Great Grey Shrike, Found on the patch.

9th Visit to Trimingham 17th April 2016

The first bird of the day was this. As I was driving I could see this bird and though to myself, huh that looks like a shrike.

Sure enough it was. It showed really well until some walkers spooked it.

I did venture further round the patch seeing Swallows, Sand Martin and a single House Martin. But the wind made it very hard work to see anything else.

This Linnet almost made a nice picture.

Whitlingham and Upton Fen NWT pre-work visits

On Wednesday morning I headed for Whitlingham in the half hope the Common Scoter from the night before might still be there.

They weren't but is was such a glorious morning so enjoyed it anyway.

Nothing overly special bird wise, Kingfisher, Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Green Woodpecker.

But got lots of lovely pictures so will let them speak for themselves.

Yesterday I went to Upton Fen, a very heavy fog was in the air but this didn't stop the birds and wildlife.

I saw many new migrants for the year, Grasshopper, Sedge and Reed Warbler. Also Lesser and Common Whitethroat. Also heard my first Cuckoo for the year.

Here's the pictures.

Proper Good Day - NW and N Norfolk

Another trip out with Lys to show her more of the super birds Norfolk has to offer.

I picked her up at 7am and we headed for Flitcham Abbey.

On route the highlight bird, seen by Lys but not I was a Red Kite nr Necton.

We arrived at Flitcham at around 8.15 and could see Oystercatchers in the fields.

Red-legged Partridges also sat in the morning sunshine.

We looked for the Little Owls from the road but had no joy so headed to the hide.

Lapwing, Teal, Gadwall, Shelduck, Tufted Duck were all present.

I then spotted half a body of a Little Owl in the tree. Before I could get the scope positioned so Lys could see it flew down to the ground and back up into the tree but out of site.

We waited for a few minutes in hope the bird would move and re-appear but it didn't so we walked down the road in hope of finding the bird.

We got to the gate and could straight away see two Little Owls sitting together in the sunshine.

We walked further round seeing Tree Sparrow and Linnet.

We then headed back towards the car park and had a look through the last gate.

To my surprise a large flock of Finches were on the fields edge with Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and at least 25+ Brambling with many of the males in full summer plumage.

Before leaving this Red-legged Partridge show on the barn roof.

And these Tree Sparrow were showing nicely also

In the car park we saw this Song Thrush sing happily

and this Blackcap aswell as a Treecreeper high in the trees.

Next we headed to Titchwell but stopped first at Choseley. A flock of 30 Curlew were in the fields.

Many Hares were bounding around also. We also saw my first Wheatear of the year and a Golden Plover.

We got to Titchwell at around 11am walked up the main track and headed down the Meadow Trail.

A Booming Bittern was heard as well as a Cetti's Warbler before we got to the pool and watched this Redstart in the bushes.

This Chiffchaff was also poking around as well as a pair of Blackcap.

We continued round to Patsy's Pool and saw these Red-crested Pochard,

Pochard,

Gadwall,

Mute Swan,

Tufted Duck and a Swallow

On the walk back through the meadow trail a Nuthatch was calling but could not be seen.

Next stop was the grazing marsh where  a pair of Little Ringed Plover were walking around.

Avocet were also on the marsh as well as a few White Wagtail.

Walking through the reserve it all seemed fairly quiet, with waders of Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Knot and Dunlin seen.

The Teal were showing well close to the path.

As well as this Redshank.

We got to the sea and all seemed quiet there to. But around 30 Common Scoter were close inshore as well as 10 or so Great Crested Grebe, and before we left a pair of Red-breasted Merganser were great to see.

On the walk back we heard and got brief and frankly rubbish views of a Bearded Tit, and then one last look at the grazing marsh allowed us to see the Water Pipit.

A quick look around the car park before leaving and this Blue Tit sat nicely and Two Bullfinch flew over.

We stopped for some lunch and got to watch Red Kite flying around, and a pair of Green Woodpecker

And after that a walk around some heathland allowed us to see Stonechat.

and some Woodlark.

Last stop was Sparham Pools on the way home where nothing of note was on show but was lovely to be there.

All in all a great day, with 97 species seen/heard.