Norfolk continued:

Firstly my apologies for neglecting my blog and getting through my collection from my Norfolk trip in September, cannot believe how the time can get away from you, however, back to Norfolk and two day's where taken up by visiting the Common and Grey Seals on Blakeney Point, if you have not been it is a must, the first day was with my own Seal in tow and the next I was joined by good friend Di Stone, we had a whale of a time (Excuse the pun) and cannot wait until we can go again, while waiting for the boat trip we did our usual visit to the Harbours were I got one of my personal favourite shots of the Bar-tailed Godwit, while Di and I were out on the second day, the Seal managed to track down this Greenshank in a small inlet at Stiffkey Marsh, he was waiting for us when we disembarked and whisked us off to see it for ourselves.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Seal.

Greenshank.

Bar-tailed Godwit.

Norfolk continued:

Next couple of days of our stay were spent in the local Harbours, Di Stone has joined us, staying at her usual watering hole in Sandringham, we had been trying for the Grey Partridge for a few days and dropped on lucky early one morning, we then met up with Di, Pete and Allen on Titchwell Beach in the hopes of practicing our flight shots, when a nosey Grey Seal just popped up from no were, to see what we were up to.

Grey Partridge.

Grey Partridge.

Sanderling.

Bar-tailed Godwit.

Sanderling.

Grey Seal.

Pensthorpe Norfolk.

With day nine's weather unpredictable, we chose to visit Pensthorpe Wildfowl Park, if you have never been it is truely worth a visit and the weather turned out to be better than we thought, we spent the day there and we only covered about a third of what was on offer, for me I could have spent the whole day with the Bearded Tit's and again the trip was mainly for my benefit as it gives me a chance to see everything up close and personal, helping me not only with my identification skills but also with my camera skills and settings and I got the benefit of that when we went for the American Black Tern in Lincs, and again with the Sabines Gull on the way home in Cambridgeshire. Don't get me wrong the Bearded Tits are just as elusive as the East Bank at Cley and do be careful when entering the enclosed area's as I got one hell of a wack round the head by the trailing leg of a Juvenile Black Stork practicing his flying skills, did at first blame the Seal but he assures me it was the Stork!!

Bearded Tit.

Bearded Tit.

Black Wing Stilt.

Redshank.

Avocet.

Curlew.

Snew (Redhead).

Norfolk!

These images are the pick of day Four, Five and Six, of our recent trip to Norfolk and we were joined by good friends Pete Walkden and his dad Alan on day Five.

Little Egret.

Little Egret.

Avocet.

Avocet.

Wheatear.

Wheatear.

Wheatear.

Lapwing.

Teal.

Ruff.

Turnstone.

Chinese Water Deer.

Blithfield Res.

Should really be spending my time going through more of my Norfolk shots, but could not resist a lovely sunny day especially when we don't know how long this Indian Summer may last, (yea! yea! I know there has to be a frost first before it is classed as a real Indian Summer)but it is close enough for me, thanks very much. As always Blithfield never fails to come up with something interesting, especially when I can get a shot of the Seal in action as well (the master at work).

Curlew Sandpiper.

Curlew Sandpiper.

Curlew Sandpiper.

Wheatear.

Wheatear.

Meadow Pipit.

Meadow Pipit.

The Seal In Action!

Two Weeks Holiday in Norfolk.

Well what can I say, fantastic time, fantastic weather, only down side was not a great deal of rare birds about, but two out of three ain't bad! Arrived late morning and went straight to Titchwell for the Little Bittern, stood for four hours with not a sign, had to leave to get settled in the Caravan and have a bite to eat, could stand on the old pins a moment longer! only to find people we had stood by for all that time had great views only half an hour after we left, after that it became a real thorn in the side and all we could think about, hence going back again the next morning to give it another four hours, still no luck and again seemed to wait until we had disappeared before coming out, all be it fleetingly. Must have had the shakes that day, must have been low sugar level or frustration not sure which but could not use any shots taken that day at all, all got dumped, did get good views of the Little Bittern on day three for over an hour but not clearly enough for any shots, but glad I got to see it at last, so below are the best of day three, slowly working through each day, thankfully they do improve.

Redshank.

Open Wide!

Turnstone.

What Now Mum!

Herring Gull (Juvenile)

Ruff.

Ruff.

Curlew Sandpiper.