Buntings

My first Fieldfares of the autumn for me in Norwich. Yesterday was spent in packed crowds in the Christmas market at Bury St Edmonds but today I managed to get out biding the Patch.
The Stubble field by the New Sewage works came up trumps again with a single Lapland Bunting and Single Snow Bunting with 50 or so Skylark, 6 Meadow pipits and 4 Linnet.
On a Sea watch plenty of ducks moving Gadwall, Pintail, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon.
Gannets Auk sp (Guillemot or Razorbill) Kittiwakes and Red Throated Divers were evident too.

WET PATCH

Pouring down this morning but still managed to get out with the dogs covering the whole patch, a nice and surprising trip out with the pick of the bunch being 3 Snow Bunting 4 Snipe and a very wet Wheatear COSW on the cliffs. 4 Egyptian Geese at the NSW and plenty of Gannet and divers passing on the sea. Only had bins so couldn't tell what the divers were.
Time to watch the Grand Prix, Good luck Lewis.

Waxwings n Stuff

No birding during the week, just impossible now the dark nights have drawn in, Dark when I leave Dark when I get back. I did leave a little later on Friday to watch 2 Waxwings for a short while just down the road in Lowestoft.
So today I went with my gear to have another look, the weather wasn't great but still well worth the short trip from home.

Then had a walk along the promenade to Ness Point, 2 Adult Med Gulls showed well as did 7 Purple Sandpiper. A Dark Bellied Brent dropped really close on Ness point then flew off to join 3 others.
Still testing this 1.8x Extender that Leica have lent me.

Shaggy Inkcap

No Birding

It was Rachels birthday this weekend so no birding done as we visited Kelling heath for the weekend.
The two dog walks on the heath were very quiet although a fly over Hawfinch was a very nice tick to the heath list. Otherwise that was it.
I felt winter was truly hear today with lovely scenery on the heath and woodlands.

The Old café at Sherringham is being renovated and the old paintwork is evident.

Rain Rain Rain.

You guessed it, its been raining all morning but I went out with the dogs anyway, they still need walking. Anyway on the way to COSW I immediately noticed the massive increase in Blackbirds and Starlings.
At COSW I stood and did a 2 hour seawatch. totals below.
Conservative 10000 Starlings all going North over land, in of and over sea.
1 Pomarine Skua  
3 Red Breasted Merganser
1 Great Crested Grebe
6 Grey Geese south
30 Gannet
20 Cormorant
6 Kittiwakes
1 Common Scoter
8 Red Throated diver and a distant poss GN Diver in the mist.
lots of Grey Seal.
Mipits and Chaffinchs moving North.
1 Redwing.

At the COSW itself again a massive increase in Blackbirds and Greenfinch.
Corton Disused Railtrack a Chiffchaff and mixed flock of tits with Goldcrests.

Maybe try again later...

2 Desert Wheatear!!!

It was a great relief today when the Lowestoft Male Desert Wheatear was still present and the sun was shining. A Stunning bird showing very nicely. Leica have loaned me there new Leica 1.8x Extender for my scope and this was a great opportunity for me to try it out. If I do say so myself I was very impressed.

 

 

Now the great thing was just down the road in Gorloston was a second bird, this time a female, although this was a lot more flighty.
I did manage a few, again with the 1.8x extender on the scope.
These birds are by far common so having 2 within 10 miles of each other is incredible.

And a video view in HD.

After my fill of this bird and meeting up with friends I nipped back to the patch but still quiet except for  a load of Teal and a Tufted Duck past.

Its about time something good was on the patch, maybe tomorrow. Funnily enough, my patch is smack bang in the middle of of the 2 Wheatears, lets hope one passes through and I get to find it.

Desert Wheatear

Finally a decent bird for Lowestoft, but a day spent at work hoping it would stay around just long enough for me to catch up with it after work. So I worked my ass off during the day and managed to finish work and get back for this stunning bird just before the sun when down, PHEW!!!! It was a really showy bird too and no fear of man nor beast.....Not the best pics but what a stunner..
Good Bird and Good Company...

Cley

Only bird ive seen all week has been a Woodcock on the way back from work, the patch has been dark dark dark since clocks changed.
Today I was meeting up with good friends who started my birding obsession many many years ago.
We Met at Cley and had a lovely day, nothing special birdwise except 2 Grey Phalaropes. Common stuff included Brent Geese, Gannets Razorbill, Guillemots, 10 Ruff, Bearded Tits a Wheatear and 2 really nice Water Rail.
Nice relaxing day with good friends.
Took 6 Shots all day and heres 2 of em.