Then the other highlights were
2 Bullfinch
2 Tree Creeper
2 Chiffchaff
18 Red Throated Diver on sea, many more flying North and South,
70 Common Scoter plus another flock of 540 flew North
2 Wigeon
45 Skylark
2 Common Snipe
Monday, 24 December 2018
Waxwing
2 Waxwings on patch briefly this morning. a nice Christmas eve present. I thought i had a Waxwing flying over but only heard it once so dismissed it but then realised it must have called as it dropped in, i then found them sat in the Silver birch.
Then the other highlights were
2 Bullfinch
2 Tree Creeper
2 Chiffchaff
18 Red Throated Diver on sea, many more flying North and South,
70 Common Scoter plus another flock of 540 flew North
2 Wigeon
45 Skylark
2 Common Snipe
Then the other highlights were
2 Bullfinch
2 Tree Creeper
2 Chiffchaff
18 Red Throated Diver on sea, many more flying North and South,
70 Common Scoter plus another flock of 540 flew North
2 Wigeon
45 Skylark
2 Common Snipe
Sunday, 23 December 2018
Goosing around...
Weather was awful so had a drive through Norfolk looking through the geese. At Horsey i looked through the geese to find at least 35 Greenland White-fronted Geese with 100 or so Greylags.
Onto Sea palling where i found a smallish flock of Pink footed geese but could only find a single Tundra Bean Goose, although there is something a little strange about it. Smallish and not typical in my eyes.
Onto the other side of Sea palling where i found a few Swans 6 Bewicks on the pool and some Whoopers but visibility was poor and most of the Whoopers were hidden over the ridge.
That was it really, had a quick check for any Gulls at Cromer but there weren't any...
Merry Christmas everyone
Onto Sea palling where i found a smallish flock of Pink footed geese but could only find a single Tundra Bean Goose, although there is something a little strange about it. Smallish and not typical in my eyes.
Onto the other side of Sea palling where i found a few Swans 6 Bewicks on the pool and some Whoopers but visibility was poor and most of the Whoopers were hidden over the ridge.
That was it really, had a quick check for any Gulls at Cromer but there weren't any...
Merry Christmas everyone
Sunday, 16 December 2018
Day off
Feels like and age since ive had the opportunity to go birding, so i had the day off work and walked from home to Ness point. i didn't see much until i reached Ness point and spotted 6 Purple Sandpipers.
On the way back 7 Med Gulls, mainly adults with 1 second winter.
That was it unfortunately. Still nice to be out.
On the way back 7 Med Gulls, mainly adults with 1 second winter.
That was it unfortunately. Still nice to be out.
Sunday, 11 November 2018
Norfolk
Last weekend we had the day at Sheringham, thought it would be rude not looking at the 2nd Winter King Eider that was sat on the sea from the lifeboat station.
Other birds of note were a Purple Sandpiper and an Adult Shag.
On the patch 3 Snow Bunting on the beach.
Short time on patch yesterday with just a load of Goldcrest to show for it.
Today was great Started on patch and caught the tail end of what i was pretty sure was a Swift, didn't want to make a fool of myself however by reporting a probably Swift. More Frustrating was a Pallid Swift turning up at Minsmere and the 2 together at Thorpness, so almost certainly a Pallid Swift.
My second circuit of the patch had a Fly over Lapland Bunting and more Goldcrests. On the sea i waited for a flock of 500+ Common Scoter to fly so i could pick out the 1 Velvet Scoter.
Rach picked me up and we headed for Norfolk, stopping at Repps where 18 Crane were visible from the B1125.
Onto Horsey where a flock of 400 Pinkfooted Geese were feeding and i managed to find 2 Tundra Bean geese with them Bonus!
Carried onto Cromer but firstly passing Mundlsey a cracking Rough Legged Buzzard rapidly flew through. Shortly after i found it had gone through Sidestrand too.
Finished at Kelling heath but didn't add any new decent birds to the day list. Brought a little bit of faith back to birding
Other birds of note were a Purple Sandpiper and an Adult Shag.
On the patch 3 Snow Bunting on the beach.
Short time on patch yesterday with just a load of Goldcrest to show for it.
Today was great Started on patch and caught the tail end of what i was pretty sure was a Swift, didn't want to make a fool of myself however by reporting a probably Swift. More Frustrating was a Pallid Swift turning up at Minsmere and the 2 together at Thorpness, so almost certainly a Pallid Swift.
My second circuit of the patch had a Fly over Lapland Bunting and more Goldcrests. On the sea i waited for a flock of 500+ Common Scoter to fly so i could pick out the 1 Velvet Scoter.
Rach picked me up and we headed for Norfolk, stopping at Repps where 18 Crane were visible from the B1125.
Onto Horsey where a flock of 400 Pinkfooted Geese were feeding and i managed to find 2 Tundra Bean geese with them Bonus!
Carried onto Cromer but firstly passing Mundlsey a cracking Rough Legged Buzzard rapidly flew through. Shortly after i found it had gone through Sidestrand too.
Finished at Kelling heath but didn't add any new decent birds to the day list. Brought a little bit of faith back to birding
Sunday, 28 October 2018
Update
So whats been happening for the past month or so. Well honestly not a great deal. Patch work has been very limited due to late days at work, returning home between half 5 and 7pm by which time its either dark or ive had enough.
Weekends have been spent house searching or small amounts of time on the patch.
So what have i seen.....
End of September i had a Yellow Browed Warbler on the football pitch again a few yards from home.
A trip to Minsmere had me looking at the Ferruginous Duck on site Late Hobby Too.
Back on patch Great Pied Hoverfly and Willow Emerald,
6th October my first Redwings over the garden for the Autumn.
13th Had my first Pink Footed Geese and a noce Jay in the Garden. Yellow Browed on the patch and a small movement of Wildfowl, Mipits and Siskin too.
15th Muntjack Deer, Common Redstart and Snow Bunting COSW.
20th a trip to Westleton heath for a few Red Deer and 4 Stone Curlew, also Dartford Warbler.
Nothing happened until the 26th when working in Ipswich opposite Christchurch park a YBW and a small movement of Reding and Fieldfares.
This weekend 27th Oct we met our friends from Derbyshire again at Cley our annual pilgrimage with them, a wet day with not a massive species list but Views of Pom Skua, a cracking male Hen Harrier, Short and Long Eared owls and bird of the day Siberian Stonechat possibly of the race stejengeri.
Back on patch this morning to a sea watch 2 Short-eared Owl in off, 2 little gull 8 Red Breasted Merganser, 28 Eiders. Plenty ducks and geese. 500+ Starlings in off and a Grey Heron and Ring Ouzel too. 2 Wader Sp were the other highlights.
annnnnnd thats about it. see you in another month at this rate.
Weekends have been spent house searching or small amounts of time on the patch.
So what have i seen.....
End of September i had a Yellow Browed Warbler on the football pitch again a few yards from home.
A trip to Minsmere had me looking at the Ferruginous Duck on site Late Hobby Too.
Back on patch Great Pied Hoverfly and Willow Emerald,
6th October my first Redwings over the garden for the Autumn.
13th Had my first Pink Footed Geese and a noce Jay in the Garden. Yellow Browed on the patch and a small movement of Wildfowl, Mipits and Siskin too.
15th Muntjack Deer, Common Redstart and Snow Bunting COSW.
20th a trip to Westleton heath for a few Red Deer and 4 Stone Curlew, also Dartford Warbler.
Nothing happened until the 26th when working in Ipswich opposite Christchurch park a YBW and a small movement of Reding and Fieldfares.
This weekend 27th Oct we met our friends from Derbyshire again at Cley our annual pilgrimage with them, a wet day with not a massive species list but Views of Pom Skua, a cracking male Hen Harrier, Short and Long Eared owls and bird of the day Siberian Stonechat possibly of the race stejengeri.
Back on patch this morning to a sea watch 2 Short-eared Owl in off, 2 little gull 8 Red Breasted Merganser, 28 Eiders. Plenty ducks and geese. 500+ Starlings in off and a Grey Heron and Ring Ouzel too. 2 Wader Sp were the other highlights.
Went house hunting again and returned via Southwold where i had my best ever views of a 1st winter Red Breasted Flycatcher..Stunner.
annnnnnd thats about it. see you in another month at this rate.
Saturday, 22 September 2018
Majorca 17th to 21st September 2018
17th September
Flew into Palma on the Monday early afternoon and after a long wait picking up the hire car from Record and Go (although more like take ya money and make ya wait!!!) we headed for lunch at the Campanet Caves, a favorite of ours as it has stunning views and we are always surrounded by birds.
Firecrest, Spotted Flycatchers, Booted Eagles, Red Kites, a Black Vulture and a few Humming-bird Hawkmoths.
On arriving out our hotel the Lagotel, we were delighted to be in the same room as previous visits (after a request) which has amazing views of the S Albufera Marsh's. Getting the scope out i could see Osprey, Stone Curlew, Purple Heron and Marble Teal just to name a few. A Dark Eleonora's had a go at taking a Greenshank strangely.
Nipped over to the Son Bosc Deck at the Sewage treatment plant as i do a few times each visit for an hour before tea to see our first Hoopoes, Glossy Ibis, more Stone Curlew (23), a Woodchat Shrike, Pied Flycatcher and Fan tailed Warblers.
Tuesday 18th
It was a fairly limited trip due to it being only 5 days 4 when you loose getting here and back but Son Real was on our short list of things to do. It was noticeably quiet but Woodchat Shrike more Hoopoes a calling Wryneck and a couple of Common Redstarts.
Down on the beach Thekla Lark, Shag, a Stone Curlew, Audouin's Gulls and Kentish Plover.
Then in the afternoon we had a walk to the old hotel in the Cala Boquer Valley as there had been loads of thunderstorms and i thought this may have dropped a load of migrants in, unfortunately it hadn't and it was very quiet. We then spent the rest of the day at Alcudia market.
Wednesday 19th
Already!!! Again we wanted to go somewhere a little different so headed to Lluc monastery, spectacular place, just loved the whole area. We started by walking some of the hill and we reached a clearing just as 12 Griffon Vultures took flight, wonderful sight.
A Booted Eagle joined them for a short time, great landing lights showing in this picture.
We spent all day here catching up with more Wrynecks, loads of Crossbill and what felt like hundreds of Firecrest. Our first Crag Martins here too. The grounds of the Monastery were filled with history, what a place.
After spending most of the day here we left a little time before tea for the Son Bosc Deck again. A couple of Whinchats and a Nightingale were the only new birds added.
Back at the hotel 2 Spoonbills had dropped in and our first Greater Flamingos (4)
Thursday 20th
The Flamingos were still about but only 3 now.
So today we headed for one of our favorite places Formentor Lighthouse, we left it a little late which made it very busy and before we left it was literally heaving with cars and there occupants. Anyway we manged several Eleonora's Falcons, a couple of Peregrines and many Pallid Swifts. 2 Balearic Warblers were a nice bonus. Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush were new for the trip. Record shot of a Pallid swift.
As the crowds had descended on us we got out of there earlier than hoped but i ended the afternoon at the S Albufera Marsh's. Love the place and never get to cover the whole area due to lack of time and its such a big place. Anyway Night Herons were great and a new hide by the VC was a bonus. Good views of Waders, Gulls and Ducks.
Moving onto Sa Roca and Es Ras hides i did some digiscoping of the regulars such as the Black-winged Stilts, Little Egrets and Purple Swamphens also the Glossy Ibis. The light was great.
Moved onto the bridge where the Red Knobbed Coots always hang out, they were the wrong side of the bridge for pics but it was still great to see them.
Moved onto the Es Cibollar1 hide where it was great to see the Flamingos had dropped in and were much closer than from the hotel. There was too much water for there to be anything else of note. One Flamingo was ringed from the Catalan region. coded X/sch.
Further round to Es Cibollar 2 hide the Osprey was showing nicely as were many Greenshank, Green Sandpipers and Spotted Redshanks. A Kingfisher landed close but i didn't spot it till it was too late and it flew.
Headed back to the new hide at the VC where a couple of Stone Curlews showed nicely. A single Lapwing was a sign of Winter.
It was getting late now and I needed to head back for tea but the Night Herons were getting restless as i walked back to the car.
Friday 21st
Last day already so we stayed around the hotel until check out time but 9 Flamingos now, 9 Marble Teal too also the Osprey still. Another sign of winter 40+ European Starlings. That was really about it. On the whole it felt like bird numbers were down and i missed many species i would normally get easily in September, but i can put some of it down to having less time on the Island and going to fewer places. Still had a great time and next year its definitely a Saturday to Saturday trip.
Only 97 Species but hay i enjoyed the whole experience once again.
List here.....
Flew into Palma on the Monday early afternoon and after a long wait picking up the hire car from Record and Go (although more like take ya money and make ya wait!!!) we headed for lunch at the Campanet Caves, a favorite of ours as it has stunning views and we are always surrounded by birds.
Firecrest, Spotted Flycatchers, Booted Eagles, Red Kites, a Black Vulture and a few Humming-bird Hawkmoths.
On arriving out our hotel the Lagotel, we were delighted to be in the same room as previous visits (after a request) which has amazing views of the S Albufera Marsh's. Getting the scope out i could see Osprey, Stone Curlew, Purple Heron and Marble Teal just to name a few. A Dark Eleonora's had a go at taking a Greenshank strangely.
Nipped over to the Son Bosc Deck at the Sewage treatment plant as i do a few times each visit for an hour before tea to see our first Hoopoes, Glossy Ibis, more Stone Curlew (23), a Woodchat Shrike, Pied Flycatcher and Fan tailed Warblers.
Tuesday 18th
It was a fairly limited trip due to it being only 5 days 4 when you loose getting here and back but Son Real was on our short list of things to do. It was noticeably quiet but Woodchat Shrike more Hoopoes a calling Wryneck and a couple of Common Redstarts.
Down on the beach Thekla Lark, Shag, a Stone Curlew, Audouin's Gulls and Kentish Plover.
Then in the afternoon we had a walk to the old hotel in the Cala Boquer Valley as there had been loads of thunderstorms and i thought this may have dropped a load of migrants in, unfortunately it hadn't and it was very quiet. We then spent the rest of the day at Alcudia market.
Wednesday 19th
Already!!! Again we wanted to go somewhere a little different so headed to Lluc monastery, spectacular place, just loved the whole area. We started by walking some of the hill and we reached a clearing just as 12 Griffon Vultures took flight, wonderful sight.
A Booted Eagle joined them for a short time, great landing lights showing in this picture.
We spent all day here catching up with more Wrynecks, loads of Crossbill and what felt like hundreds of Firecrest. Our first Crag Martins here too. The grounds of the Monastery were filled with history, what a place.
After spending most of the day here we left a little time before tea for the Son Bosc Deck again. A couple of Whinchats and a Nightingale were the only new birds added.
Back at the hotel 2 Spoonbills had dropped in and our first Greater Flamingos (4)
The Flamingos were still about but only 3 now.
So today we headed for one of our favorite places Formentor Lighthouse, we left it a little late which made it very busy and before we left it was literally heaving with cars and there occupants. Anyway we manged several Eleonora's Falcons, a couple of Peregrines and many Pallid Swifts. 2 Balearic Warblers were a nice bonus. Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush were new for the trip. Record shot of a Pallid swift.
As the crowds had descended on us we got out of there earlier than hoped but i ended the afternoon at the S Albufera Marsh's. Love the place and never get to cover the whole area due to lack of time and its such a big place. Anyway Night Herons were great and a new hide by the VC was a bonus. Good views of Waders, Gulls and Ducks.
Moving onto Sa Roca and Es Ras hides i did some digiscoping of the regulars such as the Black-winged Stilts, Little Egrets and Purple Swamphens also the Glossy Ibis. The light was great.
Moved onto the bridge where the Red Knobbed Coots always hang out, they were the wrong side of the bridge for pics but it was still great to see them.
Moved onto the Es Cibollar1 hide where it was great to see the Flamingos had dropped in and were much closer than from the hotel. There was too much water for there to be anything else of note. One Flamingo was ringed from the Catalan region. coded X/sch.
Headed back to the new hide at the VC where a couple of Stone Curlews showed nicely. A single Lapwing was a sign of Winter.
It was getting late now and I needed to head back for tea but the Night Herons were getting restless as i walked back to the car.
Friday 21st
Last day already so we stayed around the hotel until check out time but 9 Flamingos now, 9 Marble Teal too also the Osprey still. Another sign of winter 40+ European Starlings. That was really about it. On the whole it felt like bird numbers were down and i missed many species i would normally get easily in September, but i can put some of it down to having less time on the Island and going to fewer places. Still had a great time and next year its definitely a Saturday to Saturday trip.
Only 97 Species but hay i enjoyed the whole experience once again.
List here.....
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