The break is almost over. There will be work to do soon. But there was some great birding before the rain rather curtailed play yesterday.
We went down to the sea at Cley, the shore being just over the sea wall at the end of this path.
There was not much bird activity when we got there, although a few seals seemed to be human spotting. On the way, there was, however, this male stonechat in an absolutely typical stonechat pose at the top of a tree. His mate was, as usual, nearby. They are almost always found in male/female pairs.
There was also a very late in the season whinchat, which others, more experienced than me, agreed was that. It looks a bit like the stonehcat, and this was only the second time I had seen one.
And then, one of my favourites, a little egret. How do they stay so white when they live on mud, except at night when they roost in trees?
I should remember to do this more often. I need reminding to do so, but this has been a lot of fun.
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Good to hear you’re having a great time, Richard – despite the weather. And yes – one of the great mysteries of the bird world: how do Little Egrets stay so white when they spend so much time wading about in mud (or muddy water)? 🙂
Interesting that you found a late Whinchat yesterday.
We had one near me here in Ayrshire yesterday too!
This one was pretty clear, and usefully mixing without several stonechat. Enjoy your birding.
Can’t resist:
I must go down to the sea again
The lonely sea and the sky
I left my coat and trousers there
I wonder if they’re dry?
Spike Milligan
Beautiful pictures.
You’ve rumbled me…..
Brilliant stonechat picture
Just an iPhone shot.
Not only are you a top YouTuber but you also take great photos!
You live in such a beautiful and subtle landscape: it is a soothing one for the soul.
Make the most of it: it and you both deserve it.
Thank you.
Coming back to Liverpool from Wales has been a bit of a bird watching culture shock! I miss the aggressive goldfinches – they’re so pretty. And shy wren, who came and climbed up inside sweet peas growing up the wigwam – found plenty to peck at. Saw sparrowhawk take something in next field and swoop off low. Lots of sparrows! A couple of bluetits, and occasional great tit.
Back in Liverpool I don’t see as many birds – pigeons, crows and gulls mainly. We used to feed the birds in front and back gardens, but there are rats around so we’ve had to stop. Don’t see tits and sparrows much now. But I was very entertained the other day by a pair of magpies who were landing on pebble dash beneath the roof gutters on house across the road. I don’t know how they managed to hang on! They pecked upwards to just under the gutters, spiders probably – what else lives under gutters? Occasional sparrow visits next door’s mock orange tree (hasn’t been pruned for ages!), they’re beginning to inspect under next door’s roof – nested there last year in three different places, fun to watch them to-ing and fro-ing.
Two days ago saw first lesser blackback gulls of the season. Pretty sure they were the lesser and not the greater, but the light wasn’t good so couldn’t see if they had pink legs or not! They’ve been around yesterday and today too – although their name is “lesser” they’re very big compared to other gulls we get around here. Though hard to say if they’re bigger than a herring gull, which we also see a few of.
Other flight spotting has been of a Beluga, on it’s way to Hawarden to collect aircraft wings. It was flying low, coming in to land, I was kicking myself that I didn’t manage to get a photo. They are absolutely massive aircraft, and John tells me they are now building bigger ones that will be able to carry four aircraft wings, not a mere two! I look forward to seeing them when they come into service. They’re very striking aircraft to see – they are so HUGE that they look as if they should fall from the air.
Sorry this is so long!
Thanks – and enjoy
I’ve been inspired to find birds. Looking at your photos then Hamza’s uk wildlife series on bbc I’m like ooh nature. So off I goes hunting for a hide or nature place near to me. Nature is free right, I’m on the dole so great perfect free wellbeing. Google provides me with three closest, two wildlife trust and one rspb closest (less petrol lol). Then looking at the sites THEY CHARGE A EFFING FEE! Have I been in my cave so long to miss this fact but since when did these two CHARITIES charge I get they are said charities yadayada and all that jazz but seriously what happened to the Duke of Westminster statement of everyone has a right to nature, beauty and history!!!! Since when is EFFIN NATURE COMMIDIFIED! I can’t escape capitalism, I’m off to buy a bird feeder it’s cheaper!
Being a mamber of many wildlife charities I see their accounts and know how precarious their finances are. So charges are appropriate, but I think concessions should be available. That said, a great deal of birding can be done wherever you are. For example, urban birding is often very rewarding, as are parks. My elder brother has in fact written a book about his study of birds in one park in Ipswich over many years.