Saturday 30th November Rye Harbour

Highlights from today's trip were seeing a Spotted Redshank alongside a Common Redshank on the quarry, with a Little Egret close by.

On the Ternery Pool the long staying Long-tailed Duck was distant. But with Hempstead Forest only an hour away decision was made to head there for the reported Parrot and Two-barred Crossbills. Despite spending a couple of hours waiting / looking we only managed a flock of 9 Common Crossbills. Sitting in a tree some distance away was this bird of prey - possible juvenile Peregrin or cross.


Juvenile or cross Peregrin

Sunday 10th November 2013 SWW Ambersham Common

Starting off at Ambersham Common although quiet birdwise we soon found a pair of Stonechats

Stonechat

A little later a couple of Dartford Warblers were seen and despite walking around the common very little of note was seen.

 

We moved onto another common but the name escapes me - I hadn't been there before and once again very little bird life. We did however find this butterfly. 

Fresh Peacock

A pleasant day out in lovely autumn weather, Commons can be a challenge at time but a good time was had by all.

Autumn Colours

Purple Sandpiper

Norfolk 25th to 27th October

The annual trip to Norfolk started at Lynford Arboretum looking for the 2 barred Crossbill, despite a couple of hours waiting we were unlucky but managed to see several woodland species that we don't normally get when in Norfolk - some even got a view of a Firecrest.

 

Common Crossbill

From here we went to Titchwell for the remainder of the day getting to see the usual Ducks and Waders

Golden Plovers in the hundreds

One of a couple of close by Ruff

From the beach on the sea Long-tailed ducks, Eider, Slav Grebes, Red-necked Grebe, eventually a Shore Lark, all new for the year. Also 3 Seals.

Two of three Seals cut off by the tide

Also plenty of Pink-footed Geese

Pink-footed Geese

Only a few winter Thrushes this year, unlike last when there were thousands.

Redwing

At Snettisham thousands of waders out on the mud, but the high tide wasn't big enough to push them onto the pools but still a spectacle.

Alan waiting for high tide

On the final day with a storm forecast for the South, I set off to Salthouse to look Snow Buntings while the others were having breakfast I found one in very poor light and a heavy shower.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Meeting up with the others at Cley Paul soon found a Richards Pipit, although brief flying views it was a new bird for me.

A good weekend as usual with a few pints of Woodford Wherry and an excellent pint of Nelsons Revenge at the the Red Lion in Stiffkey - shame about the photos. But one new bird for me, six more onto my year list. 106 species seen by me over the weekend. Roll on next October!

Sunday 15th September SWW Dungeness

Sunday meeting at the point we headed for the patch, managed to see all the commoner Terns Sandwich, Common, Little, Arctic, and Black. Among the gulls a Little Gull then an Arctic Skua appeared.

 

Arctic Skua

Arctic Skua

The Patch


At the ARC and Burrows Pit we found Little Stint, Ruff, BT. Godwit, Dunlin, Curlew Sand(I think), Black-necked Grebe, Great White Egret, Egyption Geese,

A good day had by all 

Looking for a Pec. Monday 16th September

Monday 16th I took frank for his walk over to Rye Hbrfor the third time to find the Pec.Sand. Again no luck so made do with a couple of Wheatears.

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear
 

I also found a couple of Winchats

Winchats

Despite trying to get closer this was the best I got

Winchat

A week in Norfolk

 

 

A weeks holiday planned months ago after having 3 months of good weather we woke to wind and rain and that's how it stayed for the week but occasional sunny spells were welcomed.

 

Egyption Geese

A trip to Cley on the Monday found 9 Egytion Geese by the roadside, a Common Sandpiper on Pat's Pool

Common Sandpiper

Along the East Bank hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits and a couple of Little Egrets

Little Egret

 

 

Tuesday morning a Sea watch from Sheringham amoungst a dozen or so birders put me onto 2 Long-tailed Skuas, a couple of Bonxies, and a Manx Shearwater. I couldn't however get onto the Sooty or Belearic.

 

Other than that it wasn't till the Friday when we went to Titchwell that we had 5 Winchats, 3 Little Stints, 4 Curlew Sands plus all the usuals but I didn't take the camera.

 

Sunday 1st September SWW Seaford Head Birding

The day started fairly quiet, with a Winchat and Wheatear from near the car park, but it wasn't till we got down to Hope gap where things livened up with a few Lesser Whitethroat and many more Common Whitethroat.

 

Lesser Whitethroat



A juvenile Peregrin put on a couple of good displays

Peregrin

A couple of Wheatears were down by the river mouth


Wheatear



Wheatear

Later on we found 4 Winchats

Winchat

Winchat

However the highlight of the morning were the 2 Curlew Sandpipers on the mud near the Golden Galleon

Curlew Sandpipers

Walking back to the car park several Yellow Wagtails, the Peregrin again, and 2 Common Redstarts

Common Redstart