I took a stroll down to the river today to try and add a few more species to the new lists.The tide was in when I arrived. The first thing I saw was someone sculling on the river, I haven't seen one of those here for a few years now, and then while watching him disappear arround the bend of the river a bird in the water caught my eye just as it was diving. Keeping my eye on the water, up it came, a bird I have never seen in Halling before, it was a Great Crested Grebe. I seem to be going through a good spell birds at the moment. That was my 94th species for Halling. Shortly after this I heard something coming up river, some boat, or other, then as it got nearer I could see it, it was called the Amiens.R.A.S.C. out of Folkestone, I don't know what sort of cruiser it was, but it was a big bugger. It had to stay way out in the centre of the river. Anyway the couple on board saw me and waved, so not wanting to appear a miserable 'ol git'' I waved back.
I also managed to add a few more species to my Halling list, they was; Grey Wagtail(f, feeding in the garden), Chaffinch, L/T/Tit,Redwing,Moorhen, Cormorant(2), Lapwing(18), Teal(8m), Mallard(m5,f3),
Redshank(8, five of them was hitching a ride down river on a old tree branch), Fieldfare, Green Woodpecker(f), Common Gull, Kestrel.
That brings my Halling year/January total to 35.
PS. Yesterday early morning while watching from home, I saw a Fox walking about in the Lower Park..
Keep it up Ken, enjoying the daily reads.
ReplyDeletePhil and Mandy.
ReplyDeleteThanks to dropping in regularly for a read. Good birding to you 2.
Your purple patch continues Ken. Keep it up mate!
ReplyDeleteCan you count the Amiens as a lifer? ;-) Although I imagine the great crested grebe was a more welcome sight for you, as it would be for me.
ReplyDeletecheers,
Wilma
Wilma.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could count it. I don't think I will see anything bigger on the river this year.
Happy New Year Ken. Whats a skuller? some kind of fish.
ReplyDeleteMike.
ReplyDeleteI should have worded it better, what I meant was I saw someone sculling.I have now amended my Blog.Thanks for making think about it.
Cracking start to the year Ken, keep up the visits and the species will follow. :-)
ReplyDeleteHello Ken
ReplyDeleteGlad you weren't a miserable 'ol git! We are the owners of Amiens and she probably is the biggest thing you'll see on the river - she is an ex Royal Army Service Corp high speed target towing launch, built in 1944 and we have spent many years restoring her. She is just as rare as your Great Crested Grebe being the only one of her kind still operating
Karen and Mike