Hawfinch & Brent Goose local highlights

Hawfinches are back

What a beak!

St Bartholomews Church

Autumnal colours

The Flashes, Upton Warren

Long-tailed Tit

Green Sandpiper

 Juvenile Brent Goose

With the second round of COVID restrictions in place and homeworking now on it's eighth month, I've been very grateful to see some nice birds very close to home. On the back of the Crossbills at the Lickeys, 3-4 Hawfinches have been visiting Tardebigge Church again where I pass on my bike. I've called in four times to date and seen them every time however a degree of patience is needed and the chances of a photo are very slim.

Just a couple of miles down the road a juvenile Brent Goose was found on the Flashes at Upton Warren. The bird has been there for over a week now and looks very settled. Viewing remains from the public footpaths. Also observed was a Stonechat, Dunlin & Green Sandpiper on the visit.

Autumn in Norfolk (Day 1)

Always a great scene in Norfolk

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Top birder with the best antique scope money can buy

Sanderling

Black-tailed Godwit

Grey Plover

Ruff

And rest……..

Easterly winds buoyed optimism as we headed to Norfolk for our annual Autumn trip. The regular Red Kite in Northamptonshire was our first good bird of the day. First stop was Hunstanton where a Great Grey Shrike had been reported but there was no sign but we did see our first Wheatear on the golf course. 

The wind was blowing very strong so we opted to visit Titchwell. The car park was worse than when we last visited for the Great Knot, thankfully we stole the last space before checking the sightings in the shop. Once outside it took us all of two minutes to record our first Yellow-browed Warbler of the year, always a great bird to see & hear. 

The fresh marsh was having some work done on the islands so you did have to cope with an awful smell and smoke blowing across us. So much so some of the pensioners in the hide were gasping for air. My second Pectoral Sandpiper was showing very well just feet from the hide. Getting a chance to take a photo was a very different challenge as one of the togs was knocking over every one else's tripod as if they were bowling pins. There is always one !

Other sightings on the fresh mash included two Curlew Sandpipers, Dunlin, Teal, Gadwall, Shelduck, Shoveler, Knot, Avocet, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit & a smart Little Stint. Over on the fresh marsh a Bar-tailed and Grey Plover were the stand out attractions but difficult to photograph due to the wind.

Despite the wind the beach was glorious and after a session of sea-watching we walked down to the coast were it was great to see the birds at close quarters going about their business taking no interest in us. Brent Geese flew past at regular intervals whilst Sanderlings scurried along the shoreline showing their natural speed and agility. There were good numbers of Black-wits, a few Bar-wits, Knot & Turnstones.

We finished the day at Wells Woods seeking a possible Raddes Warbler. Whilst we didn't get any luck with the Raddes we did meet Ben Igglesden a birder based in Hampshire who had the same warped sense of humour as ourselves.

Winter sunshine at Cley

Avocets on the marsh

Twitchers delight

Brent Geese

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harriers in food transfer switch

Marsh Harrier

Pink-feeted Geese along Beech Road

Cley has made a remarkable recovery since the great storm surge 12 month ago and it was hard to believe Seal were swimming along the road which we crossed on the way to the marsh.

There was a nice selection of birds to watch including Avovet, Little Egret, 200+ Golden Plover, Pintail, Ruff, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveller, Gadwell, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, 2 Stonechats and of course the magnificent Marsh Harriers which treated us to some fantastic views. 

We then headed up Beach Road where there were massive numbers of Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese feeding in the fields. A stunning sight once again. 

Looking out to sea there was a good number of Red-throated Divers and 1 Black-throated Diver which I was particually pleased to see as it had been an omission on my year list up to this point. A Grey Seal was feeding off the beach.