Fire in the Norfolk Sky

The sky turned to fire as the sun set on Sunday 16th March 2014 at Heacham South Beach, Norfolk.

During the 9 day holiday a few birds performed for the camera:

A female Bullfinch showed well on the seed table at the Sculthorpe Moor Hawk and Owl Trust Reserve.

A Black Brant also showed well on the saltmarsh, with
Dark-Bellied Brent Geese, from the Stiffkey campsite wood carpark.

Firecrest at Dengemarsh Gully - Saturday 8th March 14

One of 2 showy birds in the Gully this afternoon.

Sparrowhawk Attacks !!!

Saturday 8th February 2014

I woke up this morning to find this female Sparrowhawk on the back lawn, tucking into a recently killed Starling. It devoured the bird over the next half an hour, while I too had my breakfast (Marmite on Toast - not Starling !!!) and snapped a few photos through the window.

Glaucous Gull and Slavonian Grebe

1st-Winter Glaucous Gull by the fishing boats at Dungeness on Saturday 1st February 2014

Slavonian Grebe from the Castle Water viewpoint on Sunday 2nd February 2014

Great-Northern Diver at the Sussex end of Scotney GP's

This juvenile GND that showed well at Scotney GP's this afternoon is the first bird that I have photographed in 2014.

More to be added over the week.

Pink-feet at Stodmarsh

Stodmarsh, 11:00 to 14:00

4 Mute Swans, 3 Pink-footed Geese (with Greylags in field by NNR car park), 3 Barnacle Geese, 10 Teal, 3 Little Egrets (Cow Corner), 4 Marsh Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 300+ Lapwing, 1 Redshank (over Marsh hide), 1 Kingfisher, 2 Meadow Pipits, 3+ Water Pipits (Marsh hide), 100 Fieldfare (circa), 1 Bearded Tit (Heard).

A GWE returns to Conningbrook

Conningbrook GP, 09:45 to 12:15

 1 Great White Egret - flew in from Wye, then at south end of pits before continuing along the Stour towards Ashford.

6 Wigeon, 50 Gadwall (circa), 1 Teal (female), 4 Shoveler, 30 Pochard (circa), 100 Tufted Duck (+), 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail, 30 Lapwing (circa), 30 Common Gull (circa), 1 Kingfisher, 3 Green Woodpecker, 10 Skylark (circa), 5 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Long-tailed Tit (circa), 2 Treecreeper, 2 Jay, 1 Siskin (female with c20 Goldfinch & Chaffinches), 1 Reed Bunting (female).