Saturday Cliffe

2 Pintail, 12 Coot, 70 Shoveller, 200 Avocet, 300 Black-tailed Godwit, 100 Dunlin, 30 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck,

The Black-headed Gulls were displaying noisily over all the islands on the site. This is a small island fairly close to the track up by the side of Radar towards Flamingo, where 3 possible (???) pairs were perched.

The central two gulls here have adopted a "head-down" posture which does not seem to be exactly described in the literature I have been able to find. There is certainly discussion of "the choking posture" but these gulls seem to hold the head-down posture for quite a while, and I see no sign of head movements or of mock choking, so I remain confused.

As quite commonly described, the cloaca seem quite swollen in this display.

These two on the other hand are demonstrating the forward posture - at least as far as I can see!

Here is a link to a video that includes several sequences of "forward postures" on water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyF2gT9nw3o

And these two may be head flagging. I wondered if their feet were moving.

Leybourne in the Spring

The sun was shining and the pressure at work off a bit, so Leybourne called for a bit of a late afternoon walk. This moorhen by the Aquatic Centre was one of many seen today. They are beautiful if bizarre birds!

Happy Holborough

2 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 3 separate(?) Herons, Bluetits, 4 separate(?) Blackbirds, 2 separate(?)  Greenfinches singing, 2 separate(?) Cormorants, 100 Blackheaded Gulls, 50 Herring Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 1 Redshank, 6 Magpies, Carrion Crows, 1 Coot, 8 Woodpigeons, 1 Stock Dove.

This was the first Greenfinch singing by the Churchfield houses. It looks fluffy as though it might be moulting on the wings, but the timing is way out. Although the greenfinch moult is fairly extended, the very last traces of any moult should have finished in December.

There was a pair of mallard on the river:

I only saw one Coot in the ditch system, but there were certainly more.

Lovely day at Horrid Hill

7 Redshank, 6 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, Curlew heard, 6 Oystercatcher, 70 Wigeon, 20 Pintail, 100+ Teal, 150 Black-headed Gull, 2 Magpie.

Motney Hill

Teal out with the Shelduck at first, then half a dozen Wigeon.

Black-headed Gulls yielded no Med Gulls despite searching. Many of them with apparently dark bills and darkening heads.

A couple of Redshanks. A Pipit.

Moorhen and a pair of Mallard.

Woodpigeon. Wrens. 

Turnstones at Lower Halstow

Black Swan at Leybourne

I was just thinking its all same birds as normal, and a black swan appeared!