A late morning visit today to Epsom Common under a blue sky at long last but that didn't make the birding any easier at it was extremely quiet. Very little activity in the woodland around the car park apart from Robin, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon and a single Long-tailed Tit.
As I climbed the steps up to the main pond I just caught sight of a perched Kingfisher before it flew away into the willows surrounding the pond. This species is definitely a rarity for this location as I am unaware of any banks suitable for nesting. When I returned home I checked my records and my last sighting here was 23 February 2010 which confirms my feeling that they probably only pass through during the winter.
Grey Heron
Scanning the pond I only found Moorhen (3), Grey Heron (2), Cormorant (2) and surprisingly no Mallards. While photographing the Cormorant a Common Buzzard floated over the woodland. The only other species seen or heard were Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Black-headed Gull and Great-spotted Woodpecker.
Cormorant
This individual was over a 100 yards away so I've cropped the image. The tree stumps are usually well above the water line so it shows how much rain we have had recently. Well not a particularly fruitful hour or so but it was good to be outside without the fear of getting soaking wet. FAB.
Linking to Camera Critters and I'D-Rather-B-Birdin'.
Linking to Camera Critters and I'D-Rather-B-Birdin'.
Good evening Frank. It looks like you had an enjoyable day. The GB Heron and Carmorant are wonderful. I am missing the ones that we see from time to time along the river's edge...had snow last evening and more falling now, with freezing rain predicted by morn~
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Love the heron shot and the Cormorant. Kingfishers are always a favorite sighting for me. Happy Birding!
ReplyDeleteAwesome shots, Frank. Love your header photo too.
ReplyDeletei love your gray herons and that's a handsome cormorant, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary. Yes it was great to get out in reasonable weather at long last although underfoot was extremely wet and more flooding is expected.
ReplyDeleteI hope the snowfall and freezing rain doesn't cause you too many problems.
Eileen. Thank you. I was hoping the Kingfisher might hang around long enough for a photo-call but it wasn't to be!
ReplyDeletePam. Thanks very much.
Theresa. Bearing in mind the sun was out I was surprised the Cormorant wasn't soaking up the rays on its wings but maybe it was a bit cold (just a few degrees above freezing!)
Great captures!
ReplyDeleteLovely grey heron. I also like those blue skies. We have grey/white snow skies here. We are ready to see the sun again. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like it was a nice walk, and well done for seeing the Kingfisher. We have one around the lake on campus at the moment which too is apparently an unusual visitor. I guess Kingfishers just move around from place to place a lot more in winter
ReplyDeleteThat heron has his eye intently on something. Nice shot.
ReplyDeleteI love the Heron! They are my favorite bird. We have a really beautiful one that hangs out at our neighborhood pond on a regular basis but I've never been able to get a photo of him/her.
ReplyDeleteVisiting via Camera Critters
Excellent captures Frank! That heron is so handsome.
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting that you have so many winter birds to look for. We have very few winter species...about 60..and we really have to go far and wide to find them
ReplyDeleteLove that second shot.
ReplyDeleteOur Critter.
I appreciate your comment as always..
Love your photos, both are great. I love the Blue Heron, such a pretty bird. Not very familiar with the Cormorant.
ReplyDelete...glad you were able to catch sight of the Kingfisher! It's always fun to spot rare birds on the regular walk!
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing) Hanne Bente
Great photos!
ReplyDeleteHerons are great birds to see!
It's nice to be able to get out and about in some decent light Frank, Spring will be upon us before we know it! It's a shame the Kingfisher didn't hang around to have it's portrait taken!...[;o)
ReplyDeleteWow....now, this one is new to me also, a grey heron. I will have to keep a sharp eye for these here. LOL [I love birding, can you tell?] Great photos. Oh and your header of the heron is magnificent.
ReplyDeleteShame about the Kingfisher Frank, but it is promising that you may get a better look in the future.
ReplyDeleteReally like your Heron shot! We see Kingfishers around here occasionally, but they're very hard to get a photo of. It's been a couple years since I've seen one.
ReplyDeleteGreat heron Shot!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeletePatch birding at its best Frank. You never know what will turn up.
ReplyDeleteLove that Cormorant.
Great walk in a beautiful place. (My kind of spot!) One of my lifetime goals is to get a picture of a Kingfisher. I see them pretty often in Oregon and here in Florida too. And if I don't have a camera they sit still, but the minute I raise a camera they fly. Oh well, just seeing them is wonderful though!
ReplyDeleteGreat heron shot! Love your header.
ReplyDeleteI love the Heron and the Cormarant. I am a babe in the woods bird hunter. I have so very much to learn.
ReplyDeleteYour shots are wonderful and I too had the very same problem while out last week hunting. I didn't see one bird that we don't have here at the house. I did see a few wild Mallards but that was it.
I was in a very isolated nature preserve too. I guess last week was just not the week to sight many rare finds.
Thanks for sharing this with us. I always enjoy looking at birds!
Hi Frank, thankyou for the invitation the other day, I wish I was in a position to accept but at the moment all my 'spare' time is spoken for. I have been driving past Epsom common for almost 50 years and I have never paid it a visit, perhaps one day, who knows?
ReplyDeleteThat cormorant looks like just another part of the wood it is perched on!
ReplyDelete