The weather has been ideal over the last couple of days with
Skuas being pushed into the Thames Estuary. Today the weather looked perfect again
for good movements of birds. Dodge took up post at the Farm while I sat
nervously at work.
A Merlin was the hi-light of his efforts at the Farm but
little did I know that the best was yet to come and long after the “Chigley
hooter had sounded!” (Who remembers that?).
A rapid fire of text messages from Ninja and then Dodge had me spring into action and off in pursuit of a Surrey VC tick and there were
seven of them...Amazing, unbelievable and the traffic wasn’t too bad either!
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| (Great Skua) |
On arrival at QEII Reservoir I donned layers of waterproofs
met up with Ninja and then had those stairs to negotiate...which blast me out
when I’m fully fit!! After some heavy breathing and a Wheatear which seemed to
be mocking my efforts just keeping four steps ahead of me looking round and
chuckeling!! a recovery walk along the side of the reservoir was the order of the moment! I then pitched the scope and put it on a group of large birds in the middle of the
reservoir! Great Skuas...Jackpot!!Woo hoo!
 |
| (Great Skua) |
The seven Great Skuas were nicely grouped together in the
middle of the reservoir. There was the odd bout of wing flexing and then a
chase after a group of Gulls that certainly weren’t expecting a welcoming party.
The Skuas split up and six disappeared into the cloud with a single bird flying
towards Knight and Bessborough reservoirs.
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| (Great Skua) |
Within five minutes all seven birds had returned to QEII and
were almost in the same position as before. I went with Ninja to check out
Island Barn and low and behold he found two more Great Skuas sat on the water.
No wonder the gulls were going nuts!!
This was just amazing nine Bonxies in the space of an hour
and all were on the deck!! I was in Surrey VC tick heaven which now stands at a respectable 224! Just to add more
flavour to the afternoon a Kittiwake made a brief appearance calling as it flew
over the reservoir.
A few handshakes and thanks later and I made my way home
half expecting to be stuck in the rush hour jam but that didn't materialize
either...sometimes the dice do roll in your favour. All that is required now is
for one bird to make it to the Farm!!
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