely coloured male.
No Greenfinches have been seen at all this winter unfortunately, Goldfinches on the other hand are regular visitors usally to the 'Niger feeders' occasionally to the sunflower hearts.

No winter Thrushes this year, my pair of Robins still wait for an easy feed early in the morning although I still can't tempt the female to feed from my hand.

Blue Tits and Great Tits as expected, are seen daily. A nice surprise recently is the roving band of Long Tailed Tits seen in the garden, usally around the Pear tree

Long Tailed Tits

Once again a winter Warbler in the form of a male Blackcap has been seen around the garden these last few days, strangely I only seem to catch sight of these wintering Blackcaps near the end of the winter, but usally at least one turns up in the garden, attracted by an apple or two.

I have noticed some Snowdrops flowering in the garden, Crocuses and Daffodils breaking through the soil,  buds appearing on the garden shrubs, spring is on the way thank goodness.

Bohemian Waxwings at Strood !

The long wait for the Waxwings to filter down through the country to the county of Kent is finally over, they first appeared round about the middle of January with a flock of up to twenty birds being seen at Cobham woodlands. They were then reported feeding around the country park at Jeskyns where the number dwindled down to six birds.

This being one of my dog walking haunts I tried on several occasions to connect with these, but unsuccessfully I must add.

After several days absence from Jeskyns, reports of  six Waxwings frequenting the area opposite the Bounty PH. I wondered if these were the same birds.
This seems to be a favoured feeding area for Waxwings as they keep turning up here most winters.

Unfortunately for the residents of this two storey block of flats the Yellow Rowan Trees which were fully laden with berries are very attractive to the Waxwings which have been seen here over the past few winters, they soon move on when the berries have been exhausted probably to the residents relief.

My planned visit coincided with a fairly heavy snowfall during the night, fortunately the roads were easily passable and I found myself alone at the site.

 I could see just four Waxwings at the top of a nearby tree, I positioned myself near the ornamental yellow Rowan, not to close as to scare the birds off, just a matter of waiting now for them to fly down to the berries.

It wasn't long, first one bird flies down to the tree closely followed by the others. then there's some frantic feeding before they get spooked and fly back up to the safety of the taller trees.

Here's my collection of photographs, certainly not frame fillers. but a lovely bird to watch, especially as you do not see them that often.

Bohemian Waxwing  Bombycilla garrulas

 I wasn't happy with the images I had, too soft, bad light, bad photographer whatever, the weather forecast for the next day was brilliant sunshine, one more chance I thought before the berries were depleted.

As I neared the Bounty PH I was amazed to see a huge throng of cameras, scopes and people all trained on the tree with the last few remaining berries, no birds were in sight, too many people for me I settled for the images I had, maybe another chance at another venue, or maybe next year, who knows, certainly a very popular bird to see.

Stonechats at Henhurst Lake !

With a couple of hours spare I could not resist the temptation to revisit Jeskyns Country Park and look for those elusive Waxwings that reportedly are frequenting the area near Henhurst Lake, apparently not while I'm there.

I walked around the areas where the Waxwings have been seen in previous days, brilliant sunshine but freezing temperatures. My heart did start racing when I caught site of a small flock of birds flying in to the top of some trees, not Waxwings but a small flock of Redwings.

I ended up spending most of my time watching the Stonechats around the reedbeds of Henhurst Lake. I counted at least seven individuals, most were hunting through the reedbeds in pairs.

Interestingly I wondered what food sources they were finding, they were obviously attracted to the reedbeds.

I watched this female Stonechat hunting close by, she flew on to some dead vegetation and you could clearly see what she had found, a caterpillar of some sort, I wouldn't have thought that caterpillars would be around at this time of the year, especially in these freezing temperatures of late.

She flew to small grassy mound in front of me and proceeded to bash the caterpillar against the ground, I guess to kill it, so it was obviously alive.

The Stonechats seem relatively approachable allowing some nice photographic opportunities, although I could not get any flight pictures, plenty of posing.

Female Stonechat

Maybe I'll get the Waxwings on my next visit , third time lucky !

Alpha Pool !

Alpha pool, one of the Cliffe pools complex is not the easiest pool to access, but the chance to see all five species of Grebe on one pool has been tempting me since early December 1918, two Red Necked Grebes were reported back in November 2018, then a number of Black Necked Grebes up to four at one point were reported near the end of November, a Slavonian Grebe from mid December 2018, Little Grebes and Great Crested Grebes are resident birds throughout the year.

Now January, all the Grebes still in attendance, it was now or never. I parked up at the Cliffe pool RSPB car park and began the long trek down to the Alpha pool, loaded up with optical equipment I walked down past Flamingo Pool, a quick scan revealed Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shelduck, Coot, Little grebe, Lapwing,  plenty of Redwing in the Hawthorn beside the track, always wary.

Near the end of the Flamingo pool I joined the Saxon Shore Way which leads round to Higham bight on the River Thames,  I decided to ignore the Sign warning walkers that the path was closed due to erosion, not sure how long that was there or how relevant, I'd also come to far to turn around, I fought my way through the overgrown Hawthorn and bramble beside the sea wall and headed towards the gravel works, the footpath still in good order.

Back on the Saxon shore way  I approached Cliffe fort passing the old "Brennan Torpedo Launch site" looking decidingly neglected,

Brennan Torpedo Launch 

Installed in the late 19th century, the Cliffe Fort torpedo installation is one of only seven that were built in England.

I believe the original idea was to protect the upper reaches of the thames from enemy vessels.

These torpedoes were designed to be steered with trailing wires to their target

Had a range of about 1000 yards, the thames is relatively narrow here.

Never used in anger. removed in 1905

Cliffe Fort

Cliffe Fort is one of 5 surviving coastal forts in the Thames and Medway; the others are Coalhouse, Garrison Point, Hoo and Darnet. All of these are Royal Commission Coastal Forts, built in the same period 1860-70, and are casemented coastal batteries, it's a shame it cant be restored, still quite impressive.

Back on the Saxon Shore way the path was showing signs of erosion but still passable, I walked on past the old wreck of the 'Hans Egard', a large merchant ship grounded here back in the fifties, although battered daily by the Thames tides, still an impressive wreck, built in Denmark the ship had three masts in its heyday

Wreck of the ' Hans Egard '

Top end of Alpha Pool was now in view, there used to be a Boat club here in years gone by, couldn't see any signs of that now. I set up my scope as there were quite a few waterfowl close by, Tufted Duck, Pochard, unbelievably a Red Necked Grebe almost the first bird seen, and then the second Red necked grebe swam close by. The birds were quite distant and I couldn't resist trying for a photograph for that record shot.

Red-Necked Grebe

A good start, I walked on midway down the length of the pool, I was confronted with another sign warning me of the presence of  'Adders' I decided to take heed of this sign even though they would all be hibernating at this time of the year.

I set my scope up and scanned the waters, Three Black-Necked Grebes came into view, quite distant and staying in very close company to each other, could'nt find the fourth.

Black-Necked Grebes

Little Grebes were all around the pool, two Great Crested Grebes just starting to come into breeding plumage were seen. thats four species of Grebe just the Slavonian to find now.

I moved further down the pool and scanned towards the gravel workings at the far end of the pool,
more Little Grebes, the Slavonian Grebe finally surfaced among the Little Grebes where it flew a short distance before settling down on the water. To far for a photograph, with the cold wind effecting my ability to hold the binoculars still, I decided to head back.

But five species of Grebe on one pool was well worth the trek.

Jeskyns Country Park.

 Waxwings are one of those Winter visitors that cause much excitement amongst wildlife watchers, a gorgeous bird to watch and try and photograph.

They have been in the country for some time this winter, mostly up north and the midlands.
Cold weather and the depletion of berry supplies up north gradually pushes them further down south.

Finally news that they have reached Kent, with a report of at least twenty Waxwings in our local Country Park at Jeskyns had me reaching for the bins and camera and scurrying off to scour the park.

I was not alone, quite a few other enthusiasts were also searching, news that just one had been seen at daybreak and no further sightings since was discouraging, more cold weather is on the way so I'm sure they will reappear somewhere in the area.

So with no sightings of any Waxwings I consoled myself with a nice sighting of a pair of Yellowhammers, a bird I don't see very often, these were feeding in the scrub around Henhurst Lake.

Yellowhammer at Jeskyns Country Park

Friends Reunited !

My last blog page found me recapping the recent winter visitors to the garden and pear tree, I mentioned the fact that my tamed garden Robin known affectionately as my "little feathered friend" was conspicuous by his absence, the last time he fed from my hand was back in February 2018,  where once again he had managed to lure a female to his territory and looked like breeding once again in the Ivy nest box. but an inquisitive cat disturbed them, and I guess they found a new nesting site, he was not seen around the garden again, after this long absence I presumed that he may have died  or moved to a new territory.

A new Robin possibly a female, seen around the garden appears much shyer and  definitively not going to feed from my hand.

I felt quite sad really, I had built up a nice friendship with my previous Robin, dating back to March 2017, that's just under two years.

And so, as I was filling up the bird feeders in the greenhouse, I turned and came face to face with a Robin sitting on a plant bracket, about two feet from my face, surprisingly, he didn't fly off, could this be my little feathered friend, surely not,  I put  some mealworms in the palm  of my hand and tentatively reached out towards the Robin, to my surprise he flew down to my hand and took a mealworm, this was my friends reunited moment.

We now meet regularly at the greenhouse each morning, exchange a few meal worms before getting on with our daily routines.

The shyer Robin, which I'm guessing is a female and possibly a potential mate to my feathered friend watches close by in amazement, but as yet, not brave enough to feed from my hand. I usually place a few mealworms on an old feeding station and move back  a few steps, she will then fly down and feed on the mealworms

.

Time will tell if she will overcome her natural wariness.

What amazes me is the Robins obvious memory, now coming to my hand for feeding over the last twenty two months, with several periods of long absence in between.

I'm hoping they move back to the garden and breed again, we will see.