2:10pm to 5:20pm. Weather: cold, bright & breezey (easterly).
Attempt to connect with the reported shore lark & to reacquaint myself with one of my absolute favourite parts of Norfolk.
Carpark:
Greylag Goose - approximately 200 in the fields around the car-park.
Canada Goose - in with the greylags.
Common Gull - over.
Chalet Scrapes:
Mallard, Tufted Duck.
Goldeneye - lone male.
Cormorant, Coot.
Shoreline:
Snow Bunting - good-sized flocks amongst along the shore next to the gate after the chalets, often quite close to the path, including a couple of individuals that were becoming more white as spring approaches.
Linnet - even larger flocks of up to 20 active along the shore & nearby bushes, & even closer to the path. A good scan looking for reported twite drew a blank but I had great close-up views of adults & first winter birds. I also had to admit defeat with the shore larks because none showed, although I was assured a couple of times that 'they were there earlier'.
Scrapes & Mudflats:
Little Grebe, Shelduck, Dunnock, Dunlin, Knot, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Lapwing.
Shoreline
Blackbird, Goldfinch.
Grey Plover - a few inviduals.
Wigeon - grazing on vegetation adjacent to the shore.
Meadow Pipit, Black-Headed Gull.
Hide:
Gadwall, Shoveler, Great Black-Backed Gull, Oystercatcher.
Far Marshes:
Barn Owl - a good scan of the marshes towards Wolverton soon revealed a quartering individual; a reliable spot. Later, back towards the carpark I was treated to great close-up of one quartering a rough field adjacent to the first scrapes next to the chalets. It eventually flew off inland over the seawall where, after I crested the wall, I could see it continuing to hunt all the way up to the far end of the reserve.
Pathside Scrub:
Moorhen, Wren, Woodpigeon, Magpie (2).
Car-park:
Pink-Footed Goose - flocks of a few hundred over as dusk descended. I'd met a couple of people who were waiting for them & they caused me to pull-over & take a few photos.
34 species.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Sunday, 7 February 2010
RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk, 07/02/2010
10:45am to 1:45pm. Weather: Cold, dank, overcast & grey; still.
Wintry visit partly to test the new 'scope against the conditions particularly at sea-watching which my previous scope struggled with. It was a horrible day, I was forced into the hide by heavy, drizzly rain & the sea was shrouded in a damp mist which made it impossible for me to pick out any velvet scoters amongst the thousands of commons, even with the new 'scope.
Car-park.
Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch.
Picnic Area.
Robin, Blue Tit
Song Thrush - one in the undergrowth.
Pheasant, Greenfinch.
Visitors' Centre's Feeders
Collared Dove, Lapwing, House Sparrow, Moorhen (underneath), Dunnock, Long-Tailed Tit.
BULLFINCH - 2 male, 2 female; walking along the path to the fen hide from the visitors' centre I spotted the first pair at the top of trees along the main path. The first two were soon joined by another couple. I was delighted because it was completely unexpected & bullfinch was a species I haven't seen in many years.
Island Hide.
Coot, Mallard, Gadwall, Lapwing, Pintail, Teal, Brent Goose, Black-Headed Gull, Shoveler, Redshank, Shelduck.
Ruff - 3 from the hide, but up to 20 later viewed from the path near to the new 'Parrinder' wall.
Oystercatcher, Avocet, Curlew, Snipe - 2.
Adjacent Marshes.
Spotted Redshank - 2, with a redshank wading in a small pool on the marshes opposite the island hide.
Wigeon - also grazing in the field.
Brackish Marsh.
Reed Bunting, Black-Tailed Godwit, Little Grebe, Herring Gull, Goldeneye - 1 female.
Sea.
Common Scoter - approx 2000 in an impressive raft, accompanied by several gulls. The mist meant I couldn't pick any ducks with white which would indicate velvet scoters but it's the largest collection of common scoters I've ever seen.
Freshwater Marshes.
Crow, Cormorant.
Visitors' Centre's Feeders.
Water Rail - one nervously under the feeders before skulking away into the undergrowth, after a good close-up view.
Mealy Redpoll - no sooner had the rail disappeared than a flock of goldfinch were noticed in nearby alders. A quick scan revealed a different looking bird, that was much more streaky on first impressions as it flitted about, but it soon became obvious it was the redpoll that had apparently taken up residence. Although mobile in the branches it allowed good views, showing pale undersides, streaked breast & a flash of red on the face. My first mealy & my first redpoll in many years - bullfinch & redpoll in one day!
45 species, 1 new species.
Wintry visit partly to test the new 'scope against the conditions particularly at sea-watching which my previous scope struggled with. It was a horrible day, I was forced into the hide by heavy, drizzly rain & the sea was shrouded in a damp mist which made it impossible for me to pick out any velvet scoters amongst the thousands of commons, even with the new 'scope.
Car-park.
Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch.
Picnic Area.
Robin, Blue Tit
Song Thrush - one in the undergrowth.
Pheasant, Greenfinch.
Visitors' Centre's Feeders
Collared Dove, Lapwing, House Sparrow, Moorhen (underneath), Dunnock, Long-Tailed Tit.
BULLFINCH - 2 male, 2 female; walking along the path to the fen hide from the visitors' centre I spotted the first pair at the top of trees along the main path. The first two were soon joined by another couple. I was delighted because it was completely unexpected & bullfinch was a species I haven't seen in many years.
Island Hide.
Coot, Mallard, Gadwall, Lapwing, Pintail, Teal, Brent Goose, Black-Headed Gull, Shoveler, Redshank, Shelduck.
Ruff - 3 from the hide, but up to 20 later viewed from the path near to the new 'Parrinder' wall.
Oystercatcher, Avocet, Curlew, Snipe - 2.
Adjacent Marshes.
Spotted Redshank - 2, with a redshank wading in a small pool on the marshes opposite the island hide.
Wigeon - also grazing in the field.
Brackish Marsh.
Reed Bunting, Black-Tailed Godwit, Little Grebe, Herring Gull, Goldeneye - 1 female.
Sea.
Common Scoter - approx 2000 in an impressive raft, accompanied by several gulls. The mist meant I couldn't pick any ducks with white which would indicate velvet scoters but it's the largest collection of common scoters I've ever seen.
Freshwater Marshes.
Crow, Cormorant.
Visitors' Centre's Feeders.
Water Rail - one nervously under the feeders before skulking away into the undergrowth, after a good close-up view.
Mealy Redpoll - no sooner had the rail disappeared than a flock of goldfinch were noticed in nearby alders. A quick scan revealed a different looking bird, that was much more streaky on first impressions as it flitted about, but it soon became obvious it was the redpoll that had apparently taken up residence. Although mobile in the branches it allowed good views, showing pale undersides, streaked breast & a flash of red on the face. My first mealy & my first redpoll in many years - bullfinch & redpoll in one day!
45 species, 1 new species.
Thornham Harbour, Norfolk, 07/02/2010
10 - 10:20am. Weather: Cold, dank, overcast & grey; still.
A regular visit in the hope of catching twite & lapland bunting but I now visit with diminishing enthusiasm due to the number of walkers & dog-walkers that go through the area, reducing the chances of seeing almost anything. On this occasion a couple of walkers making their way from Holme along the wall let their dog roam over the entirety of the fallow field I was looking over. At some points the dog was at least half a mile from where they were. To make matters worse as they approached closer I saw they were both dutifully wearing binoculars with their entrance stickers stuck on, not that they had much call to use them with their irresponsible lack of control over their dog!
Shelduck - 4 over then a few more on the estuary later.
Redshank, Meadow Pipit.
Skylark - a few seen flitting about the field & one or two singing.
Barn Owl - one flying along the tree-line onto Holme Dunes reserve.
Curlew, Kestrel.
A regular visit in the hope of catching twite & lapland bunting but I now visit with diminishing enthusiasm due to the number of walkers & dog-walkers that go through the area, reducing the chances of seeing almost anything. On this occasion a couple of walkers making their way from Holme along the wall let their dog roam over the entirety of the fallow field I was looking over. At some points the dog was at least half a mile from where they were. To make matters worse as they approached closer I saw they were both dutifully wearing binoculars with their entrance stickers stuck on, not that they had much call to use them with their irresponsible lack of control over their dog!
Shelduck - 4 over then a few more on the estuary later.
Redshank, Meadow Pipit.
Skylark - a few seen flitting about the field & one or two singing.
Barn Owl - one flying along the tree-line onto Holme Dunes reserve.
Curlew, Kestrel.
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