Kelling Heath

A very nice weekend at Kelling Heath starting at Cromer on the Friday evening after work stopping in for the Pied Crow. A Cracker whatever its Origin. Found it straight away outside the Number 1 Fish and Chip Restaurant but it moved onto the Larger Carpark where i was able to Photograph it.

Onto Kelling heath for the weekend where the Nightjars showed superbly in the fading evening light.
Next morning a nice find was a displaying Tree Pipit but just here for the morning unfortunately.

Woodlarks were great and there were plenty, young birds at a guess. Stonechats were about, 6 Crossbill flew over and a Woodcock flushed from the path around the railtrack. No Turtle Dove or Dartford Warblers this year.

Silver Studded Blues were everywhere.

A nice weekend was had by all.

Buff Breasted Sandpiper

After work tonight had a trip over to Potter Heigham to see the Buff Breasted Sandpiper that had been found last night. Although it didn't get reported until this morning.
Anyway Walked the River bank and found the bird pretty much straight away, haven't seen many of these so it was nice to get good scope views until the bird flew further away to the far bank.

A Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Drake Garganeys were an added bonus.

Weekend Birding

Had a nice weekend walking Breydon Water on the Saturday, not too much to shout about but nice flight views of 2 Bittern. Avocets and a Barn Owl.

Sunday we walked around Westleton Heath, Turtle Dove, Nightingale and Dartford Warbler all New for the year. Woodlark all over and a shed load of Silver Studded blue Butterflies.

Didnt actually touch the patch as im so bored of it. Massive lack of enthusiasm for the patch ive had since being here.

 

Minsmere

So the patch has for me been very quiet, missed a flyby Red Rumped Swallow and a brief Icterine Warbler but did twitch a Marsh Warbler on North Denes. Patch tick.  Yellow Wagtail over Corton church, a Guillemot on the sea. Wheatear in the OSW. Imm mute swans flew out to sea and landed. Cuckoo distantly calling.
That's all Ive manged since returning from Lesvos.

It was Works Conference Tuesday and i couldnt make it so took the day off to visit Minsmere.
Started at Island Mere with great views of many Bitterns flying to and from there nests. A nice male Whinchat too apparently first of this year here. Hobbies on a few occasions and lots of Swift.

3 Otters showed briefly too which was great.
Over at Bittern Hide more Bittens and good views of the Marsh Harriers.

Made my way around the other hides where it was pretty quite but from the platform on the East bank a 1st Summer Little Gull was nice

Only Waders were Blaack Tailed Godwit, Knot and Ringed Plover. Avocets too of coarse.

From the path of east hide a Drinker Moth Caterpillar.

From the East hide i had time to practice some digiscoped shots of the Common Terns and Sand Martins.

Lastly plenty of Mediterranean Gulls.

Plenty of Northern Marsh Orchids

On Returning to the patch no birds but Emperor and Norfolk Hawker Dragonflies.

Wall Brown Butterfly was it otherwise

Back in the garden my first Broad Bodied Chaser to the pond.

Thats it for another week.