| Birding Highlights 2003 |
| September 2003 |
| Dotterel, Kessingland, Suffolk |
This bird seemed like my reward for the previous month's Warbler-chasing exertions. In typical
Dotterel fashion, it paraded out in the open, only a few feet away, totally unconcerned about the
people nearby, and only scuttling a few yards away when the dog-walkers came past. It mainly stood or
sat on the beach, soaking up the early evening sunshine.
Dotterel fashion, it paraded out in the open, only a few feet away, totally unconcerned about the
people nearby, and only scuttling a few yards away when the dog-walkers came past. It mainly stood or
sat on the beach, soaking up the early evening sunshine.
| Marsh Harrier and Crow, Shingle Street, Suffolk |
I came across an interesting piece of action on a trip to the Suffolk coast. A Marsh Harrier had
dropped onto a prey item, hidden in the long grass. Almost immediately, a Carrion Crow had the cheek
to fly in and steal whatever the Harrier had caught from right under its nose! The Harrier flew after
the Crow, but gave up in the end. It was obviously so insensed that it tried to catch a hare instead.
Unfortunately, all the action took place distantly across the field, but it was high drama nevertheless!
dropped onto a prey item, hidden in the long grass. Almost immediately, a Carrion Crow had the cheek
to fly in and steal whatever the Harrier had caught from right under its nose! The Harrier flew after
the Crow, but gave up in the end. It was obviously so insensed that it tried to catch a hare instead.
Unfortunately, all the action took place distantly across the field, but it was high drama nevertheless!
| Pectoral Sandpiper, Bawdsey, Suffolk |
Autumn 2003 produced exceptionally high numbers of this scarce migrant wader. This bird appeared on
the flooded pits at Bawdsey on the Suffolk coast, and showed extremely well.
the flooded pits at Bawdsey on the Suffolk coast, and showed extremely well.
| Wryneck, Thorpe Morieux, Suffolk |
Wrynecks are always something special. A local birder phoned to say he had seen one in his garden, and
it was now wandering up and down the main street in the village! I finally caught up with it on the lawn
of a neighbouring viillage, where it showed on and off for a few days. On one occasion, it got caught up
in the netting on the raspberry bushes in the garden, but soon found its way out.
it was now wandering up and down the main street in the village! I finally caught up with it on the lawn
of a neighbouring viillage, where it showed on and off for a few days. On one occasion, it got caught up
in the netting on the raspberry bushes in the garden, but soon found its way out.
| Reed Bunting, Shingle Street, Suffolk |
Finally, a couple of images with an autumnal feel. This Reed Bunting was feeding on seed heads on the
edge of Shingle Street marshes in Suffolk, making the most of available food resources. The same could
be said of the Wheatear below, photographed in an unusual place, feeding on elderberries.
edge of Shingle Street marshes in Suffolk, making the most of available food resources. The same could
be said of the Wheatear below, photographed in an unusual place, feeding on elderberries.
| Wheatear, Shingle Street, Suffolk |
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