North Norfolk

Making the most of a few days off work I headed to North Norfolk. The area had migrants being reported by the hour a couple of weeks ago, but it wasn't quite as hectic during my short visit. I should of known some good luck was heading my way though when this little chap turned up and introduced himself as I got out of the car at Titchwell.

After a wander around Tichwell, I headed toward Holkham Pines and joined a few birders looking out for a reported Rough Legged Buzzard.

There were two Common Buzzards and three Red Kite in the area that provided entertainment for the gathered birders, but eventually the Rough Legged put in an appearance. My first of the species for me, so I was very pleased.

I was thinking of carrying on to Holkem Gap for the reported Surf Scoter but was told it was very distant and views also hindered by a choppy sea. I decided to give it a miss as other regulars informed me it was a quite a walk and unlikely to provide satisfactory views.

I spent until the light faded in and around Tichwell, being treated to a massive Starling Roost as they entered the Reedbeds for the night. Three Marsh Harriers also put on a great display just above the reeds. The sound of the Pink Foots coming in to roost was amazing, they were also joined by large numbers of Brent Geese.

Without actually intending to, I spent most of the day taking pictures with my phone rather than my camera. I decided to carry on with this and see what I could record in the overcast light through the scope.

I waited until the light had gone before heading off to find food and locate my B&B for the night. Already looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow.

After food, sleep, and a slap up Full English I was back at Tichwell early. Lady luck was smiling on me and I soon had a Yellow Browed Warbler under my belt. Right by the visitors centre too. I had a coffee and decided to go for the Surf Scoter as it was reported again at Holkem Gap. It was a decent walk, but the sea was less choppy today. I got the Surf Scoter, it was with some Velvet and Common Scoter and the views though distant, were pretty good. There were also a couple of Red Throated Diver in the area.

I ended up back at Tichwell with an hour of light left, as I wanted to see the Starlings going to roost again. The Marsh Harriers also put on another good show. The Pink Foots were just noisily arriving again as I walked back to the car to start the homeward journey.

 

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A few thoughts

It's been a while since I have written anything in the blog. Work has been a bit hectic and with darkness creeping ever closer towards 4pm each day, the light has gone by the time I get home, so photography has suffered.

I have been concentrating my spare time into Badger watching for a few weeks now and have had some really good views of them emerging, foraging and even getting playful with each other. This has given me something to concentrate on as the nights close in. It's not all been about the Badgers though, and by the sounds of things while waiting quietly in the darkness for them to emerge the Tawny population seems quite healthy this year.

Badger Sett

 

I have also been exploring some areas in my locality that I have up until now neglected. This is an intersting walk, and the old brick barn will be checked out again next summer. I'm hoping to get some good Swallow nesting pictures. We will see if the Swallows think it's as desirable for their needs as I think it is.

Now for a bit of a rant. I struggle to understand how dog owners can often have less brain power than their dogs! What is the point of picking up your dogs mess in a polythene bag, to then throw it in the hedge bottom or decorate a gate or fence with it? It's the work of total morons! In my opinion, this practice is worse than just leaving your dogs crap where it deposited it. At least it will relatively quickly wash away after regular rain. To wrap it in non biodegradable polythene then discard it, identifies you as an imbecile! If you can't be bothered to do the responsible thing and take it home, kick it into the hedge bottom out of the way, don't preserve it in plastic and decorate a fence with it! I'm a dog owner that almost constantly has my dog with me, I don't discard crap in polythene bags.

The contents of these bags is I believe, similar to what the people that hung them there have between their ears.

Idiots!

Morons

I have a bit of free time this week and intend doing some phonescoping. I will report back on how it goes.

This mornings effort.

 

All pictures on this page were taken with my phone, it's an ideal camera and I like experimenting with it. A lot of Fungi have suddenly appeared In the fields and I tried to take a few pictures.

 

Finally, the signs that winter is approaching are very subtle so far this year. It's nearly November and I was walking around the fields in a T-Shirt today. I have however heard the seeping of Redwing overhead at night while waiting for a badger to make an appearance. I have seen a couple of Redwing in daylight on the patch, and on Saturday I saw a solitary Fieldfare. This is the longest period of mild weather I can recall at this time of year for a long time. Today I heard reports of a single Swallow, a Red Admiral and a Hawker Dragonfly, in late October?

It's too warm for this time of year. The usual scaremongering is appearing in the papers. Time will tell.

 

 

 

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Quick update.

I couldn't resist visiting the Hornets nest again, but this time I took the spotting scope with me. It's was amazing watching them though the scope. The Hornets were very active fanning and protecting the nest entrance.

Quite often, a Hornet would leave the nest carrying something in its mouth. I'm not sure what they are removing from the nest? It could be wax plugs from pupal cells, or wood excavated from the tree to allow nest expansion. I wouldn't of thought the nest would be extended at this time of year as Hornets don't survive over the winter. Only new fertilised queens will hibernate through the winter months and emerge in the spring to establish a new colony.

Light was still an issue for photography, so I decided to try and phonescope a bit of video footage of the Hornets around the nest.

 

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Local Catch-Up

Plenty going on around the locality, but nothing new bird wise seen on the patch. There are Wagtails moving through, with many Pied, and a few Grey being seen along the river Tame.

On the moors, Kestrels are showing well, there are some large Linnet flocks about, and starlings are starting to flock together at dusk. Tawny's are regularly heard establishing territories, and Pete has seen a Barn Owl.

Some of the weeks sunsets have been stunning. I can't do them justice with the camera.

I have discovered some well used Badger latrines in one of the areas I walk, and this has again stirred my interest in observing these denizens of the night. I hope to see some of the Badgers soon. To be honest I am becoming a bit preoccupied with the Badgers and watching them. Ultimately, I would like to get some pictures, but I don't want to use flashes, I want to be as unobtrusive as possible.

Saturday started with me being by the badger sett before sunrise hoping to maybe glimpse a badger on its return from a nights foraging. No such luck.

Sunrise

Home for a cuppa, then out again for a wander in the woods.

 

Autumn's here.

 

I still find it difficult to walk past a Robin without pointing a camera at it.

And finally, a Hornet nest in the morning sunshine. The Hornets were all crowded around the nest entrance fanning their wings to regulate temperature inside the nest.

I may revisit these Hornets in better lighting conditions, and try for some better pictures.

 

 

 

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RSPB Middleton - Stonechat

A visit to RSPB Middleton on Saturday afternoon with a plan. I hoped to see the Curlew Sandpiper that had been there most of the week, and I hoped to cross paths with a Stonechat and try to phonescope it. They make a great subject and often pose for a picture.

Heading straight for the Jubilee Wetland area the Curlew Sandpipers were soon located, also three Ruff and a Snipe were in the same area. So, with the Curlew Sands seen, it was off to try and find a Stonechat.

On route, we observed a Hobby feeding on the wing. Jon and I discussed what a great sight it is to see a Hobby gliding overhead while feeding on a captured Hawker Dragonfly. It really is an impressive sight.

As we walked along the electric fence, up popped a Stonechat and perched obligingly to be photographed. I set up the scope, attached the phone with the Novagrade adapter, and took a few pictures.

So, both reasons for my visit had been achieved, with some very interesting bonus birds along the way. As usual, time flew by at Middleton RSPB, always a sign of an interesting visit.

 

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Canon SX40 HS

I have waited patiently for the rumoured Canon SX60, and still no announcement. I have been a very happy owner of the SX40 for two years now. I resisted the upgrade to the SX50, but now hope a September announcement from Canon for a new superzoom to replace the SX50 is on the horizon. If not, my patience may just have ran out. I am a Canon devotee when it comes to bridge cameras, but they are being left behind by the competition and need to pull out the stops and get back on top of the game here.

Anyway, the trusty SX40 captured a few Spotted Flycatcher pictures at the weekend. This has been the best year locally for Spot Flys I have known.

 

 

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Local evening walks.

It's been a decent week so far, considering I returned to work on Monday after a great summer holiday.

Monday evening, I had a Garden Warbler and a Redstart on an area of my patch I haven't seen either at before. A nice result.

Tuesday evening, I encountered several Spotted Flycatchers. I have seen plenty in the locality this year, more than I have seen in any previous years in fact. A lot have been juveniles, it's good to see they seem to have had a successful breeding year. Talking of successful years, there seems to be a few more local Hares evident now the crops have been harvested.

Hare laying tight in its form.

I also discovered this interesting looking Fungi on the base of an Oak tree.

As I had the scope with me and was out later than expected, I couldn't resist a moon shot on my way back across the fields.

An Autumn Moon - Waxing Gibbous

 

Wednesday, Pete and I set out looking for a reported local Whinchat. On route we encountered a young Fox dead at the side of the lane. Clipped by a car maybe?

We soon located the Whinchat, it was perched bolt upright as Chats do on some fence posts. It occasionally flew to the top of a Hawthorn tree, then back to the fence line. I cursed the fact I had decided to leave my scope at home! I could have got some great Phonescoped shots. Typical!

I did however have my camera with me. In the low light a high ISO was needed, so this is the best I could manage.

Finally, on the way back to the car, we discovered another oak tree with fungi.

sulphur shelf, chicken of the woods

It's been an interesting week so far, I hope the trend continues.

Update........ Thursday. Went looking for the Whinchat again and took my scope hoping to phonescope it. Typically, there was no sign of it! Never mind, light values were very poor for phonescoping this evening. I did see some more Spotted Flycatchers though. These are the best pictures I could manage in the dull conditions.

 

 

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