Norfolk – Cley & Walsey Hills – 14th August 2010

We arrived at Coast Guards just before 8, plenty of folk around and a fair north easterly with good visibility; conditions were good for sea watching. We quickly picked up quite a few Sandwich Terns feeding just off shore, then some Gannets of various ages going east. Way out there was some Gull activity and a closer look produced a couple of Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua harassing them for their catch. Then going past east again, was a juvenile Kittiwake and a Fulmar. After a couple of hours we headed along to the reserve and spent sometime looking out over the scrapes, it was nice to see Green and Wood Sandpipers, Little Stint and a couple of Spotted Redshanks, along with the regular Ringed Plovers, Redshank, Ruff, Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit. Finally we walked along to Walsey Hills and low and behold there was a Crane grazing in the field opposite with an Egyptian Goose and then finally from the Hill I could see the eight or so Spoonbills feeding on their favoured north scrape at Cley. Good day!

Life bird count: 396 Year bird count: 221 Month bird count: 75

Photo: Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

Essex – Harlow Park – 5th August 2010

And finally....... back to birds soon (promise)

Life bird count: 396 Year bird count: 214 Month bird count: 17

Photo: Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus); Peacock (Inachis io)

Essex – Harlow Park – 4th August 2010

.....and a couple more

Life bird count: 396 Year bird count: 214 Month bird count: 17

Photo: Common Blue (Polyommarus icarus); Comma (Polygonum c-album)

Essex – Harlow Park – 3rd August 2010

Thought I’d do a couple of posts focusing on the Butterflies seen in the Park over recent weeks, they do appear to be quite diverse and prolific this year. In the past two weeks I have seen Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small White, Comma, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Essex Skipper and Grayling.

Life bird count: 396 Year bird count: 214 Month bird count: 17

Photo: Speckled Wood (Parage aegeria); Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lincols)