Alison Allen

#rarebirdsuk

I was showing sheep yesterday when news of the Walberswick Cisticola came through. 2× 1sts eased the pain but a mad evening dash just yielded a few brief song snatches. A dawn visit this morning was rewarded with perched scope views plus many song flights. Photo is husbands
#suffolkbirds
#ukbirding

To say the Red-footed Falcons at Carlton Marshes were showing well this evening is a bit of an under-statement!
@lowestoftlizards.bsky.social
#suffolkbirding
#rarebirdsuk

Its been an excellent couple of days birding in the local area. First a Hoopoe at Corton yesterday, then a late afternoon amble at Hen Reedbeds on the Blyth for Garganey, Whimbrel and Spot Red followed by a quick diversion back to Corton for a male Pallid Harrier!
#suffolkbirding

Nipped to the coast yesterday afternoon to finally catch up with the local Purple Sandpipers at Ness Point have a wash and brush up. Also two handsome male Black Redstarts at the net posts and a bonus early Swallow on the drive there
#ukbirding
#ukwildlife

It was tagged 19/06/21 near Haddiscoe which is where I live!!

It will have been tagged in Norfolk. I know the guy that tags them. I've taken a screenshot and messaged him.

#ukbirding #norfolkbirding

After a 3 year gap there were 5 Lapwings displaying on our marshes this morning. The usual Oystercatcher pair are back, plus still a few lingering Snipe and a single Jack Snipe. Add in a couple of Water Pipits and a flock of passing Redwings and it made for a decent morning wander

A pale owl with spread wings watching the ground intently for prey

Great to see two Barn Owls hunting across our marshes in Norfolk late yesterday afternoon. They became very scarce a few years ago but seem to be on the up again 🤞#ukbirding

Announcement time!
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To celebrate, you can now get a special edition design with the marvelous Marsh Carpet moth, in all your fave merch. Check it out:
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#teammoth

I can see 40+ some evenings from my house but they're spread over a large area and their grazing impact is minimal. The vast majority of livestock is off the marshes by mid October

Driving the Haddiscoe-Hales road at night at speed is not recommended! The road and fields close by can be littered with carcases at times especially near Haddiscoe.They don't seem particularly attached to the marshes any more. I do find the occasional dead CWD on our marshes though, cause unknown

I think I might be in the middle of the photo of the Eye-browed Thrush twitch 😲

Installing the new automatic door on my hen house under close supervision! 🤣

The Whitlingham Country Park Red-necked Grebe eventually gave sensational views after it woke up from its nap in the middle of the broad!
#ukbirding #norfolkbirding

After Kessingland, I nipped up the coast to the concrete of Ness Point where this smart Black Redstart put in an appearance amongst the parked cars
#suffolkbirding
#ukbirding

A couple of hours on the coast today, first on the shingle at Kessingland to see this Shorelark
#ukbirding #suffolkbirding

It took a bit of time but the Sotterley Hawfinches finally popped up near St Margarets Church early afternoon #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

One of several Stonechats wintering around our marshes. Hope he survives the current cold snap #ukbirding

A black bull grazing in a green field with 2 white cattle egrets feeding at his feet

A few hours out in the Broads yesterday catching up on geese, wild swans, several cranes and these Cattle Egrets feeding at the feet of this handsome black bull

This hare was hoping if it stayed still I wouldn't see it and allowed an approach close enough for a phone photo. I have never heard of Brown Hares turning white in winter but this one has a whitish patch on its back and a whitish fluffy 'beard'

Same in Norfolk before the cloud broke!

I've not seen much of the sun this last 4 weeks and it didn't really show itself today but the cloud broke enough at sunset for it to light the sky with fire to the delight of this shepherd checking her sheep

Two more from Ecuador to brighten a dull, grey British December day. Moss-backed Tanager and Rose-faced Parrot, both Choco endemics and both seen at the awesome Mashpi #birds

Here's a Bluesky minute max compressed clip of c4500 Pink-feet coming into roost on Simmonds Scrape tonight ~ hope the audio comes with it! Another 500 or so Pinks on Pat's Pool. I will never, ever get bored of this most marvellous of sights & sounds.
Winter birding bliss.
#ukbirding
#norfolkbirding

Final full day in Ecuador at the canopy tower at Rio Silanche allowed eye-level views of these two trogons, Blue-tailed and White-tailed

Our penultimate full day in Ecuador found us at a small ravine looking at Oilbirds. A unique, nocturnal, fruit-eating bird that can use echolocation to navigate

Also saw a Blackish which forgot to follow the tapaculo rule book!

Trying to photograph the elusive Ocellated Tapaculo at Bellavista, Ecuador. If you know tapaculos you'll know they're hard to see, let alone photograph
#birding