March "ring-tail" and stuff

It's been a bit of a weird start to the month as events, beyond the scope of the blog, have impacted upon my ability to get outdoors.A short session down on Minster Marshes, on Saturday, was to provide a superb encounter with a "ring-tailed" Hen Harrier, thus a year tick. Sadly it was always distant so my images were nothing better than record shots, but still better than nothing - just?

This morning I had to take the van, and Bev's Mazda CX3, over to Broadstairs for their annual MOT's, plus the van was in need of a service, so it was never going to be cheap! So it turned out. I dropped the van off at 08.00 hrs, before taking a wander back home along the coastal path. The freezing fog ensured that I saw very little and photographed even less. The car was then driven across at 10.00 hrs, and I was told to take an hour, or so, before returning to pick it up. The sun now having burned off the bulk of the fog, I headed down to Broadstairs Harbour where I hoped to get a few shots of the Purple Sandpipers which over winter down there. I wasn't to be disappointed as I discovered a small group, of seven birds, quite close to the pier.

Back to the garage for 11.00 hrs, only to be told that there were a few "issues" with Bev's car and they'd need another hour before getting things sorted. I headed back along the clifftop path, this time walking east to Winterstoke Steps before returning along the coastal path. Another seven Purple Sandpipers and five Rock Pipits were the best on offer. I grabbed a few shots of one "Rockit" which posed nicely in the sunshine.

On arriving back at the garage, it was good news, as both the van and car had passed the MOT, plus the service had been completed. As there was quite a bit of paperwork (aka the bill) to sort out, I drove Bev's car back home in order for her to drive me back to pick up the van and also pay the guys for their endeavours. Almost £500 later, we were back indoors, the vehicules deemed roadworthy for another twelve months. 

After a coffee and a bite to eat, I took Bruno for a wander across Worth Marshes RSPB. We didn't arrive until after 14.00 hrs, yet there were two Barn Owls hunting over that same section of marsh as I'd seen them on my last three visits. In glorious sunshine I was content to stand and wait for that photographic opportunity to arise. It did, and I was well happy with what I managed to capture.