20180424 Sandwich Tern RSPB Titchwell

Sandwich Tern

c700 birds have amassed on the Freshmarsh over the last few days.

c100 loafed about in the BHGull colony within the enclosure....

But will they stay?
No they did not. The Terns formed a colony on Scolt Head Island as in previous years.
Also Blakeney Point Does not have a colony this year.

Sandwich Tern

Much pairing and displaying.

Sandwich Tern

Much breeding activity but will they set up a colony here?

So many Med Gulls to put them off.

Will they finally locate to Scolt Head....

Med Gull

Sandwich Tern

Pair displaying triggered response from Med Gull which persistently disrupted proceedings.

Sandwich tern

Pair with confused Med Gull.

20180422 Barn Owl near albino Cley Marshes

Barn Owl

Near albino hunting about Cricket and Keeper's marshes.
The Owl purple patch continues.

Barn Owl

Finally caught up with the bird this evening whilst the path was free of walkers.

Hence the congratulatory wink...

20180417 Olympus E-M1 MkII & Marsh Harrier RSPB Titchwell

The proof of the pudding....

David Tipling with his new Olympus E-M1 u4/3 gear, handheld.

Side by side comparison with a similar spec Nikon system, on monopod.

Which would you prefer to carry dawn to dusk?

https://davidtipling.com/f/i-am-a-switcher

Marsh Harrier

Mature Alpha female and dark male low over study area.

Marsh Harrier

Alpha female

Marsh Harrier

Female over study area on 14th April.

Marsh Harrier

Mature Alpha male low over study area.

Bright tri-coloured and in tail moult, or has he been shot at?

Marsh Harrier inner primary, 250mm.

Found by the study area 20180424.

Female triggers wing moult when on eggs.

Marsh Harrier primary feathers.

20180410 Mediterranean Gull ageing RSPB Titchwell

Med Gull

Bird found by Chris on the Freshmarsh. 

Shunned by adult Meds in the colony here.

Head pattern, legs and bill are as 1st winter Med,

but structure and tone of upperparts are good for ad, cf BHGulls. The primaries are also full ad with black leading edge of outer showing.

No sign of hybridization, ageing the bird is a real problem... 1st winter to 3rd summer...??

Med Gull

Age and moult??

Med Gull 20180424

Classic pair on Freshmarsh, 24 April.

Black outer web on p9 and p10 of stretching bird and brighter scarlet legs, suggests 3rd summer.

Right hand bird has much black in primary tips and duller legs and is probably a 2nd summer, but the complete black hood indicates an older bird.