Odds & ends!

Around the patch again: a curious mixture of leavers & arrivers, with Redwings and Willow Warblers in the same ivy at Strumpshaw! Judging by the clusters of sunspots, we might get another aurora soon...

The joys of local patching!

I can hear your thoughts! "Black-tailed Godwit? So what?" Well yes - at Cley, or Titchwell maybe.... But right in front of Tower Hide at Strumpshaw? Now that's special! I also add a few Spring-type shots to get the anticipatory juices flowing!

Just for a lark!

Since Brian wanted better views (and photos) of last week's Breckland species, we returned today in sunny weather. Home by 2.00pm with mission accomplished, we also managed distant views of five Buzzards, a Goshawk and various other bits and pieces. Great day out!

'Owls of delight!

Yes!!!!! Finally connected with the Little Owl at Strumpshaw, adding a much-desired patch tick. A walk around the Fen provided a few extra photo-ops, including Cetti's Warbler, lots of Marsh Harriers (including the strangely-marked female) and a Snipe.

An 'owling success! (Nearly!)

A snatched couple of hours in the sunshine at Strumpshaw with Brian was not only a pleasant change from the recent bad weather, but also provided excellent views of Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, Tree Creeper and Barn Owl. There is amost always something to see / photograph at the Fen - just a great little reserve... (But still no sign of the flippin' Little Owl!)

Hide and seek!

Well: I know the tree! All I need now is for the Little Owl to be sitting in it! I go past every day, but so far, no luck! (Owl photo: Ben Lewis)

Two bird theory!

A quick pre-lunch pop out to Cantley turned into a seven-mile, three hour marathon! I started off at the bowling green car-park and walked round the river bank to the path that cuts back to the station, picking up all the usual suspects on the way (Hare, Marsh Harrier, Water Pipit, Herring Gull chasing a crow, Shelduck etc etc) As I walked back to the van an apparent white-winged gull had arrived on the 'Ibis Pool'. I had time for a single distant shot before it flew eastwards. Since the weather seemed set fine, I followed it downstream way beyond the Beet Factory, until I relocated it (or so I thought!) with a huge flock of gulls near the railway line. I sneaked up within binocular view and found it was an adult Iceland Gull: not the bird photographed by Ben, nor the first individual I had seen earlier: as I raised the camera, a train flushed the lot....

No Iceland.... not even a Kerry Katona!

The sight of a flock of Golden Plovers whizzing over the garden broke my resolve to stay in and work all day: I took a quick drive out to Strump / Buck / Cantley to see if I could find yesterday's Iceland Gull (Excellent spot, Ben!) In the event, all I managed was an image of male & female catkins and a flattering pic of yours truly, taken on my SD card by a friendly native!

Breck break!

Despite an unpromising weather forecast, Norman, Brian & I headed south to see if we could mop up the odds and ends we missed last time! Suffice it to say: we did! A nice flock of Tree Sparrows was extremely welcome: the first I've seen for years! Nearby, a flock of twelve Herons flew over - quite a sight!

We moved to Mayday where a longish walk produced a pair of displaying Woodlark which were joined at one point by a third bird. Spick's Lodge added Crossbill to the tally, as well as distant views of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (a pair!) Finally, the drive home gave us spectacular views of two Buzzards mobbing a Goshawk! Splendid stuff!

North Coast in the sunshine!

The fine weather demanded a run up to the North Coast, so Martin & I met up early and were at Edgefield looking at a flock of 30 - 40 Crossbills by 9.00. Most of these were Commons, but by call we identified at least five Parrots. I think I managed a couple of photos, but the telescopic views were much more conclusive! The whole flock were nervously eyeing a Sparrowhawk that circled above them, and Buzzard & Marsh Harrier didn't help!

A move to Stiffkey added Little Egret, Skylark and a few Brents to the day-list, but (having walked right out to the 'beach') we realised we were in the wrong place. Accordingly, we drifted eastwards to Morston and paid our £2.50 parking fee, only to discover that there was no way out to the Channel! A long walk westwards followed, until we found a vantage point which allowed us to grill the water. Quite soon we found a flock of Mergansers Pintail and Goldeneye and then a group of divers. We reckoned there were two Great Northerns and three Black-throateds. Only other birds of note were five Twite that flew around us without landing and a photogenic Ruff.

Tonight I took advantage of the clear sky to photograph an Iridium Flare satellite: those of you who are space-freaks will know what these spectacular objects are, while those of you who aren't couldn't care less, so I won't explain!