The Eagle has landed

Monday 16 February 2013
And that is how it stayed.... landed. News of a White-tailed Eagle a few miles inland from the shop had me and Tom zipping out late afternoon to see if we could find it (leaving Sam doing the demos) . It had been seen at 1pm but sadly stayed presumably sat on the ground or in a tree and didn't show to the dozen or so people looking for it for the rest of the afternoon.

I did however see a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Woodlark while scanning the skies for a flying barn door ! There were distant Barn Owls but none came close for any decent pictures.

 After a while Tom and I walked down part of the Peddars Way and startled a few Roe Deer

 which disappeared off over the fields with the Barn Owl

Tom then found a Fen trap which we decided was probably legally set, but sprung it anyway as it was very close to the road and the entrance did seem too open, in fact Tom nearly put his hand in as he didn't know what it was. Had he done so it would have surely crushed his bones. I think I will inform the Police Wildlife Liason Officer for that reason alone.

A few more Barn Owls, in fact seven in all, and one quite close so I did the usual creeping

 and as I was creeping along the hedge, the Barn Owl flying off,  I heard a movement turned round and was startled by this stag !

 So no Eagle but a nice couple of hours, even Tom enjoyed some of it ! And a final Barn Owl

Surprise, surprise

Friday 15 February 2013

So an afternoon off and with the sun out I decided to have another go at the Thetford Dipper. The journey to Thetford from Shouldham is only about twenty miles, but is a route used by every lorry in the world. It is, an absolutely frustrating drive, and as the miles slowly passed by, the sun was replaced by overcast skies.

Still it was an afternoon out and I hoped the Dipper was still there. On arrival I saw a handful of people running alongside the river Thet - strange to have so much excitement over the Dipper as after all it had been present for a good few months. I looked into the river and there swimming downstream was an Otter, with a Chicken in it's mouth !

 This was the first Otter I had seen outside Scotland, and in the last thirty years ! I was so excited I couldn't hold the camera still, that, combined with the speed at which it was moving meant views were restricted to a fast walking pace and rather than photograph it I was just enjoying watching it (  I fired a few hopeful shots though) . It was soon out of sight as the river snaked off by a large private house.

And it turned out I was stood next to Oliver Reville who had been watching it earlier. We had a further look and then returned to look for the Black-bellied Dipper, which was very confiding.

 So after a bit of time with this chap it was off to look for the Otter again. This Rat was trying to get in on the act and didn't really seem to know what it was doing, just swimming up and down, possibly avoiding something larger.

 We found the Otter back where Oli had been watching it previously, and there were two animals present. We watched them scent marking and playing, squeaking and rolling about in the water (in deep cover) and occasionally poking their heads out of cover.Oli got some superb video of them. Blooming brilliant.

It's a sign

Monday 4 February 2013
And the usual drive into work, but on a beautiful morning - sunshine. Ok it was very cold but at least it wasn't raining. Just on the edge of the village and in the stubble edge of a field were some twentyYellowhammers, a great sight and the most I have seen in one group around Shouldham. Then it was the turn of some Curlew.

A bit further on and with a bit of time in hand I tried a small diversion round some fields that look excellent for Barn Owl and where I have seen them just a couple of times. Yesterday I saw three different birds but had left my camera behind. I was hoping they would still be out feeding after the poor weather. The fields revealed nothing ! So I turned into the small village and there on the opposite bank at the side of the road, a white white blob, surely it couldn't be an Owl. Slamming to a halt, taking the appropriate driving precautions of course. And yes there was a Barn Owl in the grass.

Now trying to take pictures from inside the car was proving very difficult, I had to keep the engine running and was continually looking for passing cars. So nothing for it but to creep out out of the car and see if I could get a snap before it flew off. Problem is, when you open the car door the birds always fly off. I tried to predict where it would fly to, but was stumped, big open field or back down the road ? the options were poor and no nice posts for it to sit on. A few cars passed, the blob stayed put. Engine off, hazards on and I crept out. It flew immediately !

But it flew onto the only post around, I hadn't thought of that, it stayed I snapped a few then off it flew. Neither of us had done more than 30 mph or pics.

 Shooting into the light didn't help and I was shaking with excitement so couldn't hold the camera still enough for a sharp pic - but it captured the moment.

 Could be a caption shot ?

duller day... if possible

24 January 2013
Midday on the coast and with every mile from Shouldham the light seemed to get worse and worse, until on arrival it was very very dull, even with a few flecks of snow. The quarry was Waxwing, I felt a pic of the berry being tossed in the air, mouth open and beautifully lit by a low cast sun, preferably with a Windmill in the background. I woke up ! and then tried to find the Waxwings with no success. Fieldfares were temptingly close, mostly flying off, but the light was awful.

 I was handholding a relatively large telephoto and on reflection 1 60th of a second shutter speed just wasn't doing it, especially combined with 1250 iso. Still I knew I had a chance with the next subject - The Windmill at Overy Statihe, it wasn't moving but the light still denied me.

 So off to Titchwell, surely something was moving there. I was greeted by ever decreasing levels of light and a frozen lake ! Most of the waders and ducks were miles away, but this Spotted Redshank did stray into snapping distance and provided the only highlight of the walk to the sea.

I had heard that a Lapland Bunting was down by the Boardwalk so I stopped by a group of some twenty other spotters and lifted my bins. Perishingly cold and no gloves meant I had lowered my bins after a few minutes of not seeing the bird and had them thrust quickly back into my jacket. People were mumbling about having watched for 30 minutes to no avail and were slowly drifting off. I turned my frozen focussing hands to behind me where I saw ...... very little. Now just two people remained, my hands were warm enough for another outing so it was a scan of the Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, and then there it was a Lapland Bunting. Luckily the remaining two people next to me hadn't seen it so I very generously offered to put their scope onto it, and got a decent view. They, and I, was/were delighted.

It's in the centre of the pic above with a Skylark !

 and here it is massively blown up, still with a Skylark , nice enough and Lapland Bunting on the afternoon list. However I must say it was a rubbish view and I was reminded then of some of the lovely views of Laplands that I had  seen on Lundy.

So back to look for the elusive Waxwings with little light left now. At the feeders there were half a dozen Bramblings 

but undoubtably, bird of the day for me was Robin. They were fantastically close, so I close I was taking pictures of them with my iPhone. If I knew how to download the video I would, but I don't, suffice to say it looked nice. I think they would hand feed they were so tame, and at one time there were five around my feet, sub singing, contact calling and having the odd scrap. I will take mealworms next time, not to make them come close, but just to feed them. It was a fantastic moment to have these great little birds performing right at my feet. I have to say it was a birding moment.

I did find the Waxwings after a trek along a field edge, but they were high up and it was nearly dark.

The day however was won by Mr Redbreast

dull day

23 January 2013
A walk round Shouldham this morning and still lots of snow around. Walking boots crunching and compacting the snow made it difficult to listen for birds. However that said there were about 25 Siskins and the same number of Lesser Redpolls. I did find a great hedge that had Lesser Redpolls, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and Meadow Pipits... This is it I thought, the hedge of my dreams, I postulated how I could feed it up and it would become my regular spot   !!!! ...... so camera at the ready and into creeping mode. Sadly everything flew off, grey jacket, blue jeans against white snow... Hmmm usual problem. Also it is on a farmers field, but they have loads of them so surely they wouldn't mind my simple hobby. I shall try again when the snow has gone and I can blend in a bit more.

Another part of the track held six Goldcrests, so in I went ! Dark in there so blurry pics only.

However a few steps later and a Woodcock exploded from under my feet and flew off out of sight.
Outsiide a few Fieldfares were in the tops of trees and lots of Redwings tossing leaves around in the undergrowth.

Back on the road and a group of Chaffinches and Blackbirds were picking through the.... well what were they picking through exactly ? I couldn't see any seed on the road and didn't think they were picking up grit. Perhaps some wind blown seeds that were too small for me to see.

So all in all a bit dull for two hours spotting, except for the Siskins and Redpolls. Oh and the Goldcrests, the Fieldfares were nice, Woodcock was new for me for Shouldham and it was good to be out, so I'll change my mind, not bad really !

Back at home and I couldn't help but open up the file of yesterdays birds...... they are still there today...... I may have another stab at them tomorrow.

A quick flit

22 January 2013
My young (only because I'm well old) colleague Oli told me he'd seen some Waxwings at Burnham Overy Staithe on his way in to work, so I took the executive decision to leave the shop ( I do love having my own business )  I zipped up to see if I could find them. At first they were nowhere to be seen so I walked down the track to Gun Hill, and after a short time came across some tell tale signs.

Clearly someone had been enjoying the berries, and then I heard the distinctive trill of aWaxwing, and down the track there they were.

A bit distant, against the light and too blooming high, but a great sight nevertheless. Still the photo opportunity wasn't quite there so some creeping was in order. It was a snow covered track and I had a black coat on !... it was too cold to remove....this was going to be tricky. A little closer however.

Some ten of these cracking little birds were in the hedge, along with some jumpy Fieldfares and a few Yellowhammers.
Eventually I got a bit closer...

 This was making me feel hungry, so as they flew off to feed some more , I returned to my sandwich, very pleased , but somehow a little disappointed I hadn't got THE shot. Next time maybe....
Looking down the track to the coast.

It's snow joke.....

Thursday 17 January 2013
......and it really is no joke for the birds in this weather. I spent a half hour stood right next to the feeder in the garden and the birds were so hungry they paid little attention to me, as long as I stood still. Managed a garden tick in the form of a Snipe flying overhead. But here is a bunch of garden bird pics:

 and we start with Blue Tit which is an infrequent visitor to the garden, there are about so I suspect they are getting their food at a more desirable feeder, still the snow has pushed a couple to us

 Dunnock and always here

  Now this is a Teapot Cottage rarity, Chaffinch, only had a handful of these in the garden since June

 This isn't a rarity in the garden, we have a small group of around twenty House Sparrows always present

 Just as I was about to go back inside there was an attack of Long-tailed Tits, eleven of the fantastic little birds had a one minute feeding frenzy and then flew off

 the suet snowman under attack !

  The only regular Tit, is Coal Tit and I think there are four different birds using the feeders at the moment

 a visiting Great Tit

 and last word to the dominant species at Teapot Cottage - House Sparrow