Recent Pics By Julian Bhalerao

His e-mail!!
Hello,
I've birding in torrential rain this weekend. Not great for photography but managed a few record shots. We found a second waxwing at North Walsham this morning but the light was terrible and the rain very heavy.
Finally managed to see the Glauc at Sheringham yesterday and obtained a poor selection of flight shots.
Soon be spring and hopefully it will stop raining.
I've also attached some kite pics from Gigrin farm two weeks ago. It was overcast but at least it wasn't raining!

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 98, Sp 76, SM 80, SF 36

Route Birds: Thursday, Friday

A few good 'catch-up' Route ticks were found.

A stop off at Guist produced 78 Wigeon at Bintree Mill, with 2 Gadwall. A Common Buzzard came out of roost at 6.47 am, with Tawny Owl heard, but no good woodland birds, except a Jay.
At Walsey Hills my first Cetti's warbler was heard constantly, yet distantly. On Snipe's Marsh were a pair of Pochard, presumably returning after the freeze out! A single Water Rail squealed rather pathetically!
Passerines were more evident around Salthouse, presumably responding to the warmer weather. A Stonechat was on the Little Eye and 2 Little Egret were seen twice! A small build up of large gulls has started at Salthouse, but nothing of particular interest (yet)!

A lunchtime jaunt to West Runton for the Black Redstart was unsuccessful, except for the showy ad Mediterranean Gull!

A quick stop in the evening produced 8 Gadwall, 3 Marsh Harriers and the Cetti's Warbler singing again.
A kingfisher flew over the sluice at East Bank. A visit to Bishop's Hide produced 48 Avocet, 2 Ruff and 12 Redshank - plus a Little Egret and plenty of Wigeon. A strange selection of 'fowl' are at Salthouse!

The Little Egret has returned (?) to Thornage.
A late afternoon stop at Guist produced the fascinating sight of well over 200 Pied Wagtails gathering to roost in the reeds (176 counted on wires, with another 30+ still in flight and a number already in the reeds!). A Marsh Tit called by the bridge, where a few Long-tailed Tit were present.

On Friday both Barn Owl and Little Egret were seen at Thornage.
At Cley the waders were flighty with a final congregation of c 150 Golden Plover, c 200 Lapwing and c50 Avocet. Amazingly 3 Tufted Duck joined the Pochard on Snipe's Marsh. A single group of 8 Pale-bellied Brent flew west. Two seemingly frisky Avocet at Salthouse were the first away from Pat's.

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 98, Sp 76, SM 80, SF 36

Tuesday 23rd February

Sparham Pools had a greater number of wildfowl than usual. Only the main lake was unfrozen and this held 100+ birds, which were then joined by 80 Greylags. Amongst these were a single Pink-footed Goose - obviously a wild bird that had got lost and orientated itself with the Greylags! Duck numbers included 79 Gadwall, 52 Tufted Duck and 26 Pochard. 7 Goosander were also present, including 2 drakes. Both Little and Great Crested Grebe were also present. A pair of Oystercatcher were on the new pits - the first of the year, signs of spring? Woodland birds were few and far between, although Treecreeper and Marsh Tit were noted.

At Swanton Morley, a brief visit found a lot of the area frozen (hence the birds at Sparham?), with the only significant numbers being 46 Tufted Duck. Again the birds were significant by their absence, although Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and the usual bullfinches were noted.

A visit on Saturday morning produced Common Buzzard and Little Egret over, 48 Coot and 25 Gadwall were counted on one lake, but there was little else of note.

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 93, Sp 76, SM 80, SF 36

Barn Owl: flight pics

Three Barn Owls were hunting together over the marsh at the end of the Iron Road.

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 93, Sp 72, SM 78, SF 34

Route Patch, with no Work!

A stop at Guist was rewarded with 6 Common Buzzards in the air together and 5 Mandarins, which flew from the E side of the Bridge and out of sight the the W. A pair of Little Grebe were on the river, the first of the year for the route!

I continued up to The Cley area, hoping to find the Whooper Swan - although I couldn't find it to begin with! 8 Ruff were actively feeding in the field the swan had been in, but there was little else of note.

A return W to look at the Brent flock was rewarded with 4 Pale-bellied birds, including one first year.

As usual, I couldn't resist more time with the Snow Bunting flock, where this well marked Common Gull was present.

A continued search for the swan had me walking down the Iron Road, to be greeted at the N end with 3 hunting Barn Owls. I watched perplexed as all three birds (two darker and one light) quartered back and forth, seemingly using me as centre point! An added bonus here was a male Merlin that shot through west. An Oystercatcher was on the Sea Pool, a bird I still haven't seen from the Route!

Two Great Black-backed Gull were at Salthouse and one of the Barn Owl flew over inland.

Finally the juv Whooper Swan was found in the field it was in y'day!! I seriously believe (hope?!?) it had been hiding in the reeds!

(See here: http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=243654&d=1266514472 for a much better pic by John Furse)

Two Barn Owls were seen at Guist on the Route home.

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 93, Sp 72, SM 78, SF 34

Waxwings and Hawfinches

My daughters visit to Gymnastics at Wymondham, gave me the opportunity to look for the Waxwings around Thorpe St Andrews. After driving up and down Dussindale for c40 I remembered that they had been reported from Sainsbury's and low and behold, there they were - up to 22 birds present, but the light wasn't good! A female Blackcap was also seen feeding on apples with House Sparrows!

A brief stop at Lynford Arboretum, south car park was very productive. Hawfinch were immediately seen in the hornbeams, a group of 5 soon flew west Later another group of 6, then c12 were seen). c20 Crossbill were heard calling (none seen later) and nearby a Firecrest sung. A return after 'lunch' had the already mentioned, as well as good numbers of Siskin and Marsh Tit, as well as 2 Lesser Redpoll.

Great Spotted Woodpecker on neighbours feeders.

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 90, Sp 72, SM 78, SF 34