White-winged Black Tern and Norfolk Waders

It’s been a while since I have had a full day out and yesterday was a good day.

James and I left Norwich at around 8am and after a few minor detours we finally arrived at Grafham Water.

We walked from the Mander car park the great distance of around 150 yards to be told its sitting on the floats by the four people already there.

I can see Common Terns adults and juveniles then I spot another Tern this is the only Black Tern type bird on the floats initially I thought great there it is but the more I looked at it the more Black Tern it looked rather than White-winged Black Tern. I checked the angle of the Cameras and Scopes and this was indeed the bird they were saying was the White-winged Black Tern. It then took off clearly showing that it was a Black Tern and not the White-winged the photographers further ahead get a load of flight shots and walk away all smug.

James and I then scan the water and eventually we find the marsh tern flock over the far side and I then pick out the White-winged Black Tern amongst the 6 Black Terns. The flock slowly made its way over to us and the White-winged Black Tern did land on the floats just in front of us.

At this point I would love to show you my pictures but James half inched my camera, 'claiming' it got caught around his tripod and he know nothing about it so you'll have to make do with this video instead.



After Grafham the itch of being out of Norfolk was getting too much to we headed for Titchwell and again after a few minor detours and some traffic evasion strategies we finally arrived.

The queue for the last sausage roll was long so we went straight out and into the Island Hide. As we find the Dunlin flock to scan through they all take off and fly over the bank and out of site. Slowly I could see some birds filtering in at the back of the Freshmarsh so I concentrated in scanning that area.

Three winter and one summer plumage Spotted Redshank were visible and a then I spot the Three Curlew Sandpiper that had been about all day, this was much to the amazement of one individual who just couldn't believe at that distance they could be identified as Curlew Sandpiper but at the same time agreed that they were.

We then left Island Hide and headed for the Parrinder Hide in hope to see a Little Stint that had been reported. We stood in the outside bit on the upper level scanning the marsh their were two highlights from here, one was finding a near summer plumage Water Pipit in with the Meadows on the bank.

The second was listening to the conversation below us this in itself had two highlights being that one chap had to keep referring to the Buff-Breasted Sandpiper as B.B.S (which apparently was seen with the Golden Plover flock earlier in the morning but then wasn't seen as the bird with the Golden Plover flock was actually a Dotterel and not the Buff-Breasted Sandpiper, so in short the B.B.S wasn’t with the G.P because the G.P had a D but the G.P, D or B.B.S weren't to be seen anywhere).

The other was them same individual from earlier who had found the Curlew Sandpipers in the same but now closer spot that I had them earlier and was pointing them out to someone else and saying 'you know someone found them from right over there (pointing to Island Hide) and identified them' the reply, ' No way can you identify them from there' James and I laugh as they obviously were Curlew Sandpipers as he is standing there looking at them. He then said 'No way he must be some kind of hero' which of course made me feel great.

James and I then head back get a pasty and go to the Dun Cow and again after some traffic evasion strategies we finally arrive. Straight off we add a new bird to the pub list as we are sitting down I spot a Yellow Wagtail flying away from us.

Nothing much else happened apart from a flock of 4 Hobby's directly over our heads.

We then popped to Cley and headed out to the middle hides here was a hive of activity with Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Ruff, Snipe, Lapwing, Ringed Plover and Spoonbill all on show.

Again would love to show some pictures but the video will have to do.

Something to talk about

Updates have been a bit thin on the ground, with rare breeders (can't say nothing about that), Hot Weather (can't be bothered to go anywhere), DIY (somehow have loads of it) and my new daughter (she isn't old enough to do the DIY yet) I just haven't really been anywhere.

But yesterday afternoon I went for a walk a 'bins' only walk at Horsey Gap down to the North end of Winterton Dunes.

The drive down to Horsey had me parked awkwardly on a sharp bend near Ingham as a Honey Buzzard flew low over the road and fields and headed north.

At Horsey I wondered down the track and came to a party of Hirundines at least 150 strong all sitting on the ground and the fence getting a drink of water from a track puddle.

I kept walking and just on the south side of the Nelson Head Track a Wheatear was on the fence and fluttered about the field.

I popped up onto the dunes and saw the Seals resting on the shore with many Common and Sandwich Terns over the sea, a Arctic Skua was also around with the Terns making sure that everyone was aware of his presence.

I carried on down the track at in the small wood at the extreme north of Winterton Dunes a Pied Flycatcher was present and two Redstarts were in nearby bushes.

The sun then went in and a few spots of rain started to fall so I headed back. The Wheatear was still in the field near to the Nelson Head Track, and some photographers were just to the North of the track. They stopped me and asked what this bird is and it was a male Stonechat. The Stonechat then flew further up the path and I continued walking. Around the corner the Stonechat sat up on a bush one side of the track and the other side a juv Stonechat and another bird sat on the fence.

The male Stonechat kept chasing this bird from perch to perch eventually the other bird landed near me and it was a juv Whinchat.

A Lifer of Sorts

Out yesterday morning nice and early and was lucky enough to see a first, not anything mega rare but a big fluffy Tawny Owl chick.

I cant believe that after the 20 or so years of wildlife watching that I haven't ever seen newly fledged Tawny Owl chicks.

I was actually lucky enough to see four, as they all got harassed by the Blackbirds and Jays.

Also.......

Remember this...



This is one year to the day (4th July), on our National River Warbler day.

Local Stuff

Out this morning looking for something that wasn't there but never mind. Other birds seen was a great fly over Hobby and loads of Whitethroat.

But also seen were at least 5 Hummingbird Hawk-Moths.

Nightjar = Good Times

Super views of Nightjar tonight, I guess they were out early tonight due to the rain yesterday.

This video is well worth a watch.

Garden and Patch

Doing some garden chores today when a mixed flock of juv Long-tailed Tits and Blue Tits came through. It was a shame that the Long-tailed's moved on but the Blue Tit did hang around long enough to get this video.



Down on the patch, it was great to see huge numbers of Swifts soaring low over the tree tops one flock over 100 strong.

It was also nice to see a mixed flock of juv Linnets, Goldfinch and Greenfinch this also 100 strong.

A pair of Grey Wagtails also have a nest and seem to be feeding young.





Then back to the garden where this Goldfinch was feeding on the lawn.

A Wonderful Evening

A Wonderful evening was had not far from home, I only spent an hour there but it was brilliant.

The wind had eased when I arrived and I could hear a Chiffchaff singing nearby and got this video.

Then Blackcap's started to sing and a Song Thrush joined in the with the song. A Lesser Whitethroat gave its Yellowhammer style reel.

A Common Whitethroat also started to sing in nearby bushes and a Garden Warbler gave a full song.

I watched the Swifts high in the darkening sky (darkening due to rain) soaring and screeching around.

Then a family of Jays started to squabble and then an familiar yet unfamiliar sound came from near the Jays I put my bins up and there it was a Golden Oriole a brilliantly bright yellow male.

That put the whole evening together, one of those 'perfect moments'.