Bling!

This frosty little Redpoll was a very welcome visitor to the niger seeds today: on inspection he seems to have a silver-coloured ring on his left leg....

 

Round the block!

My favourite patch walk is from Blofield Heath, past Hemblington Hall and the Alpaca Farm, back past Dell Corner then along High Noon Lane, returning via Cutton's Corner: this is around 6 miles. I don't expect to see much at this time of year, but there's usually something: today it was a cute little Weasel, a couple of very vocal Egyptian Geese, several Yellowhammers and a flock of Fieldfares.....

Exotic introductions!

Back home! But a week with Mum-in-Law in Maidenhead was, as always, enlivened by Ring-necked & Alexandrine Parakeets on the Boulter's Lock Eyots, as well as Red Kites & Grey Wagtails aplenty!

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas to all my birding friends: Martin, Brian, Norman, Mark, Liz, Liz, Sue, Ben, Steve and Dot...
And to the whole Yare Valley Crew!
The pic will give you a clue as to where I'm spending the day!

Last knockings of 2012....

A wonderful couple of hours at Strumpshaw, in the company of possibly the three best bird photographers in the Yare Valley: Mark, Norman & Brian, as well as the two lovely Lizzies!
Fabulous views of perhaps five Bitterns as well as a whisp of 11 Snipe and the ever-vigilant Buckenham Peregrines....

North Coast with Martin!

Martin (my oldest friend and best birder I know!) spent a coffee-fueled day on the north coast, starting with Bramblings at Choseley, moving to Titchwell for Spotted Redshank, Twite and Red-crested Pochard. A large mixed flock of waders was feeding on Razor Clams on the beach: this included Knot, Sanderling & Turnstones. The drive eastwards for lattes at Cley produced  very welcome Waxwing & Bullfinch at Burnham Norton, while a hike to Gramborough Hill was virtually birdless.
I had forgotten my camera, so photo credits are with Martin's excellent Nikon!

Otterly marvellous!

A short-ish walk around Strumpshaw (and Ranworth) in the excellent company of Sue S was surprisingly productive! Not one, but FOUR otters fishing together by the sluices. Other birds included a Bittern and at least six Great Spotted Woodpeckers, including three together, as well as two drake Goosanders at Ranworth.
As I was driving home, I saw a Buzzard perched close to Bullace Bush Road: a binocular view (before I had to respond to the hooting of the traffic jam I'd caused behind me!) revealed it to be a frosty Rough-legged Buzzard!

Beanz and Whitez!

An eight mile walk from Buckenham to Cantley and back provided distant (but welcome) views of flocks of Whitefronts, Taiga Bean Geese and Golden Plover. Less welcome was an ignorant sh*t holding court on the embankment at Cantley, who was extraordinarily rude when I tried to make polite conversation.....

A very welcome visitor!

As I was preparing aubergines parmagiana, I glanced out of the kitchen window to see this beautiful Brambling on the seeds! Pictures taken through misty kitchen windows are never great, but you get the idea...   Let's hope he sticks around!

Pinks 'n' Beans!

Even over the sound of Roy Wood on the radio wishing it could be Christmas every day, I heard the distinctive yelping of a massive flock (300+) of Pink-footed Geese flying west over the house. I grabbed my camera and bins and rushed out in my dressing gown: joining the Pinks from the north was a flock of about 20 Bean Geese. By the time I took a single photo, the birds were disappearing in the distance....

Some days I wish I had a bigger one....

Camera lens, that is! Today I saw some terrific birds at Strumpshaw / Buckenham, but everything was at the limits of my optics: Bitterns (4) Sparrowhawks (2) Buzzards (3) ..... even the more expected species such as Mistle Thrush and Bearded Tit were at the very edge of my equipment / abilities. Still: here are a few pictures, as well as the ingredients for a fine game pie! (There were nine Hares altogether!)