Black-bellied Dipper, Thetford Norfolk

Awake early again this morning, I check the phone to find no messages. So I decide to visit Lee Valley at first light.

But the plans are put on hold when just as I'm about to leave the house the phone indicates a text message. It's Brian and he's leaving for Thetford in five minutes, Do I want to go? He already knows the answer.

Shortly before 8.30 we are parked in the car park just off Nun's Bridge's Road. From here it's a short walk across the first bridge, over the second bridge and turn left.

The dipper is spotted as soon as we scan the stream. It's constantly searching for food in the small stream. The water is so clear in places that we can even watch it seeking out food under the water. It's a stunning bird and doesn't seem a bit bothered by all the attention it is receiving.

It was first seen feeding near the small bridge that we walked across and continued feeding and working it's way along the stream. Never moving out of this small stretch of water the whole time we were there.

Hearing of two Otters being seen on a fairly regular basis near this area managed to drag us away from the Dipper, but with time not on our side we failed to find them this time and headed for the car. 

With the weather looking perfect for Goshawk this morning, we stopped off on the way home at a well known site and headed along the track towards the viewing area.

Woodlark was added to the year list when two birds were heard singing. Reaching the far end of the track the resident Red-tailed Hawk was spotted perched in a tree not far from us. Scopes were quickly trained on the bird and as it stretched it's wings the red tail was on full view.

Upon reaching the viewing area there were already four birders present and we were quickly joined by another three who had followed us up the track.

Thirty minutes and no sign of any Goshawks, not even a Sparrowhawk is seen. A single Crossbill calling from the trees behind us adds another year tick and shortly afterwards a small flock are found feeding in a birch tree some distance away.

Just as I am watching the Crossbills fly from the tree, the calls goes up "Gos". With Brian's directions I'm quickly on it with the bins, and I manage to pick it up again in the scope. it flies left and then circles back round giving stunning views as it glides across the sky.

With a couple of flaps of it's wings it heads lower and disappears below the tree line and out of sight. Within ten minutes another Goshawk or possibly the same bird is back in the air. With no heat haze for once the bird is giving fantastic views. It's joined in the air by a Sparrowhawk for a good comparison. 

Black-bellied Dipper, Goshawk, Crossbills and Woodlark.

Not a bad morning's birding. 

Penduline Tit, Stodmarsh

Another early start this morning and first stop is Stodmarsh NNR hoping to get a view of the Penduline Tit that has been present in the area since the 6th. We arrive just after first light and make our way along the boardwalk and find two birders already present. As luck would have it they are watching the bird as we approach. It's sitting at the top of a nearby tree and soon drops drop onto the reedmace heads.

It remains in view for 15-20 minutes and then flies off round the back of the tree. It's re-found near the other end of the boardwalk, and seen a couple of times either from the bridge or along the return trail path before it flies off again.

It's not seen again for 30-40 minutes, then I spot it back at the top of the tree where it was first seen when  we arrived this  morning.

Again it drops down onto the reedmace and I manage to grab a record shot.

From here it's a quick visit to Oare Marshes. The usual species are seen here, Teal, Wigeon, Lapwing, Snipe  and plenty of Pintail are also present. There's no sign of the redhead Smew that was seen on our previous visit here.

From here we make a stop off at Cliffe Pools. Wigeon are present in large numbers and Goldeneye, Pintail and Pochard are also seen in good figures.

A walk along the path and a scan across Flamingo Pool produces a Greenshank tucked in along the back edges. 

Last stop of the day is to Littlebrook Lake for the Slavonian Grebe that's been present on this tiny piece of water since the 19th January.  It's on the way home and it's well overdue a visit.

We park up and walk the short distance to the Lake and find the bird tucked in under a tree. It dives and resurfaces right at the other end of the lake.

There's some fishermen present and even when they use a remote controlled bait boat the bird isn't bothered by it.

The light never really improved until we were on our way home, when the sun tried to break through the clouds. A couple of year ticks added today with Penduline Tit and Greenshank. With superb views of the Slavonian Grebe a real bonus.

Rough-Legged Buzzard, Norfolk birding trip

Met Brian at 6.30 this morning undecided on where to spend the day birding. A few birds and sites were mentioned the night before, Leach's Storm Petrel at Brogborough Lake being high on the list. But with the forecast saying mist and fog for much of the morning  in Bedfordshire, we decide to head for Norfolk. A wise move as it turns out as the Petrel hadn't stayed overnight.

The trip started on a high when we spot a group of swans in a field at Hale Fen. A quick scan reveals that they are all Whoopers. 

The drive along the A10 produces a Barn Owl, in exactly the same area as the bird seen on the 1st January. It's perched on a fence post right by the roadside.

On to Wolferton and after a couple of drives round the triangle two male Golden Pheasants are seen feeding on the grass verge. A passing car pushes them back into the vegetation and out of sight.

A short wait and a single male bird reappears and starts to feed again. 

Not a bad start to the day, Thirty Whooper Swans a stunning Barn Owl and two male Golden Pheasants and it's only 8.30am.

On to Holme Dunes hoping for a sighting of the two Shore Larks reported the previous day. Skylarks are everywhere here, and with the sun breaking through the clouds and the Skylarks in display flights all around us it's turning into a cracking morning. 

No sign of the Shore Larks or any Snow Bunting. A flock of twenty plus Linnet are seen and five Twite seen feeding near the edge of a small pool of water is a welcome addition to the year list. There's also a single Knot seen feeding here. Along with plenty of Black-headed Gulls.

On the walk back towards the car I take the lower path and wait for dad and Brian to come over the ridge. No sign of them so over the ridge I go to find them. Big mistake as after walking round the dunes Brian shouts out to me "Short-eared Owl". If I had stayed where I was I would of had cracking views of it. But it's dropped down out of sight before I reach them.

Black-headed Gull

Time for a coffee and a bite to eat, so it's off to Titchwell. At the feeders by the reserve centre there's plenty of activity, with double figures of Brambling and two Water Rails on show.

Heading up along the path a Bittern flies up from the reeds close by and gives stunning views before it drops back down a short distance away and out of sight.

Having been told about a Long-tailed Duck on one of the pools showing well, we reach the spot only to be told it's flown towards the sea.

At the beach there's plenty of birds on show. Sanderling, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, and numerous gulls are feeding along the shoreline. On the sea Goldeneye are present in good numbers along with a few Eider and Red-breasted Mergansers and the Long-tailed Duck is also found. Brian spots a diver close in among a group of gulls, and it's another year tick when it's confirmed as a Black-throated Diver.

The walk back produces a Spotted Redshank feeding close by and several Snipe and Ruff are feeding on the pools.

On the drive toward Salthouse we stop off at Burnham Overy. I'm scanning the trees to the East, when Brian calls "Rough-Legged". I manage to swing the scope round and get on it surprising quickly for once. Once on the bird it gives cracking views as it circles round in the clear blue skies, and I manage to stay on it for at least fifteen minutes before it flies low and away and out of view.

Most of the people present managed to get views of it after Brian had pointed them in the right direction.  Three Red Kites in the air together and two Marsh harriers quartering the fields were an added bonus.

Last stop is to Salthouse hoping to see some Snow Bunting. Arriving at the car park we find twelve birds feeding a short distance away. A dog walker puts them up and they land on the shingle ridge before flying down onto the small grass bank in the car park. A quick coffee from the van in the car park while being entertained by  forty plus Turnstones feeding among the shingle.

Snow Bunting

On the way home we drop in at Sculthorpe Moor. It''s too late to take a walk round as the reserve is closing but we get some info for the next trip.
A Barn owl flying across the road in front of us and into the nearby field is a nice end to a great days birding.

Great Grey Shrike, Therfield Heath

Undecided this morning on what to do and where to go.

At 8.30 it's decision time. So having done a bit of research on the location of the shrike at Therfield Heath and it only being thirty-seven miles from home, and having dipped it on the first attempt we decide to make another trip for it.

A couple of texts to Brian without response means it's just the two of us today.

Having had a couple of replies on the forums, we decide not to park along Mill lane but to take Briary Lane and park outside the pumping station.

Heading down the track we meet a dog walker who asks what we are looking for. Telling him it's a shrike and the size and colours of the bird. Shortly afterwards he thinks he has seen something similar fly from a nearby tree. But neither of us had got on it to confirm this.

We head further down the track and meet a birder from Ipswich. He's come in from Mill Lane and so far had no luck locating a shrike.

He does have some info about looking towards an old barn. The barn is quickly seen and a quick scan of the hedgerow to the left with his bins and BINGO! he's on the bird.

The winds are fierce and straight into our faces, making the eyes water and the scope shake. Not ideal for us but it has helped in locating the bird as it is taking shelter from the wind on our side of the hedge.

We decide to do the same and make our way to the back of the nearby hedges and use it as a windbreak.

A wise move as much better views are had of the shrike. The shrike gives excellent and prolonged views for the next twenty minutes or so. Then it takes flight and heads up along the next hedgerow and out of view.

From behind us, a Common Buzzard flies low across the field and lands in a nearby tree.

A second Buzzard is found perched on top of the hedgerow that the shrike had just flown towards.

Shortly afterwards the shrike is re-located in a distant tree, tucked in halfway up and out of the winds.

On the walk back we meet a nice couple who tell us they had just seen a shrike from the location that the dog walker thought he had seen it earlier. 

A short search of the area but no sign of the shrike this time.

We decide to do the same as the shrike and shelter from the winds and head for the car and home.

Barn Owl, Lee Valley

A dawn visit on the patch and a start at Cornmill Meadows.

The first sounds I hear are of Wigeon, and a quick scan reveals a flock of forty-three birds.

On the opposite side of the river, there's three Fallow Deer feeding on the short grass outside the office building. A brief look-up when they spot me, and then it's back to the grass.

As I approach the cattle gate a Barn Owl flies low across the meadows up over the fence posts and heads across the river and through the trees. It soon reappears and begins hunting the meadows. A fantastic sight and a bit of a surprise as I had not seen it since October of last year.

On the flooded pools and channels there's Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe. There's 100+ Lapwing along the water edges and four Snipe are found either feeding or sleeping amongst them.

A good start this morning for patch ticks and before heading for Hooks Marsh car park I add Greenfinch and Lesser Redpoll.

Several stops and scans of Hooks Marsh doesn't produce any Smew Sightings and it's a similar outcome at Friday Lake.

A look over the field opposite Hall Marsh Scrape produces a single Fieldfare, another patch year tick.

At Bowyer's Lake, several scans and still no sign of any Smew. A male Goldeneye appears from behind one of the islands and then, at last, a Redhead Smew pops up in the scope.

At the farms, there's no sign of any Little Owls, but a Common Buzzard circles over the trees of Galley Hill Woods and a second bird is seen flying low along the hedge line being mobbed by crows.

I'm still missing a few birds that I would normally expect to have on the patch list by this time, but I'm more than pleased with the Barn Owl sighting and with finally catching up with the Smew. 

Ferruginous Duck, Priory CP

A Birthday and a half day off from work today and it's off to Priory CP in Bedfordshire hoping to get a sighting of the Ferruginous Duck.

The journey goes smoothly until we approach the site and encounter two roundabouts. The satnav loses the signal and we are left going round the roundabout three times before we find the right turn off.

Soon after turning on to Barker's Lane at 2.30pm we see the car park up on the right. Priory Lake is only a short walk from the car park and we are soon scoping the lake in search of the fudge duck.

At first there is no sign, but a local tells us it's been reported again at 1pm, so I stay positive and at the dipping platform another scope of the lake produces the first sighting of the target bird.

Ferruginous Duck

It's asleep in amongst a group of Pochards and on the far side of the lake in front of the hide.

On the walk round towards the hide the recently found Black-necked Grebe from yesterday is seen. It's a nice bonus and another year tick.

Otter Carving

After reaching the hide the Duck is no where to be seen. A scan of the birds to the left of the hide reveals only Pochard and Great Crested Grebes.
Another  scan of  the lake, and another group of Pochards are found, with a handful of Tufted's mixed in.Then the Black-necked Grebe swims in to view again. Then the Fudge Duck is re-found right in front of the dipping platform that we had left earlier.
A quick walk back round and luckily it's right in front of the platform still.
The guy who was in the hide with us hadn't seen it yet, so a quick wave towards him and he's hurrying along the pathway to join us.
I grabbed a couple of record shots in very poor light before heading for home.

Waxwings

News comes through of five Waxwings feeding in a Garden in Chingford again this morning. 

Being down in Kent all day yesterday I was hoping the birds would stick around until today. Being only ten minutes from home and still needing Waxwing for a year tick, it's soon after the report that I'm in the car and heading for Long Deacon Drive.

Turning into the road we soon find the birds in a roadside tree. They are flying from this tree into the nearby garden and feeding on the numerous berries.

With the amount of berries still available in this garden and only five birds present, they should stay around for a while yet.

I'm not back home very long when the phone goes and Brian says he's going to try for the Great Grey Shrike at Therfield Heath. Back in the car to meet him and we are on our way. 

We have trouble finding the actual area where the birds have been seen, and none of the locals seem to have any idea about the birds.

Finally we find someone who knows where the birds have been seen and points us in the right direction.

Turning into Mill Lane we park up and head down the track. As we head down another year tick is added when 50+ Yellowhammers are seen perched in nearby trees. 

Scanning each and every hedge line we have no joy locating the shrikes. With very strong winds the birds are  probably well tucked in to the hedges.

So the first dip of the year, but as we head for home I spot three Grey Partridge in a roadside field to lift the mood and add another year tick for the three of us.

A really good couple of days with nine year ticks added over the course of the weekend.