Bluethroat Painting.

Bluethroat.

New painting added to my Artwork Blog.

Extras from The Lodge.

 A few images I forgot was on my camera the day I went looking for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I watched this Blue Tit for some time, stripping off nesting material.

 It seemed every new patch of wood contained at least 1 Chiffchaff, this one came close enough to get its picture taken.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Revisited.

Spent another couple of hours searching for the Lesser Spotted Woodepecker at The Lodge. It was a while before I finally caught a glimpse of it high in the canopy. It kept to the rear of the wood and could be hard to locate until you picked up on it flying to another tree or calling. But I have seen it even if only for a few seconds at a time, (definitely no chance of a photo) and with plenty of singing Chiffchaff's and Willow Warblers alongside Blackcaps it made for a pleasant walk.

Norfolk with Friends.

Last weekend Sarah and I spent a few days with friends in Norfolk, not birding but I thought maybe I would see something whilst out and about. On a walk along the seafront at Cromer I picked out the 2w Glaucous Gull that had been reported a couple of days earlier, a new species for Sarah. There were plenty of reports of Ring Ouzel but I unfortunately did not see one. At Salthouse I counted 10+ Wheatear in the field adjacent to Gramborough Hill along with numerous Meadow Pipits everywhere. Groups of Swallows were continually passing us by and mixed in were a few Sand Martins, which we hadn't as of then seen this year. Fast approaching is our trip to Extramadura which we cannot wait to start. 

Swallow & Yellow.

 Yesterday morning, 9th April, I popped out for a couple of hours to see what was about. Numerous Meadow Pipits as before and quite a few Stock Doves around. When the sun hit the neck feathering on the Doves it produced such a stunning intense colour.

 And I saw my first Swallow of the year, it passed back and forth before heading north across the fields, and then some time later my first Yellow Wagtail of the year too, a really bright individual that unfortunately kept its distance so I had to contend with the heat haze so only took a record shot.

 Then just like buses, another Swallow flew low over my house calling that afternoon and I saw another on the way into work late afternoon!

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

 It had been a long long time since I last connected with a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, so I headed up to The Lodge RPSB to try for the one that was frequenting the reserve. First I stopped to watch a group of about 15 Lesser Redpoll before moving on to look for the Lesser Spotted'.

Around the pylon I heard the Lesser Spotted calling but could not see it! Other birders then moved to the same area and 2 of them had seen it before it moved away. I then went further towards the old heath once again heard it but this time it had moved off the reserve and was drumming from a line of oak trees. It stayed in that area for some time, and so I left with other jobs needing to be done, hopefully it will stay and I can try again soon. At least I got to hear it!

New Artwork Completed.

2 new watercolour paintings I recently completed, view my Artwork Blog to see how they progressed.