My last day of twitching rare birds for 2015 was spent in North Norfolk, on 29th December, when Glyn and I went to see the juvenile Pallid Harrier that has been frequenting fields around Abbey Farm at Flitcham. The bird showed well but distantly in the early morning sunshine. It disappeared several times across distant fields but eventually returned to it’s favoured areas around the farm. We also saw a single Barn Owl and a few Brambling nearby and several Grey Partridge. After a couple of hours at this site, we decide to head off to Thornham for Shore Lark. After a 45 minute walk out to Holme Dunes, we eventually located the three birds that had been regularly seen for the past few weeks. They were very confiding and were quite obliging and allowed reasonably close approach, that is until a dog walker flushed them, but they soon returned to their favoured feeding area.

We then spent sometime around the lanes at Choseley and eventually managed to see one juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard and several Common Buzzard. Plenty of Grey Partridges about to-day, more than I have seen for many a year. Our final stop was at Roydon Common near Kings Lynn. An area of bog and heathland and very good for roosting raptors. We saw at least three Hen Harrier, including at least one grey male, a Marsh Harrier and a Barn Owl. My 2015 Year List has finished on 243. Not a bad year with four British Lifers – Hudsonian Godwit; Hudsonian Whimbrel; Northern Harrier (added to British List 23rd December 2015) and Wilson’s Warbler.

Pallid Harrier – Juvenile – Flitcham, Norfolk – 29th December 2015 – Tony Davison© – above 5 images – record shots heavily cropped.

Shore Lark – Thornham – Holme Dunes, Norfolk – Three birds, probably a family party – Tony Davison©

This morning, 26th December 2015, I decide to go and check out the brand new hide at Willington GP, a Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Reserve. The hide was only completed last Tuesday and, as hides go, I must say it is an excellent addition to the reserve and for the local birders. I can imagine many an hour will be spent inside, over the months and years ahead. Not much about on the lagoons this morning, but a Kingfisher put in an appearance, albeit a little distant from the hide. I managed a few record shots. I’m sure better opportunities will be forth coming. It was a male by the all black bill, females have an orange base to the bill. Another day of dull grey conditions, making photography a little difficult. High ISO = Noisy Pictures. Oh for some prolonged sunshine. I’m running out of days now to add to my year list. As is typical at this time of year, a major rarity was discovered, a Mourning Dove was found in a garden in Lerwick on Shetland. Typical, another good bird on a far flung island, so not quite sure what to do about this one YET!!

Kingfisher – male – Willington GP, Derbyshire – Above four images – Tony Davison©

A wintering Hoopoe has spent the last week or so in a small quarry area, on landscaped reclaimed land, at Wall Heath, Kingswinford near Dudley in Staffordshire. During mild winter weather there is often a wintering Hoopoe somewhere in Britain, so it was rather good to have one 50 odd miles from home. The bird showed well on and off before it flew into cover just prior to a rain shower setting in. They become rather a dull pinky-brown in winter plumage. It was finding sufficient food in the mild conditions for the time of year. A nice year tick which takes my year list on to 242.

Hoopoe – Wall Heath, Kingswinford, Staffordshire – December 20th 2015 – Tony Davison©

Saturday 5th December, Glyn and I visited North Norfolk. Storm Desmond had hit the west side of Britain with devastating impact and Cumbria taking the brunt of it with over 300mm of rain falling and large areas of the county were very badly flooded. North Norfolk was only feeling the wind and it was blowing a Gale, making Birding and Photography extremely difficult. Simply trying to stand up and get out of the car wasn’t easy. We managed to see a few good birds, despite the conditions. Our first port of call was the small harbour at Brancaster Staithe, a Red-necked Grebe had been showing well in recent days. After a couple of hours wait, the bird eventually showed close enough to get a few record shots. There were also a few Bar-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Dunlin on view, as well as a distant female Red-breasted Merganser. We moved on to Chosley where several Rough-legged Buzzard had been seen hunting the fields in recent days, around the drying barns. We eventually had good views of this stunning raptor, albeit in extremely windy conditions and unfortunately too distant for a photograph.

The RSPB Reserve at Titchwell was very quiet with fewer birds than normal on the fresh marsh. We did however find a superb adult Yellow-legged Gull, which seemed to get little notice from other observers. A few Pintail, Avocet and a mixed bag of waders and waterfowl were also seen. Plenty of Brent Geese on the move and flocks of distant Pink-footed Geese could be seen and heard. Most birds were keeping their heads down and I can’t say I blamed them. We finished our day in Norfolk by calling in at Kings Lynn to see a Juvenile/ 1st winter  Iceland Gull that was present at the harbour area. All in all a reasonable day in some very windy and overcast conditions, thankfully it didn’t rain. No movement in my Year List currently at 241.

Red-necked Grebe – Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk – Tony Davison© – Note the unusually large bill – Above three images

Bar-tailed Godwit – Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Dunlin – winter plumage – Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Teal – drake – Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Yellow-legged Gull – adult – A stunning individual – RSPB Titchwell Reserve, Norfolk – Tony Davison© – above three images

Redshank – winter plumage – RSPB Titchwell Reserve, Norfolk – Tony Davison© – above two images

Iceland Gull – Juvenile – Kings Lynn, Norfolk – Tony Davison© – above three images – note the black eye and black tip to otherwise pink base to bill indicating 1st winter?

Rain, Gales, Rain, Gales – The theme for the past week. Question – Would Barnie & Co., bring in any good sea birds? The Met Office are now naming severe UK weather systems, whatever next! With the possibility of Leach’s Petrel, we decided to head off towards the North West in hope of striking lucky. Our Saturday morning was a bit of an anticlimax. One adult Mediterranean Gull, amongst literally thousands of gulls, was all we had for our efforts, in a bitterly cold wind, chaotic sea but bright sunshine. It seems that Leach’s Petrel were not in any numbers, despite the north westerly There were, weather system. There were, however, plenty of Little Auks down the east coast though. Our journey home took us past a very good site for Short-eared Owl, where they were easily photographed without any disturbance to the birds whatsoever. A few Barn Owls were also on view and both Owl species performed at close quarters on and off till dusk, a magical end to the day.

Goldfinch – Above six images – What a cracking little bird – The Wirral – Tony Davison©

Short-eared Owl – Above 8 images – There has been a huge influx of these Owls into Britain this autumn. – Tony Davison© – These birds were not disturbed in any way whatsoever.

Barn Owl – Four birds were out hunting the fields whilst watching the Short-eared Owls. – Tony Davison©