Hoopoe at Snodland

In a little over twenty four hours I'll be on my way to Extremadura in Spain, via Madrid. There's a fair chance I'll encounter a Hoopoe or two while I'm there, accustomed as they are to the sheltered groves and rich plains of western Spain. But it turns out I needn't have bothered - why go to Spain when you can go to Snodland?!

A few photos of the superb Hoopoe at Snodland this afternoon:

Hoopoe (Upupa epops) Snodland, 29/3/14

After a very enjoyable visit to Cliffe this morning, I stopped at Snodland for a look at the Hoopoe which has (remarkably) been present in the area since late-November. With the bird having kept a low profile for much of the winter, it was an opportunity to see a much-anticipated new bird for me in Britain and Kent, having missed it twice last week. Thankfully, this time I was put onto the bird straight away by another birder and had great views of it for half an hour as it spent some time preening on a low branch and then feeding energetically on the close cropped lawn at the back of the farm house. As I watched, it made short work of a number of worms and grubs, with its distinct, curved bill and looked comfortable in its adopted home north of its European breeding range. A fantastic bird and a great way to start the holiday!

Back soon - cheers!