There Ticking Up!

The title is basically suggesting that my year list and life list are ticking up, with 214 this year, and 240 for my life. This is a fantastic year if you compare it, because I am only 26 species off my life list this year. That's incredible. My highest ever year count was last years 205, well, I have thrashed that this year, and were still in November!!!

Anyway, Dad and I went to Norfolk for a bit of birding on Friday. We started of at northern section of Yarmouth Cemetery. Our ambition was to track down the Yellow-browed warbler that was seen on Thursday, and to do this, we presumably had to find a tit flock. It wasn't long before my ears picked up the call of Long-tailed Tit's, and sure enough we found th flock. Of course, there were several Long-tailed Tits

And also 3 Chiffchaffs

Not great!

The, we spotted a tiny bird flitting about low in the ivy. Our hopes went up, but then down a little way, as it turned out to be a Firecrest. Still a cracking bird to see, as I haven't had good views of these birds for ages. The best I got was this shot...

We the headed to Caister to get the Rose-coloured Starling, a lifer for Dad and I.

It then cleared off onto the distant roof tops...

We then left for Winterton. Passing through the fields around the road, we saw thousands of Pink-footed Geese. It was incredible. The shots were taken while driving, so that's why they are so bad....

We didn't get much at Winterton Dunes, apart from some Gannets and Common Scoters. We didn't know where the Snow Buntings or Lapland Bunting were when we got there, and there were so many people here, so we didn't see them.

If you've got good eyes, you can see the scoters. Very distant.

Pretty Poor

We then finished off at the raptor roost at Stubb Mill, and got several Marsh Harriers, Pink-foots and 2 Crane. Not a bad day, but could have been better.

Happy Birding!

200!!!!!

After a day on the North Norfolk coast, I have finally reached 200 bird species this year. This is an achievement that I have never done before, so this is great. This is going to be another picture and video post, so enjoy.

Brent Geese at Warham Greens

Shoveler at Cley

10 Snipe at Cley

Teal at Cley

Very tame Turnstones at Salthouse

And the best bird of the day, my first ever White-rumped Sandpiper, at Cley

We did also see my first ever Little Auk fly past Salthouse (3), so that was a delight, and also 12 Grey Partridge at Warham Greens. Here are some videos...

White-rumped Sandpiper on the left with Dunlin at Cley

Loads of Golden Plover at Cley

Pink-footed Geese at Holkham Pines

I have put another page on the blog which is my Daily Sightings, saying what I see each day. I put a picture or video at the end of each day which is one of the highlights of the day.

Happy Birding