Robert Chapman's Wildlife Photography

Saturday, 1 December 2012

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Sunday, 11 November 2012

Amwell

Lesser Redpoll (one of about 10): first for this year

Lesser Redpoll

Scaup: first ever

Scaup and Tufted Ducks

Friday, 2 November 2012

We hoped to see the Shore Lark that had been reported for the past week and the Snow Buntings, but had no luck. The close views of the Turnstones were fantastic as usual and a Sacred Ibis was a bonus.

Sacred Ibis

Redshank

Turnstones

Turnstone

Cley

Great views of hundreds of Pink Footed Geese and groups of Brent Geese flying inland in the blue sky.

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier & Pink Footed Geese

Brent Geese

Hickling Broad raptor watch point

We stopped for lunch just outside Hickling at Waxham and watched at least a thousand Pink Footed Geese coming in to land in a field. We then stood at the raptor watch point for a couple of hours until dark. We didn't see any cranes but saw about 50 Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, Short/Long Eared Owl, Barn Owl and two Swallows. We heard a Tawny Owl at Hickling and when we arrived home.

Red-legged Partridge

Redwing

Pink Footed Geese

Waxham

Hickling

Lapwings

Hen Harrier

Barn Owl

Monday, 29 October 2012

Bramblings in our garden

Only our second sighting of a Brambling. Dad and I had talked about wanting to see a Brambling this morning and I joked that we could see one in the garden soon. And guess what? I saw one a couple of hours later. I couldn't believe it when I saw one on the feeder, and began to doubt myself after it had flown off before my dad had seen it. But within minutes the bird was back, I managed to get good photos and my dad had a great view through his binoculars. A second Brambling then flew in and I got a photo of the two together. All the small birds were startled by first a squirrel, then one of the two Jays present at the moment and then by a male Sparrowhawk (the best view I've ever had). I couldn't get my camera out of the window in time to get an in-focus shot, but the one I got is still decent. Undoubtably the best half hour of birdwatching in our garden.