We win again

It was never in doubt really.
Come Saturday Morning,we were not bottom anymore,this wasn't due to any great win on our behalf,it was due to Truro going into Admin and losing 10 points,they may still not see the season out,which means i may have no trip to cornwall this winter,so i took a job on anyhow,fearing the worst.
Anyway,this obviously spurred our boys back in to action as they won 2-0 away to previously unbeaten Basingstoke Town,lifting us up to the heady heights of 17th,away from the relegation zone,shame i couldnt make the game,had some work until 1pm and could of gone for it but couldn't be bothered with the what would of been 3 hour drive in temperatures hovering around the 90f mark so stayed at home,plus i had work around 7pm so decided this was for the best,just followed the game on twitter which was more excitable than i imagined.
I also had a cheeky £50 on Thurrock to beat Basildon in the FA Cup at the ridiculous privce of 4/5,happy days,£90 back although feel slightly gutted that i didn't put at least £300 on it.
Birdwise,had a Red Kite over Thames Chase,my second of the year on the site,also had a Buzzard,2 willow warbler and a crossbill which was unusual for the site,one worth keeping a look out for as ar nuthatch and treecreeper this coming autumn winter etc.
I should be back birding more frequently in the next couple of weeks as the work becomes less frequent in autumn although its still really busy which is obviously good for the  pocket.
Am off to Norfolk with the Boozy Birders next Monday,my first real days birding for a while,looking forwards to it.
FA Cup Draw is today,we come in at the 2nd qualifying round and am looking forwards to seeing who we get,although i won't be at the game as once again i will be birding in sunny Norfolk,come on you urchins.
Anyway,enough from me,am off to pick some golfers up from Southend Airport now then off for a spot of birding,happy days

Birdwatching,whats that????

Been a couple of months since i last went birding,well proper birding anyway.Have had the odd 20 minutes or so looking for owls or stopping in the middle of nowhere to scan a field or a lake but havent really spent any serious time out in the field,saying that,the beauty of the hobby is that you are always birding,i notice birds where other "normal folk" wouldn't see them and whenever i see something out the corner of my eye i am onto it,today for instance,i saw 4 Buzzards on the way to Gatwick this morning and then 3 on my way to Stansted earlier this afternoon,one looked very good for a Honey Buzzard but doing 70mph up the M11 with passengers on board probably isnt the best time to check it out.
Last night at the Thames Chase Wildlife group meeting we saw the new calendars which have been produced by us for next year,these are currently on sale from the Visitor Centre in Pike Lane,Upminster for £6,most of the photos in the calendar are by seasoned proffesionals who have won awards for their photos and then theres me,i get a few smaller ones put in and am really happy about it,if you want one,let me know and i will sign it for you if you want lol


Have been to Thames Chase in the Evenings a few times over the last few weeks and usually the Barn Owl is knocking around,more often than not.Hopefully with work winding down for the summer in the next few weeks i will get back over there,need to get back into the whole photography thing and with the leaves dissapearing i may start being able to get good bird shots.
AFC Hornchurch started the season ok,performance wise but the last two games have been poor,drawing 0-0 with Weston Super Mare who were bottom and then losing 4-0 away at Bromley,so we are now bottom,it doesnt get any easier this Saturday as we travel to Basingstoke.We are actually not bottom anymore as Truro went into admin and are now on -3 points i believe after losing 10 points.
Managed a 2 week holiday in Southwold with Isla,Alice and her family,drunk plenty of Adnams,spent pretty much every day on the beach and in the Sea and got a lovely tan,happy days,think i may move up there one day,plenty of good birding sites around.
Going to watch our under 18 side tonight at home to Brentwood in the FA Youth cup before i go to work again at around 11,no rest for the wicked,anyway,heres a few photos from the odd bit of birding ive done recently,enjoy!!!!

OWLS ARE US

Been busy with work the last month,with just the odd visit to Thames Chase,despite the days being long.
To be honest,the weathers been shit and since i broke my ankle,i just havent really been fussed about birding,it probably is the weather but probably a bit of tiredness preventing me getting up early on a rare day off or going out late after a day at work.
Anyway,last Wednesday i was at a meeting for the Wildlife Group at Thames chase,we stopped around 8.45pm for a drink and i quickly went to look for Barn Owl in the top field,no Barn Owl but i did have a Kingfisher whizzing across the field.
After the meeting i spent a few minutes in pretty dark conditions around 10pm in the same field,when i saw something large flying around the field,a Barn Owl,not the first on the site but the first for a while.
Getting me in the mood for Barn Owls,i had a job to Yaxley near Peterborough saturday and from about 7.30 i decided to head to the Fens to see if i could get a decent picture of any,i had a few Buzzards,the odd Marsh Harrier and then i found this at the roadside in a Field

I would of got more but it got dark when it was showing off the best and i am crap at taking pictures in the dark or dusk.
Anyway,last night,John Jae Attiwell,Garry Bowden and myself headed to Thames Chase centre to see if we can get pictures of the TC Barn Owl,or at least a sighting.We arrived at 7.30pm and waited and waited and waited,around 9.45pm we heard Tawny Owl,then again elsewhere in the distance a few minutes later but still no Barn owl,Garry started packing his Photographic equipment away,saying "Bet it comes out now" and i said i thought i could sense it and suddenly a flash of white about 200 yards away at the end of the field.It quartered around for a minute or so before landing in a small leafless tree.We looked at it for a few moments but when turning round to see Garry putting up his gear again we turned back and it had gone,so no photos but we will carry on as we need to work more to get into a good position to capture this bird,more soon i hope

Yet more shameful neglect for my Blog

Been well over a month since my last blog update,this has mainly been because i have been working most days and haven't had a chance to go out Birding,due to the disastrous weather we seem to have had as well.
We have been lucky to have a Barn Owl visit us in Hacton Lane a few times,the first time i was hanging out my window when it shot across the road and i saw it quartering in the scrub over the road,i also saw it a couple of days later round the corner and on at least 3 occassions since,lovely bird to have on your doorstep.
On the odd occasion i have been birding,this doesnt usually last more than an hour or so,the weather hasnt been ideal for photography,especially for a novice like myself so i havent bothered.
Popped over To Thames Chase this morning,only to drop some MDF over for the TV Monitor they are putting in but managed to hear Skylark,Whitethroats,chiffchaffs,willow warbler and a couple of Yellowhammers,also saw a Buzzard.I was going to pop over today but am so tired with work,this seems to be a recurring problem and affects my year list which has been around 180 for a couple of months now and this exact thing happened last year,I hope to get my birding mojo back soon!!!

Saw another Barn Owl last night,around Toot hill,epping.I had just picked up some of my regulars when a large female roe deer ran out in front of us,i noticed something in the tree,a Barn Owl,not overly bothered by me,i pointed it out to the passengers in the front who seemed happy with the find lol

Got some time this week so will try to get out,maybe monday,fingers crossed for good weather.....

Just about recovered now

I have just about recovered from the celebrations of Monday night when the Mighty,yes Mighty AFC Hornchurch won their play off final against Lowestoft,winning 2-1 after extra time.
Next season we leave the Ryman Premier behind,our home for the last 5 years and make our way to the Blue Square South to play away at clubs like Truro,Bath City,Dorchester Town,Weston Super Mare,Oxford City(probably),Eastbourne Town,Havant,Eastleigh,Chelmsford City,Salisbury Town as well as some more familiar clubs like Billericay,Farnborough,Sutton,Dover,Welling or dartford,Borehamwood,Tonbridge,basingstoke,staines
Some away trips in there that would have some Premier League fans mouths watering,looking forward to it and as we start with an A,we will automatically be top of the league to start with.
Birdwise,still my foot is not right so i havent been out birding,i am back working though and have seen many hirundines on my travels locally.
Yesterday i had a flurry of Swallows pass over my house,around 50,with a few Swifts flown in for good measure and a Buzzard high over the house.
Off to Gatwickj in a minute so if i get a bit of time i should find a local nature reserve,weather permitting.

yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

we only went and done it.
COME ON HORNCHURCH
WE ARE CONNIE SOUTH AND THIS TIME ITS THROUGH HARD WORK

SUPER SUPER HORNCHURCH

We beat Bury Town 3-1 in the play off semi final,setting up a bank holiday monday home final clash against Lowestoft.To say i am pleased is an understatement,we completely bossed the game.Come on Hornchurch,we can do it Monday

Back on my feet again

Finally got this plaster cast off after nearly 4 weeks.I know i should of had it on longer but i can't drive with it on and need to earn some money,so i have persuaded them to give me a boot,which i can take off and exchange for an ankle support when i drive.Seems ok to drive with the support,no real pain but the big test will be Friday when i take some customers to Norfolk,saying that,at least it gives me the excuse to maybe visit the odd birding site,albeit briefly!!!
Today,once onto my support i visited Broadfield Farm and had my first proper bit of birding for 4 weeks,albeit just a brief session.I found a Lesser Whitethroat,7 Whitethroats,2 Swallows,Bullfinch,2 Willow Warbler,3 Chiffchaffs and all the usual suspects,not bad considering i don't think i went more than 500 yards from the visitor centre and i wasn't actually planning on doing any birding,just fancied going over to say hello to the lovely ladies over there!!!!!
I came home to find our brand new bed was ready,comfort at last.Isla has taken to it already,she has the hump because she no longer has a new bed and we do have,bless.
Isla is having proper conversations with us now,albeit some very wierd ones but enjoyable.She jumped into the bath with me tonight,very odd child,has a fascination with baths,obviously doesn't get that from me and while in there tonight exclaimed that "islas swimming like a fish"not sure where it come from but was quite funny.
Once she had gone to bed i popped over to Bonnetts wood and had my first cuckoo of the year,along with cettis and Great Spotted Woodpecker,2 Whitethroat and a Mistle Thrush.
Should be able to get out for an hour or so tomorrow,have a few places i wouldnt mind visiting,Cranham Marsh,Bradwell to name a couple but will probably stick to Thames chase and its footpaths for the next few days as its easy to walk over.
Tomorrow night also sees the Play off Semi Final between my beloved AFC Hornchurch and Bury Town,winner goes into the final which is on Bank Holiday Monday,we deserve to win in my opinion simply because we have been the better side this season,but play offs don't work like that and Bury have beaten us both times so far,albeit against the run of play in the home game and a bit luckily away.Come On Hornchurch.....

First Hirundine

A week or so,i saw a Sand Martin from my bedroom window,but it was so brief and quite dark at the time that i didn't bother claiming it,although i knew i had seen it,it was from flight only and more judged on shape.Today i had what i am classing as my first Hirundine a House Martin,flying past my bedroom window and then landing across the road on my neighbours roof,job done.Had a few bits on the feeders,A great Spotted woodpecker,Greenfinches,Tits and a Coal tit again.Need to get out birding again soon,not just sitting on a bench over Thames Chase watching the feeders but actually walking somewhere,fresh air,spending time watching birds,its only been 3 weeks but 3 weeks is far too long at this time of the year.
I am back at the Hospital in the morning and if they decide to put me in another cast for however long i think i will go mad,the ankle seems to be healing and i hope that i can get some sort of support which allows me to walk a few hundred yards at a time and to drive again,although i may leave it a couple of weeks before driving again,despite needing to earn money through work.
As for football,i am over us not winning the league,still dissapointed but although i think we are the best on our day,i don't think you can lose to 3 of the bottom 5 and expect to win the league,poor form at times has cost us,maybe one too many egos as well but hopefully they can come to the fore in the play offs and do the job for us,we have home advantage,probably in both games should we win the Semi final and although our away form for 85% of the season has been fantastic its our home form of late which has actually been a bit better.
We have relegated Leatherhead at Home on Saturday,so win that and we will definatly finish 2nd which is way above our expectations at the start of the season but still dissapointing all the same as we could of won it with a decent run in April.
The premier league threw up a surprise or two today with West Brom beating Liverpool at Anfield,happy days lol and Man United possibly throwing the title away with a 4-4 draw against Everton who to be fair i thought were the better side.
Anyway,a reasonably early night again tonight as i am at the hospital at 9am in the morning,i hope by 9.30-9.45 that i am castless and able to start doing stuff again,although judging bu the weather this forthcoming week i may not be doing too much birding unless i can drive somewhere with bird hides.Fingers Crossed for the morning

Hornchurch,Arsenal & bugger all else to be honest.

Quite a short one tonight,i think.
Hornchurch lost 1-0 to Harrow,i didn't go,i was going,left the house to go but after last weeks fiasco on the coach,the one space on the coach that i could of sat in comfort with leg room was taken up by a club official who wouldn't sit elsewhere and the physio has to sit with him,i thought fuck off.Doubt i will be getting on the official coaches anymore to be honest and i fucking organise the things.From now on,i run my 8 seater to the games,take the fans who want to come with me,and theres plenty and the club can take the rest,including those who are so fucking important that they can't give up their comfortable seat for someone with a broken ankle,their loss,i will make money at each away game.
Anyway,i spent the afternoon at my mums watching Arsenal (my other team),in what was a pretty dour affair at the Emirates or The Library as its commonly known by other fans,mainly because its full of city types,women and kids who seem to show as much passion as a wet squid,please sit down seems to be the most common thing through most of their lips rather than actually bothering getting behind their fucking team.
When we used to go (had a season ticket for around 20 years) at least people sang,but no more it seems.
Anyway,back to Hornchurch,them losing and Billericay winning means they are now Champions,deserved as they have the points on the board but i feel we fucked it up in all honesty and it goes back to one dark february night when a player threw his toys out the pram,or at least it does in my books.We go into the play offs in about as much form as Tottenham,with all the talent in the world but nothing really going for us of late,who knows though,may as well turn up to the games.Will see if i am slightly more inspired tomorrow when i wake up!!!

Thames Chase & my poxy Plaster Cast

Last night,while sleeping on my own and dreaming of beating Lowestoft in the play off final,i was awoken from my dream by the missus who decided she was going to join our bed again after 3 nights of sleeping in the nippers bed to give me space for my ankle.Once i am awake it is difficult for me to get back to sleep,made ten times worse by having this nagging pain in my poxy ankle and this hidious cast i have to wear which is supporting my ankle,fckng monstrosity.What really pissed me off about being woke up was Hornchurch were 3-1 up with a minute left and all this without Martin Tuohy our star striker who had been left out of the side after the Sun had exposed him for roasting Danielle Lloyd along with Lewis Smith,who actually played.One thing that stood out for me about the dream,apart from the goals was that although we played at home,we was outnumbered by the Lowestoft fans,which doesn't surprise me with our paltry support this season.
Anyway,after being woken up,i thrashed around the room at 2am,with the arse ache,tried to get back to sleep,couldn't,went downstairs for a fag,came back,tried to go to sleep,couldn't,then tore my cast off my leg as it was fckng irritating me too much,i then sat there for 10 minutes,my leg feeling fresh and happy.Alice put the cast back on and wrapped me back up and off to sleep i went.Didn't dream about Hornchurch after that,just me ram raiding tescos and sainsburys,happy days.
This morning,me,alice and the Nipper were taken to Thames Chase Forest Centre by Alices mum,on arriving i ordered the customary Bacon Baguetter,Pot of Tea and sat down looking for my feathered friends.Being limited to anything other than walking,i have to sit on the bench with my leg stretched and try to take pictures of birds but if theres none on the feeders,i ain't getting no fckng pictures.A kestrel was about as exciting as it got and i did take some pictures but i can't be arsed to download them so you won't be seeing them today.I also heard 2 Willow warbler,some chiffchaffs but without being able to walk anywhere i aint going to see much.Bumped into Dennis Tuck who had a mallard on the scrape,not quite the waders we are after but a start.After a while my leg started hurting a bit so off we went home but not before the missus had bought nipper her first proper pair of Binoculars,only wished she knew how to use them properly.

A big Hello to all my new readers,i have been particularly busy with people reading my blog today,with fans of wealdstone and Conference South Football taking a particular interest in my last blog entry,not really sure why but i seem to have annoyed one or two,get in.Up the Hornchurch as we travel to Harrow Tomorrow.

Didier Drogba,Tooting & lack of birds

Todays (or the first of todays) blog entry pays tribute to the man that is Didier Drogba and his amazing recovery skills,not since the days of Jesus has anyone witnessed such powers of recovery as we witnessed last night at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of Chelseas champions league semi final.Chelsea won the match 1-0 from a goal by the man in question,Sir Didier Drogba who minutes before and minutes before that and minutes before that and minutes before that and minutes before that and minutes before that and minutes before that (you get my point) had been writhing around on the floor in complete agony after terrible challenge after challenge rained in on the poor little weak african.how he got up and dusted himself down to score the winner last night is nothing short of miraculous,what a man.............

Now for my next subject,Tooting & fucking Mitcham United,this is the club who back in December announced a 7 year plan to get them from the Ryman Premier League (hornchurch's league) to the Football League,well last week they got out of the league at the first attempt,well done Tooting,step one of the plan going accordingly,only except,them getting out of the league culminated in them getting relegated.I love these teams with Plans.
Well Tuesday night,with their relegation already confirmed,they welcomed Wealdstone to their ground for a Ryman Premier League match,Wealdstone are going for the Play offs so it was an important game for them and the teams around them (not us,we are already confirmed as a play off spot if we dont win the league),So Tooting adhering to the good nature of Non League Football don't play a keeper,having got rid of theirs a week or so ago.What kind of club enters into a game without a keeper,surely the league should do something about this and maybe think about relegating the club 2 leagues instead of one.This is a joke and shows what a shambles the club has become.They lost the game 6-0 and the other play off hopefulls are furious as are many non league football fans,its just not on,i hope they are punished accordingly.

Next to birds,i have not been proper Birdwatching since i broke my ankle,this is depressing me,however the weather being shit as it has been has meant some of that depression has been lifted.I have made two forrays over to Thames chase,culminating in two hours of "birding" by the feeders,neither time seeing much of any substance,the odd tit and finch,kestrel but nothing really i couldn't see at home.On my mums feeders in the last week i have had Great Spotted Woodpecker,Coal tit,Blackcap and all the usual garden stuff along with a nice Mistle Thrush.Since i came home on tuesday i have added Coal tit to my garden list,along with chiffchaff which flew over.Today the weather is crap so i will keep an eye out the window for as long as i can and see what i can find.........may speak to you later,rob


So think of me while you are out finding your Wheatears,Willow warblers,hirundines and any other migrant that decides to drop down when your out birding.....

No more Waxwings

It is with much regrets that i have to inform the local birdwatching fraternity that while i was away staying at my mothers,recovering from my broken ankle for the last week,some bastard has chopped down the Apple Tree,which hung over the end of my garden,this Apple tree was responsible for feeding around 20 Waxwings last winter and although we didn't have any this winter,it is obvious that any returning birds would of liked this tree in winters to come and the bounty which came with it.This tree has also seen Blue,Great & coal tits in it,Greenfinch,goldfinch & chaffinch,wrens,robins,dunnocks as well as jay,crows and pigeons.I also had a Goldcrest in it last year but sadly none of these birds will be seen in this tree again,because the tree is no longer there.
A dissapointing day for local birders,is anything sacred anymore????

Ankle,ouch

I have been offline for the last week or so as i have broken my ankle for what i believe is the 3rd time in 3 years.
This has meant no Birdwatching,or at least limited to birding in my mums garden and twice now i have managed to get over Thames chase and to put my foot up on the bench and watch the feeders,but nothing really turns up,just finches and the odd tit/robin.
Hornchurch lost on Saturday,i went but probably should of stayed in as i seemed to do more damage going than i would of staying at home,resting.We should of won the game but two defensive errors in the first half cost us dear.
Billericay now need a point at margate on Saturday to effectively wrap up the league but its still quite tight as if they were to lose and we win a win by Lowestoft at Billericay and a win for us against Leatherhead at home on the final day will give us the title but i weon't hold my breath.
I will probably give our trip to Harrow a miss on Saturday but will be back for the Leatherhead game the week after which i hope my ankle will have recovered somewhat,i really need to get back to work and to earn some money ASAP.
Am back in hospital to meet the physio next Monday which will be 2 weeks,am hoping i can come out of this cast in the next couple of weeks and drive soon after,fingers crossed.

AFC HORNCHURCH 0 BILLERICAY TOWN 0

Crap game,never got going,they are happier than us.Think i have broken my ankle

THE HORNCHURCH

Been very busy over the first week of Easter.Mainly work but have had some time for my two favourite pastimes,Birding and Football.
Birdwise i have had an indifferent week or so over at Broadfield farm.
A very early Garden Warbler was heard and seen ever so quickly darting into a bush but despite it constantly calling i couldn't see it or get a pic,another observer,without knowing i had the bird in the morning,heard the bird in roughly the same spot in the afternoon.
A muntjac was seen Saturday morning when i went round with Denis,Steve and another person whose name i have forgotten,sorry.
Chiffchaff males seem to be numbering around the 15-20 mark and we have at least 3 male Willow warblers on site,thats about it for the spring migrants although i am sure we are only a couple of days away from a few more arriving.
We have feeders on site now,just outside the visitor centre,hopefully they will attract some good birds to them,so far we have had Great tit,Blue Tit,Greenfinch,Goldfinch, and a Yellowhammer but in small numbers and very very sporadic.
Hornchurch have won their last 3 games and are back in the hunt for the title,2 points behind leaders Billericay and are playing them at 3pm tomorrow (monday) at home,should be a crowd of around 1500 for this one and if we win we will be favourites to lift the title and head to the conference south.Hopefully we will but who knows.COME ON YOU URCHINS

Busy bee

Been busy this week but have managed sporadic birding the last 3 days,mainly to Broadfield farm but popped to Belhus down the road Thursday to find Snipe,redpoll and ducks.I also visited Rainham for the Wednesday walk.
Today,Shaun and Paul had a White Tailed Eagle in chadwell but despite a couple of hours of looking in the sky i couldn't see it,shame,would of been a nice tick for the site,i did however have some reward with raptors in a Male Goshawk,female Peregrine,2 Sparrowhawks,8 Buzzards and at least 3 Kestrels,job done.
Have some photos from the past few days.