Norfolk Round Up

Common Whitethoat, Choosely Barns

Another Sedge Warbler

Gadwell, Cley Marshes

Egyptian Goose, Cockshoot Broad

Great Crested Grebe, Cockshoot Broad

A last few shots from our Norfolk holiday. Back at work it all seems so long ago now, I promise not to show any more shots from this visit. Not long till our next trip though although not sure where to go, maybe the wonderful Northumbrian coast beckons.

Little Grebe

A few shots of a Little Grebe in full summer plumage taken in front of a hide at North Cave YWT on Sunday in full bright sunshine.

Redshank

Photographed at Morston Quay in Norfolk. I really like Redshank, especially their call. I was pleased to get these flight shots it is an area I very much want to improve on but I think it needs dedication and patience great light and good equipment.

A lot of my bird photography is what I come across on walks and during brief spells in hides. The great opportunities invariably pass by either due to the light or lens not fast enough to focus. I need to become more patient.

Reed Bunting

A series of shots again at Cley Marshes NWT this time of a Reed Bunting belting out its song in the top of a bush off the board walk on the approach to the hides. Great light and it let me approach slowly until I was fairly near to. Another bird song I have now got familiar with and readily recognise.

Sedge Warbler

Further posting from Norfolk this time of Sedge Warbler, these birds seem to be everywhere in the reed beds although getting clear views for shots is not always possible.

These pictures have plenty of reeds and vegetation wafting about but I still think they are quite pleasing.

Hare and there tonight

A break from the Norfolk postings after a trip around the lanes tonight. I didn't get out of the car and we only went maybe three miles but it is surprising how many species you can see.

Parking up a couple of times it sometimes doesn't take long to get interesting views. For example watching hares in a field and suddenly you are aware of Lapwings taking to the air and then see a Kestrel in low, seen off by Lapwing and a small bird chasing it off! Perhaps a finch.

The highlight for me was a Hare relatively close to the car, the last shot is full frame.

We then saw a young Skylark in a barren dusty field, there was also Goldfinch and Sand Martins sat (fleetingly) in the area the later catching insects.

Reed Warbler

The Reed Warbler was photographed at Titchwell RSPB in front of the hide. I think that it is a youngster and love the punky hairstyle. The first picture is full size with the second a zoomed in version of the same shot.

I must just mention my birding day with the camera left in the car. On the Sunday we visited Weeting Heath NWT, it was raining heavily as we traveled to the reserve and the rain continued when we first got there. A bird club was there from the West Midlands so the hides were full and sure enough the speciality bird for the reserve was there over the ridge with sightings through your bins, distant but great a first for us.

We returned to the car after a while to have some lunch and then the magic happened, the bird club left in their coach! No, only half joking when we went back we went to the other hide and saw a stoat chasing and catching a young rabbit but it escaped and an adult rabbit set on the stoat and after a scrap saw it off.

No the real magic was we returned to a fairly quite hide where we had seen the Stone Curlew earlier and I managed to get my scope up, because now there was plenty of room, and after about ten minutes a pair of Stone Curlew flew right up in front of the hide. Pictures would still be ambitious with my 500mm lens but what cracking views, looked an attractive bird to me.

More stories from the selfish birder in due course with apologies to the West Midlands bird club that left on the bus and took their chatter with them!

If you have not been to Weeting Heath before make sure you do at this time of year.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Having traveled fairly early to Norfolk we managed a fullish first day and visited Cley Marshes Norfolk Wildlife Trust where a Little Egret was on Pat's Pools.

Hobby (Falco Subbuteo)

We have just returned from Norfolk which included a visit to RSPB Strumpshaw for only our second time.

No Swallow Tails this time although a few are about the reserve but we had a good day and saw our first Cuckoo of the year having previously heard three elsewhere in the country.

In the afternoon we sat in Fen Hide for a while (it did rain briefly, hence the dark shots) but having watched a a pair of Marsh Harriers flying over the reed bed we then had a Sparrowhawk sat in the dead tree in front of the hide.

Pat then spotted another raptor in a tree to the edge of the reed bed which we identified as a Hobby.

Having flown off it then flew in five minutes later fast and low over the pool in front of the hide, a couple of circuits and it flew straight at the hide with a dragonfly in its claws, I only managed a couple of shots, my first of this bird but a great treat to watch its aerial acrobatics.

Tree Pipit

In recent weeks I have seen Tree Pipit in both Dalby Forest and Harwood Dale Forest in classic mode parachuting from a tree top and then flying up to another lofty perch.

Last Sunday in Dalby Forest this bird was skulking low on brambles and when I finally moved it away it went similarly low down.

In the circumstances thanks to Steve Race for confirming the id as a Tree Pipit.

Last Spots Post

Just a few more shots as I have taken lots of pictures of these little beauties in the last few days.