One White Swallow Makes a Summer

During a few days in sunny Norfolk, I noticed what seemed to be above average numbers of Swallows and Martins.  The number of successful second broods must be the main reason for this, with many chicks still in the nest and fledging.  I paid a bit more attention than usual to these birds and tried to get some images.

These were two of five that fledged the previous day at Drove Orchards, a shop where the visitors were enthralled as the birds sat around the fruit and veg, waiting to be fed.

 

 

Feeding time!

 

 



At Burnham Deepdale I found this beautiful highly leucistic individual.  Sat among a bunch of Starlings, it had me stumped for a while until I got a little closer. 

The only visible colouring on the bird was where it had retained some of the red throat.

I later briefly saw it hunting with other Swallows, before a Hobby arrived and scattered the hundreds of birds. Although distant, it was quite spectacular in flight against a dark sky.

At Cley, more demanding youngsters!

Melodious Warbler in Notts

There was some confusion on this great find, a singing Hippolais near Retford in Notts a couple of days ago.  It's not surprising this wasn't easy to identify - grey blue legs, and a striking pale wing panel, primary projection almost impossible to see during brief glimpses.  But surely song suggests Melodious?

As I was about 30 miles away on Saturday morning it was a great opportunity to check it out.  Unfortunately it was more elusive than expected.  Probably due to the wind, it was singing regularly but low down and moving around at a low level.  In two hours I didn't see it on one of the higher branches once.

 

Tern-ed Out Nice Again: Brownsea Island

Whilst in Dorset at the end of May I visited Brownsea Island for the third time.  The Sandwich Terns were in good form on the lagoon, although none of the chicks had hatched so movement to and from the nests was a little slow.

Peacock detail:

Natural wood sculpture (tree roots):

Just before leaving a couple of Mediterranean Gulls made an appearance.

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: