At last, Black_winged Kite. ( Lifer )

The Black-winged Kite has been at Hempstead Marshes in Norfolk for a few months, and it seems everybody had been to tick it except me. Brian & Jimmy had both ticked the bird, although at a different location. I did go with them when we dipped the Kite and was in the area on probably the only day it wasn't seen.     

So when Brian calls, do I want to give it another go to tick this lifer for me? I jump at the chance. 

We set off at 5.30 and arrive around 7am. We park in the beach car park at Sea Palling and pay, and we walk down the Marrams, it's a 20-minute walk for me. As we walked, we met people who told us we could have parked down the lane for free, and we found that out when we saw loads of places to park the car.

We find the double iron gates that we have been told was the best place to spot the Kite, which proves right as we spot the bird on the phone wires. It gave great scope views but stayed distant and flew into the bushes over the back of the field. The bird flew onto a few bushes and showed well, but never came any closer to us while we were here.

We met a nice birder from Nottingham named Andy, who had traveled down by train, bus, and taxi to see & tick this bird, and we informed him that there was a Little Tern colony on the beach just behind us. So he joined us on the short walk onto the beach. Andy and Brian walked right along to where the colony was, a fair walk on the sand, so Jimmy and I stayed by the stairs and got some great views as the Terns flew around and landed right in front of us at the edge of the water. Only 2 ticks, but one is a lifer, so well worth the trip.

Off home now, we stop off for refreshment, and while sitting there, we decide to take a short detour to Weeting Heath to get me another year tick. It was a couple of miles longer than planned, but I got my tick as soon as we got in the hide, where 2 Stone Curlews are seen not far from the hide. We got 3 more when we went round to the east hide. Also saw Spotted Flycatcher, not needed for a tick, but always nice to watch.  Another really nice day spent with the boys, doing what we all love doing.        

Black-winged Kite

                                                                        

Little Tern

Little Tern

                                                                 

One of the five Stone Curlews seen.

                                                                             

                     

                                                                   
                                            

A great day birding in Wales, Western Reef Heron ( lifer )

We finally got a day when we were all free to go birding. A Western Reef Heron has been seen in north Wales, and that will be a life tick for us all, as it is a first for this country. So that's where we decided to head.  

We met Brian at 2am and started the long drive to Caernarfon. It took us nearly 5 hours with a short breakfast stop.

On arrival, we pull into the last space left in the layby.

As we walk the few yards to the hide, we are met with a lot of hellos from the group already here; they all came from our area and had done the long drive, and we knew them all. 

They had seen the Heron around 5 .30, but it had flown off and had not been seen for the last hour or so.

So not a great start to the day, but not to worry, after just a short time, Jimmy calls out got it.

The target bird was at the far right-hand side of the hide and hard to see, so we all exited the hide and headed up the road, where we got great views and ticked another lifer for us all.

I think the Heron is typically encountered between West Africa & India. 

It was smaller than I expected, but I hadn't done any homework on the bird; it was a late decision to go for it. The blue-grey plumage was very striking.

We fill our boots watching it fly up and land in a short area, for around an hour or so and after enough photos have been taken, we take our leave and head to South Stack to get a few year ticks.  

It's a first visit here, and I must say what a great place to watch sea birds. As we exit the car, we have a great year tick when a few Chough fly around us and land on the rocks.

On the cliffs are thousands of Guillemots and Razorbills. After a long search, we managed 

 to find 3 Puffins, then a bonus when Brian picks out 5 Manx Shearwaters passing by.

A few Shags are seen for another tick. Then the Gannets start to show, and that is always a wonderful sight to witness. 

Off now to tick Black Guillemot at Holyhead fish quay, as it is so close to where we are, and we pick out a couple as soon as we arrive there.

We get some information from a man and his son from Wolverhampton about a Tern Island not far away, and that is right up Brian's street. 

Cemlyn is the place we head to. It is a short walk along a stony beach before we watch hundreds of Terns in front of us, a great sight. I get 3-year ticks, Sandwich, Arctic Terns, and a few Med Gulls.  Off home now, we do stop off at a fast-flowing river in the hope of picking up a Dipper, not to be, but I did get another tick with Spotted Flycatcher.

Now for the long drive home after a really cracking day birding in some lovely places.

                                                                  

Sandwich Tern

Western Reef Heron

                                                                           

                                                                 

The cliffs at Holyhead are alive with birds

Chough