My year list kicked off at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve at Welney in Norfolk. Always a great place to visit for the wildfowl spectacle, including Whooper Swans and various species of dabbling duck. It’s also an ideal place for some photography. During our time there I tallied 52 species including, Whooper Swan, Great White Egret, Pochard, Pintail, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier and Tree Sparrow. A steady start to my birding year 2022.
We spent a few days in North Norfolk during late November, which turned out to be well worth while. I managed to see 94 species during our 4 days. Staying at Blakeney, proved to be a good choice as there was an Isabelline Wheatear available at the end of the East Bank. Holkham produced 5 Shore Lark and on the sea 4 Red-necked Grebe, along with the usual sea duck, Common Scoter and Eider and several Great Northern & Red-throated Divers. A sea watch at Cley Coastguards on 25th November produced a Black Guillemot, a Pomarine Skua, a Great Northern […]
Two Caspian Gulls were at Attenborough NR, Nottinghamshire, during late November. Giving excellent views from one of the hides overlooking Clifton Pit, as they fed on Spiny-cheek Crayfish. A superb Jay gave me a great photo opportunity, a difficult bird to photograph. On the 20th November I discovered the 2nd record of Great White Egret for Staunton Harold Reservoir. Still present on 22nd November. On 21st November I visited Swithland Reservoir in Leicestershire. Two 1st winter Scaup had been present for several days, giving some reasonable photo opportunities.
On 1st November I decided to pay another visit to the RSPB reserve at Blacktoft Sands, in Yorkshire. The White-tailed Plover was still being faithful to the site and seemed to have lost its will to migrate. On the 1st November it performed very well in front of the Xerox Hide, allowing me to obtain some of the best photographs I’ve been able to take of this vagrant wader from eastern Europe. I had only seen one previous White-tailed Plover in Britain, a bird that was found at Caerleverock, Dumfries & Galloway in 2007. As I write this post, it […]
Return to Top ▲
By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.