20201017 Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Stiffkey saltmarsh

 

20201017 Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

20201017 Rufous Scrub Robin

Eastern subspecies syriacus 

20201017 Rufous Scrub Robin

Looking a bit exhausted at times.

20201017 The Twitch

A scene reminiscent of an Emperor Penguin colony but on mud.

c500 in distance with steady stream back and forth.

Note guy in wheel chair....  

2 policemen were staggering out to the colony as 'jump start Eric' and I left.

20201017 Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

20201017 Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 

Biro sketch of the bird of the year. Could not resist....

Interesting to note that the Salt Marsh is a SSSI,

so the local NT's had called out the police on at least two days of the twitch sighting damage to the site and to a farmers ploughed field.

The NT's take no action with holiday makers or dogs running over the marsh throughout the year....?? Even fail to stop the Norfolk harrier pack flush and hunt hares over the site...??

20201017 Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin
Acrylic ID plate in progress...

20201009 Bearded Vulture, Moulton Chapel, Lincolnshire

 

A red letter day...

20201009 Bearded Vulture
1st summer female in roost tree at Cowpit

much to the dismay of the local Rooks.

About 100 birders here early morn much to the dismay of the socially distanced villagers.

20201009 Bearded Vulture

Flying away from the village escorted by a mobbing cloud of Rooks.

She then turned back to the SE and went down on fields to South of Moulton Chapel.

20201009 Bearded Vulture

Rapidly moved to intercept the birds Southward drift at Queens Bank Farm...

 It got up and glided directly at a small group of birders on the bund...

20201009 Bearded Vulture

Dropped down to feed on small carcass by the bund...!!

20201009 Bearded Vulture

The death stare...

20201009 Bearded Vulture

Lift off was quite an effort.

20201009 Bearded Vulture

Feathered legs and small feet and talons, compared to a similar sized Eagle.

20201009 Bearded Vulture

Bird then flew at telegraph wire height over our heads...!?

 and examined each birder for any signs of frailty and weakness.

This shot demonstrates the drawback of a 1200mm set up and large target overhead...

www.birdguides.com/news/origins-of-wandering-bearded-vulture-confirmed-by-genetics/

https://www.birdguides.com/news/bearded-vulture-heads-home/

20201009 Bearded Vulture & Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Raptors of the British Isles are just not big enough....

20201007 Eurasian Hoopoe, Wighton

 

20201007 Eurasian Hoopoe

Confiding bird attracted to a dung heap in corner of arable field... as ever.

20201007 Eurasian Hoopoe

Following afternoon nap sheltered in the weeds the bird had a good stretch with crest up.

20201005 Eurasian Hoopoe

Shots taken on 5th in dull light and rain.

20201005 Eurasian Hoopoe

20200926 Little Gull wreck, Grey Phalarope & Arctic Tern, Kelling WM

 The large water meadow South of Kelling Quags appears to have been sold to a 'wildlife trust',
a wish expressed by the owners!?!
Hopefully the NWT... and not the national dog park trust. 
Whether the NOA got involved is unclear.

20200926 Little Gull

Note black leading outer web of leading primary.

Great winds NW29-35 and sea-watch.

20200626 Little Gull

Loosing juvenile plumage.

20200626 Little Gull & Grey Phalarope

20200626 Grey Phalarope

20200928 Arctic Tern

Juvenile spent several days over water meadow.

Faster swoops to surface than Little Gulls.

20200928 Arctic Tern

No secondary bar and very compact.

20200828 Cetti's Warbler

Meadow Lane Kelling WM.
Juvenile bird with pinkish legs and short tail.
Ranks as my top Cetti's shot to date.

Kelling WMs is a great all-round bird site, aided by the freshwater flowing through it and the total absence of nature reserve paraphernalia.  

To secure the whole site the freshwater pool meadow will need to be obtained by a 'wildlife trust' from  Kelling Estate ownership...

20200928 Mediterranean Gull

Adult winter just offshore with Gull flock. A few Meds were wrecked on the WMeadow on 26th.

20200928 Sheringham RNLI

On search for missing persons today...