Snettisham

An uncharacteristic jaunt off-piste. Some well-behaved birds and a bit of luck led to a few half-decent photos. The Woodcock was particularly good as it just sat on the verge of the road and was snapped at close range without the use of a scope. Only the Scaup was a bit uncooperative, deciding it was time to head off in the other direction as soon as the camera came out.

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola



Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris




Little Auk Alle alle



Scaup Aythya marila


Digiscoped Nikon Coolpix P4 and Leica APO77 x20

Golden Plover

I've estimated the flock of Golden Plover roosting at the edge ofthe new housing development at Hampton as about 3000 birds but that might be way off.

Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria



Digiscoped Nikon Coolpix P4 and Leica APO77 x20

Late season insects

Common Darter still on the wing at Stibbington GP today and Red Admirals here and in the garden.

Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum

Nikon Coolpix P4

Moths in November

Just a handful of moths, as expected for this time of year. The Dark Arches is a particularly late record (trapped on 8 Nov). Emmelina monodactyla is about the only other moth I've seen recently with a few coming to the kitchen window occasionally.

The Sprawler Brachionycha sphinx


Silver Y Autographa gamma


Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha


Nikon Coolpix P4

Shag at The Dog

Today I paid homage to the latest Shag to appear at the Dog in a Doublet sluice. I include one of my shots here. Throughout it stayed on rocks on the far bank with the sun behind it so the photos weren't great. Much better are here on the PBC Gallery.

Jonathon Taylor found this bird on 6th December. The green colour ring on it's left leg with the white letters CPL identified it as a bird ringed in the nest on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth on 11th July 2006. Is it the same bird seen heading upstream at Ring's End on 5th November? Somehow it doesn't quite look the same to me but the chances are it is.

European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Nikon Coolpix P4 and 32x Leica APO77

North Bank Birds

Some pics from a bike ride in the sunshine along the north bank of the Nene today. Unphotographed birds included a few Sparrowhawks and a couple of Stonechats.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea




Tawny Owl Strix aluco


Moorhen Gallinula chloropus


Nikon Coolpix P4 and 20x Leica APO77