Last weekend we visited a UEA open day, and stayed overnight in Kings Lynn. This allowed us to do a bit of birding the evening after at Titchwell as well as stopping at Frampton on the way home...
Titchwell held a great selection on Saturday evening, including 10 Spoonbills, Great White Egret, Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Bearded Tits, and best of all, 4 adult Turtle Doves sat together...
Turtle Doves
Bearded Tits - adult female and juvenile male (bottom).
Yellow-legged Gull
Curlew Sandpiper
A stop at RSPB Frampton on the way back on Sunday morning was also very enjoyable with highlights including the Long-billed Dowitcher, 16 Spotted Redshanks, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbill, Black-necked Grebe and an impressive 1500+ Black-tailed Godwits. 3 Willow Emerald Damselfly were an odonata tick for me.
Yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity to call into St. Mary's Island for a look at the two Barred Warblers which had been found there. They showed well, regularly perching in the open on the wetland's brambles and providing me with great scope views. Much better than the video below suggests...
We were just getting ready to head out this morning when news came on of a Greenish Warbler at Chevington. We quickened the pace, although when we arrived the dreaded no sign message came on.
We continued around to the bushes behind the L-shaped hide and it was obvious how difficult it would be to see the bird given the thick vegetation. An hour later we had seen nothing more than a couple of Willow Warblers, but thankfully a slight movement at the back of the bushes proved to be the Greenish Warbler. While not a long view, I was lucky to get a look at the bird as it sat side on in the open. A very welcome patch tick!
A short while later a flock of Long-tailed Tits moved through the same bushes, and a vocal Willow Tit was with them. At the north pool a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper had arrived, along with 3 Pintail, and the 2 Garganey were still around. Another Garganey was at a Bothal Pond on the way home.
For a photo of the Greenish, check out finder Dave Elliot's blog here.
Not much time for words again, so here's a selection of videos and images from the last few weeks...
Videograbs of one of two Honey Buzzards at Wykeham Forest. Also seen were Goshawks, Kestrels, Common Buzzards and a juvenile Marsh Harrier. See the video here.
Marsh Tit near Scarborough
Videograb of an Osprey at Rutland Water. Other Birdfair birding highlights included Red-necked Phalarope and Great White Egret.
Wood and Common Sandpipers from Druridge Pools
Phonescoped shot of one of two Scaup back at Chevington today (29th). 2 Spotted Redshank were here on the 27th.
A huge thanks to Bardsey Bird Observatory who hosted their annual Young Birder's Trip last week, and which I was fortunate to attend. We had a great week on the island, and can't wait to return. A bit short of time, I haven't been able to write much about the week, but here's a selection of photos from the island...
Chough
Spotted Flycatcher
Wheatears - adult and juveniles.
Marsh Harrier - juvenile.
Fulmar
Grey Seals
There were plenty of Willow Warblers around, as well as smaller numbers of Chiffchaffs.
Raven
Manx Shearwaters - adult and chick, as well as a recording of the calls of some of the adults below...
Storm Petrels ringed overnight
Juvenile Herring Gull in front of the Welsh mainland
Hummingbird Hawkmoth
Grayling Butterflies
Small Copper
Autumn Lady's Tresses Orchid
Personally, my highlight of the week were the daily sightings of Risso's Dolphins, including a great display at sunset on the 6th. The above video really fails to do that display justice but it was the best I could get! Please view the video in HD at 1080p.
The Milky Way over the south end. Not the best photo!
