Glossy Ibis, Hoopoe and a New Camera

I picked up my new Nikon P900 on Thursday and was desperate to try it out, so with a dry morning forecast I was heading for Felbrigg.

Reading the last of yesterday messages on the pager I diverted and headed for Crostwick instead in hope of the Hoopoe.

No joy after hour and half of searching and I only got to take one picture of this House Sparrow

I then went to Felbrigg, walked straight to the lake and to the Glossy Ibis.

The bird showed really well and after half hour of watching it I went to test the camera properly

I took a few picture to get a real feel for it, below is a demonstration of its zoom capabilities its amazing

Partially Zoomed In

Full range optical

And although all concept of quality has gone once in digital zoom it could come in handy for those mega rare record shots.

Rook

I then headed home but couldn't resist the temptation of the Hoopoe so I went back for a look.

An considering it was pouring with rain I was impressed with these pictures also, even if the Hoopoe wasn't

Bluethroat and Wryneck at Winterton

Not a lot extra to say what the title doesn't already, went to Winterton and got superb views of the Bluethroat and really smashing bird.

The Wryneck wasn't as showy....

 

People waiting for the Wryneck

Pigney's Wood, Dragons and Hoppers

I went to Pigney's yesterday, a Wood Sandpiper was the only bird highlight, so luckily I saw some other bits.

The targets of today were Grasshoppers and Dragonflies. 

Loads of Dragonflies on the wing including Brown Hawker, Common Darter and Emperor. Also these.

Migrant Hawker

Southern Hawker

As for the Grasshoppers/Crickets I got to see plenty and photograph few but here's what I got.

Common Green Grasshopper

Field Grasshopper

Another Field Grasshopper in brown

Long-winged Conehead

Was hoping for more birds plenty of Chiffchaffs but nothing else yet.

If I have ID these wrong I am sure you will all be able to read James's comments below he's bound to correct me.

Nectarine Warbler

This was the name heard by an elderly lady who was half deaf, it was heard as Cream Warbler and then corrected to Nectarine she went away happy though.

I was lucky enough to get great views of the Burnham Overy Icterine Warbler this afternoon getting these shots.

I only went as its a bird I have seen a few times but have never managed a picture so was pleased with my results.

Got this video also



On the walk up and back I was lucky enough to have a Spoonbill only a few feet over my head, also saw Greenshank, Summer plumage Grey Plover and Whimbrel

also saw these interesting? insects, not something I have noticed before.

Lots of butterflies also with Wall, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Common Blue and the whites, here is a video I got a couple of weeks ago.

Down on the patch again, New moth, Plus Hummingbird Hawkmoth

First thing this morning I looked out of the window and to my delight I could see a Hummingbird Hawkmoth on the Valerian outside, it hung about long enough to get this....

This is the 4th sighting in the last few weeks I guess it must be different moths each time but it is the first time in the 8 years we have lived here that I have seen them.

For the afternoon I headed out to do some dragonfly watching, this failed, as although it was warm obviously the lack of sunshine had put them off from flying.

So I stuck to birds and any other wildlife I could find on the patch.

Birds....

A pair of Little Grebe have built a nest very close to a hide and currently have 6 maybe 7 eggs.

When she (?) leaves the nest she covers the eggs in the damp weed and when she returns she removes the weed to sit on the eggs again I captured this on this video.

Other birds of note were two Green Sandpiper, Little Egret and Cuckoo.

But here are a few shots of the other birds spotted.

Also saw this very dark Buzzard, not a bird I have seen in the area before.

I also had a go at getting my first decent shots of Goldcrest nothing amazing but check out the crest on the last picture.

The light was all wrong but what light there was really highlighted that crest.

Butterflies

Like the Dragonflies, butterflies where thin on the ground Speckled Wood was the only other Butterfly seen apart from those below.

Meadow Brown

Two Red Admiral

Moths

Saw a few more moths that Butterflies. Seeing another Hummingbird Hawkmoth, a Cinnabar, 8 Yellow-barred Long-horn and 9 Common Marble...

20+ Common Nettle Tap

1 Silver-ground Carpet

And a brand new moth which I saw two of a White-barred Gold - Micropterix aruncella

Damselfly/Dragonfly

The only dragonfly seen a Four-spotted Chaser

Did see Large Red Damselfly, Azure Blue and these which I think are male and female Blue-tailed Damselfly

Other Insects and animals

This Orange Ladybird was cool

Have no idea where to even start looking for this....

Frogpole (it still had its tail)

and just because it looked nice...