Carlsberg day in North Norfolk!

After a 5am start and a quick coffee stop, Jono and I arrived at Titchwell just after 7am.

We decided to go straight to the beach for some sea watching.

We immediately saw two families of Eider not too distant though poor light and the sea swell made photos almost impossible as you can see below!

There were a number of Common and Sandwich Terns and amongst them I found a Black Tern. However, the best was to come when Jono found a Roseate Tern which was a lifer for me in the UK! There were Oystercatchers and Sanderling on the beach.

Passerines were a bit thin on the ground though on the way to the beach we did see a Whinchat and a very posey Meadow Pipit.

From Parrinder Hide there were the normal array of ducks and waders with large flocks of Black Tailed Godwits, Avocets, Lapwing, Ruff and Dunlin. However, Jono and I had noticed a slightly different wader which had a very strong white supercillum with predominantly white underneath. We gave up on ID at the time but when we both investigated on our return. It was later confirmed to be a White Rumped Sandpiper - lifer number two!

As we headed back to the visitor centre for a coffee we saw a pristine Painted Lady which was to be first of some decent butterflies.

We made our way to Burnham Overy which is always lovely but it is around two miles to get to the dunes and Gun Hill. Although there were a few hedgerow birds the only birds of note were Wheatear and, on a small pool a lone Wood Sandpiper.

Again though a distant Clouded Yellow and Wall Brown butterfly added extra interest.

After eating our rolls and enjoying the reliably delicious cappucino at the Cley visitor centre we decided to make our way round to Winterton Dunes. This is a vast area of dunes and adjacent scrub either side of a car park. There had been reports of Greenish Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Wryneck and Red Backed Shrike.

Jono had been given some advice about location and we made our way to the totem pole area where the Wryneck had been seen. Although there were a number of birders none of them had actually found it so we carried on to see if we could get a look at the Shrike.

It was a good two mile walk and apart from a lone Whinchat we saw no other birds for the whole of the walk!

Eventually we arrived to find two photographers and a stunning male Red Backed Shrike posing happily on a nearby bush. A few photos later and my third UK lifer of the day - fantastic!

Our walk back was equally birdless though a very showy Yellowhammer did give good views.

We had a cursory look at the South Dunes but although we could see birders it would have been another long walk to find the other birds. I was knackered by now and Jono had a curry booked with Her Wendiness so we made our way home.

A terrific day and some marvellous birds. Roll on our two night trip to Portland in a couple of weeks!

Whistlestop Norfolk!

Due to our imminent house purchase in Norfolk we find ourselves going there most Saturdays.

As Jen was looking after the pub this weekend I had the chance to go on my own. This meant that although I had meetings at the house from 10am I could get an hour and a half at Titchwell before picking up the keys from the agents.

The Spotted Crake that had been there some time was my main target so I made my way to the Island Hide.

The big lens brigade were already in the best places and it was a good 15 minutes before a movement against the reeds. This tuned out to be a juvenile Water Rail. I tried to get a photo but was barged out by a guy with the largest lens I have ever seen. I was unsure whether he was taking photos or bringing down Malaysian planes - it was that large!

Fearing that if the Crake did appear, I would struggle to see it I left the hide and waited on the path. The light was poor with the sun shining straight at me but at least I had room to see. After a patient half an hour it briefly appeared and I managed to get a poor record shot and a lifer.

In fact you can just see the juvenile Water Rail behind!

I only had about 40 minutes left to see the whole of Titchwell so quickly made my way to the beach. On route I saw the normal array of waders and ducks.

The beach gave me another year lister in Eider with Gannet and Common Scoter being the only other fly bys but I only had 5 minutes here!

On the way back I saw hidden in the reeds by the freshmarsh a Chinese Water Deer,

By now it was time to get the key and so headed for Wells. 

The way my appointments were scheduled meant that I had about an hour and a half at lunchtime between appointments. I decided to have a quick scan at Cley which is only 15 minutes drive away.

Nevertheless, there was simply not enough time to do everything so I made my way to Bishops Hide to see if I could get Wood Sandpiper - another year lister.

I had just the perfect view in great light so managed to get a decent photo.

I also managed at greater distance Green Sandpiper and even Common and Curlew Sandpiper but they were even further away.

Once again I was out of time so it was back to the house.

Overall a very good day but birding under time constraints is just no fun!

Lovely day on the Norfolk Coast

It was a 4.30 am start when Jono picked me up and after a coffee stop we arrived at Titchwell at around 6.30.

Jono has been invited to open the moth trap and having scrambled over the fence to the light box there did not seem to be much there.

Knowing this is once of the quietest times bird wise we did not hold out much hope for a rarity but were both hopeful of adding to our year lists.

We got some excellent views of a Sedge Warbler and numerous Avocets but probably the several Spotted Redshank in summer plumage were the highlights.

On our way back we were treated to distant views of a Barn Owl both perching and quartering the adjacent fields.

Too early at Titchwell  for the cafe, we had a quick stop off at Burnham Deepdale before a pleasant walk to Stiffkey Fen. However, this was not particularly productive so we made way to Cley.

The Visitor Centre is specifically designed to lull you into spending money and we have both succumbed on various occasions. Jono had been complaining about the mistiness of his binoculars and this was obviously known to the man from Cley Spy who has set up a makeshift binocular stall just by the entrance!

It only took him a few minutes before he relieved Jono of his money and we parted with a new pair of Nikon Prostaff binos!

I smugly walked out with my wallet intact and we then looked around the reserve. Highlights were some super summer plumage Ruff and several Spoonbills.

By way of a change Jono suggested we continue around the coast to Horsey Mere. I had heard of this but never visited and knew its main claim to fame was that Swallowtail butterflies bred here.

Though June is the best month to see them, the damp and cloudy weather was against us. Having taken some advice from the cafe owner we passed the area she had recommended without success. However great but brief views of a Marsh Tit plus Coal and Long Tailed Tit, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat made the walk worthwhile.

The option for a circular walk was tempting but it was long and the weather was always looking iffy so we walked back to the Swallowtail area. Just as we arrived the sun came out and we finally saw this iconic butterfly. It landed briefly and just enough for Jono to get some excellent record shots - see one below.

After another coffee I checked my phone to see that a female Red Backed shrike was showing at Winterton Dunes which was only a couple of miles away. We made our way there and found it covered a large area. The rather unhelpful note was that it was in the North Dunes. Although it certainly had potential, the lack of pinpoint info meant we had no luck. I subsequently found out it was around the highest dune which we could see but never walked far enough!

An excellent day out with seven birds added to my year list and my first ever UK Swallowtail - brilliant!

Day in the Baia Alentejo

I met Simon, my guide, at 6am in Lagos and after transferring to his 4 wheel drive we headed off to Castro Verde which is a small town with the same name as the protected park.

After a quick coffee stop at the cafe at the local bus station we started birding.

As always with Simon, he rarely stays on the main roads and our first port of call was a farm where the SPA had provided nest boxes for Rollers.

A first for Portugal and decent views was an excellent start to the day!

We carried on along these tracks and had Calandra Lark (first lifer of the day), closely followed by distant Great Bustards (2nd lifer)

There was some heat haze and with birds so distant photos were nigh on impossible - spot the Great Bustard below!

Our first raptors of the day in Black Kite, March Harrier and Montagus Harrier (which were surprisingly prolific) were soon added to the list along with a female Golden Oriole.

When I booked Simon I mentioned that I was really keen to see Rufous Bush Robin so we headed to a small river so see if we could find them.

No sooner had we arrived when a distant bird was found and I had secured my bird of the day before 9am!

Next stop was a coffee in a local village and even driving along the road we briefly glimpsed Vultures but Simon assured me we would see more later so we drove on to a local reservoir which is unusual in that it has muddy banks so attracts a few waders.

Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Gadwall, Little Ringed Plover and Black Winged Stilt were all added but the reason Simon brought me here was the small group of nesting Collared Pratincole.

We could not get too near due to nesting but I did get reasonable record shots of another tremendous bird and my fourth lifer of the day!

The edge of the lagoon had wires and small bushes and both Iberian Grey Shrike and Woodchat Shrike were seen.

Lunch was arranged at a small village cafe. I was expecting a light snack but chorizo, cheese, salad, fries, rice and local speciality Black Pig pork succulently cooked over a BBQ was the main draw. With 2 beers and a coffee along with ice cream, the bill was 9 Euros each - amazing!

I must say that at this point a nap would have been in order but Simon was keen for us to get on to a high point for some raptor watching.

The first of these hills gave tremendous vies over the surrounding area but we actually saw very few raptors though added Thekla and Crested Lark and Dartford Warbler to the list.

Ironically, it was on the way down that we got distant but excellent views of a Short Toed Eagle perching. Lifer number 5!

The next hill was chosen by Simon as Golden Eagle were often seen. This was the only target bird we dipped out on but I did get some lovely views of Black Eared Wheatear - Lifer number 6!

On our way to the next site we saw a mass of Vultures circling. We pulled over and had decent views of Griffon and Black Vultures along with a loan Egyptian Vulture - lifers 7, 8 and 9!

Just as I returned to the car I got a brief view of a Spanish Sparrow on the phone line

In normal Simon style, we then headed off road along an anonymous track which gave us Little Bustard though fleeting and flying. However, looking in the distance we saw a Black Vulture perching on a rock next to a sheep. Quickly taking more tracks we got closer to see this huge raptor - as large as the sheep!

Our final site was another farm where the SPA had allowed abandoned stone farm buildings to be left as a breeding site for Lesser Kestrels. We had great though distant views of a number of birds. Only a record shot but lifer number 10!

Our day was completed by a Spanish Imperial Eagle and a small cover of Black Bellied Sandgrouse - lifers 11 and 12!

In addition to the above we had a number of sightings of Red Legged Partridge, Spotless and normal Starlings, Corn Bunting, Nightingale, Magpie, Azure Winged Magpie, Carrion Crow, Turtle Dove, Cettis Warbler, Willow Warbler, Quail, Common Buzzard, Hoopoe and even a Black Winged Kite on our drive home.

Back home by 9pm was a long but fantastic days birding

If you go to the Algarve, hire Simon and have a spectacular day out!