Saturday 31 October 2009

Dersingham Bog, Burnham Market and Titchwell (Norfolk): Started at Dersingham Bog where we saw Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker and Crossbill (3 males, 7 females). We then moved to Burnham Market and found the white-phase Snow Goose among Pink-footed Goose (5000+). We finished the day at Titchwell, staying until dusk, where we saw: Snow Bunting (31), Pink-footed Goose (1000+ distant), Ruff (31), Marsh Harrier (2), Hen Harrier (1 ring-tail), Little Egret (3), Golden Plover (800+) and Sparrowhawk (1).

Robin

Friday 30 October 2009

Sculthorpe Moor, East Runton and Cley (Norfolk): Started at the wonderful Hawk and Owl Trust reserve at Sculthorpe Moor where we saw: Chiffchaff (1), Marsh Tit (4+), Siskin (heard), Stonechat (1 male) and Kingfisher (1). We then moved to East Runton where we saw little of note other than an adult Mediterranean Gull. We finished the day at Cley where we stayed until dusk: Stonechat (1), Barn Owl (1), Marsh Harrier (4+), Peregrine (1), Cetti's Warbler (heard), Spotted Redshank (1), Ruff (21), Avocet (2), Little Egret (1), Brent Goose (50), Avocet (2), Black-tailed Godwit (140+) and Pink-footed Goose (20+)

Barn Owl
Barn Owl
Wigeon
Wigeon
Spotted Redshank
Moorhen
Marsh Harrier
Peregrine
Pink-footed Goose
Mediterranean Gull
Marsh Tit
Wren
Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Chaffinch
Kingfisher
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Chaffinch

Thursday 29 October 2009

Brancaster and Snettisham (Norfolk): Started at Brancaster this morning among the 5000 Pink-footed Geese, a single Pale-bellied Brent Goose and two Common Buzzard. After lunch we moved on to Snettisham to see how the high tide wader fest would unfold despite less than ideal tidal conditions. Happy to see c5000 Knot flying around with supporting cast in the area of Bar-tailed Godwits, Peregrine and hunting Barn Owl.

Pink-footed Goose

Pink-footed Goose

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Titchwell and Holme (Norfolk): We arrived at Titchwell shortly after 09:00 and walked first to Island Hide from where we saw: Bearded Tit, Water Rail (1+) and Cetti's Warbler (3 heard). We then walked to the coast and back: Bar-tailed Godwit (c20), Black-tailed Godwit (2), Snow Bunting (13), Ruff (12), Pink-footed Goose (13), Little Egret (3), Eider (5), Brent Goose (c100), Golden Plover (c200), Gannet (2) and an obvious movement of Fieldfare and Redwing. After 12:00 we moved west along the coast to Holme to see the Yellow-browed Warbler which showed well through the scope before driving down to Holme Dunes where we saw Barn Owls (4), Cetti's Warbler (2 heard) and we continued to enjoy the large numbers of Thrushes moving in (Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Redwings).

Yellow-browed Warbler
Teal
Shoveler
Little Grebe
Brent Goose

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Cley and Holkham (Norfolk): We started at Cley and managed to catch up with the reported White-rumped Sandpiper and male Green-winged Teal. Also saw Kingfisher (1), Egyptian Goose (10), Marsh Harrier (1), Little Egret (2), Brent Goose (3), Pink-footed Goose (20), Ruff (3), Stonechat (1) and Peregrine (1). We then visited Holkham, where we saw: Snow Bunting (5) and Pink-footed Goose (c80).

Snow Bunting
Snow Bunting
White-rumped Sandpiper

Monday 26 October 2009

Welney (Norfolk): Afternoon visit to Welney. Common Crane (5), Sparrowhawk (1), Merlin (1 male), Whooper Swans (c80), Ruff (15), Golden Plover (1) and Stock Dove (2).

Whooper Swan
Whooper Swan
Pochard
Egyptian Goose
Common Crane

Saturday 17 October 2009

Staines Moor (Surrey) & Sandwich Bay (Kent): Visited Staines Moor to view the first winter Brown Shrike which we saw well but could only obtain record shots. Also heard Cetti's Warbler and Ring-necked Parakeet. After, we drove to Restharrow Scrape at Sandwich to see the Jack Snipe, where we also saw a single Brent Goose.

Jack Snipe
Jack Snipe
Jack Snipe
Jack Snipe
Brown Shrike (First Winter)
Brown Shrike (First Winter)
Brown Shrike (First Winter)
Brown Shrike (First Winter)

Tuesday 13 October 2009

Oare: Quick lunch time run round the east flood (12:10 - 13:20), was all that Brenda and I had time for today. Two Cetti's Warblers were heard as were a number of Bearded Tits. Counted the Golden Plover (250) and Black-tailed Godwit (100) on the east flood, along with a number of Little Egrets, a Marsh Harrier (1 over the west flood) and two Stonechats along the roadside fence. Also managed to see a number of Seal on the distant sand bank (Horse Sands) in the Swale.

Stonechat
Black-headed Gull
Reed Bunting

Monday 12 October 2009

Capel Fleet/Kingsferry Bridge/Funton: We drove out to Capel Fleet after lunch and sei-hindered by a fairly strong south westerly wind managed to see at least twelve Pink-footed Goose, Corn Bunting (10+), Common Buzzard (2) and Marsh Harriers (6). After an hour as the weather worsened, we moved to the Swale near Kingsferry Bridge where we heard a single Cetti's Warbler, a flyover Green Woodpecker and watched a hunting juvenile Hobby in showery conditions. As we made our way back to Gillingham, we looked in on Funton and saw Avocet and Little Egret.

Hobby
Hobby
Hobby

Saturday 10 October 2009

Bishopstone/Oare: Brenda and I started at Bishopstone this morning and in dry and bright conditions saw a male Stonechat, Gannet (7), Chiffchaff (2), Little Egret (6+) and Swallow (2). Lunchtime, we moved to Oare: Kingfisher (1), Stonechat (3+), Little Egret (8+), Marsh Harrier (2), Avocet (2), Wheatear (1), Green Sandpiper (1) and Brent Goose (c300+).

Carrion Crow
Stonechat
Wheatear
Teal
Stonechat
Grey Heron
Curlew