Sir Peter Scott's Lighthouse

Just a quick post of various photographs taken at Sir Peter Scott's Lighthouse, belonging to Doug and Sue Hilton.

entrance

the light

Sir Peter's (and my) bedroom

the incredible Doug and Sue Hilton

Art fans will recognise the bridge

various films filmed here

A Day of Rain . . . Titchwell to Somewhere VERY SPECIAL

Wednesday 25^th May                 fresh NW                     Persistent rain

Feeling very tired I walk alone around Titchwell and eventually sit alone in the Parrinder hide. 

Six summer plumaged knot are close and a single greenshank out beside a small island where common terns are sitting. A pink-footed goose is sitting out on an island. What is that still doing here?

A lovely French couple come in, the first people I have seen today. They are from Brittany pres de Vannes, and are members of the RSPB who have disparaging comments to make about French birding. Count our blessings (and chickens) for the RSPB, WWT and Wildlife Trusts for all of our resevres. No hides, or very few to be found in France.

I head back towards the visitor’s centre for breakfast. I meet two RSPB staff, the first out to litter pick, the second out to see what birds are around. Both are superb, as usual.

One says he is following this blog and comments that it is really about the people I meet. Now there’s a thought. Every day I am privileged to meet the most amazing people, people with stories, people who in their own way are incredible and friendly.

A story from someone involves a white-tailed sea eagle. One day on Mull. a birder is caught short for a pee when suddenly the huge barn door flies close over his head. What should he do, put away his **** and photograph the road or cover up first.? The birder's dilemma.

Another RSPB staff member must be one of the best ‘Meet & Greet’ people in the RSPB. I tell him that and take his photograph. Ian is the same with everyone he meets, friendly with a huge smile with a sunshine personality.

Breakfast is taken in the café, a stilton and mushroom bagette with salad. Two ladies wave through the window. I met them both on Fair Isle last year, Jane and  . . .  I must look up their names in my notes. Great to see them both again. They’re so happy to see me again. Lovely.

Another friend comes to sit with me, Chris. We actually talk about match fishing in the 70s. Back then I used to match fish in the Midlands and met so many famous fishing characters during my teenage years. Chris was a match angler too of some repute and so the names flood back the memories of great days. Clive Smith, Kevin and Benny Ashurst, Ivan Marks, Roy Marlow, Barry Brookes, Tony Reece, Ken Giles ; all fabulous to watch and learn from. Great days.

I return to the hide to watch as avocets have territorial disputes and courtship displays as the cameras click with rapidity.

I fall asleep!

This is bad news as I have received an invitation to stay at one of the most special places in Britain, the lighthouse that was the home of Sir Peter Scott in his younger days in the 1930s.

I text the owners to say I will be late.

Three hours later I arrive, soaked and hot, at the lighthouse that now belongs to Doug and Sue Hilton.

The year list now stands at 248, twenty five ahead of last year at this stage.

35.82 miles                860 feet up elevation     852 feet down elevation

Let's Catch Up Again.......

Monday 23^rd May                 fresh NW                     Sunny intervals

The previous evening I spent at Kelling Heath listening to maybe four nightjars churring around me. Before dark, in fact before the colours faded to greys, turtle doves had been purring and a male Dartford warbler had sung from a perch atop a nearby gorse bush.

Nightjars takes the list to 248, third on the BUBO Year list.

The same birds I see again in the early morning. Well I don't unfortunately see a nightjar in the morning but one keeps intermittently singing. This morning's Dartford warbler is a female.

I cycle down to Weybourne and take the road west and bridleway north to access The Quags. Egyptian geese have five well grown youngsters.

The day list grows with common birds and there are a lot of hirundines flying around. I notice that sand martins frequently go past with two following one, closely flying together. I imagine that this may be two young birds learning from an adult.

I walk all the way to Salthouse, not wishing to cycle and instead push the bike so that I can take in the lovely, if rather chilly morning. There is a new hide just off the road as I approch the famous east bank. Time for breakfast, spicy fruit loaf with peanut butter. I read the notices and see that the extension to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Cley reserve, an area of 53 hectares, has cost £2.6 million. I ponder.

Next to the beautiful, Green roof-covered Cley Nature Reserve visitor's centre for a permit. Down to Daulkes hide to watch the many hirundines over the scrapes. A hobby comes past twice just to prospect without hunting too seriously. A small group of black-tailed godwits come down with a couple of knot. All of these delights are enjoyed by myself and a group of Dutch birders.

The last week has been rather exhausting, what with cycling almost 400 miles as well as the two days at the Norfolk Bird Fair. I make my way after  walking around the reserve, to Moreston. Here I enter the church and sleep on a pew for three hours! I hadn't intended to. I entered the Holy place to look at the memorial to the village's War dead.

A cycle ride to Wells, a quick shop for provisions, a short reading session in yet another church and into the excellent Wells Youth Hostel for the night.

The year list now stands at 248, twenty five ahead of last year at this stage.

34.83 miles                1165 feet up elevation     1348 feet down elevation

Norfolk Bird Fair Day Two

Sunday 22^nd May Norfolk Bird Fair

Manninton Hall, Norfolk.

Day 2. Sunday

Stand number 52 . . The Biking Birder

Elis of Wader Quest and Emma of the Welney WWT with passing naked alpaca!

The WWT are so lucky to have such a sunny personality in Emma. She is here again and has lots of children making badges. I have a feeling Sir Peter Scott, the amazing Man of the 20^th Century founder of the WWT Wildfowl & Wetland Trust, will figure large in today's Fair experience.

http://www.wwt.org.uk/

WWT 70th Anniversary. Sir Peter inspired so many, young and old and according to Sir David Attenborough, Sir Peter is the 'Father of Conservation.'
http://www.wwt.org.uk/suppo…/our-appeals/anniversary-appeal/

Still opposite are Rick and Elis Simpson. It is such a privilege of travel to meet amazing couples that show so much love for each other. Not withstanding the fantastic work they both do for waders around the world, they exude a passion for each other and their cause.

Www.waderquest.org

I buy a book off their stand and join, make a donation too as I feel the £5 joining fee is a little 'as cheap as chips'.

As yesterday, a great start with friends old (sorry Emma . . . Happy **the birthday – half of my soon to be age) and new.

247. A winner, Michael with his wife and two boys, has guessed correctly and has Dave Gosney's superb DVD to go home with.

I go to some of the lecture, Rick Simpson's from Wader Quest. I am a little late and he is showing a variety of waders that are found in New Zealand and explaining their problems. Elis, his wife is there and she prompts him when he forgets to say the name of a particular wader. Brilliant.

Lewis ----- Carol, no not a typo but the names of a wonderful couple who come to meet me. They have followed me via the frequent Birdforum updates that The Oracle, Phil Andrews posts. Birdforum name Jabberwocky, they kindly make a donation and share the same laugh as we chat.

Speaking of the Biking Birder Birdforum thread, I can't always update the blog, Facebook page and Twitter and one may find out about my progress via the thread. Thanks Phil, as ever.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=296952

Phil and I got together a few days ago, Great to meet up, we hadn't seen each other for almost two years.

Mike Linley comes to my stand! An immense personality is chatting with me. Mike worked with Sir Pter Scott on the survival series and with Sir David Attenborough on Life on Earth. Forty minutes pass by in a flash. WOW! Star-struck Biking Birder.

http://www.wildlife-film.com/-/Hairy-Frog-Productions.htm

Penny Clarke, with lippy and hair done, comes over, hugs! Another Mega Celebrity. Wonderful woman.

http://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Talking to Rick (Wader Quest), another birding legend approaches, David Tomlinson. Birders of a certain age will remember the iconic Big Year Race, British variety of course, where two teams raced around East Anglia back in 1982 and the book of the race documented in two witty sections according to the teams, became a must-have birding classic as well as opening up British birders to the whole bird race for charity and fun craze.

In fact a the Secondary-aged students of a Wolverhampton school with a certain teacher were so inspired that the annual Coppice High School Bird race day became a feature.

I gabbled away, star-struck again, with both David and his wife. Charming and approachable; so many heroes in an afternoon.

Rick Simpson of Wader Quest, David Tomlinson and I

The day draws to a close, massive thanks to Jill and Robert, the event organisers, and time to go. 

A quick scoot around to the RSPB stand and the Marine Conservation Stand. I had just joined the latter for the sake of Ophelia the Orca on my bike. 'An orca is a dolphin not a whale'.

A young man comes over with tattooed arms, Stuart. He is an accomplished mountain runner in Scotland and birder. He tells me that next year he is going to do a running Big Day. Can he see over 100 bird species in a day? Looking at him and hearing of his enthusiasm for the project I am sure he will. A mega Green Birder!

Anyone with a tattoo of a Wilson;s petrel on his arm deserves respect.

Goodbyes and an empty marquee.Andrew, oh blast I have forgotten his surname, senior moment, comes up to me. He has something to show me. Now there are trophies that sport's fans hold as sacred; the football World Cup trophy, The large plate for Wimbledon whatever that is called, Golf's Rider Cup trophy and my personal favourite, the little Ashes Urn. In British Birding there is the original Big Bird Race trophy. Andrew has it in his car. His team has just won the Norfolk Big Bird Race 2016 back in April, all in aid of Wader Quest, and David Tomlinson has given Andrew the trophy. Together Andrew and I hold the trophy with reverence, as excited as two giddy schoolboys, which i suppose we both are at heart.

Sir Peter Scott completes the Norfolk Bird Fair with his presence. Within the Holy Grail shaped trophy is the egg of an Hawaiian goose, a Ne-ne, signed by Sir Peter Scott.

Norfolk Bird Fair Weekend

19^th to 21st May

Three days of cycling only with birds seen along country lanes; lesser and common whitethroat, blackcap and garden warblers, yellowhammers and chaffinches and the occasional kestrel.

A quality Bed & Breakfast, Pickwick Guest House in Stone le Clare, is as exceptional as booking.com had described. I never book with Booking.com by the way, just find a place via their site and then phone personally.

A night at Dave Lovatt's house in Brandon is the same. Dave has kindly said that the house is available any time I cycle through Brandon. Finally, before reaching the Norfolk Bird Fair, a night in the tent tucked away from prying eyes between two large hedgerows at Fowlsham, near Fakenham.

This day, the 20^th of May, I have cycled from Brandon, stopping at a large church for a rest. Imagine the surprise when on entering I find a large model railway! Not every day one finds a very detailed model railway layout with track, trains and cars etc. in a church.

Norfolk Bird Fair Mannington Hall, Norfolk.

Day 1. Saturday

Stand number 52 . . The Biking Birder

Bike is loaded and the main attraction; people want to be seen with The Lads. It is great to see that my stand is opposite the WWT stand and that on it is Emma from Welney. 

Emma, not Amanda that I have always thought her name was and have put on my blog and facebook pages. Must change that.

Also opposite is the superb Wader quest group with Rick and Elise Simpson. I can't help but have a chat with these excellent people, new friends hopefully.

Www.waderquest.org

The public enter the large marquee and I start a competition with anyone who comes up to the stall; how many bird species, wild ones, have I seen this year? You all know the answer, 247. I have a separate children's competition with the same question and amazingly a young boy, Connor guesses exactly the 247. I tell him to go around the fair and find something he wants for £10. With his Mum and three sisters he goes off and comes back wanting a large photograph of a hare from the B & J Legge stand.

I really want to go to some of the lectures but feel that I can't leave my stand. The first lecture is by Yoav Periman, Director of the National Bird Monitoring Scheme at the Israeli Ornithological Centre. Incredibly after his talk he comes to find me. 

He has a proposal. Would I like to take aprt in the Champions of the Skyways bird race in Eilat, Israel in March next year? It would be an honour and a privilege to do so I need to get a team of the best Green Birders. Would Chris Mills be up for it? Nick Moran from the BTO?

Maybe we should have an international field. How about Ponc Feliu, the current European Green Year list record holder and why not ask the World record holder, Dorian Anderson?

Wait a minute, these would be hares to my tortoise but that can't be helped. What a prospect.

I am still in delighted shock at this invitation when another huge surprise occurs. Cath Mendez, a lady who I met on Fair Isle last year, has made it all the way up from South Wales to see the Bird Fair. She stays with me for quite a while and tells me that she is a volunteer at the Fair isle Bird Observatory this year for three months, August to October. Brilliant to see such a great friend.

The day flies by and the evening has a pig roast followed by cheesecake, a favourite combination. I sit with three ladies; Liz Huxley, a bird photographer:-

www.lizhuxley.co.uk

She has recently been the birder who found the Franklin's gull at Abberton; the bird I was very lucky to add to my list earlier in the week. The other two are bird surveyors from Scotland, Laura and Amber.

Soon time for sleep and I make the mistake of placing my tent in a field too near to the site generator. Two sleepless hours listening to that from Midnight with frequent hoots and squeals from nearby tawny owls. Mind you, I lay in my sleeping bag writing notes from the thoughts buzzing around in my head from the day's events and people met.

Summary Time 13th to 18th May - Six New Birds.

Friday 13^th to 18^th May

Friday the thirteenth. Fresh to strong NW Sun, increasing cloud, cold to very cold with wind chill.

I set off for Frampton with the news that a broad-billed sandpiper is now there with curlew sandpiper and a wryneck. T-shirt weather soon changes as clouds gather and the pleasant side on wind that takes me to King's Lynn becomes a strong and extremely cold gale.

A stop for some chips and a fish cake, I live it up by having some lunch on a picnic bench at Sutton Bridge. The cycling is tough but the three available year ticks keep me going.

The A17 is as busy as ever and I avoid it as much as I can. It would be lethal to cycle it in this howler. 

Cycling along one small back road stretch I see a stoat some out of the grass in front of me. I stop and it passes right past my feet!

Eventually I reach Frampton and quickly head to the spot where the broad-billed sandpiper has been seen; a small group of birders marks the spot.

It has gone, flown off with a flock of dunlin. There is a curlew sandpiper, bird number 242.

“It will be back,” I am told.

Late evening, the bird hasn't returned and looks like it has gone. A temminck's and three little stint, as well as three curlew sandpiper and a lack of the wryneck, also gone, make for mixed feelings.

67.40 miles 1289 feet up elevation 1319 feet down elevation

Saturday 14^th May Fresh NW Sunny intervals, not so cold.

A friend from the Midlands appears, Rob Wardle, and together we walk to the spot where the broad-billed sandpiper was last seen. Dunlin and ringed plover, a text jingle and a message from T Oracle. 'the sandpiper is on site.' I look across to a small group of birders adjacent to the car park and notice one waving to us frantically, beckoning to us to come on down!

Broad-billed sandpiper is a close bird, greyer than the dunlin that surround it with zebra head and obvious large drooping bill. Brilliant, a bird I haven't seen before whilst on a Green journey and my third ever.

With the bird UTB I have another go at searching for the wryneck and collect two carrier bags full of strandline plastic. This all goes to be recycled but my efforts aren't rewarded by the wryneck turning up.

I set off for Abberton reservoir in Essex. There is a Franklin's gull, an American bird that has been showing up there for a few days.

With the wind behind me at last the cycle is pleasant and reasonably fast. Through Holbeach and Wisbech, I reach the village of Three Holes and a text; two white-winged black terns at March farmers. I turn to the west and head that way.

Evening time, white-winged black tern goes onto the list despite being quite distant on the far side of the flooded meadows. Thanks to Nigel and Amanda from Deeping for the use of their telescope. Two short-eared owls are closer and there are a number of black terns out over the water also. One of the editors of Birdwatch magazine is there so who knows maybe my exploits will grace the magazine's pages. More importantly it would be fabulous to see an article on Green Birding in there.

With two more birds of superb quity added to the year list I cycle on.

69.49 miles 440 feet up elevation 423 feet down elevation

Sunday 15^th May light W Sunny, cool to warm

Another target bird has appeared, a great reed warbler at Paxton Pits and I detour in that direction.

Just south of Huntingdon my mobile tells me there is a cycle path but it is a bumpy, grassy mountain bike only affair that goes along the beautiful river Ouse. It is lovely and I would love to push the bike along this stretch and enjoy the pastoral scenes but there is a rare bird to see and I return to the main road.

Paxton Pits, birders looking through gaps in the hawthorns to look over to a patch of reeds. The bird is singing away almost none stop but getting a view takes over an hour. A brief flight view and trembling reeds to show where it has landed are all I see. 

Then suddenly the great reed warbler climbs a reed to near the top and so having seen it, kissed it, licked it and ticked it, another very rare bird goes onto the year list. 245.

53.17 miles 1010 feet up elevation 968 feet down elevation

Monday 16^th May light W sunny, warm

Cycling along the country lanes south of Cambridge, corn buntings and yellow wagtails are seen.

Something is up with the bike, a puncture, the first of the year and the first since last June in fact so I can't complain. It is the front tyre and it takes me thirty one minutes to repair and replace.

Still the bike feels sluggish but I put it down to feeling very tired after cycling 180 miles in the last three days. Along one narrow lane and whilst cycling uphill a car comes behind me and seems reluctant to overtake. I feel irritated as I get off to let it past and feel embarrassed when the lady driving, Monica, calls me over to give a donation. She has seen the RSPB sign on the back of the bike and wants to give to them. There are lovely people out there and I shouldn't let my tiredness make me grouchy.

I reach Abberton in the late afternoon after negotiating an excruciating and convoluted maze of small lanes. Two birders from Minsmere, both RSPB staff have been here all day but haven't seen the Franklin's.

Two other birders arrive and after an hour or so one calls out that he has got it. It doesn't inspire confidence when I look through his telescope and find a little gull, not the Franklin's that he is claiming. Still it is another bird for the year list, a first summer bird almost lost amongst black-headed gulls and common terns and distant in the heat haze.

Another hour of searching passes and the same birder shouts that he has got it. His friend and I don't get onto it. They go onto a bird identification app to check and I hear, “yep, that was it.”

They leave satisfied that they have seen the rare gull.

Alone for a while, I see a hobby and a couple of yellow wagtails. Then a birder arrives, Geoff Keen from Weybridge, and together we search.

The gulls have started to fly catch in the fading light with the sun almost setting. One gull catches my eyes and I scream, “There it is!” and there it is, thirty yards in front of us flying past. Partial dark hood, dark, long wings, black bill, this is the real thing and my extremely hastily taken photograph in the gloom does it no justice. 

Franklin's gull goes on the year list, unbelievably but so good. 247.

51.05 miles 1860 feet up elevation 1890 feet down elevation

Tuesday 17^th May fresh SW sunshine to cloudy, cool 15C

The bike is still sluggish, especially up hills and I stop to check it out. I find that a spring on a front brake block has stopped retrcting the block from the wheel rim; repairs take a while. I have no battery left on my mobile phone and decide to get to Malden to charge it at the local library. With no news available I am cycling towards a bird, a red=footed falcon, that might not be there.

I spend two hours in the library, charging the phone and updating the news on facebook, checking emails and the like.

I reach Vange RSPB reserve, south of Basildon at around 3:00pm. The falcon hasn't been seen since one.

By dusk it hasn't returned and with the weather now cold and breezy, it seems as though it isn't likely to either. A dip and I luckily haven't suffered too many of those this year.

One pleasant thing, as per usual is the company of other birders. One in particular stands out, Tom Bell, a very enthusiastic young man who's patch is Rainham Marshes RSPB reserve. He delights in talking about the birds he has seen and the places he is about to go birding to. Minsmere and Skomer, very good; Alaska and California, brilliant.

The year list is 247, twenty four ahead of this time last year.

Time to head north, back to North Norfolk for an appearance at the excellent Norfolk Bird Fair this weekend. Hope to see you there.

http://www.norfolkbirdfair.com/    

Last six days cycling:-

320 miles 7283 feet up elevation 7128 feet down elevation

A Day of Potential Unrealised

Thursday 12^th May fresh NE Sunny 12C

I should head off for Frampton RSPB reserve in Lincolnshire. There is a wryneck there and curlew sandpiper. I don't. Instead I steadily bird Titchwell starting with a scan of the freshwater lagoon. 

There is a gorgeous male garganey out in the middle and a lone wood sandpiper on one of the islands. Both are soon gone though.

I walk to and then along alone on the immense beach that takes me to Thornham Point. I photograph items of interest on the beach and marvel at the millions of washed up razor shells. 

Along the tideline there are also mats of bryozoa and the occasional sea urchin and piddock. It's the razor shells though that are sometimes packed in deep drifts and I enjoy crunching them as I walk along. Helping make the sand on the beach, I think, as I always do when I walk along a beach, that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on every beach and in every desert in the World. A constant reminder to me of the immensity of our incredible universe.

The tick thorny bushes alongside the leaning ruin of a World War Two lookout tower look as though they should hold a migrant. They do but not the hoped for icterine warbler or white-spotted bluethroat. A chiff chaff is the only bird apart from a couple of dunnocks and a wren.

A cuckoo comes close being chased by a couple of angry meadow pipits.

Back at Titchwell I meet Trevor Girling again, the superb Norfolk birder and news comes in that a bee-eater has been seen and heard over Cley and is heading west. I position myself on the west wall walk and scan hopefully.

A Pallid swift is seen twice over Blakeney Marsh and is heading this way. I scan over the reedbed and watch every swift carefully.

Three hours later and after having joined Trevor on the meadow trail broadwalk we have to admit that neither bird has come our way.

Trevor leaves and I walk off towards Patsy's Pool. I stop for a while under the willow bushes to watch a passing group of nine baby long-tailed tits being fed by two workaholic parents. A birder excitedly runs up to me. “Did you see it?” An osprey had just flown over and has disappeared in the mist heading east.

The year list is still 241, exactly twenty ahead of this time last year.

15.93 miles 345 feet up elevation 333 feet down elevation

A Day of Rain and A Day with a Shrike

Tuesday 10^th May fresh ESE Heavy rain

It is raining lightly as I cycle towards Cley but by the time I reach the famous Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve it is bucketing down. With newspaper and laptop I relax in Daulkes hide and watch the wader antics. I fall asleep after lunch.

The rain doesn't stop until evening yet I am not tempted to walk Blakeney Point. I will leave that until the morning.

Wednesday 11^th May fresh ESE Sunny intervals, 16C

A dilemma presents itself this morning. Do I walk and bird Blakeney Point , that tpioca pudding shingle walk of hell, or wait for news and bird Cley?

Everything about the weather says that there should be birds on the point yet I tarry (procrastinate?) and start the day list with common waders.

Red-backed shrike at Burnham Overy dunes, just beyond the west end of Holkham Pines!

I peddle as fast as I can and get there.

12:45 red-backed shrike UTB, bird number 241 and I watch it for the next hour or so mostly by myself. The shrike keeps disappearing into bramble and hawthorn and occasionally turns up some distance from its last location. The best views though re when I am sat on a small sand dune, tucked in from the cool breeze, and the bird hunts from a nearby barbed wire fence.

Throughout the hour view I meet four other birders, one of whom, Paul supports Aston Villa. We cry together whilst watching the shrike. 

I remember a scene from the comedic birdwatching film The Big Year with the Steve Martin's character being likened to a shrike. Randy Lerner, the current Aston Villa chairman and owner is a similar beast. In fact this analogy would be an insult to a shrike. I recommend any birder watching the film. I don't recommend supporting the Villa!

I search the dunes but cannot find any other birds of note amongst them and the pines. Mediterranean gulls are out over the marsh and a pair of stonechats along the marsh edge.

I head off for Titchwell, little gull reported there again and this is fast becoming a bogey bird. Seen in the morning, they have moved on by the afternoon.

Reaching Titchwell the little gull has moved on. I spend the afternoon walking around the reserve and meet Martin from Topshill nature reserve where I had been early April. Paul Fisher joins us and it is fabulous to spend time with such great people.

The evening I spend sitting in the Parrinder hide watching as curlew come into roost. Highlight birds amongst the day list of sixty nine include two teminck's stints and also a little stint, a whimbrel, bittern booming and a fly over spoonbill heading east.

The year list is 241, exactly twenty ahead of this time last year.

19.04 miles 440 feet up elevation 430 feet down elevation