A is for Aluco

"I love it when a plan comes together".  A favoured phrase of The A-Team's leader, Lt. Col. 'Hannibal' Smith but, to be fair, who doesn't?

Well, today we had a plan. And it came together perfectly.

There was a distinct lack of Military Police as we set off and, although the car was black, it lacked red side-stripe and sliding doors from which to spray bullets liberally without, miraculously, hurting anyone. However, John, our very own Hannibal, had done his homework and directed us, not clear of a Maximum Security Stockade, but to the rather more tranquil setting of North Elmham Chapel, near Dereham. As places to spend a stunning February morning go, this was right up there. Bright sunlight lit up the chapel ruins, Snowdrops nodded on the banks and Winter Heliotrope perfumed the air with it's almost-too-sweet scent. We were there to look for Mr. T. T for Tawny. An individual has been regularly seen there of late, visible at it's daytime roost. For a while, no joy, and doubt began to set in. Would I be 'owlin mad, like Murdoch? Then Nikki (who for the purposes of this torturous analogy, will have to be Face - although she also exhibits a decidedly Bad Attitude on occasion) gave a delighted cry. She'd found him (or her). There at the top of a tree he (or she) sat, doing his (or her) best to ignore nearby Jackdaws and onlookers alike.

This is a real bogey bird for me. Indeed, since nocturnal views of one in our garden when a child, I've had nothing but the most fleeting of glimpses, despite, of course, hearing them often. Massively chuffed therefore to get such wonderful views and particularly in such perfect surroundings on a morning when Spring had apparently moved in for good. Reasonably pleased with the record shot too, which was the first time I've tried holding my mobile up against the 'scope with any success.

Cigars all round.

A wonderful day at Holkham followed, where coats were unnecessary, even on the beach and the sea was like a mill pond. We were treated to views of such lovely birds as Shore Lark, Spoonbill, Great Egret, Peregrine, Red Kite, Grey Partridge, Red-throated diver, Red-breasted Merganser and Red-necked Grebe. Superb.

But the day belonged to the owl, to teamwork and the beauty of a plan that comes together.

Cold Case.

Titchwell was not the most comfortable place to be the other day. Bracing wind and squalls of rain kept us firmly ensconced in the Parrinder Hide for much of our visit. 

Despite the weather, there were a few things to see. Marsh harriers twirled above the reedbed, a Spoonbill flew past, and during a short scan from the beach, Eider, Goldeneye, Merganser, Slavonian Grebe were seen just beyond the surf.

A party of Brent Geese spent some time bathing on the Freshmarsh before moving out onto the sea lavender covered saltmarsh.

We watched two Water pipits and a few Rock Pipits exploring the muddy islands that were only just above water level, while a small scattering of waders probed in the channels.

Thornham was equally windy, though for a while we got fairly good views of the Twite as we took shelter below the sea wall. A Rock pipit offered a brief close up as it perched among the wooden jetties.

Perhaps the most intriguing bird of the day was a hybrid duck at Titchwell. It was seemingly paired with a female Shoveler, and was obviously full of shoveler DNA, but the rest of it's parentage took a bit of forensic detective work to ascertain......

Lonely Places

https://youtu.be/wyWAAS8RQ5o

A weekend on the Suffolk coast presented the perfect opportunity to test the merits of my new phone, a Galaxy S7, at taking video and pics down the scope.  While the girls had a look around Orford Castle I went down to Orford Quay hoping that there'd be some birds about ready to pose.  The morning was glorious and the first Avocets had returned and were feeding alongside Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank.

Considering these were all hand held against the eyepiece I'm looking forward to making an adaptor that will hold the kit together more robustly.  It continues to amaze me what a thin wedge of technology can do. 

I was aware that a Rough-legged Buzzard had been seen over Orford Ness the previous day and kept an eye to scanning across the shingly widerness with it's defunct military buildings, smartly striped lighthouse and unexploded ordnance. Several Marsh Harrier surveyed the area and a lone Peregrine took vigil.  After the diversion of the waders to photograph I looked towards the north and found the Rough-leg being harried by the harriers.  It showed well gaining height over the village before returning to the saltmarsh.  Later I watched it closer with just the bins from the Quayside.  It or a good imposter was then sat on a very distant building.