Skip to main content

teacher's week

Not in the Scillies, that will have to wait. For what I'm not sure.
One or Two bits to report, so I'll lump it under one entry to save hassle.
Happisburgh on Thursday was very quiet. Very little of note aside from a tame Egyptian Goose cavorting with the Mallards by the road through the village. The clifftop walk and Doggetts Lane revealed a sickly Chaffinch, a single Gannet out at sea and some kids burning an old caravan down by the rocks.
Pushed onto Waxham, deciding to bash through a but of cover behind the Church. The noise of Blackbirds going nuts got the pulse racing, so I slid down the seawall into the cover to see the back end of an Owl retreating, which I originally thought to be Tawny. The Blackbirds helped me relocate the bird and I was 'treated' to similar views- damn! However, I did notice a very pale underwing and after a chat with T.A who was in the area, it was agreed that it was most likely a Long eared Owl. One of my favourite species, and I have come across a few in recent years but never good views!
Finished at Horsey with a red sun-set and Geese; wonderful stuff. A silohuetted Falcon catching insects in the near dark was probably a young kestrel, but I have since considered Red-Footed, although this would be a very late record. The behaviour and time of day just seemed odd for a Kestrel.
Met a friend at Holkham yesterday and we walked through the pinewoods. Tit flocks were vocal and Jays were very forthcoming. At the end of the trail, with a view towards Burnham, I picked up a Peregrine Falcon on the ground, having a drink from a puddle! Great views, and presumably the same bird was seen in flight over the bay later on that morning. Marsh Harrier and Kestrel also seen well.
I tried for the Shotesham Siberian Chiffy on the way home, after an hours wait I had seen a blue tit, lots of thrushes and a lady getting her washing in. I decided it was best to admit defeat for now. Nice area and some accommodating locals, many thanks to the finder and the residents. I will try again before I go back to work, if time allows.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Grey Phalarope- a new patch bird

The 7th of April was another bitterly cold Spring day, hats and gloves in prime position on pegs and in bags ready to be deployed. A few brave Garganey have been reported north of the river, but it was a bird from the north itself that had me rushing for the thermals and the telescope late in the day.  I was thankful for the local Whatsapp group who were quick to report that a Grey Phalarope had been seen on Rockland Broad. This tiny Wader would have come in on the northerlies over the last few days, although to grace one of the broads is a real surprise, since most stick pretty close to the coast before moving on. Indeed, my experience of the birds has usually been on a sea watch in the Autumn, waves crashing and foam flying, my eyes straining to pick them out as they fly low just above the surf. They are fantastic birds, and now one was here on the patch. I had a brief panic when I realised my scope was in my car at the garage (thankfully I do have a much older spare) but once the ho

Claxton-on-sea!

 Although it was not quite the Christmas we wanted here in the valley, the rain has bought its own gift. A grim vision of the future, perhaps. But right now, the patch is peaking and is alive with birds, and for that I am thankful. On Christmas eve, it was a job to navigate away from the village due to standing water that had left abandoned cars and undelivered presents in its wake. The rain had been persistent and unforgiving, the ground, saturated. Over on the marsh, where there had once been a muddy puddle amongst the pasture, a city had sprung from the leak, with a plethora of new occupants noisily laying claim to a patch of sodden marsh. Wigeon and Black-headed Gulls in their thousands now wheeled and whistled over and amongst the newly formed pools, accompanied by smaller numbers of Teal and Shoveler. A flock of two hundred-strong Lapwing enjoyed feeding on the less damp spots where green grass was still exposed, and thrown in for good measure have been a couple of Ruff, the firs

A change is as good as a rest

Casting my mind back to February 14th, survival rather than love was in the air for the birds of the Yare Valley. Tramping across the Surlingham corner of the patch, I recorded 8 Woodcock within 2 hours. These Cryptic Waders had been forced out of hiding, and even amongst the woodland floor they were easier than usual to spot against a backdrop of snow. The small pine wood opposite the church and adjacent to the parking area held at least 2 birds, creeping around and huddled up low to the ground. A further investigation of likely habitat around Church Marsh and I was presented with 6 more, a record count for me in a single day. I hope they made it through the trial sent from the north in the form of ice and snow. A Great Egret exploring a dyke at Postwick must've been thinking twice about the whole range expansion thing. However, a small Squadron of Bewick's Swan and a single Goosander over Claxton fitted the mise en scene nicely during this period.  That image and that day fee