Otmoor  Oxfordshire

   Year list ticks  were Skylark, Reed Bunting, Grey lag Goose, White-fronted Goose and Snipe. other birds of note were several Red Kite, Kestrel and Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Mute Swan and a Reeves Pheasant.

Farmoor Oxfordshire

   WInd got really High here and it's really open . good start to the visit with year ticking Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Northern Diver and to finish time spend with the Grey Phalarope. Wind and High Water made photography difficult but a great little bird to say the least.

Night Heron in Athertone

    After failing to start the 8 seater because of flat battery again. made the the journey in the motor home for yet another potential lifer just up the road at Atherstone. Only to discover the bird is wearing what appears to be a Zoo Ring.
 O well next time maybe.

NORTH NORFOLK

North Norfolk Trip  January 17th 

   En Route to Norfolk the year list kicked off with Red-legged Partridge, Mallard and Lapwing. also a Buzzard and a couple of Kestrels but No Kite along the A605

Fist stop Fakenham

   Pulled in at the lay by near Morrison's and walked along the old Holt road. more like a muddy track. The Great Grey Shrike did show but mobile and distant. also year ticked Robin, Great spotted Woodpecker and Mistle thrush.

  A stop off at Holkham For a quick look before heading off to Hunstanton and the campsite.

   Holkham produced a mixed flock of around 500 Pink-footed and Brent Geese before a female Marsh Harrier put the lot up and off towards Brancaster.

January 18th

   A quick look at the beach while the rain has stopped and found
Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Curlew then headed off.

Titchwell Marsh

   A freindly Robin, Goldfinch and a Blackbird hung around the picnic area. before the Life tick Arctic Redpoll showed high up in the trees before flying off again.

 
A walk along the path to the beach produced
  Water Rail, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Shelduck, Pintail, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Redshank, a pair of Marsh Harriers. off shore my second lifer 
Long-tailed Duck.


   Homeward bound


   More year ticks with Red Kite, Rough-legged Buzzard, Common Gull and Egyptian Goose and also another Marsh Harrier.

Foggy Frampton

   This is as Good as it Got.......

 Bird Club trip and Despite the visibility down to about 50 yards most of the time We did get Brent, Barnacle, Canada, Greylag and White-fronted Geese. Wigeon and Mallard. Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew. Goldfinch and A Sparrowhawk. other than that a waste of time but fun all the same.

Whitacer Heath

  Quiet everywhere except the feeders. loads of Blue and Great Tits. 5 female Pheasant. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Grey Squirrel. 1 Jay and a Common Buzzard. flushed a Muntjac in the reeds at the back.

25th October

A trip from Hunstanton Norfolk to seal island on board the Sealion.
30 to 40 Common Seals out on a sand bank the youngest about 4 months old.

Bird Migration going on all around but most stuff distant
did get
Red-necked grebe, Gannet, Common and Velvet Scoter, Sanderling, Turnstone, Knot, Curlew, Bean and Pinkfooted Geese. LBJs mostly Twite, Skylark and Corn Buntings. plenty of Fieldfare and Redwing also Comming in Off the Wash.

Gigrin

Gigrin Farm Powys Wales

   This Rare White Red Kite among 400 Red Kite at Gigrin

Other birds of note 8 Raven 10 Buzzard 1 Redwing 1 Fieldfare.