Monday 14th January - Exclusive Days Guiding for 2 in North Norfolk

Today needed a little adjustment as the first serious snow showers fell, so we moved the tour from East to the North Norfolk coastline!

Heading up there we stopped off first for a couple of perched Buzzards, then again for a small group of 5 Grey Partridge, a group of 4 Roe Deer & several Brown Hare.

We then headed out on to the saltmarsh at Holme where a nice flock of 200 Knot greeted us, we were soon looking at good number of shorebirds with 100 Curlew, 100 Oystercatcher roosting up from the high tide. We didn't have to wait very long before a few Snow Buntings popped into view, eventually we noted a nice flock of c60 Snow Bunting & they eventually allowed very close approach providing excellent views. Also evident were c25 Skylark, c10 Reed Bunting, plus nice groups of Goldfinch, Linnet, Fieldfare & a single Redwing. Further out on the shore we had nice views of Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Turnstone, Grey Plover, Redshank, plus notable was a single Greenshank.
A small flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew along the shore & we then headed back. All the waders went up & the culprit soon flew into view - a male Sparrowhawk carrying prey.

We ventured up the entrance track & had lovely views of a nice flock of Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler from the hide, these were accompanied by smaller numbers of Tufted Duck, Pochard & Little Grebe. Plus 2 Marsh Harrier

After a nice casual lunch in the warmth of the Observatory, we headed to Titchwell. The entrance track held some nice birds with a small group of Siskin & Lesser Redpoll, plus at least 4 Brambling at the feeders.

Out on the reserve there was great views of many Pintail, Snipe, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, small group of Black-tailed Godwit  many more of the commoner wildfowl plus 10+ Goldeneye offshore. The best birds were undoubtedly 5 Bewicks Swan flying SW. 
Several Marsh harrier roosted but sadly the visibility closed in & the snow thickened before we could really do the roost justice. We finished with very brief views of a Water Rail in the usual spot!

Sunday 13th January - more images from the hide........

I decided with colder weather & some reasonable light, to use the hide still set up from yesterday. 

Three reasonable images from the day.

Nuthatch - Chris Mills

Blackbird - Chris Mills

Coal Tit - Chris Mills 

Stock Dove - Chris Mills

Saturday 12th January Exclusive Photography Workshop 2 Persons

Today was spent with a local couple undertaking a workshop on the principles of Bird Photography. We spent the first couple of hours working through, apertures, shutter speeds, ISO settings, metering, white balance, histograms, composition, Raw versus Jpegs.

Then they both took turns using the hide to practice & experiment some of their new found knowledge. 

Both Curney & Graham had a good working knowledge of their cameras & it wasn't long before they had grasped some of the new knowledge & were securing some good images.

Below are selection of Graham & Curneys images:-

Nuthatch by Graham Davis

Great Spotted Woodpecker by Curney Bray

Blue Tit by Graham Davis

Nuthatch by Curney Bray

Friday 11th January - One to One Guided Birding

One to one day of exclusive guiding North Norfolk
En-route we noted a Buzzard plus around c500 Pink-footed Goose.

We then started off with a walk along the East Bank at Cley. The day started very well with stunning views of a cracking male Bearded Tit, showing down to 10m. Then shortly after a single Whooper Swan flew west, whilst a 1000+ Brent Goose gave lovely fly-bys.

A Cetti's stuttered nearby along the bank & a colour ringed Stonechat popped into view. Over the reedbed 4+ Marsh harrier, with an adult female showing at close range. The first pools held, 40 dunlin, 40 Redshank & Sanderling, Grey Plover & Curlew, plus good numbers of wildfowl.

Along the shingle bank, we had stunning views of c40 Snow Bunting which eventually walked right past us at close range, accompanied by good numbers of Goldfinch & Linnet.

We eventually reached sea-pool where there was an equal mix of waders plus the Purple Sandpiper was still present & we had great scope views. The walk back added a calling Water Rail. 

After lunch we checked out North scrape, a lovely group of c50 Pintail, c60 Shoveler plus a passing Sparrowhawk. A short look on the sea was prodcutive with c40 Red-throated Diver including one flock of c20 flying south, plus a male Common Scoter just offshore.

We stopped off in Morston & found a Greenshank, before finishing the day at a raptor roost - with 3 Barn Owl, 4 Marsh Harrier & 4 Hen Harrier.

Thursday 10th January - Salthouse

A short & quick walk around the area produced a short but nice selection of birds - 1 Purple sandpiper, 1 Short-eared owl, 1 Peregrine, c40 Curlew.

Back at Themelthorpe several 100 Pink-feet could be heard lost flying around in circles for several hours in the morning!!

Thursday 3rd January - Bintree Mill

A nice walk around the Mill with my old "midlands" mate Tim Allwood area produced 1 Grey wag, c40 Siskin, 2 Brambling, c25 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, c100 Teal & a few Redwing, Fieldfare & Mistle Thrush.

New Year, New List Jan 1st 2013

I spent a lovely day at Holme, with a good selection of birds & good total of 85 species!

I started the day at 730am at Holme marsh, the undoubted pick of birds from here were 7 White-fronted Geese, a fairly scarce visitor to Holme. They flew over west, only to turn around & head back East. Also here 2 Grey Partridge

Out on the grazing marsh 1500 Pink-Feet were present & an obliging Barn Owl was showing well.

On the sea several 100 Common Scoter, a male Eider, a pair of Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Kittiwake, Razorbill, Guillemot & 12 Fulmar west were all welcome additions.

Other birds of note 3+ Buzzard,  5+ Marsh harrier, 6+ Bullfinch, Green Woodpecker & a nice selection of the usual shorebirds on the beach

The day ended with another Barn owl, a Tawny Owl but an unsuccessful search for Bittern.