Friday, 22 August 2014
Misty moisty morning at SF
A quick pre-breakfast walk. If you've not seen a Kingfisher up close and personal, Strumpshaw is the place!
Thursday, 21 August 2014
Red-backed Shrike and an unexpected Hen Harrier at Winterton!
Another beautiful morning, so Linda, Martin & I headed out eastwards to look for Common Hawkers and Southern Emeralds at Winterton.
Halfway to the 'Toad Pools' we bumped into Norfolk birding legend Barry Jarvis: during a reciprocal 'what's about?' chat, Barry remarked that the long-staying male Red-backed Shrike was showing well beyond the blocks, so that was first stop (Although we did pause to admire a very confiding Muntjac and only my third Painted Lady of the year on the way!)
As promised, this delightful bird entertained us for half an hour, flying really close at times whilst chasing insects. Nearby, Whitethroats and Stonechats seemed to occupy all available perches, while a beautiful male Pied Flycatcher peeped (frustratingly!) from cover, calling insistently.
The Kidney pool held plenty of water and provided good views of Small Red-eyed and Emerald Damselflies, as well as several ovipositing Brown and Migrant Hawkers. We found one possible candidate for Southern Emerald: it has the required bi-coloured pterostigmata, but seemed a little 'chunky' to me... Similarly, a very probable Common Hawker flashed past us several times, but wouldn't settle for photos.
Most surprising bird was a ring-tailed Hen Harrier that drifted southwards along the coastal dune ridge!
Halfway to the 'Toad Pools' we bumped into Norfolk birding legend Barry Jarvis: during a reciprocal 'what's about?' chat, Barry remarked that the long-staying male Red-backed Shrike was showing well beyond the blocks, so that was first stop (Although we did pause to admire a very confiding Muntjac and only my third Painted Lady of the year on the way!)
As promised, this delightful bird entertained us for half an hour, flying really close at times whilst chasing insects. Nearby, Whitethroats and Stonechats seemed to occupy all available perches, while a beautiful male Pied Flycatcher peeped (frustratingly!) from cover, calling insistently.
The Kidney pool held plenty of water and provided good views of Small Red-eyed and Emerald Damselflies, as well as several ovipositing Brown and Migrant Hawkers. We found one possible candidate for Southern Emerald: it has the required bi-coloured pterostigmata, but seemed a little 'chunky' to me... Similarly, a very probable Common Hawker flashed past us several times, but wouldn't settle for photos.
Most surprising bird was a ring-tailed Hen Harrier that drifted southwards along the coastal dune ridge!
Ruddy secret!
On the way home from Cantley, Linda and I stopped off at a lake in the mid-Yare valley where we had been told a female / immature Ruddy Duck had been seen: for obvious reasons, this location must remain secret...
A fair amount of time was spent scanning distant groups of very nervous ducks until Linda noticed a possible bird close to the reed-fringed margin, far too far away for a photograph. As we were peering through the heat haze, a Marsh Harrier put up all the ducks on the pool: I grabbed a distant flight shot which seems to confirm the i/d.
A fair amount of time was spent scanning distant groups of very nervous ducks until Linda noticed a possible bird close to the reed-fringed margin, far too far away for a photograph. As we were peering through the heat haze, a Marsh Harrier put up all the ducks on the pool: I grabbed a distant flight shot which seems to confirm the i/d.
Wednesday, 20 August 2014
Red-necked Grebe!
Linda and I took a stroll around Cantley BF today (Don't enter without a pass from security!!!)
The sunshine and warm breeze made it a delightful - and productive - session, with plenty of waders, lots of dragonflies and several pairs of Buzzards.
Highlight for us, though, was a summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe: distant, yet distinctive even through the heat haze!
The sunshine and warm breeze made it a delightful - and productive - session, with plenty of waders, lots of dragonflies and several pairs of Buzzards.
Highlight for us, though, was a summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe: distant, yet distinctive even through the heat haze!
Post script! A couple of the 'We make money by telling birders too lazy to look for themselves what they can see and where' websites decided Linda & I saw a Little Grebe!!!! All I can say is: you weren't there: it wasn't!
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Halcyon day at Strumpshaw Fen!
Great little session at the Fen this morning: despite the cool wind and rain squalls, I managed to see (and photograph!) Kingfisher, adult and juvenile Water Rail, lots of Egrets, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, ten Ruff and two Little Owls! A couple of Swifts and two House Martins were drifting listlessly over the River Yare.....
I virtually had the place to myself, apart from Liz Dack, her charming friend and one other photographer. Despite all the drivel that's been posted on Bird Forum lately, our chatting and photography did not drive the birds away: far from it! The Rails and Kingfisher fed in front of Fen Hide for over a quarter of an hour.
I virtually had the place to myself, apart from Liz Dack, her charming friend and one other photographer. Despite all the drivel that's been posted on Bird Forum lately, our chatting and photography did not drive the birds away: far from it! The Rails and Kingfisher fed in front of Fen Hide for over a quarter of an hour.
Sunday, 17 August 2014
Prospecting for Emeralds!
Still half a dozen along the usual dyke at Strumpshaw, despite the high winds....
Saturday, 16 August 2014
Spoonbill bonanza!
Linda and I decided to take advantage of the predicted good weather for a run up to the North Coast, starting at Titchwell and moving eastwards to Cley.
Titchwell was (predictably) crowded, but still produced some good photographic opportunities and interesting birds, including Grey Partridge, Sanderling, Eider, Scoter, Sandwich Terns, lots of Ruff and 17 Spoonbills asleep on a distant spit.
We drifted eastwards, finishing up at Cley where (after crab sandwiches!) we walked right around the perimeter of the reserve. The North Scrape held a further 13 Spoonbills (again, dozing in the watery sun) as well as Snipe and Ruff.
As we approached the East Bank a couple of light aircraft flew over low, briefly putting up another 12 Spoonbills: 35 in a day - my all-time UK record haul!
Titchwell was (predictably) crowded, but still produced some good photographic opportunities and interesting birds, including Grey Partridge, Sanderling, Eider, Scoter, Sandwich Terns, lots of Ruff and 17 Spoonbills asleep on a distant spit.
We drifted eastwards, finishing up at Cley where (after crab sandwiches!) we walked right around the perimeter of the reserve. The North Scrape held a further 13 Spoonbills (again, dozing in the watery sun) as well as Snipe and Ruff.
As we approached the East Bank a couple of light aircraft flew over low, briefly putting up another 12 Spoonbills: 35 in a day - my all-time UK record haul!
Friday, 15 August 2014
Emerald and Green!
A quick walk around the Fen this afternoon was not unproductive (although I seem to have managed to miss the Kingfishers, Otters & Bitterns everyone saw!)
The shrub-fringed dyke leading from the back entrance to Lackford Run held at least four Willow Emeralds - the first I've found for a week or two! Lots of Southern, Brown & Migrant Hawkers too.
Tower Hide looked out on decent (though reduced) muddy banks which provided feeding opportunities for Ruff, Green Sandpipers and Little Egrets - no sign of any Garganey, though.
At reception Hide I bumped into Dave, the father of one of my favourite ex-pupils! Hi Claire!
On the way home the Little Owl was present as usual, but sulking in the shadows with his back to me !
The shrub-fringed dyke leading from the back entrance to Lackford Run held at least four Willow Emeralds - the first I've found for a week or two! Lots of Southern, Brown & Migrant Hawkers too.
Tower Hide looked out on decent (though reduced) muddy banks which provided feeding opportunities for Ruff, Green Sandpipers and Little Egrets - no sign of any Garganey, though.
At reception Hide I bumped into Dave, the father of one of my favourite ex-pupils! Hi Claire!
On the way home the Little Owl was present as usual, but sulking in the shadows with his back to me !
Thursday, 14 August 2014
Replacement for Fen Hide
As a Strumpshaw regular (I walk around the reserve most days) I'm aware of the need for a replacement for Fen Hide: not because the existing structure doesn't do the job, but because it is well past its sell-by date!
Those of us who visit regularly (with or without cameras!) are aware that Fen Hide can be very good for close views of Otters, Kingfishers , Water Rails, Bitterns and Bearded Tits. We're also aware (because we spend a lot of anticipatory time there in all weathers at all seasons) that, like the rest of SF, bird density is not high and nothing is guaranteed. My personal preference for the replacement would be for a mini Tower Hide, allowing better views across the reed beds and fringes.
In his recent posting on BF,
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348&page=923
Ben hasn't mentioned it, but I would imagine there are factors that constrain the design of modern public structures - wheelchair access for example - so that a second stilted hide might be a non-starter :(
One last thing: the 'photographer bashing' on BF is getting a bit old: much of the invective showered upon those of us who carry a camera is unjustified. I personally believe that photography plays a major part in record-keeping, and I'm sure Ben would agree that many of the RELIABLE records of new / unusual species at places like Strumpshaw are better when supported by photographic evidence. There's a group of perhaps ten regulars at the Fen who carry cameras: some are genuine artists (Norman Tuttle, Mark Ollett, Brian Tubby - links to their photography are here on my blog) and others use a camera to record what they see (Liz Dack, Kim Breddy, Nigel Parfitt..... Ben Lewis!) I would suggest that a fair number of the birds that people from other parts of the county come to the Fen to see were found by one of us during our regular visits: Penduline Tit, Crane, Caspian Tern, Savi's Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Monty's, Ferruginous Duck are some that come to mind!
Those of us who visit regularly (with or without cameras!) are aware that Fen Hide can be very good for close views of Otters, Kingfishers , Water Rails, Bitterns and Bearded Tits. We're also aware (because we spend a lot of anticipatory time there in all weathers at all seasons) that, like the rest of SF, bird density is not high and nothing is guaranteed. My personal preference for the replacement would be for a mini Tower Hide, allowing better views across the reed beds and fringes.
In his recent posting on BF,
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348&page=923
Ben hasn't mentioned it, but I would imagine there are factors that constrain the design of modern public structures - wheelchair access for example - so that a second stilted hide might be a non-starter :(
One last thing: the 'photographer bashing' on BF is getting a bit old: much of the invective showered upon those of us who carry a camera is unjustified. I personally believe that photography plays a major part in record-keeping, and I'm sure Ben would agree that many of the RELIABLE records of new / unusual species at places like Strumpshaw are better when supported by photographic evidence. There's a group of perhaps ten regulars at the Fen who carry cameras: some are genuine artists (Norman Tuttle, Mark Ollett, Brian Tubby - links to their photography are here on my blog) and others use a camera to record what they see (Liz Dack, Kim Breddy, Nigel Parfitt..... Ben Lewis!) I would suggest that a fair number of the birds that people from other parts of the county come to the Fen to see were found by one of us during our regular visits: Penduline Tit, Crane, Caspian Tern, Savi's Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Monty's, Ferruginous Duck are some that come to mind!
Wednesday, 13 August 2014
Upton Fen: a happy event?
Just for a change, I took a stroll around the 'long loop' at Upton Fen NNT reserve. The sunny weather had brought out dozens of butterflies, including half a dozen Wall Browns - nice! A Hornet was busily paper-making on an old stump!
Lots of dragons, too - literally scores of Brown Hawkers and hundreds of Migrants: I managed to photograph a Brown just post-emergence. Lots of really bright Emerald Damsels, too: I wonder how long it'll be before Willow Emeralds arrive....
A well-marked Buzzard flew over the reeds, stimulating a hidden pair of Cranes to start trumpeting. As I attempted to photograph the two adults I could see with binoculars, I'm almost certain I caught a glimpse of a brownish juvenile peering over the reeds.
I think the white flower is 'Grass of Parnassus'!
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