A family and friends break in Norfolk, so not a lot of birding but some great views and food. Based in Cromer there was time for a spot of sea watching with lots of Razorbills and a few Red Throated Divers offshore. Caspian and Little Gull were unexpected bonuses. Cromer is a great base and an attractive seaside town with its resident Peregrines on the church. When up this way, especially at this time of year I always love to go and see the Grey Seals at Horsey Gap. Unsurprisingly there are usually a few confiding Turnstones as well. The seals mainly spend most of the year higher up the coast around Blakeney Point, but move down to Horsey and Winterton later in the year to pup. We were too early for pups but the beach was still open allowing for firstly a short video. The pups are usually born around November after an 11.5 month gestation period. While there, there were probably about 100+ seals either hauled out on the beach or in the sea. Always a delight to watch and photograph them! And finally, an Autumn sunset, with the view from Cromer towards West Runton.
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Frampton had been hosting some great waders blown in from North America so time to make a visit! The weather could have been a bit better but certainly not as bad as my last visit in July. Work was taking place in front of the visitor centre so not much around until this Great Egret flew in. On the way to the 360 degree hide a small party of Bearded Tits put in a brief appearance. A large group of birders on the path near the reedbed hide was a sure sign one of the key waders was around. We ascertained the Semi Palmated Sandpiper had been visible but had flown off towards the back (we never got to see it). The Lesser Yellowlegs had also been showing and while waiting a distant Water Rail left cover for a while. Finally, the Lesser Yellowlegs showed well, allowing some reasonable shots. A super bird and a lifer as well! Next stop was the East Hide for some Dunlin close ups. And for size comparison - Dunlin (rear) with Little Stint. And a short video. There were quite a few Little Stints in front of the hide giving some good views. Also my best ever views of Curlew Sandpipers as well. It was then up to the sea wall to see the Buff Breasted Sandpiper, another visitor from North America. What a stunning bird and also another lifer. And for size comparison, here with a Meadow Pipit. Three Ruff then decided to join the party. What an absolutely fabulous day with not one but two lifers! And walking back to the visitor centre views of Sparrowhawk which was checking the finches on the Sunflowers. A great job done by the RSPB at this wonderful reserve.
It has been many years since I was last at Dungeness and I had forgotten what a great place it is! First stop was at the old lighthouse and we were lucky to bump into a local who pointed out a great area for Black Redstart. As we walked across we spotted a Wheatear and a couple of Stonechats as well as this Dunnock. There appeared to be about six Black Redstarts feeding in the scrub and at times hovering to feed. I managed to get some shots of a female/juvenile. And finally this cracking male bird! Time was moving on, so a spot of sea watching was next. To give some perspective however a few landscape shots showing the old and new lighthouses and the power station. A strange area, and the nearest thing we have to a desert in the UK. Initially, the sea was fairly quiet with Cormorants, Great Crested Grebe, one Razorbill and a handful of Gannets. Also a few Brent Geese. Things picked up with a party of Sandwich Terns - a nice mix of adults and juveniles. Sadly no passing Shearwater's but a couple of Arctic Skua's were great consolation. It was then on to the RSPB Reserve with a stop off at Cook's Pool. Another friendly local had told us it was a good spot for the three Glossy Ibis that were in the area. We quickly saw Marsh Harrier and a Great White Egret as well as eight Cattle Egrets which rather pleasingly were with the cattle. And right on cue the Glossy Ibis appeared out of a shallow depression. Driving into the reserve yielded this Common Buzzard. The reserve was fairly quiet, but I don't think I have ever seen so many Great Black-Backed Gulls before. Not too many waders around apart from this solitary Ruff. And two Curlew Sandpipers. A really great day out!
The juvenile Osprey that had spent a couple of weeks at Bowyer's Water decided to relocate to Amwell so another chance to see this magnificent bird. While waiting, a juvenile Hobby put on a great display before returning to its favoured perch in a Birch tree. The buff underparts rather than red are the key ID feature in showing it is a juvenile. Hopefully it will have a safe journey to its wintering grounds in Africa. The Osprey was using a specially designed Osprey perch installed around 20 years ago. It shows patience is a virtue! It would scan the water from there, diving straight in and catching mostly small Perch. It had a lot of hassle from Cormorants, Red Kite, Jackdaws and this Grey Heron. It was good to get confirmation that the bird was ringed on the 10th July 2023 near Monymusk, Aberdeenshire. This is a photo (by Ewan Weston) I was sent through of 256 on the nest with two siblings. 256 is one of the birds with their heads down. At one stage it even tried to land on one of the "gull goalposts"! But the best opportunity for shots was when it went for a fly around the pit. What a super bird and as I write this on the 19th September it has not been seen since 11.00am yesterday, so it could be on its way south! Safe journey 256!
A family of Water Voles have been showing well at Rye Meads, but before seeing them someone mentioned a strange duck at the Kingfisher Hub. I believe it is the same bird seen last year and a possible Wigeon/Pintail cross. On the way back, the aptly named Gadwall hide produced a mass commotion of Gadwall presumably squabbling over a female. A Little Egret was close in, giving great views. It then flew down and proceeded to fish. It had found a shoal of baby Carp, but it was quite choosey with the ones it ate! So finally, the Water Voles! There seemed to be at least 3 or 4 and clearly adults and young as the size difference was quite marked. Fascinating animals to watch!
An Osprey had been sighted fishing on Bowyer's Water for a few days and then flying off with its catch towards Gunpowder Park. It was making up to three visits a day, catching Perch so time for a visit. I got there just after 9am and was chatting to Sandra and Kevin who were already in position when 10 minutes later it appeared. It did not hang about and went straight for a fish. It had three failed attempts. I later found out it is a juvenile so still learning! Some more shots as it tried again. On the fourth attempt it finally caught a Perch and started to fly off. Then the Gulls, sensing an opportunity for an easy meal, moved in! However it hung on to its catch and the Gulls gave up. I could see the bird was ringed and some enquiries revealed it was a juvenile Scottish bird, ringed in Aberdeenshire. A truly remarkable few minutes!
After a morning of Osprey watching (blog to follow) a quick trip north to see a juvenile Black-Necked Grebe that had dropped in. Such elegant birds! As is usually the case, always something to see here including two Spitfires a WWII flying boat, passing Marsh Harrier and two Garganey, one of which is pictured below. Along with a couple of Common Sandpipers the main surprise was a juvenile Red Knot. It gave some great views feeding and preening at the edge of the pit. All in all, Knot a bad day!
The flooded area on Park Mead has recently produced Spoonbill, Little Ringed Plover and Dunlin so it was no great surprise when Barry Reed found a juvenile Ruff. A walk down there from home initially drew a blank apart from a few Lapwing. And three Common Snipe which showed well. However a second circuit of the flood this time with Roland Powers had better results. Sadly looking into the sun so not great detail. It then flew a short distance into a more open area and by walking round to the main path I was able to get the much better late afternoon light. An excellent bird for the area!
For a small pit, Dernford attracts some really good birds. The news of a Wood Sandpiper there had me making the short trip up to see it. Little Grebes seem to be doing very well there with at least two pairs with young. The Wood Sandpiper was found in the northern part of the pit and initially was difficult to see as it is a part covered by trees. However with a bit of patience it worked its way into a clearer area to allow a few shots. Such a smart wader!
A planned outing to Oare Marshes in Kent and after a few days of good weather we hit upon a dull day with a little rain! First stop was to the slipway where we looked for the regular Bonaparte's Gull but no luck. However the Turnstones allowed for some great photo opportunities. A walk along the sea wall allowed for some flight shots of a small party of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. As to be expected, Redshank were fairly common feeding on the mud and then flying in to the East Flood as the tide rose. One Whimbrel close in. And quite a few Curlew. View from the sea wall looking towards Hollowshore. Again, lots of Black-tailed Godwits. Bearded Tits were heard but not seen and we added Marsh Harrier, Wheatear and Greenshank to the list. The final wader of the day was a smart Little Stint. Record shot below. A first Summer Black Stork had been reported for a few days just across from Oare on the Isle of Sheppey. Needless to say we made the trip round and watched from the Capel Fleet Raptor Viewpoint. Apart from a few Marsh Harriers it was quiet and after an hour or so things did not look promising. It was then located about 1/4 mile west and we walked down and had a brief but close view of it flying away before dropping down again. Following a public footpath we headed out and then had some incredible views as it circled overhead. What an amazing bird and even the weather had improved. A great end to the day.
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