Norfolk Birding

The weather was not so great on day two and three, but at least it didn't rain. I wandered to the sea and was delighted to see good numbers of Little Terns going past. These were joined by Common and Sandwich Terns. I had a distant Whimbrel on Arnold's Marsh, and the odd Bearded Tit in the reeds, but it certainly seemed a little quieter.

That said, it certainly got a lot better, when news of a Hoopoe came through, and just around the corner from my parents too. I was lucky enough to get a couple of shots of it on a roof, before it made off out of view. What a special bird.

You can view my latest adventures here:

Hoopoe

Little Tern

Sedge Warbler

Wheatear

Whimbrel

Bearded Tit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Wall Brown

A Tern for the Better

I take a trip out to Anglesey and North Wales at least twice a year if I can. At this time of year it is for the sea birds and the Terns in particular. The coast boasts some very good areas for these nesting birds.

The Little Terns are protected 24 hours a day by wardens. They are are there to deter predators such as foxes, Peregrines and Kestrels, and sadly from human intervention, either from egg collectors, or marauding dogs allowed to run free despite the signs asking them to be on a lead.

Each year this species is increasing in numbers at the site, and it is the largest breeding site in the UK for this bird. That said, numbers are still extremely low, and for that reason the wardens are very important and do a fantastic job. 

Little Tern

Sandwich Terns are in abundance at Cemlyn Bay and are the largest of our Terns. I'm always greeted with their screeches as they fly overhead on their way out to look for sand eels. I use it as an opportunity to practise my flight shots. If I miss one then I know another will be along in just a few seconds. Here are some of my better efforts. As you can see, they fly very close as they go about their business.

Sandwich Terns

Gronant Little Terns

On my way back from Anglesey recently I stopped off at Gronant along the North Wales coast. The area is well known for its nesting Little Tern colony, and is one of the most important sites in the UK, holding over 10% of the UK breeding population. It is also the only breeding colony in Wales.
They migrate here from West Africa and make their nests on the beach. Special wardens keep a watch over the nest area 24 hours a day to deter would be predators.
For the smallest of our Terns they do make a lot of noise. If you can't see them overhead you'll certainly hear them.

Really beautiful little bird.

Holy Island - Lindisfarne

After further stop offs for Osprey at Kielder Waters, and Red-necked Phalarope at Grindon Lough, I finally made my way to the North East.
Holy Island, Lindisfarne was my destination to finish the first day of my holiday. I had checked the tides and could see that from 2.30 I would be safe to cross the causeway. Twice a day the island is cut off from the mainland as the tide comes in. If you time it wrong you can be stuck for a few hours.
The weather was still quite good (dry and a little breezy) as I pulled into the car park.

Most people headed off to the castle, but I made my way down to the shore line to see what was about. There wasn't a lot, but it was more about quality than quantity. After a little scouring I spotted a Godwit working the beach. I assumed it was the Black-tailed variety, but closer inspection showed it to be a Bar-tailed Godwit, in very fine breeding plumage too.

The slightly upturned bill giving this bird away as Bar-tailed Godwit. It did take flight one stage to reveal and confirm it's barred tail.

 I spotted a Little Tern not too far out, and it came close enough to get some pictures. I was hoping for Terns on this trip, but the Little Tern was not one that I was expecting to see. Pretty glad though as I needed it for my year list.

Little Tern

Lindisfarne Priory. Built in the late 11th century, to a much better standard than we see it in today, I'm sure.

Lindisfarne Castle. Built atop a volcanic mound in 1550 to defend against attack from the Scottish, and anyone else that felt obliged to attack by land or sea. 

New Forest

Hampshire and the New Forest had many different varieties of birds. Some I'd never seen before, and some that were a little more familiar.
At Pennington Marsh in Lymington we had some good but distant views of Spoonbill. A little closer were Dunlin, Turnstone and Little Ringed Plover. Some large gulls were drifting in off the Solent. Such as this beast below.

Great Black-backed Gull.

This Little Tern was my first of the year, and it didn't hang around too long either.

On the New Forest itself there were plenty of Meadow Pipits busying themselves. Seen here on some gorse.

A male Stonechat in some very gloomy light.

A Tern for the Best

From Cley beach a few weeks ago, I got the unexpected surprise of seeing five or six Little Terns fishing. Super little birds. They look very light as they float effortlessly through the air, constantly looking down for that fish or sand eel that might give itself up for a snack. I must say, very difficult to capture with the camera though. Small grey bird against grey sky doesn't lend itself to easy focusing and even harder when they move so quickly.