Happy New Years Eve

So had chores to do before nipping out to Breydon Water with the dogs, it was cold and wet but dogs needed walking. Amazing mass of birds on the estuary, maybe 1500 Wigeon, 2000 Lapwing with mixed Teal, Black tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover Redshank and 400 Golden Plover, Loads of mixed gulls 5 Med Gulls.. It was windy and the birds were distant so I didn't check them very thoroughly.
Half way down the bank I heard Snow Bunting, then 3 flew up from the edge of the marsh, also a Rock pipit.

On the way home stopped at Gorleston and had a quick check of the Scoter flock, 5 Velvet Scoters still. Finished with 3 Med Gull In the car park.
Great finish to 2013....

Happy New Year Everyone.

Norfolk Again.

Can ya tell I just LOVE Norfolk... Rach the dogs n I headed that way again. Started looking for the Rose Coloured Starling and not a great start, just couldn't find it anywhere.
Moved onto Ludham airfield where I managed distant views of a group of 58 Bewick and 27 Whooper Swans. We moved around and managed to find a better area to view although it was looking into the sun but I love Bewick Swans so was pleased to see them a bit closer.

Moved onto Kelling Quags where the Richards Pipit showed well at times giving good scope views.

 

checked through a few Pinkfooted geese too but nothing special. Sat on the beach and had our lunch and did a sea watch for an hour and a half picked up 8 Red Throated Divers, handful of Guillemots and then just before we were going to leave a close Little Auk flew north bingo!!!
Finished off by visiting Chosley Barns and 0 Corn Buntings! then Titchwell for the sunset. At Titchwell 5 Spotted Redshank were the pick of the good numbers of waders. A sea watch was disappointing with 2 GC Grebe and 8 Goldeneye. a list of Waders were Black and Bar tailed Godwit, loads of Ruff and Golden Plover,  Dunlin, Grey Plover and some Avocets. On the way back in the dark Cetties Warbler and Water Rail, also nice to hear Bearded Tits.
Back on the patch (drive past) I Spotted a Tawny Owl sat in the tree. What a great finish..

Id be very surprised if I saw any new birds now before the new year so im happy to say I finished my year list on a respectable 276 Species....

Purple Sandpiper

Went and had a look for the Purple Sandpipers at Ness point but had real trouble finding them but on the way back they flew past and landed on the rocks initially distant but they did eventually come a little closer. Well had real trouble with very poor light and had to shoot on iso 200 so I was very surprised to get 4 half decent shots off the camera.
2 Gannet and 3 Kittiwake were the only other notable birds really.

 

Feeling rough boxing day.

Christmas day was just a walk around the patch with nothing to report unfortunately.
Today took dogs out for a walk around Haddiscoe Island, loads of Coal tits, Goldcrests, a few Treecreepers and Chaffinchs but the best birds were 2 Rough Legged Buzzard, 2 Peregrine, 2 Kestrel and numerous Marsh Harriers. A couple of Egyptian geese and a Chinese Water Deer finished the walk out.

Merry Christmas

A Very Merry Christmas one and all and thanks for your continued support..

North Norfolk

Had an amazing day in North Norfolk today, had a drive and a great walk around Felbrigg Hall watching Bramblings.

Onto Kelling Heath my most fav place in the world for lots of Goldcrests, Woodpeckers, Jays, Bullfinch and Muntjack Deer. Also a great lunch here.

 

Onto Sheringham to look at the damage, quite bad in places but on the whole ok..

 

 

Onto Weybourn then Cley where the damage wasn't as severe as I first feared, but then im sure a lot of work has already gone into the clear up.

 

 

The birds at Cley were Brent Geese, Marsh Harrier,s Black tailed Godwit and Little Egrets.

Homeward bound, its great living a short distance away now.

Glossy Ibis

Once again Suffolk and the local area produces the goods. This time its a GLOSSY IBIS on the marsh at Oulton Broad, only 5 mile from the house, brilliant. It was always distant for photos but gave good scope views with a  nice fly around. otherwise a quiet day again. I've broke up from work till the 2nd now so hopefully plenty of birding action over Christmas.
Couple of Record shots.

Horsey Waterpump

We had to take the dogs for a walk, so chose Horsey Mill, we like this area and Rach loves the Tea room which disappointingly was shut. It was dull muddy n wet but still had a nice walk.
Started off at Caister on sea where the Juv Rose Coloured Starling was still showing. At Horsey itself 7 Whooper Swans and big flock of Greylag Geese and much fewer Pink footed Geese.
38 Egyptian Geese was the highest count ive ever had. It was fairly quiet otherwise but good numbers of Marsh Harriers and a single Ring-tailed Hen Harrier.  Home time...

Christmas Stuff

Yeh like the title said most of this weekend was spent doing Christmas stuff Saturday was spent at Thursford Christmas Spectacular and spectacular it certainly was, well worth going if anyone fancy's Christmas musicals..
In the morning I did take dogs out and saw 2 Firecrest in Corton Woods.
Sunday was spent on Lowestoft beach with the dogs again, an Adult Shag and a few Med Gulls was it really though, then it was onto Norwich for the Christmas Coca Cola Lorry and Christmas shopping.
Fraid that's it, pretty quiet time birding wise, break up from work Friday so maybe just maybe something good will turn up over the break.

Shore as hell like Med Gulls

So I was on the Corton patch at day break this morning but it was very very quiet so Rach picked me up on the way through to Great Yarmouth where we parked a mile North of the main area and walked the length of the beach stopping for lunch in the centre. On the walk through the dunes and shingle beach we picked up 2 SNOW BUNTINGS flying over and 9 Sanderling with a Ringed Plover. The sandbank was becoming exposed and hundreds of Cormorant were now filling the bank along with the Seals. In total a minimum count of 43 MED GULLS of varying ages and some with UK and Belgium rings.

 

We made a slow walk back to the car when I picked up 3 SHORELARK, cracking little birds.

Finally we finished at Gorleston where I had a very quick look through the 400 Scoters here, picked up 3 VELVET SCOTERS in flight then 7 together making a really nice finish to the day.