Window to Wildlife

 We landed in Bulgaria mid afternoon and headed straight towards the Black Sea coast, with a couple of birding opportunities before arriving at our hotel. We first stopped at Balchik cliffs where we scanned unsuccessfully for Eagle Owl, before arriving at a river valley where in fading light we watched a flock of Corn Buntings circle across, then land in the reedbed, and a lovely male Hen Harrier drift nonchalantly across the top of the sandstone cliff, looking rather golden in the evening light. As dusk fell, several Woodcock whirred past, wings beating furiously.  Aside from the birds, we were surprised to find a Badger rootling around the front of a cave high on the cliff face, giving great views in the scope. And, finally, as the light disappeared, the eerie howling of Golden Jackals echoed across the valley, our cue to leave and move on to our hotel for dinner.

 Our last day in Norfolk, Tim and I visited Titchwell once again in search of a Water Pipit. This was quickly found at close range, but had moved some distance by the time Tim got his camera out. We waited for some time, getting several distant sightings, but it was camera shy, and never returned to the original spot. A handful of  Snipe however were more obliging. Snipe Our next stop was Thornham, where we walked from the harbour to Holme reserve. There were no new new ticks here, but it is a favourite walk and did not disappoint, with several groups of Golden Plover passing just over our heads. Scanning the fields, we could see huge numbers of Pink-footed Geese and a large array of Golden Plover huddled together on the ground. On our return leg, we watched in wonder as wave after straggly wave of skeins of geese, flew noisily across to join the ever increasing throng. A magnificent sight. Pink-footed Geese Our final stop was back at Snettisham, taking a short walk past the chalets to

 Tim started the day well with a Barn Owl quartering the field from our bedroom before breakfast. Unfortunately it had disappeared into a corner before I was able to find it, and failed to reappear.  With a poor forecast for the morning but better by lunchtime, we decided to head straight to Cley reserve and then work our way back towards Thornham. Shortly before we arrived, a report came through of Twite on the West Bank of Beach Road. This was also the area where Red-breasted Goose and Ruddy Shelduck were being reported, so it sounded promising and would save us a trip to Blakeney if we were able to find them. We started at the car park, where a huge flock of distant geese were just visible in the dip. We set up the scopes, but it was very drizzly, and within moments my lens was covered in rain, and with the low light it was obvious I was not going to find anything. Another birder had his scope set up and pointed out a Ruddy Shelduck, apparently so far off it resembled an orange blob

 We started the day with a pre-breakfast visit to Titchwell in search of Woodcock. We had been advised by a volunteer that the best chance to see one was as they flew into roost around 7am, but it would all be over by 7.15. And so it proved! As light was breaking we scanned the skies for bird-like shapes. Early risers included a few silhouetted Pigeons and Blackbirds, but soon, as the day brightened we were able to make out the distinctive wing shape, rapid, whirring wing beats and long downward bill of Woodcocks coming in to land. They flew in very fast and dropped quickly into the vegetation but at least five were seen well. A promising start to the day, and with fine weather forecast, we had great hopes for a good day’s birding. Unfortunately, it proved to be a day of dips! After breakfast we headed to Holkham, generally a great destination with a multitude of birds. Today, it was bereft of activity. There were no White-fronted Geese to be found in their usual field by the road. Fro

 With a forecast of rain and strong winds blowing in from the west by 10am, we decided to stay local and visit Titchwell RSPB, just a few minutes drive from Thornham. We arrived around 9 and were serenaded by a melodic Song Thrush, eventually managing to pinpoint this lovely song and locate the bird in a small tree just off the path. Continuing round to the feeders, we found plenty of small birds, adding Goldfinch, Great Tit and Chaffinch to the holiday list, before spotting a gorgeous male Brambling hopping around the base of one of the feeding stations. An excellent find. We continued along the boardwalk in the hope of a roosting Woodcock skulking in the undergrowth, but had no luck. However, we met another couple who alerted us to a roosting Tawny Owl in a small ivy covered bush further along the path. It was tucked well in, and although they showed us exactly where the bird was,  it proved difficult to see, with the face obscured by branches, and only part of the chest and tail fea

 We had a horrendous journey up to Norfolk, but all was quickly forgotten as we approached Welney WWT reserve and found several flocks of Whooper Swans loafing in the fields. We met Sue at the car park and were soon watching good numbers of Tree Sparrows on the feeders. Two new ticks in a matter of minutes was an excellent start to our trip. As we had delayed journeys, we decided not to go into the reserve itself, and headed instead towards Snettisham. We drove off in convoy spotting a juvenile Cattle Egret on the river bank as we departed. Along Ten Mile Bank amongst a flock of Lapwing, I managed to detect a lovely flock of Golden Plover, well camouflaged against the mud. Continuing on, another field was full of Fieldfare and small gulls, then we spied a Great Spotted Woodpecker hanging onto a telegraph pole.  Tree Sparrows At Snettisham it was cold and blowy, but the sunshine made it warm enough. At the first pool we quickly encountered a Black-throated Diver, initially at the far en

 Our birdwatching day began over breakfast at our B&B, with wave after wave of Cormorants heading out to sea in straggly lines. Astonishingly, we hadn’t logged any of these yesterday!  At the RSPB reserve we started at the ARC hide. Water levels were very high, with a volunteer informing us they were half a metre higher than ever before. There were reasonable numbers of the regular ducks, but little else on the water, and no islands exposed to accommodate roosting waders. Scanning the bushes in hopes of a Bittern warming itself in the early morning sun, Tim brilliantly managed to spot a pair of Bearded Tits and we watched these for some time through the scopes, feasting on seed heads and swinging pendulously on the reeds, the male’s  burnished back, grey head and bold, black teardrop moustache looking magnificent in the golden early morning sun. Sadly they were too far away for photos, but here’s one Tim made earlier!! Bearded Reedling A Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe were ne

 Our annual pilgrimage to Kent was a little earlier than usual due to other travel plans, and the conditions were dry but very cold. We arrived at Pett level around 9.45, finding a Meadow Pipit foraging under a gate and Rooks across the field. We pulled off road for a scan over the levels, and quickly picked out Lapwings, Curlews, Snipe and a few Dunlin feeding. There were plenty of geese covering a wide area, and scanning though the flocks we quickly located a group of White-fronted Geese amongst the Greylag and a couple of other geese, which we debated for some time, unsure if they were Bean Geese or Pink-footed, with both having been recently reported. Other observers on Birdguides concluded Pink-footed, and when we caught up with a pair of Bean Geese later in the day, we were inclined to agree. As we watched, a flock of Brent Geese flew in and started feeding alongside the others, notably smaller in size. A few Bar-tailed Godwits were also picked out, feeding at the back of the lev

 We joined the Shoreham District Ornithological Society at Pagham Harbour today, under the expert guidance of Bernie Forbes who was leading the walk. We congregated at Church Lane and walked along the side of White’s Creek with a rising tide. As we set off a vast flock of Brent Geese flew in, their evocative barking calls echoing across the harbour before they settled across the mudbanks. A brilliant start to our day. Scanning the exposed mudflats we encountered plentiful Wigeon and many resplendent Pintails, plus good numbers of Teal plodding about the mud. At the creekside Grey Plover, Redshank and Dunlin were active , and a few Bar-tailed Godwits and Curlew were also busy foraging. A Stonechat alighted on a small bush on the bank nearby. We continued walking towards the harbour mouth, picking up more waders, including a distant flock of Knot and a smattering of Ringed Plover and Turnstone. A Common Gull and group of Great Black-backed Gulls loafed on the mud.  We arrived at the lago

 After a few family days in Shropshire it was good to get our birding again on a dry day. We parked by the barn at Seaford Head and walked down through Hope Gap to the sea. A few Fieldfares were foraging in the dense scrub beside the path, but it was otherwise very quiet on the passerine front.  At the Hope Gaps steps, now closed off due to erosion, we were thrilled to spot a Great Northern Diver on the sea at fairly close range. Although we had excellent views of a bird at Southwick earlier in the month, it’s always a bonus to find your own bird. Great Northern Diver A pair of Stonechat entertained us, flitting back and forth between the gorse and ground, flicking their tails in the characteristic manner.  Another highlight here were Fulmars circling the cliffs with their distinctive stiff-winged flight pattern. As we rounded the cliff head towards the coastguard cottages we encountered several more soaring and settling on their usual nest site on the cliffs. They really are beautiful

 This morning we were joint leaders of a Shoreham District Ornithological Society event with the World of Widewater team. The event had been advertised on Facebook and around forty people turned up, some Sdos members, some local residents and others interested public. This event is always popular and it’s always a bit nerve-wracking at to whether any birds of interest will arrive.  Today’s bird life was somewhat limited, with gulls, Little Grebes, a few Redshank and large numbers of Swans noted. Someone spotted a Moorhen, which I wasn’t able to find as it had disappeared into a bush. A female Stonechat showed well several times and was perhaps the highlight of the walk. Despite the lack of birds, it was a lovely sunny morning and most who attended enjoyed the event, with some likely to join Sdos, hopefully making our efforts worthwhile. On my walk home I spotted the resident Greenshank feeding in the channel by the houseboats. Little Grebe In the afternoon we set out to Lancing Ring fo

 On our day out yesterday we had a fly past Parakeet, but I was not very satisfied with that as an annual sighting tick. With the feeders topped up, mum’s garden is a good bet for this species, much to her chagrin. So today we were thrilled, and mum dismayed, to spot no less than five birds on the feeders. Ring-necked Parakeets  Despite their bad press and dubious provenance, they are certainly attractive birds, especially the male with its rosy ring and contrasting black bib, and the orange-red bill and eye ring contrasting with the vibrant green plumage.  Less attractive is their screeching call as they descend on the feeders and announce their presence. Now, that’s a worthy tick!

 We met up with John and Andy hoping to get a good few birds under our belts for the year list. After what feels like weeks of endless rain, it was great to have a dry day and we convened at mum’s house around 8am, to head for Abberton Reservoir. This is always a good venue for a decent haul of species, with a number of viewing points and a nice variety of habitat features around the expanse of water. However, we began with a short but worthwhile detour to an industrial estate in Colchester, where we had a fabulous encounter with a tinkling of Waxwings, foraging on red berries above our heads, whilst constantly calling softly, a sound like distant jingling sleigh bells.  Waxwings The light was glorious with blue skies and bright sunshine enhancing the rufous buff colouration, bold yellow tail band and black bib and eye mask. The red and yellow ‘wax marks’ that give the bird its name stood out clearly and the cluster perched overhead were a magnificent sight. In the midst of an irruptio

 After weeks of poor weather and visiting family, it was a delight to be out birding again! We met with Sue M shortly before sunrise at Pulborough Brooks car park to kick off the New Year list, starting with the uninspiring Crow and Wood Pigeon. Along the Zigzags trail, things began to improve with a group of three Bullfinches, including a richly rufescent male and two muted females. A nice tick for the first day of the year. A Red Kite pivoted overhead, and was seen many times across the reserve throughout the morning. At Fattengates there was a good assortment of common passerines, predominantly tits, Robins and Dunnock.  There was little to be seen along the track to Westmead hide, but just at the entrance a flock of fluffy Long-tailed Tits foraged in the bushes just feet away, resembling miniature balls of candy floss on a stick. Water levels on the brooks were high, attracting excellent numbers of wildfowl, including Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard and many dapper Pintails bobbing