Fortune Favours the Brave

I had a few days holiday to take, so timed it to coincide with the start of migration season. I ventured up into the moorlands, and one of my favourite places. What I hadn't banked on, was that it would be shrouded in cloud on this particular morning. Not ideal, when what I was looking for was likely to be on the other side of the valley. My plan was to pitch up, watch and listen and then seek out with my binoculars. There was no chance that that was going to happen as I couldn't even see the other side of the valley. There were a few clearings every now and again as the strong wind whipped the cloud past my face, but nothing that cleared to sunshine. 

I'd been there about half an hour and heard the song or call of a Ring Ouzel (my main target bird). It was on the far side of course, but I tracked it down with the binoculars through the fog to a rocky perch. Then I saw another. Only thing for it, was to be brave and head down the valley, cross the river via the unstable stepping stones and up the other side and see if I could locate them. I positioned myself in a dilapidated quarry building and waited. Twenty minutes or so later, Two popped up 100 yards in front of me, followed by two more. The best thing was that hiding as I was and the fog, they had no idea I was there, and so proceeded to come towards me and give me my own private show. I was privileged to watch and photograph these special birds for almost half an hour, and down to about 20 feet. Absolutely magical, and so pleased that they are back for another year.

As seen in the fog from my hideout, before they ventured closer.

Things are Warming Up

Some local birding recently has shown that things are really hotting up with nesting activity and courtship. Birds are starting to move back from their wintering grounds and heading to their inland breeding sites, or at least, they are taking a break on the way for a rest. A great time to get out and observe what's about and going on.

A Moorhen with nesting material.

A Nuthatch, with what looks like a peanut.

The first Oystercatcher of the year. They'll be off to find suitable nesting areas soon.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker that has been drumming on this dead branch.

Some Waders

Waders are my favourite genre of bird. You know where to find them, they are nearly always there, and they give you time to sit and watch them. A good hide where you can sit, have your lunch and just wait to see what drops in are my favourite places to be. There's always something to see and you can go away with a very different list to those an hour before you or after you. Spring and Autumn are the best times, but you can find me looking at waders any time of the year.

Here are just a couple of species, the Avocet and the Whimbrel. The lovely contrasting black and white of the Avocet in the sunlight, and the Whimbrel a little on the dull side in comparison. A great bird to see though, and one that makes my heart race a little more than the Avocet these days. It's always a bonus when your second look confirms it's not a Curlew.

Avocet

Whimbrel, with its eye stripe and slightly shorter bill (compared to a Curlew)

Signs of Spring

There's lots of activity at the moment as things slowly drift towards warmer times. When we the sun has come out it has brought the birds to life and they're pairing up and territory setting. I've had some local Bullfinch brightening up my lunchtime walks and there always seems to be Goldcrest and Treecreeper singing. Neither of these are that easy to spot and require some patience, but I have that in abundance when it comes to birds, and sadly not much else.

We're now midway through March and I'm seeing reports of returning summer migrants already, so hopefully soon I'll have some pictures of these to bring you. It will certainly encourage me to get out and look more, if I actually needed any more encouragement. I'm always looking and listening. Even better is that the sun is rising much earlier and I can get out before most people have even put their kettle on or thought of leaving the house. I love this time of year, when I can reclaim nature for myself on a cold bright morning. 

Female Bullfinch eating her breakfast.

Treecreeper doing some creeping.

A little bit of sunshine.

A trip to Redesmere last week turned up some very good numbers of water birds. For once the sun broke through the clouds and made viewing much easier than on a dull day. I counted 19 Goosander, of which a good number were males. The green heads of the males looked stunning through the binoculars.

Alongside the Goosander were a few Goldeneye. Numbers have started to dwindle in recent weeks, and I suspect very soon I will turn up and they will all have left until next Autumn, so I am making the most of them while they're here.

Female Goosander coming in for a landing.

A few of the males, looking splendid.

Distant shot of (left to right) Grey Heron, Goosander and a Goldeneye.

I moved down the road to Lapwing Lane to see what was around, and the female Smew was still showing, and very well this time. With it being a little closer and some better light I was able to get something a bit better than my previous grainy efforts. This too, will soon be departing for the winter.

Spring Come Early? (Probably not) - Chiffchaff

Whilst returning from the walk along Holkham Beach I caught a bird fly past me and it looked greenish in colour. It definitely wasn't a Greenfinch and for a few minutes I really couldn't place what it might have been. It was quite flighty and landed among some long duney grass. Best thing for it was to wait a while and try and get a second glimpse of it. It did eventually reappear and rather obligingly, it popped up onto a fence post so I could see it in all it's splendour. Through the binoculars I now re-evaluated this to be Chiffchaff. It did make me scratch my head though. This was very early February, not late March or April.

There it was though, sat in the sunshine quite happy doing it's thing. As the winters are becoming warmer, more and more birds are staying over winter. I guess there is plenty of food around for them otherwise they would head off again. So this may become more of the norm, just as Blackcaps are staying longer these days, or even the whole year. One way or another it added another year tick a month or so early.

Long-billed Dowitcher - Cley

There had been a Long-billed Dowitcher reported around the Cley area of Norfolk for some weeks, but it sounded like it was difficult to pin down at times and was on the move regularly, or was at some distance. With the marshes being so vast I didn't even have the bird on my mind when I visited a couple of weeks ago. I thought the chances of me connecting with it would be slim, so went on a nice family walk enjoying all the other birds on offer.

On a ridge ahead of us were a large gaggle of birders with their scopes pointing all in the same direction. We didn't rush as we enjoyed the great and very noisy spectacle of thousands of Pink-footed Geese flying overhead. Eventually we moved up to the group, and saw the Long-billed Dowitcher just a matter of metres in front of us. I was expecting it to be hundreds of metres away, but it was only about 20 metres away. It was skulking around the grassy areas and mingling with some Teal and a Ruff. Only my second ever sighting of one, so I was chuffed to bits.

Long-billed Dowitcher in between two Teal for a good size comparison.

Looking rather like a large Snipe

Holkham Gap Shorelark

A winter trip to my parents in Norfolk will at some point involve a long trudge across Holkham beach to look for Shorelark. This year it was an early morning visit. The sun was just coming up and a cold wind was blowing across a quite unforgiving landscape. It was a biting cold and meant hat, gloves, snood and extra layers were essential. Walking into the wind on the mile or so walk through Holkham gap had me asking the question, what if they're not there? Thankfully we were rewarded, eventually. We had walked past their usual area and so decided to take a look at the sea, where we spotted a few Sanderling running alone the tide line before being chased off by a marauding dog. Grrrrrr!!

Back to the search, and just as the sun lit the sand dunes behind us I saw movement on the ground in front. I think there were about a dozen or so Shorelark heading towards us. So we stopped where we were and set up the scope to watch them go about their business. Fantastic little birds, just so difficult to spot, but spot them we did and it was mission accomplished. I'll make the same trip I've made many times next year, when hopefully I will catch up with them once again. 

The walk back, which seemed much shorter, had us watching Brent Geese, Redshank and a couple of Egyptian Geese for good measure.

Water Rail - Elton Reservoir

One of my hardest to find birds each year is the Water Rail. The winter months are the best time to spot them, as the cold weather draws them out from their secretive reed bed homes, but they certainly don't make it easy for you, or give you a free ride. Sometimes you'll hear their squeal like calls, but never set eyes on them, and on other occasions you'll get the briefest of flights from one bed to another. Every now and again though they stay out in the open a little longer to give a good view. Make the most of it, as you don't know when you might get as good a view.

This one was seen at Elton Reservoir along the canal. Unfortunately the sun was in the wrong position, but beggars can't be choosers. A cracking bird to watch.

Perfectly camouflaged against the reeds .