The weather was less than suitable for raptor hunting today, although the first few hours of the day were warm, cloudy with less wind. We decided to have a look for some woodland & farmland species at nearby localities.
We started off by watching a Barn Owl showing very well, both perched & hunting. We then walked along a stretch of the River Wensum, we had a lovely selection of birds & great views of Grey Wagtail, Siskin, Redpoll, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Reed Bunting plus c120 Teal, 4 Egyptian Geese & 4 Snipe.
We then stopped off in another area & had c20 Yellowhammer, 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, c20 Skylark & selection of commoner birds.
In the afternoon we visited a nearby reserve where we were treated to fantastic views of up to 100 Brambling, 3 Bullfinch, 3+ Marsh Tit, Water Rail & close views of a hunting Sparrowhawk, marauding through the finch flocks!
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Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Monday 28th January One to one PhotographyTour
This One to One workshop was run by Josh Jaggard for Norfolk Birding.
The day started off looking for Barn Owls. One was perched but not close enough & unfortunately wasn't hunting. Whilst here we also had lovely views 3 Marsh Harriers, Red kite and a flock of over 100 Curlew.
From here we moved into one of the harbour areas where we photographed some shorebirds & wildfowl.
With in a few hours we had reasonable images of Teal, Redshank and Bar-Tailed Godwits coming close to the vechicle creating some nice images. Whilst there we also had nice views of Wigeon, Little Egret, Turnstone and Brent Geese. We were also treated to wonderful views of a Bittern flying out of the reeds just in front of the car.
We then headed to Titchwell,plus used the cafe for a warm up & a late lunch, followed by a quick session from a one of the hides. We had lots of wildfowl, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck and a Hen Harrier.
The weather turned grey & damp late afternoon, so we headed for an area where Bitterns had been showing earlier, but sadly they didn't reappear. We had a great day with some nice images in the morning in the better light & good selection of birds throughout the day.
The day started off looking for Barn Owls. One was perched but not close enough & unfortunately wasn't hunting. Whilst here we also had lovely views 3 Marsh Harriers, Red kite and a flock of over 100 Curlew.
From here we moved into one of the harbour areas where we photographed some shorebirds & wildfowl.
With in a few hours we had reasonable images of Teal, Redshank and Bar-Tailed Godwits coming close to the vechicle creating some nice images. Whilst there we also had nice views of Wigeon, Little Egret, Turnstone and Brent Geese. We were also treated to wonderful views of a Bittern flying out of the reeds just in front of the car.
We then headed to Titchwell,plus used the cafe for a warm up & a late lunch, followed by a quick session from a one of the hides. We had lots of wildfowl, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck and a Hen Harrier.
The weather turned grey & damp late afternoon, so we headed for an area where Bitterns had been showing earlier, but sadly they didn't reappear. We had a great day with some nice images in the morning in the better light & good selection of birds throughout the day.
Monday, 28 January 2013
Monday 28th January 2013 Monday One to one Guided Birding
Chris guided a One to One exclusive 2 day tour with a specific slant towards raptors on Day one.
The day started well with a quick stop for a lovely hunting Barn Owl. We stopped briefly for a perched small bird of prey, that to my surprise turned into a Merlin with prey, but was on view all too briefly! We reached the NW coast 7 were soon admiring Buzzard & several Marsh Harrier, showing very well & even starting some early territorial display flight. A large female Sparrowhawk shot in & out of view & it wasn't too long before we watching a distant Red Kite, eventually this bird drifted towards & gave fantastic, prolonged views as it soared overhead. 1-2 Kestrel were noted. We had a great morning with blue skies & great views, but by lunch the cloud had arrived & we settled into the minibus to look for other raptors over lunch. Our luck continued when a ringtail Hen Harrier passed us, we jumped out the van & had nice scope views.
Another search along the lanes produced another or the same Merlin, but again the bird was cruising quickly & disappeared within seconds. A quick stop off elsewhere produced several Yellowhammer & 16 Corn Bunting.
We finished the day at a roost site & were treated to 5 Hen Harrier including a cracking grey male.
The day started well with a quick stop for a lovely hunting Barn Owl. We stopped briefly for a perched small bird of prey, that to my surprise turned into a Merlin with prey, but was on view all too briefly! We reached the NW coast 7 were soon admiring Buzzard & several Marsh Harrier, showing very well & even starting some early territorial display flight. A large female Sparrowhawk shot in & out of view & it wasn't too long before we watching a distant Red Kite, eventually this bird drifted towards & gave fantastic, prolonged views as it soared overhead. 1-2 Kestrel were noted. We had a great morning with blue skies & great views, but by lunch the cloud had arrived & we settled into the minibus to look for other raptors over lunch. Our luck continued when a ringtail Hen Harrier passed us, we jumped out the van & had nice scope views.
Another search along the lanes produced another or the same Merlin, but again the bird was cruising quickly & disappeared within seconds. A quick stop off elsewhere produced several Yellowhammer & 16 Corn Bunting.
We finished the day at a roost site & were treated to 5 Hen Harrier including a cracking grey male.
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Sunday 27th January Group Photography Workshop
Today we had a group of 5 photographers for a coastal bird photography workshop
We spent the morning with a 2 hour classroom session with a short presentation, with a question & answers period before heading out to take images. Working through equipment, technique, exposure, shutter speeds & apertures.
Clients took home a Cd-rom with all of the information from the classroom session
We then spent the afternoon putting theory into practice. We split into 2 groups with Josh heading off to North Norfolk with a group of 3 whilst Chris visited an area in NW Norfolk with two others from the group.
The light was pretty good until mid afternoon & everyone bagged a one or two good images & learnt a lot.
Images of Turnstone, Teal & Bar-tailed Godwit from the workshop will be posted shortly.
We spent the morning with a 2 hour classroom session with a short presentation, with a question & answers period before heading out to take images. Working through equipment, technique, exposure, shutter speeds & apertures.
Clients took home a Cd-rom with all of the information from the classroom session
We then spent the afternoon putting theory into practice. We split into 2 groups with Josh heading off to North Norfolk with a group of 3 whilst Chris visited an area in NW Norfolk with two others from the group.
The light was pretty good until mid afternoon & everyone bagged a one or two good images & learnt a lot.
Images of Turnstone, Teal & Bar-tailed Godwit from the workshop will be posted shortly.
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Saturday 26th January Photography Workshop
Myself & Josh guided a single photographer today.
We started the day early & arrived at one of the Barn Owl locations we have been watching recently. Fortunately both Barn owls were out hunting & the female bird showed well for around 45 minutes, with us eventually managing to get her perched along the fenceline & getting some shots of her at about 20m range.
We then headed for the horse fields where the thrushes had been showing so well the previous day & they again performed very well with Redwing & Fieldfare coming within 5m of the camouflage netting we used across the side door of the minibus. The Lapwing weren't quite so obliging as the snow thawed they were noticeably spreading out & feeding in other areas.
We then moved on to a shorebird area where we have been feeding. Here we got some nice shots of Teal, plus Bar-tailed Godwit.
Images from this day will be published soon.
We started the day early & arrived at one of the Barn Owl locations we have been watching recently. Fortunately both Barn owls were out hunting & the female bird showed well for around 45 minutes, with us eventually managing to get her perched along the fenceline & getting some shots of her at about 20m range.
We then headed for the horse fields where the thrushes had been showing so well the previous day & they again performed very well with Redwing & Fieldfare coming within 5m of the camouflage netting we used across the side door of the minibus. The Lapwing weren't quite so obliging as the snow thawed they were noticeably spreading out & feeding in other areas.
We then moved on to a shorebird area where we have been feeding. Here we got some nice shots of Teal, plus Bar-tailed Godwit.
Images from this day will be published soon.
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Thursday 24th January Photography Workshop NW Norfolk
The previous 2 days recces paid dividends, as myself & Josh Jaggard guided two photographers for thtoday & were able to get them in nice & close to a number of subjects, both photographers came away with some nice images of Lapwing, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush & Redwing.
We also had good views of 2-3 Barn owl& we did get some in flight images. We also noted Red Kite & Marsh Harrier.
Some images from today are below & further will be published shortly.
We also had good views of 2-3 Barn owl& we did get some in flight images. We also noted Red Kite & Marsh Harrier.
Some images from today are below & further will be published shortly.
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Weds 23rd January NW Norfolk
Unfortunately having had to cancel a 3 day tour due to the weather conditions, I managed to venture out today.
Spent most of the day around Ringstead & Holme area, several Barn Owls noted hunting, several coveys of Grey Partridge & a Red Kite perched on fenceposts at Holme. 2 ringtail Hen harrier near Ringstead Most of the ground is still frozen & covered in snow, making life very harsh for many birds that have chosen to "tough" it out!
More Fieldfare than I have seen since the autumn with couple of hundred around Holme.
Few pictures below from today.
Spent most of the day around Ringstead & Holme area, several Barn Owls noted hunting, several coveys of Grey Partridge & a Red Kite perched on fenceposts at Holme. 2 ringtail Hen harrier near Ringstead Most of the ground is still frozen & covered in snow, making life very harsh for many birds that have chosen to "tough" it out!
More Fieldfare than I have seen since the autumn with couple of hundred around Holme.
Few pictures below from today.
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