Birdwatcher’s Diary No.74

Published on: 16 Nov, 2014
Updated on: 16 Nov, 2014

By Malcolm Fincham

Redwing – Shamley Green.

November started on a grim note in terms of the continuation of inclement weather and with no newsworthy winter visitors sighted locally by me, apart from just a few improved pictures of redwings as I caught sight of a small group feeding on berries.

Mistle thrush feeding on yew berries.

A lack of north-easterly wind over the autumn period seems to have restricted the arrival of fieldfares and many other wintering birds. Very few have arrived from Scandinavia compared to this time last year, Aand with just the similar sized mistle thrushes seen feeding on yew berries.

On Sunday, November 9, with much thanks to Dougal, a manically keen local bird watching and wildlife enthusiast, who phoned with an invite that set me off on the road to see some more UK rarities.

This involved an early start on a day trip to Norfolk, picking up a long time friend of his, John, in Kent en-route.

Having  travelled and missed out on the first written recorded sighting in the UK of a humpbacked whale off the Norfolk coast in November last year, they had recently received reports of its return almost a year to the day. It was recognised to be the same one by its ‘fingerprint type’ markings. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-29953454

With rain and drizzle clearing leaving good visibility and a calm sea, the chances of seeing it was certainly optimistic as we arrived on the coastline at Walcot in Norfolk where it had been spotted just the previous day.

However, after an hour or so our hopes began to wane. My personal interests turned to watching numerous small flocks of between 30 to 50 starlings flying in low from across the sea to winter here.

Pink-footed geese in Norfolk.

I also observed skeins of pink-footed geese as they flew overhead to feed on the stubble in the fields.

Eventually news came through on Dougal’s pager that it had been sighted at Sea Palling. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2487858/Humpback-whale-spotted-Norfolk-coast-time.html

Humpback whale off the Norfolk coast.

Although about two miles out at sea, it could still be viewed well through our telescopes and with the calm waters I was even able to capture a few record shots.

There she blows…! Humpback whale sited off the Norfolk coast.

Looks like they’re having a whale of a time!

Having taken in what were probably the best of the views of it that day, and even getting a shot of its distinctive tail as it showed on several occasions above the water, I was promised another rare sighting, this time of the avian kind.

Driving on down the coastline we arrived at Gorleston-on-sea near Great Yarmouth, where one of several desert wheatears had mistakenly found their way to the UK,  including one that had been seen recently in Essex. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-20138672

Juvenile female desert wheatear In Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk.

This particular one was a female.

Juvenile male desert wheatear. It is about the size of a robin.

Moving on just a few miles south and across the border into Suffolk, we arrived at Lowestoft. Although daylight by then was starting to fade, we couldn’t resist rounding off our trip with viewing and even getting what I felt were some very pleasing shots of a rather obliging juvenile male of the species.

On November 12 I decided to risk taking my camera with me to Stoke Nature Reserve in the hope of not getting it wet on one of only a few sunny and dry looking afternoons that I’ve been available to do get out during the past two weeks.

Part of a flock of over 1,000 starling flies up from the sewage works at Slyfield Green.

This gave me the chance to photograph a few of the many starlings now gaining in numbers in and around the sewage works.

Starling: a rather dapper looking bird at close quarters.

Although a dull looking bird when viewed from a distance, they can look quite iridescent at close quarters.

Lapwing over Burpham Court Farm.

Further along the towpath a flock of more than 50 wintering lapwings could also be seen circling across the river in the direction of Burpham Court Farm.

Barn owl near Bowers Lock.

The barn owl continues to be seen in its daytime roost near Bowers Lock, but with many attempts of catching pictures of it out hunting this one appears to be very much a night owl.

Common buzzard.

Common buzzards, often favouring the sunnier days, can be seen locally on a regular basis, with even a few signtings recently over the more built up areas of Stoughton.

Canada geese: can you spot the odd one out?

At Stoke Lake I managed to pick out an unusual looking Canada goose among the 40 or so out on the water.

Unusual looking Canada goose on Stoke Lake.

It wasn’t long however before the clouds started to build up once again to give me yet another soaking, but leaving me with a photo of a rainbow left in its wake as a silver lining.

Rainbow at Stoke Lake.

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