Reader
Well-known member
I'll second that. A superb day for you with some excellent photos capturing it all.
John
John
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Norfolk birding (29 Viewers)
- Thread starter Edward woodwood
- Start date
robinchittenden
Award winning wildlife photographer, writer, tour
Lesser White-fronted Goose hybrid
For those worried about the Lesser White-fronted Goose hybrid causing confusion at Cantley/Buckenham then perhaps the photo at
www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk under 'Norfolk bird news'
will calm your fears.
Surely this is the hybrid with blackish bill tip that was hanging out with Greylags at Buckenham in the Autumn. It still is with Greylags.
Robin Chittenden
For those worried about the Lesser White-fronted Goose hybrid causing confusion at Cantley/Buckenham then perhaps the photo at
www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk under 'Norfolk bird news'
will calm your fears.
Surely this is the hybrid with blackish bill tip that was hanging out with Greylags at Buckenham in the Autumn. It still is with Greylags.
Robin Chittenden
SUGS
Well-known member
I had a fab afternoon walk around Hellesdon Meadow today. First off, I spotted a gorgeous fox, fluffed up in it's winter livery, trotting along on the other side of the river bank. then later some moorhens pannicked, betraying the presence of an otter, who was swimming upstream, back the way I had come from, he even got out of the water on the far side of the bank at one point. :t:
So I followed this otter, but I lost sight of it near the bridge, turned round to look on the other side of it only to find a flipping Bittern fishing by the water's edge! :eek!: It caught a large roach (I think), but didn't really know what to do with it so after carying it away, the bittern dropped it and just left it flapping on the bank. Then a short while later, it must have seen this vole or something rustling in the undergrowth because it turned and snatched it up, shook it then gulped it down! The bittern then went back to the edge of the bank to resume fishing. It caught another roach, but this time dropped it back in the river!
A snipe also flew in and as it was now getting late I took a wander back along the river and flushed a water rail! What an afternoon!
:t:B
The fish caught by the Bittern looks like a specimen sized Roach to me . Certainly bigger than any I've ever caught !
Great pics.
.
Penny Clarke
Well-known member
I had a fab afternoon walk around Hellesdon Meadow today. First off, I spotted a gorgeous fox, fluffed up in it's winter livery, trotting along on the other side of the river bank. then later some moorhens pannicked, betraying the presence of an otter, who was swimming upstream, back the way I had come from, he even got out of the water on the far side of the bank at one point. :t:
So I followed this otter, but I lost sight of it near the bridge, turned round to look on the other side of it only to find a flipping Bittern fishing by the water's edge! :eek!: It caught a large roach (I think), but didn't really know what to do with it so after carying it away, the bittern dropped it and just left it flapping on the bank. Then a short while later, it must have seen this vole or something rustling in the undergrowth because it turned and snatched it up, shook it then gulped it down! The bittern then went back to the edge of the bank to resume fishing. It caught another roach, but this time dropped it back in the river!
A snipe also flew in and as it was now getting late I took a wander back along the river and flushed a water rail! What an afternoon!
:t:B
Ditto with other people's comments - my goodness, I would be jumping up and down with joy if I had seen a Fox, Ottter and a Bittern all in one spot!!!!!! AND pictures as well!!! Congratulations!!!
Best Wishes Penny:girl:
Happisbirder
Always looking, seldom finding...
A real red letter day Kat. And as Dave said, thanks for sharing both your tale and photos... :t:
James
James
firstreesjohn
Well-known member
Moon-dar-in eclipse - is she a drake ?
A few pix taken out of my kitchen window, as the heavenly event unfolded.
I didn’t see the last one on this date. Mind you, it was in 1638 !
If it were a bird, therefore, would it be a lunar-tick ?
A few pix taken out of my kitchen window, as the heavenly event unfolded.
I didn’t see the last one on this date. Mind you, it was in 1638 !
If it were a bird, therefore, would it be a lunar-tick ?
Attachments
PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
This doesn't look like the bird in Will Soar's digiscoped images which appears to have a much more extensive and shaped white blaze.
NoSpringChicken
Well-known member
I had a fab afternoon walk around Hellesdon Meadow today. First off, I spotted a gorgeous fox, fluffed up in it's winter livery, trotting along on the other side of the river bank. then later some moorhens pannicked, betraying the presence of an otter, who was swimming upstream, back the way I had come from, he even got out of the water on the far side of the bank at one point. :t:
So I followed this otter, but I lost sight of it near the bridge, turned round to look on the other side of it only to find a flipping Bittern fishing by the water's edge! :eek!: It caught a large roach (I think), but didn't really know what to do with it so after carying it away, the bittern dropped it and just left it flapping on the bank. Then a short while later, it must have seen this vole or something rustling in the undergrowth because it turned and snatched it up, shook it then gulped it down! The bittern then went back to the edge of the bank to resume fishing. It caught another roach, but this time dropped it back in the river!
A snipe also flew in and as it was now getting late I took a wander back along the river and flushed a water rail! What an afternoon!
:t:B
Well done Jo. A great report and excellent photos. It appears that you are getting on very well with the Oly. Three great sighting to get anywhere but it would have been unthinkable to get them on the outskirts of Norwich a few years ago. Lovely stuff!
Ron
kittykat23uk
Well-known member
Thanks everyone for the comments on my post. Yes truly exceptional viewing for my local patch! Love the moon shots, sadly I missed it.
firstreesjohn
Well-known member
I echo the comments on your fabulous pix, kittykat23uk- and thank you for yours on my ever-diminishing disc.
I just wish it could be 'Otter, now: fed up with its being colder. (Still haven't seen one of those as well as this.)
I just wish it could be 'Otter, now: fed up with its being colder. (Still haven't seen one of those as well as this.)
I had a fab afternoon walk around Hellesdon Meadow today……...
:t:B
Terrific photo's.
Where is Hellesdon Meadow exactly?
I can only find Hellesdon Meadow Way on google maps.
firstreesjohn
Well-known member
A thaw has taken place in the last couple of days (compare today’s view of The Bump with the photo from #10552). Nevertheless, I still had to do much trudging over the ‘deep and crisp and uneven’, to get up to the Top Common from Beeston Bog.
Tits were in evidence, as were a couple of Goldcrests (not yet extinct, owing to having been refrigerated).
The hoped-for mega Yank passerine didn’t materialise. Bullfinches peeooed in various places- at least 4, if not 6.
A Woodcock toddled across some open snow, but not slow enough for me to get a shot, before it vanished under the bracken.
Tits were in evidence, as were a couple of Goldcrests (not yet extinct, owing to having been refrigerated).
The hoped-for mega Yank passerine didn’t materialise. Bullfinches peeooed in various places- at least 4, if not 6.
A Woodcock toddled across some open snow, but not slow enough for me to get a shot, before it vanished under the bracken.
Attachments
firstreesjohn
Well-known member
As I got out of the car at Salthouse beach car park, the small flock of Turnstones flew in. I would imagine they were hoping for feed, which photographers had been putting down to lure the Snow Buntings. They were quickly joined by some Black-headed Gulls and a Common. Its head could be said, if one wished to be pretentious (moi ? !), to be the focus of these two studies. Note the subtle use of eye-shadow in the RH pic; nowhere near as heavy as Dusty Springfield, though.
Gramboro’ was empty of birds; although a dark Peregrine rose from the shingle beyond and flew off in the direction of the Quags. A Grey Plover, on the brackish pool, allowed the shot below.
Cley Spy (at the NWT Visitor Centre) kindly allowed me to take dozens of shots of the male Brambling, which was coming down to seed just outside their window. However, the light was too low for my camera to perform well.
Gramboro’ was empty of birds; although a dark Peregrine rose from the shingle beyond and flew off in the direction of the Quags. A Grey Plover, on the brackish pool, allowed the shot below.
Cley Spy (at the NWT Visitor Centre) kindly allowed me to take dozens of shots of the male Brambling, which was coming down to seed just outside their window. However, the light was too low for my camera to perform well.
Attachments
Titchwell December 22nd
Today's highlights
Northern harrier - immature male over Thornham saltmarsh from main path
Glaucous gull - 1st winter on fresh marsh @ 15:40 then flew east towards Brancaster harbour
Water pipit - 3 in reedbed, 1 on fresh marsh
Pale bellied brent goose - 3+ with brent flock
Bittern - 1 in flight near Fen Hide
Lapland bunting - 1 feeding with skylarks on brackish marsh although elusive
Med gull - adult winter on fresh marsh
Hen harrier - ringtail to roost in reedbed from Gypsy Lane
Marsh harrier - 10 in roost
Spotted redshank - 1 on Thornham saltmarsh
Paul
Today's highlights
Northern harrier - immature male over Thornham saltmarsh from main path
Glaucous gull - 1st winter on fresh marsh @ 15:40 then flew east towards Brancaster harbour
Water pipit - 3 in reedbed, 1 on fresh marsh
Pale bellied brent goose - 3+ with brent flock
Bittern - 1 in flight near Fen Hide
Lapland bunting - 1 feeding with skylarks on brackish marsh although elusive
Med gull - adult winter on fresh marsh
Hen harrier - ringtail to roost in reedbed from Gypsy Lane
Marsh harrier - 10 in roost
Spotted redshank - 1 on Thornham saltmarsh
Paul
Dave Kennedy
Well-known member
I had a fab afternoon walk around Hellesdon Meadow today. First off, I spotted a gorgeous fox, fluffed up in it's winter livery, trotting along on the other side of the river bank. then later some moorhens pannicked, betraying the presence of an otter, who was swimming upstream, back the way I had come from, he even got out of the water on the far side of the bank at one point. :t:
So I followed this otter, but I lost sight of it near the bridge, turned round to look on the other side of it only to find a flipping Bittern fishing by the water's edge! :eek!: It caught a large roach (I think), but didn't really know what to do with it so after carying it away, the bittern dropped it and just left it flapping on the bank. Then a short while later, it must have seen this vole or something rustling in the undergrowth because it turned and snatched it up, shook it then gulped it down! The bittern then went back to the edge of the bank to resume fishing. It caught another roach, but this time dropped it back in the river!
A snipe also flew in and as it was now getting late I took a wander back along the river and flushed a water rail! What an afternoon!
:t:B
Hi,Jo,
A fox, otter and bittern in one day, hot on the heels of your African triumphs!
That is an enviable achievement.
Congratulations, and everything of the best for Christmas and the New Year.
Dave Kennedy
kittykat23uk
Well-known member
Thanks Dave! Sometimes it just all comes together at once! Have a wonderful Christmas yourself!
All the best
Jo
All the best
Jo
kittykat23uk
Well-known member
:t: Nice one! Could it be the same bird I saw? I heard it was seen early yesterday in the same area I had it on Monday, but wasn't there by late lunchtime. Did get a water rail, but then in a harsh winter they are pretty frequent round here.
Johny121
Birds
I think it could have been, its not far as the bittern flys! certainly nice seeing them here. Many water rail in that area. 3 goosander last winter as well Ill keep an eye open for them this time around.
