Thursday 30 June 2016

Caspian Tern again

Had some time free on Wednesday evening and I had the van too so nipped over to Breydon Water again to have another look at the Caspian Tern, still a monster and still a beauty. Had it next to Common Terns which showed just how big they are.






Also on site a few Whimbrel, Little Grebe and a Greenshank. Curlew showed nicely and I didgiscoped some flight shots of a young Common Tern,








Sunday 26 June 2016

Lifers and Rare's Rare's Rare's


Sunday night last week a Caspian Tern was found at Breydon water, it was one of the birds from Gib point in Lincs but it was too late to be going and at the time I didn't realise it would be a UK lifer. So Monday I left for work a little earlier as it was on the way and nipped into Breydon where a few people were watching the bird as it rested on the sand. I was lucky enough to borrow some ones scope as it was a fair way off. What a beast. After a few minutes it was off to work.
During the week the patch was actually quite good but mainly from the sea, Terns were the major bird available with a few Little Tern, Common Tern and Sandwich Tern. Lots of Kittiwakes a few gannets and 3 Whimbrel. Med gulls were now on the move with an Adult, 2nd Summer and 1st Summer birds moving North.


Broad Bodied Chasers were nice and not common on the patch, I finally managed to find a few Bee Orchids and another single Pyramid Orchid.





Best bird of the week and big fat patch tick was a superb Quail as it flew from the OSW into the crop field.
I kept watching the sea as I was hoping the Caspian Tern that was still at Breydon would pay me a visit. Unfortunately not!
The weather was mixed and sometimes forced me away early.



 Come this weekend nd a superb one birdwise it was. The Caspian Tern Disapeared back to Gib point but was back at Breydon a day later and it gave me a proper chance prolonged views. After checking my records I was surprised to see it was a UK lifer for me.




 

Extra birds on Breydon were a few Whimbrel and 3 Med Gulls.

The afternoon was spent with Danny, we headed for Holme and Gore Point hoping to see the Great Knot which I had dipped the week before. We started with a  Red Kite heading over Brancaster. We arrived at Gore point and weren't to be disappointed as we had the Great Knot with a small group of birders as the tide came in. What a stunning and rare bird even if it was a fair way off.






 

The 3000 Knot were amazing to watch as they fed and sometimes wheeled in the air.





Whilst onsite a year tick in 4 Eider, a nice Little Gull with all the usual Terns, Little Egret on the beach and back in the Dunes a Turtle Dove and best one yet were the very vocal Natterjack toads, it was quite late but a really nice evening, the Wrens were certainly enjoying themselves.







Onto today and back home just off the patch at Ness point Rob found a stunning female Bluethroat, a very late bird and I was lucky enough to spend early afternoon watching the birding feeding around the carpark.






What a great weekend.

Sunday 19 June 2016

Titchwell

Saturday 19th June.
Typically its the weekend and the weather turns shite again, The Great Knot was still at RSPB Titchwell so thought id go have a look. Guess what it was seen at 7am but not after and yes it was then seen and still is being seen today (Sunday) Well I aint going back stuff it. I did however have a nice trip on the reserve digiscoping in the rain of the local House Martins.








And a few Swallows





The Avocets were much more tricky to get decent shots off.

 





 
Also the Gadwall




Other birds onsite were Hobby, Summer Plumaged Spotted Redshank, pair of Red Crested Pochard, lots of Little Terns and 3 Adult Med Gulls.

Lastly another Med Gull hunting for chips in Wells harbour.