November part 1

2nd November

A nice still morning at Seasalter, ideal for a good bird list but it proved quiet although not bad for photography. I counted 14 ringed plovers, c.20 turnstones, c.350 brent, 31 dunlin, 1 cetti's on the plots, no ducks. The usual half a dozen pied wagtails ranging along the seawall, 2 stonechats by the Sportsman, 1 sparrowhawk, green woodpecker, robins, coots etc.. On the LNR or rather the back fields (solar farm site), a few lapwings and golden plovers, 1 heron on the pasture plus a red admiral and kestrel.

Nov. 3rd.

A short visit to Hampton, not seeing the purple sandpiper so didn't stay long.

 

 Just one redshank at Hampton

5th Nov.

An uneventful trip to Stodmarsh

6th Nov.

Off to Reculver in search of the snow buntings but no luck.........needed to walk on further.

Back to Hampton again this time finding the purple sandpiper on on of the breakwaters but little else.

8th

Day out with the wife driving towards Thanet, lunch at the Capt. Digby then onto Broadstairs.

 Westgate

Broadstairs

9th Nov.

Another visit to Reculver, this time finding the 2 snow buntings and had a nice time taking photos with no one else around.

On the way back I could hear a Apache helicopter approaching which made a low fly pass overhead scattering the snow buntings and everything else. Bumped into John from Stodmarsh who said he saw it fly under some pylons!

October

A quick glance through the rest of October.

2nd
A bright but windy day at Seasalter produced 3 marsh harriers coming over from Sheppey and along the LNR c.1250 brents plus one grey plover which still retained some its breeding plumage.

3rd.
I went to Oare seeing the black-necked grebe, Wilson's phalarope and long-billed dowitcher.

 Black-necked Grebe

 Wilson's Phalarope

Long-billed Dowitcher

8th Oct.

At SS the incoming tide revealed c1500 black-tailed godwits and a similar number of brents. Flying up to roost and on the flats I had a count of 86 egrets and on the seas 45 great crested grebes.

23rd

A late afternoon visit to SS revealed c.1200 brents, 1 grey plover and a late swallow.

24th

My first grey wagtail of the year was on the beach near the plots entrance, the plots were quiet. Further on by the YC., 3 grey wagtails, a count of 27 egrets, a couple of grey plovers, curlews and oystercatchers. At the LNR., a stonechat, 2 swans, a wheatear, and on the back fields, 20 lapwings and c.250 golden plovers roosting. Further on another 2 wheatears, 22 chaffinches west and a kestrel.

 

3 late Wheatears.

25th

A trip to Knole Park to photograph the fallow deer rut.  Should go early or late in the day but I was lucky as a few of them had an arguement.

29th

A strong northerly blow this morning at SS, hoped for some close action as the tide receded......c.200 bar-tailed godwits came to amongst the brent, oystercatchers and curlew plus just one knot. I have not seen any big flocks of knot yet and I also noted I've not seen any juvenile brents amongst the large flocks..  Loads of gannets in the mouth of the Swale, many young ones, several coming close.

I later went over to Hampton thinking I might get some better shots, luckily one gannet came fairly close, unfortunately it seemed to have some vegetation jammed in its mouth. Also saw 4 little gulls and a couple of auks and kittiwakes.

30th

Another look at SS starting with a count of 91 ringed plover, 24 redshank, 1 sanderling, 9 grt bb gulls and 1 egret by the 'island' roost.  At the LNR another swallow and walking down the back track to the road I flushed a woodcock and in the bushes by the Sportsman, 4 redwings and a couple of fieldfares, a pair of stonechats, 1 cetti's, 1 marsh harrier and 4 blackbirds.

 Wren

 Stonechat

Danube Cruise day 7 (last)

Monday 16th October

Another lovely day as we motored back towards Budapest arriving just after lunch in time for our last city tour. We boarded a bus which took us to see the highlights of Buda then finished high up on the castle overlooking the city. A short walk there revealed one of Jamie Oliver's restaurants, a quick look in the church then a quick coffee stop before returning to the coach for a short walk in the city centre. 

Motored back past the Esztergom Catherdral

The Emile Bronte moored up in Budapest

One of the Bridges connecting Buda with Pest

  

 The Indoor Market

Bike Hire

Beautiful manhole covers!

After our tour it was back to the ship, shower, 6 course farewell dinner followed by some excellent Hungarian dancers and musicians, the guy on one of the violins was fantastic.

The following day it was time to leave late morning which allowed us another couple of hours around Buda by ourselves.   It was a great holiday, thoroughly recommended.

Danube Cruise Day 6

15th October

Up early for a coach trip around the sights of Vienna at 9.00 am, beautiful sunny weather again, lucky all week.  Massive five to six story attractive buildings all over the old part of town and all kept in excellent condition. Lots of churches, university and parliament buildings to see and a closer look when we had a walking tour around the city. We stopped for lunch in one of the busy cafes and tried some strudel before going back to the ship at 12.15 for lunch, which was an option or to stay out for the afternoon.  I'd seen enough churches etc to last me for a good while and couldn't taken in anymore information!  

After dinner we were treated to a one hour recital by a string quartet playing Mozart and Strauss. We left our berth at 11.00pm heading back to Budapest for an early morning arrival.

 Pre- breakfast shot from our berth - several high rise buildings

 Trams again

 Entrance to the Riding School

 Too many people!