Waxwing and Great White Egret

Saturday the patch was quiet and again today it was quiet until a patch tick and possibly a Corton tick in the form of a Water Rail on the ponds at CNSW. The rest of the site was dead, on the sea loads of Gannets including a mass of them in one area feeding, I was hoping it was going to be the Whale, but didn't see anything surface. A Single Wigeon flew south.
Nipped to Reydon after lunch to look for a Waxwing spotted earlier in the day. At first it wasn't on show but after a few minutes it turned up in the Rowan tree and showed well. Pity the light was awful.

 

After this we headed for Minsmere for a drink and cake and another look at the Birds Nest Fungi. Now detached from the boardwalk and on a plank left on the side. The old boardwalk removed and rotten, wonder if it will return next year now....

 

 

 

We then had a look at a new site for us, Hen Reedbed, a cracking looking site with plenty of Little Egrets.

 

 

Then I spotted a Great White Egret infront of one of the hides, its a shame there's no cover when you head down the bank to the hides as before I saw the bird it flushed. Would have been great views from the hide too. It was now getting dark so headed back along the very windy bank where the Great White egret appeared again heading south to the reed bed across the road. It was almost dark and very very windy so I was lucky to get a very crappy record shot, you can just tell what it is. A Bittern flew over too making a great finish to an excellent day.

 

 

Back on patch

So its been at least 2 weeks since I covered the patch in the daylight, last weekend was spent in Amsterdam.
I started with a really good Seawatch again.
3 Little Auk, 1 was attacked by a GBB Gull but managed to get away by diving.
40 Eider
40 RT Divers
35 Common Scoter
6 Guillemot
1 Greenshank
13 Dunlin
1 Knot
2 RedBreasted Merganser
2 Pinkfooted Geese
lots Brents
2 Tufties
2 Mallard
4 Chiffchaff
1 Brambling
flock Siskin
lots of Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Redwings.

This afternoon I spent with a couple of Cranes at Horsey.
3 Barn Owls with 6 marsh Harriers were a bonus.

Crag Martin and a Seawatch.

That's it the early nights are upon us and so no more birding. Although week last Friday I did manage to see the Crag Martin which was a UK lifer up at Chesterfield Crooked Spire on our way to Amsterdam via Hull.  As we were dropping the dogs off at Rachel's mothers who lives in Chesterfield I managed 2 views of the great looking bird.

 

That's been it for birding until today when sea watching has been brilliant.
I watched from Gunton Cliffs rd.
5 Hours produced......
5 Little Auk
23 Guillemot
1 Pale Bellied Brent Goose
178 Dark Bellied Brent
21 Lapwing
100s Dunlin
9 Knot
1 Bar tailed Godwit
1 Curlew
2 Tufted duck
74 Pintail
2 Mallard
57 Teal
19 Wigeon
28 Shelduck in 1 flock
6 Goldeneye
8 Eider
65 Gannet
30 Common Scoter
1 Red breasted Merganser.
8 Med gulls
19 Kittiwakes

No leach's or Skuas as reported in there hundreds in Norfolk, Strange.

Norfolk and a pain in the ass Lesserlegs.

Firstly the garden has produced the goods this week with a cracking Firecrest Awesome. On consecutive 2 nights a Woodcock low over I think it was roosting in the neighbours garden.

Saturday Rach n I Had a great day out at Cley with friends, its always nice because its relaxed and never serious. Any birds we see are always a bonus however our highlights of a 60 species day were a Black Brant, Ring-tailed Hen Harrier, Short Eared Owl, 8 Eider, Common Scoter, GC Grebe and 2 Greenshank.

So nothing amazing but still a few nice birds and an enjoyable day.

We finished at Gt Yarmouth for a quick firework display.

Today it was a quick walk on the patch before heading to Breydon water for a Lesser Yellowlegs that had been around all week. Id tried after work on Wednesday but the bird flew a few min before I got there... So when it turned up again today I thought id give it another go. I arrived and again the bird flew out of site a few min before I got there and then the thick fog rolled it and I had to give up after 3 hours as the Asda carpark limits you to 3 hours. The Fog was a total pain. After lunch the bird turned up again but 3rd time lucky I was able to get very distant views but you could just about see what it was.   Loads of other birds on site and it was great to see massive numbers of waders and ducks. Woodcock was a highlight.
The Yellowlegs flew up Breydon so I decided to try and find it from the North bank but unfortunately the bird had vanished.  3 Bewick Swans were a nice addition though.

The Fog rolled in again and the light was soon gone so home james!