Friday, 17 February 2012

Location - Location - Location







I'm back!!...well I've never been away really. I've just not posted for a while due to various reasons, lack of time, lack of inspiration or, more to the point, I guess it's just been down to shear laziness on my part!!  Although you'll be pleased to know that I haven't forgotten you all and I've been keeping up to date with reading all of your blogs. (sorry for the lack of comments!!).

                                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



 This is the first in a series of three posts (not many words of wisdom just a selection of images that I hope you will enjoy) each one dedicated to a different location that I've had the pleasure of visiting since the beginning of the month.




The first day of February dawned cold and frosty and at around 5.30 am I arrived at Keith's house on the start of our 200+ mile round trip to the RSPB's reserve at Titchwell Marsh in Norfolk. We arrived just after 8am, after experiencing a beautiful red sunrise during the journey, to a cold sunny blue sky morning. It looked like being a good day weather wise, little did we know that out on the reserve a strong bitterly (and I mean BITTERLY !!) cold Easterly wind was blowing directly from Siberia!! 

After a cup of coffee and some sandwiches (thanks Keith) in the car park and a photo session with the numerous Robins that soon appeared to greet us, they're well fed I think and hence quite confiding, we set of on our walk around the reserve.



 
Around by the back of the back of the visitor centre Keith soon spied a group of Redpoll feeding high up in some Alder trees and it was not long before he had spotted that they were not only  Lesser Redpolls but also Common, or Mealy, Redpolls, and then he exclaims "there!, look!, that one's much lighter than the others, I reckon that's an Arctic Redpoll" And sure enough once the visitor centre was open it was confirmed by the staff and the sightings book that it was indeed a Coues's Arctic Redpoll! So it looked like we were off to good start, and within minutes of leaving the car!



Common Redpoll (I think!)


 
As soon as we left the cover of the trees we felt the full force of the cold wind which made it very difficult to hold our bino's and cameras steady and as most birds were at a distance picture taking opportunities were mostly curtailed to 'fly byes'.

Brent Geese

Greylag Geese

Pintail (male)

Shelduck (male)

Black - Tailed Godwit

Grey Plover

 
We had pre booked a guided walk (highly recommended, and free to RSPB members) for 12.30pm so, after more coffee and sandwiches, we met up with our guide, David Pelling, for a very enjoyable and informative  tour were he explained all about the history and objectives of the reserve as well as pointing out some of the birds that we had missed previously!


 
So, after around 8 hours of excellent birding (apart from the wind, that is!) and a count of 63 different species of bird it was time to set off on the two and a half hour journey for home.

Time for Home


 
A short video  mainly of the wind!!!




14 comments:

ADRIAN said...

Superb photographs....The light on the grey lags is glorious.

ShySongbird said...

Hi Trevor, What a lovely post and one I have been looking forward to since reading Keith's account of the visit. Sixty three species is excellent. The photos are beautiful! I would be just pleased to see any Redpoll, three different types... greedy! ;-) and what a nightmare to ID, well for me anyway.

It sounded like a thoroughly enjoyable visit, apart from the wind which your video highlighted. I would love to go there but it's about three and a half hours from me and it would be much too long to leave our elderly, frail dog. Maybe one day.

holdingmoments said...

Cold and windy Trevor, but a cracking day.
It's certainly a great place. Just wish it was nearer.
The Redpolls came out really well, and the flight shots are excellent.
We gotta have a spring visit :-)

Bob Bushell said...

Brill photos Trevor, especially the Brent Geese, Pintail and the Black-tailed Godwit, in fact, all of them.

theconstantwalker said...

Two and a half hours home with some great memories me thinks..
A wonderful post Trevor..

The Herald said...

Thanks Adrian...[;o)


Jan, Thank you for the kind comments. Yeh, we had a great day.
If you get the chance you should definitely go it's a great place, but best make sure that the wind isn't blowing...lol...[;o)


A grand day out Keith, apart from the wind...lol!
A return visit is definitely on the cards...[;o)


Thank you Bob...[;o)


Thank you Andrew. It was a great day out to remember. Wish it was a bit closer though!...[;o)

Ruby said...

The grey lag geese picture is amazing - wonderful shot!

mjm said...

Nice selection of shots there - great flight shots in particular.

The Herald said...

Thanks Ruby...[;o)


Thank you Marilyn...[;o)

BlueShell said...

Everything here is wonderful.
have a good night sleep!
BS

- Yvonaut -
Das sind Raphael und Yvonne
said...

Very nice pictures! Love the bird shots!
Many greetings from Switzerland
Yvonne & Raphael

The Herald said...

Thanks BlueShell, I usually do!!...[;o)


Raphael & Yvonne, thank you very much for your kind comments...[;o)

Roy said...

A lovely flock of Brent Trevor, I didn't see any the other week when I was there.

The Herald said...

Thanks Roy. The Brents were feeding on the meadow/marsh to the side of the reserve (the one that has wildfowl shooting rights ??!!)...[;o)