An hour at Holme

Saturday 11 January 2013
After prolonged discussions with Oli on camera lenses I decided to have a quick trip to Holme as I only had an hour available due to "domestic duties". Nice and sunny, 8 degrees but on leaving the car and walking along the board walk next to the sea, boy did it feel cold !

Some nice groups of Redshanks, Turnstones and Bar-tailed Godwits, but as there were other bird spotters watching them I refrained from creeping about in case I flushed the birds and engaged the wrath of the onlookers.

A little further down the track and looking across the marsh I saw a blob on a post - it was a Short-eared Owl. And very nice too, however from a photographic point of view it was not good as I was looking directly into the sun. Just for once I wished for some cloud ! No chance and despite changing my position I just couldn't avoid the glaring sun.

one ear tuft just showing

 If flew off to feed in the field but never turned towards me, always away - great to see it hunting   though.

A"cross" to Suffolk

Friday 10 January 2013
A day off and decided to go in search of some Crossbills. Recents reports of a flock near Mayday Farm with some reported Parrot Crossbills had me zipping over on a lovely sunny morning. On arrival just four other birders present and some 13 Common Crossbills coming to a tree in an isolated garden, from the surrounding Thetford forest. These birds were always in the shade and didn't really perform well photographically. That said  great views of these great little birds, sadly to the audible backdrop of F15s at Lakenheath airfield drowning out the "quiet of the countryside".

So having our fill of this group, moved on another 10 miles to West Stow where rumours of more Crossbills coming to a puddle in the car park (just on the Norfolk/Suffolk border) , tempted us (me and Oli). After a wait of about one hour, down they came to drink and clean their pine sticky bills - wonderful:

And in a field behind the house......

Tuesday 7 January 2014
The Pink-footed Geese have been slowly get closer and closer to the field just behind the house at Stanhoe. While they overfly the house on a daily basis at this time of the year, it was great to see them actually on the deck nearby.

 These two Pheasants were also having a look

 And this Turnstone was on the grass near the bank in Hunstanton