Norfolk

Today I went to Norfolk and saw: Lesser-grey Shrike, Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-necked Phalarope.

Ouse Washes and Ouse Fen

This is a Common Darter.

     

I also saw Wigeon, Marsh Harriers, Little Egrets, three Green Sandpipers and four each of Little Ringed Plovers and Ringed Plovers.

Baird's Sandpiper

Today I went to Paxton Pits and saw a Baird's Sandpiper.

Cley Sea-watch

Went sea-watching on a cold, wet, windy, summers day.

Here is a list of what we saw over the sea...

Red-throated Diver - two summer plumaged birds (possibly same one) close offshore.
Gannet - many.
Cormorant - many.
Oystercatcher - many.
Grey Plover - one west.
Knot x c.18.
Bar-tailed Godwit x 12.
Whimbrel.
Curlew/Whimbrel x 2.
Redshank x 12.
Greenshank x 4 west.
Turnstone - many.
Arctic Skua x 8 (5 dark, 3 pale), including one pale bird swimming close offshore.
Pomarine Skua x 2 (dark), one close in west, the other east.
Kittiwake - west.
Black-headed Gull - many.
Common Gull x 2.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - many.
Herring Gull - many.
Greater Black-backed Gull - many.
Common Tern - many.
Sandwich Tern - many.
Gull-billed Tern? - a possible flew west at c. 5pm!
Guillemot - 35 (plus several unidentified Auks.)
Swift x 2.
Swallow x 8.
Pied Wagtail x 2.
Common Seal

Skomer

I went to Skomer and saw Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Gannets and Fulmars. We also had close views of a Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seal and Common Lizard and we also saw a Peregrine, Raven, Rock Pipit, Wheatear, Stonechat and Whitethroat.

Lakenheath

Today I went with the Fowlmere Bullfinches to Lakenheath and saw Barn owls, Marsh Harriers, a Bearded Tit and a Grasshopper Warbler.

Here is a drawing of a Reed Bunting.



On the same day, in the evening, we ringed a male Whitethroat and a single male Nightjar.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Today I saw a Lesser Yellowlegs at Earith in Cambridgeshire. It was the first one I have seen since I was five and a half when I saw one at Amwell in Hertfordshire.

Some Old Pictures

These are some of my old drawings: Gyr Falcon, Great Spotted Woodpecker (aged 9), and Kingfisher (aged 7.) Also a quick sketch of a Great Tit and Common Tern. I can’t remember when I did these!



 

Photos from Fowlmere

I did some photography for the first time with a proper lens.

Firecrest

After coming home from Fowlmere seeing a Firecrest I did this drawing at home...

Minsmere

I took some photos at Minsmere and then drew them.

Red-necked Grebe

Buckden gravel pits.

Wicken Fen

Today I went to Wicken Fen to see the wintering Great Grey Shrike. I eventually saw it. I also saw many Cetti's Warblers which was an extra.

On the way home I saw a pair of Short-eared Owls.

Norfolk

Today I went to Norfolk. First I went to Lynford Arboretum where I saw 11 Hawfinches. Then I went to cley and saw a White-crowned Sparrow. After that I went to Salthouse where I saw around 50 Snow Buntings and a Lapland Bunting. On the drive I saw a Great White Egret. Finally I went to Titchwell where I did some more sketching.