Sunlight required

Birds in woodland shade
It's amazing the difference that good light can make to photography and I just knew that when I started taking these pics at just an 80th of a second with a high ISO that they would be soft. Still it was a nice diversion for a couple of hours to have some quiet birding and photography - I didn't see another person, rare in birdwatcher crowded Norfolk.

In the woods then, Bramblings, Bullfinches, Water Rail (woodland edge)  and Reed Buntings.

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

Stoatel Mayhem

1 December 2013
So off to work as usual, then a call from Sam at home to say all hell had broken loose .... screaming and  screeching noises from a Rabbit running into the garden with a Stoat on it's back ! Apparently the entire street could hear the screams from the Rabbit, not Sam. Clearly an event was happening so I turned back and headed home.
On arrival I expected a "gone happening" however Sam told me the Rabbit and Stoat had disappeared into the bushes. I stalked it, the bush ! And to my amazement the beasts were still within. Thereafter an event followed which I have to say wasn't pleasant, but was red in tooth and claw as they say.

So Mr Stoat......

Sadly the principal character..... this animal above, had half dragged and been dragged by the Rabbit down through the garden. There then ensued a fight, the Rabbit hunkering down to the ground to stop the Stoat from getting to it's underside. The Stoat was frantic in it's attack and kept trying to get underneath the Rabbit. As I was watching I was tempted to intervene, but for so many reasons I restrained, though I have to say it was fairly upsetting. The Rabbit seemed to know it's fate yet fought in it's way to the end. Here the Stoat pausing for it's next attack.

 and finally going in for the kill around the neck.

All in all pretty unpleasant to watch as the Rabbit seemed so helpless. But amazing for another animal so much smaller, to be the top predator. The finale was the Stoat dragging off the Rabbit - job done.

I returned to work hoping that the unfortunate Rabbit would keep the Stoat going for quite a while. I recall seeing this many years ago and found it equally fascinating and upsetting.

I feel like a twitch

Tuesday 19 November 2013
News of a group of up to 12 Parrot Crossbills at Holt over the last few weeks and the forecast of a sunny day had me travelling to Holt Country Park this morning. I haven't twitched for a while, preferring the quiet of normal birding, but I did have a desire to see something more unusual. I felt that as the birds had been around a fair while and it being a weekday I would turn up and have to find them  myself, a challenge I was looking forward to.

Well I turned up to a near full car park and some 70 or so birdspotters all looking directly up into the top of some Larch trees. No surprises what they were looking at, but I had been warned that Common Crossbills were also present and caution was required. I made my way to "the spot" and before I could get my tripod up I was offered views through two other people's 'scopes. Now this really was very kind of them as they genuinely wanted me/any new arrival to see the bird quickly first, in case it flew off. It was extremely kind, but somehow the whole experience just lacked what I was looking for, not the Parrot Crossbill of which there were at least three, just how it all happened. I only have myself to blame for going I guess, and to be fair I too was a part of the group.

I managed a few snaps but the birds were quite far off at the top of the tree and all the prime spots were taken with massive lenses and the machine gun fire of shutters. I hung back and took a few pics. Then to the sound of bleeping pagers and tales of far distant birds seen on overseas trips as people chatted while leaving, I left.

I then went to the beach car park at Salthouse and arrived amid a school trip ! It just wasn't going to be my morning. Bitterly cold but I ventured along the beach to look for Snow Buntings, but to no avail. The ever present Turnstones by the car park did however oblige.

 This was more like it, no one else around just me and the Turnstones

The sun came out and I started to creep into a better position. At my age I need to stand up ever now and again so before going in for the kill I had a stretch. This signalled to the couple next to me who had just emerged from their car that I was having a break from photography. They came over and politely asked me what the little birds were. I told them and we had a brief chat about their habits and occurrence (the birds that is). Lovely, nice quiet interaction after the mass of Holt. I decided to move a few yards to the side to best catch the light. My friendly couple, zipped up their coats, pulled out their trekking poles and marched straight through the flock directly in front of me ! Give me twitchers any day ........................

Mornings like these

Week beginning 4 November 2013
Morning walks down at Deepdale Marsh with the hound have allowed me to reflect on why I love Norfolk so much which is as well due to a recent exposure to the second home set. It seems every time we have been out we've been sat next to groups of retired bankers all boasting that they have "bought in Brancaster"and other such places. Great for business ? well probably not those people..... anyhow that led me to think that the coast was changing just too much and maybe it was time to live elsewhere.

In an attempt to bring Teasel, the mutt, to some form of discipline I have been doing one and a half hours walks first thing, and on these walks I have met a few people, sensible nice local people, and have hence reformed my opinions. There are great places away from RSPB Titchwell and the Summer Sailing Set's haunts along the coast - quite different to the out of season types. So this week - delighted to live in Norfolk.

Here a few pics from yesterday morning's stroll. 19 Rock Pipits were nice, along with these fine Brent Geese.