Sunday 12 February 2012

Sunday 12th February 2012


An early start down the River Medway to try and relocate yesterday's redhead Smew.  I was in luck as I located two!  They were with a raft of Tufted Ducks just west of the last pontoons in East Farleigh and eventually drifted as far as Barming Bridge.  Nice to have a couple of Smew at the bottom of the road!



I cycled on towards Tovil hoping to connect with the redhead Goosander I'd also seen yesterday - but instead, and in heavy snow I found 10 (ten) Goosanders on the river just east of Farleigh lock.  They took to the air as soon as I braked (squeaky brakes!!), circled up and back on themselves before flying strongly west above the river.  I returned to Barming hoping to find them on the river but I never relocated them.  What a morning!  In addition I had a Snipe just west of Barming Bridge on one of the brooks that runs down to the river, and a sorry looking Green Woodpecker, futilely stabbing at the frozen earth with its beak.


With the heavy snow it was less 'water of a duck's back' but 'snow on a goose's back'!

5 comments:

Greenie said...

Adam ,
Nice shot of the redheads .
I wonder if your Goosanders were part of the ex. Mote Park flotilla .

Warren Baker said...

Fantastic sighting of the Smew and Goosander Adam. The cold is a pain sometimes, but it has its rewards :-)

Marc Heath said...

Well done with the red head Smew, and some shots. No doubt priceless shots for you.

Adam said...

Cheers fellas, yes quite a surprise to get this bunch on patch. Photography difficult in this mornings conditions, but happy top get a few record shots. Greenie - can only presume they are the Mote Park posse - although I heard there were stills some there today.

Adam

Simon said...

Some great birds there Adam, nice one!!!.....now give them back please ;)