North Norfolk

We new the North Norfolk Steam Gala was on today, now were not train spotters but we always find these Steam engines to be a good day out. As we weren't gonna take the dogs, Jamie's scared of the noise, I took em for a walk around the patch. Finally things are slowly starting to happen with a patch tick in the form of a Female Stonechat.

After this 4 Stock Dove flew over and at the same time a Golden Plover was calling from somewhere.
After this it was quiet and time for our non birding day in North Norfolk.
When I say non birding day, that didn't stop me taking my scope just in case. ;-)
Anyway long story short the Steam Gala was great with numerous trains on show.

After this we had a couple of hours on Kelling Heath looking for Adders, we eventually found a couple, it was a lovely sunny afternoon. Perfect for Adders.

So now the birding itch was itching so lastly we headed along the coast to Cley but we had to stop as I noticed a large white bird at Salthouse, now I expected it to be a Spoonbill, imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a Great White Egret Bingo, then I checked birdguides and realised it had been in the area all day.. Still I didn't no this and according to Punk birder rules I can have this as a Self Found tick ;-).

We scanned Cley pools only from the car park as time was getting on and we had to get back for the dogs. Nothing much else of real note but the 40 or so Avocets and 2 Adult Summer plumaged Med Gulls and a Ruff. Flaming missed 2 circling Cranes though doh. Home time what a brilliant day in North Norfolk as ever.

Videos

Here's a few Videos I've taken over last couple of weeks, all on you tube. All Digiscoped with my leica set up, except Starlings that were just camera.

Purple Sandpiper Ness Point.

 

Starlings at Minsmere

 

Smew Minsmere

 

 

Bittern Minsmere

 

 

Little Egret

 

 

Little Owl

 

Saturday 8th March

Yesterday it was a lovely evening on the patch, not much happening but a Rock Pipit on cliff and a Reed Bunting at the Old Sewage works were new in. Lots of Gannets heading south and 2 Med Gulls flew North.

Today it was a case of spending more money I don t have this time on Rachel's car, it was just a service but needed doing, ps I still don't have my van back after it breaking down 6 weeks ago and with an 800 quid bill looming.
Anyway back to birding. We dropped car off and walked around North denes lighthouse and Ness Point. Still pretty quiet but then the blanket of fog didn't help.
So bird of the morning 14 Purple Sandpiper showing really nicely.

After picking up the car and 80 quid lighter we moved onto Breydon Water and watched the masses of birds from the bridge. The Peregrine put on a great show as it hunted back n forth flushing the ducks and waders numerous times. Avocet numbers were down but still a couple hundred distantly.
A Little Egret was the only other note worthy bird really, although the large numbers of Wigeon still amaze me.

 

 

 Then I just a quick practice whilst I waited for Rach to finish the shopping.

Chiffchaff

Highlights today and yesterday were 2 Small Tortoise butterfly Norwich, Peregrine on way to work A47 and first Chiffchaff of the year on the patch at Corton Old Sewage Works.
3 Marsh Harriers again A47.
Good prolonged views of Fox and Muntjack deer Corton New Sewage Works.
Its great now the days are much longer

Rough

Well seems Spoonbill is gonna be my boggy bird missed one at Minsmere I hoped it would come into roost but it didn't then I spent a couple of hours at Breydon Water and one turned up there much later on and stayed till the morning so I drove past this morning on the way to work and didn't see it.
Anyway moaning over.
So yesterday we spent the morning around Waveney Forest watching the Rough Legged Buzzard from the mound. Also 2 Common Buzzards, a Merlin, year tick and several Marsh Harrier. had a quick look for the Parrot Crossbills but just a couple of fly over Common.
Whilst Rach was food shopping I Birded from Breydon, tens of thousands of birds but nothing amazing. 400 Avocet a few Pintail and a few Sanderling was the best of the bunch really.
Tonight a walk with the dogs just produced a Fulmar and a Wader I couldn't id fly past, I did just have my bins.

Minsmere

So here's an update of the week just gone, both at work and afterwards.
Butterflies include Comma and Peacock at work. Birds such as 3 Woodcock, Sea watching was a bit quiet off Corton 1 Gannet but lots Red-throated Divers and Grey Seals...

Queen White tailed Bumble bee, a Tawny Owl was calling very close to me behind Corton Church In the daylight, but could I find it could I hell, Green Woodpecker also. In the Magpie roost at CNSW were 21 Magpie, Linnets were I think a patch tick, 10 in total, or was that last week, god knows.

 

Anyway back to today Rach n I decided it would be nice without the dogs for a day so headed for Minsmere, The first bird along the drive a Marsh Tit calling, Then another on the feeders and a third at North Hide. A Bittern showed incredibly well form the Bittern hide.

 

Next good bird was a Water Pipit but this flew over the hide calling before I could pick it up on the deck.
A bit of a surprise was a Drake Red Crested Pochard, probably on its way to Titchwell to breed ;-), 2 Drake Red Breasted Mergansers flew over head.
A Juvenile Med Gull was a nice bird. Little Egrets were about as were Pochards and a nice selection of Ducks.

 

A Chiffchaff was a surprise on the bank on the North wall.
Birds of the day though were 5 Red Headed Smew. Showed really well by the end of the day. Also the 1000+ Starlings put on a spectacular show.

The Starlings were a great finish to the day.