Fungi Foray. November 2012.

 When Sarah and I took a leisurely walk around the Lodge at Sandy, the amount of fungi showing was exceptional, on this occasion I chose to hold a large cigar and not the camera!, but I chose to return a couple of days later to take these shots. There were a lot of decaying clumps and broken or eaten specimens so I had to search for some adequate enough to be snapped.

 Some ground areas were covered with fungi, which made for a more scenic view.

 You can see the tiny insect upon this fungi, and its only when you get up close that you view the wildlife living on and around them, and plenty of nibble holes proving they must be good food for some.

 I found a few like this one, growing with the cap in an upright position, which showed off the gills really well.

 Most of the large Fly Agarics had been squashed or broken down, but looking carefully I found a few new ones just emerging from the earth. Some already bearing teeth marks!. I had great fun laying prone and rolling on the ground to get the images, I would of stayed dryer if I'd remembered my waterproof bottoms! And the amount of times I got stung or had to de-thorn myself from the brambles will definitely not deter me from a Fungi Foray again.

Snipe still at Bev's. November 2012.

 The start of November and the Common Snipe were still in numbers at Bev's, unfortunately I could not find a Jack Snipe among them, still eluding me for the site list. The number of wildfowl seemed to be increasing, notably with the Gadwall. With a year at Bev's approaching quickly I still hope to add one or two species to the list, fingers crossed. 

Grafham Water. November 2012.

 With just a couple of hours forecast as bright first thing, myself and Sarah ventured up the A1 to Grafham water. I like to check stuff out along the dam end, knowing I would most certainly encounter some pipits, its always good practice on these small birds as they search the waters edge. 

 There were a couple of small groups feeding among the washed up debris. The challenge is setting yourself up ahead of them and hope they continue their line of approach. They tend to be quite flighty though and frequently squabble with other birds in the group causing them to take flight after one another, so its reposition time again!

 Along with a couple of Pied wagtails a White wagtail made an appearance a couple of times. It was fairly quiet otherwise and the weather set in darker than anticipated so time to call it a day.

Snipe spectacle at Bev's. October 2012.

 Although these images were taken on the same trip to Bev's as in the last post, I thought these warranted a entry of there own. I had seen Snipe here before but not in the numbers I  was about to witness. I noticed a few get up and fly off and spotted a few in the lakeside vegetation, but I did not expect the amount that then got up.

 In this shot there are 25 Common Snipe, and that was part of the group that took to the air, I couldn't fit the whole flock in the frame!

There were over 50+ snipe estimated, I have never seen that many at a time before.

 They continued to fly around the main lake, back and forth searching for a place to tuck up and hide away. They would occasionally take to the air before returning to the same spot. I could not pick out any Jack snipe though, whether this huge group will move on or stay I cant say, but I hope they find their surroundings comfortable and linger on.

Starlings put on a show. Bev's, October 2012.

 I had a few hours spare before having to pick Sarah up from work, so I headed up to Bev's which was just a short drive away. The weather was good for a change so I was hoping for some images to add to the yearly bag, I cant believe how quick the months have gone with the year mark nearly upon me.

 There was quite a buzz of activity around the barn and houses, with a troop of Long tailed tits providing the noise.

 On the main lake the duck numbers were increasing and a few more Pochard than last time, also the Gadwall and Shoveler seemed to of increased.

 Daytime gulls were more than normal with a couple of Common gull,Lesser black backed mixed in with the Black headed gulls.

 Just a single Little Egret compared to the usual four.

 There are normally a few Starlings around the entrance when I arrive, but what a sight I received whilst walking around the lake. I happened to look West across the A1 and there before me was a mass of Starlings. I have no idea how many birds were involved as they seemed to be different groups coming and going, but there were hundreds...no must be thousands.

 They twisted and turned and formed those familiar shaped bundles. And then they flew overhead to the common, wow what a sight.

Norfolk. October 2012.

 My Dad, Sarah and I went up to the norfolk coast to try and connect with some of the birds coming in on the east coast. The wind had a definite chill to it and as usual the un-forecast rain was a burden. We headed to Burnham Staithe to try and connect with the Arctic warbler that had been frequenting the area and also report of a 'Locustella' species. But typically neither were to be bloody seen, I can still hear the wife in my ear "its you isn't it".

 We headed to Stiffkey and decided to see what was around. It was obvious there were lots of birds coming in still, and the thrushes were in huge numbers. Ring Ouzel was a name that kept cropping up in conversation with other birders, and we did not miss out, with a few showing well on the campsite, along with Blackbird,Redwing,Fieldfare,Song Thrush,Mistle Thrush it was a grand Thrushfest. Not connecting with the Yellow browed warbler was a shame but soon forgotten with 4 Black Redstarts turning up. All in all it was a good old birding day.

Wader Spectacle. Snettisham. October 2012.

 Sarah, my dad and I travelled up to Snettisham, Norfolk for the wader spectacle in October. The high tide forecast brought in the waders by the thousands, and there were a couple of hundred birders too. We arrived for first light and upon reaching the sea wall could already see many waders out ion the decreasing mud flats of the wash.

 As we headed along to the far end of the reserve, the flocks started to gather and amass in huge shoals flowing along the flats as they were continually pushed in by the approaching tide.

 The light was awful, that did not spoil things, I knew the images would be dull or edited to black and white, but that was not important, it was capturing this event of amazement and show the sheer brilliance of it.

 As the masses grew every minute, the flocks would take flight and twist and turn as one, how they co-ordinate themselves is unbelievable, they are packed so tight together.

 As the last segments of mud remained the waders start to head inland onto the reserve banks. The hundreds of thousands of waders filter overhead and then disappear below the grass banks in front of the hides. I left it too late to be able to gain access into the hides, instead I waited for the flight shows from the footpaths around. 

 You just cannot capture the feeling you experience on camera, the flocks fill your entire field of view. I took some shots as they quickly appeared above the bank before spiralling down out of sight.

 There are flocks taking to the air all around you, I didn't know what way to point the lens sometimes, and other times I just stared at them taking in their shapes and sounds trying to absorb every last bit of it.

 Then after some time of relative quietness, they once again take to the air, this time heading back out onto the mud flats where the tide is already receding. 

 As they head out some gather into wonderful shapes, passing over the heads of the watching birders. And as they move back out to the flats they take a more direct route straight overhead and very low, the noise of their wing beats are mesmerising, I couldn't help but just smile and watch this wonder of the world.

 And then its back to normality with the thousands back out feeding on the mud, until that is when a predator arrives on the scene. In the image below the flocks took to the air as a Great Skua passed through. I know I will definitely be back for more and next time I will make sure I get to the hide earlier.