25th August 2016

Headed to Arne this afternoon to try and defeat another bogey bird: red-necked phalarope. When I arrived, the bird had been seen 15 minutes prior. Another 3 and half hours and still no sign! Some compensation was had though, with 2 Ospreys, a Dartford Warbler, several Sika Deer and Whimbrel and my first Sand Lizard.

Osprey - Arne

Sand Lizard - Arne

 

Sika Deer - Arne

21st August 2017

Got back home from work this afternoon and checked my phone. The first thing I saw, a yellow warbler on Portland!!! Needless to say I threw my equipment in the car and rushed down! I parked at Southwell and walked down to Culverwell. Shortly after arriving, the call went up, I turned around just in time to see a small yellow bird fly across and drop into the vegetation. After a couple fleeting views, the YELLOW WARBLER appeared in some bare branches and gave good but breif views! Over the next hour or so, the bird showed brilliantly and even allowed me to get some record shots. A fantastic bird, my first American Passerine and a completely unexpected addition to my life list!!! A hunting Barn Owl on the walk back to the car rounded the evening off nicely.

 YELLOW WARBLER - Portland Bill

 

Barn Owl - Portland Bill

13th August 2017

Headed up to Westhay Moor this evening, a site I haven't visited in several years. The highlights included a single flyover Cattle Egret, 2 Great White Egrets and singles of Marsh Harrier, Treecreeper and Kingfisher.

Great White Egrets - Westhay

Little Egret - Westhay

4th August 2017 (Norfolk)

Headed to Swaffham Forest this morning hoping to find a willow tit, however no luck.

Chiffchaffs - Swaffham Forest

Headed to Sculphorpe Moor again this afternoon, a site I used to visit a few times annually. A flyover Green Sandpiper was the highlight, but I also had singles of Hobby and Sparrowhawk, several Marsh Tits, Nuthatches and 3 Bullfinches.

Pheasants - Sculphorpe Moor

Collared Dove - Sculphorpe Moor

Dunnock - Sculphorpe Moor

Bullfinch - Sculphorpe Moor

3th August 2017 (Norfolk)

Had a look at Titchwell this afternoon in an attempt to get a few more year ticks. First had a look from the Island Hide and had 10 Spoonbills, 3 Spotted Redshanks and a Little Gull.

Spoonbills - Titchwell

Little Gull - Titchwell

Spotted Redshank - Titchwell

Ruff - Titchwell

Lapwing - Titchwell

I walked onto the beach and a look out to sea produced little more than a single Little Tern. Whilst walking back towards the fresh marsh, another 2 Spoonbills flew over. From the Parrinder Hide, I added singles of Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and Yellow Wagtail.

Yellow Wagtail - Titchwell

Wood Sandpiper - Titchwell

Little Ringed Plover - Titchwell

Avocet - Titchwell

Black-Tailed Godwit - Titchwell

2nd August 2017 (Norfolk)

Had another quick look at Cley and Salthouse this afternoon, producing singles of Yellow-Legged Gull, Hobby and Green Sandpiper and a few Egyptian Geese and Knots.

30th July 2017 (Lincolnshire and Norfolk)

Drove from Norfolk up to Far Ings in Lincolnshire this morning, where the juvenile White-Winged Tern was showing on arrival. It was distant most of the time I was there, but I'm just glad to have finally caught up with this species.

White-Winged Tern - Far Ings

Had a look at Cley this evening from Dauke's Hide, where my target bird was showing on arrival: a juvenile Caspian Gull. Over the next couple hours, it was joined by an adult Caspian Gull, an adult Yellow-Legged Gull and a single Med Gull. I also had a male Bearded Reedling in front of the hide and flushed a Barn Owl by the car park.

 

Adult and Juvenile Caspian Gulls - Cley

Adult Yellow-Legged Gull with the juv Caspian Gull - Cley

Med Gull - Cley