North Norfolk again!

[Fourwings]

You can never have enough of a good thing and if you are into Birds/wildlife/scenery then North Norfolk certainly is one of those things.
A group of 11 people lead by Oscar2006 had another excellent day on the North-West coast of Norfolk yesterday, the weather was fairly good, mostly bright and sunny if a little cold but it did cloud over towards mid-afternoon.

We started our day at Snettisham RSPB reserve,on the long walk down to the far end of the reserve we saw several nice birds, a very confiding (for those with large telephoto lenses!) Scaup, a Little Egret, Kingfisher and a whole supporting cast of commoner Wildfowl. Although the tide was already well on its way out we had good views of huge flocks of Knot, Golden Plover, Godwits etc... out over the vast expanse of tidal mud.
Possibly the best photo opportunity here was a very obliging Pink-Footed Goose, not a species that you can normally get that close to.

Pink-Footed Goose at Snettisham


Next stop was the cliff tops at Hunstanton, the main target species here was Fulmar. We positioned ourselves along the cliff edge and were treated to an air display by both Fulmars and a whole selection of gulls. The air was full of the sound of DSLRS in "machine gun mode" blasting away at the fast flying Fulmars. It really is a case of trial and error but we all came away with good images of them as well as other species of gull both in-flight and on the ground.

Fulmars in flight at Hunstanton




Black-Headed Gull, 1st Winter juvenile at Hunstanton


We then moved on to Thorham harbour to try and locate the flock of Twite that had been reported there, unfortunately these did not show but we were rewarded with good views of Spotted Redshanks in the main creek, as well as Curlew, Shelduck, Redshank, Grey Plover and a pair of Stonechats in the rough field behind the sea defences.

Final stop of the day was Titchwell, we spent some time watching the smaller birds and a fight between two male Pheasants in the bushes near to the centre before we moved out onto the main reserve.

Female House Sparrow at Titchwell


There was nothing too exiting about but the first few Avocets, Marsh Harrier, Little Egret,
a huge flock of Golden Plover, Golden eye and a good slection of waders made it a very nice place to end a cracking day out.

A few of us decided that we would check out Wolferton triangle on the way home to see if we could spot the elusive Golden Pheasants that frequent the area. On the way there we stopped on the side of the road to watch a Barn Owl hunting over rough meadows close to Heacham village, always a pleasure to watch and something that you never get tired of seeing.
We spent half an hour looking for the Golden Pheasants but they too were a "no show" but we were kept ammused by watching Muntjac Deer grazing the roadside verge, and as the light began to go we finally decided to head for home.

[wyevilla]

Thanks for sharing these (I love to see fulmars on the glide). mental note - must go back to North Norfolk sometime soon.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by wyevilla

Thanks for sharing these (I love to see fulmars on the glide). mental note - must go back to North Norfolk sometime soon.

Thankyou, photographing the Fulmars was challenging but great fun, I'd quite happily spend every weekend in Norfolk, but don't tell the wife

[nightshade]

Sorry to be mundane but I love the Sparrow shot,nice flight shots of the Fulmars

[Adam Cheeseman]

Did you see the Black-eared Kite at Snettisham?

Cheers,

Adam

[Oscar2006]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Did you see the Black-eared Kite at Snettisham?

Cheers,

Adam

We didn't see it yesterday but it was seen by others closer to Dersingham.
I was with a group last December who saw it at the end of the Snettisham reserve.

p.s some great images again Steve!
please keep coming along!

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Oscar2006

p.s some great images again Steve!
please keep coming along!

Thanks Oscar, another cracking day out mate, look forward to the next one.

[Nikon Nige]

I was sure I heard the sound of swearing drowning out the DSLR shutters passing along the assembled line when the Fulmar hurtled by! Firstly as the photographer new they had missed, again, and secondly when the screen confirmed it!
Still a cracking day out, again, cheers.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Nikon Nige

I was sure I heard the sound of swearing drowning out the DSLR shutters passing along the assembled line when the Fulmar hurtled by! Firstly as the photographer new they had missed, again, and secondly when the screen confirmed it!
Still a cracking day out, again, cheers.

Yeah, I can echo that sentiment Nige, I think I may have said one or two rude words a time or two
It was amazing just how many shots I'd got of bits of Fulmar, thankfully there were a few whole ones too

[Boddie]

Its funny, I cant remember any of that. Too bust concentrating on getting THAT shot

[John]

Next time don't forget me folks. Norfolk is my second home and I like any excuse to go there.

Excellent photos Steve. I am envious of the Fulmar Images. I took David (Dai the Dragon) there the other week but try as I did I just couldn't connect with them properly.

John

[Jon]

Steve, this post is exactly what I was looking for, we are renting a cottage in Hunstanton at Easter and I was about to ask if anyone could recommend any sites - so thank very much, Jon

[John]

Originally Posted by Jon

Steve, this post is exactly what I was looking for, we are renting a cottage in Hunstanton at Easter and I was about to ask if anyone could recommend any sites - so thank very much, Jon

Hi Jon

If you want to know sites, I'm your man.

If you know any species that you are particularly after tell me and I will more than likely know where to go.

John

[rlchew]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

It was amazing just how many shots I'd got of bits of Fulmar, thankfully there were a few whole ones too

I know that feeling very well .... except that I have never managed a whole one at Hunstanton .

Excellent photos Steve!

Richard

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Jon

Steve, this post is exactly what I was looking for, we are renting a cottage in Hunstanton at Easter and I was about to ask if anyone could recommend any sites - so thank very much, Jon

Thanks Jon, the cliff tops are well worth a try for in-flight Fulmars, Gulls etc....
That whole area of North-West Norfolk is heaven for anyone into wildlife, enjoy your stay.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by rlchew

I know that feeling very well .... except that I have never managed a whole one at Hunstanton .

Excellent photos Steve!

Richard

Thanks Richard, It was the first time I'd tried this and I was suprised just how difficult it actually was to get the whole bird in focus and in the frame, having said that I got about 12 "keepers" out of the 80+ images i took whilst on the cliff tops, beginers luck I guess.

[Oscar2006]

I was so impressed by Fourwings' pictures from the day (especially the Fulmars) that I have decided my next lens purchase will be the Sigma 150mm Macro.
I am also considering either the Bigma or the Pump, but the macro will certainly take priority now!
Thanks Steve for "showing me" what to choose.

Anybody have a Canon mount Siggy 150 macro for sale?

[Hobjob]

Has the yellow legs in Thornham moved on?

I missed it some four weks ago too
(but I did get the twite)

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Oscar2006

I was so impressed by Fourwings' pictures from the day (especially the Fulmars) that I have decided my next lens purchase will be the Sigma 150mm Macro.
I am also considering either the Bigma or the Pump, but the macro will certainly take priority now!
Thanks Steve for "showing me" what to choose.

Anybody have a Canon mount Siggy 150 macro for sale?

Thanks for the kind compliments mate.
It really is a fantastic and suprisingly versatile lens as you have seen, I'm looking into getting the Sigma x1.4 EX DG converter which will turn it into a 210mm f.4 telephoto giving me a little more magnification whilst still retaining both the auto-focus and the overall high speed of the lens.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Has the yellow legs in Thornham moved on?

I missed it some four weks ago too
(but I did get the twite)

We missed out on both on Saturday although others had seen the Twite that day, don't know about the Yellow legs though.

[John]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Has the yellow legs in Thornham moved on?

I missed it some four weks ago too
(but I did get the twite)

The last time it was reported was on the 10th Feb. That doesn't mean it isn't there now, just that it isn't being reported via lack of birders looking for it (possibly seen by all who want it).

It's always worth dropping into Thornham for a look if you are in that area.

John