A NORFOLK TRIP.

Despite the fact that June is a poor month for birding in Norfolk and despite three different friends who had been there recently and all finding in disappointing I still decided to have a couple of days there.

Set off early on Wednesday morning and stopped off at a favourite cafe near Kings Lynn just over two hours later.Trouble was it was now a Macdonalds. The tea I ordered arrived in a plastic lidded beaker and it  tasted like canal water and was so hot I scalded my lip.Wonderful ! !

Arrived at Titchwell not long after 9.00 AM and bumped into Jeff Rankin and Chris who were loitering outside the toilets.It was overcast, very cold (9 degrees) and very windy.Things didn't start too badly because on Patsy's pool there were 6 Red-crested Pochards.

Things went downhill after that and I saw very little despite going in all the hides.The wind was very strong and it was bloody cold.The beach was deserted with no people and no birds,The sea was very rough.

After lunch I left and went to Brancaster Staithe harbour but I had no luck there despite a good walk round.I then headed for Chosely barns where I saw a few Yellowhammers and some distant Marsh Harriers.I gave up at 4.00 PM and headed to my hotel.

I was staying at the nearby Briarfields Hotel where they had let me have one of their "superior rooms" at their single room rate.I love staying at  hotels but there are often some problems.The huge bath towels you get that are not easily handled, the showers which are all different take an age to get working properly and the walk to the loo in the middle of the night through strange rooms can be very difficult.Three years ago I was North Norfolk Toe Stubbing champion.  

For tea I went into Hunstanton to one of my favourite fish and chip restaurants.I hadn't been for a couple of years and it must have changed owners because it was now awful.The chips could have been used better filling in road potholes.

As it was a bit brighter now I went on a tour inland at some of  my favourite spots for Barn Owls I haven't seen a Barn Owl for a few years now but did not have any luck.I gave up then knowing it was not my day.

Thursday morning was much brighter and although the wind was still blowing strongly it was a bit warmer so after breakfast I headed over to Thornham harbour to check out the creeks.Over the years I've seen some great birds here but today there were a few BH Gulls some Common Redshanks and a few Oystercatchers and that was it.

In then headed along the coastal path to Holme.There were loads of Skylarks singing but the wind as keeping them on the ground.There were a few sightings of Marsh Harriers but all too distant for my lens.Things improved a lot in the dunes just before the path goes into the woods as there was some shelter and Linnets, Swallows and Common Whitethroats were showing well.Best for me though was that a pair of Skylarks were dropping down to feed enabling me to get some decent flight shots.   

For lunch I went to the shopping village next to Creake Abbey a place I've seen some decent birds over the years including Littel Owls but no luck this time.I then headed to Burnham Overy Staithe harbour and parked up on the beach.I started to walk down the sea wall path but didn't fancy walking too far in the strong wind so I went down the bank and sat on a stone bench which was more sheltered.

It was a good move because I spotted a pair of Little Terns that were over on the far bank.These are devils to get flight shots of because they a so small, zoom around like Swifts and never come close.Took me over an hour to get these so so shots but good fun.

It was whilst sitting on my stone bench that I saw something that was going to give me a Magic Moment in an hours time.Looking right down to creek where it leads to the sea I thought I'd spotted a seal but on close inspection it was a swimmer heading slowly down the creek.

Sometime later when I was back on the beach car park having a drink the swimmer had arrived and was in the water just in front of me.The swimmer turned on it's back, took of it's goggles and pulled back the top of the wet suit.Long black hair cascaded out.It was a young woman.She dipped her hair in the water and shook it from side to side.She then stood up and walked towards me.I was instantly reminded of the James Bond film "Dr. No" when Honey Ryder walked out of the sea towards James Bond looking fanatstic.

She was an absolute stunner.I thought quick Max think of something witty to say but "Hello" was all I could think of.What a clown ! ! We chatted for about 5 minutes before she walked off up the beach.I think it was love at first site and I like her as well.That was worth the trip to Norfolk on it's own.

Had an early tea and went for an evening visit to Titchwell.It was still very windy but sunny and warm.Did Ok in the Parinder hide which is a different kettle of chips when the sun is behind the hide.There were some Black-tailed Godwits near the hide which were very colourful in the evening sunshine.  

A juvenile Little Gull also came into range and showed briefly close to the hide. 

MR.AND MRS WATER RAIL'S CHILDREN.

Popped over to Marsh Lane again this morning getting there not long after 8.00 AM.Had a go from the car park at the Swifts that were zooming around but am afraid I didn't do much good despite it being sunny.

I then headed to the North Causeway hide where I'd done very well yesterday getting shots on Water Rail Day.I was hoping to see the chicks that had been seen later on yesterday and I was very lucky because it wasn't long before both adults and 4 chicks showed but they very quickly darted back into the reeds.

I didn't have to wait all that long till one of the adults came out again with a couple of chicks to feed.Managed a few decent shots taken through the reeds.What cute little chaps they are.

Couldn't resist getting more shots of the Reed Warblers who came posing for shots again.I love these chaps.

WATER RAIL DAY.

On Wednesday morning I went over to the churchyard not far from Nuneaton to get some more shots of the Spotted Flycatchers I caught up with a few days ago.It served me right that last time I boasted how accommodating they had been because this time although I was there for over an hour I only had a few short glimpses.

Here are a couple of shots the first shows that they were not pleased to see me again.

On Thursday morning the weather was very Summery so I shot over to Marsh Lane getting there not long after 9.00 AM.

Soon ended up in the North causeway hide hoping to get some more shots of the cracking Reed Warblers that have been showing well there however there was a problem because it was, unknown to me, Water Rail Day.This is the day of the year that Water Rails usually so secretive have to show in the open and have to resist scooting back into the reeds.

There presence distracted  me away from the Reed Warblers.There were two that for the best part of an hour showed very well in the open feeding away.Too well in fact because a lot of the time they were too close for my lens to focus on them.

Here are a few shots when they weren't too close.These shots are not cropped.There was no need.

                                      

I then found a Little Egret preening on one of the islands from the Oak hide.Tried hard not to burn out the whites in the bright sunshine.

It wasn't long before some BH Gulls had a go at it.I noted that in defense mode it fluffed up it's feathers.

It was whilst I was in the Oak hide I had yet another embarrassing ID incident.In my defense I was in conversation with Martin about the Grey Phalarope when this bird flew fast and low over the islands.It was dark with a long tail and pointed wings.I shouted out  "Peregrine".It was a Cuckoo.Oh   dear ! ! ! I should have known better because no other birds had taken flight.

On the way back I had another go in the North causeway hide.The Water Rails were not showing (I found out today that they have chicks) but the Reed Warblers were very active.Cracking birds.

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A SUMMER PLUMAGE GREY PHALAROPE.

Late morning I had a text from Birdguides telling me that there was a Grey Phalarope at Brandon Marsh.I decided on the spot not to go because the drive to BM these days is a pain with those roadworks and I've got some decent pics of these chaps and the weather was not good.

At lunchtime I received a call from Andy Hale telling me it was still there and it was in Summer plumage.Although as I've said above I've got shots of these chaps but none in Summer plumage.So off I went.

Got there at 1.30 AM to find the car park crammed with cars but I was lucky and found a place.The EM hide was heaving with birders,cameras and scopes so I had to squeeze in to find a spot.The bird was on a small island half way between the hide and the big island.Too far for my lens to get decent shots but who cared because it was a cracking bird.It was hard to believe the grey birds we get to see in Autumn was the same bird.

The cream of local birders were in the hide plus sitting at the end of the bench was Lee Evans. I always think that when he's around there is a top bird present.

A couple of heavily cropped shots showing how attractive the bird was.  

Managed a few flight shots also heavily cropped.

The bird (a female I'm told) was often harassed by the Gulls and I was able to get a few shots. 

A BLACK TERN

Although I'd not seen a Black Tern for a few years when I got the message late morning on Sunday that there was one on the Engine Pool at Earlswood lakes I took one look at the weather wet,cold and windy I went into wimp mode and decided not to go.

Just after tea I received another text (this time from Kat Everitt) saying that it was still there.As I was walking down the sailing club path I bumped into Andy Hale who soon put me on to it.Mind you it was whizzing around all over the place literally going from one end of the lake to the other.

It was very hard to focus on it not only because of the speed it was flying at but also it never came close and the camera kept focusing on the trees in the background.Well that's my excuse anyway.Still I have been informed I now have the largest collection in Europe of blurred grey blob shots.

Great fun trying to get shots though with much heavy duty swearing involved.Here are my best shots.