I know it is a predator but it was an unexpected delight to see a male Sparrowhawk spend more than a fleeting visit in the garden recently. It meant he could be photographed! There are some fluffy rust coloured feathers on his chest which has left me wondering if it is a juvenile, enhanced by a gentle breeze. It could have chosen to rest on a handle of the less rusty wheelbarrow!
I don't think I've ever seen a Stoat in this garden! In fact I've seen very few in any habitat. Thankfully I had a camera to hand and was able to take a couple of photographs. I should love to welcome a lot here as there are far too many rabbits.
In the heat of the day there were masses of Swifts flying around St Mary's Church where a remarkable number of nest boxes have been installed in the spire. I'd heard of this well used site but hadn't expected quite so many Swifts. The first photograph gives some idea of what one side of the four sided tower looks like - and there are three other sides! The following photographs are attempts to capture just how many birds are using this breeding site. They fly so close to one another, sometimes flying in opposite directions.
Patience was rewarded with some images of a Kingfisher eating a fish and then a spider on a branch close to Mere Hide. Almost more exciting is seeing a Kingfisher in the reeds next to the Hide where it was difficult to see and photograph.
It's always worth posting, even after several months! May get some of the backlog sorted........ I hadn't been to Lakenheath Fen for a while but was awake early this morning so a worthwhile trip was captured. The next posting will be of Kingfishers only but here are some of the photographs from today's photography. Two of the three Swift nesting boxes here are occupied and here is one of the adult Swifts leaving around 06.00 this morning.
The rest of the images are of 'finds' on the way to and from Mere Hide (Kingfishers). I think this might be a young Grey Heron, some Ruddy Darters perhaps, a Commer Butterfly, insects mating but I don't know what they are, and finally three Mallard ducklings near the Visitor Centre.
A matter of days before Sunday I was offered a lift and a ticket to go to the Gundog day at Crufts! Not having been before it was very exciting and lived up to all expectations. I was with Vicky who is a breeder of Golden Retrievers and she was taking her youngest dog, Toby, who is three and a half years old. He attracted a lot of attention and won his class! That meant he went into the next round to choose the Golden Retriever to represent the breed in the Gundog Group. Sadly he didn't progress further, but he is the same breed of the dog which was chosen as Best in Show - and what a beautiful liver coloured flat coated Retriever he is. We met Toby's sister Lacie who is a Pat Therapy Dog and it really looked as though they recognised one another, and Lacie recognised Vicky.
These Black-headed Gulls were feeding in the salt lagoon, including the Herring Gull. I don't profess to know what they were eating.....
It is a long time since I've seen a Grey Plover in winter plummage, and it's always a delight to see Curlew.
Titchwell was gloriously sunny on the last Saturday in February and there was a great range of birdlife to see. Snipe, Lapwing, Avocet, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit.
