Sunday 29 November 2009

Still no Beans

On Friday, Philip and Vicky had a fem Hen Harrier near the Cantley turn of the A47.

Last Thursday morning before work revealed the same White-fronts on Buckenham. Nearby, 5 Ice-wits with the Lapwings, a Barn Owl searching the leeward side of the trees lining the railway line looking for a bit of breakfast and a Stonechat along the entrance road. The cows were being taken off at last, so maybe the water will come up. No raptors this morning, save a first year Marsh Harrier heading out from Strumpshaw for the day.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Chilled to the bone 22nd Nov 2009

WeBS at Hickling this morning was glorious but quiet. Teal had dropped from last month to just 1,600 or so. Good numbers of Shoveler (90) on Rush Hills but no sign of yesterday's Snow Bunting. Quite a few Bearded Tits pinging around. After a brew we went down to Cantley Marshes to see if the Beans had arrived. Reg picked up a ringtail Hen Harrier briefly on arrival and then as we arrived at the river we picked up some goose heads to the west. Switching to scope we found 33 White-fronts plus nearby 10 Pink-feet. Not a lot else of note here apart from a couple of Stonechats.

White-fronted Geese, Cantley.

Saturday 21 November 2009

A month flew by

Lots of geese around now, with many Pinkfeet coming over the house in the morning or over the station on the way to work. Woodcock in the garden a couple of weeks ago and another down Pack Lane. Buckenham is hotting up with the first white-fronts arriving at the beginning of the month. A pair of adult Peregrines have been showing well regularly and a Merlin has been around. Up to 5 Snow Bunts gathered by the pool by the pump. A trip back to Cambs and the old patch of Grafham Water revealed 5 Great Northern Divers. Blimey, things have picked up since I left! Nice to do a bit of birding with Mark Hawkes and find out what has been going down.

Selfish couple letting their dogs run among the calving grey seals on Horsey beach, 21st Nov. Note the proximity of the seal pup and the lab eating afterbirth. Nice.

Regular adult female Peregrine, Buckenham 21st Nov.

Distant White-fronted Geese, Buckenham, 5th Nov.

One of the loons at GW 16th Nov.

Feral Barnies