Short-eared Owls and Barn Owl

Amazing weekend we went to Coleshill Gravel pits looking for Short-eared owls and Hen Harrier never saw Hen Harrier but the Short-eared Owls and Barn owl put on a show for us.
We were walking over the gravel pit's when Dave said Short-eared Owl I couldn't see it at first but when I saw it I just thought wow wow :)
We then walked up the bank to get closer views, it showed so well hunting right in front of us at one point it even turned it's head and looked right at us I will never forget that moment those beautiful eyes, then Dave spotted another one, and then another one flew in, couldn't believe this was happening three Short-eared Owls hunting and in Warwickshire too very very special and then a Barn Owl appeared from behind the tree love them even though we've had great views of them in Norfolk nothing beats the feeling of seeing them in warwickshire and with Short-eared owls too couldn't ask for more. :)
We went back on Sunday to try and get some pics waited awhile for them to show but when they did they showed well again, we are so lucky there was 2 Short-eared owls tonight possibly 3 and the Barn Owl showed stunningly, I never managed to get photos they came out blurry the light was bad and I was so cold I was shaking with the camera but Dave got a couple of beautiful shots I do admire his photography it's perfect.
Hopefully I will manage to get a pic if they stay for awhile but just having the experience of watching them is an image that will be in my head forever :)

 

Taken by Dave Hutton 

 

Taken by Dave Hutton

Twitch of a Life Time - Citril Finch, Burnham Overy Dunes, Norfolk

The plan was North Yorkshire for the Dotterel which required an early start, my last words to Dave before bed was make sure you wake me straightaway when that alarm goes off lol
So when my eyes opened and Dave said babe we've over slept I was not impressed to say the least, it was too late to go to Yorkshire as it was a long way.
  So I went downstairs and made tea while Dave thought of a back up plan, five minutes later he said let's go Norfolk there's Dotterel there too, and hopefully should pick up other stuff too.
A very smooth Journey down there and we arrived at Choseley, Norfolk, couldn't see the Dotterel but then Dave got them on scope beautiful birds and the Female just stunning, I was very happy to have seen them, but a little disappointed that they were not closer, as I had been looking forward to taking photos of them but I know it's not all about the photo, and always happy to have the chance to just see the birds and i'm sure I will get the chance for closer views and photos in the future, so whilst looking at the many Dotterel in Dave's scope, Dave was looking at his phone when he looked at me and said have you seen this, seen what ??? there's a Citril Finch Burnham Overy.....  Nooooo I haven't lol
Followed by me saying where's Burnham Overy, with the amazing reply back about Ten minutes down the road lol, Couldn't believe we were that close to a Twitch and not only a Twitch a once in a life time twitch, there had only ever been one other record of Citril Finch in Britain and that was in the Fair Isles which is off Northern Scotland, so this would be the first for England.
The walk up to the dunes seemed like a mission well it was a mission over all the Sand Dunes, we had only been there a few minutes when the bird flew over and called, but a few people was saying it was the call of a Siskin, but Dave being brilliant with his calls knew it was the Citril Finch, it flew back towards the tree's, we waited awhile, then decided to have a wonder, as we went into further into the tree's and dunes the bird flew up calling, by the time we got back up the Dunes all the Twitchers had circled round the area where it dropped, we stood there and waited, then all of a sudden the Citril Finch flew up, the brightness of the bird was just awesome, stunning Male Citril Finch it flew and landed in the tree just amazing views of this rare and beautiful bird couldn't believe my eyes, it then flew out of sight but not for long, to are amazement it then flew to the ground and stayed there longer enough for some lovely views and for Dave to get a record shot :) Then flew out of view again, we were just so excited that we had just had such great views felt like a dream, once in a lifetime bird :)
This is what I love about Bird Watching, you never know what's around the corner, and those butterfly's when driving and walking to see a bird hoping and praying it will still be there, then that adrenaline when the bird shows, love every second of it.  
Also picked up Little Tern and Turtle Dove and as we were walking back up had stunning views of a Barn owl, photo's didn't come out the light was making it just look like a ghost lol but always great to see, beautiful Owls and had lovely views of a presumed Greenland Wheatear.

Citril Finch Photo taken by Dave Hutton

We then headed to Titchwell RSPB, where we had stunning views of Avocet my best views and got some photo's, also had lovely views of Little Tern and Sandwich Tern through the scope both such cute terns. Also nice views of Little Stint.       

It had been a fabulous day, and defiantly the best choice to go to Norfolk, Dave admitted he switched the alarm of because he didn't fancy driving all the way to North Yorkshire and had a feeling about Norfolk, his a sneaky devil but he certainly redeemed himself, his got such a wise brain but don't tell him I said that ;) lol 

Also we had a lovely day on Saturday at the Wyre Forest had superb views of Wood Warbler beautiful warblers so bright and colorful really stand out and had great views of Pied Flycatcher love them, love every bird. :) such a lucky girl to be seeing all these wonderful birds.

Short eared owl, Whooper swan, Crane, Barn owl - Eldernell, Cambridgeshire

We headed to Eldernell, Cambridgeshire today, we entered the car park and was greeted by a Barn Owl flying low over a derelict barn, such a lovely welcome really do love these birds.
We parked car up and too are surprise there was two cranes flying in and landed in the field quite distant but could se them with the naked eye and clear views through bins and Dave's telescope, great to seem in the wild felt such a buzz.
Saw a flash of Kingfisher nice to see haven't seen one for a few weeks.
This day couldn't get any better we had only been here ten minutes and I already got a lifer, but as the day progressed more lifers came up, long walk down the grassland fields looking for short eared owl, didn't see one, but saw a whooper swan which i'm so pleased about had been waiting awhile to see one, distant but clear through Dave's Telescope.
We then decided to walk back to car park and have another look for the Barn owl and a cuppa tea in the car then have another walk later to look again for short eared owl.
We got back to the car park and Dave went wondering off how he does lol and came back all excited bless him, there was a short eared owl on the field in front of use quite far but absolutely stunning views through telescope, sitting on the ground in field so content, eyes closed then all of a sudden it would turn head and eyes wide open then close again lovely to watch, and stayed there all the while we were there for about an hour still sitting there when we left :)
Also as we were standing there Dave spotted two more Cranes different ones that's for cranes in one day amazing, and this car park was proving to be the perfect Bird Watching spot :)      
Got some distant photos of the crane and short eared owl but not clear but nice to have a record shot.
Also as we were leaving we saw Red legged Partridge, nice to see again only got a quick glimpse last time :)  

Norfolk Adventures

Another Great trip to Norfolk before we even got to Norfolk we saw a Barn owl well Dave saw it I just got a glimpse of something flying off really need to go specsaver's lol
 We started at Hunstanton where my boyfriend was going to surprise me with seeing the Waxwings but they never turned up, but we still had an amazing day and so nice of my lovely boyfriend to think of surprising me like that :)
We went to sea front at Hunstanton and saw the Fulmar's flying great views of a stunning bird,
struggled with getting a photo still need to get to grips with taking birds in flight. Also great views of the Turnstone and Oystercatchers right by the road I couldn't believe it lol

We then went onto Thornham Harbour where we saw twite such lovely little birds, also had very distant views of Red Breasted Merganser also saw Brent geese.
    We then went to Titchwell, had only been there ten minutes when Dave found a Water pipit lovely views through telescope, very exciting to see my first ever water pipit, also had better views of snipe was nice seeing them on the ground and not just in flight like before.
Also I finally got to see Avocet had been dying to see them in the wild, they were sleeping but one
lifted his head long enough to see the amazing beak :)
We saw Ringed plover my first time, better views of Bar tailed and Black tailed Godwit :)
   Then we went to Cley Marsh for Bearded Tit Dave could hear them, but we couldn't see them but then as we were walking back down one flew up and flew away so not very clear views but still nice to say I have seen one. We then went onto Salthouse Beach nice views of Wigeon in a field near where we parked up, then on the pebble beach were Turnstone's all feeding in the pebbles, and a Redshank and Common Gull was amazing to see all these so close up.
It was getting later now so we decided to head back and stop of for the Barn owls Hotspot, as we were leaving we saw a Redkite in flight, also further along  we had to pull in because we saw a very white buzzard sitting in the tree, but was just a common Buzzard beautiful looking Buzzard. :) Also nice views of Pink footed geese.

We stopped of at a place where Rough legged Buzzard had been spotted recently but never saw one had lovely views of Barn owl though, and a white pheasant lol
We headed for the Barn owl hotspot pulled over sat in car, was only a few minutes before Dave located two Barn owls perched, was amazing to see them through bins but then the one flew over the field nearer so better views.
I was over the moon with all the birds and the barn owls amazing how could things get any better but they did on the way back we pulled in because Dave spotted,Red legged Partridge made it ten lifers for me at Norfolk.we got out of car to have a closer inspection when we saw a Barn owl close down hunting for food, just out of this world to watch him didn't need bins, so so nice to see this wonderful bird so close for about five minutes then he caught a vole and flew off :)
Totally totally amazing day once again thanks to my gorgeous boyfriend, for taking me and showing me all these wonderful birds :) :) :)