Staying Local

After yesterdays epic journey we stayed local to the Spey Valley today. An April Waxwing to round off our Scottish break. A very confiding Waxwing. It looked in superb health so it took us a while to work out why it was so sociable … it was drunk! Well, I guess we are in Scotland, the home of ‘God’s water’. The bird was predominantly feeding from the ground on fallen berries that had fermented. On examination they were very sickly, sweet smelling … full of alcohol no doubt. The bird could still fly … but wasn’t really firing on all cylinders.

Norfolk’s Cetaceans

After some ten years in preparation ‘Norfolk’s Cetaceans’ is now being laid out for publishing later this year. It will be available via the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society.

In the meantime a cetacean species guide is available on the NNNS website at https://norfolknaturalists.org.uk/…/2023/03/Cetaceans.pdf

Birding Course

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/

Dead Man’s Fingers

A pink soft coral on the beach. Thanks to friend Rob for the conclusive identification as 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

Marriott’s Way Butterfly Walk with Carl Chapman (August) Tickets, Sat 13 Aug 2022 at 13:00 | Eventbrite

Butterfly Day

When we go to Lincolnshire on a Butterfly Day … it’s not just butterflies we see. Current Clearwing Moth.

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