One of the sorts of tides where, if you just counted on a walk-by, you'd get half-a-dozen Redshank. But find a bench and watch for an hour, the shuffling roost gives up 60 or so Redshank, a dozen Oycs, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Curlew.. Making for a pleasant lunchbench hr today. 2/2

Not quite taken from the same spot, but you get the picture; how Copperhouse marshes, #Medway estuary, gets nigh-covered by a low spring tide (5.8 mtr). #Medway estuary #KentNature 1/2

Who's up for a game of 'spot the Avocet'?

Hoping for a scarcity. But just a record shot of 'Amazon virtue', a crude oil carrier. Only ticked one aviation fuel carrier these past 3 wks. And Reuters now saying Europe has less than a month's supply in reserve? Gaining rarity status. Who knew ticking shipping could be as gripping as birding?😉

Ed "Take it down, take it down(!) You can't say 'will have died'! You'll scare the plebs" Journo "But excess death figures in the heatwave.." Ed "Some of heart attacks may have been down to World Cup Fever. Or being scared by a cat. GET IT DOWN(!) And don't forget that tab header this time(!)"

Have seen nest on grille frame before (Power Station). Young nidifugous, get called off grille pdq, just got to hope watch their footing. Big prob w jetty is huge lack of cover from predators once hatched (day went missing parents watched every gull o/head). Tough life being an urban Oyc.. 2/2

So lucky here today, c/o the n-e winds. Sorry for the rest of you. But not a normal day here, so quiet out. Very few people out enjoying an above-average Saturday. A recovery day for many after being drained by the heat all week? Chums are saying not cut out for this.. istheukhotrightnow.com

As bird hides go, one of the nicer ones I've been in. Really informative 'guides in the hide', nice artwork on the walls (from JMW Turner sketch to early Tracey Emin Medway art college course work). Some i.d. illustrations a tad wonky tho'😉 Open Sats all Jul and Aug? Oh yes, that'll do. 2/2

3 wks ago I skeeted on a local charity worth a visit. Open day today, found a perfect first floor window to watch 'my' Oystercatchers from. Having sat thru heatwave only to lose young, 2nd attempt nest is on a grilled part of the walkway. Clever Oycs, employing Climate Change resilience😉 1/2

Because, prior to this, BTO had already pointed out Dotterel one of the most vulnerable UK sp. to Climate change. Dogs on leads ain't gonna do it. That's fighting the fire whilst feeding the flames. Cut your carbon. 2/2 www.bto.org/learn/about-...

And at the line it's Bargander, followed by Bargoose, by a neck from Vulpanser, then Burrow-duck. Next it's Shieldrake, then Tadorne, Crà-ghèadh, Chenalopex, and then Skeelduck. Finally, bringing up the rear, it's You Little Knobhead..

Go back a decade, water at this spot usually about 4ft deep early July. Either (A) we're missing 3'6" of water or (B) that's one helluva big Lapwing chick. (And I'm betting this'll be a dry fleet after the weekend..)

Some mornings when you sneak a peek thru' a gap in the hedge you get the feeling you're being watched..

I'm may be getting out really early at mo', but then that's it for the day (right now, busy cancelling plans for next few days). Getting by on hopium that winds do go n-e at weekend. Until then it's curtains pulled and old films. Shut out the real world..

👍 but please stop destroying the images of my idols!😆 (My immediate go to will now and forever be be 90s b-list comedian Roland Rivron..)

Water off an Oyc's back. (Bathing Oystercatcher, pausing between dips. The Stray, Lower Halstow.)

Algal bloomin' luvly. (Glass bottle beach, Lower Halstow, Medway estuary).

This morning's breakfast bench (squint carefully, bottom left). "Café et pain aux raisins à l'ombre - miam miam(!)*" The 8th c. Saxon church of St Margaret of Antioch, Lower Halstow. (*TIL the French for "nom nom")

Just a l'il reminder. La Albiceleste really have been my team for 48 yrs now. Hopes for a dream semi-final still alive😉

Walking the southern #Medway estuary this morning, several small young (replacement brood) Redshank seen. All on shorelines of shrinking fleets now smaller pools dried out. Over high tide parents having to work hard to keep other waders from roosting too close. #KentNature

The heat's getting to me. Took me an hour. Only now just sussed this year's Global Bird(Trade)Fair is happening during an Amber Heat Health Alert. A lot of their higher wealth high-carbon holiday target audience will now be at a greater risk I see..

Me: "Is the UK hot right now?" Met Office's HAL 9000: "I'm afraid.. I'm afraid Dave."

Pulling an all-nighter is worth it for memories like this.

🤔 Just how seriously are some people taking this football match tonight? (16.4k likes seriously, going by this restaurant's post on instagram 🤔)

We haven't defined 'younger' - 18- 24 yo just 2% but then rises - once they can afford to move out to more than just a one-room they often hybridise lots of things.. (Notice how down here in SE we like maps? 'Cos ours have more than just an abandoned kirk on 'em 😉. I'll get my OS Explorer 148..)

My well-used nicely out-of-date OS map gives me entertainment whenever I'm out (note how my local tetrad pencilled on). Use various from my full set of Kent when on train. Fun when stumble into new housing estates 😉 Much better than having to own a phone!! 1/2

It's them pesky 4yos colliding w. the W*nkp*nz*rs that are the problem, clearly! I know Nelson rd, it's my walking route from railway station to dentist. This lazy local newspaper headline makes me so angry. #Motornormativity

Or as one rare bird news sales co's latest weekly round-up spins it: "..more of a summer seabird vibe afoot this past week, with some modest counts of larger shearwaters hinting at better things to come in the weeks and months ahead.." 365 Cory's GB&I 26/6-2/7? Modest? Snakebird salesmen.