Quick tour of North Norfolk

The day started early with a session at Wolferton hoping to connect with the Golden Pheasants but this proved a poor start to the day with the triangle really quiet giving up just a couple of Muntjac deer during our visit. We moved on to Titchwell were the car park was alive with Chaffinches and the resident Robin came down to feed from the hand as it usually does on our visits. Walking the main path I left the Jims searching for Water Pipit and made my way to the beach. The Freshwater marsh has been flooded as part of the reserves management programme so held very little bird life on our visit. The beach was where all the action was with Grey Plover, Sanderling, Knot, Black & Bar-tailed Godwits all present although the sea itself was very quiet. Three Twite moved off as I got to the boardwalk area.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Sanderling

Sanderling

We drove from Titchwell down to Salthouse where a half a mile (seemed a lot longer) walk along the shingle finally delivered when we picked out a flock of over fifty Snow Bunting  feeding with at least fifteen Twite. As the flock was large it was easily spooked and our images were taken at distance but it was nice to see such a large group.

Snow Buntings

Snow Buntings

The fields around Salthouse held lot's of Brent Geese and a Black Brant had been reported.
On route we'd stopped at Lady Anne's Drive Holkham to scan the Pink Footed Geese hoping for a Bean or maybe even the Snow Goose that's roaming Norfolk with the Pinks. Our reward here was a threesome of Grey Partridge which was followed by two more groups during our tour. Always good to catch up with the Greys.

Pink -footed Goose

Grey Partridge

Our final stop was to watch the Corvid roost at Buckenham Marshes. We'd scanned the Geese and probably had the Taiga Beans but the light was fading and the group were distant so that year tick will have to wait for another day and gives good reason to revisit and watch the incredible roost as the Corvids arrive from everywhere to fight for space in the trees with extreme volume.

Corvid roost at Buckenham

good fishing at Fishers Green

Great-crested Grebe

I spent a couple of hours in the Bittern Hide at Fishers Green this morning hoping to see Bittern but sadly failed. Water rail numbers were strong and the bird feeders were busy with Tits and finches taking advantage of a free meal. Reed Buntings showed from time to time and the Moorhens were joined by Mallard,Gadwall, Tufted and Shoveler. Out on seventy acres Egyptian Geese performed noisily and a large gathering of Lapwing showed unrest although the panic seemed to be Heron induced as they harassed the Cormorants.

Great-crested Grebe

A Coot caught a large Crayfish and snacked on it in the reed bed and a couple of Great Crested Grebes fed well in the pool by the hide catching a fish with almost every dive.

Fieldfare

Redwing

Chiffchaff were present and large numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare have arrived.

Great Grey Shrike at Chilham in Kent

We finally paid the Chilham Shrike a visit today to add a year tick to our list and what a cracking bird it was.
with the weather bright, very cold but with little wind we headed first for Elmley arriving via the new faster smarter Dartford crossing we pulled into the reserve at 8am just as the gates were opened.

Pheasant

Curlew

Kestrel

Kestrel

Marsh Harrier

Stonechat

Stonechat with a little help from photoshop

300 plus Curlew were feeding on the wet fields at the entrance along with good numbers of Ruff and two Common Buzzard hunted low across the fields flushing the large flocks of Lapwing and Starling.
Four Marsh Harrier and several Kestrel were seen along with several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.
A Pheasant posed for a close up and a Kestrel hovered above the car giving another photo opportunity.

After Elmley we made the 20mile journey across Kent to Chilham pulling into the layby at Branch Road we noticed the Shrike sitting up in fields behind the sports centre and managed a couple of shots as we watched it hunting from bushes and at times the over head wires. It was nice to see the bird so active and It looks at home here so I guess it'll stay the winter.

Great Grey Shrike at Chilham

Shrike!

Rough-legged Buzzard at Wallasea Island

Another drive down to Wallasea Island this afternoon. First birds seen were the huge flocks of Corn Bunting and Skylark. Two Ring-tailed Hen Harrier hunted the flocks continuously and were joined by a pair of Marsh Harrier and a very large female Peregrine which had eyes on the Lapwing and kept forcing them high with the Lapwing doing all they could to stay above the falcon.

After an hour or so I spotted a Buzzard and it's hovering flight prompted me to get the scope out which revealed it to be the suspected Rough Legged. This was my first for Essex and it gave great views for ten minutes before returning over the ridge and out of view. After yesterdays six Short-eared Owls it was disappointing not see any on the visit but as we pulled away from the car park at around 4pm an Owl flew along the road towards us and then sat on the fence before taking flight and heading off towards the back of the fields.

All in all a fabulous visit again spoilt only by the traffic getting home.

Short-eared Owls at Wallasea Island

A brief stop at Wallasea Island this afternoon gave me the opportunity to see no fewer than six Short-eared Owls hunting. One was mobbed by a Peregrine and another interacted with one of the two ringtail Hen Harriers present. A Marsh Harrier joined the games as it flew through whilst five shorties were in the air together and a Rough-legged Buzzard was also reported this afternoon but wasn't seen by me on this visit.

SEO

Shortie

Short-eared Owl

SEO hunting at Wallasea Island

The images don't really do the experience justice but I'll keep trying to catch a better image of these magnificent birds.

Isabelline Wheatear in Cleveland

Work took me to Yorkshire on Monday and what luck that was with an Isabelline Wheatear deciding to drop onto the beach at Seaton Snook on the Sunday. Thankfully the bird found food and hung around for me. Arriving on the beach to find around fifty other interested birders with the bird performing well along the tide line in front of them all. I sneaked further up the tide line to position the sun behind me as most of the guys were shooting directly into the sun. Sure enough after a short wait the bird made it's way along the tide line and gave me a solo show just a few feet in front of me and what a little super star it was.

Isabelline Wheatear Seaton Snook Cleveland

Isabelline Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear

Isabel

Isabelline Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear at Seaton Snook

The Twitch for the Isabelline Wheatear

Teesmouth

I would usually have needed to let this little cracker pass with my "soft" two hour rule but once again a work do provided the route to bagging the lifer as it had earlier this year with the Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Whilst away I had the opportunity to do a little cley pigeon shooting and falconry being allowed to fly both Eagle Owl and a stunning Bateleur Eagle. The falconry centre also held Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Steppe Eagle, Peregrine, Harris Hawk etc. Although I obviously prefer my raptors flying free it was nice to get up close to some of these magnificent birds.

Bateleur Eagle

The bedroom at the Consiton

The view from my bedroom.

Life list now 351
year list now 265

Wallasea Island Harriers and Owls

I spent more time at Wallasea Island in Essex this morning with my good lady hoping for some action from both the Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls. Arriving around 8.30am it was very grey and the reserve was clouded in mist. I parked up and waited as the sun tried and failed to break through but eventually we were treated to our first Harrier of the morning as a young Marsh Harrier flew by. A ring-tail then woke and joined the party as it hunted the fields before being joined by a second Ring-tail and then a pair of Marsh Harriers. I spotted a single Short-eared Owl but it dropped back into the grass as quickly as it had risen. Another Shortie then came up in the distance to mob a harrier before another two also came up so at least four on site. Another was seen hunting the far ridge with a Hen Harrier for company before yet another came up flying close to the road but again quickly returned to the deck. A Sparrow-hawk was seen sitting out on the reserve along with three Kestrels and the place is alive with Corn Bunting and Skylark which I suppose helps attract all the raptors.

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier, Heron and a Common Crane!

Two for the price of one

Corn Bunting

Corn Bunting

Corn Buntings

pair of Corn Buntings

Buntings

The place is becoming my winter wonderland and I think I'll be spending a bit more time here in the coming weeks.

Sprawk