Gary Howard's birds and wildlife

I'd intended to go out birding on Saturday afternoon but my work in the garden, as usual, took longer than I'd expected.

On Sunday morning I woke to rain and stayed in bed. It was sunshine and showers and I found myself watching thrushes feeding in the hedgerow opposite my bedroom window. A Fieldfare appeared and I dashed off for my camera and got some reasonable images as it fed in a hawthorn.

Fieldfare

After yet more household chores I finally got out early afternoon and headed to Sheppey with the kids in tow leaving Jenny at home nursing a cold. I concentrated my efforts in the Capel Fleet area and saw 6+ Short-eared Owls, 2-3 ringtail Hen Harriers, Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel. Around 50 Corn Bunting were feeding by the fleet and I had small numbers of thrushes and a Green Sandpiper.

The Short-eared Owls were superb and on show continuously giving great scope views but not close enough for pictures.