Sunday 30 August 2009

NWT Cley Marshes, Norfolk, 30/08/2009

4:45pm. Weather: Warm, some sunshine, mostly cloudy.

Another quick visit after a coastal drive up to Cromer, whilst Kim waited, unfortunately the teashop was closed! The pits were also very quiet.

Walking to the hides:
Egyptian Goose, Woodpigeon, Starling, Black-Headed Gull.
From the hides:
Mallard, Coot, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Teal, Black-Tailed Godwit.
Shelduck, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Dunlin, Lapwing, Pied Wagtail.
On the way back:
Kestrel, Moorhen, Jackdaw.

19 species.

Saturday 29 August 2009

RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, 29/08/2009

3:34pm. Weather: bright, sunny & cool.

A beach day with the nephews & a quiet day on the reserve, although the horse flies were busy taking chunks out of me on the walk back!

Freshwater Marshes:
Coot, Shoveler, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Black-Headed Gull.
Ringed Plover - a sizeable juvenile creche of t least 20.
Dunlin, Teal, Shelduck, Mallard.

Tidal Marshes & Dunes:
Black-Tailed Godwit, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Starling.

Visitors' Centre & Carpark:
Blackbird, Greenfinch, Robin, Woodpigeon.

20 species.

Sunday 9 August 2009

RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, 09/08/2009

2pm. Weather: sunny & warm, some gathering clouds & a breeze.

After the watchpoints I headed to Titchwell where some good species had been reported & where I hoped to have an hour or two on the beach in the sunshine with Kim & mum.

Carpark:
Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Woodpigeon.

Freshwater Marshes:
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Coot, Cormorant, Little Grebe.

New Island Hide:
Black-Headed Gull, Teal, Shelduck, Lapwing, Ruff, Avocet, Golden Plover.
Little Ringed Plover - one on the mud in the fringes of the reedbed to the right of the hide.
Ringed Plover, Shoveler, Black-Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher.
Dunlin - several amongst a decent gathering of mixed waders. There had been reports of curlew sandpipers but none could be picked out from the dunlin in various stages of plumage.
Moorhen, Pied Wagtail.
Wood Sandpiper - a juvenile active on the mud near to the little ringed plover, allowing good views of its diffuse plumage.
Common Sandpiper - also on the mud, often next to the wood 'piper.
Bearded Tit - a juvenile alighted on a reed near to the hide allowing the chance of a brief close-up.
Redshank, Curlew, Mallard.

Towards the Tidal/Brackish Marshes:
Starling, Little Egret, Great Black-Backed Gull.

Beach/Sea:
Eider, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Turnstone.

Marshes:
Grey Heron, Snipe, Linnet.

Carpark:
Robin.

39 species, none new.

Swanton Novers Watchpoint, Norfolk, 09/08/2009

12:35pm. Weather: warm, bright & sunny.

Another watchpoint for a suitable wooded area but another no-show from the honey buzzards.

Linnet, Yellowhammer, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon.

Feeder:
Great Tit, Blue Tit.

Great Ryburgh Watchpoint, Norfolk, 09/08/2009

11:15am. Weather: warm, bright, hazy.

My first visit to a couple of watchpoints in an attempt to see their speciality, honey buzzards. They had been reported in previous weeks but I wondered if I was too late, nevertheless I wanted to find out where they were for the next summer if I was unsuccessful. I found the carpark easily enough but it wasn't obvious where the watchpoint was because it involved walking over some ploughed land, but once I did & followed the path up I had a nice view over the valley. However the only birds I saw where general, farm & woodland birds.

Chaffinch, Herring Gull, Kestrel.
Buzzard - flew along the tree-line calling, conveniently identifying it.
Red-Legged Partridge, Skylark, Yellowhammer.
Brown Hare, Woodpigeon, Linnet.

Saturday 8 August 2009

Old Hunstanton Beach, Norfolk, 08/08/2009

12:30pm. Weather: sunny, warm & glorious.

A day on the beach with the family, under the cliffs & with a walk out to the low-tide line & the exposed shellfish beds.

Fulmar - the residents, & always a pleasure to see.

Notable Migrants:
Swift, Swallow, House Martin.

Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Oystercatcher.

Sunday 2 August 2009

Southend-on-Sea, Essex, 02/08/2009

All day visit. Weather: Cloudy, long sunny spells.

A day besides the nearest seaside to London with Kim. We started at Leigh-on-Sea but made our way into Southend & it's pier & fish & chips.

Beach:
Black-Headed Gull, Cormorant, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull.

Pier:
Great Black-Backed Gull,
Turnstone - 20-30 birds were perched one of the launching ramps on the pier, still in late breeding breeding plumage & emitting numerous calls.

Town & Beach:
Collared Dove, Starling, Swallow, Oystercatcher.