Russian White-fronted Goose - Redesmere

Just a few weeks back when I carried out one of my monthly water bird counts for the BTO I made the comment that hopefully something good will turn up soon here at Redesmere. For the majority of the year the water holds the usual suspects of Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Geese and Gulls, it's just how many of them there are on a given day. In the winter months though, you could get anything turn up. A couple of years ago I found a Great Northern Diver here, I've also had Black Tern and a Smew, but these are not the norm. Last week, whilst looking for a Kingfisher a group of Greylag Geese dropped in. I gave them a scan with the bins, and spotted a smaller goose that had a distinctive white flash on it's face. I started to get a bit twitchy and moved to get better views. I took some distant shots and asked the local Whatsapp group for confirmation of my suspicions.

This was indeed a Russian White-fronted Goose. A bird I struggle to see most years, and on others it's required a long walk or drive to see. And here was one turning up whilst I'm out watching. When you're luck is in!!! A great bird to add to my year list, and a bird that many others were able to enjoy and see for themselves. I'm not being greedy, but I'd now like something else to turn up please 😃

Green Sandpiper

An early Autumn visit to Martin Mere allowed me to get good close views of a Green Sandpiper. I'd seen one or two in the Spring as they moved through my local area, but each were at quite some distance. This one kindly patrolling the muddy margins just outside of one of the hides. Never too easy to watch if out in the open, as they get spooked quite easily, so this was a nice treat to be able to sit and watch it do it's thing.

Green Sandpiper

This is quite often as good as a view gets of a Water Rail. This one caught my eye for just the few seconds it showed itself from the reeds, before disappearing again into the undergrowth.

Water Rail

Departing Wheatear

Hopping around the coast of Weybourne was this loan Wheatear. I'd not seen one for a few months, and this little chap was probably feeding up before heading further south and eventually making the long trip to Africa for the Winter. I'm already looking forward to their return in the Spring. Just need to get through the dark winter months first. 😢

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.

The delights of Cley

A bird that you will often hear rather than see, is the Cetti's Warbler. Notoriously tricky to pick out of the undergrowth where they like to skulk and hide, they will tease you with a unusually loud song. Just when you think you may have nailed down where it was last calling, it sings from deep within a different bush. Seemingly it can teleport. On this particular day I got lucky as it raised it's whole self up into the reeds to give me a brief glimpse. Don't be fooled by the picture. It wasn't there long at all.

Cetti's Warbler

Curlew 

A flock of Black-tailed Godwits, and if you can pick out the smaller bird that is left of centre, a Long-billed Dowitcher, with an Avocet two birds below it.

Long-billed Dowitcher just above the highest Avocet on the left.

The Hen Harrier

Earlier in the year, I was pretty fortunate to have quite a few sightings of Hen Harriers. Most, if not all, were seen around our coasts, as they over-wintered or passed through. Most were fairly short glimpses through the binoculars, and on one occasion one was a stunning male. One early morning though on the East Bank at Cley, I caught an early distant sight of a female heading towards me over the reeds. I had time to get me camera ready as this majestic bird glided ever closer and then right across the path in front of me. I probably only had it in view for a minute (if that), but it was enough to make me smile and feel very privileged.

Female Hen Harrier

Great White Egret - Cley

Great White Egrets are becoming increasingly more common across the UK, but especially around our coasts. A few weeks ago I counted 8 all together on a waters edge, and in with them was a Cattle Egret and also a Little Egret. 15-20 years ago these would have been pretty mega birds to see, but they are becoming a regular sight now. That said, I still get quite a thrill when the Great White Egret shows up.

Sat in Bishop's Hide at Cley, one appeared from behind some vegetation and was swiftly followed by another. Such big gracious birds. They don't look as though they belong in this country, or at least only on a wildlife video.

Great White Egret

And then there were two.

Marsh Harrier - Cley

Cley on the North Norfolk coast always has so much to offer. Even at times of the year where there doesn't seem to be too much about, something will pop up that makes the visit worthwhile or memorable. The Marsh Harriers are a regular fixture here now and you'd be unlucky not to see one while here. Sitting in Bishop's Hide I had some really good views of a pair quartering the reeds and water. With good morning light, this one glided straight towards me.

Marsh Harrier

 

Caspian Tern - Sandbach Flashes

Caspian Terns have been quite a common feature of the Summer so far. They seem to have been popping up everywhere, but always just that little bit too far away for me to go and see. Last week when I was in Norfolk, one had been seen the day before I arrived and then again the day I left. I saw neither.

Yesterday morning though, while I was visiting Redesmere, a message came through that one was just 20 minutes down the road at Sandbach Flashes. I aborted my plan and headed straight there. When I arrived, there were at least 20 birders there already, (which did make me think that maybe this bird had been there a little longer than the message suggested). Anyway, I was onto it quickly. It stood out due to it's pure size, putting it head and shoulders above the gulls that it was associating with. The huge red bill was clear for all to see. This is our largest Tern, and I was delighted to add this to my life list. It's been a great year for lifers, with 12 seen so far. 

Caspian Tern

Garganey - Salthouse

The Garganey is not a bird I see very often, and it is usually a case of right time right place, or a dedicated trip to see one. On this particular occasion at the end of April, I was very much in that right place at the right time. I was up early, and visiting my usual sites along the North Norfolk coast near my parents. I  don't know why, but I decided to look at a new site that I'd had always strolled past and never given the time of day. On this morning there was a lot of water on the pools, and as luck would have a cracking male Garganey. This was the first time that I've actually found one myself, and it was superb feeling. 

These are quite small and very shy ducks, similar to a Teal in size, and they love to dabble in the wet grasses. This particular site was spot on for what it needed and I was fortunate enough to be there on that morning to see it. 

Male Garganey, with that lovely white eye stripe.

With a Lapwing flying overhead of the Garganey.

RSPB Frampton Marsh

A late April visit to RSPB Frampton always offers so much. With waders on the move, warblers arriving and the first juveniles leaving the nest, it is an exciting time. There were a few birds that were high on the list to see. A returning Black-winged Stilt that fledged from here last year was the main target and was picked up quite quickly despite the rain that was coming down. 

Close to the car park and in the lagoons were a Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Lapwings, and several Yellow Wagtails. What a great start, without putting in any effort. It almost felt like cheating. Usually you have to walk some distance and then also get lucky in finding your birds. Not at Frampton! There was even a Spoonbill that was awake and actually moving towards us rather than away. That is not normally the scenario with this bird. 

First year female Black-winged Stilt.

Spoonbill

Yellow Wagtail

Juvenile Lapwing

My first Swift sighting of the year, is always a great moment.