Limosa Norfolk tour February 2014

Some of the birds we saw on a recent weekend break in Norfolk. Highlights on the tour included Parrot Crossbills, Velvet Scoters, five Long-tailed Ducks, Hen Harriers and Snow Buntings.

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa islandica)

Teal (Anas crecca)

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)

Suffolk birds January 2014

Seemed to get lucky on a rare photographic visit to the Ipswich area.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia imme)

 Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)

Another front cover

Would you believe it another of my photos on front cover of British Birds. Two in a row is unprecedented (well for me at least).

White-crowned Sparrow Cley February 2008

Front Cover

Always happy to see my photographs published, particular if a front cover. Wasn't expecting this one to make it. Mute Swans at Cley-next-the-Sea swimming east along the A149 during the sea surge and spring high tide in December.

Some recent photos from Norfolk

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) Norfolk November 2013

Rose-coloured Starling (Sturnus roseus) Norfolk October 2013

Grey Seal

Always good to get a photo published on a front cover.

Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

Taken at West Stow CP.  Notice how a water drop makes the lower mandible look interestingly large. At least that is what I think is causing the bulge.

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Norfolk October 2013

A Humpback Whale or two (or perhaps even three) lingered off east Norfolk, especially off Sea Palling. This photo was taken on first day seen off Norfolk at Waxham.

Migrants on Norfolk coast

You can't see too many of these.

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

Limosa tour Portugal October 2013

Some photos from a recent tour to Portugal..more to be added later.

European Storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis)

Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

Hybrid Little/Western Reef Egret  (Egretta garzetta/gularis)

Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa)

Limosa tour Bulgaria September 2013

Some of the birds and wildlife seen on a recent Limosa tour to Bulgaria

Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)

Eastern Willow Spreadwing (Lestes parvidens)

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

Southern Darter (Sympetrum meridionale)

White-faced Bush-cricket (Decticus albifrons)

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa)

Large (aka Caspian) Whip Snake (Dolichophis caspius)

Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)

Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

Swallowtail caterpillar

Its been a good year in The Broads for Swallowtails (Papilio machaon)

Migrant Spreadwings in tandem

Migrant Spreadwing (Lestes barbarus) aka Southern Emerald Damselfly. 

Evidence of breeding at Winterton NNR in Norfolk.

Switzerland June 2013

Wildlife sightings from Limosa Holidays tour to Switzerland June 2013.
More photographs to be added as they are sorted out.

Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)

Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)

Micromoth species (Olethreutes arcuella)

Matterhorn Switzerland

Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis)

 Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)

Edible Dormouse (Glis glis)

Red-footed Falcon

Always great to get a photograph on a front cover on British Birds, even if it does look like a cut-out (it's not by the way). Please see http://www.britishbirds.co.uk

Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus)

Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) Norwich Cathedral

It wasn’t that long ago that the Peregrine was merely a very scarce winter visitor to Norfolk. Much to the dislike of some Pigeon fanciers their numbers have blossomed in England to such an extent that they now breed in Norfolk.

There was a lot of fuss in the media when a pair of Peregrines successfully fledged four young at the Norwich Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity. For the first few days after the juveniles left their breeding platform on the spire, the youngsters flying ability was fairly questionable. It only amounted to semi-controlled, fumbling descents. The downward motion only interrupted, in large steps, by the varying roof heights of the cathedral.

The caring staff from the Hawk & Owl Trust provided round the clock chat to the streams of visitors attracted to the Cathedral to see the spectacle.

Common Swift (Apus apus) May 2013

Surprising how  warm brown and scaled the Common Swift can look. Bottom one zeroing in on an insect with its (the Swift that is) pink mouth open wide.

Common Swift (Apus apus)

Breckland May 2013

Falcons at Lakenheath Feb RSPB taken with so much compensation that the sky was burnt out. The birds look like cut outs.

Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)

Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus)

 Hobby (Falco subbuteo)