More bird-watching at Rye Meads

I managed to fit in another trip to Rye Meads  with my colleague Dan before he returned to work and his son returned to school. The main aim was to see the Kingfishers and we did, a few times, but always fleetingly. They are best seen in flight, a brief shimmering flash of blue green. But impossible to photograph like that at, at least with my equipment.

Fortunately did well on the water birds.

I think a Pochard

 A pair of Snipe in the distance. Maximum zoom for them.

Canada Geese. No rarity!

 I believe a Common Sandpiper. There is also a green sandpiper which if only it was green would be readily distinguishable. Unfortunately it isn't so it is all a matter of identifying how far the white breast marking goes up the bird's shoulder. Its a sandpiper anyway.

 Sandpiper again

 

Geese in unison.

 

A Shoveller . You can spot this duck easily enough from the shovel shaped beak.

 

Sandpiper again. Nice delicate bird.

Enough of that hide. We advanced to another whereupon we did see a flash of kingfisher, but better still was a very patiently posing Grey Heron.

I believe a solitary Pochard sat on a submerged bank just below the water.

I think a Shoveller again, but distant profile shot

Pair of Gadwalls

Another distant shot to the other side of a river, but this is a Common Grebe

A Mallard precariously perched

 A Lesser-spotted woodpecker - a very fine spot from young Luka (who is a very impressive bird-watcher - can brilliantly spot, and identify)  birds at a distance through peripheral vision.

And a tortoiseshell butterfly. One for me to identify!

A very scenic spot. With some justification bird-watchers have a certain reputation. But it is a pleasant enough activity. And I thoroughly enjoyed my morning with Dan and Luka, for the banter as much as anything, along with the sense of achievement at spotting, and identifying wildlife. As a morning in late summer sunshine with a mate and his teenage lad it was very enjoyable, just nice company in a lovely place with a bit of a focal point.