27 October 2012

Fieldfare in the garden. Photo taken through wet windowpane.

18 October 2012

A friend sent me this. What a birdbrain! Make sure you watch to the end...

14 October 2012 update - Steppe Lesser Whitethroat?

Just received a message from someone with experience of central asian races who says that the Lesser Whitethroat mentioned in the previous post "looks very good for Steppe Lesser Whitethroat [Sylvia curruca halimodendri - also known as Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat]. Quite sandy-grey looking contrasting with greyer hood, whiter throat and dirty buff underparts. Probably Steppe Lesser Whitethroat will be found to be a regular late autumn visitor to the UK in some years, like this year, once they sort out the systematics. It is also a potential split."

Here is another pic of the bird.  Feel free to comment!

14 October 2012

It felt like proper autumn today and there were more birds around, in between bouts of heavy rain.  A fair few Song Thrushes were moving through, and various members of our merry band connected with Firecrest and Brambling in the morning. Lots of Goldcrests around too.  There were a couple of Lesser Whitethroats playing around together below the Hermanus, allowing the odd photo.  Feels like there might be more out there to find, but it's raining heavily again at the moment.

12th October 2012

A quick seawatch before work off Hemsby saw 10 little gulls fly north and 5 south. There was also a bit of wildfowl passage, 81 brent geese, 32 common scoter, 21 wigeon, 14 teal, 2 shoveler and 2 pintail all mainly heading south. Adult med gull over the dunes. Ryan

Later in the afternoon a lone Brent Goose (maybe injured?) was feeding at the top of the beach just north of the cafe. Sean

9th October 2012.

Firecrest in the small oaks, south dunes.Lapland Bunting on the north beach.

7th October 2012.

3 Bearded Tits through the south dunes this morning Tim.

6 October 2012

Lots of Mediterranean Gulls flying around the village and dunes this morning.



In the afternoon, after a tipoff by Colin, Ted and I took our cameras down to photograph a Lapland Bunting in the South Dunes.  This gave me the opportunity to compare the difference between the FZ150 which Ted used and the GH2 which I used.  I am currently agonising over whether to crack and buy a Canon DSLR with the 400/5.6 lens to lump around instead of the diddy micro four thirds or superzoom setup.  I would REALLY like to be able to photograph flyover passerines better, but I do enjoy not having backache too.  The GH2 is a good camera but it is not much cop for birds in flight.  Here are the Bunting shots - can you tell which camera is which?

2 October 2012.

3 Lapland Buntings 1 male on the north beach,2 Med Gulls in the chalet park,Wheatear Tim.

1st October 2012.

3 Lapland Buntings in the south dunes,Spotted Flycatcher below restaurant,4 Med Gulls in chalet park Tim.

30th September 2012.

 3 Lapland Buntings in the south dunes 2 Med Gulls in chalet park Tim.