Friday 24 June 2016

The Farnes...

Last Sunday we had a very enjoyable trip to the Farne Islands and after a busy week at school I've only just had a chance to review my photos. Sadly the cold, wet and dark weather followed us again so my photos could have been better...

A Roseate Tern was near the jetty on Inner Farne with 2 Red-breasted Mergansers.




Guillemots



Puffins
Razorbill
Arctic Tern '91' of Springwatch fame - was recorded migrating 96,000km!
Another Arctic Tern with it's data logger still attached.
Sandwich Tern colony
Grey Seal

Saturday 4 June 2016

A trip to East Anglia...

Recently me and my Dad had a trip down to Norfolk, stopping on the way and way back at RSPB Frampton Marsh on the way down and way back and spending a day at RSPB Lakenheath Fen. The weather was poor on all four days yet we still had a great time and saw some good birds...

The highlight of our first stop at Frampton was a brief but good view of my first Turtle Dove for five years. Other birds included a Corn Bunting singing from a fence, 3 Little Gulls, 6 Egyptian Geese, 10+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Mediterranean Gull while wader highlights were 5 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ruff, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel and 15+ Grey Plover.

On day two we tried Burnham Overy Dunes for migrants and the best we could find were 2 Spotted Flycatchers. However we did see our first Bittern and Cuckoo of the trip and our only Hobby. A Greenshank was the best we could find at Cley while Holkham produced at least one Green Woodpecker. A Little Gull and Cuckoo were at RSPB Titchwell.

Our third day was the most productive with the first good bird being a pair of Stone Curlew showing well at Weeting Heath. At RSPB Lakenheath Fen a pair of Cranes were giving great views from the Joist Fen Viewpoint providing me with my best ever views of the species. Some of the other many highlights from the reserve included 2 self-found Spoonbills flying north, great views of 2+ Bitterns, lots of Cuckoos all over the place, Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Tits, Kingfisher and plenty of Marsh Harriers (8 alone in one scan).

On the way home Flitcham Farm produced a Little Owl and at Frampton Marsh a drake Garganey and a Cuckoo were the best birds.

In the end we saw a total of 112 species over four days with Avocets and Little Egrets all over the place and Red Kites seen on several occasions.

Avocet in the rain at RSPB Frampton Marsh
Cranes - I should have digiscoped them!
Self-found Spoonbills at Lakenheath
Marsh Harrier food pass

Corn Bunting