Presumptive birding

When you stand on Hugh Towns seafront and state sometimes a Merlin might be viewable from here and a Merlin duly appears; you might raise an eyebrow.

When later the same day you stand watching a field with a backdrop of elms and state it looks good for a Little Bunting and one pops up within minutes; you might widen your eyes a little.

However, later the same day when you say to your guests lets look in this sheltered weedy field … it looks ripe for a Common Rosefinch; and one flies down the hedgerow within seconds and perches up next to you … it might cross your mind to think carefully what to ‘talk-up’ next.

Arrivals

As we sat at the top of the beach waiting for cetaceans that never arrived this week, Tania and I were pleased to see some new arrivals.

Signposting the end of good weather Winter visitors are perhaps given a mixed welcome, but when they come still dressed in their summer garb they are a delight. Four Red-throated Divers, maybe fresh in from Scottish Lochs, were fishing just beyond the surf. How could I not get the camera out?

On the Web

Tania found a Wasp Spider the other day when we were on tour. It’s intriguing why the web would have such an interesting zig-zag patterning, called a ‘stabilimentum’ always weaved into its lower half.

Odds and Sods

A few photos from this spring and summer, taken on tours around the county and country, that I haven’t had time to post previously …

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  Twyblade – Beds

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  Hobby – Hickling

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  Chillingham Cattle – Northumberland

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  Cuckoo – West Runton

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  Wood Warbler – Ardnamurchan

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  Bee Orchid – Cambs

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  Birds Nest Orchid – Norfolk

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  Tree Sparrow – Yorkshire

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  ‘Bridled’ Guillemot – The Farne Islands

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  Black & Red Froghopper – Northhants

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  Black Hairstreak – Northhants

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  Wood White – Northhants

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  Heath Fritillary – Essex

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  White legged Damselfly – Cambs

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  Yellow Birdsnest – Holkham

Man o man

On our Photographing Norfolk Orchid tour last week we had some damn good orchids. The man Orchids were showing better and in greater numbers than I have seen them before. Each flower a perfect little man. A fabulous display.

On the wing

A walk along the coast this week produced a smattering of butterflies where the sun lit up sheltered spots. We came across eight species in all. The most common by far were the Painted Ladies. These migrants leapfrogging their way north from the Nile Valley in Egypt were mostly travelling at some speed; but one or two took breath to give a chance of a photo.

Rooster

When doing a photography Tour we came across this completely camouflaged little Dunlin on the beach. Sat with another three or four of his mates he was keeping a beady eye on me while he roosted.

A Contorted Reptile

Last month we sought out a Lizard Orchid or two. Wonderfully twisted plants these that look as though they agonised when growing into such contorted shapes.

Licking lips

Well! I was licking my lips at the thought of the hoards of migrants that would trip onto the Norfolk coast from the continent this Autumn. The situation can be summed up by telling you the total number of Fieldfare I’ve seen so far totals no more than a score … it appears lip-licking was unwarranted.

 

Peace and Quiet

I was sat alone in a hide on the coast here last week. To be honest I was just enjoying the peace and quiet and having a bit of a reflective moment. When I was jarred into life by the appearance of this little chap almost in my face. He popped out of the reeds right in front of me. He heard the camera shutter go off and ran back in as suddenly as he came out. Seeing Water Rails in good light is always a treat so when he came out again I just put the camera down and enjoyed him for a while.