Holme Reserves

Hundreds of waders feeding along the shoreline at Holme

John Sheldrake (ex chairman of NOA and family friend)

Wigeon etc in front of Holme Church

A couple strolling along this morning's tideline at Holme

A Fieldfare feasts on the Sea Buckthorn berries at Holme

RECORD SHOTS OF TODAY
CAN'T CROP, COLOUR CORRECT, SHARPEN ETC AS HAVE NO PHOTOSHOP INSTALLED AT THE MOMENT!

After going to bed at 3.30am it was impossible to get up early this morning, but forced myself out by 9am - still felt sleepy but just simply had to go birding.

Dull day with no sun but did stay dry all day.

On the way to the reserves I stopped by the horse paddocks next to village pond in Holme to watch at least 40+ Redwings along with a good number of blackbirds. Continued around the village and not far along the Firs road I stopped the car to watch 8 Greenfinches flitting about in bushes. The Firs road is famously rough to take the car down but today it was the worst its been for many years - obviously because of the snow laying about for so long - the potholes are atrocious! As I rocked down the road - I stopped by the left hand corner just after the Forestry area to view the pools near the road in front of the NWT hides - several wigeon, teal, pochard etc and also 9 curlews and distant Marsh Harrier by Holme Church.

Parked on the NOA carpark and had a chat with Geoffrey and Jenny Barker who were just leaving and had seen long tailed duck on the sea and peregrine, sparrowhawk and marsh harrier etc. Sat in the car attempting to photograph Fieldfares in bad light - there were at least 300 feeding off the sea buckthorn berries opposite the carpark along with a few magpies hopping about. Had a quick cup of coffee and a sandwich as it was now 12.30pm and then carried onto the observatory. Lots of scrub management had been going on I noticed - you can now see all of Holme marsh from observatory - it had become very overgrown - Jed does tend to go over the top when he has a chainsaw in his hand though! They have also added another pond next to the existing one in front of the obs. Anyway, walking into the observatory I had a lovely surprise - John Sheldrake!!! He was the Chairman of the NOA for many years and I have known him since I was tiny - he usually pops in to visit my parents each christmas time for a catch up but we don't see him much nowadays. Also in the obs were Jed (Warden) and Sophie (Assistant Warden), David Roche who is Assistant Warden at Dungeness and Chris Creedy who has 3 times in succession run the Great North Run to raise money for the NOA. Jed was in his usual 'lets wind Penny up mood' and went through the usual stuff/banter of asking how much bigger my 'ass' had got bla bla bla and how OLD I was going to be on Wednesday (birthday)!!!!!!!!!! I gave back as good as I got (ok I tried!) David Roche very sharply pointed out 2 White fronted geese (approx 2.15pm) with a huge flock of geese that came over and then landed on the marsh the other side of the broad water. We all rushed outside, but it was difficult to see them from where we were - stood on the main bank and had better views. Also a barn owl and a marsh harrier floating about and David also spotted a Stonechat across the other side of the broadwater balancing on bramble stems and also a Water Rail squealed close by.

Walked alone along the Thornham Bank - but the weather was so miserable I diverted back half way along through the Lavender marsh and across to the beach. Tons of waders and gulls on the beach. Thought I saw a diver sp. sitting close in on the sea, so walked closer to get a better view, but on closer inspection it had completely vanished! A few people with loose dogs about (usual scenario). Walked back up through the NWT steps and down the Firs house where I had a chat with Gary Hibbard (NWT warden) and Phil and better views of the 2 White Fronted Geese through Gary's scope that he had set up.

Drove to Holme Marsh Reserve - not much there apart from heron sitting on the wooden posts on far side of pools BUT distant views of a Bittern (around 4.15pm) over the the NWT pools by the Firs road sharply picked up by M.G. who was also in the hide with another birder.

Left here to go to my parents. My two sisters Lucy and Vivien had also come to visit and to kindly give me my birthday cards and presents.