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.

Red-legged Partridge - Norfolk

When I was in Norfolk a few weeks ago I noticed quite a few Red-legged Partridge in and around the farms. I've come across them on my local patch, but it's usually been a fleeting glimpse as they scuttle away in the opposite direction. This time they seemed to be a little bolder and certainly not so quick to run away from me. I was driving early to Cley one morning, my camera was on the seat next to me with my bins, when I saw a pair scurrying around the undergrowth at the side of the road. There was nothing around, so I pulled over and grabbed the camera. Window down, I aimed the camera at them, fully expecting them to have disappeared. Not this time. In fact they were a bit too close. Shouldn't complain really. They gave me some lovely images, which allowed me to really appreciate this bird that so often is hot footing it in the other direction.

Just too close to get the full red legs in.

Cley - Norfolk

When I visit Norfolk, Cley is a must as a place to visit. In fact you can't really go to Norfolk and not go to Cley. It is like a Mecca to British birders. Freshwater marsh, saltwater marsh, pools, reed beds, plus the North Sea and a shingle beach. So much to attract a whole variety of birds, and it does. Quite regularly they are birds they are not often seen here in the UK. Or if they are, it's exactly in this place that they do turn up. Having said all that, there was nothing really out of the ordinary when we went a few weeks ago. Still it's always a lovely place to spend a few hours. I can also recommend the cake selection in the visitor centre.

 

The iconic Cley windmill, that was such a feature of my childhood summer holidays.

Black-tailed Godwits on the move.

The lovely looking Wigeon were building in numbers.

Little Stint - Titchwell, Norfolk

One of my life time first birds seen in Norfolk was the Little Stint. At first it was seen with the aid of another kind birders scope, but a little later it was seen very close with the naked eye, and then my camera. A lovely little wading bird one that I won't forget in a hurry.

Also seen at Titchwell were a Ruff, Grey Plover and Common Redshank. Some pictures of these below.

Ruff

 

Grey Plover in lovely breeding plumage.

 

A Grey Plover as you would see outside of breeding season.

 

Common Redshank

 

 

Spoonbill - Titchwell Norfolk

A bird that seems to be around the Norfolk coast more and more frequently is the Spoonbill. That being said, I'd only ever seen one before, and that was quite distant and I didn't even get to see it's bill as it was asleep with it's back to me. So I didn't actually count this one.
This time however, I had a lovely flyby on a couple of occasions. At first I thought it was a Little Egret, but it was a bit chunkier. I was thrilled to watch as it came back the second time almost directly overhead. And this time it's spoon bill was there for all to see.

The Snipe - Titchwell Norfolk

I managed to get some decent shots of one of my favourite wading birds, the Snipe. I've found it very difficult to get close enough in good light without too much vegetation to take anything worth while so far. At Titchwell though I found one very obliging bird just outside one of the hides. The sun came out too, to make it even better. I love the markings on these birds, the head shape, the length of the bill, everything. Add to that the fact that they are hard to spot sometimes and it all adds up to something very interesting for me.
Here are a few shots that I got.

On the sea shore......

Salthouse Shingle Ridge in Norfolk was cold but bright. Shelducks were appearing quite frequently.
Very nice in flight, and here below you can see the lovely colours in all their glory.

The larger gull in the centre is a Common Gull, while the two to the left are Black headed gulls. Turnstones are foraging around beneath them.

A nice close up of a Turnstone

Snow Bunting - Norfolk

One of my lifer birds on my Norfolk trip was the Snow Bunting. I'd made numerous trips up to Winter Hill on the Horwich Moors to try and catch a glimpse of one of these birds. Weather conditions were always against me. Whether it was fog, rain or falling ice, I always drew a blank. So when I managed to catch up with these lovely little birds in Norfolk at the end of January, I was absolutely delighted. Once again using the car as a hide, I managed some ok shots. Not great, but pleased to get something of a bird that had proved to be rather elusive for me.

Not a great shot but it looks like the Snow Bunting and Turnstone are having a nice little chat.

Golden Plover - Norfolk

While in Norfolk we came across several groups of Golden Plover. I've never got that close to them, but this time we spotted one lone individual on some mudflats. It kindly let us drive up and park alongside it, which gave me a good opportunity to put the lens out of the window and snap away. The colours are quite beautiful.

Really quite unusual to be able to get this close to the Golden Plover. Just 20 feet away.

This is my favourite shot.

Turnstone - Norfolk

One the lifers that I did see in Norfolk was the Turnstone. A bird that I have always been keen to see, but have never made a conscious effort find. I wasn't disappointed with these little beauties. We came across several groups of them along the shingle beaches, and some of them were very confiding. One particular bird was practically walking between our feet. Quite an amazing sight. Better than that though, was the noise these guys made as they tossed over shingle. To hear the stones clanging together made me laugh. It was quite a comical thing to hear. I don't know why. Tiny things please tiny minds I suppose.

Annoyingly, the sun was situated behind the birds, but I think it actually made for some nice shots.

There once was an angry Mute Swan

Never exactly elegant, but always captivating to watch a Swan in flight. Even better when you can watch them taking to the air or coming into land. Here at Titchwell there were several pairs on the water.

 

From the pictures above, all looks peaceful. That is until the neighbourhood bully turns up. Yep, this guy was seeing off all and sundry, and he wasn't happy.

 

 

 Have that, and don't come back! Yes, this is the first Swan (on the left) pictured above that was minding it's own business, being harassed by the angry bully.