Near to where we live is a horse sanctuary. I’ve always thought the open fields and good supply of insects would be ideal for Ring Ousels but I’ve never seen any here … so far. However, until they arrive in a couple of months there are always the Mistle Thrushes to watch. Charismatic big thrushes these birds. When disturbed they fly off with a complaining chatter otherwise they hop about as though they own the place.
This little girl was particularly bold and confiding.
What could have been her mate was equally as bold when he hovered above us and stooped on what was probably a Field Vole just a few metres away.
During warm dry weather it’s possible to sit and wait by water to see what comes along to drink. We were on a photography day recently and this Bullfinch over-powered his hesitation to come down and quench his thirst. The Blackcap was obviously washing away the grime of parenthood!
We were waiting by the lake in Holkham Park on the north Norfolk coast the other day; waiting expectantly for a returning Osprey. Ospreys don’t commonly hang around in the county so you do have to have a little luck to see one and this individual had been present a couple of days so was a good bet. When we arrived we were told it had just caught a fish and flown off south so the possibility of seeing a large fish eating bird of prey return with a rotund stomach to fish again was somewhat remote. But we stuck it out and gave it a try.
The Jackdaws in the distance seemed to be playing up a little which raised my hopes. Alex my competent young guest was the first to see a Red Kite and then a Marsh Harrier flying through. I naturally assumed they were the reason for all the corvid consternation. However when I looked behind us I was delighted to see the Osprey had returned. A young female she was quite inexperienced and we saw her attempt to strike fish three or four times without success before resting in a nearby tree. We were all appreciative of the excellent views and the length of time she allowed us to watch her.
The problem with raptors is they hardly ever do come close. The Pallid Harrier at New Holkham was no exception. It did show well but never gave us a fantastic photographic fly by.
It’s amazing how you can find simple beauty in simple things. Last week we watched this Black tailed Godwit immersing itself in the water searching for food.
Sanderlings don’t usually like getting their feet wet. They often scuttle up the beach away from approaching waves. However this individual that landed in front of us one sunlit evening on tour last week was more than happy to soak his legs in the water as he ran along the sand.
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While doing some survey work the other week on the Waveney there was a small hatch of Banded Demoiselles.
These have to be a contender for the UK’s most beautiful insect. The reflective nature of the colours is just magnificent; matching the brilliance of a Kingfisher, any photograph just can’t do it justice.
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While waiting for Parrot Crossbill to come down to drink last month a few Common Crossbills attended the puddle at which we were waiting. The still sunny almost warm February day gave an opportunity to sit and wait in relative comfort. I guess when you’re eating something akin to dry Muesli all day a good dousing of water from time to time is essential.
Great White Egrets have perhaps always occurred as accidentals within the UK. Given the recent breeding records in the south of the country it was only a matter of time before records within Norfolk became somewhat common-place. There is a smattering of birds around us at the moment. We caught up with this one on the River Nar in the south of the county. A little distant but still nice to see and watch as it fished.
I suspect they are to follow in the footsteps of the Little Egrets as Mediterranean Species continue to move their breeding range north.
Letter From Norfolk 