North Norfolk - Redshank

Living so far away from the coast it is always a welcome and evocative sound to hear Redshank calling.   There were plenty of them on the mudflats at low tide and here are some of their antics.   In the last two images I hadn't seen that degree of aggression outside the breeding season before.   In the third image the attacked Redshank has its bill open, perhaps expressing objection to the treatment, and seconds later the bill of the attacked Redshank is pressed into the mud by the aggressor!

North Norfolk - Pheasants

I was somewhat surprised to see how close to the coastline Pheasants were to be found.   I think of them as inland birds.   Why do they fly away from you!

Old Hunstanton - Thursday 22 October

From Holme-next-the-Sea there were plenty of kite-surfers to photograph enjoying the strong winds off Old Hunstanton cliffs.   At one point I counted 13 kites and some surfers were clearly confident and experienced and ventured way out to sea.

Although the last of the four images looks stormy we didn't get any rain.

Holme-next-the-Sea - Thursday 22 October

Spent the last day of a week on the North Norfolk coast at Holme-next-the-Sea.   The light was constantly changing which made for atmospheric images.   There was plenty of wind which at times blew the sand across the beach, as in the second image, and usually cloud cover.   Occasionally the sun broke through and the scape was quite dramatic with shafts of light caressing the sea.

Watery Light at The Lazy Otter

I have been away for a week and will get images from the North Norfolk coast posted in due course.

The light at the Lazy Otter this morning was clear and wintry and most images appear almost monochromatic.   It was also colder than I think it has been this winter.

It is usual to see Grey Heron on this water, and Black-headed Gulls.   There was no way of knowing what this Black-headed Gull had found in the water, but its antics to get 'food' show off its balletic agilities in the air.   The symmetry of the reflection is pleasing too.

Something Different!

The 'Grass is Greener on the Other Side' was taken literally by this Polo Pony near Bottisham Lock - different treatment too!

Buzzard and Geese

Just a glimpse of sunshine on this morning's walk but the light enhanced a Buzzard and then caught the underside of some Greylag Geese.   It was difficult deciding which flight pattern to use for the Buzzard - wings up or wings down?    Both indicated!

These geese were flying very close to one another - do they ever touch?   If they do, the consequences don't seem to be catastrophic!   I was aiming for 'separation' between the birds, but in all the images I took during this 'fly past' I couldn't get space between many of the birds.   Still, this is a record posting, and the memory will be of the proximity of large geese, flying at speed, very close to one another and making themselves heard!

Autumn Colour

In haste, as I don't want to lose the thread of making postings.   There are some back numbers to do, particularly from the Dawn and Waders at Snettisham (exciting!), but here is a taste of autumn colour on today's walk in Worts Meadow.

Lazy Otter again

Not that much on the wing this morning but some images where morning sunlight played its part.

Misty Morning - Bottisham Lock

A glorious morning with a mist hanging around until the sun burnt it off.   I wonder how enhanced the atmosphere would have been had I got there earlier when there was possibly even more mist!

What a shame the Grey Heron didn't fly towards the camera.
 

Higher Kingcombe - evening

Staying at Higher Kingcombe Lodge is relaxing and our first evening brought quite a good sunset.   The intensity of evening light increased and the first two images are reflections of light showing on the top lake.

Powerstock Common

Robin and I are just back from having stayed at Higher Kingcombe Lodge for a couple of nights.   Andrea's welcome was as friendly as ever and the food was lovely.   I walked the dogs at Powerstock Common this morning and Bryan was very much in my thoughts.   I associate Bryan with insect life in what was a special place to him, but in its absence, here are some images of plant life which is still hanging on to some colour.   There is a crab apple tree near the walk down to the pond - carrying a lot of fruit this year.