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.

Round Britain Tour - Day 6

An early start this morning although I was running a little late! Breakfast at our accommodation was set for 08:30 but the chef very kindly came in to serve us at 07:00. We managed to get away for about 07:45 so not all bad, only running 15 minutes late and fortunately the first stop was only 5 minutes away at the Parkend triangle for Hawfinch. Luckily I'd visited 2 weeks earlier so knew exactly where to locate the Hawfinches, it only took about 10 minutes before they flew into the same trees I'd seen them in before, that was target bird 1 ticked.

Next stop was for the Two-barred Crossbill but we decided to stop off at New Fancy viewpoint as we were passing to waste our time looking for Goshawk. We arrived atop the viewpoint and within about 2 minutes Lee Evans spots a Goshawk against the sunny blue sky over the treetops - DISPLAYING!! on the 24th January!!!! Goshawk was a bonus bird for the trip as we never expected to see them this early in the year, even better was the fact that it was a lifer for me :o)

We then drove around to a suitable parking area for a walk up to Brierley Hill and across Serridge Ridge where they have faithfully frequented for a number of weeks. We walked the ridge and had to take momentary shelter under the trees as a brief deluge tried to soak us, once it ceased we continued our walk and saw plenty of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Chaffinch and a couple of stunning Brambling but no Two-bars.

We had news of Great Grey Shrike showing at Crabtree Hill although we had no idea where that was. I attempted to find it on the internet but O2 my service provider (personal branding NO-2) wasn't really 'providing' said service, although this wasn't surprising, it was frustrating...! We walked in what Lee Evans presumed was the correct direction and we felt we'd found the correct area based on the reporting. We walked through the heath be no joy so decided to head back to the car via Serridge Ridge. On the way back across the heath the Great Grey Shrike was spotted, it was at a distant but sat atop a bare tree in beautiful sunlight affording us some amazing views.

96. Great Grey Shrike

96. Great Grey Shrike

96. Great Grey Shrike

 

 After that great find, we headed back to the car completely elated but it wasn't to end as on our way back across Serridge Ridge we came across a number of birders whom we stopped to talk to, whilst chatting the Two-barred Crossbills were heard and unbelievably landed just down from us in the top of a tree again in sunlight affording amazing views!

97. Two-barred Crossbill

97. Two-barred Crossbill

97. Two-barred Crossbill

97. Two-barred Crossbill

With all our target species for the day accomplished it was time to head across to Suffolk but we would go via Cotswold Water Park for Red-crested Pochard. They were reported on Pit 44, when we arrived I couldn't believe how many there were, I think it was 28 but I can't remember now.

Red-crested Pochard

We then continued onto Suffolk, heading for Thetford, we took another diversion via Staines Moor for Water Pipit but failed to locate any, the fields were flooded and it was dog walking time, we then popped into Staines Reservoir for Scaup with a bonus Black-necked Grebe. We managed to clock up Red Kite whilst travelling along the M4.

Red Kite

I only saw a total of 46 species today with 1 lifer (Goshawk). I'm now at 147 for the trip:

1. Hawfinch
2. Stockdove
3. Woodpigeon
4. Greenfinch
5. Blackbird
6. Jackdaw
7. Song Thrush
8. Mistle Thrush
9. Tufted Duck
10. Mallard
11. Moorhen
12. Coot
13. Lesser Black-backed Gull
14. Great Spotted Woodpecker
15. Blue Tit
16. Great Tit
17. Chaffinch
18. Bullfinch
19. Goshawk
20. Mandarin Duck
21. Brambling
22. Coal Tit
23. Raven
24. Two-barred Crossbill
25. Goldcrest
26. Carrion Crow
27. Common Buzzard
28. Red-crested Pochard
29. Goosander
30. Cormorant
31. Lesser Redpoll
32. Great Crested Grebe
33. Great Grey Shrike
34. Mute Swan
35. Red Kite
36. Kestrel
37. Magpie
38. Little Egret
39. Fieldfare
40. Shovelar
41. Gadwall
42. Pochard
43. Wigeon
44. Scaup
45. Goldeneye
46. Black-necked Grebe

RSPB HQ

Never been to the RSPB's HQ before but since I had an hour to kill I thought I'd pop over, I'd heard they'd had a number of Brambling visiting their feeders so hopefully it would be worth my while.

I arrived nice and early, only a few cars in the car park, the feeders however were already congested to the max with Lesser Redpolls, Siskins and Tits, a few Mealy Redpolls have been reported but my ID skills aren't good enough for separation of the two.

I took quite a few shots of the birds feeding which looked great on the camera display but rather blurred when transferred to the computer and view as a larger image.

A female Brambling appeared which I was happy with but she was very flighty and difficult to photograph, so after about 20 minutes watching and photographing the birds around the feeders I decided to take a quick walk around the nature trail.

I crossed the road to the start of the trail, made my way round the first corner then noticed some movement in one of the trees, 3 Brambling which sat for a while allowing me to obtain a half decent image.

32. Brambling

 

The walk around the reserve, although pleasant did not offer up much bird life, I think they all hang around the feeders! I heard Raven calling in the distance but didn't manage to see them.  I did see a fox and only managed a quick few shots as it ran off through the woods.

 

Fox

 

I continued round to the hide by the HQ building, again plenty of close up views of Redpolls, Tits and Siskin. A nice quiet hide allowing ample opportunity to practice photographing the birds.

 

 33. Redpoll

 

 Redpoll

 



 34. Siskin

 

Somehow managed to get onto this Coal Tit who rarely stopped in the same spot for more than 2 seconds!

 

35. Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Stock Dove, a bird I rarely get to see up close flew in with it's partner and again afforded me some fantastic close up views, I managed to get a fair few shots at different angles in an attempt to catch the neck patch in different lights, I only uploaded the one though, might have another look through and see if I can find one with the neck patch looking purple..

36. Stock Dove

 

I then noticed something flying low in the background, my first thought was Merlin, it was flying extremely fast but also rising, it was difficult to get onto with the binoculars but I eventually managed it - Woodcock, awesome, only my second every sighting and my first in daylight, I presume it had been flushed by walkers as there were a few in the direction from which I first noticed it.  Now an extremely happy bunny with Brambling and Woodcock for the day I decided to call it a day but just before I did a Goldfinch landed on the feeder so I grabbed a quick photograph for the blog.

37. Goldfinch

 

So all in all I would thoroughly recommend a visit to the home of the RSPB, a small heathland being restored, hopefully when it brightens up a little (if) there may be the chance of visiting Tree Pipit, Woodlark and who knows, maybe I could be so bold as to hope for Nightjar and Dartford Warbler!!

 

Almost forgot, while in the hide I had a glance out of the side window and saw this cute little bunny, couldn't resist a photo...

Bunny - Cute....