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:
Adam ,
Nice shot of the redheads .
I wonder if your Goosanders were part of the ex. Mote Park flotilla .
Fantastic sighting of the Smew and Goosander Adam. The cold is a pain sometimes, but it has its rewards :-)
Well done with the red head Smew, and some shots. No doubt priceless shots for you.
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
Some great birds there Adam, nice one!!!.....now give them back please ;)
Post a Comment