A FEW DAYS IN NORFOLK (Cont'd)

After an early breakfast on Thursday I drove a couple of miles down the A149 to the reserve at Cley.

As I started to walk down the broadwalk to the three hides the weather was still gloomy and a brisk breeze was blowing.I never have much success with the camera at Cley and it was the same today with what light there is is always in your eyes.There was little about on the Marshes and all  got was a shot of a Ruff.

Surprisingly a Hare appeared in front of the hide.First I'd seen for ages and probably my best shot.

The only other thing of interest was a couple of Avocets having a set to.I thought initially that it was a punch up but I soon realised it was foreplay.This was a tactic I often used when I was young.

I soon left Cley and headed in land to Pensthorpe where I hoped the weather might be better.I left the Captive/Conservation areas behind and went for a very enjoyable walk round the reserve. Didn't see much to point the camera at which was no surprise at this time of year except for a Little Egret that was being attacked by a Lapwing and a large flock of Barnacle Geese. 

After an early lunch in the cafe I had a walk round the captive/conservation areas.You don't score any points for pics here so I only took a few shots. 

Even sadder than the birds on the captive pond were the Cranes and Storks etc in the conservation area compounds.Look how sad this chap is.

I couldn't resist taking a shot of one of the caged Red Squirrels.What little charmers.

I then spent a while in the large glass roofed compound area near the centre.It's quite large and has water,reeds trees,shrubs etc in it and loads of birds which don't seemed phased by people walking along the path that runs down the side that has no screens protecting the birds.Here are a few shots.

I left early afternoon and drove the fairly short distance to the Honey Buzzard viewing area at Swanton Novers.God knows why I went because I've been several times and never seen one.Surprisingly there were 3 cars there and even more surprisingly two good friends from my local patch (John and Sue) were there.

Stayed for a while and saw nothing except for several distant Common Buzzards and a couple of Hobbies but the chat was good.

After finishing my evening meal I drove down to Cley again and settled down in the evening sunshine on the path to the Bishops hide so I could scan on the marsh for Marsh Harriers.It turned out to be a good move because they were very active but yes you've guessed they didn't come close but who cares it was great fun for a couple of hours.These shots are heavily cropped and it was pretty tricky in the evening sunshine.  

Just as I was about to leave as the light was going a male flew by with an evening meal which looked like a frog to me.

A FEW DAYS IN NORFOLK.

Although I knew that July was probably the worst month to go to Norfolk if you wanted to get some decent bird shots I needed a break so I thought to hell with it and booked a few days.Another reason to go was that one of my regular hotels the Pheasant at Kelling had " Changed hands and had undergone extensive refurbishments". I was curious so early on Wednesday morning off I went.

Arrived at Sculthorpe Moor NR (near Fakenham) at just before 9.00 AM.It was very overcast but dry as I set off down the broadwalk that takes you to the hides.As expected there was not a lot to see but I did have limited success from the main hide where several Marsh Harriers had nested in the marsh. I've had trouble with these chaps lately I think they have blacklisted me and fly away when I try to get a shot.This is all I managed in the morning gloom.

I left the reserve at lunchtime and set off to the hotel to check it out.I was not disappointed it had changed completely and was now very much upmarket.My room was one of the best I'd ever stayed in.The bed was larger than my front lawn and the room had all the facilities you'd ever want.I fully expected one of the cupboards to contain a beautiful young woman but alas no.

In the afternoon I went a short journey down the road to Salthouse beach.Unfortunately it was even gloomier now with rain in the air.I was the only birder there and no wonder there was nothing about.All I found was this Linnet that managed to look good in the gloom.

To fill in time I tried to get shots of the numerous Sand Martins flying around but I failed very badly.

By late afternoon I was knackered so back to the hotel.Had an enjoyable day but as expected no decent shots.Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

SWALLOWS AND SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS.

Went out with the camera pretty early this morning because the weatherman warned me it would be bright first thing before clouds and rain would roll in by mid morning.As it turned out it was a very pleasant morning right up to lunchtime.

Didn't fancy going too far so I yet again headed to the local churchyard where I've been lucky enough to have seen Spotted Flycatchers.I love these chaps one of my favourite birds.Got there just before 9.00 AM and despite looking round everywhere for ages I had no luck at all .

All was not lost because I had noticed some young Swallows waiting patiently to be fed by their parents so I thought I'd try for some feeding shots.Here's a shot of one of the young waiting to be fed. 

Getting shots of a parent coming in and feeding the young was a real pain.You have to hold and point the camera at one of the young for ages and as soon as you take a rest the parent bird flies in and you miss it.The parents took ages to gather some food and when they come in they stay for a split second and they usually feed the young bird you are not focussing on.Did manage a few decent shots though.

Needing a rest from the Swallows I waited patiently for a Spotted Flycatcher to show.Eventually one showed but it only stayed for two minutes before flying off.It returned twenty minutes later but flew off after only one minute.I don't think there were many flies flying around and they were feeding in the trees. Didn't do so well as last time on the picture front but great to see and I did manage another flight shot.

FINDING A SPOTTED FLYCATCHER.

I was keen to go out with the camera this morning because due to recent poor shots taken at Ham Wall/Shapwick Heath I'd had a go at micro adjusting the lens to camera hoping shots would now be a little sharper.

Deciding to stay local I thought I'd go to Marsh Lane but first over to the churchyard were I'd found a pair of Spotted Flycatchers earlier in the month.Although I'd seen the SF's on previous visits I'd failed to see them on recent visits.

After an hour searching the private garden area and round the churchyard I'd not seen hide or hare of them but just as I was about to leave I saw a small bird land on top of a distant gravestone.It was a Spotted Flycatcher.I immediately slipped into fieldcraft mode and slinked along in the shadows until I got into range.

Chuffed to bits to see one of my favourite birds using the gravestones to catch flies I managed some decent shots.

After no more than a couple of minutes a large man wearing the brightest red shirt I've ever seen appeared from no where and walked right by the bird.He must have seen me taking shots.What a burk !! My little friend flew off and did not return by the time I left  an hour later.Got a flight shot though.

I then went over to Marsh Lane and found this delightful young Reed Bunting on the causeway.The lens/camera micro adjustment seems to be working.  

When I went into the Oak hide I found three of my mates in there : Brian , Jeff and Peter.Some entertaining chat ensued and very little birding I'm afraid.

A FEW DAYS AT THE SOMERSET LEVELS.

Last week I decided to have a few days away birding and I decided rather than go to Norfolk my usual haunt I'd  go to the Somerset levels again.

This was a brave decision as a photographer because both the reserves at Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath are more suited to birders with powerful scopes as the birds can be too distant for decent shots unless you are  very lucky.On the plus side though you have a very good chance of seeing Marsh Harriers,Great White Egrets,Bitterns and Hobbies there.

Left Knowle pretty early on Wednesday and got to the car park just before 9.00 AM.It was a very nice day and it was already very warm as I headed down the track to the Ham Wall reserve.Quite soon I came across the Little Bittern viewing station and joined a few birders there but since the pathways near the nest had been closed the viewing station was a long way off from where the birds show.

I soon moved on and for the next few hours I had very good views of Marsh Harriers,Bitterns and Hobbies but all too far off for my lens.In fact the only pics I'd got all morning was of a Dragonfly which were all over the place.

Just as I finished lunch by the furthest viewing platform a warder told me a Night Heron had just been seen further down the track.It turned out to be a further mile down the track so when I got there I was very hot and knackered.Worse of all it could no longer be found.I was now 3 miles from the car park and a life saving drink.I might need the Air Ambulance.

After making it back to the car park alive I headed down the Shapwick Heath track.I was still struggling to get any decent shots as the Garganey and the Black-tailed Godwits etc on the first scrape were a long way off.Did get a shot of one of the Little Egrets as it flew by.

From the hide on Noah's Lake I was very pleased to get a shot of a Great White Egret although yet again it was distant.

After an early tea I went back in the evening to the Ham Wall reserve where it was sunny and  still very warm.Managed some shots of a Marsh Harrier drifting over the marsh.It looked stunning in the evening sun.Oh for a big lens. 

At 7.00 PM I went and joined a couple of birders at the Little Bittern viewing station.One of them  10 minutes before had seen the male flying left from the nest area at reed top level.Half an hour later one of the birders shouted "There's the female". I had a 2 second view of a brownish bird flying fast just at reed top level before it dropped down.I am not sure whether to tick it or not as it was a very short and a very distant view.

On Thursday morning I was in the car park at 8.30 AM.It was very gloomy and there was a damp mist but I was very pleased because the forecast the night before was for "Heavy rain all day with thunder and strong winds"At least I could do some birding.

I hadn't gone too far along the Shapwick Heath track when I heard several Cuckoos calling.There were four of them flying around together.Never seen so many in one place before.Only got one shot which shows how gloomy it was.

I then had a good walk round and visited the nearby hides and screens.Saw loads of Warblers,Harriers etc but far too gloomy for any shots.On the walk back to the car park to have some lunch I was delighted to see a Great White Egret on the scrape.That was the good news because it was a long way off and it was still very gloomy but I don't want to moan too much as they are great birds and I got some shots of it with a decent sized fish.

I missed it with the fish it's mouth but got some shots of it going down it's neck. 

Whilst the Egret was performing a Bittern flew past.

Got a shot of the two Egrets together which shows very nicely the size difference.

In the afternoon with rain threatening I jumped in the car and went to Westhay Moor another reserve about 3 miles away.It was a very nice reserve well looked after with several good hides and lakes,marshes woodlands etc. I didn't see much when I walked round but it was very gloomy.Worth another visit.

The weather was a little  better on Friday with it being much brighter.As I approached the scrape along the Shapwick Heath track a Peregrine flew over and scared everything off.This is a shot of some of the Godwits just as they flew off. 

Spent a long two hours in the Meare Heath hide trying to get some closer shots of a Marsh Harrier but failed.There were several about on the heath but none would come close.This is the best I could do which is pretty disappointing.To make matters worse a Bittern flew past twice and I missed out on both occasions.

Later on that day the Great White Egret was on the scrape again and although the weather was brighter than yesterday the bird was even further away.

It was pouring with rain on Saturday morning and it was very windy and pretty chilly so I decided to head home.A very enjoyable break with some great birding but not so good on the pics front.