Waxwings are coming...........!

Waxwings at Holme next the sea. Unfortunately the light was poor!

A day out on the North Norfolk Coast

Waxwing at Holme

A day trip to North Norfolk was well overdue, so with a day off and the forecast of reasonable weather, a 0430 start was made, arriving at Titchwell at first light. The day looked good but cloud soon made the light gloomy, not a day for photographs!

Straight down to the sea watchpoint as I knew the tide was on the turn. I was soon scanning the sea and it was not long before the early start paid dividends! At least four Long Tailed Ducks, two female Red Breasted Mergansers, Great Crested Grebes, one Red Necked Grebe, several Guillemot, one Red Throated Diver, Eiders and many Common Scoter graced the sea. The shore had Redshank, Curlew, Knot, Black and Bar Tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Turnstone and Oystercatcher. At least 20 Snow Bunting were very mobile.

The lagoons held Avocet, Golden Plover, Pintail, Spotted Redshank, Water Rail and both Godwit species. A Kingfisher was flighty around the freshmarsh.

Leaving Titchwell, I headed towards Holme but did not arrive at the reserves as my time and attention was taken up with my first Waxwings this side of summer. Unfortunately, the light was poor but the trilling song and comical activities kept my attention until the dark clouds and light rain pushed me towards home. Waxwing images will be published separately.

Bar Tailed Godwit

Redshank

Todays Sightings:

Black Headed Gull; Jay; Jackdaw; Wood Pigeon; Pheasant; Blackbird; Red Legged Partridge; Carrion Crow; Rook; Chaffinch; Robin; Long Tailed Tit; Magpie; Dunnock; Wren; Great Tit; Goldfinch; Moorhen; Fieldfare; Blue Tit; LBB Gull; Coot; Goldeneye; Kingfisher; Grey Heron; Dabchick; Tufted Duck; Gadwall; Starling; Mallard; Teal; Brent Goose; Linnet; Shelduck; Redshank; Little Egret; Knot; Golden Plover; Curlew; Shoveler; Lapwing; Cormorant; Black Tailed Godwit; Skylark; Turnstone; Sanderling; Oystercatcher; Guillemot; Common Scoter; Long Tailed Duck; Herring Gull; GBB Gull; Great Crested Grebe; Red Necked Grebe; Snow Bunting; Eider; Red Breasted Merganser; Meadow Pipit; Red Throated Diver; Bar Tailed Godwit; Spotted Redshank; Pintail; Avocet; Wigeon; Snipe; Mute Swan; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Reed Bunting; Water Rail; Marsh Harrier; Greenfinch; Pied Wagtail; Buzzard; Kestrel; Waxwing.

Red Kite near Oundle.

Whoop! Whoop! Whoopers at Daventry Country Park

It seems like an eternity since I was able to get out birding, so a message from TM about two Whooper Swans at Daventry Country Park got my arse into gear, and I managed to get these birds as a tick for 2012. They weren't too close, the Mute Swans were intent on driving them away and the sun was in my face, but I perservered and managed some "reasonable" images.

Notice!

Normal Service will be resumed as soon as I learn how to say NO to additional working shifts!

Richards Pipit - Borough Hill, Daventry

A very elusive Richards Pipit was discovered at Borough Hill, Daventry today and a right runaround it gave us. Some early birders were rewarded with good views, but all I got for my efforts was  it calling as it took flight and disappeared into the distance!

While searching, a distant Stonechat was discovered and opportunity was taken to take images of Long Tailed Tit and Goldfinch.


Goldfinch

Long Tailed Tit

Stonechat