redshank – tonydavisonphotography.com

Winter Returns – Briefly – 18th March 2012

2012, Birds, Birds of 2012, Year No Responses »

Mar 182012

Winter Returns - Briefly - 18th March 2012

The weather this morning was a complete contrast to last weekend. Upon arrival at Carsington Water this morning, we were met with a freezing cold mixture of snow & heavy rain. The front lasted for well over an hour, then grey but very calm conditions and Carsington turned into a “Mill Pond”. The day did however produce my first spring migrants for the year. We were hoping for a Kittiwake dropping in but no such luck. In fact apart from the long staying Great Northern Diver, the numbers of wildfowl were very low. Five Goldeneye; 5 Oystercatcher; […]

A “peep” in Norfolk – Sunday, 4th December 2011

2011, Birds, Birds of 2011, Year No Responses »

Dec 042011

A "peep" in Norfolk - Sunday, 4th December 2011

2011 has been one of the best years in memory to see American Waders in Britain. At least 17 species had been seen up to 28th November. The only species not found at this time was Western Sandpiper. So it was inevitable that one would be discovered somewhere!. Cley NWT Reserve was to be the host site for this rare wader. It was first identified as a Semi-palmated Sandpiper but as the bird was eventually seen and videoed at close range, the finer points of the bird’s plumage could be seen and it was eventually re-identified as […]

A Raptor Fest in Norfolk – 16th January 2011

2011, Birds, Birds of 2011, Year No Responses »

Jan 162011

A Raptor Fest in Norfolk - 16th January 2011

A day out in North Norfolk provided some real cracking birds with 9 species of Raptor being seen during the day. Hunstanton seafront is always a good place to start and we soon found a single Snow Bunting, 5 Mediterranean Gulls and after a tip-off, a fine Purple Sandpiper. Plenty of common waders and several Eider off-shore. A few Fulmar off Hunstanton Cliffs and thousands of Pink-footed Geese moving off the Wash inland. Below – First winter Snow Bunting – Snettisham, Norfolk. Moving on to Titchwell RSPB Reserve, a fine adult Whooper Swan in fields by the entrance […]