Dusky Thrush: Margate, Kent

Some images of the mega-rarity found in Margate Cemetery last week:

 

 

 

 

A Brief Visit to Suffolk

I haven't been to Suffolk for a while, so it was nice to squeeze in a couple of days in mid April.  It was relatively quiet, a week or so too early for most migrants.  However, it was nice to watch the Marsh Harriers at Minsmere:

A Great-spotted Woodpecker on lookout:

A nice male Garganey:

No visit to Minsmere is complete without a Bittern!

Marsh Harriers, East Yorkshire

A few images of Marsh Harriers, taken at Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire, on a very cold March day:

Norfolk Coast

Below are some recent shots taken in Norfolk in February.

Shore Lark on the beach at Salthouse - a beautiful and unusual bird I haven't seen for a number of years.  This took some locating as it was almost invisible on the shingle:

 

 

Barn Owl at dawn near Cley:

 

 

Turnstone on the beach at Cley:

 

 

 

 

One of my favourite images for some time - a trio of waders (Turnstone, Knot and Sanderling) at Titchwell.

 

 

 

The next frame:

A lone Sanderling, and shadow:

 

 

 

 

A Knot:

 

 

 

Cley Windmill

I recently stayed at Cley Windmill, North Norfolk.  Having driven / walked past it a million times, it was nice to see the inside.  It really is a unique place and I can recommend the round rooms for a stay.  The highlight was looking out over the reeds in the morning and evenings, to see Barn Owls and Marsh Harriers flying past at regular intervals.

I can also recommend the restaurant, where a set menu is served each evening (and is open to non-residents).

If you get the chance to stay there, do it, and make sure you get out onto the marshes at dawn!

 

 

 

 

Otter Images

At Thetford, whilst watching the long-staying Black-bellied Dipper, an Otter was found hunting on the River Little Ouse close by.  The Dipper was abandoned as the Otter took centre stage, providing spectacular views as it made its way slowly along the river.  Not easy to photograph as it was constantly on the move, at times it was within several feet, even climbing out onto the bank occasionally.  A beautiful animal and a pleasure to see so well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Oh yes - almost forgot the Black-bellied Dipper........

 

 

 

 

BirdGuides Photo of the Year 2012: Runner-up

I was delighted to find one of my images was a runner-up in the BirdGuides Photo of the Year 2012 selection.

The overflying Spoonbill image taken in Norfolk last September was selected from over 50,000 images uploaded to the site over the past year. 

 

 

Julian Hughes, one of the judges, commented: "Reviewing all the photos of the week is challenging enough, so it can take something 'a bit different' to stand out. Spoonbills are birds of our time, an indicator of our changing world; 20 years ago this shot would have been taken in Spain (though a sky that blue in Norfolk last summer seems barely believable!). Tom utilised the interesting shape of a Spoonbill and, with smart use of cropping, turned a nice, but perhaps rather ordinary, flyover Spoonbill into something more graphic. Cropping like this is not everyone's cup of tea, and the photographer has to have a real eye for it, as it can go badly awry. But Tom's work means the result is a very simple yet pleasing image that easily made my shortlist."

 

Thanks very much to the BirdGuides judges.  The full article including the superb winning image taken by Gerhard Hofmann can be read here:

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3608