SNIPE 3 REDWELL

Summer Catch Up - Great spotted Cuckoo and other surprises ..

The Great Spotted cuckoo at Salthouse at Salthouse on 24/25 July proved an elusive bird but provided excelent views in the end - it just wouldn't pose for the camera but provided another Lifer to add to the list. The invasion nof Ladybirds that carpeted the dunes at Holme at the end of the month were an amazing distraction from Seawatching - but not before the first Pom and Arctic Skuas of the Autumn had been logged. The 30th saw an impressive movement of Manx Shearwaters - with a group of 19 slicing through the waves together being a new Norfolk 'Group' record for me, nicely beating the previous figure of 14.

Greenshank busy feeding on small fish in the pools on Holme Marsh 31 July

Part of an impressive flock of 72 Black Tailed Godwits on Redwe Marsh 30 July

A particulatly obliging Snipe in front of the hiode at Redwelll 29 July

A local Surprise. Common crane sporting an unusual Blue Ring but still calling and very active even though pictures taken in persistant rain 27 July

Spotted Redshank Snettisham 25 July

5 of a Group of 11 Spoonbills Together at Cley. 24 July

Ruff Redwell Marsh Holme 18 July

Green Sandpiper Redwell Marsh Holme 18/19 July

MVI 2431

White Winged Black Tern Fen drayton Camebridgeshire 10 July 09. A smart Adult not a scruffy juvenile.Video taken against strong light but showing nicely in flight5 briefly at the end of the clip. Soundtrack changed from the original wind blowing across hte camera microphone !

White Winged Black Tern Fen Drayton Camebridgeshire 10 July 09

White Winged Black Tern Cambs. A stunning adult bird, which in spite of the 'record shot' category photos gave imressive and close flight views when not on the ground. A very pleasant surprise after the Caspian Tern in the previous post.

Pictures above and below taken as stills from video footage

Caspian Tern Welney WWT 4 July

Caspian Tern Welney 4th July.
Having started the day at Holme a quick turn-around got me to welney to find the Tern asleep and not seemingly in a hurry to go anywhere.Excelent flight views followed with a couple of shots included below, taken as stills from video footage.
Like the Pratincole in the previous post a superb bird to break up the summer birding with Red Kites also added in both Norfolk and Beds. as well as further stunning views of Golden Orioles and Bitterns. A freshly fledged Song thrush being fed in thye garden was a nice follow on from regular appearanjces from adult birds.

Bittern Lakenheath 26 June. This individual posed for at least 15 minutes at the top 0f reeds before providing another long flight view before dropping into anothyer section of reedbed. Nice views in the scope but a bit of a struggle for the camera !

Black Winged Pratincole Titchwell 5th June

A return to Norfolk allowed more excellent views of the Black Winged Pratincole at Thornham, both in the air and on the ground. Though the views were good, the light and distance meant there was no chance of getting any pictures. A visit to Titchwell on the 5th delivered the goods in the form of stunning flight views from the Parrinder hide, and , eventually a chance to snatch the pictures below as the bird teased its admirers with occasional and very brief moments away from the vegetation thet obscured all but its head !

Spoonbill. Titchwell 5th June Note the 2 colour rings on its right leg - Red over Yellow

More spring Delights .......

An unproductive trip to Breydon Water Yarmouth in search of what turned out to be a controversial 'GREAT KNOT' on 30 May was followed the following day by stunning views of a BLACK WINGED PRATINCOLE over fields between Holme and Ringstead t. The bird had been originally reported as a Collared Pratincole, which would have been nice, but its subsequent rediscovery and reidentification produced a lifer on the Holme Patch ! Not quite Redwell or Holme Marsh but close enough ! The 29th had produced good views of the Squacco Heron at Wicken Fen and Golden Oriele, Bittern Bearded Tit and Hobby at Lakenheath.


Squacco Heron Wicken Fen. 29 May. The views were better than the photos! Pictures taken from a cramped hide that was difficult to view from and even worse for the camera.

Kingfisher Abbey Farm Flitcham 28 May. - Followed the same evening by classic views of Nightjar and Woodcock in the Sandringham area. Not surprisingly no photos of either species !

Sedge Warbler Snettisham 24 May



No pictures or even views of the voles, but a surprise notice stumbled across while visiting the 'open gardens' in Dersingham in a birding lull. A group of Kentish water Voles being catered for in Norfolk , having been temporarily relocated because of an engineering project.


Tawny Owl Holme NOA 23 May. pictures of this years 2 young Tawnies ringed at the Observatory. A particular delight for a visiting group of birders from Northern Ireland.Followed later in the day by a group of 5 Spoonbills that flew East over the marsh

Drinker Moth Caterpillar Redwell 23 May