With  a sunnu day forecast, and no-where else attracting me, I decided to head for the north Norfolk coast to see what was about. With my knee injury putting in an appearance again I was rather limited as to how far I could walk but decided to make the best of it.

First call was Holme Dunes NWT, a few shots but not making the cut, the only photo was of a feeding Blackcap in the paddock of Holme NOA, ratgher distant for even my 800 lens.

Then on to one of my favourite places, Thornham harbour where a Meadow Pipit posed on a post.

but with nothing else within range, it was on to Brancaster Staithe harbour where the usual Herring Gull put on a calling diplay

and a small flock of Turnstones made an appearance.

Burnham Overy Staithe - no joy, a drive along Lady Anne Drive Holkham - no joy but a drive into Holkham Park provided close views of two Fallow Deer stags.

Retracing my steps (or drive in this case), I missed out Titchwell RSPB as a friend reported that the water levels were again very high so no close birds - (will they get the message eventually?) and back to Thornham where a pair of Bar-tailed Godwits were preening and feeding in the channel.

A disappointing day again in Norfolk. Going on a Friday is a waste of time now. The work-from-home brigade are there for the weekend with dogs everywhere - in fact I am sure that I saw more dogs than birds.

A sad reflection on what Norfolk wild life used to be.

This blog has taken ages to appear because it has taken much longer to edit the photos and decide which are keepers. Incidentally, the date of the photos is 23rd April so it shows just how far behind I am. Still, it is enjoyable for me to relive the experience after nearly 6 months.

As we climbed into the van in the hotel car park, a strange bird call became apparent. And then the bird appeared, rether peculiarly named a Bare-faced Go-away-bird.

So rather later then envisaged, we started on the days safari.

A Lilac-breasted Roller called in the early morning sunlight.

shortly followed by a rather distant Long-crested Eagle.

Some of the safari buses have intercom communication and a call came in advsing the location of two Leopards in a tree, about half-an-hour's drive away. Hot foot is an understatement.When we arrived there were already several buses there with the Leopards about 150-200 metres in a tree but with clear views.

A male and a female.

After a while, most of  the other buses had had their fill and moved on but Eggy, our driver/guide wanted to stay as he thought there were signs of movement. And there was with the male descending from the tree

and proceeded to wander in our direction.

In fact he walked straight past us, giving full frame shots - wonderful!!!

But the best was yet to come. The female had also come down from the tree and was looking for the male.

Not seeing him she climbed a nearby Termite mound for a higher vantage point.

For me, the shot of the trip and then she wandered off in the opposite direction.

That was an encounter that will live in my memory - amazing.

Next was an encounter with an Ichneumon Mongoose.

We were following another bus when a pair ran across the track with one not quick enough to avoid the other bus wheels. It lay in the middle of the road so we stopped to see when the mate reappeared from the trackside and pulled the body into the bushes, all the time keening like a baby.

Distressing to see!!!

Following that would be difficult but the Serengeti bird life also showed well. An African Pied Wagtail

A Black-winged Plover

and a Spotted Thick-knee.

and that led us to the signs of Vultures with a carcass - surprisingly wary and not wanting to allow a close approach possibly because they had already eaten and by now, early afternoon, there was heat-haze to contend with. But some decent photos were possible - just. Lappet-faced Vulture

Ruppell's Vulture

White-backed Vulture

The smaller Hooded Vultures really kept their distance. Overcoming the heat haze was a problem here so flight shots were the better ones to keep.

Next to appear were one or two Tawny Eagles, showing the very varied plumage of the species.

Time to make for the hotel, but not before we found a close pair of White-bellied Bustards.

So far, being just over half-way through the trip, I have managed to photograph 103 species of birds and 32 species of mammal.

18th September, a trip to North Norfolk with a friend - weather cloudy to start with and sunny from midmorning.

Started off at Thornham, as usual, a glint of sunshine and one decent photo of a Curlew.

and then the clouds came over and stayed for the rest of the day - awful light so all but one of the photos I deleted except for this Black-tailed Godwit at Brancaster Staithe.

20th September - Lakenheath RSPB.

I have not photogrpahed Kingfishers for a couple of years and we had several visits in front of the hide during the day but mostly perched shots resulted and I have loads of those anyway but I was pleased with the result from the R5 and the 200-800 combination.

and the usual Great White Egret put in an appearance.

So two days out in the field and little to impress you with but that is wildlife photography as I have said several times before.

 

After the events of the previous evening, it appeared that the rain had eased off overnight so we were on our way at the crack of 6:30 again, after breakfast.

We were driving through some pretty thick woodlands from the hotel and in a clearing, our first spot of the day, a Kirk's Dik-dik, a small antelope, lit up by the early morning sun.

The problem with early mornings in woodland is that almost everything is in shade, as was this Defassa Waterbuck.

Later , we noticed a female Lion in a tree, which they climb to get away from the myriad of flies.

and a little later, a male Lion about 3 to 4 metres from the bus - head shot time!!!

Getting into the open savannah, there appeared to be birds on every bush and rock. Grey-backed Fiscal

Grey-breasted Spurfowl

as well as on the ground in front of us - a family of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse.

And now came the star of the show. We stopped at a picnic site where there was a smallish pool near to the tables and a never-ending line of birds coming in to drink and bathe.

Even on the tables - a Speckle-fronted Weaver

and in the pool, White-headed Buffalo Weavers

Superb Starling

Rufous-tailed Weaver collecting grass to weave,

Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu

and even under the table, a Grass Rat - well a mouse really but that is what it is called.

and a quick appeareance of a Silverbird in the trees.

Quite frankly, I would have been happy to stay there for the rest of the day but, of course, the others in the party wanted to move on.

Next to appear on a branch close to the track was a Dark Chanting Goshawk giving glorious views.

Funny how birds here just sit and look you over as opposed to the UK  where they disappear like rockets.

On the track, a Coqui Francolin also looked us over.

but a Pin-tailed Whydah was rather more shy and kept it's distance.

Next, a Tawny Eagle watched us from it's perch but did not entertain us with a fly-past.

and a Spur-winged Plover or Lapwing showed well.

Next we headed for the Hippo pool - probably 30 to 40 Hippos doing what Hippos do best - which has the largest mouth!!!

We stayed there for over an hour watching their interaction - fascinating.

Now it was getting time to head back to the hotel, passing a herd of Topi

and a family group of Impala, a fawn

and what looked like a mum having a word in the ear of her offspring.

So closure on Day 7, tired, happy, ready to download all the images, have dinner and fall into bed to see what tomorrow will bring.

Friday 13th September - unlucky for some - and so it proved to be as a friend and I went to get better images of the Canvasback at Abberton Reservoir but did not see it. Still there were other fish to fry, so to speak.

First was a resting Common Tern, busily preening in the early morning sun.

There were quite few Canada Geese and the odd one decided to give a flypast.

I was surprised at the number of Egyptian Geese, once considered to be an exotic species but surely not now with the numbers here.

In the far corner, a Grey Heron was fishing, taking no notice of me what-so-ever, allowing a really close approach.

Into the afternoon and the sun was  making life much easier, highlighting the dark background to show of the Great White Egrets

and also allowing fast shutter speeds to capture birds in flight.

so while the Canvasback was a disappointment, I managed to get  photos that I was happy with.