Whenever you hear Garden Warblers it’s inevitably from deep within vegetation. Not always but most often. Hidden away, to be heard and not seen; the exact opposite to expectations of a Victorian child. It was with some surprise then when I looked out from the car park and saw one sat atop a bramble bush. I had a good look, and it seemed to be singing without opening its bill. There was in fact another singing close by! The more I listened, the more I heard. When I counted up there were four birds singing from the tops of brambles and trees within an area of 50 square metres. All out in the open like they had attended some sort of Stonechat schooling course. What was going on?
The only thing I can think of is the territories were so close to one another they were having to force the situation and show themselves off in an attempt to dominate the competition. What the male of the species does to attract a mate … ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Emperor Moth was on a mission; it wouldn’t land. I managed to get a half decent photo of it as it hung around the vehicle a couple of weeks ago. We had several at Minsmere the other day too.
Understandably my guests were feeling a little down at leaving the enchantment of the Highlands behind when we left Scotland. A tasty morsel of an Osprey or two as we travelled South helped to soften the blow. Serendipity played a hand as we sought refuge for our lunch. Dunbar Harbour came into play. A magnificent haven full of history and birds entertained us as we sat and ate watching nesting Kittiwakes and Eider.
There’s nothing like a pair of displaying summer plumage Slavonian Grebes to lighten the heart – photo taken from an RSPB hide. We saw many more on the sea pending their return to breeding lochs inland.
A touch of Red-eye. Need to take more water with that Whiskey? This pristine male Pochard just caught the fading light as we sat watching it from the hide last week.
Well, the end of 22 is just about upon us and 2023 is about to open its doors. It’s been a more relaxed year here on the North Norfolk coast with restrictions fading into memory and life returning to somewhat like normal.
Throughout 2022 there have been several low points. Leaving Scillies in October the day after the Blackburnian Warbler turned up was one. Visiting Manchester and seeing the amount of litter both in the city centre and surrounding countryside was another; seeing such disregard for the environment was not just disappointing, but stomach churning.
Thankfully there have been some outstanding high points; including several ‘firsts’ for me. Eleonora’s Falcon, Cape Gull, Glanville Fritillary and Late Spider Orchid being a few examples.
Episodes with Broomrape, Bee Eaters and Little Buntings were entertaining and far reaching.
Despite foreign travel being shunned by Tania and me until next year we’ve had a number of trips here at home and tours have been UK wide. Scotland appeared on the agenda four times with Dumfriesshire, Sutherland and the Spey Valley twice. Scillies was visited twice with Spring and Autumn breaks. There were also tours to Knepp in West Sussex and the East coast including the Farne Islands. A very successful trip to Cumbria was enjoyed for its butterflies and dragonflies. We had a personal trip to the Isle of Wight which was very productive. A short trip to Kent with Tania and Tony took some topping; the range of Orchids we found coupled with time watching an Eleonora’s Falcon would take some beating. By a hair’s breadth however my moment of the year was in October on the island of Tresco. The day I spent with Tania photographing a Swainson’s Thrush was for me just the biz!
It’s been a long time since I have seen this diminutive, subtly marked species, so well. Seeing American Thrushes in the Americas is wonderful. Seeing one in the UK is always a thrill; but actually spending an extended period of time with one at close range was just exhilarating.
We are both looking forward to the New Year and what it brings, and hope you are too. Happy New Year from us both.
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!
Letter From Norfolk 