The week of birding is over & the totals are in: at the 8 RSPB reserves (& Southwold) I visited in 9 days, I spotted a total of 97 different species & narrowly missed out on another 3 which would have given me my century.
My favourite part is difficult to pick out as all the places had their own special charm, but putting aside my (almost) local patches of Snettisham & Titchwell which I always enjoy, Minsmere sticks in my mind. It has the feel of being one of the older RSPB reserves, like an older sibling of Titchwell, & all the habitats seem at a correspondingly mature stage which supports a huge range of species. Added to this is its size & the variety of habitats which again adds to the possible range of species one might see. I'm fairly certain that the 60 species I saw there is a record for any outing of mine & I will be planning to return, hopefully to see the little terns this summer.
Another highlight was the wonderfully wild Buckenham Marshes & although the wintry weather & snow made the conditions sometimes difficult it was amazing to see the skeins of White-Fronted Geese over the marsh. Also the close-up views of the Red-Throated Diver on the canal were an amazing treat especially as I had never seen one before.
This Easter trip was easily the most birding I've done in at least 10 years, probably ever, & I mostly had the luxury of time to explore, using the RSPB reserves as a framework to visit areas I'd never visited before. Although it's stating the obvious I was struck by just how precious a commodity time & patience are when hunting for a bird sighting. I have always known that often the best strategy is to find a good spot & wait for the wildlife to come to you, but this trip emphasized just how important that can be, for example I added 3 new species to my life list by staying in a hide & patiently observing movements outside. I also appreciated the value of communicating with other birders & being amongst a group of birders, especially in a hide, simply because the more pairs of eyes keenly watching the area, the more species will likely be spotted.
Many of the reserves I visited shared some elements of their habitats, in particular reedbeds & scrapes, but the birds seen were nonetheless still varied, for example Cranes at Lakenheath & a Slavonian Grebe at Dungeness. The sheer numbers of species that can also be seen is something to be amazed at, birds fit the countryside like a patchwork pattern on the landscape, often exceedingly localised but also wide-ranging in distribution, even with birds that would be considered quite sedentary.
It's also heartening to know that there are still some wonderfully wild areas in the east & south-east of England & that they are in the hands of the RSPB & other organisations, presumably in perpetuity. Part of my interest this trip was to see if I had any perception of how those areas have changed in the 20 years since I first started birding, & on the whole I was pleased & relieved that the areas have in some cases expanded & in most cases have preserved their appeal & species. I'd also like to think I surveyed quite a few of them during my week-long expedition but I know that's not true, I saw just a fraction, & I am looking forward to continuing my exploration.
Finally a mention on digiscoping: I shelled out for some new kit, a new camera & new adapters for my old scope, so I could get better photos than my previous hand-held efforts & I was not disappointed with the results to be seen within my posts. The only disappointment was the battery life of my new Canon Powershot A590 IS which often lasted less than a day with a new set of AAs; it's being returned for another, hopefully it's just a dodgy one-off. Now I think I just need a new fluorite 'scope to improve results further, that & more familiarisation with the camera equipment I eventually settle on.
View Easter 2008 in a larger map
Sunday, 30 March 2008
Friday, 28 March 2008
RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex, 28/03/2008
Wet & windy, from 1130am.
I had anticipated an early start at Dungeness hoping to get out & pick up the reported wheatears, chiff chaffs & even a garganey, however that constant spoiler this Easter, the weather, intervened decisively. When I got there it seemed to be blowing a gale & was pouring with rain. I just couldn't face the walk especially as I had had a good run the evening before & faced a potentially long drive home. Fortunately on my way home I pass Rainham Marshes so I decided to make a visit to a final reserve on my Easter expedition.
When I arrived it was threatening to brighten up, but that didn't last long, nevertheless I made for the one & only hide but before that, a good group of birds on the visitors' centre's feeders: Collared Dove, lots of Goldfinch, Greenfinch & Chaffinch.
On the way to the hide, visible on the first set of marshes: Mute Swan, Coot, Shoveler, Wigeon, Black-Headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Little Egret, Mallard. Then into the small wooded area & a first stretch of reedbed: Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow. Into the first hide & a selection of more generalist birds picked up as I scanned the area: Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Lapwing, Woodpigeon & Skylark.
I left the hide & continued on the path round the rest of the reserve with the wind & rain increasing at every step, however the next area of marsh caused me to stop for: Shelduck, Teal, Herring Gull & Lesser & Greater Black-Backed Gulls.
Trudging through the downpour & nearing the end of the reserve a group of foraging Mistle Thrush & Starling caused me to stop, unwrap my binoculars & take a quick scan. A stroke of luck because I noticed a pale, red-legged wader which was now known to me, a Spotted Redshank, alongside a 'common-or-garden' Redshank allowing for a nice comparison. It was more or less the final bird of this Easter extravanganza & one which provided a nice sort of symmetry as it was the first new species I encountered on my trip.
32 species, none new.
I had anticipated an early start at Dungeness hoping to get out & pick up the reported wheatears, chiff chaffs & even a garganey, however that constant spoiler this Easter, the weather, intervened decisively. When I got there it seemed to be blowing a gale & was pouring with rain. I just couldn't face the walk especially as I had had a good run the evening before & faced a potentially long drive home. Fortunately on my way home I pass Rainham Marshes so I decided to make a visit to a final reserve on my Easter expedition.
When I arrived it was threatening to brighten up, but that didn't last long, nevertheless I made for the one & only hide but before that, a good group of birds on the visitors' centre's feeders: Collared Dove, lots of Goldfinch, Greenfinch & Chaffinch.
On the way to the hide, visible on the first set of marshes: Mute Swan, Coot, Shoveler, Wigeon, Black-Headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Little Egret, Mallard. Then into the small wooded area & a first stretch of reedbed: Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow. Into the first hide & a selection of more generalist birds picked up as I scanned the area: Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Lapwing, Woodpigeon & Skylark.
I left the hide & continued on the path round the rest of the reserve with the wind & rain increasing at every step, however the next area of marsh caused me to stop for: Shelduck, Teal, Herring Gull & Lesser & Greater Black-Backed Gulls.
Trudging through the downpour & nearing the end of the reserve a group of foraging Mistle Thrush & Starling caused me to stop, unwrap my binoculars & take a quick scan. A stroke of luck because I noticed a pale, red-legged wader which was now known to me, a Spotted Redshank, alongside a 'common-or-garden' Redshank allowing for a nice comparison. It was more or less the final bird of this Easter extravanganza & one which provided a nice sort of symmetry as it was the first new species I encountered on my trip.
32 species, none new.
RSPB Dungeness, Kent, 27/03/2008
Weather: Bright with some clouds, much milder but with a cool breeze. From 330pm.
The final destination of my birding safari is the most remote destination, Dungeness, & it was quite a drive from London, especially because I missed the turning for the M20. This part of Kent reminded me more of Lincolnshire mixed with Northumberland, rather than the 'Garden of England'; the reserve has mixed scrapes, reedbeds & plentiful gorse habitats set in pebble-strewn plains.
As usual to start, a couple of car-park sightings: Carrion Crow, Great Black-Backed Gull, Grey Heron. After dropping into the visitors' centre I headed to the nearest hide for: Coot, Cormorant, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Great-Crested Grebe, Shoveler.
A group of gulls on one island, all resting I assumed to be the ever-present black-headed gulls so I didn't scan them initially. It took another birder to alert me that they were in fact the new ever-present, Mediterranean Gull & the biggest group I've seen yet. I counted 20 sitting with heads held high, pointing up, looking like they were enjoying the sunshine.
Other ducks also on the water were Wigeon, Goldeneye, Canada Goose, Pochard.
The other birders also confirmed what the visitors' centre had reported, a slavonian grebe showing from one of the other hides, so I made haste to the next hide & on the way saw Pied Wagtail & Meadow Pipit.
Once in the hide a detailed scan revealed Mallard, Woodpigeon in the distance, Lapwing, a lone Ringed Plover, an overflying Marsh Harrier, Shelduck, Moorhen, even a small group of Ruddy Duck, but no grebe even though other people in the hide reported they'd just seen it. I resolved to wait it out for as long as possible, not wishing to repeat my disappointment of missing the black-necked grebes at Minsmere the day before. After at least 20 minutes, everyone else left the hide & I begun a last few scans before I would also have to admit defeat. A small duck-like bird caught my notice in the distance near to the edge of the water & I almost dismissed it as another female tufted duck & deigned to even look at it through my binoculars. However I took one last, precautionary look, just in case, & there it was, the summer plumage Slavonian Grebe. Not much bigger than a little grebe but with striking red eye & yellow-orange tufts, it was very active diving repeatedly as it made its way around the circumference of the scrape. I stayed for a while appreciating a new grebe & taking as many pictures as the light would allow.
Eventually moving on, around the path passing plentiful & vocal Reed Bunting & also a Green Woodpecker undulating in the distance - the usual sighting of this bird it seems. At this point a cetti's warblers found its voice & there even may have been more than one, possibly from neighbouring territories, but it, or they, still proved impossible to see, even though at a couple of points I must have been mere yards away from an individual.
Further along the path a couple of Linnets, then from the last hide on the scrape there: Mute Swan, numerous Greylag Geese & several Little Grebe - up to seven on the water at one point. Leaving the last hide a couple of Magpie were kicking about & as dusk drew in I had a good view of a Barn Owl quartering reeds on a dyke. It then briefly perching on a post before being chased away by a persistent crow which then accompanied it for as far as it remained visible.
Towards the end of the path I flushed a Song Thrush from the gorse & came across Great Tit, Robin, Pheasant, Kestrel, & last but not least, a few Starling coming into roost.
41 species, 1 new species (& remarkably no black-headed gulls either).
The final destination of my birding safari is the most remote destination, Dungeness, & it was quite a drive from London, especially because I missed the turning for the M20. This part of Kent reminded me more of Lincolnshire mixed with Northumberland, rather than the 'Garden of England'; the reserve has mixed scrapes, reedbeds & plentiful gorse habitats set in pebble-strewn plains.
As usual to start, a couple of car-park sightings: Carrion Crow, Great Black-Backed Gull, Grey Heron. After dropping into the visitors' centre I headed to the nearest hide for: Coot, Cormorant, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Great-Crested Grebe, Shoveler.
A group of gulls on one island, all resting I assumed to be the ever-present black-headed gulls so I didn't scan them initially. It took another birder to alert me that they were in fact the new ever-present, Mediterranean Gull & the biggest group I've seen yet. I counted 20 sitting with heads held high, pointing up, looking like they were enjoying the sunshine.
Other ducks also on the water were Wigeon, Goldeneye, Canada Goose, Pochard.
The other birders also confirmed what the visitors' centre had reported, a slavonian grebe showing from one of the other hides, so I made haste to the next hide & on the way saw Pied Wagtail & Meadow Pipit.
Once in the hide a detailed scan revealed Mallard, Woodpigeon in the distance, Lapwing, a lone Ringed Plover, an overflying Marsh Harrier, Shelduck, Moorhen, even a small group of Ruddy Duck, but no grebe even though other people in the hide reported they'd just seen it. I resolved to wait it out for as long as possible, not wishing to repeat my disappointment of missing the black-necked grebes at Minsmere the day before. After at least 20 minutes, everyone else left the hide & I begun a last few scans before I would also have to admit defeat. A small duck-like bird caught my notice in the distance near to the edge of the water & I almost dismissed it as another female tufted duck & deigned to even look at it through my binoculars. However I took one last, precautionary look, just in case, & there it was, the summer plumage Slavonian Grebe. Not much bigger than a little grebe but with striking red eye & yellow-orange tufts, it was very active diving repeatedly as it made its way around the circumference of the scrape. I stayed for a while appreciating a new grebe & taking as many pictures as the light would allow.
Eventually moving on, around the path passing plentiful & vocal Reed Bunting & also a Green Woodpecker undulating in the distance - the usual sighting of this bird it seems. At this point a cetti's warblers found its voice & there even may have been more than one, possibly from neighbouring territories, but it, or they, still proved impossible to see, even though at a couple of points I must have been mere yards away from an individual.
Further along the path a couple of Linnets, then from the last hide on the scrape there: Mute Swan, numerous Greylag Geese & several Little Grebe - up to seven on the water at one point. Leaving the last hide a couple of Magpie were kicking about & as dusk drew in I had a good view of a Barn Owl quartering reeds on a dyke. It then briefly perching on a post before being chased away by a persistent crow which then accompanied it for as far as it remained visible.
Towards the end of the path I flushed a Song Thrush from the gorse & came across Great Tit, Robin, Pheasant, Kestrel, & last but not least, a few Starling coming into roost.
41 species, 1 new species (& remarkably no black-headed gulls either).
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
RSPB North Warren, Suffolk, 26/03/2008
Weather: turning gloomier with showers promising to be imminent.
I got to North Warren in Aldeburgh after the long day at Minsmere & because of the pending drive back to London I decided against doing an hour's walk on the marshes of the reserve, especially as it looked quiet from my initial scan. For completeness though the scan did pick out Skylark, Great Tit, Shelduck, Shoveler, Wigeon, Little Egret, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Magpie &, of course, Black-Headed Gull.
I got to North Warren in Aldeburgh after the long day at Minsmere & because of the pending drive back to London I decided against doing an hour's walk on the marshes of the reserve, especially as it looked quiet from my initial scan. For completeness though the scan did pick out Skylark, Great Tit, Shelduck, Shoveler, Wigeon, Little Egret, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Magpie &, of course, Black-Headed Gull.
RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk, 26/03/2008
Weather: things had brightened up somewhat from Southwold but the threat of rain remained; milder but still chilly. From 10am.
The sightings started straightaway in the car-park & on the visitors' centre's feeders: Chaffinch, Dunnock, Great Tit, Black-Headed Gull (many flying & so noisy they were clearly heard from the scrapes), Blue Tit, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Coal Tit.
Emerging from the visitors' centre I was assailed by the very loud noise of a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, although it was some distance away & was not seen. Heading for the beach past some heathland, reedbeds & scrapes yielded: Robin, Long-Tailed Tit, a squealing Water Rail which unsurprisingly didn't show itself, Pheasant, Moorhen, Lapwing, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose & Mallard. Then a piercing call from low in the reeds, a call I hadn't heard before, signalled the presence of a Cetti's Warbler, however it proved to be as elusive & secretive as the rail: I didn't see a flicker of motion from within the reeds.
Continuing towards the beach & a Snipe in flight, & when scanning the sea wall, where I was headed, I picked up a Green Woodpecker, also in the reeds or on the grassy banks beside the scrapes: Mute Swan, Reed Bunting, an overflying Cormorant & Gadwall & just before the seawall a couple of amorous looking Stonechat.
On the way up I bumped into a few birders who excitedly informed me that three black-necked grebes were on the sea so I made haste to the wall, however when I got to the beach & set-up all I could see where Red-Throated Divers! Yesterday I wondered how long it would be before I saw my second diver: I didn't have long to wait, less than 24 hours in fact. They were quite abundant in pairs or small groups, & even though some had much darker heads than others it was impossible to see one with the characteristic white flank of a black-throated diver. However whilst scanning the sea, in a vain search for the grebes I did pick out a few Gannet, far out flying north. Nonetheless I couldn't find the grebes or pick-out a black-throat so I departed the beach reluctantly & with slight disappointment; exacerbated after later talking to someone who had been on the beach at the same time as me who had seen the grebes - can't win them all.
Into the first, East Hide, for: Coot, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Wigeon, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Turnstone, & a few resting Black-Tailed Godwit. Another by now familiar gull was also present, Mediterranean Gull: a former rarity now well-established along the whole of the East Anglian coast.
Following the path south alongside the main scrape I picked out Redshank, Teal, Meadow Pipit & Grey Heron one of which was very near to a Red Deer which was nonchalantly feeding in the reeds. Reaching the turn back onto the main reserve & amongst copious brambles a couple of Goldfinch. Heading into the reeds & a couple of quartering Marsh Harriers became visible, just as I was wondering where they were, & another loud call from a Cetti's, but again no movement & no chance of seeing it, if only they were as bold as the Pied Wagtail I saw moments later.
Into the South Hide for Little Grebe, Tufted Duck & a brief glimpse of a Bearded Tit, better than the other glimpses I've had, this time I could see its russet tail. Looking back at the main scrape revealed Herring Gull & Common Gull, & just before I departed the hide a lone Pochard keeping company with a pair of 'tufties'.
I visited the West Hide but no sign of the reported penduline tits & though I was tempted to hang about with the half dozen other birders who were waiting for them I decided to get some food at the centre & there I was rewarded with a Blackcap on the feeder right out of the window where I was sat. It then crossed my mind to go back to the seawall for another go at the grebes but on the noticeboard there had been no reports of them since the morning so I decided to nurse my disappointment & save my energy & visit the other hides. Walking to those hides through the trees I glimpsed another Goldcrest. After waiting for so long to see one yesterday, they were now like buses, with two coming along in quick succession; I also saw another later on just before I joined the road for the walk back to the centre. Before that though from the Bittern Hide I spotted a Little Egret on the distant fields. Then from the Island Mere Hide Shoveler & Goldeneye (& the Pochard again).
Finally on the way back to the car in the trees I heard but didn't see an early Chiff Chaff, but did see Wren, Jackdaw, Nuthatch (the first one on this birding odyssey) & flocks of Starlings preparing to roost.
A lovely day, a huge reserve with plenty of potential for exciting birds, if I had seen the grebes & the Cetti's it would have been one of my best ever days, & a pity its not under 2 hours to get to from London.
60 species, none new (unfortunately).
The sightings started straightaway in the car-park & on the visitors' centre's feeders: Chaffinch, Dunnock, Great Tit, Black-Headed Gull (many flying & so noisy they were clearly heard from the scrapes), Blue Tit, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Coal Tit.
Emerging from the visitors' centre I was assailed by the very loud noise of a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, although it was some distance away & was not seen. Heading for the beach past some heathland, reedbeds & scrapes yielded: Robin, Long-Tailed Tit, a squealing Water Rail which unsurprisingly didn't show itself, Pheasant, Moorhen, Lapwing, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose & Mallard. Then a piercing call from low in the reeds, a call I hadn't heard before, signalled the presence of a Cetti's Warbler, however it proved to be as elusive & secretive as the rail: I didn't see a flicker of motion from within the reeds.
Continuing towards the beach & a Snipe in flight, & when scanning the sea wall, where I was headed, I picked up a Green Woodpecker, also in the reeds or on the grassy banks beside the scrapes: Mute Swan, Reed Bunting, an overflying Cormorant & Gadwall & just before the seawall a couple of amorous looking Stonechat.
On the way up I bumped into a few birders who excitedly informed me that three black-necked grebes were on the sea so I made haste to the wall, however when I got to the beach & set-up all I could see where Red-Throated Divers! Yesterday I wondered how long it would be before I saw my second diver: I didn't have long to wait, less than 24 hours in fact. They were quite abundant in pairs or small groups, & even though some had much darker heads than others it was impossible to see one with the characteristic white flank of a black-throated diver. However whilst scanning the sea, in a vain search for the grebes I did pick out a few Gannet, far out flying north. Nonetheless I couldn't find the grebes or pick-out a black-throat so I departed the beach reluctantly & with slight disappointment; exacerbated after later talking to someone who had been on the beach at the same time as me who had seen the grebes - can't win them all.
Into the first, East Hide, for: Coot, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Wigeon, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Turnstone, & a few resting Black-Tailed Godwit. Another by now familiar gull was also present, Mediterranean Gull: a former rarity now well-established along the whole of the East Anglian coast.
Following the path south alongside the main scrape I picked out Redshank, Teal, Meadow Pipit & Grey Heron one of which was very near to a Red Deer which was nonchalantly feeding in the reeds. Reaching the turn back onto the main reserve & amongst copious brambles a couple of Goldfinch. Heading into the reeds & a couple of quartering Marsh Harriers became visible, just as I was wondering where they were, & another loud call from a Cetti's, but again no movement & no chance of seeing it, if only they were as bold as the Pied Wagtail I saw moments later.
Into the South Hide for Little Grebe, Tufted Duck & a brief glimpse of a Bearded Tit, better than the other glimpses I've had, this time I could see its russet tail. Looking back at the main scrape revealed Herring Gull & Common Gull, & just before I departed the hide a lone Pochard keeping company with a pair of 'tufties'.
I visited the West Hide but no sign of the reported penduline tits & though I was tempted to hang about with the half dozen other birders who were waiting for them I decided to get some food at the centre & there I was rewarded with a Blackcap on the feeder right out of the window where I was sat. It then crossed my mind to go back to the seawall for another go at the grebes but on the noticeboard there had been no reports of them since the morning so I decided to nurse my disappointment & save my energy & visit the other hides. Walking to those hides through the trees I glimpsed another Goldcrest. After waiting for so long to see one yesterday, they were now like buses, with two coming along in quick succession; I also saw another later on just before I joined the road for the walk back to the centre. Before that though from the Bittern Hide I spotted a Little Egret on the distant fields. Then from the Island Mere Hide Shoveler & Goldeneye (& the Pochard again).
Finally on the way back to the car in the trees I heard but didn't see an early Chiff Chaff, but did see Wren, Jackdaw, Nuthatch (the first one on this birding odyssey) & flocks of Starlings preparing to roost.
A lovely day, a huge reserve with plenty of potential for exciting birds, if I had seen the grebes & the Cetti's it would have been one of my best ever days, & a pity its not under 2 hours to get to from London.
60 species, none new (unfortunately).
Southwold Pier, Common & Quay, Suffolk, 26/03/2008
Weather: overcast & with showers threatening, but which never really materialised; the freezing northerly wind had finally dropped leaving milder conditions.
Southwold was my overnight stop-off in order to be close to Minsmere, & before I departed I took the chance to scan the sea from my B&B bedroom window. It was the first time I'd been able to check the sea, mainly because I didn't get chance at Titchwell due to the foul weather, & I was soon rewarded by spotting some ducks, Common Scoter, but little else.
I also had a quick drive round Southwold, over the common & to the quay where I spotted the usual gulls, Common & Black-Headed, & hedgerow birds, Great Tit & Chaffinch. At the Quay I couldn't help but notice House Sparrows in good voice as well as Meadow Pipit, & on the way back over the common a Marsh Harrier flew over spooking the Lapwing, Mallard & Moorhen. A scene I'd become familiar with these past few days.
12 species, none new.
Southwold was my overnight stop-off in order to be close to Minsmere, & before I departed I took the chance to scan the sea from my B&B bedroom window. It was the first time I'd been able to check the sea, mainly because I didn't get chance at Titchwell due to the foul weather, & I was soon rewarded by spotting some ducks, Common Scoter, but little else.
I also had a quick drive round Southwold, over the common & to the quay where I spotted the usual gulls, Common & Black-Headed, & hedgerow birds, Great Tit & Chaffinch. At the Quay I couldn't help but notice House Sparrows in good voice as well as Meadow Pipit, & on the way back over the common a Marsh Harrier flew over spooking the Lapwing, Mallard & Moorhen. A scene I'd become familiar with these past few days.
12 species, none new.
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk, 25/03/2008
Weather: increasingly overcast but still some sunshine & the familiar, but tiresome, strong, cold wind. From 330pm.
Just down the road from Buckenham is Strumpshaw Fen, in fact they essentially make up one large reserve, but unfortunately because of the meltwater from all the snow much of the reedbed area of the reserve was flooded & inaccessible. Fortunately the reserve also has a nice small woodland, so after walking along the canal wall (see pictures) I spent some time in the woodlands.
On the drive: Red-Legged Partridge, Pheasant, Rook.
Between the reserve's visitors' centre & the canal wall: Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Greylag Goose, Coot, all viewable from the visitors' centre.
Into the woodland & some immediate activity for Long-Tailed Tit, Sparrowhawk & a courting pair of Willow Tit which were very vocal but without the "pit-choo" diagnostic of the marsh tit. The first of many Treecreeper was also seen on a telegraph pole near the tits & a Mistle Thrush was also heard piping.
Further into the woods & unsurprising Blue & Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock & a lone Coal Tit in a large pine. The visitors' centre noted that there were plentiful Goldcrest, & other walkers told be they'd easily seen one on the path, however it took me a while to track one down & I had difficult views as it foraged high in a small pine next to the road. Nonetheless a Goldcrest it was & a bird I haven't seen in many a year.
Returning to the car & a surprised looking Song Thrush in the car park & then adjacent to the parking a Great-Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the top branch of a tree. Finally as I left the reserve I passed a field at the entrance full of Greylags & at least 12 Egyptian Geese, the biggest number in one spot I've seen.
23 species, none new.
Just down the road from Buckenham is Strumpshaw Fen, in fact they essentially make up one large reserve, but unfortunately because of the meltwater from all the snow much of the reedbed area of the reserve was flooded & inaccessible. Fortunately the reserve also has a nice small woodland, so after walking along the canal wall (see pictures) I spent some time in the woodlands.
On the drive: Red-Legged Partridge, Pheasant, Rook.
Between the reserve's visitors' centre & the canal wall: Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Greylag Goose, Coot, all viewable from the visitors' centre.
Into the woodland & some immediate activity for Long-Tailed Tit, Sparrowhawk & a courting pair of Willow Tit which were very vocal but without the "pit-choo" diagnostic of the marsh tit. The first of many Treecreeper was also seen on a telegraph pole near the tits & a Mistle Thrush was also heard piping.
Further into the woods & unsurprising Blue & Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock & a lone Coal Tit in a large pine. The visitors' centre noted that there were plentiful Goldcrest, & other walkers told be they'd easily seen one on the path, however it took me a while to track one down & I had difficult views as it foraged high in a small pine next to the road. Nonetheless a Goldcrest it was & a bird I haven't seen in many a year.
Returning to the car & a surprised looking Song Thrush in the car park & then adjacent to the parking a Great-Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the top branch of a tree. Finally as I left the reserve I passed a field at the entrance full of Greylags & at least 12 Egyptian Geese, the biggest number in one spot I've seen.
23 species, none new.
RSPB Buckenham Marshes, Norfolk, 25/03/2008
First part of a double-header of two reserves near Norwich but only after checking out Great Yarmouth & only then after defrosting my car which was covered in about 3 inches of snow! The day before there had been a report of a glaucous gull at Yarmouth port but when I headed that way I realised I was on the wrong side of the inlet, unfortunately I knew I wouldn't have time to go to the other side & decided to head up the A47 instead, & make my through the wintry landscape to Buckenham & Strumpshaw. The only gulls noted in Yarmouth were Herring & Great Black-Backed Gull.
Weather at Buckenham: bright & sunny but with the presistent, strong & cold wind. From 1030am.
After reaching Buckenham train 'station' (more like just a platform & a house) & realising that the cul-de-sac was the informal parking, I began to wrap up for the hike & immediately registered a Rook or two from the huge rookery on the marsh, & a nice flock of Fieldfare sweeping over the platform's hedgerow. Crossing the rails onto the path into the reserve to see impressive numbers of noisily whistling Wigeon, also quite a few Redshank foraging in the fields as well as the usual Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull & Starling. More numerous Meadow Pipit in evidence at this reserve too & also plentiful Lapwing although mostly ones or twos & not large flocks.
I reached the end of the first stretch of the path, before turning left, & took some time to scan a stretch of water to the right where the majority of the ducks were congregated. Amongst them, wading in the water a couple of larger-looking waders were identified as Ruff. A small wader then flew left to right & settled on marshes & it was clear from its head markings that it was a ringed plover, however after fixing the scope on it & picking out a prominent yellow eye & bright white nape I thought it looked more like a Little Ringer Plover than the usual ringed variety. After digging out the field guide to confirm my suspicions the bird had gone when I looked back but after I had seen enough to credit it as another new species for me. A bit further along the path I met another, more local birder who confirmed that these birds were due to arrive at this time of year.
On with the walk along the canal wall & the creeks between the wall & the marshes held Coot, Mute Swan, Moorhen & on the canal itself a pair of Great Crested Grebe. Slightly further on I scanned the largest expanse of the marshes & picked out small groups of Dunlin & summer-plumage Golden Plover as well as Shelduck & Oystercatcher. A singing Skylark also flew overhead.
As I rounded the far corner of the path around the marshes a good-sized skein of geese began to circle the area ready for a landing & again acting on information from the local birder I fixed the 'scope & picked out the white fronts of the White-Fronted Goose as they eventually came in to land. An elegant bird with a gentle honk (unlike the Greylag) & a species I've never seen in England before. Once they had landed & settled it was difficult to find them again, later on however, they again rose & made their way to a more distant part of the river-marshes.
I reached what appeared to be the furthest end of the reserve next to the old water tower & scanned back across the marsh for Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Grey Heron & a possible Peregrine which was mobbed by Lapwing as it briefly perched on a fence post. My glimpse wasn't enough for me to determine whether this bird wasn't just a female Kestrel though, as it flew too low & quick to the ground.
Although it was apparently the end of the path I was lured by the promise of a hide which had been described on the map at the train station, so I climbed up again onto the canal wall to continue walking to a far distant sign & a gate next to a sluice gate. Walking along the wall put up Snipe & brought me close to several Greylag & Canada Geese, & as I scanned my destination along the wall a Green Woodpecker undulated into some far canal-side shrubbery.
Halfway along the canal wall I came across a strikingly pale bird low in the water, a profile which immediately shouted 'diver' to me. At a stretch it might have been a pale winter great-crested grebe but it was the wrong shape & size & too late in the year - grebes, like the two I'd seen earlier, are now in full summer plumage. Although it kept an eye on me it serenely floated up & down the same stretch of water allowing excellent views; its bill was always upturned & dark, almost black & its back was dark, with fine cream spots. Although there was no white visible on its flanks, as it shifted in the water it was nonetheless obvious that it was white underneath. Taking all this into consideration & after using the field guide I had to hand, it fitted most closely with a Red-Necked Diver & subsequent reference confirmed it; its dark bill I put down to its moulting into summer plumage. A completely unexpected & fantastic new bird to me: my first diver anywhere & I wonder how long it will be before I see another! Eventually & reluctantly I moved further on & reached the sluice gates before heading back. By this point a passing boat had disturbed the diver, but it soon reappeared from beneath the water only to resume diving with an elegant leap as it re-submerged itself. It moved further away from me amongst several geese so I moved on.
Heading back to the car along the creek a Wren flitted amongst the reeds & a few Pied Wagtails mingled with the pipits. Finally back at the car at the station & numerous garden birds in the hedgerow: Greenfinch, Robin, Magpie, Great Tit, Dunnock.
38 species, including 2 new species.
Weather at Buckenham: bright & sunny but with the presistent, strong & cold wind. From 1030am.
After reaching Buckenham train 'station' (more like just a platform & a house) & realising that the cul-de-sac was the informal parking, I began to wrap up for the hike & immediately registered a Rook or two from the huge rookery on the marsh, & a nice flock of Fieldfare sweeping over the platform's hedgerow. Crossing the rails onto the path into the reserve to see impressive numbers of noisily whistling Wigeon, also quite a few Redshank foraging in the fields as well as the usual Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull & Starling. More numerous Meadow Pipit in evidence at this reserve too & also plentiful Lapwing although mostly ones or twos & not large flocks.
I reached the end of the first stretch of the path, before turning left, & took some time to scan a stretch of water to the right where the majority of the ducks were congregated. Amongst them, wading in the water a couple of larger-looking waders were identified as Ruff. A small wader then flew left to right & settled on marshes & it was clear from its head markings that it was a ringed plover, however after fixing the scope on it & picking out a prominent yellow eye & bright white nape I thought it looked more like a Little Ringer Plover than the usual ringed variety. After digging out the field guide to confirm my suspicions the bird had gone when I looked back but after I had seen enough to credit it as another new species for me. A bit further along the path I met another, more local birder who confirmed that these birds were due to arrive at this time of year.
On with the walk along the canal wall & the creeks between the wall & the marshes held Coot, Mute Swan, Moorhen & on the canal itself a pair of Great Crested Grebe. Slightly further on I scanned the largest expanse of the marshes & picked out small groups of Dunlin & summer-plumage Golden Plover as well as Shelduck & Oystercatcher. A singing Skylark also flew overhead.
As I rounded the far corner of the path around the marshes a good-sized skein of geese began to circle the area ready for a landing & again acting on information from the local birder I fixed the 'scope & picked out the white fronts of the White-Fronted Goose as they eventually came in to land. An elegant bird with a gentle honk (unlike the Greylag) & a species I've never seen in England before. Once they had landed & settled it was difficult to find them again, later on however, they again rose & made their way to a more distant part of the river-marshes.
I reached what appeared to be the furthest end of the reserve next to the old water tower & scanned back across the marsh for Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Grey Heron & a possible Peregrine which was mobbed by Lapwing as it briefly perched on a fence post. My glimpse wasn't enough for me to determine whether this bird wasn't just a female Kestrel though, as it flew too low & quick to the ground.
Although it was apparently the end of the path I was lured by the promise of a hide which had been described on the map at the train station, so I climbed up again onto the canal wall to continue walking to a far distant sign & a gate next to a sluice gate. Walking along the wall put up Snipe & brought me close to several Greylag & Canada Geese, & as I scanned my destination along the wall a Green Woodpecker undulated into some far canal-side shrubbery.
Halfway along the canal wall I came across a strikingly pale bird low in the water, a profile which immediately shouted 'diver' to me. At a stretch it might have been a pale winter great-crested grebe but it was the wrong shape & size & too late in the year - grebes, like the two I'd seen earlier, are now in full summer plumage. Although it kept an eye on me it serenely floated up & down the same stretch of water allowing excellent views; its bill was always upturned & dark, almost black & its back was dark, with fine cream spots. Although there was no white visible on its flanks, as it shifted in the water it was nonetheless obvious that it was white underneath. Taking all this into consideration & after using the field guide I had to hand, it fitted most closely with a Red-Necked Diver & subsequent reference confirmed it; its dark bill I put down to its moulting into summer plumage. A completely unexpected & fantastic new bird to me: my first diver anywhere & I wonder how long it will be before I see another! Eventually & reluctantly I moved further on & reached the sluice gates before heading back. By this point a passing boat had disturbed the diver, but it soon reappeared from beneath the water only to resume diving with an elegant leap as it re-submerged itself. It moved further away from me amongst several geese so I moved on.
Heading back to the car along the creek a Wren flitted amongst the reeds & a few Pied Wagtails mingled with the pipits. Finally back at the car at the station & numerous garden birds in the hedgerow: Greenfinch, Robin, Magpie, Great Tit, Dunnock.
38 species, including 2 new species.
Monday, 24 March 2008
King's Lynn to Great Yarmouth on the A149, Norfolk, 24/03/2008
Weather: Occasional bright spell interrupting frequent, wintry, snowfalls.
Heading onwards from 1pm with the Easter birding extravaganza & leaving base in King's Lynn to head towards East Norfolk & Great Yarmouth via the A149 coast road.
I had been reading about an organised birding trip that took in barns at Chosely so I decided to head there first, just of the A149 in Thornham. Before getting there a nice view of a Sparrowhawk in a pine-treed garden was had as well as Blue Tit & Great Tit in the hedgerow by the road & Kestrel in typical roadside hover.
The Chosely Farm Outhouses weren't too hard to find & I was instantly rewarded with the reknowned Corn Buntings that many go there to see. Also good numbers of other passerines: Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock & several pairs of Yellowhammer. In the fields & overflying the area: Red-Legged Partridge, Stock Dove, Pheasant, & ubiquitous Woodpigeon.
Back on the A149 motoring up through Burnham-Overy-Staithe & a large raptor soaring initially looked like a simple Buzzard but after looking, & observing leg-trailing it might well have been a Marsh Harrier, although I came away still favouring Buzzard simply for the time it spent soaring, behaviour I've never seen with Marsh Harriers. Whilst observing the Buzzard a Curlew was spooked & flew over the road.
Into Wells-Next-the-Sea, a lovely village, with a huge salt-marsh facing the quay, upon which skeins of Brent Geese regularly shifted position; also in the mud on the quayside: Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Little Egret, Black-Headed Gull (another ubiquity), Redshank, Grey Plover. Scanning further onto the marsh I could pick out Herring Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Common Gull & the odd Carrion Crow.
Further along on lakes outside Stiffkey: Greylag Goose, Mallard, Shelduck, & in the village, Collared Dove.
Blakeney had impressive numbers of Jackdaw as well as flocks of Starling.
Making it to Cley & the seemingly vast expanse of reedbeds there, it was unfortunate that I had no time to park-up & join the numerous other birders' cars & venture onto the reserve, nevertheless in the marshes & creeks alongside the road: Moorhen, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Coot.
At Salthouse, Wigeon, at Kelling, Rook & Grey Partridge.
After reading of a few of my previous visits to Weybourne I decided to leave the car & venture out onto the pebbly beach there, hoping to observe sea ducks or if I got really lucky a very early tern. How wrong I was! Apart from a Meadow Pipit in the car-park, nothing but the usual gulls were seen in the storm-tossed & impressive-looking sea. I think it must have been the wildness that caused family outings to stop there in days gone-by because the bird-life (or lack of it) would not have been a draw, & it won't be in future.
Cutting inland to head south to Great Yarmouth, & just before Rollesby, another raptor flew over the road, inital thoughts were a Sparrowhawk but I had an impression of a white rump, however I'm not sure enough to say that it was a Hen Harrier if the white rump was something other than my mind playing tricks on me.
Then before the light faded & more snow-storms set in, just before Ormesby, on a good stretch of water a couple of Tufted Duck amongst the usual mallard.
Finally I arrived into Great Yarmouth at 6pm.
42 species, none new.
Heading onwards from 1pm with the Easter birding extravaganza & leaving base in King's Lynn to head towards East Norfolk & Great Yarmouth via the A149 coast road.
I had been reading about an organised birding trip that took in barns at Chosely so I decided to head there first, just of the A149 in Thornham. Before getting there a nice view of a Sparrowhawk in a pine-treed garden was had as well as Blue Tit & Great Tit in the hedgerow by the road & Kestrel in typical roadside hover.
The Chosely Farm Outhouses weren't too hard to find & I was instantly rewarded with the reknowned Corn Buntings that many go there to see. Also good numbers of other passerines: Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock & several pairs of Yellowhammer. In the fields & overflying the area: Red-Legged Partridge, Stock Dove, Pheasant, & ubiquitous Woodpigeon.
Back on the A149 motoring up through Burnham-Overy-Staithe & a large raptor soaring initially looked like a simple Buzzard but after looking, & observing leg-trailing it might well have been a Marsh Harrier, although I came away still favouring Buzzard simply for the time it spent soaring, behaviour I've never seen with Marsh Harriers. Whilst observing the Buzzard a Curlew was spooked & flew over the road.
Into Wells-Next-the-Sea, a lovely village, with a huge salt-marsh facing the quay, upon which skeins of Brent Geese regularly shifted position; also in the mud on the quayside: Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Little Egret, Black-Headed Gull (another ubiquity), Redshank, Grey Plover. Scanning further onto the marsh I could pick out Herring Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Common Gull & the odd Carrion Crow.
Further along on lakes outside Stiffkey: Greylag Goose, Mallard, Shelduck, & in the village, Collared Dove.
Blakeney had impressive numbers of Jackdaw as well as flocks of Starling.
Making it to Cley & the seemingly vast expanse of reedbeds there, it was unfortunate that I had no time to park-up & join the numerous other birders' cars & venture onto the reserve, nevertheless in the marshes & creeks alongside the road: Moorhen, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Coot.
At Salthouse, Wigeon, at Kelling, Rook & Grey Partridge.
After reading of a few of my previous visits to Weybourne I decided to leave the car & venture out onto the pebbly beach there, hoping to observe sea ducks or if I got really lucky a very early tern. How wrong I was! Apart from a Meadow Pipit in the car-park, nothing but the usual gulls were seen in the storm-tossed & impressive-looking sea. I think it must have been the wildness that caused family outings to stop there in days gone-by because the bird-life (or lack of it) would not have been a draw, & it won't be in future.
Cutting inland to head south to Great Yarmouth, & just before Rollesby, another raptor flew over the road, inital thoughts were a Sparrowhawk but I had an impression of a white rump, however I'm not sure enough to say that it was a Hen Harrier if the white rump was something other than my mind playing tricks on me.
Then before the light faded & more snow-storms set in, just before Ormesby, on a good stretch of water a couple of Tufted Duck amongst the usual mallard.
Finally I arrived into Great Yarmouth at 6pm.
42 species, none new.
Sunday, 23 March 2008
RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk, 23/03/2008
Bright, with brooding clouds on the horizon (a later snow-storm), & a stiff, cold breeze.
From 330pm.
Fields leading to the car-park: Kestrel, Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Canada Goose, Mallard.
After getting ready, a flight of geese into an arable field lead me to investigate further, revealing sightings of: Greylag Goose, Lapwing, Curlew, Golden Plover, Starling flocks.
Heading past the fishing lakes: Moorhen, Goldfinch feeding lakeside, Chaffinch, Blackbird. The arable fields behind the first lake yielded Oystercatcher & a Sparrowhawk which flew over into the tree line, & on the ground near to the trees a single Egyptian Goose, also heard Skylark. Continuing to scan the horizon picked out two soaring Buzzards, very high, over towards Sandringham.
Continuing into the reserve along the shore, on the first lake-scrapes, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe & on the beach, Redshank, Bar-Tailed Godwit.
From the seawall back inland again: Mute Swan, Marsh Harrier quartering in distance. This vantage point also offered good views of reasonably sized skeins of Pink-Footed Goose all over the arable fields towards Wolverton.
Futher along the shore & out on the mudflats: Shelduck in good numbers, Dunlin in small, active feeding flocks, & a group of Linnets feeding in the vegetation.
Into the second of the hides, skipped the first hide, provided good, noisy numbers of Black-Headed Gulls & a surprise for me at Snettisham, Mediterranean Gull, 6-10 birds with summer plumage, one ringed bird number 3K92. Also Herring Gull, Cormorant and Barnacle Geese on the far side sea-wall, Wigeon.
Continuing to the far end of the reserve disturbed Red-Legged Partridge, & in the end hide, Avocet, along with building numbers of roosting flocks of oystercatcher, bar-tailed godwit & Knot as well as a few Black-Tailed Godwit & Turnstone. At this point the clouds seen earlier swept in unleashing the promised snow-storm for a good 20 minutes.
Venturing out after the storm an instant kestrel swept past the marsh area, & making my way up to the bank to use as a vantage point some good activity including Grey Partridge overflying, Pheasant, large flocks of Woodpigeon & a Barn Owl quartering a dyke in the distance, also Little Egret flying in towards the fields from the marsh as the light began to fade. Continuous scanning of the far marsh resulted in a distinctive bird in the very far distance quartering the area: an unmistakeable male Hen Harrier although too far for good views it stayed visible for 5-10 minutes spooking the gulls & ducks it passed over.
As the light faded & after good views of another couple of marsh harriers hunting over the salt-marsh area, but with no short-eared owl obliging me with its presence, I made the long trek back to the car in twilight after spotting Grey Plover by the shore, the tide now at its high point.
47 species, no new species.
From 330pm.
Fields leading to the car-park: Kestrel, Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Canada Goose, Mallard.
After getting ready, a flight of geese into an arable field lead me to investigate further, revealing sightings of: Greylag Goose, Lapwing, Curlew, Golden Plover, Starling flocks.
Heading past the fishing lakes: Moorhen, Goldfinch feeding lakeside, Chaffinch, Blackbird. The arable fields behind the first lake yielded Oystercatcher & a Sparrowhawk which flew over into the tree line, & on the ground near to the trees a single Egyptian Goose, also heard Skylark. Continuing to scan the horizon picked out two soaring Buzzards, very high, over towards Sandringham.
Continuing into the reserve along the shore, on the first lake-scrapes, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe & on the beach, Redshank, Bar-Tailed Godwit.
From the seawall back inland again: Mute Swan, Marsh Harrier quartering in distance. This vantage point also offered good views of reasonably sized skeins of Pink-Footed Goose all over the arable fields towards Wolverton.
Futher along the shore & out on the mudflats: Shelduck in good numbers, Dunlin in small, active feeding flocks, & a group of Linnets feeding in the vegetation.
Into the second of the hides, skipped the first hide, provided good, noisy numbers of Black-Headed Gulls & a surprise for me at Snettisham, Mediterranean Gull, 6-10 birds with summer plumage, one ringed bird number 3K92. Also Herring Gull, Cormorant and Barnacle Geese on the far side sea-wall, Wigeon.
Continuing to the far end of the reserve disturbed Red-Legged Partridge, & in the end hide, Avocet, along with building numbers of roosting flocks of oystercatcher, bar-tailed godwit & Knot as well as a few Black-Tailed Godwit & Turnstone. At this point the clouds seen earlier swept in unleashing the promised snow-storm for a good 20 minutes.
Venturing out after the storm an instant kestrel swept past the marsh area, & making my way up to the bank to use as a vantage point some good activity including Grey Partridge overflying, Pheasant, large flocks of Woodpigeon & a Barn Owl quartering a dyke in the distance, also Little Egret flying in towards the fields from the marsh as the light began to fade. Continuous scanning of the far marsh resulted in a distinctive bird in the very far distance quartering the area: an unmistakeable male Hen Harrier although too far for good views it stayed visible for 5-10 minutes spooking the gulls & ducks it passed over.
As the light faded & after good views of another couple of marsh harriers hunting over the salt-marsh area, but with no short-eared owl obliging me with its presence, I made the long trek back to the car in twilight after spotting Grey Plover by the shore, the tide now at its high point.
47 species, no new species.
Saturday, 22 March 2008
RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, 22/03/2008
Weather: atrocious, wintery showers, including snow & sleet, with some brightness in between, & a freezing blustery wind. From 3pm.
Afternoon visit to Titchwell hoping the worst of the weather was done, I was wrong & got caught in a wind-blown, horizontal snow storm whilst walking to the first hide!
From the carpark to the visitors' centre: Dunnock, Robin, Chaffinch, Great Tit, & a Song Thrush in the picnic area.
Walking to the first, Island hide on the salt marsh: Tufted Duck, Little Egret, Black-Headed Gull, Coot.
After the snowstorm in the hide: Avocet, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, & a large skein of Brent Geese came in.
Up to the Parrinder hide in better weather: a pair of Mediterranean Gull picked up quickly within the large flock of Black-Headed Gulls & Common Gulls. They were in full summer plumage, a first for me, with black head (not the brown of a black-headed) & a bright red bill. Also Black-Tailed Godwit & summer plumage Redshank.
Good activity in the fringes of the lagoon & reedbed included a few pairs of Teal, a couple of Snipe. As I continued to observe that area other people in the hide called to alert that a Water Rail was flying in from the direction of the Island hide, & I was able to catch a glimpse as it flew into the area I was focused on, & then characteristically disappeared into the reedbed. Although only a glimpse, this was a new species for me.
Continuing to scan the lagoon: Lapwing, Wigeon, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow.
Again whilst observing the lagoon & reedbed area another call was made to alert everyone to the presence of a Spotted Redshank in light gray winter plumage & surprisingly larger than a common Redshank, which showed well for at least half an hour & offered very close views. Another new species for my list!
Whilst observing this new species, the first new species, the Water Rail, reappeared as noticed by a sharp-eyed observer. The small bird scuttled about feeding, showing its blood red bill & grey flanks, before quickly growing nervous & running off round the reedbed away from the hide.
Yet another call alerted everyone to Marsh Harriers quartering the far reedbeds, where up to three were seen, flying with intent.
Over to the left hand side of the Parrinder hide showed large flocks of Oystercatcher & mixed gulls as well as Curlew, a couple of Gadwall, & quite a few Grey Plover, lone Little Grebe & Turnstone.
On the way back to the car: Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Long-Tailed Tit on the centre's feeder, Blue Tit working on a nestbox near the carpark, & a flock of Starling flew in preparing to roost.
Finally leaving the reserve, Grey Partridge in a field opposite the entrance.
A surprisingly productive afternoon, the value of staying put in a hide & having fellow birders' eyes also scanning the area.
41 species including 2 new.
Finally on the way back down the A149 Snettisham bypass I spotted a Barn Owl on a post at the back end of the Lavender field, always nice to see.
Afternoon visit to Titchwell hoping the worst of the weather was done, I was wrong & got caught in a wind-blown, horizontal snow storm whilst walking to the first hide!
From the carpark to the visitors' centre: Dunnock, Robin, Chaffinch, Great Tit, & a Song Thrush in the picnic area.
Walking to the first, Island hide on the salt marsh: Tufted Duck, Little Egret, Black-Headed Gull, Coot.
After the snowstorm in the hide: Avocet, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, & a large skein of Brent Geese came in.
Up to the Parrinder hide in better weather: a pair of Mediterranean Gull picked up quickly within the large flock of Black-Headed Gulls & Common Gulls. They were in full summer plumage, a first for me, with black head (not the brown of a black-headed) & a bright red bill. Also Black-Tailed Godwit & summer plumage Redshank.
Good activity in the fringes of the lagoon & reedbed included a few pairs of Teal, a couple of Snipe. As I continued to observe that area other people in the hide called to alert that a Water Rail was flying in from the direction of the Island hide, & I was able to catch a glimpse as it flew into the area I was focused on, & then characteristically disappeared into the reedbed. Although only a glimpse, this was a new species for me.
Continuing to scan the lagoon: Lapwing, Wigeon, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow.
Again whilst observing the lagoon & reedbed area another call was made to alert everyone to the presence of a Spotted Redshank in light gray winter plumage & surprisingly larger than a common Redshank, which showed well for at least half an hour & offered very close views. Another new species for my list!
Whilst observing this new species, the first new species, the Water Rail, reappeared as noticed by a sharp-eyed observer. The small bird scuttled about feeding, showing its blood red bill & grey flanks, before quickly growing nervous & running off round the reedbed away from the hide.
Yet another call alerted everyone to Marsh Harriers quartering the far reedbeds, where up to three were seen, flying with intent.
Over to the left hand side of the Parrinder hide showed large flocks of Oystercatcher & mixed gulls as well as Curlew, a couple of Gadwall, & quite a few Grey Plover, lone Little Grebe & Turnstone.
On the way back to the car: Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Long-Tailed Tit on the centre's feeder, Blue Tit working on a nestbox near the carpark, & a flock of Starling flew in preparing to roost.
Finally leaving the reserve, Grey Partridge in a field opposite the entrance.
A surprisingly productive afternoon, the value of staying put in a hide & having fellow birders' eyes also scanning the area.
41 species including 2 new.
Finally on the way back down the A149 Snettisham bypass I spotted a Barn Owl on a post at the back end of the Lavender field, always nice to see.
Friday, 21 March 2008
RSPB Lakenheath, Suffolk, 21/03/2008
Weather: Bright with plenty of cloud cover, very blustery & cold. From 915am.
First visit to the new(ish) reserve, the first location of hopefully quite a few over Easter.
In the carpark & towards the visitors' centre:
Rook, Chaffinch, Linnet & Great Tit on the feeders.
Onto the reserve & the first reedbeds:
Coot, Woodpigeon, Tufted Duck, & a pair of Marsh Harriers over the reeds battling against the wind.
Continuing up the track between the reedbeds & first poplar plantation an abrupt, loud squealing notified that a Water Rail was nearby although it was not seen.
A bit further up a Roe Deer watched from the middle of the track, but had slipped into the reeds before I could get my camera out.
Lingering in the area, quite a bit of activity in the reeds & overhead:
Wren, Stock Dove, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Mute Swan & possible Bearded Tit.
At the furthest end of the reserve that was open, although some of the reserve was closed due to the sensitive nesting time of the year, a Cormorant perched on a large dead tree & others flew overhead.
Continuing up to the viewpoint & the shelter there, I heard a distinctive call & as I crested the slight rise to the viewpoint two Cranes, large wingspans prominent, flew into view & then into the reeds. Quite a bird to see in Norfolk, especially so close & a speciality of the reserve with a couple of pairs apparently nesting.
Leaving the reedbed area & climbing onto the river-wall public footpath:
Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Reed Bunting.
On the river & marshy area viewed from the river-wall:
Great-Crested Grebe, Wigeon, Teal, Oystercatcher, Shoveler.
On the larger stretch of water near to the visitors' centre, good numbers of duck (including those already seen) & especially gull:
Gadwall, more Wigeon, Little Grebe, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Common Gull.
Finally heading back to the car:
Blue Tit on the feeders, Moorhen.
32 species (not including Water Rail or Roe deer), none new.
First visit to the new(ish) reserve, the first location of hopefully quite a few over Easter.
In the carpark & towards the visitors' centre:
Rook, Chaffinch, Linnet & Great Tit on the feeders.
Onto the reserve & the first reedbeds:
Coot, Woodpigeon, Tufted Duck, & a pair of Marsh Harriers over the reeds battling against the wind.
Continuing up the track between the reedbeds & first poplar plantation an abrupt, loud squealing notified that a Water Rail was nearby although it was not seen.
A bit further up a Roe Deer watched from the middle of the track, but had slipped into the reeds before I could get my camera out.
Lingering in the area, quite a bit of activity in the reeds & overhead:
Wren, Stock Dove, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Mute Swan & possible Bearded Tit.
At the furthest end of the reserve that was open, although some of the reserve was closed due to the sensitive nesting time of the year, a Cormorant perched on a large dead tree & others flew overhead.
Continuing up to the viewpoint & the shelter there, I heard a distinctive call & as I crested the slight rise to the viewpoint two Cranes, large wingspans prominent, flew into view & then into the reeds. Quite a bird to see in Norfolk, especially so close & a speciality of the reserve with a couple of pairs apparently nesting.
Leaving the reedbed area & climbing onto the river-wall public footpath:
Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Reed Bunting.
On the river & marshy area viewed from the river-wall:
Great-Crested Grebe, Wigeon, Teal, Oystercatcher, Shoveler.
On the larger stretch of water near to the visitors' centre, good numbers of duck (including those already seen) & especially gull:
Gadwall, more Wigeon, Little Grebe, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Common Gull.
Finally heading back to the car:
Blue Tit on the feeders, Moorhen.
32 species (not including Water Rail or Roe deer), none new.
Monday, 17 March 2008
Marbella & Malaga, Spain, 28/02 to 02/03/2008
A brief weekend to the south of Spain for some early spring sunshine which didn't disappoint & whilst relaxing I of course kept my eye open for any Mediterranean birds.
In & around the urbanacion where I stayed:
Swallow, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Kestrel.
I also noticed a small yellow-green bird that was particularly vocal. When it called it reminded me of a pied wagtail & when in full song it was a cross between a goldfinch & a corn bunting with a series of jingle-jangle notes delivered either from a perch or from a short song flight. After consulting my PDA's RSPB guide it was obviously a Serin, a new species.
In the evening on the beach in Marbella:
Herring Gull. I also noticed small flocks of compact white birds with bowed wings & small bills which quickly identified as Cattle Egret, another new species.
Next day on the Callahonda beach:
Lesser Black-backed Gull (possible Yellow-Legged Gull), Little Egret, Serin in the nearby gardens.
Finally driving through the countryside behind Malaga, on the way to the airport another Cattle Egret, more typically perched on a horse. Finally at the airport House Martins already nesting at the airport terminal building.
In & around the urbanacion where I stayed:
Swallow, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Kestrel.
I also noticed a small yellow-green bird that was particularly vocal. When it called it reminded me of a pied wagtail & when in full song it was a cross between a goldfinch & a corn bunting with a series of jingle-jangle notes delivered either from a perch or from a short song flight. After consulting my PDA's RSPB guide it was obviously a Serin, a new species.
In the evening on the beach in Marbella:
Herring Gull. I also noticed small flocks of compact white birds with bowed wings & small bills which quickly identified as Cattle Egret, another new species.
Next day on the Callahonda beach:
Lesser Black-backed Gull (possible Yellow-Legged Gull), Little Egret, Serin in the nearby gardens.
Finally driving through the countryside behind Malaga, on the way to the airport another Cattle Egret, more typically perched on a horse. Finally at the airport House Martins already nesting at the airport terminal building.
Sunday, 9 March 2008
Crane on the A10, 03/02/2008
Another drive in Norfolk, this time back to London along the A10 & as I pass 10 Mile Bank near to the turning-off for Southery I see a field of white blobs which I quickly realise are swans. Fortunately a side road is conveniently placed so I pull-over & with another slice of good fortune I have my telescope in the car (it usually stays in Norfolk) which allows me to scan the distant field. I see at least 50 Bewick's Swans feeding up before their roost, presumably on the nearby Welney & Ouse Washes reserves; a good tick for me, one I disappointingly didn't pick up when I visited Welney a few weeks previously.
Even better, as I continue to scan the crowded field I pick out a tall, elegant grey bird which is easily identified as a Crane, the first I have seen on British soil! I had read of attempts to reintroduce them in Norfolk, apparently centred on Lakenheath & Pensthorpe but to see one at large as if a native bird was a great, exciting spot, & I watched for a good while as it fed serenely & the light faded. Although usually amazed at the wildlife I see during everyday travels, a crane was on a whole other level, even better than the barn owl the day before, & will cause me to be doubly alert from now on.
Even better, as I continue to scan the crowded field I pick out a tall, elegant grey bird which is easily identified as a Crane, the first I have seen on British soil! I had read of attempts to reintroduce them in Norfolk, apparently centred on Lakenheath & Pensthorpe but to see one at large as if a native bird was a great, exciting spot, & I watched for a good while as it fed serenely & the light faded. Although usually amazed at the wildlife I see during everyday travels, a crane was on a whole other level, even better than the barn owl the day before, & will cause me to be doubly alert from now on.
Monday, 3 March 2008
Heacham North Beach, Norfolk, 02/02/2008
Weather: Bright, freezing cold, breezy, increasingly dusky. From 3pm.
On the shore's edge:
Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Redshank, Grey Plover.
Flock of feeding Snow Bunting; mixed males & females.
Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover.
Flock of about 20 Curlews flew to South Beach, probably the largest flock I've seen.
A single larger, whiter gull with a dark head & a heavier bill flying towards South Beach identified a Mediterranean Gull.
In the car park:
House Sparrow, Moorhen, Mallard.
17 species.
On the shore's edge:
Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Redshank, Grey Plover.
Flock of feeding Snow Bunting; mixed males & females.
Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover.
Flock of about 20 Curlews flew to South Beach, probably the largest flock I've seen.
A single larger, whiter gull with a dark head & a heavier bill flying towards South Beach identified a Mediterranean Gull.
In the car park:
House Sparrow, Moorhen, Mallard.
17 species.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Rough-Legged Buzzard on the A134, 02/02/2008
A successful day at Lynford was followed by the drive back to King's Lynn, looking forward to a walk at Heacham beach for shorebirds, but during any drive in Norfolk it seems that there is always wildlife to be seen & in this case what appeared to be a buzzard flew over the road (the A134).
I couldn't recall ever seeing a buzzard in Norfolk, it's a bird that doesn't seem to be as widespread as it is in other parts of the country, however as the car passed right underneath this one, I was able to glance up & notice that it was quite a pale specimen & with strikingly dark underwing patches. Then as I looked as much as safely possible to the rear, I noticed a different fight to normal, with half extended wings & a slightly flappy flight.
Consulting the guidebooks on my return to the house I found the dark carpal patches & the 'soft' flight were diagnostic of a Rough-Legged Buzzard, a new species for me, & a frequent winter visitor to East Anglia, maybe more frequent than the Common Buzzard. I only wish I had pulled over & taken a better look.
On the drive to Heacham on the A149, to again highlight the great sightings to be had from the car in Norfolk, a Barn Owl was spotted quartering scrubland off the bypass. And the next day there was more...
I couldn't recall ever seeing a buzzard in Norfolk, it's a bird that doesn't seem to be as widespread as it is in other parts of the country, however as the car passed right underneath this one, I was able to glance up & notice that it was quite a pale specimen & with strikingly dark underwing patches. Then as I looked as much as safely possible to the rear, I noticed a different fight to normal, with half extended wings & a slightly flappy flight.
Consulting the guidebooks on my return to the house I found the dark carpal patches & the 'soft' flight were diagnostic of a Rough-Legged Buzzard, a new species for me, & a frequent winter visitor to East Anglia, maybe more frequent than the Common Buzzard. I only wish I had pulled over & taken a better look.
On the drive to Heacham on the A149, to again highlight the great sightings to be had from the car in Norfolk, a Barn Owl was spotted quartering scrubland off the bypass. And the next day there was more...
Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk, 02/02/2008
Weather: bright & sunny, freezing cold. From 910am.
Another trip to Norfolk & Lynford to try to spot the hawfinches, with much better conditions this visit.
In the woods before the lake:
Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Coal Tit, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blackbird, Pheasant boldly feeding under the trees.
A lot of 'pit-choo' calls from Marsh Tits but none seen.
On the lakeside, Moorhen, Mistle Thrush, good views of Siskin, & on the lake, Mallard, pair of Egyptian Goose & a vocal Little Grebe.
Past the lake & onto the path next to the paddock with several other birders scanning the large trees. Luckily once a position had been taken the reknowned Hawfinches were seen almost immediately, a new species for me. The best sighting was of a male on top of a large Hornbeam tree, but there were up to a dozen which flitted about between other trees in the paddock, occasionally dropping to the ground. After about 30 minutes & hearing their calls/song, the apparent feeding of the sheep in the paddock caused them to fly off into the arboretum.
On the way back to the car:
Wren, Mute Swan, Canada Goose & finally just before getting back to the car, Long-tailed Tit.
20 species, 1 new species.
Another trip to Norfolk & Lynford to try to spot the hawfinches, with much better conditions this visit.
In the woods before the lake:
Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Coal Tit, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blackbird, Pheasant boldly feeding under the trees.
A lot of 'pit-choo' calls from Marsh Tits but none seen.
On the lakeside, Moorhen, Mistle Thrush, good views of Siskin, & on the lake, Mallard, pair of Egyptian Goose & a vocal Little Grebe.
Past the lake & onto the path next to the paddock with several other birders scanning the large trees. Luckily once a position had been taken the reknowned Hawfinches were seen almost immediately, a new species for me. The best sighting was of a male on top of a large Hornbeam tree, but there were up to a dozen which flitted about between other trees in the paddock, occasionally dropping to the ground. After about 30 minutes & hearing their calls/song, the apparent feeding of the sheep in the paddock caused them to fly off into the arboretum.
On the way back to the car:
Wren, Mute Swan, Canada Goose & finally just before getting back to the car, Long-tailed Tit.
20 species, 1 new species.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)