rayrochesbirdng diary

A Singing Reed warbler - a Garden first for Bedford

2011-06-10T02:16:00.000-07:00

8th June. It's out there somewhere! The view from the back window, with a singing Reed Warbler in the bushes behind and left of the green bench. Not the first Reed Warbler for the garden but certainly the first singing bird

A garden Blackcap in the hand - no nets involved , but no rings to hand either !

2011-06-10T01:46:00.000-07:00

5th June.

A Blackcap that flew into the Kitchen window in Snettisham, but quickly recovered itself and flew into the hedge at the back of the garden.

Family groups of Blue and great tits visiting the feeders

Turtle dove Snettisham 2 June

Little Owls near king's Lynn 29th May

2011-06-10T01:19:00.000-07:00

Having seen Little Owls in a number of places recently, an opportunity to go with with David when he helped ring a brood of 4 near King's Lynn was an opportunity for a close encounter ! The half term week spent in Norfolk produced a mixed bag of weather and no birding surprises, though Spoonbill was a site tick for the NOA's Redwell Marsh.

Back to the nest cavity in an ols Apple tree !

Great Spotted Woodpecker Bedford

2011-06-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

A very vocal and curious Great Spotted woodpecker at the nest hole, being fed by both parents and very near to fledging. At least 1 juvenile foraging in the area a week later and no one home at the nest hole. Filmed on may 27th

Meanwhile back in Bedford ......

2011-05-25T01:50:00.000-07:00

A rather windswept Grey Wagtail. Bedford River 24 May

This local pair of Wagtails usually brighten up the walk into town. A singing Cettis warbler at Priory Country Park had given brief views earlier.

Common Tern Bedford River 24 May

Black Stork Northants 15 May

2011-05-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

A week-end spent in Bedford to entertain visitors took an unexpected turn with news of the BLACK STORK at Weedon In Northants.
Having had a leisurely dinner the bird had been present for some time before we stumbled across the news, so a quick change of afternoon plans - and suitable apologies to our understanding guests - and we were on our way. A phone call taken as we were within minutes of the site told us the bird was still showing - but just to prove how fickle life can be, we pulled up to find the bird had flown. Over an hour spent on site hoping it would be relocated proved to be wishfull thinking - though the local Buzzards tried hard to keep us entertained, and a fly through Grey Heron almost caused some excitement !!!
News that the Stork was still present the following morning meant a return journey - with the bird again flying before we arrived. As Black stork records are non-existant in Beds, Very Scarce in Northants, and Scarce even in Norfolk, the wait hoping it would be relocated gave a chance to catch up with friends from various counties in the waiting crowd - and fortunately we were to enjoy excelent views of the Stork after it was indeed relocated. In a scene remeniscent of a Whacky Races cartoon people began running to their cars and a rolling convoy headed back to the A45. After several wrong turns, u-turns and more than a little confusion we arrived at the new location - only to be met with tales of the bird flying off again !!! Fortunately these were premature as it was still in the field - but well hidden ! Excelent flight views were had and by following a footpath from the village we were able to enjoy prolonged views of the Stoprk on the ground and stunning views as it flew almost over our heads. The dilema of do I reach for the camera at this point, or just enjoy views that I may never get again fell in favour of soaking up the views - hence the rather distant and grainy shots posted of the bird on the ground. Nice in the scope but really too far for the camera.

Enjoying the views

A curious local wondering what alll the fuss was about !

Crowd Control !

The guilty culprit !

Collared Flycatcher - Holme 8th May. A Norfolk mega on the home patch

2011-05-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

It has always been a dangerous thing to let David stray out of sight, but it was my good fortune that he found Holme's second COLLARED FLYCATCHER with me standing within shouting distance - and that the bird stayed and showed well to an ever increasing crowd throughout the afternoon and evening.

Having volunteered to cover the Observatory for the morning, a Spotted Flycatcher was a welcome early sighting, but there was otherwise little obvious sign of mass migration. A report of a Wood Warbler along the approach track was confirmed by David relocating it, but it remained elusive. Abandoning the Obs for half an hour to join him failed to produce any views of the bird, so, with Sophie back to man the Obs, a fresh attempt to get better views was in order.

True to form ,within what seemed like only a few minutes,again David relocated the bird - and only my second Norfolk Wood Warbler gave excelent views to the small group around us. A nice follow on to the Wood Warbler that had also given superb views at Holme during last Autumns bird bonanza !

Wood Warblers are scarce migrants in norfolk these days, so a good day so far - which was about to get a lot better ! David had crossed back to the main track from our viewing position by the river, in order to get a different viewing angle into the tree, and I had just had time to send a couple of texts with news of the Wood Warblers relocation when I heard David shout ''COLLARED FLYCATCHER'' - and within seconds I was on the move past birders arriving along the river path in the hope of seeing the Wood Warbler !!

The rest as they say is history, only NORFOLK'S 4th COLLARED FLYCATCHER, and a very long wait over for many of the arriving birders

David Roche with Sophie Barker from the Observatory - a good day for all as Sophie did see the bird and was able to takeover £100 in donations from birders using the NOA Redwell Marsh car Park

A small section of the crowd !

photos of the Collared Flycatcher kindly supplied by Dave Holman

A Green Hairstreak butterfly photographed at the Obs

Norfolk round-up

2011-05-20T01:25:00.001-07:00

For the camera,it has not been the most productive of times,but spring in Norfolk has provided good views of the usual suspects -and a few nice surprises.
A HOODED CROW passed me on a quiet sea-watch on 18 April before flying out of sight towards Thornham.Scanning through the large number of Crows still present on Holme Marsh half an hour later, I was able to relocate what I presumed to be the same bird - unless the 2 bird theory applies and it had looped back onto the Marsh without being seen by those viewing from Thornham Bank - This gave me time to alert David and Connor on the bank, and they were able to watch it fly, again in the direction of Thornham when it lifted off the Marsh. A norfolk and a Holme tick and a consolation prize for missing the recent WHITE TAILED EAGLE that had passed through Holme.
Finding 9 Shorelarks by the Golf course on 9th April comfortably beat any previuos numbers I had seen at Holme. A singing Nightingale on 21 April gave brief flight views, and it was possible to enjoy singing Cettis warbler and Calling Cuckoo from the same spot! Other Holme highlights included 2 Bean geese, White Fronted Goose and Pale bellied Brents, Spoonbill, Short Eared owl, Redstarts and Grasshopper warblers -including 1 that posed beatifully for several minutes safe in the knowledge that I did not have my camera with me ! Redwell Marsh again offered outstanding views of Wood Sandpipers - with a supporting cast that included a summer plumaged Spotted Redshank and some very striking Ruff.
A group of 16 Dotterels at Chosely were particularly striking as most were female birds, little Owls showed around Ringstead, and Ringstead Dowsn offered Ring Ouzels, with a supporting cast of Yellowhammer and Corn bunting.
Elsewhere a Dartford Warbler, Goshawk, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Montagues Harrier all made an appearance.

17th April. 1 of 2 Mediterranean Gulls putting in a regular appearance at Holme

Peregrine King's Lynn Docks 19 April

Male Lesser Spotted woodpecker April

1st March. An unusually obliging Long eared owl that spent much of the day roosting out on an exposed perch by a roadside hedge in Thornham

Thornham Long Eared Owl 1st March

2011-05-20T01:25:00.000-07:00

A selection from snettisham

2011-05-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

A selection from Snettisham that has offered up no real surprises but all the expected Migrants in the form of Redstart, Ring Ouzels, good numbers of weatears, Grasshopper warblers in full song and the uual range of warblers. A Short Eared Owl over Ken hill marsh on 8th May was an unexpected bonus, and a Red Kite over the Bungalow at Snettisham and then over the Coastal Park on 20th April was a nice garden tick

Redstart 16 April

Stonechat 8 April. Colour rings showed it to be a bird ringed in the nest last year near Weeting

Willow Warbler 19 April

Weatear 13 April

Moths a new adventure

2011-05-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

A new venture - lured by the ability to run a trap in our Bedford Jungle as well as on the coast.

Eyed Hawkmoth Above
Elephant Hawkmoth below

Small Elephant Hawkmoth

Poplar Hawk Moth

lime Hawk Moth - Bedford

with the exception of the woodmouse at the end of the post all other trapped and photographed at Snettisham

Brimstone

Green Carpet

Lobster Moth

Frosted Green

Woodmouse feeding and lit up by the light of the trap !!

Putnoe street waxwings.

2011-05-18T01:43:00.001-07:00

Waxwings 8 April.

A very pleasant surprise in the large Oak trees opposite our front garden. 19 present flycatching and present for well over half an hour. The same trees had held very vocal tawny owls over the christmas period.Another of those nice surprises that Bedfordshire manages to turn up from time to time.Having seen Waxwings in norfolk a number of times this winter these were the only ones I managed to see in Beds and they came to find me !!!!! A local Arctic Redpoll present a month before, that showed well enough for the telescope but not for the camera, was another county surprise.

Bittern Priory Country Park

2011-05-18T01:43:00.000-07:00

The long staying Bittern at priory Country Park Bedford

Bedford Catch up

2011-05-18T01:22:00.000-07:00

Bittern Priory Country Park Bedford 19 January - a site tick and a bird that showed well over a period of several weeks

Pair of Mandarins Bedford river 26 december

Sparrowhawk in the Garden 28 November

Goldcrest 15 January.

Not an unusual garden visitor in itself but present for several weeks around the fat balls

Male and female Blackcap. both birds present together for at least 1 day.

Garden Robin

Barnacle Goose Bedford River 24 November.

1 from the large Feral flock at usually found at Willington

Snettisham Coastal Park 13 November

2010-11-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

A young male Sparrowhawk

2 of 3 Mealy redpolls Ringed

cettis warbler - the first control bird for the coastal park

Bearded Tits with 2 birds trapped bearing rings from another site

waxwing - at least 6 seen during the morning

Autumn round-up

2010-11-18T01:46:00.000-08:00

The Great Northern Diver pictured above,the only Diver of any species I have seen on the Broadwater, was another 'first' in what has been an outstanding Autumn at Holme. The few minus points have included picking a dead Short Eared Owl off the main road from Hunstanton , and not managing to connect either with a yellow Browed warbler this year, or the Juvenile Pallid Harrier seen at Holme. Against this the Arctic warbler stayed long enough to give excelent views, and where better to see another 'lifer'! The Red Flanked Bluetail and the Wood Warbler were Norfolk ticks, and the long staying Red Necked Phalarope completed a double, having seen the previous bird in 2005. Icterene Warbler Barred Warblers and Wryneck all posed in the hand and were supported by good numbers of Redstarts,Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Winchats and several Ring Ouzels and a Great Grey Shrike.Short Eared Owls hunted the marsh and 2 were seen far out to Sea on 1 seawatch, as well as a peregrine passing rather closer in.The sea has offered close views of little Auks on several dates, an amazing 1 day passage of Kittiwakes and many other hours spent in the Dunes with Skuas, Shearwaters and Gannets all passing by. All 4 Suas obliged, including Spooned Poms and a Juvenile Long Tailed in the tally. A Sabines Gull passed close inshore, and all 3 Divers have appeared. It must have now moved on to winter as Velvet Scoters and Long Tailed Ducks have been picked up on more recent seawatches.

Woodcock 6th November

Eastern type Lesser Whitethroat Ringed at Holme 6th November

Redshank and 2 Dunlin feeding on Redwell Marsh Holme 28th October

Tawny Owl Holme 24 October

2010-11-02T12:38:00.001-07:00

Another raptor surprise in the form of a Tawny Owl in front of the Pines at Holme

Osprey 22 October

2010-11-02T12:25:00.000-07:00

Another year tick in the form of a surprise Osprey visiting fishing lakes south of Downham Market, seen plunging into the water several times !!

And some more at Holme ....

2010-11-02T12:22:00.001-07:00

Bearded Tit Holme 16th October

Redpolls Bearded Tits and a Great White Egret Snettisham 13th October

2010-11-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

2 of 3 Bearded Tits ringed at Snettisham 13 October.

2 redpolls ringed 13th October

An impressive selection out of the nets was trumped by a Great White Egret that did a slow and elegant fly past before dipping down out of view in the direction of Ken Hill Marsh. A site first !

Meanwhile back in the Bedford Garden ...

2010-11-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

21 September. Reeed warbler. Not a rare bird but not the usual garden visitor either, with at least 2 previous records. Not to be completely eclipsed by the Norfolk coast my wanderings at Priory in eqarly september did produce an extremely obliging Black tern, my only Beds sightings of Spotted Flycatcher and Whinchat and up to 4 Hunting hobbies

House Sparrow 21 September

Swallow photographed at Heacham on 3 August

Stonechat and Redpoll Holme

2010-10-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

Stonechat 12 October

Great spotted Woodpecker 11th October

Redpoll 11th October

11 October Common Seal Snettisham

2010-10-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

A good display from the waders displaced by the high tide was rounded off with a posing common seal, a Short eared Owl that flew in from the sea, 5 Little stints on the lagoons and a single wheatear in the grass.

7 -10th october - a manic week-end of migration at Holme

2010-10-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

Black Redstart - all pictures 1oth October. A week-end of mass migration at its best with ringing records falling on a daily basis at the observtory, and peaking at approx 420 birds on the 10th

Jay

Cettis warbler

A late ringing record for a Swallow - with a cuckoo also present for 2 days in the pines!

More Highlights

2010-10-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

Ring ouzel 9th October

Siskin 9th October

Brambling 8th October

Redstart 8th October

Brambling 26 september - A taste of more to come

Arctic Skua barred warbler and a Hummingbird at rest

2010-10-22T05:28:00.000-07:00

Hummingbird Hawkmoth at rest on the Buddlea by the obs

Arctic Skua on the beach at holme

Barred warbler Holme part of Holmes exceptional Autumn with 3 ringed this year

More pictures

2010-10-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

Shaggy Inkcap Bedford

Mandarin bedford river

Elephant Hakmoth Caterpillar Bedford

Spotted flycatcher Priory Countery Park bedford

Garden Warbler Holme

Migrant Hawker Holme

WillowWarbler Holme

Waders on redwell

2010-10-22T05:03:00.000-07:00

The long staying Red Necked Phalarope Redwell Marsh holme

Green Sandpiper Redwell marsh

Wood Sandpiper Redwell Marsh

Icterene and Barred warbler Holme 27 August

2010-10-22T05:01:00.001-07:00

birds and Insects

2010-10-22T04:52:00.000-07:00

Poplar Hawkmoth caterpillar Holme

Grasshopper holme

Knot Redwell Marsh

Treecreeper Holme

Pied Flycatcher Holme

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover Holme Marsh

Spotted Flycatcher Oxborough Hall

Mediterranean gull, Spoonbills and Hummingbird Hawkmoth Holme

2010-10-22T04:44:00.000-07:00

White Tailed Plover Dungeness 16 - 18 July

2010-07-21T00:55:00.000-07:00

Adult White Tailed Plover Dungeness.
Never close in photographic terms but showing well in the scope throughout the week-end.
With Buff Breasted and Pectoral Sandpipers seen well at Titchwell the previous Sunday, the appearance of the W T Plover at Dungeness lead to a week of will it stay or will it go? In the end the Plover seemed well settled in Kent, so a week-end enjoying the warm hospitality of the Observatory at Dungeness followed. The journey down on the M25 was a nightmare but the Plover showed well on our arrival - with only 1 other car in the car park and 1 other birder on site !
The breeding Purple Herons required a little more patience but also offered excelent views - part of a 5 species Bonanza that included superb viws of the Great White Egret, a Bittern skimming the tops of the Reeds, and the resident Little egrets and Grey Herons. A thoroughly enyoyable bright and breezy week-end

1 of several Immature Yellow Legged Gulls at the patch. Large numbers of Mediterranean Gulls also present with an adult Little Gull

Marbled white Butterfly. Present in good numbers in the grassland around the Observatory

Sussex Emerald Moth. only found in the area around Dungeness

2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths were a bonus from the trip - 1 in the Observatory garden, the 2nd flying through the Grassland on Dengemarsh

The Power Station from the Observatory. A Peregrine was perched up at the top of the building at the time the photo was taken. Black Redstart and a striking Male Stonechat were also seen on the boundery wire

The observatory under a cloudy sky

The impressive church at Lydd

A well preserved gravestone in the churchyard from 1870, commemerating a 17 year old sailor who fell to his death from the rigging of HMS Barosa

River Warbler in Norfolk - 4 July

2010-07-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Initial News of a singing River Warbler in Norfolk lead to long day waiting for details of location and access. A late evening visit duly delivered the bird - singing its head off but lurking down in the vegetation making viewing difficult and photography impossible. An enjoyable evening nevertheless for those who turned out.

Dark green Fritillery Holme Dunes 10 July. At least 3 flying together but rarely settling in a strong breeze

Lime Hawk Moth Holme 4 July

Pine Hawk Moth 4 July Holme

Collared Dove Bedford - nesting in a Hanging Basket beside the busy front door of my workplace, and with 2 rapidly developing chicks.

Robin Bedford. Fledged in or around the garden

Razorbill 2 Holme Beach

2010-06-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

Razorbill Holme Beach 27 june

2010-06-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

Razorbill Holme Beach 27 June

2010-06-28T04:54:00.000-07:00

Razorbill holme 27 June.

With recent unseasonal sightings of Auks on the sea, this razorbill was heard before it was seen, calling persistantly as it drifted close inshore. It spent half an hour on the beach, where it continued to call , before returning to the water and drifting out with the rceding tide.

27 June Holme extras

2010-06-28T04:44:00.001-07:00

Peppered Moth from the observatory trap

Black Tailed Godwit Redwell Marsh

Black headeed Gull Redwell Marsh - currently hosting a very loud Gull colony enjoying a successful breeding season

Mandarin at Holme and Red Backed Shrike at Snettisham 13 June

2010-06-14T05:13:00.000-07:00

13 June Mandarin on the broadware at Holme. A Holme Tiick on anotherwise quiet day - a dozen Gannets on the Sea, with a scattering of Terns and a single razorbill or Guillemot.

13 June. Red Backed Shrike Snettisham Coastal park.

Red Kite 11 June Beds

2010-06-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

2 birds Still in the same area.

. The classic kite silhouette above and buzzard below. Couldn't get them into the same pictiure

Red kites in Beds 9 June.

2010-06-10T02:32:00.000-07:00

Red Kites are magnificent birds - A shame the weather didn't allow the camera to do them justice !! Having 1 bird perched was nice. having it joined by a second bird when it returned to the air was spectaculour.

An invasion of Stilts !!!

2010-06-10T02:21:00.000-07:00

An extremely optimistic record shot of 4 of the 5 Black winged Stilts that arrived at Titchwell on 5 June. Sadly light and Distance never got any better for the camera ! Though I managed to miss the Gull Billed Tern that later passed through Holme and Titchwell the day did bring a male Montagues Harrier, various parties of Bearded Tits and excelent views of a Bittern feeding in a pool by the path.

A very vocal Redshank Snettisham 3 June

Avocet Snettishan 3 June

Trumpeter Finch Cley 1/2nd June

2010-06-10T02:09:00.000-07:00

Having seen my first Trumpeter Finch only last year after a trudge up to Blakeney point, a lingering bird on Cley beach proved too tempting to resist. Though viewed at some distance, in not the best light the evening visit also provided excelent views of a singing Marsh warbler and a stunning male Red backed Shrike. Some brief snatches of song from the nightingale singing at Walsey Hills left the query about the possible Thrush Nightingale unresolved.

Trumpeter Finch 1 June

Trumpeter Finch 2 June. back for a second visit - with much closer views in much better light !

The Diver that got away ... but another good moth out of the trap

2010-06-10T01:48:00.000-07:00

another Green Hairstreak Holme 30 May

Bedstraw Hawk Moth Holme 29 May. A scarce migrant continuing the recent good run of moths at Holme. A morning Seawatch had earlier produced a diver that remained unidentified as it passed the Dunes heading west -Rather frustrating given the time of year, but one that got away and one of the perils of a lone seawatch !!! 3 bearded Tits were a pleasant surprise from the NOA car park hide.

Mistle thrush Holme 29 May.

Norfolk 22 - 26 May

2010-05-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Snettisham. A very vocal and obliging Sedge warbler at the entrance to the RSPB car park.

A rather hazy Turtle Dove Snettisham

25 May.Holme.Orange Tip Butterfly. A spell of seawatching produced an impressive group of 15 Gannets and a surprise in the from of 6 striking black and white Auks- almost certainlty Razorbills. Titchwell on the 23rd had offered a close female Montagues Harrier, 2 rather distant and hazy Temminks Stints, a pair of Gargeney, and nice views of a singing Cettis warbler and parties of Bearde Tits flitting around the Reeds by the path.

24 May.Green Hairstreak Butterfly Snettisham Coastal Park. 1 of 3 flitting about in the morning sunshine. 2 patch Ticks for the price of 1 when stopping to listen to a Nightingale singing deep in cover

Bug Species !! A striking combination of Black and Yellow.

Holme. 16 May. Green Hairstreak Butterfly and Roe Deer in off the Sea !

2010-05-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

16 May. An obliging Green Hairstreak sunning itself on the Sycamore in the NWT Car Park

Roe Deer. 16 May. The biggest surprise of the day and a distraction from the 10 Gannets that had just flown past ! Watched from a considerable distance out to sea, they emerged onto the Beach at Thornham harbour, where they stayed for for several hours.

16 May. Little Terns on the beach at Thornham Harbour

16 May. Racing Pigeon. a striking bird by the observatory.

Stonechat and Privet Hawk Moth

2010-05-17T02:35:00.000-07:00

Privet Hawk Moth. Holme 15 May. The First of the season

Snettisham Coastal Park 15 May. The male being rather more obliging for the camera than on previous visits. The mornings visit also produced Cuckoo and the first Turtle Dove in the park

Oriental pratincole frampton marsh 11 May

2010-05-12T01:34:00.000-07:00

A morning visit to priory had produced a lone arctic Tern, but news of the Oriental Pratincole continuing to Linger at Frampton Marsh meant a diversion to Lincolnshire to complete the Pratincole Hat trick. having seen Collared and Black winged pratincoles in Norfolk, Oriental Pratincole - very much the rarest of the 3 in Britain - was the missing link. The day turned out to be cold and windy, with the bird spending most of the time sheltering on the ground. Late afternoon sunshine eventually produced superb flying displays .

Oriental Pratincole 11 May

Weatear 11 May. Part of the supporting cast that included Whimbrel, little Gulls, Yellow Wagtails and the surprise of the day in the form of a bobbing Jack Snipe

Broad Bordered Bee Hawk Moth

2010-05-10T00:31:00.000-07:00

This scarce moth was the surprise of the day. Discovered inside the observatory building, it was photographed and released - after which it fed on the Budliea and wallflowers outside the building before departing

Ring Ouzel Holme 9 May

2010-05-10T00:24:00.000-07:00

Female Ring Ouzel Holme Dunes 9 May. After reasonable views of 3 ouzels in the same area last week-end it was nice to have a bird that showed well. An earlier stop at Redwell Marsh had produced Wood and Common Sandpiper and a Summer plumaged Spotted Redshank. The sea offered a group of 3 Gannets and 6 common Terns

7 May An obliging Song Thrush - Bedford Riverside

2010-05-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

A particularly obliging Song Thrush

A Green woodpecker feeding on the other side of the River

Grey Wagtail. Still there - but not quite as close

Bedford River 5 May

2010-05-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

Wren Bedford river

Common Tern Bedford River 5 May.

After enjoying excellent views of arctic Terns at Priory the previous evening the Grey Wagtails failed to perform this morning. It was left to the Terns and a very loud Wren to pose for the camera instead.

Norfolk 30 April - 3 May

2010-05-05T01:18:00.001-07:00

Red Legged partridge Snettisham - feeding within feet of the car

Red Crested Pochards Titchwell

Stonechat Snettisham

With Spring movement finally in full flow, a chance to fill in some of the missing links ? After finding 3 Black Terns in Bedford at Priory on friday morning, Snettisham produced several Cuckoos the next day - as well as at least 7 Weatears and 3 striking Winchats and good numbers of whimbrel. Not to be outdone a visit to Holme on Sunday produced 3 ring Ouzels, more Weatears, and a pale phased Arctic Skua on the Sea with Gannets and Little, Common, and Sandwich Terns. An afternoon visit to Titchwell gave up 2 Black Necked Grebes, a drake Gargeney and 3 Red Crested Pochards.

Grey Wagtails again ...

2010-05-05T01:06:00.000-07:00

Blackcap Priory Couintry park 29 April.

A particularly obliging individual in full song. The Grey Wagtails continue to perform by the river. A party of 4 Little egrets at Priory on the 26th was the highest number I have seen there and a turtle Dove at Willington meant Beds beat Norfolk to provide the first of the year.

Grey Wagtails Bedford 27 April

White Spotted Bluethroat Welney 23 April

2010-04-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

White Spotted Bluethroat Welney. Another lifer for the year and an absolute stunner of a bird that put on a superb display after a wait of an hour and a half. Once a much more regular migrant on the Norfolkl Coast, so not an easy bird to connect with.

Corn Bunting Welney. At least 6 in the trees around the Car Park. Part of the supporting cast with the Tree Sparrows below.

Tree Sparrow Welney

Yellow Wagtails Willington.20 April

2010-04-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

At least 39 Yellow Wagtails counted in one field - a delightful gathering, with Swallows and Sand and House Martins overhead. A singing Nightingale nearby the following day was a bonus and something of a Bedfordshire rarity

19 April Grey Wagtails Bedford

2010-04-19T23:15:00.000-07:00

As well as the singing Robin the supporting cast for the 2 Grey Wagtails by the weir included Blackcap Song thrush Long Tailed Tit and Blackbird. The biggest surprise was a Common Sandpiper that shot past before looping round back towards the main river channel. A male Reed Bunting was on the edge of the Boating Lake.

Grey Heron Putnoe 19 April

2010-04-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

While fly-past Grey Herons are pretty regular over the garden they aren't usually quite this obliging.This one perched up on next doors fence and then went past within 15 feet of the window.

Common Crane 17 April

2010-04-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

This Crane was a very pleasant surprise and was obliging enough to circle overhead long enough to snatch a couple of pictures. A Dartford warbler had shown well earlier, in the company of Stonechats. Sitting on Muckleborough Hill had produced spectaculour views, but nothing in the way of visible migrants or Raptors.The Jay below was taken in the Sanderingham area.

15 April return to pecker Country

2010-04-19T14:04:00.001-07:00

After a brief flight view of a lesser spot on a previous visit, this female gave excellent views on an exposed trunk - with crossbills in the sourrounding trees and Treecreepers and Nuthatches all vieing for attention. Superb.

Nuthatch 15 April

13 April A Brambling in the hand - but no kentish plover

2010-04-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

Brambling ringed at Holme. A good bird to see in the hand and a consolation prize for spending several hours on the beach, but with no sign of the Kentish plover reported earlier in the day. Not photographed, but putting on a spectacular display were 3 RED KITES at Snettisham - at 1 stage all circling in the same telecsope view.

Sanderling Holme Beach 13 April

Pink Footed Geese Snettisham 13 April.Both Brents and Pink Feet Still present in some numbers at both Holme and Snettisham

Egyptian Geese Snettisham 13 April with a brood of 8 young.Note the hybrid goose in the background

Barnacle Geese Snettisham 13 April. Present all year -Though a count of 19 Barnacles on Ken Hill Marsh in the winter was unusual and coincided with a flock of white fronted Geese that was well into dopuble figures

Stonechat 2 Snettisham coastal park

2010-04-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Stonechat Snettisham coastal park

2010-04-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

Little Gull Redwell.mpg

2010-04-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

LITTLE GULL REDWELL MARSH HOLME 11 APRIL

2010-04-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

This Little Gull was a nice find and spent hours dip-feeding and walking on the water at Redwell

Stonechat Snettisham Coastal Park 9 April

2010-04-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

Mornings spent in the Coastal Park failed to produce any Ring Ouzels but did produce the first reeling Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroats and Sedge and Willow warblers as well as this female Stonechat busy collecting nesting material.The downside tp lookinmg for migrants in the Coastal Park was that I was not at Holme when the Great grey Shrike was ringed. It hung around for the day to allow reasonable views -but not quite as good as it would have been 'in the hand'

Spring at last

2010-04-07T00:32:00.000-07:00

With Spring finally arriving, the camera has failed to do justice to the birding - with some excellent birds and not a lot in the way of photos. The ALPINE SWIFT at Hunstanton provided outstanding views on 26 March and broke the Norfolk jinx. my only other alpine Swift at Minsmere had provided decent scope views, but other more recent NORFOLK birds at Holme and Hunstanton hjad all eluded me. News of a 2 Barred Crossbill at the lodge in sandy the same week-end had all the hallmarks of Beds Leaches petrel and red Rumped Swallow found while I lurked in norfolk - and gone by my return to the county. fortunately the 2 Barred stayed and provided excellent views on the Monday 29th. A lifer that made up for teh bird i missed at Sanderingham. Other highlights have included a brief Lesser spotted woodpecker, Hawfinch Goshawk and Stone Curlews. A singing firecrest was a delight and a Red kite circled over the A10 on our return journey to Bedford on 5 April

Comma butterfly Bedford 6 April

Water rail ringed Holme 4 April

Hare Snettisham 3 Apr

Barn owl 28 March Snettisham

Tree Sparrows Norfolk 27 March

Toad in our garden Pond Bedford

Dungeness via Southend 3-7 March

2010-03-08T03:32:00.000-08:00

A journey down to Dungeness to return David to the Observatory for the season gave a chence to detour to Southend to catch up with 'Rossi' the Ring Billed Gull, as well as call in on old friends in Folkestone. The Ring Billed Gull was very obliging and Dungeness provided good views of Smew and both black Necked and Slavonian Grebes. The sea had little to offer but 3 Peregrines over the power station together were an impressive diversion. A flock of 70 Bewick Swans away from the reserve shone in the morning sunshine, with a bonus Cettis warbler seen singing in a nearby fieldside ditch.

Ring billed Gull Southend 3 March

Mediteranean Gull Southend 3 March

Black Headed Gull Southend 3 March

little Grebe Dungenesa RSPB 5 March

Balck Necked Grebe Dungeness RSPB 5 March

Smew Dungeness RSPB 6 March

Bewick Swans 6 March

Peregrine Bedford 1 March

2010-03-02T09:02:00.000-08:00

A week-end of less than helpful weather in norfolk produced rain all day Sunday but did allow enough afternoon sunshine for less tha close views of the Snow Goose at Holme. The Peregrine continues to visit the ex BT tower in Bedford, with a couple of shots below.With the warmer weather of recent days no sign of the obliging water rail in the previous post

Water Rail videos Honest !!!!

2010-02-23T00:43:00.000-08:00

For technical reasons currently beyond me the usual method of uploading/sharing videos for the blog that I have first uploaded to Youtube is not working. To get round this, click on the links below and the correct video should appear as uploaded to Youtube. Don't you just love technology !!!!!!!! The Water Rail is the same bird illustrated in the previous posting.

Water rail video 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiSTOIJkv54

Water rail video 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q8ZkchTZxM

Water Rail Holme 20 February

2010-02-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

1 of the results of the recent difficult weather conditions has been to draw the water Rails out of their natural cover.This particularly obliging individual spent long periods of time foraging in the open in front of the hide at Holme

Song Thrush Snettisham

2010-02-22T09:49:00.000-08:00

Song Thrush and Spotted Redshank

A rather dull weeks weather in Norfolk brought limlited photoghraphic opportunities but did include 2 Song Thrushes in the Garden as well as a male Bullfinch.The Snettisham Pink Footed Geese included at least 18 White Fronts and local raptors included 2 Peregrine as well as numbers of Barn Owls. A late afternoon visit to Titchwell produced a stunning male Hen Harrier
as well as a single ringtail.The twite failed to appear but a lone Spotted Redshank probed the mud just off the footpath

Song thrush Snettisham 19 February

Barn Owl holme 13 February

Mandarin Willington 24 January

2010-01-25T01:24:00.000-08:00

The walk round Willington produced no great birding surprises, but improving the paths and access has clearly turned the area into a regular and rather busy week-end walkway. Green Sandpiper Little Egret Buzzard and a flock of 40 Fieldfares provided the highlights around the main Lake. The Mandarin above was taken amongst the exotic collection by the Danish camp. large numbers of Mandarin seemed quite innocuous amongst the Red Breasted Geese, Hooded Mergansers, Smew and Golden Pheasants - to name but a few !!!

Owls

2010-01-19T14:15:00.000-08:00

Short Eared Owl Norfolk 17 January.

Finding this roosting Short Eared Owl, and, an obliging male Merlin, was a pleasant surprise. To come back to Bedford to have an extremely vocal Tawny Owl in the trees opposite the house the same evening made for a nice double act! The nearby street lights and the complete absence of any leaves on the trees made the Tawny very conspicuous as it called for over half an hour - before flying over the road and over my head, to disappear into the night. Not quite a Garden tick but an almost exact copy of the last time a calling Tawny interrupted the Television viewing - calling from the same trees, but, with the trees in leaf, only becoming visible when it too flew over my head and away over the houses.

S E OWL NORFOLK.mpg

2010-01-19T14:12:00.001-08:00

A distant bird and not the most brilliant footage ever.Not easy birds to find, and this individual was an unexpected bonus find as I tracked a male Merlin that perched briefly in the same tree.

More garden Redwings

2010-01-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

Redwing 9 January. perched in the Ivy covered apple tree near the house - seeming less wary than the Fieldfares that came into the trees at the bottom of the garden. Other visitors to the garden during the day included a male Blackcap, long-tail Tits and Goldfinches. A mid-week Kingfisher flashing along the edge of the main lake at priory CP was good to see given the continuing big freeze.

Winter catch-up

2010-01-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

Shore Lark Snettisham 5 December. 1 of 2 present. having failed to see any shorelarks last year 2009 produced 3 at holme.14 at Holkham as well as the 2 at Snettisham

Snow Buntings Snettisham Beach 5 December. Always good to see - with obliging flocks present at both holme and Snettisham

Marsh Tit 1 January on the Snettisham Bird table and doing the typical grab-it-and run with the seed so not the best of pictures

Redwing in the Bedford Garden 4 January. Coming and going through the morning. At least 8 perched up at 1 point. long Tail tits present in the morning - but failing to pose for the camera, as did the afternoon's fly-over Heron

Fieldfare in the Garden 4 January

Song Thrush in the Garden. 4 January. Nice to have the full set of thrushes in one day

Goldfinch in the Garden. 4 January. The metal ring was obvious in the photo but no chance of reading the numbers !

4 January. A pair of Swans on one of the frozen Lakes at willington.The only birds on the lake. Not quite up to the performance of the Bittern Bonanza at Brogborough, but the Barnacle Geese looked impressive in the afternoon sun. A fly-over Green Sandpiper was a bonus

Fox Bedford 4 January. in the fields opposite the Norse Road Industrial Estate in the afternoon, with another one seen dodging the evening traffic on Church Lane !!!

Leaches Petrel Grafham Water 25 November

2009-11-26T14:11:00.000-08:00

Leaches Petrel 25 November.

Having failed to connect with any of the previous inland Petrels Grafham finally produced a result - in dramatic fashion. The bird was watched being taken by a Carrion Crow at close range, but somehow managed to escape/get dropped, only to become caught in a tree as it fell, and was promptly rescued !! On inspection, damage suffered by the Petrel appeared to be superficial and excelent views of the bird were enjoyed in the hand.

4 - 8 November Dungeness and Holme - with a certain shrike in the Middle

2009-11-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

A brief visit to Dungeness proved to be something of a Heron and Egret extraveganza - with the Great White Egret pereforming exceptionally well, with a supporting cast of a Cattle Egret, 2 Glossy Ibis, 2 Bitterns and the expected views of Little Egret and Grey Heron.

4 November Great White Egret Dungeness

4 November. The Great White Egret in flight

4 November little Owl Dungeness. 1 of 2 picked out while enjoying excelent views of the Egret

5 November Bewick Swan Dungeness RSPB. 3 of 4 present

5 November Cattle Egret Dungeness RSPB

6 November A rather impressive individual lurking at the Observatory

6 November. Brown Shrike Staines. A convenient detour on route back to Bedford from Dungeness. Also presernt several pairs 0f very noisy Parakeets flying overhead and a Kingfisher doing circuits along the river.

8 November. Holme. The rather special sight of 3 Cettis Warblers together in the hand - processed together in 1 net round, and bringing the total to an unprecedented 26 new birds ringed at the observatory this year.

and then they were gone ....... the moment of release.

The Day had started with a Peregrine at Hunstanton and by the end of the day the Holme area had produced 95 Species, including Black Throated Diver, Velvet Scoter and Red Necked Grebe on the sea, Short Eared Owl Hunting over the Marsh, a Firecrest neasr the Observatory and 3 Lapland Buntings in flight at Thornham Harbour

Shorelarks Holme Beach 30 0ctober

2009-11-02T00:46:00.001-08:00

Difficult birds to see in recent years, but 3 present and showing well

Shorelarks on the Beach and a Beardie out of the net

2009-11-02T00:31:00.000-08:00

Shorelark Holme 30 October.

Nice to catch up with the 3 birds present after several failed attempts to see the birds at Titchwell. Followed up the next day with a spectacular arrival of thousands of Starlings, and lesser numbers of Blackbirds and thrushes - as well as 3 Bewick Swans and 2 Short Eared Owls coming in off the sea

Bearded Tit Holme 30 October the first ringed at the Observatory since 2004

Redwing Holme 30 0ctober

Easern Crowned Warbler County Durham 24 October - or you don't actually have to be mad but sometimes it helps ..

2009-10-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of the Daily Mail Saturday 24 October - which managed to provide a reasonable summary of the story and get the right picture to illustarate it - something beyond the ability of other tabloids !!

24 October. Behaving as a typical Leaf Warbler does, patience was the order of the day, as the Eastern Crowned warbler - britain's first record - moved among the Sycamores, Elders etc. Excelent views followed - with the Yellow Browed Warbler that was also present allowing a good comparison of size and plumage. No pictures of the bird but a couple of a part of the crowd. and the grey choppy sea in the background. Well worth the 2.30 A.M. start from Snettisham in the hope the bird would still be present, producing a thoroughly enjoyable day, without being drowned in the pouring rain that the forecast had threatened. Showing well all Saturday, many dissappointed birders arrived on the Sunday only to find that the bird had departed overnight.

Harbour Porpoise snettisham Beach 26 October.

Unfortunately found dead washed up on the beach as well as a single Guillemot. Otherwise little to be seen except a handfull of skulking Redwings. After saturday's excursion Sunday was spent at Holme, where a Juivenile Spoonbill provided the excitrement by coming in off the sea and flying almost over our heads !!! We watched it fly over the Pines and virtually over the Observatory before it apparantly carried on flying west

Redpoll in the hand, Water Voles in the water and a phalarope and sandpiper at Titchwell

2009-10-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

Black Headed Gull 19 October

Purple Sandpiper Titchwell - initially feeding with Turnstones on the beach before retreating to the ruin shown above. Sadly no sign of the Shorelarks in the time available to me.

The same Black Headed Gull shown above - convinced there was food on offer if it stayed long enough and close enough!! If it had been a Dog it would have had its paw in the air and its tongue hanging out as it stood begging .....

18 October Water Vole Hun River Holme. Close in views of Pom Skua, Lonmg Tail Duck and Great Northern Diver at Holme in the morning were followed with Grey Phalarope, Purple Sandpiper and Snow Buntings during an afternoon visit to Titchwell

17 October Mealy Redpoll Holme. A nice bird to see in the hand. Seawatching had been productive in the morning - but meant missing the Little Auk that circled the NWT carpark before flying west !!

Jack Snipe Titchwell 11 October

2009-10-15T16:17:00.001-07:00

An evening finale after good but brief views of the rose Coloured Starling at Chosely

Jack Snipe 2 Titchwell RSPB 11 October

2009-10-15T16:14:00.001-07:00

Feeding in front of Fen hide.Performjng well in the fading light

AUTUMN AT HOLME - A SELECTION OF POSERS FOR THE CAMERA

2009-10-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

Yellow Browed Warbler 14 October - The 3rd to be ringed in 5 days. Also present a Black Redstart on the roof of the Firs and sitting close offshore were both a Summer Plumaged Great Northern Diver and the first Goldeneye of the Autumn. 3 velvet Scoter flew west with a group of 22 Eider on the morning of the13th and an afternoon check of the Dunes produced a great Grey Shrike that was still present at Dusk. Not the first Great Grey I have seen at Holme, but the first 'self-found' one ! A shame it wouldn't pose for the camera. A leaches Petrel picked upp passing the dunes on the 12th was never going to make it onto film, but did stay in view in the scope long enough to enjoy good views as it went through.

Juvenile Rose Coloured Starling Chosely Barns 11 October - the pale blob to the left of the aeriel Dish ! A nice follow on to 2 Short Eared Owls in off the sea and circling over Holme Marsh and another group of 3 velvet Scoter over the Sea

Yellow Browed warbler Holme 10 October. The first of the Autumn, with 2 present on 10th and 12th, and a second bird ringed on the 12th

Common Darter Dragonfly Holme 1o October

Hummingbird Hawkmoth Holme 10 October 1 of 2 present and the only one I have seen this year

Red Admiral Butterfly 10 October

Pink Footed Geese over Redwell Marsh 9 October

Grey partridge Holme 9 October the first to be ringed at the Observatory since 1974

Firecrest Holme 9 October

Great Skua 2 October

2009-10-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

After several circuits over the beach the skua flew strongly north
in the direction of the RSPB Reserve

Great Skua Snettisham

2009-10-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

Great Skua 2 October

2009-10-08T02:09:00.001-07:00

With sea passage continuing offshore at Holme, a late afternoon visit to Snettisham produced this Great Skua feeding on a gull on the tide-line. Nice to get one on the deck at close quarters. The only drawback was the howling wind buffeting the camera and telescope ! Seawatching at Holme the next day was dissappointing, but the 4th managed to again produce goood views of Great Skuas from the Dunes, with a single more distant Arctic Sua followed by an impressive group of 7 Pomerine Skuas, which included 4 birds with tail Spoons.

Peregrine Falcon Snettisham 26 September

2009-09-29T15:47:00.001-07:00

Peregrine Falcon Snettisham 26 September

A pleasant early morning surprise, as the bird flew over Ken Hill Marsh, crossed Beach road, and landed in a ploughed field - where it then sat for over an hour and a half. Later in the day 6 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk circling Holme Marsh together were impressive, in a rather quiet weekend on land and sea. Seawatching at Holme still managed to produce incoming Pink Footed Geese,Gannets, Guillemots, Great Skuas, Divers and single Manx Shearwater on apparantly flat seas. Ironically while I spent the week-end in Norfolk, a Leaches Petrel showed well throughout much of the 25th at Stewartby Lake in Bedfordshire - a site where I have also managed to miss Storm Petrel and Red Rumped Swallow !!

Seabirds Galore, The first Pink Feet arrive, Flyvatchers in the Hand and 6 Glossy Ibis in a Cmabridgeshire field !

2009-09-18T01:48:00.000-07:00

With a change in the wind direction coinciding with an escape to the Norfolk Coast Seawatching produced amazing sights,with huge numbers of Gannets passing Holme, as well as impressive numers of Skuas and Kittiwakes.The large Shearwaters escaped me, but having missed one passing Leaches Petrel, the second had the decency to fly past my scope ! The sight of a Marsh Harrier, heading west over the Sea, and under sustained attack from both a Greast and Arctic Skua was completely unexpected - and would have made wonderful footage ! Manx Shearwater records tumbled in the day I watched 329 go past Holme, and the arrival of the first Pink Footed Geese was a welcome bonus.

Glossy Ibis Sutton Gault Camebridgeshire 17 September. 6 out of a flock of 7 birds. Amazingly, the birds were found in almost exactly the same location as the lone Ibis that appeared in Camebridgeshire in 2008. 2 Little Stints, 1 Dunlin at least 2 Hobbies and 1 Kingfisher also present

Spotted Flycatcher Holme 16 September - My first of the year !

Pied Flycatcher Holme 10 september. 2 ringed on the 10th and 1 on the 11th

Kingfisher Holme 10 September

2009-09-18T01:47:00.001-07:00

Anything a Wryneck can do I can do too !! Quite content to sit in the hand, and displaying the twisting, snake like movement often performed by wrynecks

Stop Press : Pallid harrier in Cambs ..... and some waders at Holme ...

2009-09-08T00:51:00.000-07:00

7 september. Breaking news of a male Pallid Harrier in Camebridgeshire meant a very sudden change of plans. A slightly nervous few hours,and the ineviteable standing in the wrong place, looking the wrong way etc eventually came good as a distant Grey blob on the ground.lifted into the air, turning into a stunning, near adult, male Pallid Harrier, gracefully quartering the fields in front of us !!! Not a lifer, as I had enjoyed close views of the juvenile Pallid Harrier in Norfolk at Winterton - but a very nice surprise to turn up on the doorstep.

Little stint Holme Beach 6 September - a nice addition to the Seawatching tally for the day

Curlew Sandpiper Thornham Harbour 6 September

Ortolan Bunting Cley Wryneck Holme and a supporting cast ....

2009-09-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

Ortolan Bunting Cley 4 september.

A lifer,and a rare bird these days the Ortolan followed on nicely from the Wryneck below. Another unexpected detour to Cley in wet and cloudy weather, remienicent of the Great Spotted Cuckoo - Except that the Ortolan was much more obliging !
A smattering of other migrants at Holme,such as the Pied Flycatchers, Wheatears, Winchats and stonechats have combined with some excellent seawatching days to keep the anticipation going.The daily and goup record for Shearwaters tumbled again, with at least 21 past in 1 group, and 22 Black Terns in a day was an impressive total malongside over 50 Great Skuas as well as lesser Numbers of Arctics.

Wryneck Holme 27 August The first ringed since 2002

Mediterranean Gull Hunstanton 24 August

Wheatear Holme Dunes 24 August

Pied Flycatcher Holme 23 August. At least 6 present - but no sign of any thye following day

Common Seal Holme Beach 26 August

2009-09-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

A young common Seal Loafing on the beach looking cute !

Holme Wryneck 27 August

2009-09-02T09:47:00.001-07:00

A classic Autumn migrant but 7 years since the last 1 was ringed at Holme. In true classic style not seen before being trapped or after release !

Mediterranean Gull Hunstanton

2009-09-02T09:42:00.001-07:00

1 of at least 2 birds on a school playing field in the town

Young Common Seal Holme Beach 26 August

2009-09-02T09:41:00.001-07:00

Lazing at high tide and providing alternative viewing during a quiet seawatch

Common Seal 2 Holme Beach

2009-09-02T09:38:00.001-07:00

Loafing on the Beach and looking cute

Common Sandpiper Redwell Marsh

2009-09-02T09:36:00.001-07:00

Bobbing and feeding in classic fashion in front of the hide

Common Sandpiper 2 Redwell

2009-09-02T09:35:00.001-07:00

Performing in front of the hide at Redwell