North Norfolk Lifer!

Dad and I decided we had to go to the North Norfolk Coast for a bit of October birding. We started off at Cley Spy, Glandford. We got there at about 10:20am, considering we left at about 8:30am, we got there in pretty good time. Dad wanted to get his digiscope camera fixed, and looked out for the Black Redstart that has been hanging around the car park. There was no chance in seeing it though. It was tipping it down with rain. After 10 minutes or so it stopped, and the Black Redstart came out on show.

We then headed to Garden Drove, Warham. After going down the wrong track - not funny - we finally found the concrete pad. We parked on here and walked down. The bushes were full of potential, but the best birds were about 2 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff and several Starlings and Redwings. It was incredible the numbers of these birds. 

Walking back up the track we met Penny (nice to meet you Penny), and a founder of the Red Flanked Bluetail at Warham. They had been to Wells. They had Ring Ouzel, but they missed the Parrot Crossbill that had been seen there that morning. We thought that we had to go there, so that is what we did. We got a text from our "undercover agent" - you know who you are with the injured foot (get well soon) - saying that there was Ring Ouzel, Yellow-browed Warbler, Parrot Crossbill, Shag and Slav. Grebe all around Wells. We got into the wood and found the crowd looking for the Yellow-browed Warbler. It was a tricky little fella, because unless you were in the perfect position, like I was eventually, you only really saw it in the sycamore. My Camera was not being nice to me today, but Dad's first day out new camera was on fire. Look at these 2 stinking shots he got...

Very Nice.

We then had a wonder around the woods. Got Brambling, and a Muntjac but not much else. We then started to head back when all of a sudden, the melodic chipping of a flock of 4 PARROT CROSSBILL flew over our heads going West-South-West. An incredible lifer!!!! Got some record shots....

Also got a Kestrel here. 

We then headed to Warham again to do a little bit of finding and raptor watching. We got 2 Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Merlin, Peregrine, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk. Migrant wise, we got a possible Ring Ouzel, 4 Brambling, tonnes of Starling, 1 Fieldfare, and a few Redwing

Merlin

Brambling

Happy Birding!

Minsmere

Dad and I visited Minsmere yesterday, and what a day it was. We started off going to look at the scrape, and on the Sand Bank by the visitor center were a pair of Black Redstarts, both females I think. The birds were viewed from the bridge over the pond....

We then visited North Hide, and all the regular things were around. Common Snipe, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwing were all the waders present. Also, Black-headed, Great and Lesser Black-backed with Herring Gulls were all present. On the way out, I had a look in North Bushes, and a Muntjac wandered meters in front of me. I was a little scared because these deer can be very aggressive. He just carried on his walk though so I was fine. We continued up to the sea, and a pair of Sand Martins flew over the reedbed, with a Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting present. Out to sea, a pair of Pintails North, a Grey Seal, about 50 Red-throated Divers, with this Diver a possible Black-throated, only because the neck is a lot thicker and no upturned bill....

We then went to East Hide, and saw a redhead Smew, and the birds we saw in North Hide. 3 Linnets flew out of the gorse bushes, with a Goldcrest and Chaffinch present.

Then the distinctive call of Green Sandpiper alerted me as one flew over the sluice and onto the scrape, a great find. We then went down to the Konik field where a group of Tufted Duck were present with some Redshank and another Snipe, with a Little Grebe. 

The a white rumped passerine flew across the water and onto the bank. It was a Wheatear! Unfortunately, it wasn't there for long, as some noisy dog walkers flushed it. Nutters! 

We were then directed to another 10 Common Snipes and a Water Rail, when Dad spotted a Bittern out of nowhere skulking about in the open stubble field.

We went back and had lunch, then we went to Island Mere and Bittern Hide. On Island Mere, 2 Garganey, a Water Pipit, a Kingfisher, 2 Great-crested Grebes and Mute Swans....

A third Garganey then joined the group.

We then went to Bittern Hide, where another Bittern was stalking around in front of the hide....

Happy Birding!

Foreign Glory with Birds!

This was a school organised trip by my School, where about 40 Pupils were to go to France, La boulboule to be exact, and a weeks trip of Volcanoes. I did take a lot of interest, but I was always keeping an eye out for the birds.

I am not going to read out the hole list because I will be here all day. Black Redstart was a common feature to the French hills, and were very perky to our presence. White Wagtail replaced the Pied Wagtail in abundance, but the Pied's still breed. The same applies to the Treecreepers, with Short-toed being seen more than the Common. House Martin were very common, but Swallows were a bit late to show. This Female Serin (pictured top) was near a Castle we visited. Also a passage Osprey was flying low over a lake. Near this Osprey, a Great-Grey Shrike was sitting in the top of a Pine Tree, but then flew off. On a farm where cheese was made, a Cirl Bunting, (pictured middle) was singing in a tree.

Overall, about 3 Firecrests were dotted about, including 2 out of our Bedroom Window. A few Black Kites, Short-toed Eagles and Raven were all showing too, and Chiffchaff were present as well.