Birding Upgrade

I feel like I have been somewhat betrayed by the weather forecasters this weekend. They lied to me, promising monsoon-like conditions, so as a result I spent most of this morning sleeping/lying around in pyjamas drinking tea and eating croissants, resigned to the fact that my planned exciting weekend walk would be pointless. But this rain never really materialised... I think the best we got all day was a light shower, and most of the time it was little more than a drizzle. Poor effort really...

All in all this was a bit of a shame, as I'm generally stuck behind a desk/on a train during the week, so I look forwards to getting out and about on the weekend, regardless of whether I see very much. I'll just have to make sure I go somewhere particularly awesome next week to make up for it.

Anyway, all was not lost this weekend- I have upgraded my birding potential this weekend. In preparation for a trip to Scotland later this year, I decided it was time to buy myself a scope. I've always scoffed at the idea of getting a scope, and never really fancied the idea of having to lug one around with me, plus I'm generally always out with the other half who lets me steal his if there's anything interesting worth looking at. However, with sites like Hanningfield and Abberton it would be a definite advantage, and seeing as how I'm going out more regularly now, it's not like I wouldn't get my moneys worth out of the "investment".

So after some deliberation I went for the angled mighty midget m2, with a 12-36x zoom lens. I opted for this scope for the obvious reason of being a tiny woman, who would crumple under the weight of a "proper" scope, and knew that I'd be less likely to use it regularly if it turned my outings into a weight-lifting exercise. I just need to find a tripod that's light enough and short enough for me and I'm sorted. Photos will be included when I have the time and the inclination...

PS- Don't think that this means I'll start going out seawatching or anything silly, I haven't changed that much.

Nice Weather For... Penguins?

I seem to be somewhat chained to my desk at work now, so it's easy to forget that I work in a zoo. Seeing as this white stuff seems to be sticking around for a while, I figured it might be about time I got out and had a look at how the animals are getting on. In a purely scientific way of course. Here are my initial findings....

Otters like the snow. They also like people dressed in big green zoo coats, but I think that has more to do with the association of FOOD. Sadly I didn't have food, just a camera. They sussed me out pretty quick.

Foods?!?!

Meerkats don't really like snow. But they do like heat lamps. Fortunately they had this one sorted.


Some penguins like the snow, but I think penguins that are supposed to be in Africa might like snow less than others. I will have to look further into this one.

Not sure if like snow...

This would have been a more extensive study, but I needed to get back in the warm, plus I had lots of random phone calls to answer. I know one thing for sure though- I don't like the snow, it's seriously getting really really boring now. The odd snow day is nice, but this has been more than three weeks of pretty much constant snow, and I'm running out of jumpers... I wouldn't mind as much if it wasn't for the two hour early morning commute every day and the distinct lack of gritting in Havering. Fingers crossed for a thaw tomorrow in time for band rehearsal, and I might even be able to go out this weekend and see something other than a big blanket of white and some angry robins.

In Which I Actually Went Outside And Saw Some Birds...

Conscious of the fact that I haven't really had much to blog about of late, I figured it's about time I posted something a little more topical (as nice as christmas biscuits are of course).

I saw some birds today. More specifically I saw a really big, dark and mean-looking gull sitting on the Thames in Rainham...


Tempted by the offer of lots of tea and a panini, me and the boy headed to Rainham for lunch, and got some pretty good views of a great skua floating downriver and flying back up a few times while we were there. Having very little patience for things like sea watching, seeing birds like this is always nice for me. Especially when I'm inside a nice heated visitor centre with a cup of tea. Awesome :) I don't think I'd pick a fight with this bird, he looks pretty mean and I'm told that they like to pick on gannets for fun.

It was cold and miserable, and I currently have a cold and was feeling a bit miserable, so didn't bother going onto the reserve but it looked good and wintery. Plenty of ducks, gulls and waders everywhere including at least 6 pintail on Purfleet pools. This is where you think I'd put a photograph of said pintail, but what with all of the cups of tea and the panini I forgot to take one. Instead, have a photo taken of a blue tit at Abberton in October which I don't think I bothered to write about because this person beat me to it. Also I was upset about the squirrel.


I went to Swanage for a couple of days after Christmas with the family, but hardly left the flat really so no news there. It was lovely and sunny the whole time though, so had a nice walk along the seafront. Just need to figure out a way of making money then I'm moving to the sea...


I'll try to make more of an effort to tell you more about birds and zoos in the new year. A trip to Thrigby Hall and Norfolk in January will help with this...