North Norfolk Coast - 21st September 2014

On Sunday 21st September Dad took me up to North Norfolk as I was eager to connect with the Olive-backed Pipit at Wells Woods and the several Red-breasted Flycatchers at Burnham Overy Dunes. We arrived at Wells Woods, and as I was getting my ticket, I noticed that Penny Clarke (see her fantastic blog here) was standing right behind me. We had a chat about her twitch to see the Masked Shrike in Spurn, and then made our way up to the Dell

We found the birders standing on the bank, and had great views of the cracking Olive-backed Pipit. The light was pretty poor however, so we done well to get the pictures we did. There is a video too, but the bird was on the move, so try and keep with it!

It then flew off so we left. We then went to Garden Drove, Warham with Penny and Eddie M. Found absolutely nothing apart from a few Robins. The strong wind had blown nearly all the migrants away, so all the Red-breasted Flys were gone which I was gutted about.

We then went to Salthouse, to see the Barred and Yellow-browed Warbler. Several people we watching the Barred Warbler at close range. We managed to get some pretty good shots of this and another video.

We then went to see if the Yellow-browed Warbler was showing. It hadn't been seen for an hour, so our hopes weren't up. We got there and no other birders in this area of bushes and it was feeding on the bushes! Incredible! It was only there briefly so I could only get a record shot on the little camera...

We then went to do a bit of sea-watching for the last part of the day at Cley Coastguards. Quite a few people were in there, so eyes were always on the lookout. I managed to see my first ever Sooty Shearwater (2), with several Manx Shearwaters and Gannets, 2 Arctic Skuas and 1 Bonxie. The chap next to me (Pete Snook I think his name was) spotted a "large Shearwater"flying east. We never really got good views of it, but we think it was a Cory's, but we weren't definite so I couldn't tick it as a lifer.

Still though another great days birding!

Happy Birding!

Blakeney Point - 4th September 2014

Dad and I headed up to North Norfolk in hope of adding Ortolan Bunting and Black Tern onto my life and year list for the former, and just my year list for the latter. We decided to walk Blakeney Point, which considering we'd never done this before, seemed ambitious. We cheated a bit though, as we got one of Bean's Boat Trips (highly recommended) out to see the Seals, and then get off and walk back to Cley after landing on the point.

We got to the Seals, and they were fantastic to watch as always. Swimming by the boat or just doing what Seals do best...

We then got dropped off on the point by the National Trust Centre, and walked to the plantation. A Wheatear was very confiding on the way...

At the plantation, we saw 1 Redstart, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Whinchat. These were seen at about 14:00-15:00, and at about 17:00-18:00, there were 7 Redstart, 8 Pied Flycatchers and about 4 Spotted Flycatchers. This shows that birds were constantly coming in throughout the afternoon. We also had a Buzzard fly over too...

We were told that there was a Wryneck at long Hills, so we went to look for that. We flushed it from near the path were we saw it fly right in front of us, but landed quite a way from us, so we didn't bother to walk all the way back. We saw several Whinchat on the walk back, probably about 15 in total...

Waling back across the beach, we had a nice Bonxie fly east, but we also had a cracking juvenile Arctic Skua mobbing the terns just offshore. Incredible...

No sign of the Ortolan Bunting or any Black Terns, but still a pretty good day. However I don't think I will be walking Blakeney Point again in a hurry, as my legs felt like falling off when we finished to be honest, unless there is a MEGA perhaps.....

Happy Birding!

Eastern Subalpine Warbler - Landguard

Yesterday Dad took me to see the Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Landguard. We parked just outside Viewpoint Road, and walked towards the Custom House. At the sight there were probably about 30 birders, including Lee Evans and Eddie Marsh - plus the chap that showed me the Wryneck at Winterton and led us to the Barred Warbler site in Eccles - to name a few. The bird proved elusive at times, but occasionally it showed quite well. Here are some pictures with the 75-300mm lense...

And here are a couple of pictures with the 150-500mm lense...

Another good LIFER!!!