More Norfolk pics

Barn Owl at Burnham Norton

Bar-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Barn Owl at dawn

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

Oystercatcher

Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Blakeney Freshmarsh

A day out today took me up the A10 in thick freezing fog in what was probably the scariest drive of my life with visibility down to just a couple of metres in places but I slowly made it safely through the gloom.

First stop was Brancaster Staithe where I stopped to pap the Bar-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Dunlin and Oystercatchers.  A Red Kite was a surprise bird here but the Red-necked Grebe wasn't seen.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Dunlin

Herring Gull

Oystercatcher

Turnstone

Next stop was Blakeney Freshmarsh where a walk out along the sea wall delivered great views of Lapland Buntings along with Twite, Meadow and Rock Pipit. Marsh Harriers hunted as did a Merlin just before my arrival. I did find a Pale-belly in amongst the Brents here and managed a couple of shots before it flew off to the back of the marsh. The Laplands were singing and even displaying some courtship behaviour.

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting 

Lapland Bunting

Brent Geese including a Pale bellied!

Pale-bellied Brent Goose with three Dark bellied Brents

Pale Belly at Blakeney

Back in the car and I headed along the coast stopping to watch a day flying Barn Owl at Burnham Norton using the car as a hide. Whilst watching the Owl an adult male Hen Harrier flew across the fields and was then followed by a pair of Marsh Harriers and a Common Buzzard.

Barn Owl 

Barn Owl

Barn Owl 

At Choseley the Rough-legs had gone into hiding with several Common Buzzards circling overhead instead. Good numbers of Grey Partridge were seen and Hares seem to be doing well with upto twenty viewable from the drying barns alone.

No year ticks today but plenty of good birds showing reasonable well for the camera instead.
I'll take that!

Barn Owl at Burnham Norton

Very distant record of the adult male Hen Harrier seen from the car at Burnham Norton

Cranes at Lakenheath

A visit to Lakenheath today rewarded us for the long walk out to Joist Fen with cracking views of two of the three pairs of Crane present. The walden told us that he has three pairs looking to set up territory this year after last years breeding success where two pairs raised three young.
Sitting waiting at the fen hide we had a fly over Bittern and Sparrowhawk along with several Marsh Harriers setting up territory and a lone Buzzard. A Great White Egret was spotted before we left and the centre feeders had visiting Siskin, Reed Bunting and Brown Rat.

Common Cranes at Lakenheath

Cranes 

We encountered Muntjac and Roe Deer but the Cranes were the stars giving great views as they flew over our heads and circled round before dropping into a nearby field. Displays took place before the birds took the skies again.

A visit to Lackford Lakes failed to deliver the hoped for Jack Snipe and Santon Downham failed to deliver Lesser Spotted Woodpecker despite both being seen yesterday but that's birding for you.

Canada Geese at Lackford 

Kingfisher at Lackford

Goosander at Santon Downham

Year list now 179

Fulmar at Hunstanton Cliffs

Fulmar

Fulmar at Hunstanton

Fulmar

Fulmar

Snow Buntings at Cley

Snow Bunting at Cley

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting at Cley

Lapland Buntings in Norfolk

Lapland Bunting

A few more images from this weekends Norfolk trip.

Lapland Bunting at Blakeney 

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting

A little bit of Lapland in Norfolk

If you haven't been to see these little gems hurry up or you'll miss them and they're well worth the investment.

Lapland Buntings at Blakeney Freshmarsh

Since news started to filter through regarding the reliability of Lapland Bunting at Blakeney I've fancied the trip in the hope of first seeing them and hopefully capturing a couple of images too.

Lapland Bunting

I picked up the Jims and we headed north arriving in the car park at the harbour around 7.15am.
Walking along the sea wall with a strong wind and temperatures only just above freezing we made our way to the sea wall and quickly found a small mixed flock feeding around the NT Reserve gate.
Lapland Bunting, Reed Bunting, Twite, Meadow pipit, Skylark and a single Stonechat entertained us for the next hour or so before the cold got the better of us and we headed back to the car for a warm up.

Reed Bunting

Next stop was Cley where we walked out along the East bank and followed the shingle ridge to the east to find a small party of Snow Bunting feeding at the far end. Sadly a dead porpoise was found washed up on the beach before we left and headed into the reserve for a coffee.

Snow Bunting

Porpoise

A quick dip on the Red-necked Grebe at Brancaster left the old man still looking for a year tick on it but we did connect with Fulmar gliding along the cliffs at Hunstanton.

Fulmar at Hunstanton Cliff

Wigeon at Salthouse

Year list now 178