North-west Norfolk 31/03/07

[Fourwings]

Boddie, Oscar2006 & myself headed out to North-west Norfolk yesterday for a day of wildlife photography.
We had no pre arranged agenda and after a large fried brekky at a local Tescos we decided to have another bash at the flying Fulmars on Hunstanton cliffs, the weather was perfect, with a clear bright blue sky and the sun at our backs.
The birds performed well but it's always very tricky to get a really good shot at due to their speed and all the obstructions on the cliff tops that tend to get in the way of those fantastic eye-level images.

Fulmars in-flight at Hunstanton cliffs




We then moved on round the corner to Titchwell marsh and we must have spent the next hour or more photographing the masses of small birds in the bushes around the visitor centre, I think there may be a competition between us as to who took the most Robin images, my personal tally was 72!
Out on the reserve there were now loads of Avocets & Chiffchaffs and with many different species of birds busy collecting material to build nests it really gave the day the flavour of Spring.
The usual specialitys of the reserve were present including Marsh Harrier,Cettis Warbler & Bearded Tit.

Robin at Titchwell


Blackbird at Titchwell


Our next destination was a quick walk up the Gypsey lane between Titchwell and Brancaster, this was mainly to see if we could get views of Bearded tits, alas it was too windy but we did get some nice early insect shots in the sheltered areas of the lane itself.

Drone-fly

Leaf-cutter Bee


It was then onto Wells to have a look at the harbour for Gulls, it was perhaps a little too busy for good photography but we did manage a few good shots despite the masses of people around.
We also had a bonus of seeing a Seal in the harbour although he was sadly camera shy!

Black-Headed Gull at Wells


We decided to end our day out back at Titchwell, taking a selection of small bird images around the centre and out on the reserve which by this time was getting very chilly in the late evening sun.

End of the day at Titchwell


Thanks to my good friends Andrew & Oscar for yet another great day out.

[Boddie]

It was a trop day out, as usual, and thanks to you Steve and Oscar.

I guess we are all Robin'ed out but this was my best chaffinch shot



That sunset came out nice by the way

[John]

I more or less did the same thing as you the day before and have written three trip reports of the three days I had out that way.

I agree about the difficulty with the Hunstanton Fulmars as I was there for over an hour on Friday trying to photograph them myself. They would just pop up over the clifftop at the last second, giving you very little chance to get on them, then when you did they would either dissappear behind vegitation or the cliff itself.

Didn't you go to the Parrinder Hide? There was a Green-winged Teal only about 20-40 feet from the hide and showing well on the Friday.

John

[JeffH]

Sounds like you had a fine day out guys, in one of my favourite parts of East Anglia - some great shots too.

Jeff

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by John

I more or less did the same thing as you the day before and have written three trip reports of the three days I had out that way.

I agree about the difficulty with the Hunstanton Fulmars as I was there for over an hour on Friday trying to photograph them myself. They would just pop up over the clifftop at the last second, giving you very little chance to get on them, then when you did they would either dissappear behind vegitation or the cliff itself.

Didn't you go to the Parrinder Hide? There was a Green-winged Teal only about 20-40 feet from the hide and showing well on the Friday.

John

Green Winged Teal, Green Winged Teal?

You need to get with the program.

We see these all the time John and all three of us have already ticked this one off for the year along with our blue, yellow and orange Winged.

Green winged is so 2006.

[John]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Green winged is so 2006.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Boddie

That sunset came out nice by the way

Yeah, I just wish I'd spent longer on it now, it had real potential, very moody.

[Oscar2006]

I agree it was a very good day out!

Just a few images to share (not the best ones; I'm saving them for the 2008 calander )










Anybody guess what this next one is?




A Male Pheasant

[Fourwings]

Very nice work mate, I take it you are suitably impressed with your Sigma 150

[Oscar2006]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Very nice work mate, I take it you are suitably impressed with your Sigma 150

It's ok I suppose!
I just need some more practise time with it and hopefully I'll be getting some really good images of insects through the summer.