Montagu's Harrier

Work took me out to west Norfolk today, so a lunch break along a certain road, afforded me some good views of the local Montagu's Harriers in this area. Managed to see 2 females and excellent views of a male carrying food.


female Montagu's Harrier










Male Montagu's Harrier










On the way home a look in at the lake revealed all was quiet at Felbrigg, though a juvenile Grey Wagtail put in an appearence.

juvenile Grey Wagtail

Thursday

First sighting of a Common Buzzard locally for a while, the same roost site used this time last year has once again came in to favour. Another first sighting (for the year anyway) was a Turtle Dove that flushed out of the ready-to-cut oil seed rape field.

Fate?

After spending all day in the company of three female retail 'therapists' in the fine city of Norwich, we arrive home, and on letting the dog out, at that precise moment, an adult Mediterranean Gull flies over the back door... unreal!

Moths

Ran the trap on an unseasonally cool night last night, but it was the first dry one in a while so needs must. Not surprisingly a fairly poor haul considering the time of year, inbetween Common and Smokey Wainscot, Yellow Underwing, Dark Arches and Uncertains were 5 Clay, 3 Mottled Rustic, Buff Ermine and a Buff Arches, the latter eluding a photo op by flitting off!

Clay



Mottled Rustic


Buff Ermine

Saturday

After a prolonged period of heavy showers today (including my first ever sighting of a funnel-cloud over the Cromer-Holt Ridge) late afternoon brightened up a little so an evening visit to Felbrigg was in order. Mallard and Mute Swan the most prominent birds on the lake but a hoped for Green Sandpiper was new for the year. Most interesting was the sight of a female Mandarin taking flight from some long grass with two well grown youngsters, nearly, but not quite, following her off in the distance. I left well alone and retreated from the area. A Grey Wagtail is still present along with two Barn Owls. Back at home and the Strip of Doom is full of Ringlet and Meadow Brown butterflies, a Large Skipper was seen well.


Funnel Cloud remnent. The dark line out of the bottom of the dark cloud was initially twice as long. When these touch the ground they form 'twisters!



Large Skipper

Red-backed Shrike

My work appointments took me down the east coast this morning, and after a brief stop at Happisburgh for an unsuccessful search for Roseate Tern, I ended up at Sea Palling. Pretty soon I was watching the long staying male Red-backed Shrike that's been here since May.

Red-backed Shrike

Grey Wagtail

Single Grey Wagtail flew west over the church this morning, probably indicating typical mid summer dispersal of locally bred(?) bird.

Muntjac

Rounding a hedgerow along the track this morning a pair of Muntjac went bounding off along the edge of the field, the buck with his tail held skyward, the doe, quite rightly looking a little more ashamed at being caught out in the open!

'Sands

Took a quick look in at Felbrigg Lake prior to picking my lad up from Aylmerton Field Study centre where he's doing some work experience. Not alot on the lake due to two inflatable boats on it! I think they were on there doing some water/ecological study or something, but any way they ensured there was nothing on the lake except the Mute Swans and their five cygnets. However around the edge a delightful flock of five Common Sandpipers wing-flicked low over the water to feed, bobbing incesently on the opposite bank.

Aylmerton's Admirals

After a fruitless hour along the cliffs at Sheringham Bird Obs. this afternoon I took a walk along the wooded path where last years White Admirals were seen. At least 4 were seen to be in attendence along a short strip,one of which had a favoured resting spot not too high up. Dad said there were plenty in Sheringham Park this weekend too.

White Admiral





Comma

Felbrigg Lake

Took a walk down to the lake on the way home from work (after nearly mowing down a Little Owl on the road near Sustead!) Being mid summer, nothing was expected but, that doesn't stop you still looking hard! The Lake was dominated by Mallard with about 40 present, and amongst them were Tufties 5 and a single duck Mandarin. Around the edges, a pair of Oystercatcher soon scooted off, but an adult Grey wagtail with a juvenile was surely proof of successful breeding not to far away. A migrant Greenshank could be heard moving west high up in the sky somewhere. Dragonflies were represented by a dozen or so Black-tailed Skimmers.

Away from Home

Monday and Tuesday saw me working away in the Bucks/ Oxon area this week. Now, regular visitors to this blog will have probably gathered that I have a bit of a soft spot when it comes to Raptors, with one of my personal favorites being Red Kite. Whilst travelling around on Monday, particularly along the A40 corridor I saw more Red Kites in one day than certainly anywhere else that I've been, both home and abroad! Saw easily at least 40 individuals including several wheeling low over housing estates in small towns and villages- you lucky, lucky bar stewards! Along with the kites picked out a couple of Common Buzzards and, at our digs for the night, a nice garden provided a little moth called Pyrausta aurata along with Grey Wagtail and some classic English countryside full of House Sparrows, Swallows and Greenfinches lurvely!

Pyrausta aurata

Moths!

I actually left my moth trap on all night for the first time this summer! A nice array of the usual suspects (as opposed to the Suspect, a very rare moth!) whih included a garden tick in the form of a very smart looking Peach Blossom, so called for the delicate markings on the wings appear like peach blossom petals!

Peach Blossom



Angle Shades



Green Silver Lines






Brown Rustic



Turnip Moth (I think!)

'Legs

Work took me to Blakeney this morning, which was sufficiently close enough to Cley NWT reserve to warrent a fleeting visit to enjoy 4 Spoonbill in flight over the reserve, several Little Egrets and best of all the summer plumaged Lesser Yellowlegs, a rare wading bird from North America. I have seen 'legs before but this one is a particularly fine looking bird with some strong black barring and spangled upperparts. Still digi-less so a few blobs of paint have been submitted to give you some idea!

Lesser 'legs

Mid-summers Day Return

The morning dog walk coincided with a high flying Curlew going west over village. Undoubtedly a non-breeding returning bird from the low countries (at a guess!) it won't be long before the geese and the Fieldfares are back! Please can we have some summer!

Inverts.

Still awaiting my camera adaptor, a couple of inverts captured on the DSLR were found lurking in the garden.


Clouded Silver






Wasp Beetle

Hobby

Having not seen this small summer falcon locally yet this year, I was treated to a stunning view of one this morning as it lazily flew beside then infront of me as I walked the track. The reddish 'trousers' and yellow around the bill and eye were particularly bright. To further confirm the 'just like buses' saying, this evening two Hobbies looked somewhat rather more menacing as the belted down Church Lane terrorising the local hirundines (Swallows and Martins)

Moth Tick

Working in the west of the county this morning, I took my lunch break at Syderstone Common. A short walk across some open grassland kicked out a day flying moth that I've been wanting to see for ages, a Mother Shipton. It eventually settled down where I manged to get a couple of record shots with my old 2 megapixel camera! This moth gets its name from the witch of the same name who was reputed to have a long crooked nose and chin, check out this moths wing pattern.

Garden Stuff

With the digiscoping gear still out of action, I've not been inspired enough to go too far, so had a look around the garden with my other camera today. Nothing stunning but pictures to look at nevertheless.

Bumble Bees

'Micro' Moths

Silver Y moth

The Barn Owl has been regularly hunting the ex-set-a-side strip from late afternoon onwards, presumably having hungrey mouths to feed. We also have two species of wader breeding on the sugarbeet field behind the house in the form of at least two pairs of Lapwing and a noisy pair of Oystercatchers.

Jewel in the Mist

A particularly grotty day weather wise was brightened up by an always beautiful BEE-EATER which was found just behind Northrepps Church late morning. The bird stuck faithfully to a hedgerow, seemingly sheltered from the breeze and drizzle and more importantly, one that was sheltered enough for Bees! This was my first Bee-eater sighting in Norfolk, and only my second in Britain. Unfortunately I am in the middle of a digiscoping crisis due to breakage of my camera adaptor, so I couldn't get any shots, but thanks to Rob Lee for allowing the use of his to make this post a little more interesting.



Bee-eater

Old Friend

Please note that wildlifeAylmerton will not be blogging until further notice- thanks for visiting

SUNDAY

SW 2-3 bright sunny but cool becoming cloudy 0700-1230

Took an early morning traipse down to the lake this morning hoping for a Rouzel or the like but no joy, only birds of note were Shelduck 6, Tufties 12, Gadwall pr, Dabchick 3 a screaming Water Rail and several singing Chiffchaffs. From 0900-1100 a watch from the High Point produced 2 female/2nd c/y Marsh Harrier moving west, single Common Buzzard and 40 Golden Plover. Best of all, a meet up at the Roman Camp pub with Rob and Nigel to discuss an up and coming birding trip resulted in a fine Red Kite from the beer garden, with pint in hand-heaven!!!

Nowt Doin'

Despite morning and post tea time walks, very little happening here at the moment. One of the bare fields had a convoy of tractors in it this morning setting potatos and immediately attracted the first Wheatear of the spring, as it disappeared over a ridge. Over the recent week or so I have been keeping an eye on a White-tailed Eagle-alas not a suppressed local bird, but via web cam from Norway.
http://www.smp.no/services/ornerede2008/viewer.asp?lang=1&viewertype=webtv

Missed!

Missed a nailed-on Black Kite today due to being at work some 15 miles away. I watched agonisingly as its movements were relayed via my bird pager. I could even 'see' it drifting along the ridge (in my minds eye, you see!) as it moved from Cromer towards Weybourne.

Moths

Had the trap on for a few hours last evening and got a few visitors, nothing unexpected though:
Hebrew Character 3
Common Quaker 3
Small Quaker 1
Oak Beauty 1
March Moth 1
Early Thorn 2
Engrailed 1
Shoulder-stripe 4
Early Grey 1
Clouded Drab 2

Small Quaker


Hebrew Character


Shoulder stripe


Engrailed...can you see it?!


Shoulder stripe tail up!


Wednesday, after work I popped down to a chilly Felbrigg Lake, where amoung the usual suspects were three Dabchick! Now I've been looking hard for Dabchick all year here with not a sniff, so where'd they come from? They must have taken the same flight path as those darn Coots I reckon! Yesterday morning, like music to the ears, a Swallow was on power lines in the street churruping away to his self, looking forward to the warm spring weather.... yeah right! Go back now pal, snow's on its way!!