Monday 22 September 2008

Thrush Nightingale retrapped at Holme - with a well behaved Wryneck, an obliging Spoonbill at Snettisham - and a supporting cast on land and Sea .....

16 September. An early start at Holme , with the mist shrouding the Broadwater ........ The early seawatching session was quickly abandoned as the thrush Nightingale was retrapped

Redstart Holme Dunes. An influx of Redstarts and both Spotted and Pied Flycatchers saw birds scattered around the dunes and Observatory for several days - with a Wryneck also present for 4 days. Unlike the elusive bird several weeks previously, this one allowed good views on the ground and on top of bushes Privet Hawk Moth Caterpilar Holme DunesJuvenile Spoonbill snettisham RSPB. 17 September Not the first I have seen on the reserve but the most co-operative for the Camera. Present over several days that coincided with September's high tides




Kingfisher Snettisham 19 September. managing to do the decent thing and perch in front of a very full hide !!!!

Grey Plover Greenshank Dunlin Snettisham RSPB

Sunday 14 September 2008

Thrush nightingale out of the net .....and seabirds galore Holme

Bird of the day. A Thrush Nightingale trapped mid morning. A supporting cast of Winchats Redstarts, Pied and spotted Flycatchers ,and a few Skuas and Gannets on the sea with a probable Honey Buzzard late in the day. A brief visit the previous evening produced a Short Eared Owl hunting in evening sunlight.





Included for comparitive purposes - a common Nnightingale ringed at Dungeness in April. 1 of a pair that bred successfully


Definitely in the 'Record shot' cattegory. An Osprey on the ground at Thornham harbour.digiscoped at hopelessly long distance. superb flight views followed. An awesome day on the sea next day. 100+ Great skuas, a close Long Tailed that obliging flew underneath a Great while following a tern, Good numbers of Arctic Skuas in the meamntime - along with Gannets, Manx Shearwaters and a Juvenile Sabines Gull.

Monday 1 September 2008

Purple Sandpiper back at Snettisham - a Bairds in cambs and an all too elusive Wryneck at Holme


29 August. Purple Sandpiper Snettisham. The same bird but slightly more convincing photos !!! Posing and feeding for several hours either side of the high tide. The Bairds Sandpiper at Paxton Pits earlier in the day showed nicely - but was always too distant for even the token 'record shot, The Wrynmeck at Holme the following day was close, but sadlyonly offered frusratingly brief flight views so offered even less chance for the camera.






30 August Golden Plover on the Beach at Snettisham. The Purple Sandpiper failed to show for a repeat performance but this lone Golden Plover among Sanderling was an unusual sight. A Dark Phase arctic Skua that caused chaos among the Gulls loafing on the sea was an additional bonus



31 August Snettisham in the mist and the fog. No Purple Samndpiper but a wheatear along the way and a nice mix of waders, Common and Sandwich Terns fishing and a few passing Gannets offshire before the mist closed in completely





Long tail Tit Holme. Single Winchat Stonechat and Wheatear in the dunes the best of the migrants.