Norfolk Holiday Day 1

And so, my first trip outside of Yorkshire this year commences. And where better for the year-list than the home of bird-watching itself, Norfolk. So it began. The weather was absolutely smashing, almost clear blue sky for the whole way day, not necessarily great for the drive but it did mean I could see some great stuff on the way down. We set off with me on 109 species for the year, but I would have loved to make it to 110 species before we made it to sea.

I managed better than that. On the way down we saw plenty of game birds in southern Lincolnshire, Pheasants and Red-Legged Partridges, but on only one occasion I identified a pair of Grey Partridges feeding by the side of the road. The view was brief, but it was enough to tell that were definitely Greys, and that was my 110^th bird. It was also only the second time I have properly seen this species, the other times usually been flushed, or in hindsight overruled my identification. I was well pleased with them, and even let out a little cheer from the back of the car.

 And then, a little further on in Norfolk itself, though still not at the sea, my dad said that there was a Buzzard ahead. But as soon as I set eyes on it I could tell that its wings were too long for buzzard, the bird banked and revealed a forked tail, Red Kite, my 7^th raptor from the Easter break. I was very excited having been checking for them all the way down. Earlier I had even wondered if I had found one circling among some gulls, but it was also a gull. It prompted the question of if they even had red kites in this part of the country. Answer: they do indeed.

So we arrived at the sea on a stunning 111 species for the year, with 2 very impressive ticks simply from driving down. We were staying in West Runton, as before though never at this time of year. From our brief tour of the site looking for a pitch we picked up Linnet, Woodpigeon and rabbits, of which there were plenty.

By the time we were set up it was already half 3, but my dad decided that they would go for a walk at Saltholme, so I decided to go since the bus service, I had discovered, was not quite what it was. At Saltholme no sooner did we arrive than did the year-ticks start to flood in. Even as we pulled in to the remains of the car park I watched a Little Egret rise from the neighboring marsh and fly over the road. It was not a great view, but it was clear as day for what it was, 112.

We pulled up on the roadside, and I immediately got out to have a look. I set my eyes on a pool next to us and spotted a number of small waders foraging along its shoreline. I was able to get great views through the scope, and then as they got closer, even without the scope. They were Turnstones, a surprise to say the least, and a very pleasant one. They were very bold, wandering right up to me and allowing me to get some decent photos. I was well happy by this point.

-Turnstones

I had lost my family by this point; they had gone on ahead, due to my wanderings. I managed Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher and many other goodies through my exploration of the pools. I had almost caught up when a stunning male Wheatear landed right in front of me. I was so close, such a good view.

I then caught up with my parents, and the first question I was asked ‘have you seen the avocets’. No, I had not, but I began the exploration of the pools where my dad said they were and soon found them. There was a pair of them, but the view was poor as they were some way away. Either way, it was another year-tick, and all within about a half and hours walk. Also on the pool was a pair of Shelduck, Wigeon and a small group of Teal

We had not even traveled that far from the car, but we decided to head back. However, we decided to head back via the sea, and on the way I was able to watch my 4^th year-tick of the day; Sandwich Terns, which kept drifting past in 2’s and 3’s. They were excellent to watch, as they often drifted quite close to the coast. Besides them there was also decent numbers of gulls, adults and juveniles resting on the water’s surface.  

-Sandwich Terns

After quite a while watching the sea and the various birds drift past we decided to head to Cley visitor center for a coffee. Since it was quite late I had assumed it would not be open, and that was indeed the case. However, it did give me a chance to look at the sightings board, though there was nothing much outstanding on it. On the way between the visitor center we drove past some areas where birds were grazing, including black swan (not tick-able) and Egyptian goose, another year-tick. Since we were driving I was unable to get a great view. Add that to the fact that the birds were asleep and I may as well have not seen them for what it’s worth.

We decided to go and see if there was some form of café van up on Blakeney point car park, but were swiftly disappointed. However, on the way up we past a nice group of Brent Geese feeding on the marshes. I was pretty pleased to find these, though my view was sadly too short as my family wanted to get off. I was able to take some photos though and enjoy watching them for 2 or 3 mins. Hopefully they will stick around later in the week, because they really are smashing birds.

-Brent Geese

So that was our brief visit to Blakeney over and done with, though even that had produced something special. Moving on we decided to head back to the caravan site for a cuppa, since nowhere else seemed keen to provide.

After that my flying start to the holiday started to slow down, with no new year-ticks for the day. In the evening we went into Cromer for a walk along the front. Birdwise it provided very little, only a handful of gulls out to sea from the pier. But it has been quite a start and hopefully we will be able to keep up this good form…

Daily Sightings:

Journey: Grey Partridge, Red-Legged Partridge, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Magpie, Jackdaw, Mallard, Grey Heron, Feral Pigeon,

Saltholme: Little Egret, Redshank, Turnstone, Rook, Jackdaw, Black-Headed Gull, Skylark, Mallard, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Swallow, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing, Shelduck, Woodpigeon, Wheatear, Avocet, Wigeon, Teal, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Coot, Graylag Goose, Egyptian Goose, Starling, Lesser Black-Backed Gull,

Blakeney: Starlings, Shelduck, Graylag Goose, Redshank, Canada Goose, Lapwing, Brent Geese, Common Buzzard

Garden Frogspawn

Not quite as exciting as over the past few days, as I took the day off to work on my essay, but we now have frogspawn in our Garden pond. Its not much, not as much as up on the moors yesterday, but it looks really nice and healthy, which is more than can be said for yesterdays. Hopefully we will have another good year with frogs, though I have still yet to see one in Yorkshire, or even a trace in our pond. Sure sign that spring is here though...

-Frogspawn

Exploring the moors via Ogden Golf Course

So today I decided to wander up to the moors, a lovely walk over some beautiful uplands, with hope of seeing some moorland birds. I set off walking, did not stop at soil hell, and then wandered down to Ogden, where I decided to wander up by the golf course as I have a good record that way with stonechat.

The Reser was very quiet, with a few woodland birds in the trees near the edge of the moors all that was offered, though I did not hang around to thoroughly check it out. The golf course was also pretty quiet, though I got to watch a pair of Grouse stealthily cross the bridleway, which was nice, as well as spotting a Weasel hunting through the long grass. There were also ample Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, as well as a Stunning Male Reed Bunting. Overall it was very good, and were it not for the wing the weather would have been outstanding.

I had a quick look at Cold Edge dams before moving onto the moors, but there was nothing that I could see, only a couple of Lapwings and a Curlew in a neighboring field. Either way it set it up nicely for my final destination, with many moorland birds still potentially on offer. 

I arrived and set off down the southern bank. When I arrived, however, I was shocked to read a sign saying that the grounds around the reser were private and that there was no public access. This made things more difficult, so I stuck at the gate a while, wondering if the boaters on the reser at the time would care if I jumped their gate. While I was wondering these things I noticed a large falcon flying across the sky towards me. My instincts told me that it was so large it must be a Peregrine, but I was unwilling to stick my neck out and say that it was for definite. However, back at home after looking at the photos it is pretty clear that it is indeed a Peregrine, and a rather stunning individual too, judging by what I can see of the eye mask. I have a few shots, as it was quite happy to circle above me and the reser.

-Peregrine

I decided to go back up and see if the path was closed off at the other side of the reser, and if not I would just walk that way round. On the way walking along the road I was scouting the wall tops to see what was about, and as it happens I finally got a Red-Legged Partridge for the year, resting atop a wall. It ducked off the wall though pretty quick, almost as soon as I had seen it, so I was unable to get any photos, which I was a bit disappointed about. Further wall viewing found me a Wheatear, which I was very pleased to find, my first in Calderdale this year.

I carried on the walk along the road, keeping an eye out for anything. I spotted at least 3 kestrels along the walk, bringing my falcon total for the day up to 2. I was able to get stunning views of some of them too, as they circled and hovered around the road.

-Kestrel

Among the kestrels was a slightly smaller falcon. I am no pro, but these bird seemed very much to be like a Merlin. At the time I was unsure, so I tried to grab as many photos as I could, but as yesterday there was an issue with it being mainly a silhouette. I still managed some decent photos, and I also got decent views of the bird as it hung in the wind above me. I was silently convinced that I had found only my second ever merlin, but did not want to send it round or cheer in case I was wrong. After hanging in the air for about 5 mins, the bird dropped down, harassing a definite kestrel which had been resting. I followed the bird until it dropped near a flock of canadas on the bank, but could not find it with the scope. I ate lunch there waiting for it to pop back up, but it did not while I was there waiting. 

Back home I had analysed all the photos I have and it seems that I was right. All the photos show heavy barring under the wing and the photo directly below clearly shows a barred tail with no black band at the end. So that would all suggest, added to the fact that it was a smaller bird, that I had indeed found only my second ever merlin, and this time I got better views too, rather than it whizzing past on a  beach.

I guess I can start celebrating now...

-Merlin

After waiting for a little while I decided to carry on the walk. The North side was not private, as I had suspected, so only the south side of the path is blocked - standard. Around the pools there were good numbers of birds, including a pair of Redshank, Curlew, Lapwing and a pair of Oystercatcher, along with the Canada Geese. I was well pleased with that.

The western bank offered little, though there were plenty of Canada Geese grazing, as well as a flyby Pied Wagtail. Once I was off I immediately spotted a pair of Sand Martins flying towards me. They flew off over the reser but I was unable to follow them. I then arrived at the point where the gate was. Its ludicrous that only one side of the path round the reser was closed. With this in mind I jumped the gate.

Just over the gate I finally spotted a Stonechat. Its orange breast jumped at me immediately, and I knew I had found one. I tried to get some photos, but it took off as soon as I got the camera ready, which I did not expect as I was not close to the bird. Either way, when I looked at the photo the shape of the beak and the white on the rump told me that I had mis-identified the bird and that it was actually a wheatear. However, touching the photo up at home and it became clear that I had been right all along, and that I had found my first stonechat of the year.

-Stonechat

Walking back up to the road I stumbled across my second Hirundine of the day when a swallow flew past me. The day list was looking pretty impressive now though. Its just a pity I was unable to add much on the way back, with only Curlew and Sparrowhawk on the golf course. The sparrowhawk is my 6th raptor of the holiday, which has only been 6 days. It should be the holiday of raptors given this rate.

Ogden was also quiet, the only additions being a pair of Lesser Black-Backed Gulls that had dropped in while I was on the tops.

On the way back I decided to call in at soil hill for a brief visit. There was not much about, but I managed my first Wheatear on soil hill for the year, which I was pretty pleased about.

And that just about covers it all, what was a pretty impressive walk bird-wise and a lovely walk otherwise. To see 3 falcon species is an impressive turnout, especially for me, and I can home filled with doubt, but after the photo analysis I was well pleased with how the day had gone. Follows are the species list for the day.

Species Lists: 
The Moors: Starling, Carrion Crow, Mallard, Kestrel, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw, Meadow Pipit, Red Grouse, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Skylark, Wheatear, Sand Martin, Swallow, Red-Legged Partridge, Peregrine, Merlin, Canada Goose, Lapwing, Stonechat, Graylag Goose,

Ogden/Golf Course: Sparrowhawk, Curlew, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Red Grouse, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Mallard, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Canada Goose,

Soil Hill: Wheatear, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Mallard,

Soil Hill

So after our trip to Bolton Abbey, sadly cut short because my brother had been punched in the face, I asked to be dropped off at the bottom of soil hill, the Bradford way up, to see what was about. ring ouzels had been reported from the hill a couple of times over the last few days, so I decided to try for myself, though my real target was one of the 2 partridge species, as they seemed more like bankers than the ouzels. 

It started well, an improvement on last time almost immediately, when by the bottom pool I spotted a pair of reed bunting, followed by a grey heron flushed from the sedges. I made my way up to the top flushing Meadow Pipits and Skylarks all the way. It surprised me given how windy it was. When I arrived at the top though, the wind did not feel so strong. 

It was while I was at the top that I spotted a black thrush dive off the top and back down where I had come. I was dubious, as there had been a blackbird singing down by the ponds which I also saw, so I anticipated it being another blackbird. I followed it, and though it took some tracking down I eventually found that there were 3 in the hedge on the Bradford side. I could not get a great view, due to the birds being mobile and the fact that my bins are not great. However, they soon decided to move location and flew past me. Then I saw it, a flash of white on the belly. I was over the moon. Ring Ouzel.

I spent the next hour following various birds around the hill trying, and failing, to get good photos. I was so pleased to have found them, only my second ever. They looked really good though they were very mobile and at points I would loose them for some time. I reckon there were at least 2, probably 3, possibly even more. I was over the moon, probably even more excited than the scaup yesterday. I followed them round for some time, but the sun had come out and was making it hard work, so when it looked like I would have to track them down again I decided to give it a rest for the afternoon.

-Ring Ouzel

There were other birds on the hill, no partridges, but there was a pair of mallards, and to my surprise, a pair of Fieldfare, which seem very late to me, probably the latest I have ever recorded them.

-Fieldfare

By most places standards today was a pretty good turnout, but for soil hill... well. I had a smashing afternoon, follows is the list of birds for the afternoon.

Species List: Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, Grey Heron, Pheasant, Lapwing, Reed Bunting, Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Mallard, Fieldfare, Jackdaw,

Bolton Abbey

So today my family decided to have their family day out at Bolton Abbey. I was not optimistic for finding anything for my yearlist, but I knew it would be a nice walk, and that I would see some lovely stuff. We wandered up the river and at the first loop I spotted a drake Mandarin, my first proper view of the year, though I have seen them before. 

-Mandarin

It was in this area that I began to notice the number of buzzards overhead. I got to watch many of them drifting over, though I only got silhouettes. I kept my eyes open for rarer raptors on passage but I could find none.

-Common Buzzard

But as I watched, I spotted another bird that was deffo not a buzzard due to the wing and tail shape being wrong. However, Having looked at the possibilities I thought it was an Osprey only the tailed looked too long. However, a quick plea on the Calderdale blog and reliable sources have agreed with this bird being an Osprey, so I will happily go along with that. So there we go then, another smashing bird seen today, and today's year-tick. It is also the first time I have ever seen Ospreys on passage. It is just unfortunate that I could get no better shots of what would have been a stunning bird.

--I re-analysed the photo and I am not happy with the Osprey school of thought and now think that it is a Marsh Harrier. The photo when tortured to bring out a wing features lacks the patterning of an Osprey but the dark patches match better to Marsh Harrier--

-Marsh Harrier

I spent quite a while watching the raptors, but then my attention was drawn back to the river, where an unusual plumaged form of a reed bunting. I think it was a young male coming back to summer male, so its possibly the first time I have seen one like this.

-Reed Bunting

At the same point there were a few waders going overhead, a trio of Oystercatchers and a Curlew, making for a nice addition to the day list. The Curlew flew right overhead, which gave me a great view, though I tried to take photos rather than watch it, which I would probably do If I had the time again.

-Curlew

A little further up again between watching the raptors there was a patch of scum in the water, where there was a pair of mandarin feeding. They looked really nice, and I managed to get pretty close to them, allowing me to get some decent shots for the year photo album.

-Mandarin Pair

The walk through the wood provided nothing much, but there was a Dipper and a Goosander on the river, as well as a buzzard on the hill behind. On the small birds in the wood there was very little, just a Long-Tailed Tit on one of the trees. There was also a Wren near the visitor center, as well as a Grey Wagtail.

-Wren

The way back passed without incident until the same area where it all happened on the way up. There I spotted the Mandarin pair on the grass grazing. I was not able to get very close but I was able to get some good views, and of such lovely birds.

-Mandarin Pair

So overall it was a really nice walk and saw some great stuff, the highlight being the mandarins which seemed to have increased so much since the last time I was there. The only thing left to do is to give a full run down of all the species seen today

Species List: Dunnock, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Blue Tit, Magpie, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Great Tit, Robin, Pheasant, Black-Headed Gull, Wren, Mallard, Common Buzzard, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw, Rook, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Goosander, Long-Tailed Tit, Song Thrush, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Reed Bunting, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Dipper, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier,

Elland Gravel Pits

Remember the Scaup I dipped in January? The day I saw the GND? It stayed all winter and into the spring, developing into a stunning adult male. Since I had been at uni, there was not much I could do about this, but it remained until I came home on Friday, so today I decided to go down for it, and see what else was around. 

I got dropped off by my dad at around 9.00 in the morning and immediately began my scanning of the fishing lake, its rumored favored spot. I was unable to track it down but was unable to get a decent view of all the lake.I tried to get a good view from all angles available, as access was forbidden. I would usually just go in, but a fisherman had taken up residence right next to the gate.

I decided to go up and scramble down the back near the Italian restaurant where there was not a fence and hopefully no fishermen to observe my entry. Don't do this at home kids, trespassing is strictly forbidden. On the way up, from the road I overlooked the lake and there, sat smugly in the middle was the scaup, sat asleep with a pair of Great Crested Grebes.

At least now I had located it, and had seen it. I watched from the road for a few mins, before continuing on my quest for entry. I made it up and scrambled down the bank into the fishing area. I was in. I made my way round to where the scaup was, passing several fishermen who did not seem to care and set up my gear to watch the bird. I spent about an hour watching it drift around the lake. It mainly slept, but also fished, preened and washed while I watched it. This is the best way to get a lifer. 

-Scaup with Great Crested Grebes

-Drake Scaup

About half an hour into my watch I hear a familiar twittering overhead, and looked up to watch my first swallow of the year fly overhead. It moved quick, as they tend to do, and I was unable to get any real record shots. However, after I left the scaup for a look around the site I found a group of about 5 on the canal, so I picked up some record shots of my first swallows of the year.

-Swallow

Also along the canal towpath there was a male Blackcap singing. Its the first time I have heard this species this year, so that was nice. He gave very good views too, allowing me to fully appreciate the beauty in the song.

-Male Blackcap

I arrived at my destination, the feeding station, with having only picked up goosander not on the towpath. At the feeding station it was much quieter than it was the last time I was hear over Christmas. I was treated to a 10 min stint by the Bullfinches, along with the great and blue tits and chaffinches. I got great views of the bullfinches, really lovely birds.

-Male Bullfinch

After my appearance at the feeding station I decided to return to the scaup. It was still there and I was able to spend a while watching it, though there was little additional behavior. My time then ran out, as I was asked to leave by one of the bailiffs. He said that for him I could stay but the head bailiff was lurking and that he would not share this opinion. He said to return after the head bailiff had moved on, but I diddnt having already got the most out of the scaup.

-Drake Scaup

So thats how I got my third lifer of 2014, a stunning male scaup. I was well pleased with finally settling this score, a species I had previously dipped 3 times. All that's left to do is give a full species report for the day...

Species List: Scaup*, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Swallow, Blackbird, Blackcap, Great Tit, Robin, Wren, Mallard, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Goosander, Treecreeper, Cormorant, Long-Tailed Tit, Coot, Great-Crested Grebe, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Chiffchaff,

Watergrove Reservoir - Twitching Great Grey Shrike

  So today was the first twitch since coming back, and what a bird was on the agenda. Great Grey Shrike. It cost £12 to get to Littleborough, and then an hour trek up to the reser. The weather was not great, as in it was quite grey with irregular rain.
  I was initially shocked by how few people seemed to be around, only dog walkers, since the bird is quite something. I made my way to the hide since that was where it had been reported from, and in the hide there were a couple of other birders which was comforting. They said it had not been seen, but did say that it had been reported as quite a wandering bird, once reported flying across the reser.
  I spent a couple of hours in the hide with no joy, but I did see some lovely stuff, including a Snipe Preening, Teal on the pond, Reed buntings in full plumage and Willow warbler, my first of the year, finally bringing me to my 100 for the year. There were plenty of Willow Warblers calling too, around the woodlands near the hide, which made for an unusual atmosphere with the grey skies and all.
  Birders came and went, guys coming back from exploring away from the hide said they could not see it, and it continued to not show from the hide. Shout out to Dave P from Queensbury, nice to see a local face away from home, even though its not that far.
  Eventually I decided to leave the hide, after 2 hours, and have a wander round myself. I was unable to track down the shrike on my short walk, but did find a lovely flock of Lesser Redpoll, which were feeding in one of the wooded areas. They gave very good views and I was able to approach them readily without them flying away

-Lesser Redpoll

  After that I headed back to the hide for a bit. No joy but a Common Buzzard did fly over at one point. Given it was just a silhouette at first I had wondered if it were an osprey, however when it came into the light it was pretty clear as to its identity.
  After an additional hour of waiting I decided to call it quits. The weather was worsening and I needed to be getting back for a haircut. So that is how to dip a Great Grey Shrike. Fortunately, it was not reported all day, so it was not a case of me missing it.
  But I did finally reach my 100 for the year, and I got to see some great species. So all that's left to do is to give a full breakdown of all the species seen today...

Species List: Grey Heron, Starling, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Great Tit, Robin, Wren, Mallard, Common Buzzard, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Cormorant, Long-Tailed Tit, Moorhen, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Jay, Common Teal, Reed Bunting, Common Snipe, Lesser Redpoll, Jackdaw, Willow Warbler

Garden

I have only been back a day and already stuff is returning to the garden, this time in the form of a female linnet that alighted on the bird feeding station for a few mins. I was upstairs at the time so rushed downstairs where my dad was torturing the piano to find that the bird had gone, I wonder why. Either way they are obviously around and they will get the 500 mm treatment before I go back, make no mistake...

Soil Hill - Reacquainted

Its been a while since I last trekked up the hill, but I decided to just go for it on my first day back. Its refreshing after weeks of chasing birds and seeing birds, to chasing birds and not seeing them.
So, here's the breakdown of a short afternoon on soil hill...
-4 Lapwing
-Skylarks
-6 Meadow Pipits
-3 Woodpigeon
-4 Carrion Crow
Its good to be back...