Birding, Wellbeing and a lunchtime Twitch

Been a while since I've posted owt on here, a combination of family responsibilities and the competing attraction of Instagram and Twitter for quick and concise communication. I'll not try and summarise what I have been up to since my last post in the Autumn.

With some friends at work I have set up a Patchwork Challenge site in Norwich which includes the Rosary Cemetery, Thorpe marshes and Whitlingham Country Park, a nice patch for short lunchtime walks. Already we have had a half hour bird race around the cemetery where the birders were joined by non birders. Than last week we had a mini twitch to Thorpe marshes for a Black necked grebe. Four of us made the five minute drive and it was great to immediately get onto this little bundle of feathers immediately, Patch Gold. Almost as pleasing though were a couple of common Snipe, context is everything and these were the first Waders' for our 2017 patch list.

St Andrews Broad, NWT Thorpe Marshes

Our walk coincided with a national initiative to take time out to talk to colleagues a watch out for their and your own mental health and wellbeing. It's interesting that I have been birding so long that I rarely think about why I do it. But of course I Bird because I enjoy it, it's something I reach for when I am stressed and when I want to clear my mind. Listening to my work mates as we finished our circuit of the Marshes it was clear that this Twitch aka Wellbeing walk had done more to enhance their mood that day than just the mechanical act of adding a bird to the year list.

Mid January to early February catch up

Been a busy few weeks, so time for a quick catch up.

Sunday 18th January
I took the kids for a walk on Holme Beach, fun for them and it meant that I was able to connect with the flock of c 30 Snow Buntings that have been feeding on the saltmarsh here. Also added Sanderling and Red Breasted Merganser to the year list.

Snow Buntings at Holme

Monday 19th 
A lunchtime walk around Thorpe Marshes Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve in Norwich. Pretty quiet so I counted the ducks, with amongst others 64 Gadwall, 27 Teal [massive under count I expect] 20 Tufted Duck and 1 Pochard and single Snipe.

Teal 

Thursday 22nd
Car Park opposite Hunstanton Tesco
With 2 Waxwings reported feeding in trees around the edge of the car park and drinking in puddles, I paused briefly on the school run to see one of these birds, probably spent less than a minute paused and looking. Had thought I'd be able to come back at leisure but these birds proved elusive and that was to be my lot.

Also added Grey Partridge to the year list today with a small Covey by the side of the A149 bringing up 100 species for the year.

Friday 23rd
A lunchtime walk around Ken Hill Wood was pretty average with a nice mixed flock of Long Tailed, Coal, Blue and Great Tits, plus Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and Common Buzzard.

Treecreeper

Saturday 24th
A quick hour at Titchwell 
2 - 3 Marsh Harriers, a single Woodcock from Meadow Trail which I'd of gotten a better picture of if I'd not been busy helping an old girl get onto it only for her to hell her son that she couldn't use scopes. Barn Owl was a nice bonus.

Crap picture of Woodcock

Tuesday 27th
My commute between Hunstanton and Norwich today was enlivened by single Barn Owls on the morning and evening and a Little Owl on the morning drive. 

Wednesday 28th
River Yare in Norwich at Thorpe St Andrew
Tipped off by a friend I spent ten minutes looking for and another ten minutes photographing a first winter Mediterranean Gull in amongst the Black Headed Gulls on the riverbank here.

First Winter Med Gull

Friday 30th
Left the office in Norwich a little early and in the twilight I saw at least 2 and maybe 3 Tawny Owls perched by the side of the road.

Saturday 31st
Regents Park London, took the kids to London Zoo and the first birds we heard on arrival and the last on departure were feral Ring Necked Parakeets.

Sunday 8th February 
Titchwell Marsh, lovely couple of hours on a bright winters day with several year ticks including Kingfisher [saw two birds together twice], Water Pipit, Water Rail, Common Scoter and a distant Long Tailed Duck. Also good to see Stonechat and Marsh Harrier and the ducks looked great today. Yellowhammer on the drive home brought the year list to 115.

Black Tailed Godwit

Spotters one of whom never seemed to pause for breath

Mid August to Mid September catch up - things are moving

Fells like a long and fun summer since we returned from holiday in Yorkshire, notes below a quick summary of what I've seen.

Monday 18 August , Thorpe Marshes NWT [Norwich]
A short lunchtime walk, managed single Sparrowhawk and Green woodpecker and four Swifts in amongst the House Martins.

NWT Thorpe Marshes

Wednesday 20th, Holme Beach
Picked two rt three Arctic Skuas whilst playing with the kids on the beach.

Friday 22nd, Titchwell Creek
Quiet, with only three Common Seals hauled out, not helped by loose dogs swimming in the creek. Heard Avocet, Whimbrel and Greenshank

Common Seals at Titchwell Creek

Sunday 24th
Inland of Titchwell a single Hobby over the car.

In and around Brancaster
Single Swift and Sparrowhawk
At dusk a hunting Fox and Daubentons Bats over the marsh

Monday 25th Titchwell Marsh
I set myself a target of finding 50 species in two very wet hours and crept in on 51 species, few highlights in awful weather included Golden Plovers, Spotted Redshank and Bearded Tits.

The way onto Titchwell Beach

Tuesday 26th
Perhaps the same Fox in Brancaster this time after dark on the Branodunum housing estate

Thursday 28th, Titchwell Marsh
A short, productive evening walk with a Great White Egret, 12 Spoonbills, six Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Greenshank, five Spotted Redshank's, three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, a Cetti's Warbler, one Swift, two Muntjac and a single Chinese Water Deer.

Chinese Water Deer, Titchwell Fresh Marsh

Friday 29th, Holme Beach
Intermittent seawatching whilst playing with the kids, found a single Arctic Skua, Gannet 2, Fulmar 3, Wigeon 4, Common Scoter 1, Sandwich Terns and a Common Seal.

In the evening a Fox in Branodunum [Brancaster]

Saturday 30th, Brancaster Saltings and adjacent scrub and gardens
Swift 1, Pied flycatcher 1 female and nearby a Wild Bee nest.
On way home a pair pf Bullfinches flew across the road through Courtyard Farm [Ringstead].

Wild Bee's nest, Brancaster

Wednesday 3 September
Great views of a perched Kingfisher during a work visit to Fen Drayton Lakes [Cambs]

Saturday 6th, Titchwell Marsh
Little stint 2 juveniles, Curlew Sandpiper 3 juveniles, Spoonbill 6.

Juvenile Common Sandpipers, Titchwell Marsh

Thursday 11th, Titchwell Marsh
Curlew Sandpiper 3 juveniles, Greenshank 1, Spotted Redshank 2, Hobby 1, Stonechat 1, Wheatear 1.
After dark in Hunstanton heard a Whimbrel flying over.

Saturday 13th, Titchwell Marsh
Very quiet in the bird front but a nice Stoat ran across the West Bank path.

Sunday 14th, Holmne Beach
Arctic skua 1 - 3, Bonxie 1, Gannet 12 - 14, Sandwich Terns still present.

Sea watching at Holme Beach