Totally Worth It!!

 Having spurned the chance last weekend to go to Worth Marshes (title makes sense now heh!😄) and see the Eleanora's Falcon, apparently the first Twitchable one ever, I decided it made sense to have a crack at it today. When informed it wouldn't be a very early start (everything's relative) Margie decided to come with despite her usual reluctance to twitch, vague promises (sadly unfulfilled) of lunch afterwards may have influenced her decision. We eventually arrived at the temporary car park about quarter to nine, after a short diversion down a very small lane, thanks Birdguides!! 

With directions received from the very helpful volunteers we headed off down the track, approximately 20 minute walk we were told, now up unto this point I hadn't felt much urgency for this bird, didn't go at the weekend, late start this morning, but now we at the site I didn't want the dreaded  "you should of been here 2 minutes ago" Margie on the other hand with a new place to look about was busy taking pictures, blatantly ignoring my subtle hints that we needed to hurry up, she even took pictures of birds, she never takes pictures of birds!!!😡  With anxiety levels running high we eventually joined the large  group of birders!

The wide open spaces & big skies of Worth Marshes by Margie

Impressive place, our first visit,another vista by Margie, nice pic but really should have been walking

Reed Bunting by Margie

I needn't have worried the bird was sat up on the side of a large bush, looking magnificent!! Only problem was a Hawthorn twig which the camera decided to focus on!!

Eleanora's Falcon

What a cracker

Margie's pic of the beauty!

The bird sat there for quite a while, before taking to the air in a flurry of long wings and began to hawk Dragonflies above us.

The bird eventually drifted off to the left, so we walked down the path with a view to finding the reported Red-footed Falcon, we did but it was distant and although did come a bit closer later but couldn't get a usable picture😢 

Plenty of Hobbies zooming about all over as well. Not quite as cooperative as the Star Bird but great to watch.

Hobby

Quite a few Reed Buntings about, several singing Reed Warblers and think I had al Sedge Warbler, a Marsh Harrier went over and my 4th Falcon of the day, a Kestrel, put in an appearance.

Reed Bunting

Marsh Harrier

Kestrel

Thinking this is a Cuckoo, heard a couple but don't remember taking this!!

Margie loving the landscape 

Margie reckoned the Reed Bunting winked at her when she took this!

Margie getting up close

Margie complained most of her views were like this through the long grass, I advised here to stop being so short!!😃

Think this is a real bit of Quality from Margie!

Great Tit

Luckily these beasts were behind a fence, a ditch full of water and a lake!!

We arrived back at main group of birders, just as the main event landed back in the hedge!

Much better views than earlier

Another cracking pic by Margie she's on fire today!

Once again the bird giving great views, with time marching on we decided to head off, nice views of Marsh Frogs, a Sparrowhawk, more Hobbies, and as we approached the car park, the Eleanoras put in a final appearance to send us off in style!

Marsh Frog

Hobby

Sparrowhawk

Elenora's Falcon

Lily filled ditch by Margie

Marsh Frog by Margie

Elenoras

A fantastic bird in a fantastic place, a trip only slightly spoilt by finding out that a Golden Oriole had been seen after we left!! Very well organised car parking thanks to all involved we put a fiver in the donation welly, I say we, I'll probably pay her back eventually😲😂, couple of Red Kites on the M25 made it an eight raptor day which is always good!! Nice to bump into Keith and Mel at the twitch hope you enjoyed the Oysters!!