Red Admiral

Probably won’t win any photographic awards taking pictures of a butterfly on a camera phone, but as it was the year’s first butterfly for me, I thought I’d snap this Red Admiral…

Fowlmere

Cold and quiet. Four  pairs of Gadwall and a Barn Owl were pretty much it.

Fowlmere

Apparently the temperature was 2°C but it felt much colder (and was snowing lightly). Twenty-three Teal was a high count, and two pairs of Gadwall, but otherwise quiet. A poor picture of a Treecreeper too.

Wimpole

Took Michelle to lunch at Wimpole, with the ulterior motive of seeing the Hawfinch that has been visiting the restaurant gardens, and the Mandarins that have been visiting the lake. Lots of thrushes, particularly Fieldfare and quite a few ducks, and also a nice picture of a Robin. But, I missed both targets, it was cold, and I had work to do, so we gave up.

Fowlmere

A beautiful sunny spring-like day, so popped to Fowlmere mid-afternoon for a break from work. Not too bad. Nine Snipe feeding in the open, a female Tufted Duck, 16 Teal, a pair of Gadwall, and a few Siskins.

Best sighting however was a Stoat that I stumbled upon. Looking directly at me, unsure of what to do, it would have been a great photo  if I could have stepped back a bit to take with a clear view. After firing a few shots, through some leaves, I tried it, but the Stoat inevitably scarpered.

Black-bellied Dipper

Popped into Thetford on the way back from my parent’s in Suffolk to take a look at the Black-bellied Dipper that is overwintering there. Nice confiding bird. Sam also amused himself climbing the tree crossing the river. We also managed a pair of Egyptian Geese in Thetford Forest whilst driving through.

 

At dusk I went to Fowlmere where I managed to catch up with a Merlin (female) as well as the female Hen Harrier, a Barn Owl, the male Bearded Tit (heard), a pair of Gadwall and a record 26 Teal.

Minsmere

An extemely quiet afternoon (where the best sighting was a Navy submarine patrolling the coast!), but a gorgeous sunset…