Wednesday at Strumpshaw

A bad day for Basil Brush......
Exciting news: a Savi's on territory at the Fen: I'll be back at dusk to listen!
Meanwhile: good views of a Kingfisher and I heard (but didn't see) a Garden Warbler. As I was listening to it singing, a Mistle Thrush joined in..... I was a little taken aback when another birder identified this as the GW!
Finally: a pair of Stock Doves new to the garden.

Great Spotted Woodie by sandy bank...

Rainy Monday AGAIN!

Following a glorious sunny Sunday (which failed to produce a view of the fox cubs for Linda & me!) the weather returned to normal!
I spent more fruitless hours at the 'earth' and walked seven miles, failing to see a Little Owl! Still: did see a Tawny Owl and a fly-over Osprey at Buckenham Wood, as well as both types of Salsify: the yellow species is the truly wild form, the other a feral food-plant.
As I was leaving Strump at around 3.00pm, a sign was being put out to say the reserve was closed from early evening.... I do hope this is nothing to do with the foxes. :(

Strumpshaw Fen on a rainy early morning!

Sorry! Couldn't resist!

More Turtle pictures from today....

Strump on a sunny Friday!

Some really excellent birds on a bright and breezy day

Hobby

Strange white-rumped swift

Willow Warbler

Wheatear by the windpump: first at Strump for me!

Better pictures of the Turtles

Tonight our beautiful visitors spent longer at the feeding station, allowing some better pictures!

Male

Female

Doesn't she look tiny next to a Woodie?

They're back!!!!!!

Our favourite visitors are back in the garden! First heard them last night and saw them this morning!

Two patch ticks!

An old friend from Acle (Red O'H) facebooked me to say there was a Nightingale on my patch: a nod's as good as a wink, so I carried on from the post office to have a listen. Sure enough, I'd hardly walked ten yards when the throbbing ululations of this, my favourite thrush, drifted across the marshes! Only only few (typical) views, but a delight to hear! Also Pied Flycatcher! Good heavens!

Strumpshaw on a surprisingly dry Bank Holiday Monday....

An early morning trot around Strumpshaw, Buckenham and the 'backroads' was delightful if not terribly productive: more Buzzards, lots of Cuckoos (including one in Blofield Heath, as well as a pair of fly-through Shelducks!) Whitethroats, Linnets and a Song Thrush proving they are every gardener's friend!

Strumpshaw & Buckenham

Five Cuckoos today, including a pair mating in a tree top on the other side of the Yare...
Also literally hundreds of Swifts arrived ahead of a squall: my first of the year, followed by more good views of Whitethroats and Cettis Warblers, as well as a cute little female Blackcap!

Strumpshaw & Buckenham

An early morning trot round produced my first Cuckoo of the year, in the same tree as last year! Also, good views (for once!) of a Cetti's Warbler and three more Buzzards!

Sunny Monday: for a change!

As I look from my office window today (Tuesday!) yesterday's sunshine seems a distant memory!
Few nice birds at Acle / Strumpshaw: my first Whitethroat of the year, Garden Warbler etc: and the curiously long tailed Buzzard at Strump: I think it's moulted its outer tail feathers, giving it a thinner, longer appearance...

Almost Eagle-like!

Blackcap

Willow Warbler

Whitethroat

Sedge Warbler