A day at the Zoo!

Thrushes, are one of my favourite bird families. They are generally, along with chats, quite quirky and also subtly beautiful. So when a rare thrush or chat appears, I tend a get a bit twitchy!

So when a very handsome looking male Black-Throated Thrush was discovered - a rare visitor to the UK from the east and a new bird for me - I was more than tempted, particularly as it was just an hour from home. Some what bizarrely, it had been discovered in the heart of Whipsnade Zoo!

With it still showing nicely on Saturday 21/12 and seeing the endless stream of frame-filling pics - I caved! I persuaded Em to spend a day at the zoo and bought tickets for the following day. I'm rarely keen to travel too far just for one bird, unless there's something else to see. But even without the thrush, it would be a decent day out.

Thankfully, yesterday's weather was pretty nice for the most part and as we made our way through the entrance building, the sun was shining nicely! We soon stumbled on the right spot not far away, easily found with a neat crescent of some 40 birders already staked out around it's favoured area about 10:20am. It had apparently buried itself in the heart of a hawthorn bush and at the right angle, I was able to tick the tail end at least, through a small gap in the bush!

After some 20 minutes, with a very patient wife in tow, I finally got to see the bird in it's entirety, as it climbed towards the top of the bush in full view. What a treat!

We were now all hoping he would move even closer, into it's favoured berry tree - 15-20 feet in front of me. Luckily, he soon obliged, but initially decided to lurk just out of view!

I was willing him to come out fully into the sunlight, cloaking this side of the berry tree. Come on, you know you want to! Christmas soon came early, as he popped out to gorge on the berries, affording some astounding and memorable views. I was happy just to see the Black-Throated Thrush and maybe get a half decent photo, but this was mad! 

A Redwing also popped out for a bit, also giving some unusually good views.

We had a good wander round and grabbed some lunch. Em then wanted to see the Sea Lions - while I popped back for 15 minutes for another look at the Thrush. This time he was in the little pigpens adjacent to the berry tree. But not for long, soon returning to the berries where again, he showed incredibly well.

I had my fill of the thrush and so we continued our circuit of the zoo, enjoying some stunning animals up close, the best probably a tiny baby Rhino and two stunning European Lynx. Such a good day out and some of the best views of a rare bird you could ever wish to see!

Fantastic winter birding

North Norfolk is a great place for birding in the winter months and at the moment it's particularly decent. Unfortunately, with the short winter days, it's impossible to see everything you want to see, however on Sunday 24/11 joined by birding mate Dylan, we gave it a good go!

It was an early start, leaving Brackley just before 6am, however at least it meant we got the most out of our day. After umming and ahhing as to where to start, we decided on Thornham to look for Twite, raptors and hopefully the Glossy Ibis that had been about for the previous few days.

It was a murky old day as we arrived and made our way up through the car park. We paused for a scan across towards Titchwell. A ringtail Hen Harrier soon appeared, hunting low over the vast expanse of saltmarsh, together with a cream-crown Marsh Harrier. A couple of Rock Pipit were generally about as they usually are here, together with the standard array of waders and wildfowl. A great start!





Over then a short way W of the car park where a small flood was still holding the Glossy Ibis which gave great views not too far from the path a it wandered about in the company of a few Redshank. Nice to see as I haven't seen one for a good few years. A scan of a nearby flock of Greylags produced several Pink foots & a lone White-Fronted Goose too.







We carried on east, pausing at Burnham Overy to check the channel there for divers without thinking that the tide was out - duh! Anyways, good views of Grey & Ringed Plovers had.

We next had a good scan of Burnham Overy Marshes from beside the A149 which proved really fruitful, with c10 White-Fronted Geese, c10 Barnacle Geese, the long-staying 8 Cattle Egrets, a couple of Great White Egret as well as quite a few Pinkfoots, several Brent Geese and 2 Egyptian Geese. A proper goose-fest!



Holkham was to be our next proper stop and having parked up at Lady Anne's Drive, we trudged off towards the eastern side of Holkham Gap to look for Shore Larks and Snow Buntings. It wasn't long before we picked up 40 or so 'busy' Snow Buntings feeding and flitting about. The Shore Larks were far less conspicuous, however these were soon pointed out to us and we stood and enjoyed them for a while too. Both the larks and buntings were in the roped off area that is proving to be a great success, providing some food rich, undisturbed habitat for these rare visitors, away from the crowds of dogwalkers that tend to flock to Holkham Gap.







The Sea off Holkham Gap has been quite good lately, as it often is in winter. Having trudged through the channel running across the beach, we set up for a scan. In no time I picked up 3 female / 1st-winter Velvet Scoters in flight amongst 100s of Common Scoters about. Dylan also picked up a female Long-Tailed Duck soon after too. A more distant Red Necked Grebe then came into view, as well as a group of 3 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Red-Throated Diver and 3 Red-Breasted Merganser. A right good haul in for half an hours scan!





Time was pressing so we made our way back to the car. Before we set off for Cley, we paused to enjoy a confiding group of Grey Partridge and Brent Geese super close to Lady's Anne's.











En route to Cley, we dropped in just W of Wells to see if the Rough-Legged Buzzard of recent days was about. Thankfully straight away it was on view, perched up in a bush, not really doing very much! It did fly down to try and catch something from the deck, before returning to the bush to preen - showing off it's distinctive white-banded tail in the process. After we'd soaked up this for a bit for carried on our journey E, very satisfied with yet another great bird! 



At Holkham, there was brief suggestions of sun, however by the time we got to Cley is was thoroughly gloomy again as we walked up the East bank. I had heard that one or two Water Pipit had been seen along here recently on and off. We caught sight of a possible amongst the wet, grassy edges of some flood a little way along, however closely scrutiny appeared to suggest this was in fact a Littoralis Rock Pipit. However, just as we were about to carry on up the path, a second pipit appeared in the same area and this was a real deal Water Pipit, with paler underparts, a nice distinct super and faint but noticable wing bars. I was chuffed as it's not a species I get to see very often. A great bonus!





The main reason for making our way along here was to see the long-staying Isabelline Wheatear that had taken up residence in the area at the NE end of Arnold's Marsh. I had seen the Burnham Overy bird back in 2016, however the views were distant and brief, so I was looking forward to taking better views and appreciate all the discernible features.

It was soon pointed out to us and after initially being fairly static and distant, it came far closer to the area around a gate, which had been laced with meal worms. Now usually I'm not too sure how I feel about feeding migrant birds mealworms, however on this occasion it may actually have saved the bird's life, having at one point looked to be on it's last legs.





It looked to be that we wouldn't be able to make it anywhere else before the light gave out, so we took our time enjoying the Wheatear and the array of birds on Arnold's Marsh including good numbers of Curlew and Dunlin. The cloud had cleared a bit by then to reveal a fantastic golden sunset.





The day from crowned with 6+ Marsh Harriers cruising around the reedbeds, followed by the amazing sight of some 2,000 Pinkfoots overhead, coming in from the east, into the reserve pools to roost. Incredible end to a seriously good days birding!

Back on patch with a bang

I must admit, I've been missing regularly visiting Grimsbury Res, now that I work in Bicester rather than Banbury.

For one reason or another, I've not made it up there much at all in the last few weeks, however for the first time in a while, I was largely at home across the weekend of 16/11 & 17/11. So on both Saturday & Sunday mornings, I popped up for a look about.

The flooding on Saturday morning was remarkable, if not terribly surprising after what has been a very wet autumn - I've never seen it even remotely close to looking like it did, with the entrance under several inches of water and the cattle fields both hold large lakes! If only they were like that in the spring!





Gareth was also up there and so I went and joined him at the top end of the res. We stood for a chat while keep an eye on goings on. A Yellowhammer went over calling, a welcome year tick there for me - always a tricky bird to see on site. About a minute later 2 very unexpected Egyptian Geese cruised in low and landed in the cattle field 'lake'. Only my second ones ever on patch and a treasured patch tick for Gareth.



Another minute or so went by, before two large white birds came in from a roughly southerly direction. Gareth began getting a bit excitable and it was then I realised why - they were two Great White Egrets! I thought they may drop into the flood, but no, they carried on slowly north. GWEs are not the rarity they once were in the UK and are now seen relatively frequently in many areas of the UK, however for our area, they are still a very rare bird.

They were a patch tick for both us and I'm about 99% certain they'll be site firsts too. Patch ticks are harder and harder to come by after 5 years birding Grimbo, so it's always a buzz when one comes along. A very, very decent 5 minutes indeed!





Saturday whetted my appetite to return on Sunday morning. I had a bit more time to wander about, so I gave the reservoir, wood and Upper Cherwell Valley a good going over.

It wasn't amazing but still managed to see a Little Egret (still relatively scarce), a couple of Stonechats by the Borrow Pit and a few other odds and ends.

The magic returns

As we tend to try and fix up every year, myself Gareth & Dan arranged another October 'Magic week' meet-up, for hopefully some good Autumn birding.

Unfortunately, I was completely out of available holiday, following the Japan trip, so it would just be a weekend this year. For that reason, we stuck to Norfolk, driving up Friday (18/10) night and staying in Sheringham at the YHA.

Day 1

After a very poor night's sleep, we began at first light on Saturday 19/10, for a bit of vis-mig on nearby Beeston Bump. It was pretty clear and certainly rather fresh on one of the highest points in Norfolk. Bird movement was pretty steady with a regular trickle of Chaffinches and Mipits and pretty good numbers of Greenfinches too. As time went on, more Starlings, Skylarks and Siskins went through. An enjoyable start to the day, but nothing spectacular, with the highlights being a group of 7 House Martins through west, a few Rock Pipits and a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers on the move too. 









We planned to move on further west to the Salthouse area, but before we did, we popped into Sheringham Cemetery, on the western edge of town. Here three Ring Ouzel had been hanging around in recent days. It didn't take us too long to find them. One in particular showed relatively well, although on the whole, they were typically 'rouzelly', keeping a low profile! 






On then to Kelling where we planned to scour the area west of there, all the way to Salthouse. However, just before setting off, another birder appeared from the water meadows direction. He'd just been all the way up to Salthouse himself and had seen next to bugger all. So time for a re-think - we decided to still head up to the water meadows and the beach, before finishing the day at Walsey Hills & Cley.

Kelling Water Meadows were very quiet, bar several Curlew and Stonechat. There was the briefest of views of a phyllosc in flight with an obvious super that Dan and I watched fly across the adjacent field and into the track-side hedgerow. We were fairly certain it was probably a Yellow-Brow, but unfortunately it failed to pop it's head out of the hedge, to confirm the ID.

We moved on to the beach and had a bit of a scan of the sea for a while. Again, not a lot going on other than a couple of Razorbill and a struggling Starling that managed to make it in off. As we turned back to the landward side of the shingle bank, an unexpected Short-Eared Owl flew up and dropped down somewhere on the beach closeby. Judging by how knackered it appeared to be, it must've somehow outflanked us and just arrived in-off the sea.

We soon relocated it, enjoying some fabulous views as it sat and rested on the single. After a while it moved to a fence post before a couple of dog walkers moved it on - but what a great little encounter!









On then to Walsey Hills, adjacent to the Cley reserve. Getting out the car, we soon got onto a well disguised Jack Snipe at the back of the roadside Snipe's Marsh (below). It was pretty hard to pick out but the quirky, diagnostic bobbing gave it away!



Walsey Hills is always tricky to bird, with loads of dense scrub and trees. But we hung around a while and managed to get views and hear regular calling of a couple of Yellow-Browed Warblers, as well as a late Willow Warbler and the briefest of views of what was probably a Tristis Chiffy, but before I could properly grill it, it was gone!



From, Walsey we left the car and marched on up Cley east bank, to the beach. Arnold's Marsh had the usual suite of coastal species as well as 2-3 Greenshank. The sea here produced a few birds - the best being good views of a Slavonian Grebe, as well as both Red-Throated Diver and Guillemot close in and flyby Sanderling, Ringed Plover & Dunlin.









We wandered around until dusk, walking a full circuit of the Cley reserve, before arriving back at the car in darkness. Nothing too much new to add to the weekend other than a handful of Grey Partridge, a flyby Common Scoter out at sea, several Marsh Harriers coming into roost and a squealing Water Rail.

The next day (Sunday 20/10), we had a small lie-in, getting out around 8-ish. We began at the Sheringham seawatching shelter with a decent NW breeze, which in theory would produce a few bits of interest.





As hoped, it was a pretty impressive couple of hours with as many as 700+ Little Gulls heading east - mostly fairly distant, 1 Pomarine Skua, a flyby Long Tailed Duck, 2 Manx Shearwater, c20 Bonxies, c10 Arctic Skua, a 1st-winter Arctic Tern, 1 Sandwich Tern, several Med Gulls, 3 Gadwall (1m, 2f), 4 Mallard, a Teal, several Red-Throated Diver, Wigeon, Common Scoter and Brent Geese. There was also a hugely impressive eastward movement of more commoner species particularly Auks and Gannets, plus a good stream of Kittiwakes too. A Puffin was called, as it zoomed east. I got onto what I think was the bird, but couldn't be sure as it flew away from me so didn't bother counting it. 

The Auks and Gannets in particular were still piling through - but we were getting hungry, so we left to find breakfast.

The winds were swinging off Scandanavia and down the east coast, though it appeared they weren't really producing the goods passerine-wise, looking at the bird news. We decided on a walk around Burnham Ovary Dunes and the west of Holkham Pines to finish the day, hoping that the good range of habits there would produce something.





Entertainment on the walk down was provided by a field containing several, rather energetic cattle and one super monster bull - clearly 'The Boss'! Closeby, the regular 8 Cattle Egrets were on show too, giving good views as they flew over the path.







We explored around around the dunes and into the pines, as far as Joe Jordan Hide. It was really, really quiet on the passerine front, with a group of 4 flyover Brambling and a Blackcap the only 'fruits' of our labour. Other notable birds included Green Sandpiper, 3 Great White Egret and of course, loads of Pink-Footed Geese arriving from inland feeding areas. A brief Stoat in the dunes and a docile Hedgehog were pleasant surprises too!







A Kingfisher flashed past and several vocal Bearded Tits were seen on the walk back, before it was time to hit road back to Northants. A more brief October getaway than usual but super enjoyable. 114 species in two days can't be sniffed at!