Any budding birdwatchers out there? I shall be running a beginners course for the Field Studies Council at Flatford in Suffolk next month. There are still some places available. https://www.field-studies-council.org/courses-and-experiences/static-courses/birdwatching-for-beginners/
Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category
Birding Course
Dead Man’s Fingers
Elusive?
When we visit Scotland in April we do so because that is the optimum time to see a range of species. Some species are easier to see than others at this time. Crested Tits are quite hard as many birds are ‘sitting on eggs’.
When we visited Scotland last week Tania and I found these endearing little ‘cresties’ at each site we visited. Much commoner and easier to see than in April!

A Lark Would
At Wild Ken Hill between tours the other week I was casually eating my lunch when I heard something different … but strangely familiar. The song was coming from the roof of the grain barn. I put down my sandwich and picked up my bins. There it was. A Woodlark. Giving an oddly ‘clipped’ version of its song.
It stayed just long enough for me to fix the scope on it and take a few pics.

Autumnal Visitor
The lack of steeply wooded valleys contributes to the lack of breeding Pied Flycatchers in the East of England. Although they have bred in a couple of coastal locations in the past in Norfolk they are mainly known as an autumn migrant. Last week a splattering of what were presumably Scandinavian birds occurred along the coast. This particular bird made Beeston Heath, just up the road from us, its temporary home for a few days.


Upcoming Events
You may be interested in joining one of a couple of Butterfly Walks I will be doing for ‘Friends of Train Wood’ in Norwich over the next few months. Both are free to join but require you to apply for a ticket.
Marriott’s Way Butterfly Walk with Carl Chapman Tickets, Mon 25 Jul 2022 at 13:00 | Eventbrite

Butterfly Day
What colours a head
Quite a few flava wagtails moving through at the moment. Several Grey and Blue headed scattered around the cattle in the fields down the lane. This Grey headed (thunbergi) came as close for me as it was going to, before skipping off through the flowers.
A regular site for them at West Runton. I photographed them here last year https://wildcatchphotography.zenfolio.com/p912769488/h9f653693

Turning Over
The photographs I’ve taken this year will soon be turning over and disappearing into annals of the Wildcatch Photography site; they won’t be available to view in the one place under the ‘Latest Photograph’ section.
So if you would like to take a browse of the latest photos please do so now … I hope you enjoy them.
https://wildcatchphotography.zenfolio.com/p34814967

Escaping the weather
I could tell our second trip to Wales in November was going to be a bit chancy with the weather. Even the week before the forecast was showing there was going to be heavy winds. When we set off last Saturday morning we didn’t realise we had perhaps missed the worst of it.
As we wended our way across the Midlands, through snow, conditions gradually improved. By the time we got to Powys it was bright sunshine. Judging by the bits of trees scattered around the worst of Storm Arwen had already passed through.
As usual lots of Kites to photograph.
The weather on Sunday was better still. It even felt warm in a few sheltered spaces.


