Narborough

A singing male Marsh Warbler set up a territory by the River Nar at Narborough and attracted many birdwatchers 10th-23rd. The Marsh Warbler’s song is renowned for its bird mimicry and this one performed great renditions of Blackbird alarm call, the jangling song of Goldfinch, alarm call of Chaffinch, the peeping of a Nuthatch and flight calls off a Crossbill and Bee-eater. 

A bonus was an Osprey seen there regularly, attracted by the easy pickings at the neighbouring fishing lakes and trout farm.

Limosa tour to Lesbos (Lesvos) Greece April/May 2015

Some photographs from recent tour to  Lesbos (Lesvos) Greece

Some more can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/robinchittenden and also here soon.

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

Persian Squirrel (Scirius anomalus)

Rüppell's Warbler (Sylvia rueppelli)

Scops Owl (Otus scops)

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

Limosa tour to Sri Lanka February 2015

Some photographs from recent tour to Sri Lanka. 

Some more can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/robinchittenden and also here.
 

Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura

Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus

Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense psarodes

Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis ceylonicus

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaultii

Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus

Bear Monkey Presbytis vetulus senex

Sri Lanka Blue Magpie Urocissa ornata

Limosa tour to Morocco November 2014

Some photographs from Morocco. Please view earlier entry on the discovery of a Great Knot in Morocco.

Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita)

Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita)

Desert Little Owl (Athene noctua glaux)

Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii)

Scopoli's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)

House Bunting (Emberiza sahari)

House Bunting (Emberiza sahari)

Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis)

Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis)

Thick-billed Lark (Rhamphocoris clotbey)

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)

Some recent scarce birds from Norfolk & Suffolk

There has been a run of Desert Wheatears with three in Norfolk & Suffolk this autumn. Plus a few Shrikes and a Hoopoe.

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
at Winterton 8th December 2014

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
at Gorleston-on-Sea November 2014

 

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius pallidirostris) Burnham Norton
Norfolk October 2014

Hoopoe (Upupa epops) Kessingland
Suffolk October 2014

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) Lowestoft Suffolk October 2014

Limosa Tour to Morocco November 2014

On the recent Limosa Tour to Morocco I found a Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris) at the Oued Souss on the last day of the tour 8th November 2014. It was associating with Red Knots (Calidris canutus). It was only the second record for Morocco. 

The most obvious features that struck me when scanning through the group of Red Knot were the dark breast and large spotted flanks. Although I knew immediately deep down that it was a Great Knot I couldn't quite believe it. They are just so rare in Africa (and Europe). Could it just be an aberrant Knot? Afterall the bird was in fairly poor light and quite distant (aren't they always). However with closer scrutiny the slightly larger size and longer bill were apparent. 

From photographs other features could be seen. The black tail contrasting with the white rump and uppertail coverts in flight, marginally broader wings and the less contrasting dark wingtips in which the primaries only gradually turn black towards the tip. It is thought to be a first winter bird due to the darkness of the mantle and coverts feathers.

Arnoud van den Berg who was also leading the tour quickly got on to the bird and began documenting the sighting including taking some photos of the bird feeding with his telescope that gave far greater magnification than my (and his) telephoto lens. There were nine other birdwatchers in the Limosa tour group and they all saw the bird. 

The bird is second bird from the right on top photo and second from left on the bottom one. 
 

Barred Warbler Salthouse Norfolk

Who could resist a tame Barred Warbler? Luckily for photographers it was pretty oblivious to humans and didn’t flinch much even when runners from the Round Norfolk Relay stomped by its favourite bramble patch.

Limosa Tour to Romania 2014

A selection pf photos from the Black Sea coast and Danube Delta

Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

Cardinal Argynnis pandora

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans

Hobby Falco subbuteo

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides

Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

Great Black-headed Gulls Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus & Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans

Brittany France August 2014

This non-native South American rodent had at least eight young and was eliminated from the UK at the end of the last century. More photos to be added soon.

Coypu (Myocastor coypus)

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

This male has been summering at Winterton and has been photographed 'to death'. Finally I could procastrinate no more, afterall this is one of those few charasmatic birds you remember well from thumbing through bird books as a child. What a peach!

Norwich Cathedral Peregrines

The Norwich Cathedral Peregrines provided enjoyment to many visitors again during the breeding season. This year four young again hatched successfully on their high spire ledge and so far, fingers crossed (unless you are a Pigeon) three still survive. As the adult Peregrines become more experienced it seems they are also becoming used to all the excitement. They even fed the young on the lower roofs despite the audience and a film crew building sets for a period drama in the cathedral cloisters.

Constant updates via the Hawk and Owl Trust media feeds ensured that those interested, including photographers, could keep finely tuned to on-going events, to maximise their chance of witnessing the best action. This constant supply of news ensured a continually stream of people visiting the site. Happily the Peregrines have become so used to the noises of a large vibrant city that all the extra visitors attracted to the cathedral by the Hawk and Owl Trust would seem to have little or no effect on their breeding success. 

Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata) Norfolk June 2014

This male Spectacled Warbler established a territory for a few weeks at Burnham Overy Dunes and was pretty tame in that it would forage and sing unconcernedly just feet away. More photos to be uploaded at www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk. Please click on the Norfolk bird news section.