Sunday, 25 January 2015
Stocking up!
There's been a lot of chat about Stock Doves on various fora recently: here's a pair that are semi-resident in the garden at the moment. I find them beautiful, gentle creatures, second only to Turtles in appeal!
Thursday, 22 January 2015
Odds and ends in the Yare Valley
A morning on the patch seemed in order (especially after the - anonymous - mauling I received on a well-known forum!)
Strumpshaw was remarkably quiet: maybe a dozen Harriers came out of roost and two Otters splashed around the river's edge without allowing a photo op.!
A move to Halvergate and quite a long walk was more productive, but, apart from a flock of Fieldfares, everything was that bit too far away for decent images. Nevertheless, Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine were added to the day list, along with the usual waders.
Strumpshaw was remarkably quiet: maybe a dozen Harriers came out of roost and two Otters splashed around the river's edge without allowing a photo op.!
A move to Halvergate and quite a long walk was more productive, but, apart from a flock of Fieldfares, everything was that bit too far away for decent images. Nevertheless, Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine were added to the day list, along with the usual waders.
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Twite, Rough-legs, Kites.... A fantastic day on the North Coast!
Martin picked me up nice and early and we headed through the frosty by-ways to a Waxwing-free Cromer!
Undeterred, we carried on to Cley, where a walk along the East Bank produced to-die-for views of 40+ Bearded Tits, a Stonechat and a really dapper Little Egret. Reaching the end, we elected to walk eastwards: great decision! Within two hundred metres we were scoping a mixed flock of 50+ Snow Buntings and slightly more Twite: unexpectedly, as we stood on the shingle, the flock flew over to look at us, giving fabulous views!
After coffee at the reserve centre, we headed west, stopping at Holkham to scan for Beans & Brants: no sign of either, but the first of ten Red Kites flew over, while a confiding Pink-footed Goose posed just a few metres from the car. As we headed westwards, an amazingly pale Common Buzzard sat in a tree, trying to confuse passers by!
Last stop was Burnham Norton: having parked by the side of the road, we walked down the 'beach path' and soon found a distant Rough-legged Buzzard perched on a fence. At one point it flew nearer to dislodge a Buzzard (or a second RLB!) from a bush. Loads more Kites, dozens of Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards and a distant Short-eared Owl completed a fabulous day in the sunshine!
Undeterred, we carried on to Cley, where a walk along the East Bank produced to-die-for views of 40+ Bearded Tits, a Stonechat and a really dapper Little Egret. Reaching the end, we elected to walk eastwards: great decision! Within two hundred metres we were scoping a mixed flock of 50+ Snow Buntings and slightly more Twite: unexpectedly, as we stood on the shingle, the flock flew over to look at us, giving fabulous views!
After coffee at the reserve centre, we headed west, stopping at Holkham to scan for Beans & Brants: no sign of either, but the first of ten Red Kites flew over, while a confiding Pink-footed Goose posed just a few metres from the car. As we headed westwards, an amazingly pale Common Buzzard sat in a tree, trying to confuse passers by!
Last stop was Burnham Norton: having parked by the side of the road, we walked down the 'beach path' and soon found a distant Rough-legged Buzzard perched on a fence. At one point it flew nearer to dislodge a Buzzard (or a second RLB!) from a bush. Loads more Kites, dozens of Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards and a distant Short-eared Owl completed a fabulous day in the sunshine!
Saturday, 17 January 2015
Great Grey Shrike: third time lucky in the Brecks!
Linda & I scraped the frost from the windscreen and headed south to Santon Downham. A circuit of the whole site from bridge to bridge turned up Kingfisher, Siskin and Nuthatch, but no sign of the target bird. Just as we were driving off, we stopped to check with a birder on the road bridge: he said the Shrike had been seen an hour before! We parked and hurried back to the big clearing, where a terrific Suffolk birder called Jonathan offered to show us where the bird had last been seen: within minutes he'd refound it and put us in a good position for some decent photos.....
After a good fill-up, we drove to Mundford for lunch at the excellent Brown's Restaurant before a short visit to Linford Arboretum. Although everything was a bit far away for photography, we added Hawfinch, Bullfinch and Grey Wagtail to the day list. A really terrific session!
Returning home, sunset brought clear skies and further views of Lovejoy, Mercury & Venus!
After a good fill-up, we drove to Mundford for lunch at the excellent Brown's Restaurant before a short visit to Linford Arboretum. Although everything was a bit far away for photography, we added Hawfinch, Bullfinch and Grey Wagtail to the day list. A really terrific session!
Returning home, sunset brought clear skies and further views of Lovejoy, Mercury & Venus!
Friday, 16 January 2015
Kites, Rough-legs, Short-ears, Barnie... Great day in North Norfolk!
Martin & I snatched a day together in North Norfolk: a great decision!
Starting off at Sparham Pools, we failed to locate the Great White Egret, but a flock of 5 Bullfinches (all male!) and two Goosander were some compensation. From there we moved up to the coast, picking up a diurnal Barn Owl and a covey of ten Grey Partridge on the way.
The famous lay-by at Burnham Norton produced distant views of Short-eared Owl and Rough-legged Buzzard, as well as Common Buzzard and Barnacle Goose. Titchwell was not over-productive, although there were some nice waders, including Grey Plover, Spotted Redshank and both Godwits. The sea was really quiet, but we added Red-breasted Merganser to the year list!
We drifted home via New Holkham, where - with incredible good fortune - we picked up ten or more Red Kites and three Buzzards going intro roost: they appeared and vanished in minutes!
Starting off at Sparham Pools, we failed to locate the Great White Egret, but a flock of 5 Bullfinches (all male!) and two Goosander were some compensation. From there we moved up to the coast, picking up a diurnal Barn Owl and a covey of ten Grey Partridge on the way.
The famous lay-by at Burnham Norton produced distant views of Short-eared Owl and Rough-legged Buzzard, as well as Common Buzzard and Barnacle Goose. Titchwell was not over-productive, although there were some nice waders, including Grey Plover, Spotted Redshank and both Godwits. The sea was really quiet, but we added Red-breasted Merganser to the year list!
We drifted home via New Holkham, where - with incredible good fortune - we picked up ten or more Red Kites and three Buzzards going intro roost: they appeared and vanished in minutes!
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