Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll

Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll

Coue's Arctic Redpoll

Coue's Arctic Redpoll

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting

Sanderling

Sanderling

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Waxwing

Waxwing

Tuesday 30 November 2010

Murmuration at Minsmere!

From North wall at Minsmere overlooking North Marsh to Dunwich coastguard cottages, with approaching Marsh Harrier.
Thurs evening from Dunwich NT car park during snow storm.
Sunday the 21st I heard of the gathering of a quite large flock of Starlings over North marsh at Minsmere or should say a Murmuration of Starlings around 4000 on Sunday growing to around 8000 by Friday evening, well done to all those I met on Dunwich NT car park for braving some very cold and blustery shows from the Starlings, quite an experience.
Friday evening in much better light

Winter Arrivals

   November has certainly brought us some colder weather and some hungry travellers from Scandanavia and beyond, the 16th I had a wander round Minsmere where I came accross a Fieldfare which had just flown in off the sea, and very obliging too. The scrape had a visit from an adult Caspian Gull on the same day, whilst the North bushes was home to a flock of around 50 Waxwings for a couple of days.
   On the 19th a similar sized gathering of Waxwings were noted in Eastbridge adjacent to the Eels Foot Inn Public house, albeit very mobile.
Fieldfare
Waxwing
Caspian Gull
One of the Eastbridge Waxwings.

Sunday 14 November 2010

American visitor in Manchester

This weekend I decided to join Ian C. and many other birders and photographers to see the American visitor to our shores....The Pied-billed Grebe, Ian and I departed from Suffolk at 3.30am, to beat the rush to see this tiny little bird. The skies were clear all the way up till we arrived on the outskirts of Manchester(my old stomping ground by the way) the sky above the north of the City was as they say up North "As black as thee fathers hat!"
  As we drove into the Rochdale reserve the heavens opened, it was light by this time although you wouldn't have noticed. The Grebe was asleep in the reeds on the other side of the lake, but not for long, he appeared to be heading towards the hide so I wandered down there to see if I could get into a better position to photograph the lovely bird. However the hide was full and the Grebe decided to go back the other way, so I decided to stay put on the roadside and wait for it to come to me, whilst watching and waiting met lots of familiar faces of old, and lots from Suffolk too, at least 7 people I know had travelled up to twitch this fabulous bird.
   It wasn't long before our little friend from across the pond decided to approach the now quite large gathering of patient birders and photographers, the sun came out too, what more can you ask for!






  On the way back I decided to call in at Pennington Flash Country Park to show Ian where I used to bird frequently when I lived up north, subject to lighting conditions can be a fantastic place for photographing Buntings Finches and Tits at close quarters.

   A great selection of birds obliged in Bunting Hide including Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Willow Tit, (quite a rarity in Suffolk these days) Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk, Reed Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker.


  Also at Pennington were several Goosanders 2 Drakes and around 5 Redheads.
  All in all a Fabulous Weekend!

Monday 8 November 2010

Marvellous Minsmere!

Saturday morning I was up before the lark, as I was going to Minsmere, hopefully to get a better view of the ever changing King Eider, hoping to catch it on the beach with the gulls at first light, sadly, no sign of it early on, however whilst walking along North wall, I noticed a raptor heading towards us, ( "us" being Ian C. and myself) a quick scan through the bins revealed a Ringtail Hen Harrier approaching, crossing the rising sun, and then reeled away over North marsh and into the distance. What a wonderful start to the day.
 We then walked on towards the sluice where a female Stonechat was extremely obliging in the top of a bramble, in by now what was perfect lighting for bird photography, the first couple of hours of sunshine are always the best.
   On the way back for lunch we noticed the Ringtail heading back towards us, pursued by a Crow an irresistible opportunity to photograph this beautiful bird of prey.(see pic at top of page).
   We decided rather than have lunch to go over to Covehithe for the Richards Pipit, on arrival we were told that it had flown south towards the coastal path, on the way I noticed the local Kestrel take his post on top of the gargoyle on the top of the church.
   On route we spotted a Sparrowhawk fly into a bush. Then continued on to coastal path where we met Pete R. amongst many others who eventually re found the Richards Pipit, quit a crowd had gathered by now getting very good views of this mobile bird.
I then decided to go to the other side of the path where the others were, so we weren't looking into the sun. I managed to get a shot although still quite distant.

   After getting the shot retuned to Minsmere where I met Heather and Liz who were quite desperate to see Waxwings. (weren't we all) off they toddled to North bushes, a couple of minutes later we followed only to stop and  chat to some visitors by the pond in the old car park, when I looked up to see a solitary silhouette of a bird at the top of the oak tree , by the picnic area outside the tea shop, then I noticed through my bins the quiff of the Waxwing! I then ran towards North bushes shouting Heather and Liz back to see the Waxwing they probably heared me in Dunwich. Not the greatest of photographs but always a delight to see.
  By the end of the day, we headed back to visitor centre and was sitting outside the visitor centre tea room, when I noticed a female brambling at the base of the feeders later joined by a male in rapidly disappearing light but managed something  regardless of the high iso setting.
  A marvellous end to a great days birding!

Thursday 4 November 2010

On arrival at LBO we were informed that the bird was showing well, I was very surprised it was actually still there, I thought it may have just been a distant fly by. However when we got to where the bird was perched in a bush in front of the compound, we were then informed of the grave news that it was probably an escapee as Stonham Barns "lost" one a week ago!!!
   A shame it was an escapee, "Dylan" is now back behind bars after his week of freedom on the run.
Well what a wonderful Wednesday, I went to Great Blakenham to try to see the Cattle Egret, which was quite mobile, but I did manage a couple of images of this dainty little chap.
   There was quite a gathering including Bill B,and Mrs B, Steve P, Chris B, and Matt D. to name but a few, When all of a sudden Matthews pager alerted us of some very exciting news of an American Kestrel at Languard Bird Observatory. Scopes cameras tripods etc were all quickly put away and a mad dash to the car park pursued.

Tuesday 2 November 2010

On Monday I went back to Minsmere to try and photograph the Lapland Bunting as the forecast promised sunshine, it didn't disappoint and the Lap Bunt was in more or less the same spot as the previous day.
  Then as I was photographing the Bunting a message came through that the King Eider was "on the beach" at Dunwich, so I turned tail to head back up the beach, as I reached the end of North wall, a group of people had already gathered, Richard D. John G. Heather, Liz and Mick M eyes fixed to their scopes and bins  peering Northward to Dunwich cliffs, Heather kindly offered me a view through her scope, there he was in all his glory for this was not the bird I had seen a couple of weeks ago, he had completely changed the head colouration was that of a second year bird not a first year bird as originally reported, then to my surprise and disappointment he flew out to sea, only to veer round again and landed on the sea about 50 yards out. So off I went in hot pursuit to try and photograph this change in this now not so drab and boring duck.

   I was joined by Robin H and Jon G who also had cameras at the ready, although for most of the time he was in front of us, he remained asleep, slowly drifting northeastwards,  however the sun did continue to shine, a superb Monday morning.
Well it was a long weekend away from work last weekend finished at 2pm Friday and didn't start back till 2pm yesterday, which allowed me quite a bit of birding time.
  Saturday morning saw myself and Ian Clarke (As seen on TV, Snow Bunting Pic on Autumn Watch!) head off to Dunwich pools Suffolk to see and photograph the Shore Larks and also to try and photograph some of the colour-ringed Twite, which have now arrived for the Winter break away from the more bleak and blustery Pennines.
Snow Bunting with friend
How's about that now, guys and gals!
   The afternoon brought some very obliging Snow buntings at Minsmere's shingle beach and in wonderful sunshine.
   Sunday I spent the whole day at Minsmere, there had been two Shore Larks reported flying south towards Sizewell at around 9am so off I toddled to try and locate them, whilst walking along the shingle beach I came across the Snow Buntings from yesterday with 1 addition now 4, when I noticed something else on the shingle with 3 Meadow Pipits, just out of view behind a ridge he popped up his head and was a stunning male Lapland Bunting, quite a surprise! He then took flight, squabble with a Mipit I think then landed on one of the tank blocks this is where I could see its magnificent plumage.