Frampton

 

Parkgate

Male and female Hen Harrier, Merlin, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl and Great White Egret enjoyed on the marsh

Leighton Moss

Lovely spring day at Leighton Moss over weekend. Highlights were roosting Tawny Owl Marsh Tit Bearded Tit Wood Sandpiper Grasshopper Warbler and long staying rarity Cattle Egret

Pallid Harrier

Spent Saturday at Welwick Saltmarsh and saw an incredible 9 species of raptor. The juvenile Pallid Harrier was seen a few times initial view was alongside a Hen Harrier and Peregrine. Also see were Kestrel, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Short eared Owl, Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard

Cumbria

Excellent day out yesterday in Cumbira. First off was Sizergh castle with good views of a couple of Hawfinch. Then onto Leighton Moss where we had the best views ever of a Great White Egret. Also seen were Marsh Tit, Greenshank, 5 Red breasted Mergansers Spotted Redshank Marsh Harrier and Tree Sparrow

Siberian Lesser Whitethroat (Blythi)

Lovely day birding at Flamborough Head yesterday in warm sunshine. Loads of Whinchat and Wheatear straight from the Lighthouse car park.
 A little further down the path I heard a brief trilling song and then some tacking and thought Lesser Whitethroat. A showy bird came into view which in the glorious sunshine looked very brown on the mantle extending up to the nape and even onto the head in the photos. It also had brown in the ear coverts. On returning home and viewing the photos in detail one of them appears to confirm the correct wing formula for Blythi with p2 at the same level as p7 as described in Martin Garners new Challenge Series-Autumn book. I emailed Martin these pics and description and it looks like the same bird he saw today just south of the Lighthouse car park at Flamborough.  A Siberian Lesser Whitethroat (Blythi).  Also seen were Willow Warbler plus 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a female Pied Flycatcher and a pair of Redstart, a Marsh Harrier and a Goldcrest

Little Bittern

Back from a week in the South West on holiday. Managed to fit in some birding including a visit to Ham Wall where I saw a male Little Bittern in flight after I was about to give up. Incredibly elusive birds showing for a few seconds usually in the morning only, so that was very lucky! Other birds of note were a Great White Egret, Lesser Whitethroat and Marsh Harrier.
Went to Arne later in week and had views of a Dartford Warbler but again no opportunity to get a photo.
Plenty of Stunning butterflies in Somerset and Devon many more than in the North west of England.

                                                                     Peacock

Marbled White

Small Tortoiseshell

New Year's Day Norfolk

Great winter day birding in Norfolk. Bearded Tit Richardson's Canada  Goose Hen Harrier Marsh Harrier Brambling Sparrowhawk Barn Owl Eurasian White-fronted Geese Barnacle Geese being the highlights of a total list of 62 species

Little Auks and more!

On the way to Flamborough Head we saw several small parties of Grey Partridges in the fields. At Flamborough Head we were straight onto Little Auks streaming past mostly heading North in small groups. There were good numbers seen in the couple of hours of seawatching myself and Dave did and the total for the day was recorded at 308. We also saw several Red-Throated Divers close in just off the rocks and 2 Velvet Scoters and a single Sooty Shearwater.
We then went to Easington in hope of a little bunting seen earlier. No luck but there was a group of Black Redstarts by the church one stunning male and three females. We also connected to a fabulous Great Grey Shrike by the cemetery.
Finally on the way home we went to North Cave Wetlands and had good views of the bizarre bobbing Jack Snipe along with a Common Snipe for comparison. We also saw a female Marsh Harrier.