Sandhill Crane

Yep I did it, I went for that Sandhill Crane.

Adam and I left at 2.30am and had a simple drive up to St Combs to Loch of Strathbeg RSPB.

As soon as we arrived we were straight on to the bird, although distant it was still a good view, and you could clearly see all the features.

The bird was on show the entire time along with Greenshanks, Redshanks and Pink-footed Geese. In amongst the Pink-footed Geese were at least four Barnacle Geese.

About 10mins before the we left the two Pectoral Sandpipers flew in and showed well.

The view from the hide.

After this we went to Blackdog to search for the Black Scoter a short walk and a wait and after scanning through the 3000+ Eider and Scoter I finally picked it out.

Here is a video of the Crane and other bits.

Cranes, Bittern, and Sandpiper

I decided to go to Titchwell as I wanted to see the Cattle Egret that had been about, I was going to go on the Sunday but the breezey forecast made me go on the Saturday afternoon.

I collected Philip and driving down the main road 6 large birds were visiable in the distance we pulled over and soon identified them as Common Crane. We then turned around and raced back as they were heading straight for his house.

No sooner had we stopped in the drive they flew low over his garden giving him an unusual garden tick.

When then collected my dad and headed for Titchwell. We finally arrived after a mass of traffic and were straight onto the Little Bittern. I know we were lucky to see it straight away but the views were not great as the image below shows.

The bird was actually in the back of the bushes on the left here we watched it creep slowly into the reeds for about 30mins before disappearing until late evening.

We then headed up the track to the Parrinder Hide where the Buff-breasted Sandpiper hadn't been seen. I took a quick scan seeing Spotted Redshank and Greenshank then after a minute or two I found the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the back of the marsh.

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper also had a few Wagtails in its proximity including 4/5 Yellow and a White Wagtail.

We scanned the freshmarsh afterwards, seeing 7 Curlew Sandpiper amongst the many Dunlin.

After this we popped to Cley and missed the Dotterel as the had flown past us as we walked down. But we did have on interesting bird here as a Budgerigar flew in off the sea but then failed to stay over the land as the wind got hold of it and took it straight back out, we watched as it struggled to get to land and as it got closer the wind would take in away again, eventually it disappeared on the sea.

Seawatch

A few hours spent sea watching at Sheringham with Adam and James on Tuesday allowed me to see, 20 Arctic Skua, 8 Great Skua, 70+ Gannets, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Razorbill and a Fulmar. Loads of Common/Sandwich Terns flying about also.

Here is my attempt at getting a picture of two of the birds as they fly past these are all digi-scoped.

Great Skua

Gannets

Great Shearwater (I know it isn't but has a good look about it)

Greenish Warbler

Arrived at Cromer at around 5pm it stayed rain free for at least 30mins but then poured for the rest of the night.

After a few wonderings around the Greenish was heard calling this must of been around 5.45 it then stayed quiet and most had given up and gone home.

I manged to find a dry patch to stand in and was joined by another birder he then spotted a bird flitter in front of us, we both saw it a few times briefly before it called to prove it was Greenish. We both hung around till 7pm only hearing the Greenish once more before leaving.

No sign of the Bonelli's the whole time I was there.

Pictures

James kindly returned my camera so here are the pictures from Sunday.

Here is the the Black Tern juv that others thought was the White-winged.

This is the actually White-winged Black Tern.

A Common Tern

And a Common and Green Sandpiper

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.