Norfolk Day Trip

The first two hours were spent in Cley Village waiting for the White-crowned Sparrow. It duly showed a couple of times, but didn't get a chance to photograph the bird. We then spent the rest of the day around the north Norfolk coast.

After leaving the sparrow at cley, a posse of birders (including us) then hit the local hotspots. At Salthouse, a confiding flock of Snow Bunting and a few Turnstone were feeding around our feet. Luckily, I didn't have to chase the Lapland Bunting as it set down, briefly, in front of the camera.









A Black Brant dropped in front of us with a few Brent Geese which was just compensation after paying £3.50 for access at Lady Anne's Drive, Holkham.





On the beach at Holkam there were more Snow Bunting, a few Meadow Pipits and a couple of Rock Pipit.







Finally, the last few hours were spent at Titchwell RSPB. The light was tailing off, but a nice Black-tailed Godwit fed close to the footpath.

Thurleigh

The promise of a sunny day after a few days of rain and gloom resulted in an hours drive up to Thurleigh. Compared to this time last year, the number of Yellowhammer, larks and finches were much reduced. However, a female Hen harrier was again present.



The setaside is ideal for Common Stonechat - at least two pairs were in evidence again this year.

Local Patch

The light was pretty good today, so a visit to the local patch was called for. An overwintering Common Chiffchaff briefly got the pulse racing - it looked very washed out to the eye. The camera, however, told a different story.

A male Great-spotted Woodpecker foraged half-heartedly on some dead Elms, eventually taking the easy option of peanuts from nearby feeders.



A Common Kestrel attempts to land.

New Year's Day and Partridges

A local mooch didn't produce much, but at least it stayed dry and the light was better than of late.

First up was a rather dark Common Buzzard just outside town.



This Muntjac Deer was feeding just outside the Paris House Restaurant, Woburn.



On to the 'Potsgrove Loop' where a couple of beds birders alerted me to five Grey Partridge behind a hedgerow. The birds had moved further in to the field when this shot was taken. A flock of twenty Meadow Pipit proved more difficult to approach. They're seen in most years at this spot.





At my regular local patch this Lesser Redpoll dropped down to feed briefly in deteriorating light. Six Red-legged Partridge stayed low in a nearby field, while a Blue Tit stopped en-route to some nearby bird feeders.

Peregrine

A Peregrine spooked the local avifauna for a few minutes this morning. It flew out of Houghton Regis Chalk pit - a regular wintering site in recent years.
This is the fastest animal in the world - it can reach up to 200mph. Its name means "Wandreing falcon".

Jingle Bells, Batman Smells ...

... but the Robin did not fly away ! (I won't write the rest of this childhood adaptation of a popular Carol)

Dunstable STW

A Water Rail skitted around the scrape often persued by the local Moorhens.





Two of six Green Sandpiper ventured close to the camera.



This Migrant Hawker spots its next meal.

This pair of Wigeon arrived today.



Collard Dove.



Woodpigeon.



A juvenile Common Buzzard splits away from a group of four others.



A Comma takes in the last rays of the day.



A Common Darter does likewise.

Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve

A juvenile Red-backed Shrike was just outside the reserve viewed from a public footpath along the bank of the Thames.







The current visitors centre will eventually become an educational building. An interesting strucure indeed - my first thought was 'yuk' ! (and remains so).



A Wood Sandpiper was just a bit too distant.



A distant Northern Wheatear.



A few Little Egret were dotted around the reserve.



This Ruff showed well from the hide.





My best view of a Water Vole. This is a top site for these declining creatures.







Roesel's Bush Cricket Metrioptera roeselii. A scarce cricket, mainly found near coasts but increasing inland.



A Migrant Hawker.

A distant shot of the QEII bridge which carries the M25 motorway over the River Thames.



A nice spot, overall, difficult to believe it's not far from busy London.