A Yank in Norfolk

Some Americans couldn’t wait to get away from all the kerfuffle surrounding the presidential election.

This Lesser Yellowlegs occupied some small pools by a public footpath at Cley Reserves for a few days in October/November. It had zero fear of humans. Probably never having seen people before it was not at all phased by the presence of a steady stream of admirers. As a consequence it showed extremely well indeed; probably better than I have seen this species anywhere outside America itself.

I would guess the bird came across the Atlantic on a fast moving weather system; maybe making landfall further North and resuming it’s journey south on the ‘wrong side’ on the world it ended up here in Norfolk. Sporting it’s long distinctively coloured legs the bird looked magnificent in the bright sunshine.

Fledged

It was such a din was coming from the reedy ditch we were walking alongside.

We were on a days birding tour out on the marshes last week. The reed stems were quaking and shimmying from where the noise was emanating. It didn’t take long for us to see the perpetrators of our broken peace. A newly fledged nest of Reed Warblers were still squabbling for their parents attentions.

 

Craning their necks

As we drew up to a pair of Cranes last week they stopped feeding and looked at us. I stopped the engine and waited. They continued to feed. It doesn’t matter how much expose to humans they have these birds remain wary. I started the engine again and pulled away so we could park behind some bushes where we quietly got out of the car.

As we set up the scope to take a closer look, in the far distance I could hear something. It was so far away I couldn’t make out what it was … the Cranes could though. It was obviously more Cranes calling. They responded in unison before eventually taking flight to join them.

Taking a dip

As we were watching Otters the other day an old friend we first encountered in January made himself known. The Black bellied Dipper that has overwintered in Norfolk flew down the river and alighted nearby. The opportunity was just too good to ignore.