Finally, a Short- eared Owl: courtesy of a Norfolk coastal locality

Mid afternoon on Sunday 1st March, a visit to coastal strip in neighbouring Norfolk was long overdue. This locality had been a haunt for wintering SEOs, but initial prospects didn't seem too promising with grey leaden skies and a bit of a breeze. I met a very friendly, helpful and informative dog walker who knew all about the SEOs (he even had a stunning flying pic of a SEO on his phone, now these dog walkers are ones I like!) and directed me a little way of south of where I was by the first ridge seawards up to where the white house was in the distance was the best area for the Owls, there had been 6 but their number had dwindled as winter turned to spring down to 2. He said he would walk the next ridge line and keep an eye onwhere he was just in case he disturbed. I needn't have worried as I walked the marram grass area and one flew up directly in front of me, finally a fine Short- eared Owl for this winter after many unsuccessful previous attempts at various locations. It settled in the valley in full view but didn't stay long and flew a little way north. Another birder appeared to have picked it up, a birder called Paul and I walked the next valley and behind so I didn't disturb the bird. Paul kindly showed me the owl in his 'scope. Other birders soon joined us and we were able to get a little closer and I even managed one or two shots too. Around half a dozen Sky Larks were seen too.

Very distant Slavonian Grebe at Barton Broad

After the Hume's visit, I changed my gear Nikon set up for the canon big lens and drove mid moring on Sunday 1st March to Barton Broad, I found the disable car park OK but was struggling to find the main car park, carring along the road and turning left at the main house I eventually found it parked up and walked back right and left following a farm track along a hedge which then rejoined the corner of the road I had just driven thena an 800 metre stroll lead me to directional signs left of the road to the boardwalk. I found the viewing platform and having met some birders they advised if I was lucky I'd only see it with a scope and was right at the far back difficult to see as it was spending time within the reeds and when out on the water it was diving a lot. After just 10 minutes I spotted it a fine Slavonian Grebe, its black and white bicolouration prominent but seen at extreme range, exactly where they said right at the far back, it was regularly diving first left and right of a rusty bouy situated close to the far reeds. Unfortunately first a passing boat and then a low flying male Marsh Harrier spooked it and later a female Marsh Harrier quartered the reeds it swam into the reeds and didn't come out during the next 90 minutes. Meanwhile I scanned the Broad at least 6 Goldeneye seen, 4 males and 2 females plus 9 GC Grebes together one fairly close in. Plus 2 Chiff- Chaffs were singing heralds of spring. A Kingfisher darted by twice and a Buzzard flew left.

Hume's Warbler re-visit

Early on Sunday 1 March, I drove to Whapload Road and parked up saw Andrew E. and Rob W. walking to the car park, following my perambulation along the road it wood good to see Steve H. from Norfolk peering over the partly collapsed Oval south Oval wall just beyond the ravine and we saw the fine Hume's Warbler darting about the bushes by the green and the ones adjoining Flycatcher alley. I made my way around to the Alley and through the diamond shaped aperture I saw the lovely Hume's flitting around at the top of the bush just 4 foot away alas into the sun so no pics here. As I chatted with Steve, we saw and heard a Siskin flying north, the drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. I left Steve to look in the north east corner of Sparrow's Nest after the bird had flown east a little. My hunch was correct as the Hum's was feeding in the hedge by the grass cuttings corner, I waited patiently for a minute then it popped out in full view and I managed a few shots with the Nikon.