On tour last week this Meadow Pipit was tightrope walking on a gate at BuckenhamFen. I couldn’t help thinking he was looking over my shoulder all the time … at the perched Peregrine!
Posts Tagged ‘bird tours
06
Dec
16
On the lookout
09
Sep
16
The Harvesters
It reminded me of a scene from a Benny Hill sketch. Anne, Simon and I were chasing around trying our best to stop them escaping.
I had been told Natural Surroundings (call in for a coffee it’s a great place www.naturalsurroundings.info) had a surplus of their captive bred Harvest Mice. I wanted to start a small colony here at Falcon Cottage so Anne and Simon kindly donated a few mice for me to release here in the wildflower area. I was lent a few containers in which to place them to convey them safely. The mice however had other ideas. That’s when the fun started. They did eventually succumbed to a little persuasion and were temporarily encased. I duly strapped the containers into the front seat of the car for the journey and on arrival home, before I did anything else, I released them.
All immediately ran off into the undergrowth but the last little critter decided he wanted to hang around … literally. I gave him a feed of seeds and a blackberry; although he eventually disappeared I was able to get a few snaps of him before he slowly clambered off.
05
Jul
16
How cute is he?
A very young Eider Duck. How cute is he?
23
Jun
16
Long distance migrant
The highlight of many a twitcher’s summer will be the Great Knot that is currently doing a tidal hop between Scolt Head Island, Titchwell beach and fresh marsh here in Norfolk. The unfortunate thing is it’s always distant and even if the light is good the heat haze makes a nonsense of any images. Nonetheless, it is a smart bird and much nearer than the one I saw in Teeside in 1996 and much more amiable than Norfolk’s first at Breydon Water in 2014.
09
Apr
16
Darting
Dartford Warblers appear to have had a decent winter. Good numbers on the heath. This male flitted past us the other week but was gone before I could get a decent shot.
07
Apr
16
Woodie
This little Woodlark was sat quietly feeding in the grass by one of the paths on the heath last week. It has to be said though the beauty of the song far outshines the plumage.
02
Mar
16
Raving about birds
On the 11th February we were just having a bite to eat having seen the Ferruginous Duck at Holkham when a chance look up had me thinking of two very high flying birds … ‘They’re big corvids!’. Even as I put my sandwich and drink down the identification became self evident as a distant but gruff ‘Cronk’ rang out through the cold clear air.
Although these two appear to be doing the rounds Ravens in Norfolk are scarce. I suspect that may not be the case for much longer.
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03
Jan
16
Barnie …
Chatting to a few people the other week when a Barn Owl decided to fly by then hop from fence post to fence post. The conversation stopped and we all watched the owl. Not many tire of owls.
27
Oct
15
Leaf peeping
Going back for second helpings of the Daurian Shrike at Beeston the other day was a good move. Hidden in the treetops around the green was a Long eared Owl. Always good value.
06
Sep
15
Catching Flies
Late last month I was waiting patiently for a Booted Warbler to show in a bank of coastal bushes. As I stood there a small piebald object skimmed over my left shoulder and alighted in the bushes I was watching. It had come off the sea. A Pied Flycatcher.
It took a little time to gather itself. It perched and preened. After removing the toil of a long flight it soon set about feeding and doing what flycatchers do best.
Letter From Norfolk 