Belated BY - 6th year! Herman&Kit

[Kitsafari]

234. Common Shelduck, Titchwell

 

[Kitsafari]

235. Common Tern, Minsmere

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

236. Common Wood Pigeon

 

Another possibly common bird but it is a pretty pigeon!

 

 

This one sat at a residential home in Dunwich, next to another home with a message which I couldn't resist taking a photo (further below) of. 

 

[Kitsafari]

237. Dunnock, Sculpthorpe

 

 

I didn't realise dunnock was smaller than the greenfinch (counting later)

 

[Kitsafari]

238. Eurasian Blackcap, Minsmere

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

239. Eurasian Bullfinch, Sculpthorpe

 

We were pleased to see this bright chap. 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

240. Eurasian Coot, Titchwell

 

I'm sorry to say coot chicks aren't one of the cutest babies among the waterfowl. 

 

 

[Peter Connan]

8 minutes ago, Kitsafari said:

240. Eurasian Coot, Titchwell

 

I'm sorry to say coot chicks aren't one of the cutest babies among the waterfowl. 

 

 

And yet I really like them. Juvenile punk-rockers from the 80's each and every one.

Lovely photos, as usual.

 

Nuclear power continues to be such a divisive topic. Done right I think it's still the method of power generation with perhaps the lowest impact on nature of them all, but if things go wrong it clearly has a massive impact.

 

What really interests me is the way nature has apparently thrived in the vicinity of Chernobyl (at least before war again came to the area), despite (and because) the area still reportedly being highly dangerous for humans?

[Kitsafari]

3 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

 

And yet I really like them. Juvenile punk-rockers from the 80's each and every one.

Lovely photos, as usual.

 

Nuclear power continues to be such a divisive topic. Done right I think it's still the method of power generation with perhaps the lowest impact on nature of them all, but if things go wrong it clearly has a massive impact.

 

What really interests me is the way nature has apparently thrived in the vicinity of Chernobyl (at least before war again came to the area), despite (and because) the area still reportedly being highly dangerous for humans?

 

 

I too am conflicted by the desires of harnessing power from nuclear energy. SIngapore - a tiny island country all of 730sqkm has been talking up nuclear power generators and yet because we are so small and population is so dense, the plant and potential radioactive energy could affect our long-term health. 

no power plant project is 100% free from adversely affecting the natural environment but I recall watching a documentary where this guy said birding was pretty good in the surrounding areas of a nuclear power plant as they are left untouched. and  - as Chernobyl has clearly shown, nature is so resilient that its ability to bounce back is amazing. 

 

[Kitsafari]

241. Eurasian Jackdaw, Dunwich/Bempton Cliffs

 

I never did appreciate this corvid until I started birding. Unfortunately we just couldn't get a shot of the raven on this trip, although we nearly did miss taking one of the crow.  

 

 

[Kitsafari]

242. Carrion Crow, Bempton

 

The quintessential crow that's distributed in a wide band from Europe to central and east Asia to the North Americas. I nearly did not take a shot of it but guide Richard teased me throughout the two days as I had jokingly said "just a crow".  So when the crow posed prettily against the seas on one of the cliffs, I just couldn't resist a shot. 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

243. Eurasian Jay, Titchwell

 

Only a fleeting glimpse of this nervous and highly skittish bird!

 

 

[Kitsafari]

244.  Eurasian Oystercatcher, Minsmere

 

A lifer for both of us, so we were chuffed to see it even though it was far far from us. 

 

 

Edited October 27, 2023 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

245. Eurasian Skylark

 

Not sure about the location of the first shot as Chris took us to a moorish-looking place.  my google timeline says Benacre National Natural Reserve but the second was in Titchwell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 26, 2023 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

246. Eurasian Spoonbill, Titchwell

 

Again, saw the bird preening miles away before it took flight over our heads to the open sandy areas beyond the high banks that blocked access to the open areas. 

 

  

[Kitsafari]

247.  Eurasian Treecreeper, Dunwich

 

a much improved sighting (first sighting was in Barcelona) of this tiny and fast-moving creature in the shadows!

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

248. Eurasian Wren, Titchwell

 

at the car park, of all places!

[Kitsafari]

249. European Goldfinch, Minsmere

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

250. European Greenfinch, Sculpthorpe 

 

 

[TonyQ]

I am enjoying seeing UK birds through your eyes and camera. it is a reminder of how beautiful many of them are. lovely photos.

Treecreepers are difficult so you did well there!

[Kitsafari]

@TonyQ Thank you! 

 

251. European Starling, Titchwell/Kensington Park

 

The first was from Titchwell but the starlings were more habituated in Kensington Park with a couple walking and feeding in the grass patch alongside a path. we could see its brilliant colour better in the London park.

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

252. European Stonechat, Minsmere

 

[Kitsafari]

253.European Turtle Dove, Snettisham Beach

 

Chris knew a place where we could spot the turtle dove but it took a long time combing the thick brush  to find one, and only just before we decided to call it a day. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

254. Gadwall, Titchwell

 

we had better luck with waterfowl and waders at Titchwell, which was probably the reason I liked Titchwell better than Minsmere. The hides were well located at the numerous lagoons and perhaps the wind wasn't as strong on the day we were at Titchwell and the birds less skittish. 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

255. Gargeny, Titchwell

 

Herman was very pleased with this as he thinks it is a lifer for him. It was alone and coasting very quietly at the corner. The English birders were not as excited as we were, although they kept mentioning a purple heron and Chris had to explain to them that that's a resident bird from where we came from.