The Great Grey Shrike at Pig Bush. Photo by Di Steadman.
It was back to dear old Portsmouth today after a superb week up in North Norfolk. The dogs got their early morning walk this morning before we had breakfast and packed to go home, but nothing really of note was seen, though I could hear a few Redwing calling overhead in the grey, drizzly sky. Once the dogs had done their business, I headed back to the Cottage to finish off the packing with Becky and then by 8.30am, we were back on the road heading southbound.
The Grey Grey Shrike is experiencing some different weather at Pig Bush. Photos by Di Steadman.
On the way back, we saw a large group of Grey Partridge by the side of a roadside field, but to be honest, apart from the Partridges, hardly anything of note was seen on the way back, despite the 200 mile trip home, for the weather was poor with a lot of rain on the back. When we finally got home at a reasonable 5 hours later (and that included a stop on the Services on the M25), we unpacked and chilled out and that's when I discovered on Birdguides that a Black-browed Albatross was seen with Gannets off Cley Coastguards!!!! Un-bloody-believable! Also in North Norfolk, a Waxwing was at Holm Dunes for its second day (possibly the bird I saw at Titchwell?), a Snow Bunting was still at West Runton and the Grey Phalarope was still on Cley Marshes.
The Isabelline / Red-tailed Shrike at Wood Mill Nature Reserve. Photos by Matt Parkes.
While I have been away, Hampshire has had some nice birds that included a Great Grey Shrike at Pig Bush, New Forest and was still present this morning and a Short-eared Owl came in off the sea at Hill Head. Yesterday, at the same site, Mark Francis found a Leaches Petrel over the sea among the Gulls. Meanwhile, over in West Sussex, the Isabelline / Red-tailed Shrike was still at Wood Mill Nature Reserve at Henfield today and a pair of Snow Buntings and an Osprey were still at Thorney Island.
Film footage of the distant Leaches Petrel off Hill Head yesterday by Mark Francis.
Two of the four Snow Buntings at West Runton this morning.
Though cold (around 6 degrees centigrade) first thing this morning, it was a glorious start to the day with a clear blue sky overhead and plenty of early morning sunshine. A Nuthatch was seen along with many common bird species, but in this excellent light, I managed to grab a few nice photos of the local birdlife on this road.
Above, a male House Sparrow near our Cottage and below, a small flock of Starlings.
Above, a pair of Collared Doves and below, looking west down Grove Lane.
Above and below, Dunnocks showing well.
Above, one of several Robins seen on our walk and below, this photo does not do it justice on how colourful these trees were in the bright sunshine.
West Runton, North Norfolk:
One of the Snow Buntings here at West Runton.
After a good walk with my dogs down Grove Lane this morning, Birdguides informed me that the Snow Bunting was still present around the Car Park near the beach; however, there were now FOUR birds there and thankfully, it didn't take too long to get to the Car Park. Becky took the dogs for a short walk while I went off to find the Snow Buntings. I was pretty sure that I had heard one fly over my head at Salthouse earlier this week, but I wasn't 100% sure and so I really wanted to see these birds and I wasn't to be disappointed.
Above, the lone Brent Goose and below, some of the photos I took of the Snow Buntings.
Above and below, just look at those feathered legs!
I paid the £4 parking fee (damn expensive parking in North Norfolk!) and strolled north up to the top of the Car Park. There was a large grassy area beyond the Car Park and it didn't take long to find the birds, but before I could get any photos done, a couple with their dog flushed the birds. Someone earlier pointed out that an odd Goose was in the grassy area too and it turned out to be a ‘dark-bellied’ Brent Goose all on its lonesome! The Snow Buntings were soon found a bit further north on the grass and the gorgeous birds showed down to around 20 feet as they went about their business in search of Grass seed. This was my 7th new species for the year I had seen in North Norfolk and it could have been a lot more if I put a lot more effort in. However, I was more than happy with the birds I had seen here on my penultimate day here.
Above, there were a couple of bird feeders nearby the Car Park which the local House Sparrows and Starlings took a liking too. Below, the beach at West Runton looking west.
Above, the beach looking east. Below, an adult and juvenile Cormorant chilling out.
After taking lots of photos and a bit of film footage of these fantastic birds, I caught up with Becky and set up my scope to scan the sea. A Little Auk had been seen earlier passing Cley and so I kept a good eye out for 30 minutes or so over the calm sea. Apart from Gulls and Cormorants, all I found were two Red-throated Divers; with one on the sea and another heading distantly west.
Wells-next-to-sea, North Norfolk:
This Harbour Seal totally ignored the people walking along the Prominade and the kids fishing for crabs as it went about its business in search of fish in the harbour. Judging by its size, I think it was a juvenile Seal.
After the Snow Buntings, Becky and I made our way to the lovely seaside town of Wells-next-to-sea for a bite to eat and a walk around by the harbour. While driving through town finding somewhere to park, I saw a Harbour Seal swimming in the harbour close to the roadside and quickly got Becky onto the Seal. After parking, we caught up with the Seal and I managed to grab a few photos of the Seal before we headed off with the dogs for something to eat.
Brent Geese on the Saltmarsh.
Out on the Saltmarsh, there was a gathering of Brent Geese close to the water and a few more flying in to join them. At least 30+ birds were present and more flocks of Brent could be seen flying high east over onto the Saltmarsh. A little later, shortly before we left the High Street, several skeins of Pink-footed Geese flew over our heads and was quite a spectacle, though I think it was only Becky and I that were interested! A Red Kite flew high west over the Saltmarsh and a Little Egret was also seen flying east.
Above, another photo of the young Harbour Seal and below, a skein of Pink-footed Geese heading east over the Saltmarsh.
On our way to and from Wells-next-to-sea, there were sightings of a flock of Grey Partridge in the fields and I had to slow down to let a small group of Red-legged Partridges make their way out of one of the country roads. Sadly, one flew out too quickly from the roadside hedge and it hit our car and landed on the roadside verge. Bugger! On a much more positive note, a Stoat ran across the road (my second one of the year) and was sporting its near Winter coat and was wearing more white than rusty red colour!
Above, more Pink-footed Geese flying over the town.
Other birds seen along the way included a few Common Buzzards, at least two female Kestrels and around a dozen or so Red Kites, which I think must be the most common raptor here in North Norfolk. And so our last full day in North Norfolk has come to an end. Becky and I have booked a table for dinner tonight in one of the Holt pubs and can reflect on how our holiday went. I have been pleased with my sightings this week and yes, I could of seen more like the Shorelarks at Weybourne and the Grey Phalarope on Cley Marshes, but 7 ‘year-ticks’ added to my Year List (217 for the year now) has put a big smile on my face.
This morning, I had a trip back to Salthouse to view the sea for anything still moving after the strong winds over the past few days. This afternoon, I took my wife and the dogs to Holt Country Park for a quiet walk in the woods there and also a quick bite to eat in Hettys Cafe situated by the Car Park there. The weather remained overcast all day, but the wind had dropped considerably and therefore the sea was dead flat and so picking up birds on the sea proved relatively easy, though the variety was somewhat lacking.
Earlier today, my walk with the dogs down Grove Lane proved fruitful when I found my first Brambling of the year. I first heard it call and then picked out the bird with Greenfinches, perched on the top of a small tree. Other birds of note along the road included a Grey Wagtail flying over and a Nuthatch high up in one of the trees by the Copse. A large group of mixed Titmice held several Long-tailed Tits among them as they moved from hedgerow to hedgerow along the road.
Salthouse, North Norfolk:
Three Redshank flew in off the sea and headed onto the Marshes.
The short drive (around 9 miles from Holt) to Salthouse only took around ten minutes to arrive at a very quiet Car Park, but it was still overcast when I arrived and as mentioned, the sea was now dead flat. I spent a good 90 minutes here overlooking the sea with my scope and during that time, I have to be honest, it was no way as busy as it was earlier in the week. It kicked off with two Diver species first with both a Red-throated Diver and a Black-throated Diver on the sea, though too distant to get a photo. Another Red-throated Diver was flying west though more distant than the first one and eventually, both the near Divers done a disappearing act and were never seen again. A bit like one of the Harbour Seals that popped up for a while, but it was too busy fishing and finding it again for a photo was impossible. These creatures can stay underwater for a long, long time!
Above, a calm sea and very little on the beach here at Salthouse this morning. Below, a flock of Wigeon flying east over the sea.
Above, Wigeon on the small pool behind where I stood and below, a female Reed Bunting popped out of the nearby reedbed.
I checked the beach thoroughly for the recent Glaucous Gull, but there was no sign and no reported sightings of the bird today. However, two distant juvenile Swans had me scratching my head when I first picked them up swimming distantly on the sea. The more I looked at them on my highest magnification on my scope, I was convinced they were juvenile Whooper Swans and when I saw the pass overhead later that morning heading towards the fields on the opposite side of the Car park, I was in no doubt that they were Whoopers. Just to confirm it, a regular birder who I met yesterday told me that they had been regular birds here all month! My second ‘year-tick’ of the day.
Above, the juvenile Whooper Swans were first seen on the sea and then eventually flew over my head to land on the nearby Marshes. Below, another photo of the female Reed Bunting.
Other sightings during my time here included a large raft of Common Scoters to the east of where I stood that must have been around 50 plus birds. More Common Scoters went through with an additional 13 more birds seen during my time there along with two adult Gannets. A small flock of four Brent Geese headed west low over the sea and a Great Crested Grebe was also found on the sea a little later. I did find a Sandwich Tern fishing some distance away but through the scope, there was no doubt on its ID. The bird came in a lot closer but went off west.
Above, this Curlew was searching for food in the pool below.
Above, a female Stonechat popped out of the brambles and a male bird joined it shortly afterwards. Below, a lone Little Egret flew over and landed near the Cattle. A Grey Heron was also by the Cattle.
I was banking on seeing my first Little Auk for many a year, but not today. Instead, a couple of Turnstone were on the beach along with a Pied Wagtail and several Meadow Pipits. A couple of Rock Pipits flew over and checking the fields behind me, I picked up a large flock of around 20 Grey Partridges. A Cetti’s Warbler was calling throughout the time I was there and when I eventually got back to the car, I actually saw the bird wing-flicking in one of the brambles.
Above, a flock of Curlew passed by as I rounded Gramborough Hill and below, the dead Pink-footed Goose I found by the Hill.
Above, I found a cluster of Parasol Toadstools growing by the Hill and in the nearby field and below, another photo of the female Stonechat by the Hill.
I took a walk to the nearby Gramborough Hill seeing it was so quiet on the sea and it paid off with a couple of Stonechats on the brambles there and then I came across a large pool that held a Curlew and a Redshank, though soon flew off when I passed them by. A Skylark was singing in the nearby fields, but sadly, I found a dead, very fresh Pink-footed Goose on the shingle. Could it have died of possible Bird Flu or simply old age? I did discuss this with the old chap back at the Car Park who told me that he had seen the bird and reported it to Defra to deal with.
Above, the female Stonechat really showed well and below, another cluster of Parasol Toadstools.
Even a Black-headed Gull took a liking to the small pool by Gramborough Hill.
As I made my way back to the car, a Redshank flew up from the pool and landed nearby as did a couple of Meadow Pipits. I bet later in the year, that Snow and Lapland Bunting use this pool area. A male Linnet was seen on the fence wire as I neared the car and the big pool on the west side of the Car Park held good numbers of Wigeon, along with a few Gadwall and Teal among them. A female Reed Bunting flew out of the small reedbed and showed well on the wire fence and that rounded off my trip to Salthouse for the day.
Holt Country Park, North Norfolk:
We had a lovely walk in the Country Park with our dogs.
I had my wires crossed when I took Becky and the dogs to Holt Country Park as I thought she meant the Holt Garden Centre and therefore, I did not take my binoculars or camera along with me. However, I still had my Mobile Phone Camera along with me and I found it most useful in identification of the Toadstools and Fungi I came across in the woodland.
Above, Hetty's Cafe provided some much needed nourishment and below, Turkey-tail Fungus growing on a tree stump within the Country Park.
Above, we found several clumps of Honey Fungus growing by the footpath and below, I found this Stinkhorn Toadstool.
Even on arrival, I picked out a Common Crossbill perched high up in one of the Conifers and a further two more birds were seen a little later when we were having a hot drink after our walk. Other birds seen included a Nuthatch, several Goldcrests and a Firecrest and Common Buzzard that were both heard only. We let the dogs off their leads (as there was no-one or no dogs around) and they behaved superbly as we took a circuit around the woodland. The wood contained mostly Sweet Chestnut trees and their seed cases were evident all along the woodland floor. I was keeping a sharp eye out for fungi and I found a variety of different Toadstools including Honey Fungus, Stinkhorn, Redhead Roundhead, Olive Oysterling and some Coral Spot Fungus.
Above, Coral Spot Fungus growing on an old branch and below, there were clumps of flowering Herb Robert.
Above, this old bridge was still present within the woodland and below, Olive Oysterling toadstools growing amongst the Sweet Chestnut casings.
Above, a Redhead Roundhead toadstool and below, the footpath we took through the woodland.
I met this grim looking lady near the Cafe and the Witch wasn't too pretty either!
We finished our trip here with a bite to eat and a Hot Chocolate in Hetti’s Cafe here to round off a nice walk with the dogs and then have a nice chill out in the afternoon. There were a few notable sightings in North Norfolk today including the Grey Phalarope on Popes Pool by Cley Marshes and a Ruddy Shelduck was on the Reserve too. Four Snow Buntings were near the Car Park at West Runcton (I might go for them tomorrow?) and a couple of Curlew Sandpipers were on Titchwell RSPB Reserve this afternoon.
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