Salthouse, North Norfolk

[Fourwings]

Boddie and myself visited Salthouse beach on the North Norfolk coast today.
The main reason for our visit was the large flock of Snow Buntings that has been frequenting the carpark area for over a month.
Amid the Snow Bunting flock are at least 4 Lapland Buntings.

The flock is amazingly tame as people have been throwing seed down for them and if you are prepared to lay on the ground and wait you will be rewarded with some stunning close-up views of these magnificent little birds.
They were happily feeding within 6 feet of us at times today.
The only downside today was the very poor light which meant we had to resort to using high ISO settings and flash to gain anything like a decent image.

If you are looking for somewhere to visit in the next few days I can highly recommend this location, especially if the sun comes out.

The flock can be found in the area immediately west of the carpark (towards Cley) between the Shingle bank and the saltmarsh fence.

Snow Buntings at Salthouse.



Lapland Buntings at Salthouse



Steve.

[glsammy]

I'm please you managed to get some really good shots Steve. As for the weather, when will the forecasters get it right?

[John]

As you know Steve, I am about to leave for Norfolk myself today with Salthouse being my first port of call. I am armed with a bucket full of seed. Hopefully the Buntings will co-operate and the sun will come out at the same time.

I will possibly stay in Norfolk / Suffolk for the next three days so hopefully the weather will be kind to me.

I hope I get some photos as good as these Steve.

Happy New Year to you all.

John

[mrs fish]

Buntings are such sweet little birds, lovely pics thanks for sharing

[JeffH]

Sounds like you had a very worthwhile trip Steve, with some good shots of the mixed buntings flock.

I recall trying to get some shots of Snow Buntings on that very same beach nearly 30 years ago, but it was snowing quite heavily at that time!

Jeff

[John]

I followed Steve's steps and called into Salthouse on the last day of the year. It was dark and overcast but I had put a light of light coloured seed down which helped as a background and aided my shutter speeds. Thankfully I managed these shots from the same site Steve took his.

The first ones are of the Lapland Buntings.








The next are of some Snow Buntings.








Some Turnstone joined in and here's a shot of one of them.


Considering the bad light conditions I am well pleased with my very first Lapland Bunting photos.

John

[mrs fish]

I still remember your snow bunting pics you took last year John, on the beach in the wind

I might see some to-day as I am off to Felixstowe

[Hobjob]

Nice photos as usual John !

[John]

Thanks David & Mrs Fish

When are you back David?

John

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Nice photos as usual John !

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by John

When are you back David?

John

Yesterday

But she who must be obeyed had me lined up for other things
than coming to Salthouse ................

[John]

I don't think they will be going anywhere for a while so you can still travel up to Salthouse to see them if you want.

Welcome back. I bet you notice the difference in the weather.

John

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Yesterday

But she who must be obeyed had me lined up for other things
than coming to Salthouse ................

[PMG]

Originally Posted by John

I followed Steve's steps and called into Salthouse on the last day of the year. It was dark and overcast but I had put a light of light coloured seed down which helped as a background and aided my shutter speeds. Thankfully I managed these shots from the same site Steve took his.

The first ones are of the Lapland Buntings.








The next are of some Snow Buntings.








Some Turnstone joined in and here's a shot of one of them.


Considering the bad light conditions I am well pleased with my very first Lapland Bunting photos.

John

Lovely set of pics John - I saw a Lapland Bunting at Pennington Flash way back in the late '70/early 80's but none of the then local birders would believe me (unknown female in those days with binos - not done - not a full shilling - not to be believed ) Their loss - it was - like yours - a little cracker

Pauline

[glsammy]

Some great shots from you all here. I'm very jealous. I wanted to go on this one, but I wasn't well enough at the time. They are all species I haven't got yet. As soon as we're promised some sun I intend to try and go over there and have a go.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Some great shots from you all here. I'm very jealous. I wanted to go on this one, but I wasn't well enough at the time. They are all species I haven't got yet. As soon as we're promised some sun I intend to try and go over there and have a go.

Ah Graham - hope you're soon feeling more like yourself.

Husband has just volunteered out of the blue that he is also taking my birthday off next week and why don't we have three days in Norfolk
Why not indeed Panic ensues - must go searching the web for a B & B - phew and there was me thinking I'll soon be 55 and nothing exciting happening.... of course I do realise that the new (to us) 400 prime is burning a hole in my beloveds heart ......... and where better than Norfolk coastal reserves to point it at ............. oh please don't let the forecast be for rain next week......... oh please ............ oh puleeeeaaaasssse - I'll be good - I'll stop swearing, and eating and ........... heh! heh! heh!

Pauline

[Fourwings]

I'll have my fingers crossed for you Pauline, give me a shout if you want directions to the specific area that the flock frequents although all you may have to do is look for a load of folk with cameras lying on the ground!

I'm certainly going to try and get back soon to try and catch them in bright sunlight.
As John also said I was very pleased with how my images turned out given the poor light levels but I can't help wondering what they would be like if taken in bright sunlight.

The day Andrew & I went there must have been tens of thousands of pounds worth of camera kit all pointed at this flock of birds, I've never seen so many large Canon L series prime lenses in one place before!

Steve.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

I'll have my fingers crossed for you Pauline, give me a shout if you want directions to the specific area that the flock frequents although all you may have to do is look for a load of folk with cameras lying on the ground!

I'm certainly going to try and get back soon to try and catch them in bright sunlight.
As John also said I was very pleased with how my images turned out given the poor light levels but I can't help wondering what they would be like if taken in bright sunlight.

The day Andrew & I went there must have been tens of thousands of pounds worth of camera kit all pointed at this flock of birds, I've never seen so many large Canon L series prime lenses in one place before!

Steve.

Thanks for that Steve - weather is looking dodgy so we may not set off (we've had sev plans come to nothing cos of weather) - its no use in rain (husband gets miserable when its raining and is not fit company) - but there's the poss of the following Mon/Tue - we will be watching every forecast!

As for taking them in sunlight - I personally don't reckon digital in bright sunlight - I love the ambient light shots and these are simply superb!

And we've laughed and laughed at the thought of all those prime lenses - well budge up cos we've got one to poke into the fray

Pauline

Pauline

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by PMG

Thanks for that Steve - weather is looking dodgy so we may not set off (we've had sev plans come to nothing cos of weather) - its no use in rain (husband gets miserable when its raining and is not fit company) - but there's the poss of the following Mon/Tue - we will be watching every forecast!

As for taking them in sunlight - I personally don't reckon digital in bright sunlight - I love the ambient light shots and these are simply superb!

And we've laughed and laughed at the thought of all those prime lenses - well budge up cos we've got one to poke into the fray

Pauline

Pauline

Pauline, we've been trying to arrange a weekend away all year! We've NEVER had a forecast that offered us three consecutive good days, and that's going back to last April!! I'm still waiting!!

I'm going to go back to Centre Parcs in February, this time I'm not paying so I'm definitely going whatever the weather! It's a great place to get a good range of birds from their hide. I spend just about all my time there.

[rlchew]

I saw the Snow Buntings at Salthouse in Norfolk just before Christmas in amongst the Turnstones and Teal which also seemed to enjoy the seed being out down but for some reason the Laps were not around that day.

I feel another visit coming on having seen the excellent photos in this thread from Steve and John.

By the way, for those visiting Norfolk, there is also a long-staying flock of c.50 Snow Buntings on the beach at Caister.

Richard

[John]

That's where my photos of them were taken last year. They are at 2nd Avenue.

John

Originally Posted by rlchew

By the way, for those visiting Norfolk, there is also a long-staying flock of c.50 Snow Buntings on the beach at Caister.

Richard

[PMG]

I've tried three times to answer this thread and its not let me - wonder if this will be 4th time lucky?

I know Graham - its been a diabolical year after April: thank goodness we had such a good hol in the Cairngorms in March - otherwise I would have been very depressed. But aside from that all impromptu outings have been spoiled by the weather - either too wet or too hot Can't win!

We will watch the forecast (and get someone to watch the Countryfile forecast particularly) Sun/Mon and decide on Mon evening whether we are risking the distance. I would do it just for the novelty and knowing that it won't be too hot for me

Pauline

[mrs fish]

Pauline the weather is not too bad compared to the other day when the east wind was blowing, it tries to freeze you solid at this time of year whipping off the north sea

Thought I would warn you

Hope you do get away