A Time To Get My Norfolk Year List Going!

On Bank Holiday Monday, Dad took me up to the Norfolk Broads, to try and get some summer birds on my Norfolk Year List, as I hadn't got any. I started the day on 132 for Norfolk, and I wanted to add at least 10 to that by the end of the day. We started off going to Strumpshaw. On the A47, we got a cracking Red Kite (133), which was also new to my British Year List. We also got Swallow, Whitethroat and House Martin (136) on there too.

We got to Strumpshaw, and to Fen Hide. We had just missed a Bittern right in front of the hide - it's always the way isn't it! However, we did get several Marsh Harriers here, which were either nest building, hunting or doing food passes - Great to watch!!!!! Also got a distant flying Whimbrel (137)

We then carried on round, and got a cracking male Reed Bunting...

There were several butterflies about too, including my first Green-veined Whites of the year. I am very proud of my photo's of them :)

We then got singing Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler (140), more Whitethroats and plenty of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs....

Willow Warblers

There were really good number of Swifts (141) screaming too...

Fen Hide produced some goodies, with an overdue Wigeon, 2 Common Terns (142), and a couple of distant Cuckoo's (143)....

Walking round the rest of the reserve failed to produce a Gropper, but did get a great summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, even if the picture doesn't show for it. We also got my first Large Red Damselfly of the year too along with Hairy Dragonfly.

We then went to Buckenham, where we got Hobby and Lesser Whitethroat (145), and another Red Kite....

As we got closer to the hide, I started to check the Gulls for a Little Gull that had been reported, but didn't see it. We got Redshanks, baby and adult Lapwings, a Ruff, Sedge Warbler and all the common stuff...

But while looking at these, out of nothing almost, the Little Gull had flown in and landed in front of the hide. We raced up to the hide, and went and had a look. We got great views of this little fella through the scope, but it was too distant for the camera, so I thought I would give it a go with some digiscoping. I got my phone out, and hand held it on the scope, and took a couple of great snaps and a video too!!! Not bad for a first attempt eh?

A stop at Beighton Church for the Turtle Doves was unsuccessful, but I did miss one fly right over my head as I was too busy talking. Stupid Boy!

Happy Birding!

A Good Choice

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JIM BRADLEY!

Just like to say a Happy Birthday to my cousin Jim Bradley (jimsbirdingblog.blogspot.com) I know his Birthday was on Sunday, but I haven't had time to do a post earlier than this. Hope you had a great day Jim!

Anyway, on Sunday just gone, Dad and I wanted to go birding. Dad wanted to go and see the Two-barred Crossbills at Lynford, but I wanted to see the Lesser Grey Shrike near Leiston. So we decided that the Shrike was first. It took a while to find the place, but with some directions we were there in no time. We walked down the bridleway with the big camera, and located the bird with other people. The bird was a bit distant at times, but other times it showed pretty well.

We then went to Sizewell, and we had a cracking time there. Dad wanted to see the Arctic Skua that's been lingering of the rigs, so we had a sharp look, and within 5 seconds, we picked it up about 50 yards offshore. My camera was playing up, so we had to rely on the digiscope.

My Camera - poor

Cracking Digiscope!

That wasn't it though, I picked up a flock of 20+ Common Scoter, a Caspian Gull, a flock of Little Gull and a juv. Black Tern! But the pity was, we missed a Pomarine Skua by 10 mins :( 

We then moved on to Minsmere, and straight to Island Mere. We picked up the 3 GWE in no time. Hard to miss really.

Other birds seen were Bittern, Marsh Harrier and a distant Kingfisher.

Happy Birding!

Minsmere Dawn Chorus

A extremely early start, and getting up at 2:30am and leaving at 2:50am was a bit of a struggle, but on the way, 2 Hedgehog were awake, and so was a ghostly Tawny Owl, my first of the year. We got to Minsmere, and we split up into 2 groups. We headed out at 4:00am, and we were treated to a beautiful Nightingale, also my first for the year, singing it's heart in the lowlights. We headed round the woodland trial, and in the distance the first hearings of Bittern booming, Cuckoo, and Water Rail. We focused mainly on the commoner species such as  Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Robin and Great Tit. After a great Part 1, we headed to the Island Mere Hide, where Bittern, Bearded Tit, Reed Warbler, Water Rail and Reed Bunting were singing in the reeds.

We completed our guided walk, and headed in for our well earned Breakfast. As light approached us, we headed out to the the other hides we missed out on. We headed to the East Hide, where there were Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, and more exciting, a Roseate Tern. It was huddled up against a Black-headed Gull. I had to ask for some help when I spotted this Tern, as I wasn't sure what it was. After getting confirmation of this Specie by 2 very helpful birders, my Camera didn't fall for me today.

We headed on to the Sluice, where the Little Stint had been seen. Typically, it had gone back out to sea, but it had been replaced by a summer plumaged Knot. OK, it isn't as exciting, but it will do for the time. A pair of Common Gull were hanging out by a Little Gull on one of the mudflats.

TOTAL OF BIRD SPECIES FOR 2012 = 158