Autumn Car Birding

Monday October 3

Still nursing sore knees, even less walking than usual. A later sunrise is good for rest but not for a bird list, it was 7.22 before we left the house. 

I love September in its fading summer glory. Plenty of sunshine and  burgeoning fruits with the anticipation of migration and sea-watching storms. October is either a faded gentlewoman of soft yellows, warm oranges and morning mists, or, a raging  maelstrom of whirling leaves, roaring winds and sudden rainstorms. Both bring their own flavours. One of nostalgia for the year passing, the other a preparation for the winter months ahead.

This was a lovely September like morning, mists rising from the fields around Sculthorpe a pointer towards October. A mist enshrouded Sculthorpe Mill pond, with its overhanging trees framing the Swan family swimming in sunshine at the far end. Pam took a photograph which captures the scene.

A lone Grey Wagtail fed on the lichen encrusted rocks still in the shade - when my eyes adjusted to the two light extremes.

The industry of spiders is made obvious by the over-night  misting of grass, dead plant remains and the webs themselves. 

One example near Abbey Farm showed the muted full rainbow hues glistening, when viewed from the appropriate angle. I don't think that my camera does it full justice.

One male Stonechat along Valley farm Lane was a surprise, a few Tree Sparrows remained in the hedgerow - and I picked some Walnuts ! Well, they hang over the lane, country rule.

We were an hour and a half past high tide at Snettisham. Time to witness the departure of the early birders and the last of the enormous wader flocks, leaving the mud islands at the southern end for the shoreline of the fast receding tide. Several hundreds of thousands Knot smoke-clouding drifts on their purposeful food hunt. All the waders we expect to find here. Huge flocks of Black-tailed Godwits and Oystercatchers, even more Grey and Golden Plovers than last month, wintering flocks of Wigeon on the pits and...... two Black-necked Grebes in front of Shore Hide. 

The several hundred brash and noisy Greylag are not as welcome.
A group of fresh young Meadow Pipits feeding amongst the vegetation outside the Snettisham Yacht Clubhouse were a delight.

My sandwich lunch, eaten at Hunstanton cliff top was overseen by a patient, cold-grey-eyed winter Herring Gull. It was eventually rewarded with a small crust.

 Holme Reserve was inordinately busy, the full car parks indicating that there were 'good' birds present. We eschewed the opportunity to hunt for mobile and elusive (one of the worst birding phrases),  Yellow-browed Warblers and, the equally challenging Richards Pipit in the southern fields. Seven Swallows fed along the Broadwater. We later saw a single House Martin at Cley.

We meant to stop at Holkham to look for the Great White Egret but, Pam shot past, stopping in a very rough lay-by beyond. What turned out to be a very pale-headed Buzzard perched beyond one of the marsh gates. I initially thought it was an Osprey.

Our first Autumn Brent Geese didn't appear until Stiffkey Marsh, a few small groups grazing peacefully along the marsh.
I love chickens, the pretty ones anyway. These are two of the motley collection along the track to Stiffkey Marsh.

No sign of the Shag at Wells. Again, plenty of people to buy and eat fish and chips along the front. We see mainly the white-hair brigade on Mondays, avoiding the weekend crowds -  forming one of our own.

It is The first

Saturday October 1

Morning

We're moth trapping most days at the moment. This morning's highlights were:

Red-green Carpet

Brown-spot Pinion

Merveill du Jour

Pink-barred Sallow

Satellite - the brown spotted sub species

White-point

 Afternoon

Navy blue sky in parts, rain spattering the front north facing windows, as we set off mid afternoon. The Horsey run is  pretty barren in the summer, maybe it was time for a change.

South of Sea Palling, two Swallows raised our hopes - not for long. Pam drove all the byroads as far as Horsey Corner, where we saw a field full of Pinkfeet, about 300,  all heads up , we didn't linger in order not to spook them more.

The rain and  blustery wind should mean that all but the hardiest of dog walkers would give Winterton a miss, despite some sunny spells. The car park was closed, three cars filling the 'turning only' space. We scanned what we could see of the sea adding, Cormorant and Black-headed Gulls !! 

A partial rainbow starting on the sea attracted a lone photographer.

North of Somerton, there is a large and very rough field entrance/lay-by where we scan the surface water puddles for waders and the distant windmill and tree-line for raptors. No water at all, an undulating freshly ploughed field was barren. 
I called Marsh Harrier, we both saw two, making their idle and meandering flight above the trees.

Ready to leave, Pam scanned the eastern field and found two Common Cranes. They always make a trip worthwhile. Far too distant for photography..........

As we approached the geese flock area, we saw a stream of them flying in to join others already ensconced in a wheat stubble field. Not a clear view, we drove on to find the remaining birds in the original field. Not happily feeding, all their heads were raised again. Was it us? Or just time to join the others? The latter I think as,in groups of 40 or so,  they took off into the rising wind, flying towards the dunes before turning inland to join the rest of the flock. 

Not many species, the joy came from the winter flock of Pinkfeet with their soft, almost purring contact calls as they flew  - and the two Cranes.
We intend doing a full birding day to-morrow, Monday as the rest of the week is busy. Should be fewer people around too.

Home From Bulgaria

Written on Friday September 30

Well, actually, we went out on Sunday September 25 for the first time since our return from a great trip to Bulgaria (http://adarydwyraen.blogspot.co.uk/). Enforced leg rest, after a painful fall onto my knees on concrete, meant no birding in September at home - until I insisted on one day out.

The day was remarkable for being unremarkable. A showery day and the lowest of low tide at Snettisham didn't help. When we did our usuual 'bird/experience of the day'  on the way home, neither of us could think of one. With the usual caveat that we'd enjoyed it anyway.

Most remarkable was not seeing any migrants. We had to wait until Tuesday at home before logging a garden first, a juvenile Wheatear on the back lawn.

We saw over 60 species which included Tree Sparrow, both partridges, and a winter flock of Golden Plover. A skein of 80+ Pinkfeet flew over the village on the 23rd but we saw none to-day.

Another pretty remarkable fact. Neither of us took any photographs.

Moths and Butterflies

Tuesday August 16

Natural Surroundings Moth day. Always enjoyable when we can add to the occasion. We got up extra early to process our own overnight trap, potting four to take in with us. A Pale Prominent because we're catching at least one regularly and they don't appear at either Cley or here. 

A Magpie has turned up but this was our first for the year, far too flighty to risk anything other than an 'in the pot' shot.

 One of the others caused much debate, Greg's original prognosis later changed to a Lesser-spotted Pinion by Andrew, Richard and Greg - after much book comparison. Great, new for our garden and a lifer for us and several others.

The others were: a Maiden's Blush, which looked very unlike the Lewington drawing (the dark rear wing splodges ) 

and a Mottled Beauty, small enough to be a Micro but it's a Macro.

Greg brought in a lovely Bordered Pug.

 After the usual drink and chat, Pam and I drove to Warham Camp. A muggy and rather windy day which needed patience to see anything perched or flying. The sheltered, hedge-lined track on the way in had Small Copper and Meadow Brown. I photographed a female of the latter species.

The end gate was padlocked, I had to heave myself over a stile, my knees do not like the high steps required.

When we reached what I call the inner moat, I sat to survey the scene whilst Pam climbed down into the moat. Someone waved at me... it was Judy D and four others doing their annual butterfly survey of the site for the Butterfly Association. They'd only found 200 Chalkhill Blues compared with 2,000 in 2015 and 7,000 in 2014. A big crash. It is an introduced and isolated species at its most northerly range with no prospect of fresh genes.

I joined Pam in the moat, walking a narrow path through a beautiful array of wild flowers.

We probably saw eight males and a female Chalkhill Blue, which led me a merry dance, as I was armed with my bridge camera only. A long lens where one can spy from a distance is better. It's a very small butterfly and all the species we saw were heavily worn and damaged this late in the season.

One Common Blue, even smaller and much brighter, allowed me one shot before it did its butterfly dance, an apparently aimless, wafting and rapid direction- changing wind assisted swoop and glide across the moat's walls before finding the 'right' flower. A tremendous waste of energy but mesmerising to witness.

A most enjoyable day.

 

UK Tick No. ?

Wednesday August 3

My birthday. Coffee morning at Joan's first, then, the first outing for my new butterfly net at East Ruston Common. Very windy indeed, gusts of up to 40mph, not conducive for flying butterflies. We glimpsed Small Skipper, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown - I netted two Grasshoppers !

Thursday August 4

Jem turned up at Cley for this morning's session with a Wormwood in a pot, new moth for us. Excellent. 

After a pretty awful, chaotic and disorganised moth session with few moths of any note - it was an open morning - we drove to Minsmere. There has been a potential 'first for Britain' bird here since last Sunday and this was our first opportunity. The bird was on South Girder Pool behind South Hide. The path was chokka with 40 + birders when we got there. We 'excuse me'd ' very firmly, as advised by Ann D  and got through to a clear area from which we both saw the WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN before it disappeared into the reeds. As suggested by Sue B, we then entered the hide, and climbed to the upper floor. Ten minutes later, the occupants of the seat facing the pool left and we took their place. Great, an uninterrupted view of the pool. It did get rather cold with a fierce wind blowing straight into our faces. I closed the glass hatch at one point for a brief respite and the amusement of the two sitting behind us when Pam used her bins to look through the gap between the glass and the hide. We counted 14 Little Egrets on the pool at one time.

A couple of older male birders amused and irritated by pontificating about this bird's origin, totally confusing it with the grey-headed Asian species often found in captivity and seen as escapes in the UK. This bird is from the southern France population originating in Spain, which has dispersed northwards this year. There's another in Brittany at the moment.

An hour after it had disappeared the Swamphen appeared. It preened extensively, walked about a bit, flew a short way, preened again and melted into the reeds. Very distant with poor light, some rain at times, for photographs - apart from record shots.

More butterflies around the Buddleias near the Centre than we've seen all year, I wish we'd spent time studying them.

We left, happy and tired. 

Saturday August 5 

No sign of the Swamphen to-day. What a shame for the weekend crowds - and Minsmere's coffers. 

REALLY The First of the Month

Monday August 1

A pleasure to be setting off at 6.15 a.m. on such a beautiful morning. Cloudless sky and warm sun - it never got too hot to-day.  Shame about the birds, still hadn't hit double figures of species by the time we got to Valley Farm Lane. This visit was notable for seeing 30+ Tree Sparrows in the hedge and lane, they must have had a good breeding season. 

We met our gamekeeper friend near the barns, accompanied by his new dog which is a supposed Jack Russell with overtones of Dachsund ! He told us of finding many dead 'King Harry' - what he calls Goldfinches. Do they suffer from the same virus as Greenfinches?

Abbey Farm Hide added a moth to the list. Pam had her camera but is not happy with the result, the moth group think it's some form of Rustic........

Pam found a Sparrowhawk on its prey, roadside, immediately before Flitcham Village. She took a few shots through the windscreen. It was obscured for me, she was good enough to inch across the road so that I could manage a few before it took off. 

Snettisham looked glorious. A real edge to the wind under clear skies. We trawled the footpath dividing the RSPB pits from the chalet pit, looking for insects. We found one Small/Essex Skipper

a few bees and nothing else. Such a lovely selection of wild flowers in wide swathes too, what's happened to everything. No inter-connecting habitat could be the reason.

View north over the Chalet Pit from the footpath

West to the Wash from the footpath

Some of the vegetation

Despite the low tide-line, there was an excellent selection of both number and species of the 'usual' birds, on view. 
Curlew, Bar and Black-tailed Godwit, Great Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, 1 Turnstone, hundreds of Dunlin, Common and Sandwich Terns, Shelduck, Avocets, Knot,  Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lesser Black-backed Gull. All was good in our world.
Nothing flying at Holme either, apart from a single Red Darter patrolling  the boardwalk to The NOA Broadwater Hide . In total, we saw, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral and a few Large and Small Whites.
Two Tufted Duck, a few Avocets and some Mallard on and from the Broadwater. Why do I disregard the dozens of Greylag we have seen to-day?
Usually only open at weekends, we saw that the Hunstanton Ice-cream kiosk at Drove Orchards was open .......school holidays. One Lemon Meringue cone later, I saw these well grown young Swallows above the shop entrance, looking longingly at every passing adult.

 
Added

 I forgot to add 5 young Red-crested Pochard to our Titchwell day - previous entry

Long Time No Action

Saturday July 30

Well, no Blog action.  We've been very busy moth-ing. As well as the regular twice weekly sessions, we have attended several extra sessions. At Holme and Strumpshaw (second time for both) arranged by David N and, at Middle Harling, Catfield Fen and Cley arranged by the Butterfly Conservation Norfolk group. All very successful, apart from Middle Harling, where only one trap out of six had actually worked after heavy overnight stormy rain.

Strumpshaw was notable for the heat (!!),  a rare micro and two new moths brought in by John G - Festoon - and a Golden Plusia  brought in by James Lowen.

James also especially lured and brought in for us a Yellow-legged Clearwing to last Monday's Yarmouth Bird Club meeting where he gave a very professional presentation promoting his latest book. The photo I took is quite embarrassingly bad, even for a record shot. The point and shoot camera I carry in my handbag, poor indoor light, an active little beast and a dirty pot. And the photographer........

At least, the yellow legs are visible.

Moths at home have increased in both species and number, still well down on previous years.  A few of the more attractive ones.

Marsh Carpet, very rare, brought to Greg's by David N.

Kent Black Arches - twitched at Steve's in Cantley. Caught our own very tatty one the same night.

Peach Blossom

Ruby Tiger

The 5-6 mm Micro Argyresthia Brockeelia

Rhyaconia Pinicolana - 6-11 mm

We made it to Titchwell yesterday (Friday the 29th) at long last. Not until mid-day as we had the moth trap to see to first. It was also a record slow journey in a quarter of a mile queue behind an enormous harvester. We turned off with relief only to find the harvester in front of us. Fortunately, it took a right turn soon afterwards.

Titchwell freshmarsh was heaving with birds, most of then waders, the most we've seen for a long time. Water levels looked good too. We ended up in Island hide as all the benches were occupied by families - school holidays. Handsome Black-tailed Godwits were in the majority - after more Avocets than I can remember seeing in one place. Good breeding season? I expect that the dastardly and unsightly fenced off enclosure will be given credit for that. Maybe with reason? A small flock of Knot amongst the Godwit, Dunlin, most with vestiges of breeding black belly, two adult Curlew Sandpipers moulting into winter plumage, 4 Spotted Redshanks, Teal. Shelduck, Lapwing, Redshank, a small flock of Ruff and 7 Spoonbills.  There were 15 of the latter reported later, we only saw 7, the others must have been behind the island.

The pathside vegetation was devoid of insect life apart from 1 small Blue Damselfly, a Gatekeeper and a Meadow Brown. Not even any Bloody-nose Beetles trundling along the path.

After a chat with a very sad and upset Sue B in the car park (wish I'd won that huge Euromillions pay out) I photographed a baby Robin near our car. Pam is convinced it was unwell......

I hope to do some butterfly searching this weekend, so few about. Several in our garden to-day gives hope, mostly Large White and 1 Red Admiral. The garden is full of flowers planted to attract insects, the Buddleias look great as does the Nicotiana and Borage. Where are the butterflies to enjoy them ? Will they recover and if so, in what numbers?