Norfolk Break

 My brother David, his friend John King and I have just spent a couple of days in North Norfolk doing a spot of birding. At times dire but at others delightful it was a mixed bag so typical of birding and overall a decent way of whiling away a few days off. The weather was similarly mixed, rubbish on the 28th but cracking on the 29th and 30th, I don't want to sound picky but an easterly wind would have been nicer! That mild critique aside it was good to avoid any of the wet stuff and the mix of (sometimes) excellent birds, some decent grub and good company made for a fine break.

Rubbish Pec Sand shot and better Little Gull effort.

On the 28th we spent a few hours at the normally reliable Titchwell where under mainly grey skies we struggled to find much of note. On the reserve itself the marshes seemed very quiet, there were few waders and only a limited selection of wildfowl. A few skeins of Pink-footed Geese passed over and their calls provided a suitably seasonal soundtrack to our walk.  Eventually we reached the beach where a look at the sea produced sightings of several Red-throated Divers and Common Scoters while there was a selection of waders feeding on the exposed rocks. After a look at Patsy's Pool we decided to call it quits and head towards Hunstanton for a look at the cliffs and nearby beach. Our fortunes did not improve however and we opted to head to our accommodation hoping the the new day might bring about an improvement.

Gannet and Guillemot

If the previous day had been more like Snorfolk than Norfolk then the 29th was more Ohfolk as we awoke to blue skies and the promise of some good birds. News of a Wilson's Phalarope at the North Pools near Wells pretty much decided our start to the day and after breakfast we set off to join quite a crowd of birders at the pools. The phalarope was showing well if distantly and we watched it for some time as it picked its way along the shore. Once we were satisfied with our views of the phalarope we decided to look for the Pectoral Sandpipers at the same site. We saw one of the two that had been reported and although close it was against the light so my record shots were poor but the bird itself was pretty fine. More than happy with the results we set off for Cley where a third American wader was on the cards but only if we could only find the long staying Long-billed Dowitcher.

Long-billed Dowitcher

On arrival at Cley we purchased our permits and then set off for a wander around the reserve. Pat's Pool produced some goodies of which a Little Gull was among the highlights, one gave very good views as it fed in front of the hide. Three Little Stints and a similar number of Curlew Sandpipers added some more quality to our wader list, a Green Sandpiper was also noted. Leaving the reserve behind for a bit we headed towards the east bank and a tilt at the dowitcher. Initial efforts met with failure though we did find a distant Spoonbill as well as a Greenshank on Arnold's Marsh before we reached the beach. A sea watch from here gave us great views of juvenile Gannets feeding off shore and good numbers of Guillemots as well as a few Sandwich Terns passing by. The return stroll along the bank came up trumps as the dowitcher delivered the goods making it a hat trick of yankee waders for today and my fifth within a week! Good views were achieved before we moved on towards the centre. While the chaps popped in for a spot of lunch I sat in the picnic area where a Wall Brown payed a brief visit before flitting off out of view.

Wood Sandpiper and White-fronted Goose

On our way back to Hunstanton we decided to pop into Titchwell and the old place redeemed itself after yesterday's dismal efforts. A better selection of waders were present today and these included Golden and Grey Plovers as well as a Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank in amongst their ranks. At least five Spoonbills were on the fresh marsh where the highlight was a White-fronted Goose that David found and a first winter Mediterranean Gull that I picked out amongst the many Black-heads. More than pleased with our day's endeavours we went back to our digs in considerably better spirits than we were yesterday!

Curlew and Stonechat

This morning we took a walk along the coastal path towards Heacham where we failed to find the hoped for Grey Partridges. After a relatively short drive we pitched up at Dersingham Bog where my hunt for Black Darters produced similar results to the partridge mission. Birding was not much better though a family party of Stonechats added a quality finish to the proceedings. All in all  it was a fairly productive trip though without those American waders it might have been a different story - God bless America!

Small Copper and another shot of the Little Gull.

Fantastic Frampton

 Alan Shorrock and I made a return visit to Frampton Marsh today and enjoyed an excellent session. Weatherwise it was a grey and cloudy affair for the most part with a strong wind gusting across the site though this did not seem to bother the birds much at all.

White-rumped Sandpiper.

Frampton is known for its  waders, Spring and Autumn visits often produce a good range of species and today was no exception. Our main targets were a White-rumped Sandpiper and a Lesser Yellowlegs which had been reported from here over the last couple of days. The White-rumped showed first, I found it feeding with some Dunlin not far from the centre. We had good views through the scopes and the bird got a little closer as it worked its way towards us. Decent back up came in the form of several Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers as well as a few Ruff. Whilst watching the calidrids Alan noticed a tringa type wader arrive and this on closer scrutiny turned out to be the Lesser Yellowlegs. Once again we had decent views of the bird before it flew off again. Both yanks in the bag within half an hour of our arriving, if only all birding trips could be the same!

Lesser Yellowlegs

Continuing on around the reserve we were treated to some interesting if unspectacular birding. Other waders showing today included both Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets and we also caught up with a further half a dozen Curlew Sandpipers. From the packed East Hide we managed additional though pretty distant views of the Yellowlegs. A message from the salt marsh soon had the hide emptying though, reports of the Black Stork putting in an appearance did the trick. We joined the mass exodus and made our way towards the sea wall.

Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper.

On the sea wall a chap gave us some up to date gen on the stork and armed with this new info I managed to find it though it seemed to be miles away. Through the scope I could just about tell what it was but even I decided it was too far away for a dodgy record shot and that should tell you all you need to know about the quality of the view! Eventually the stork was flushed by a Marsh Harrier and we had some fairly good flight views. Shozzer hung around for a bit longer hoping for a repeat showing but I was not enjoying the wind and opted to head back towards the centre. A small flock of eleven Pink-footed Geese were on the grazing marsh and we also got more views of the White-rumped before we set off for home. A welcome stop at the excellent Vine pub in Market Deeping gave us the chance to toast our success - cheers!

Autumnal Equinox

 A beautiful Autumn day to mark the equinox with plenty of sunshine on offer which helped to offset the effects of a stiff breeze. Not for the first time in recent weeks I walked around Willowbrook Industrial before taking in the gullets at Priors Hall and several sites in Weldon.

Teal, Common and Ruddy Darters

My nature spotting began at the A43 pond in Weldon where a Teal was something of a site rarity, three Canada Geese were the first here for a few months too. Willowbrook was a little on the quiet side, no birds to report other than some passage Meadow Pipits while Red Admirals and Small Whites were the only butterflies on view. There were plenty of Common Darters on site as well as at least one Ruddy and I also saw a few Migrant Hawkers. The North Gullet at Priors Hall was dull though its southern counterpart was a tad more interesting. Several Willow Emerald damselflies were present around the ponds while a Small Copper butterfly was a welcome find near the Quarry Lake.

Small Copper, Comma and Southern hawker.

At Weldon I checked some Ivy bushes near the cricket club and found lots of Red Admirals. Sharing the flowers were plenty of Ivy Bees, hoverflies and wasps and this activity also attracted the attention of several Migrant Hawkers. A Comma was noted at the pocket park while several Banded Demoiselles were still active along the stream near the Woodland Park. Nearby the pond hosted good numbers of Willow Emeralds and I also found a Southern Hawker. A prior appointment meant that I had to head off half way through the afternoon so after a couple of pints in the George I caught my bus home.

Banded Demoiselle and Willow Emeralds

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Autumn

 A sunny start that gradually gave way to clouds and eventually rain with a strong breeze to add to the mix. I took a local stroll which began at Weldon, took in Willowbrook Industrial Estate and Priors Hall before ending back at Weldon. Not that much to report but a pleasant walk nonetheless as thoughts of Summer recede to be replaced by those of Autumn.

Red Admiral and Migrant Hawker

Willowbrook was fairly quiet with a Stonechat being the only bird of note. There were a few insects sheltering from the stiff breeze and these included Common Darters and a Migrant Hawker. Butterflies were few and far between though I did see a Small Heath as well as the more usual Red Admirals, Small Whites and a Speckled Wood.

Speckled Wood and mature female Common Darter

The North Gullet at Priors Hall was quiet other than a Common Blue which I think may have been an aberration as it didn't appear to have any orange spots on its underwings. Next door the South Gullet hosted a squealing Water Rail but that was it as far as birds went. Willow Emerald and Banded Demoiselle were the pick of the odes but by now the clouds looked a little more threatening and I headed back to Weldon for my bus home.

Common Blue and Banded Demoiselle

Pec Delivers - Eventually!

 I must admit to feeling a little disappointed that Al and I missed out on the Pectoral Sandpiper at Summer Leys and so was pretty glad that it decided to hang around for a while. My last county sighting was of a bird at Pitsford in September 1987 so another one was perhaps a little overdue! The weather was warm though not as warm as last week and there was quite a stiff breeze, the days of birding in shirt sleeves may well be coming to an end.

Egrets and Red Admiral

Shozzer parked the car along Mary's Lane from where we wandered along to the Paul Britten Hide. On our way several Red Admirals and a Comma were noted while at least six Great White Egrets included the Somerset ringed individual. Common Snipe and Common Sandpiper were noted close to the hide while four Ringed Plovers were seen from the hide itself. With no sign of the Pec we moved on to the screen hide where plenty of egrets but no waders were noted. At the Toad Pond a toad and the terrapin were seen and a pair of Willow Emeralds were observed. Other odes on the wing today included Brown and several Migrant Hawkers as well as the two common species of darter.

Tiger Moth and Migrant Hawker

A walk along the old mineral line failed to produce much other than great views of a De Haviland Tiger Moth and so we made our way back towards the car. On the way we popped into Mary's Lake where a Willow Emerald was the highlight. Butterflies in the area included Small and Green-veined White and a little further on we saw the only Speckled Wood of the day. Up until now we had received no reliable updates regarding the Pec though a couple in the main car park seemed to have more positive news relating to the bird. Armed with this fresh intel I headed off to Rotary Hide from where the Pec Sand had last been reported. Alan picked out the Pectoral Sandpiper on the opposite bank and we were treated to good though distant views through the scope. Eventually we packed our stuff into the car and headed off to the Saxon Tavern in Earls Barton.

Pec Sand and Willow Emerald.

The Rain Returns

 Well it looks as if Alan and I's visit to Summer Leys was a day too early as today it hosted a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper - !!$@!. On the subject of yesterday I learnt from reading the Northamptonshire Birding blog that the colour ringed Great White Egret that we saw was rung as a nestling at Ham Wall in Somerset this year, it's good to know where at least some of our birds come from.

Treecreeper and a welcome non eclipse drake Mallard!

On to today and I took a trip over to Oundle on the X4 with a view to visiting Barnwell CP. A warm and sunny morning made me hope that I might see some odes and I did, just not quite as many as I'd hoped for. Late season specialities such as Common Darter, Migrant Hawker and Willow Emerald dominated but I also saw a Blue-tailed and a latish Red-eyed Damselfly. Mill Lake hosted a few Small Red-eyeds too but numbers of everything seemed low. Butterflies were few and far between, two Commas, the same number of Red Admirals and some Speckled Woods were the only species other than the still numerous whites. Best birds were a couple of Mandarins and I heard a Kingfisher too as it sped along the river.

Red-eyed Damselfly and Banded Demoiselle.

By eleven the numbers of people were beginning to build and I took the option of having a walk along the Nene. Just as well that it was a lovely walk as I didn't see much wildlife on my travels! A male Banded Demoiselle was the only highlight and I made my way into town. I was grateful for the bus shelter as the heavens opened and the thunder and lightning rolled in just after I got there - better timing on this occasion than yesterday!

Common Wainscot Moth

Blimey, That Was Hot!

 Regular wildlife watching pal Alan Shorrock and I popped over to Summer Leys this morning, we hoped an earlier start might help us beat the promised heat. Early we may well have been but we were not early enough to catch the Bittern that apparently showed well on the scrape this morning.. Despite this dip related disappointment we carried on and enjoyed a reasonably interesting but also a very hot walk around parts of the reserve.

Hardwater Mill

A brief stop at Hardwater Lake provided views of a few odes including Banded Demoiselle but not that much else. At the Leys a look from Rotary Hide provided distant views of Ruff, Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover but that was it as far as interesting sightings went. A short walk between Rotary and the Marigold Pond was quite decent for odes, we saw half a dozen female Willow Emeralds while dragons included Common and Ruddy Darters as well as some Migrant Hawkers. Butterflies were somewhat thin on the ground today, there were a few Red Admirals, more Speckled Woods and plenty of whites but no other species - the butterfly season really looks as if it is drawing to a close.

Willow Emerald and Migrant Hawker.

The usual collection of wildlife paparazzi were gathered in Pioneer Hide, their lenses poised and ready to capture any sign of the reported Bittern but we chose to move on quickly. Paul Britten Hide was similarly quiet though we did note two Dunlin and a trio of Snipe from just outside it. A look from the screen hide didn't add much to our tally though we did see a colour ringed Great White Egret. By now it was getting pretty dam hot and after a quick look at the Toad Pond where a Brown Hawker and some sort of terrapin were seen we headed to Earls Barton and a spirits reviving visit to the Old Swan.

Speckled Wood and Terrapin.