Old Haunts

As my sister was down from Inverness, I took her to Amwell this morning, as she used to live nearby. The weather was not ideal-northerly, cold and showers but she had a good time seeing a lot of species that are very uncommon for her these days-things like Wood Pigeon, Mute Swan and Magpie for example.

We saw a few Sand Martin go through battling the wind, with my first Swallow of the year shortly after. Plenty of Water rail squealing, and Cetti's Warblers calling from the reed beds. The Cormorants are nesting, as are the Grey Heron-did not see Little Egret unfortunately, and with several Chiffchaff's singing, and displaying Lapwing and Redshank, it almost felt like spring. 

We missed the big one though-twenty Waxwing had flown through while we were in one of the hides, and the site's first Little Ring Plover of the year had been seen as well.  

Travelling again

After the hiatus last month, I finally got a chance to get out again.
The plan was to get over to Colin, and visit sites in Breckland/Thetford forest for some of the wintering and early spring birds that can be seen in early March.
First stop was RSPB Lakenheath where the wintering Great Grey Shrike had been showing from near the car park. Early signs were good and it had been seen an hour before we arrived. We spent an hour in the cold wind checking the young birch wood and scrub, plus adjacent areas to no avail. A party of Lesser Redpolls was nice to see.
Lyndford Arboretum is a good spot for Hawfinch in winter and three had been seen early morning, but by the time we got there they had gone from the paddocks where they roost. A search of the arboretum failed to find them. Apart from flocks of Siskin it was pretty quiet. Ther has been a lot of work done over the last year to improve the quality of the trees and shrubs (which had been in a pretty poor state for some time) and it was nice to wander round for a bit and just enjoy the woodland.
Next stop was Grimes Graves, a large open space in Thetford Forest which ought to be good for displaying raptors, and Goshawk had been seen earlier in the week. Though it was sunny, the wind was getting stronger and all we had for our efforts were a couple of Buzzards and Kestrels, and Skylarks everywhere. Finally, Olley's Farm just west of Theford itself has a recent track record of reliable Goshak sightings, but by early afternoon, the wind and increasing cloud meant that few raptors ventured up-one Buzzard and one Sparrowhawk. The Woodlarks were silent, but we were treated to a small party of Crossbills, two of which lingered long enough to get a few images.
Just as we got back to the car, and moments before the rain arrived we were finally treated to a spectacular bird of prey-a totally unexpected Red Kite.

February Update

Have not done a great deal this month-the heavy snow early on,followed by a family matter saw to that.
I had a visiting male Blackcap last week in the garden, and yesterday a Chiffchaff started to sing (not very well) outside in the big oak.
Spring is on the way, my snowdrops are out in force, as well as bulbous iris, a few crocus and some cyclamen. Queen bees are on the wing, and this weekend frogs have started to appear in the pond. At least three are already paired up so spawn should appear any day now.

Devon Trip

On Friday afternoon, I spent an hour at the old airfield at Hatfield and the adjacent scrub/pits at Beech Farm where I met one of the people I know from Amwell. Apart from three Stonechats, and a small flock of Lapwing, things looked very quiet, but after about half an hour, one of thee Short Eared Owls appeared and put on a good show for us. I was somewhat relieved as I had paid several visits last year and not seen any.

Saturday was penciled in as a long trip down to Devon.
The main target was the Penduline Tit in a small reed bed near Paignton Leisure Centre. After about twenty minutes it was found low down in the reeds opposite feeding. Shame really as there was a lot of reedmace heads close to us which would have made a better photo. Overhead, a pair of displaying Ravens cronked while being mobbed by a Buzzard.
Broadsands has become a popular destination due to a flock of Cirl Buntings by the main car park. Due to the wind, they stayed in a hedge but showed well in scopes. We saw about six or seven birds, but more have been seen by others. The bay held a large flock of Grebes-mainly Great Crested, but a few Black Necked were also present. From the headland, more grebes and sea duck could be seen, as well as divers, but the best bird was a dark blue phase Fulmar which is quite rare in the channel.
Brixham Harbour held a small flock of Purple Sandpiper at the end of the break-water. I had to return to the car, and when Colin returned he showed me the Grey Phalarope on his camera screen. Luckily it was still present when I got back, but flew off. The harbour was also filling up with Kittiwakes and Little Gulls as a result of the strong easterly winds.
We ended a long day trying to find Cattle Egrets at Powderham Castle and on the river Axe, but without success. I suspect that they had already gone to roost asit was quite late in the day.

Barn Owl Again

Quiet afternoon, so have been through last weeks images and worked on a few. Here is another one of the Barn Owl.

Norfolk

Yesterday we paid our first visit to Norfolk, stopping off at the Ouse Washes on the Norfolk/Cambridge border. The intention was to try and find the Great White Egret that had been seen yesterday. The washes were full of swans-hundreds of Bewicks and Mute, and over a thousand Whooper, which made finding a white heron extremely difficult. In fact after about half an hour in the cold wind we gave up.
Heading up towards Welney, one of the Barn owls was seen on a post ahead of us and Colin was able to get the car into a suitable position, but it took off, flew over to my side and hung in the air while I fired the shutter. Eventually it flew over into the fields and continued hunting.
Nearby, by some old farm buildings a flock of finches and sparrows held a number of Corn Buntings.
Titchwell on the Norfolk coast was very busy as usual. The usual selection of waders were present-many Ruff, Godwits and Plovers, as well as a few Avocets and Spotted Redshank. One of two Water Pipits showed very well, but too far away for the camera. The strong southerly winds had pushed most of the sea duck away from shore, and little was left, though a small flock of Snow Bunting in the dunes was nice to sea. Being high tide, most of the shore line waders had gone to roost but a few Bar Tail Godwits acted more like weather vanes in the breeze.
Back in the Washes, the Egret had been re-found so we headed off and eventually got to see it distantly in one of the drains.
We ended the Day at Burwell Lode near Wicken Fen watching the Short Eared Owls hunting over fields full of Roe Deer. One owl had caught a vole, but a Kestrel tried snatch it from the owls claws-very close to us but in with the sun going down no chance of an image.

Day Out in Kent

This past weekend has been a very cold one. On Friday, we had freezing fog and a wonderful hoar frost on the trees that frustrated the photographers at work-we all wanted to be out there getting images. Unfortunately, by Saturday, much of it had gone and the light was so poor that try as I might, i could not get anything worthwhile.
Today we had planned a trip to Kent.
First stop was West Hythe to see the long staying Night Heron by the Military Canal. Luckily the water was unfrozen and it posed superbly, despite the attentions of a pair of Mink. Just above it a female Kingfisher sat for quite some time.
On the Isle of Sheppy, we spent the rest of the day and did very well for raptors, picking up the usual wintering Rough Legged Buzzard, many Marsh Harrier, several Hen Harriers and both Merlin and Peregrine. Pity we could not find any owls. Large numbers of Geese-Brent and White Fronted, plus a small herd of Bewicks Swans weer good to see, and the Swale held big flocks of Wigeon and Pintail, plus a variety of waders.