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My son, who works at Costco's in Lakeside, and I were on our way to Hollywood bowl when he told me that some photographers had been sitting in the bushes in Costco's carpark photographing birds. My ears pricked up and I asked him what they were. He said he didn't know but that they were quite colourful and had mohican haircuts, the birds not the photographers. All of a sudden I realised that he was describing waxwings! Lucky him, I 've always wanted to see one but so far no luck. I think I'll head down to Costco's car park early tomorrow morning as he said that they've been there all this week when he gets to work around 8.30. Maybe I'll be lucky.

Last week, I was happily wandering in Belhus Woods and spotted an unusual bird in amongst the many pochards, coots, mallards, tufted ducks, teal and shovellers. I took careful note of its plumage and took a picture, which turned out to be the usual small brown spot in the distance and no use whatsoever for identification purposes, and went quickly home to consult my books. To my delight, it was a red-crested pochard. Wonderful.

All in all its been a great birding week as my husband and I went down to Dungeness over the weekend to see the Glossy Ibis. The bird was a bit shy but we did get a beautiful view eventually. Well worth the drive. What with the bittern that flew across the lake in front of us and the discovery of several yellow horned poppy plants tucked up against the hide wall I was a very happy bunny.