North Norfolk Birding

I had a brilliant Bank Holiday at my parents in Norfolk recently. It's possibly the best time of year to visit this marshy coast line, as the reeds, pools, marshes and sea hold so many different varieties of wildlife all at once. Sedge Warblers were in abundance, singing constantly from their chosen bush or reedbed, while the accompanying Reed and Cetti's Warblers, Whitethroat, and Lesser Whitethroats all added to the cacophony.

There were plenty of waders on show too, with the Redshank particularly active as they defended their territories. These were supported by good numbers of Avocet, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Bar and Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Knot, Avocet and Curlew. Add in raptors such as Marsh and Hen Harrier and it really was a bird field weekend.

You can see my latest wanderings here:

Lesser Whitethroat

Little Ringed Plover

Garganey

Redshank

Reed Warbler

Ringed Plover

Sedge Warbler

Wood Sandpiper

Little and Ringed Plovers

Plovers are great little wading birds to watch. Two of the smallest are the Ringed and the Little Ringed Plover. I've been fortunate over the last few years to have both these birds stop off and stay for a month or two in the Spring months. Unfortunately, where they choose to stop starts of as a nice muddy wet area, but soon dries up, and so there is little hope of any successful breeding. However, I do make sure that I visit them regularly to enjoy them while they are here. 

The Little Ringed has a very distinctive yellow eye ring and is smaller than the Ringed Plover. The eye ring is not that easy to see with the naked eye, and binoculars or a scope are beneficial.

The Ringed Plover, being a little stockier also has a white wing bar, which is a good identifier in flight. It also has an orange bill with a black tip (adult birds).

The Little Ringed Plover with its yellow eye ring and dark bill.

The Ringed Plover with the white wing bar, and orange bill.

Fun on the Water

Red-breasted Mergansers are regularly seen in the lagoon at Cemlyn Bay, but I always seem to struggle to locate them. This is not helped by their liking for diving regularly and staying far away. On this occasion luck was on my side, as I found a pair close to the road side. I managed to pull over and grab the camera from the boot of the car and take a few quick shots before leaving them to it and before I caused a traffic jam.

Female Red-breasted Merganser

The male

A Little Egret was busy in the shallow water.

A bird that is never easy to get close to to take pictures of is the Little Ringed Plover, and it is a bird that I never make any effort to get close to either. It is a Schedule 1 bird which gives it greater protection and should be left to go about it's business as it wishes without interference or harassment from people. I see a few a year locally, and it is always great to watch them. On this occasion though, I was looking through a sight screen when one came and landed just 20 feet away. It didn't know I was there and as it walked around the muddy margins feeding I managed to get some shots of it. A great little bird.

The distinctive yellow eye ring is a key feature to separating it from the larger Ringed Plover, especially at distance.

This is a Ringed Plover seen on the same day, but on a beach. No yellow eye ring, and with orange legs as opposed to the paler pink of the Little Ringed, and orange bill.

Pennington Flash

These pictures are from a few weeks back when I took a visit to Pennington Flash, which is one of the premier birding sites in the North West. Such a varied array of habitats, it attracts so many different species.
It was a bright morning (always a bonus) and there was lots to see. There were Reed and Sedge Warblers in the reed beds. A Kingfisher zipped past while I was watching some of the many Grey Herons, and the main water held hundreds of Swifts, Swallows and Sand Martins. It was a fantastic Spring morning.

A male Blackcap was letting everyone know he was around.

Common Terns taking a rest in front of Horrock's hide.

Great crested Grebe.

A juvenile Grey Heron, and some Lapwings behind.

Little ringed plover.

Stock Dove

Something I try every year. Catching a Swift in flight. It's not very easy.

Little Ringed Plover

On my way to see the Kentish Plover I was constantly scouring the reservoir and it's banks to see what else was about. I spotted a Common Sandpiper bobbing and weaving along the shoreline, as they do. Close by were a pair of Little Ringed Plover. At first I had to make sure these weren't the Kentish variety. Then I found myself really taken with them. One was feeding along the waters edge, and one was kindly stood proudly with the sun on it's back. I can't resist these little waders. So I stopped for a few minutes and watched them.

The yellow eye-ring nicely visible.

What a super little bird.

Singing in the Rain

A stroll in the Macclesfield countryside is always nice and there is usually lots to see. Even in the rain there is still a lot around. I feel very lucky to live so close to somewhere so naturally beautiful and almost untouched. Nature thrives and long may that continue.

These lambs made me laugh out loud when I saw them. Wasn't expecting to see them, but there they were, sat in the middle of the stinging nettles. Ouch!

Another unexpected surprise. A Little Ringed Plover on the road.

Rain or shine, there's work to be done.

Nice female Pied Flycatcher.

Little Ringed Plover

This little guy was getting absolutely drenched during a heavy downpour. Clearly wasn't too concerned though as it just carried on scanning the shore line for food. I like the Little Ringed Plover. A very nice bird that is always a surprise to see. I don't know why really. I suppose because they are so small that you just don't expect to be able to see them. I love that yellow around the eye.

Patch Work

Back on the patch in Woodford just recently numbers of Canada Geese are building up. Counts have topped over 400. We've also had a couple of juvenile Little Ringed Plovers drop in. A very difficult bird to find in the muddy verges of the floodede pool. Next to it on the cricket pitch, have been incredible numbers of Pied Wagtails too. Some counts approaching close to 50 birds.

Big build up of Canada Geese.

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover.

Waders ahoy!

On my patch in recent weeks there have been some fantastic birds dropping in. Spring, I find, is the best time of the year for seeing birds you don't normally see on your doorstep. The quite impressive list includes, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, (I did see it eventually) Little Grebe, Wheatear and Little Ringed Plover. The LRPs have dropped in and moved on again quite quickly but are a real joy to see when you catch them.

Curlews overhead.

The new green keeper on the golf course is doing a sterling job with the drainage.

A Stockport rarity. Little Ringed Plover

Northern Wheatear have been in good numbers this year at Woodford