2016 Year List

2016 Year List (UK:137) (Total:165):
Key: Bold = Lifer. Red = Overseas Bold Red (Work it out!)

Starling, House Sparrow, Mallard, Eider, Pheasant, Red-throated Diver, Northern Fulmar, Raven, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Robin, Rock Pipit, Rock Dove, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Gannet, Shag, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Widgeon, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Great Northern Diver, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Purple Sandpiper, Collard Dove, Redwing, Fieldfare, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Red Kite, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Egyptian Goose, Northern Shovelar, Great Crested Grebe, Bittern, Moorhen, Coot, Ring-necked Parakeet, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Wren, Canada Goose, Pintail, Pochard, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Jay, Siskin, Gadwall, Peregrine Falcon, Long-tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Red-legged Partridge, Treecreeper, Shelduck, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, Kingfisher, Penduline Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Sandwich Tern, Sardinian Warbler, Audouin's Gull, Osprey, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Yellow-legged Gull, Blackcap, Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, Stone Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Serin, Common Crossbill, Reed Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Booted Eagle, Kentish Plover, Greater Flamingo, Moustached Warbler, Purple Swamphen, Pied Avocet, Greenshank, Pink-footed Goose, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Grey Partridge, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Mistle Thrush, Lapland Bunting, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Golden Pheasant, Common Snipe, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Wheatear, Dipper, Yellowhammer, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Goosander, Velvet Scoter, Common Scoter, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, King Eider, Whimbrel, Snow Bunting, Capercaillie, Red-breasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebe, Rock Ptarmigan, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Black-throated Diver, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Skua, Puffin, Red-crested Pochard










Sunday, 13 December 2015

North Norfolk Lifers

Since the wife had friends over for the weekend I decided to make myself scarce and head up to Norfolk for the Pallid Harrier which had been hanging around for some time. I travelled up to Norfolk the night before and grabbed a B&B so I could be up at first light to make a full day of it.

I arrived at RSPB Snettisham a little before last light on the off chance I could grab a quick look but I had no idea just how far the hides are from the car park - sooo far and the path was narrow and boggy.  No view of the Harrier however I witnessed thousands of Pink-footed Geese flying out to the estuary for their evening roost.

I got up early the following day and arrived back at Snettisham just after first light and was surprised to find there were already about 15 birders on site.  The Pallid Harrier was showing extremely well just opposite the first hide, I didn't get any photos though as it took flight and headed of down the headland to hunt but was more than happy with a Lifer.  Out on the estuary where dozens of Shelduck, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank, and Dunlin.

Time to try for another lifer; 3 Shorelark had been showing well over the past week at Holme Dunes so that was my next stop.  On route I stopped off at a small RSPB location but I have no idea were  and cannot remember the name for the life of me, it was a saltmarsh where I had great views of a Water Rail, a few Little Egret and hundreds of Golden Plover streaming over head.  A small pool opposite the reserve held Shovelar, Widgeon and a few Brent Geese.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

As I headed up the approach road to Holme Dunes I had to stop to let a car through a narrow spot, just as I was about to pull of I caught something out the corner of my eye.  A beautiful Barn Owl was perched quite happily about 10 meters away, I couldn't resist a quick snap which the driver behind didn't seem to mind as they did exactly the same.

Barn Owl

I parked up at Holme and had a quick bite to eat before heading on down for the Shorelark and hopefully Snow Bunting.  When I arrived at the end of the beach the Shorelark weren't to be found, it certainly didn't help that birders were traipsing all over the dunes.... sometimes birders can be a pain in the arse...!  I waited until everybody went off over the dunes then started scanning what I thought were suitable areas and eventually located them, lifer number 2 - Shorelark, they were quite a distance off and I didn't want to disturb them further.  No sign of any Snow Bunting but some nice flocks of Linnet.

Shorelark

Next stop was RSPB Titchwell where I had the usual ridiculous views of Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff and Avocet.  I had a couple of year ticks with Marsh Tit and Brambling on the feeders.  I was informed and shown some Water Pipit at the back of one of the pools although I think someone was working on faith as at that distance I could hardly make them out as Pipits....

Final stop was Wolferton Triangle for the Golden Pheasant which would represent my 3rd lifer for the day.  I was not to be however but I did have 4 Woodcock which were new for the year so not all bad.

Woodcock

All in all a very enjoyable day with a couple of lifers, some year ticks and birds I don't often get to seen living just about as far from the coast as you can in the UK.
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Location: North Norfolk District, Norfolk, UK

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