Sunday 28 October 2012

Along the coast a ways!!

The early morning at Titchwell Started with a promising bright sky and little wind, So it was a quick breakfast and kit checked before the move to the entrance and a very nearly second breakfast!!
resist we did and moved out onto the reserve, Cetti's all along the reedbed by the track, doing their damnedest to give you a heart attack with their sudden outbursts. Bearded Reedlings tantalisingly flitting around in the edge of reed beds, there! no! there! no! etc.etc.
And being unable to resist a challenge we took a while.

Sadly no adult males presented themselves.

But an impressive bird all the same.

Trying to get some shots as and when they came into the open, which was not that often. We continued along to the new hides, and impressive they are to, each of the pools being overlooked one over the freshwater pool and the other overlooking the tidal lagoon. One of the impressive items was the method of opening and closing of windows, up or down in and out and they were clean really good stuff.
Anyhow a few of the shots from the rest of the day , including the beach .

Eurasian Curlew.


Spoonbill

Spotted Redshank

Grey Plover

Golden Plover

Bar-tailed Godwit.

That should be enough for the moment and it is getting late.

see you soon I hope.
Paul

Tuesday 23 October 2012

September in Norfolk! Cley

For quite some time now I have wanted to get to the east coast for a bit of watching during the September/ October period of movement. And finally managed it toward the middle of the month. Whilst all the reported rarities were on the Irish mainland and north and south of the East Anglian coast it was nice to get out and about in the sea air.
With Cley being the first point of operations, the motor home was parked in a small car park tucked away and really close to the East Bank. And the hunt began, the Sacred Ibis was a welcome sight as looking for the Cettis and Beardlings both got but no pictures unfortunately. Moving along the bank it was Little Egrets, Golden Plovers the odd Marsh Harrier or two and Lapwing , Redshanks and Spotted Redshanks galore.
Along the shingle banks it was Sanderling, Turnstone, Gannets and Red-throated Divers oh! and the odd Seal being inquisitive at times. The two days here were not especially noteworthy but a few shots follow.

Sanderling Low over the sand.

Guillemot.

Redshank

Eurasian Curlew

Juvenile Gannets.

Gannet

Gannet

Preparing to dive.


Gannet
 As we were leaving for the relative calm of Titchwell a Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was reported from Stiffkey. it was decided not to a turn around for it.

Next a few images from Titchwell and Snettisham.

cheers
Paul