Garth Peacock
Still hard work

Archive

Friday 4th October - North Norfolk

Monday 7th October 2024

Tanzania Day 8 - The Serengeti

Saturday 5th October 2024

Two trips out with little to show.

Wednesday 25th September 2024

Tanzania Day 7 - The Serengeti

Monday 23rd September 2024

Abberton Reservoir - again

Thursday 19th September 2024

Abberton Essex

Wednesday 11th September 2024

A morning at Grafham Water

Thursday 29th August 2024

After holiday blues

Thursday 22nd August 2024

Trying out a new lens

Monday 5th August 2024

Tanzania Day 5 - Ngorogoro Crater

Saturday 27th July 2024

Kevin Robson's Tawny Owl hide

Thursday 25th July 2024

Local stuff

Saturday 20th July 2024

More local stuff

Saturday 29th June 2024

Catching up with a local rarity

Friday 14th June 2024

Tanzania - Day 1 - Arusha

Monday 13th May 2024

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Monday 17th October 2022

I am really at a loss as to why I keep going back to the North Norfolk coast. There must be something that attracts me but it is certainly not the wide variety of birds. Perhaps it is the relaxation and the feeling of 'getting away from it all' although that is not always possible with the many dog-walkers, joggers and hikers that seem to pop up everywhere. disturbing the wildlife. Undoubtedly this is something that us wildlife followers will just have to get used to.

So, despite this, 6th October and I was, once again, heading to the north Norfolk coast following my usual pattern of visits. First Thornham harbour where a group of Black-Tailed Godwit were feeding in the ebbing tide and not at all flighty.

The remaining harbours produced nothing except for a lone Great Black-backed Gull

As usual, I ended up at Titchwell RSPB in the early afternoon where, once again the water level in the fresh marsh was much too high for photography except for - yes, you got it - a flock of Black-tailed Godwit feeding in front of Island Hide, or should I say swimming as the water was half-way up their bodies.

Nothing else worth excercising the trigger finger for. I have said before that over recent months, Titchwell never fails to disappoint and it was true to form.

So, rather more hopefully, on 11th, I headed for Frampton Marsh RSPB.

The 360 hide was devoid of birds but it was obvious that they were doing some work there in readiness for the grand re-openeing of the new reception centre so not surprising. Over to the Reedbed Hide where there were loads of common birds although rather too distant but some fly-arounds such as this Wigeon.

After an hour or so a couple came in and talking to them, they had just left 360 hide where a family of Red-breasted Geese were close so a quick movement to find them just outside the hide and in the sun.

There are conflicting reports on these geese - two adults and five juveniles. They are reported as being feral, i.e. escaped, but a volunteer there in the hide said that it is thought that they had flown over from Holland which is the nearest breeding area to the UK. Most were unringed so that seems a distinct possibility. Never-the-less, very rare in the UK and a really beautiful bird.

Well that was worth the trip for that alone.

Returning to the Reedbed Hide, I noticed some Greylag Geese moving around with a different breed within the flock. It turned out to be a Pink-footed Goose that really posed well.

Normally very flighty, and winter visitors to the UK, this one was very approachable within the the Greylag flock - another plus!!!

Not much else except for some fly-by's from the sea wall, most not worth keeping due to the weather changing except for this one shot of some Shelduck flying to the sea - something different.

Decision time shortly - where to go next!!!