What have you seen

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  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited September 2017 #812

    OP

    We have been over your way for 5 weeks this year so far and sadly not come across stiffkey or the other places on their website.

    Can't beat local knowledge

    Maybe next time

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
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    edited September 2017 #813

    We're back home today from our Holland trip.

    Amazed at the number of white storks on the field opposite our campsite at Delft. A very wet field (very wet everywhere), but really near the motorway and Ikea.

    Next trip North Norfolk 27th September, staying at Fakenham racecourse and Sandringham. Should be good!

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #814

    Pliers, we are going to Barleywood on 27 September but just for the weekend, will return home Tuesday 3 Oct.  never know our paths may cross.

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
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    edited September 2017 #815

    My favourite CL, my profile photo was taken there. Only managed to get a booking there the once, but the racecourse site can be good for birds, especially if you get one of the quiet pitches "on the rails"

  • N1805
    N1805 Forum Participant Posts: 1,092
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    edited September 2017 #816

    Bluemalaga - Not at Arne but would be interested to know where the NT hide is you mention for any future visit to that area.  We walked from RSPB car park over Coombe Heath to 2 view-points & hide [looks south over Middlebere lake –an inlet on OS map] as this was, we were told, the area we may spot the Osprey.  No luck.

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited September 2017 #817

    The hide is the other side of the lake from where you were looking from.

    You need to drive out of Arne and take a turning on the left about half a mile out then park on the road where the sign for Middlebere Farm, then take a long stroll along the lane to the farm. Walk to the right of the farm and the hide is then behind the farm. There is also a perch that could show a Kingfisher during nesting season.

    We just missed the Osprey catching a fish, but arrived in time to see seagulls mobbing it to take the fish. Later it flew around for a bit.

    There were about 20 spoonbills quite close.

  • N1805
    N1805 Forum Participant Posts: 1,092
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    edited September 2017 #818

    Bluemalaga - Thanks for info have marked my OS map.  Must have been the hide we could see from the RSPB hide from which we saw the Spoonbills etc.

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited September 2017 #819

    It would have been that hide. It puts you a fair distance from the Osprey, but clear sight of the bird when it takes flight and hunts.

    Woke up this morning to a very empty and quiet garden, no birds feeding or singing. Then I got a call from the OH to say there was a large bird sat on our Pergola overlooking the feeders and pond.

    A couple of Magpies finally chased it off.

    Quick snaps through dirty double glazing shows Juvenile male Sparrowhawk is my best assessment but stand correction.

    Note - Must clean windows.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #820

    Looks like it Blue, great pics, thanks for sharing

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #821

    Lovely pics, on my phone they show up really well. Thanks! smile

    We sometimes get close up views of Sparrowhawks in our garden, they are quite bold. I know when one is around as the garden is silent with no other birds on view.

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited September 2017 #822

    Lovely pictures of the sparrowhawk,  thanks for sharing. smile

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited September 2017 #823

    OP

    Have you noted the Pallas's Grasshoper Warbler sighted at Burnham Overly  Straith Norfolk and a Great Bustard seen for a few weeks at Chewton Mendip in Somerset.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #824

    Have heard about the PGW but not GB.  Thanks for the heads up though

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited September 2017 #825

    Rare bird alert gives the location of both

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #826

    I know its very parochial of me but I only tend to keep an eye on East Anglia 

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited September 2017 #827

    OK, I thought you were fairly keen to see the GB from your earlier posts.

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited September 2017 #828

    Seal pups at Cwntydu.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #829

    That was one of the reasons for going to Salisbury Plain, but I don't think I'm going to get to Somerset any time soonsmile

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,640 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #830

    Were you there today? We hope to get down there later in the week. Staying on a CL near Synod Inn for a week.

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited September 2017 #831

    Yes we were there yesterday, 3 pups and 3 mums. the beach was closed off, but they were so close to watch and photograph. Enjoy your time at Synod Inn, and don't forget to go on the Dolphin Watch trips from New Quay.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #832

    Great day at RSPB Strumpshaw, saw and photographed the Water Vole, thanks to Greylag for the heads up for the location.  Kingfishers very active but settled too far away for meaningful photo. 

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,640 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #833

    Walked along the length of New Quay Bay today from Llanina Point to the harbour. Say 2 pairs of Dolphins from the pier and then another on our way back. Also a Razorbill by the harbour wall and a Yellow Wagtail & Greater Black Backed Gulls, by the stream at the point.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,606 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #834

    We passed the group of birdwatchers yesterday as they were looking for the Pallas Grasshopper Warbler. What an unedifying sight as these so called wildlife enthusiasts tried to flush this poor skulking bird from its hiding place in the reeds. We were walking from Wells to BOS and spoke a woman on the bank above the spectacle. She said some of the crowd had been trying for at least 30 minutes to flush it. None of the other watchers we're trying to stop them. What happened to the welfare of the bird? Wasn't that the most important thing? Apparently not, a box tick was more important.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585
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    edited September 2017 #835

    I witnessed some bloke jumping onto a mound to scare an Adder out at Minsmere.....just cretins.  The world is full of them.  

    Just Deleted User the rest of my rant.......................

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585
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    edited September 2017 #836

    Op

    Glad you got the little blighter..really lovely creature.

    Just back from Alkborough flats....stunning Water rails 4 metres from hide, Spoonbills.......just loads of birds.

    Looking for some nature next week, probably last trip out before the van goes away.  Will post pics as soon as they are reduced in size.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #837

    Wherenext, that's disgraceful, I've seen it a couple of times and to be fair other birders have intervened.

    Alkborough flats is a great walk with some interesting wildlife

    Nice walk around Carlton Marsh today.  

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,640 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #838

    Cariadon, we saw the 3 seal pups at Cwmtydu today and a couple of adult ones too, one on the shore and another in the next cwn to the north. Spotted what I took to be Merlin passing overhead as we walked the coastal path, but it was too fast for me to be sure; definitely not a Kestral.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #839

    Water vole at Strumpshaw:

     

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585
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    edited September 2017 #840

    op

    Glad to see your Vole picture is as good as mine and no better, I would have to go back and try again otherwise, it really is addictive creature.

    Don't have to worry about ID for the first pictures attached, but the last one has me foxed.

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited September 2017 #841

    i beleive it is an RAF tornado with Rolls-Royce RB199 engine

    I am sure you were joking, but Please can we avoid competition and post pics as encouragement to get out and see things. I like the prompts that others have seen to get out and see for myself. 

    Yours and OP posts has resulted in four visits this year alone to your neck of the woods, and several more in future.