Lovely afternoon

Tuesday 25 September 2012
So off from work for the afternoon and, following yesterday's fall off migrants on the coast, I was heading for Warham Greens, where an adult male Red-breasted Flycatcher had been seen.

My photos were not great as it was very mobile, but a lovely bird.

adult male Red-breasted Flycatcher - Warham Greens

 My next experience was totally different, a walk out to Burnham Overy Dunes to look for a Booted Warbler. Very windy indeed and I didn't see it but did bump into Jamie Mcullan, who glimpsed it briefly, a consummate birder, extreme knowledge, eyesight etc and a chap who walks with humility. Top notch. I left this bit of afternoon birding with a smile on my face even thought I'd spent an hour or so not seeing it. However on the walk to and from there were a few Redstarts.

Pink-footed Geese were flying in form the coast, presumably having just arrived all afternoon long, thousands of them, calling and providing Norfolk with that very special of atmospheres. Returning to the shop I had a quick look behind the church opposite and found a Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher and loads of Golden Plovers.

Just five hours birding but some great birds. Also bumped into Chris and Tim Murphy - :)

Look up !

Saturday 16 September
After battling the traffic round King's Lynn I was en route to the coast for an afternoon of photography at Deepdale Marsh. However I had to call in at the "shop lock up store" at Heacham briefly. On arrival, jumped out of the car and started to open the gates when I heard a familiar buggling/trumpeting noise, familiar that is in Poland ! I was momentarily transported to the fields behind the house at Gluchowo which are often full of Cranes - so snapping back to Norfolk reality I looked up and there were two Common Cranes circling overhead, calling and soaring on a thermal. Fantastic, my first "Crane find" in the UK.

I watched them for about five minutes as they soared and continued to call, sometimes dangling legs, but generally just being Cranes !

 They then headed off north-east

I wasn't quite so lucky on the Marsh however, and using my car as a hide didn't really work so no Spoonbill pictures sadly, still lovely to be sat there for a few hours.

Back at last

The last few months has seen some dramatic changes, moving house, the Birdfair, busy business, this has all meant a lack of postings on this blog. Having now moved to Shouldham I am in a dilemma re the blog title, but will probably stick with the original.

Details on Shouldham's wildlife ( a village with no Chaffinches)  to follow, but I'll kick off this re start with a Kingfisher pic taken last weekend. More to follow....