New Year in the West Indies St Lucia

A flight   with BA  got us to Calabash Cove via Castries where on the outskirts a number of
Cattle Egrets obliged.
We watched the sunset before our evening meal and retiring.

Day two the cloud was hanging over Castries bay,while Carib grackles called as we sipped
ginger tea. A speed boat takes fisherman across the bay as a shower of rain ensues.
More rain Wales,England and now St Lucia a global affair,the rain disappeared as quick as it
arrived thank God for that.
A female Antillean bullfinch lands on our balcony.

It's still quiet cockerels call and cutlery rattles as the restaurant prepares breakfast.Left over
rain peppers the vegetation,at sea a pair of Royal terns fish.
Off to breakfast but not before a superb male Antillean Bullfinch comes to the balcony.

While at breakfast sea watching produced Osprey Frigate bird and Pomarine skua.
On the 4th an American Kestrel obliged in what looked like a eucalyptus tree
I got the camera and went for it.

The next morning the rain turned to blue sky, the sea was a millpond schooners and
terns scorched white against an azure sea.
The gastronomic delights of Calabash  Cove is the highlight of our stay and the wonderfull
staff.

The lovely morning turned in to a disastrous afternoon, Carol slipped over on her ankle,
next thing paramedics are whisking us off to a clinic for an x ray.
The manageress Unita Felicien and staff were fautless over her on our last days.

Days six and seven now known as Carolbash cove,a quiet walk around the hotel
grounds I met the gardner he said have you met Peter I said no ,so following the
gardner I was introduced to Peter . In the tree along the path there perched was Peter
the Purple Throated Carib.

The last two days were a bit of a trial for both of us but we soldiered on ,Carol hobbled to the terrace for some and drinks we saw the American kestrel ,a Broad winged hawk and spotted sandpiper.

We left on the 8th by Helicopter from Castries to Hewannora Carol would not be denied another
bucket list ride. A lovely holiday just an unfortunate accident marred it a little.

Carol with Lance the islands Eddie Murphy.

Cley village ,Blakeney breakdown and lots of tits in the Brecks

The morning of the 9th was full of expectation  before breakfast we drove to Blakeney when
the accelerator peddle snapped off Pauls car .lots of expletives however Paul the BA mechanic soldiered on but no red necked grebe in the river.

So a quick look at Salthouse produced Red throated diver,then it was Wiveton where a pair
of bullfinch was good,finally before breakfast Marsh lane hosted a number of passerines including
chiff chaff and goldcest.
After breakfast we concurred to leave early as the car may struggle home,our last port of call on
route home was Lynford Arboretum where lots of tits and finches were on show.

Marsh,Coal,Blue,Great and Long tailed, Bramblings and fleeting Hawfinch.

Arrived home early with 96 species in 2 short days . A nice Brit tick with Pallid Harrier
making 362 species for Britain.

Titchwell late afternoon and leaving early for the Brecks on the 9th

On arrival at Titchwell would you believe another two barn owls quartering its boundarys.
Walking through the reserve marsh harriers and photogenic teal showed.

Moving to the Salt marsh a number of Bar wits obliged along with Little Egret.

A small variety of waders included grey plover,redshank,avocet,knot and dunlin.

We left just prior to dusk seeing another barn owl at Burnham Overy,followed by
another at Holkham where a few Whitefronts were amongst the Pinkfeet.
Darkness descended and the rain arrived at The George in Cley.

Norfolk in pursuit of Pallid Harrier

On the 8TH of December Lewis and I headed directly to Kings Lynn via Ely and Welney,following the sat nav to the Fleet it took us to North Fleet farm where after flushing some Red legs the local
farmer directed us to the Fleet where the Iceland gull duly obliged.

Next stop was Snettisham RSPB where Curlew and Grey partridge showed near the car park.

It was great to see Grey Partidges close as in SWHerts they are as rare as rocking horse ----
a few record shots was good here.

A long walk ensued along the gravel pits to the Southern marsh where up to two
Barn owls were obliging,while watching one the Pallid Harrier sneaked up on us and
gave us a fly past over the salt marsh.

It flew past this Beds birder then we manged a few more record shots before it disappeared
with its prey.

On  leaving the reserve we saw huge flocks of golden drummers(plovers) bootiful
Bernard over the Wash.

Another Barn Owl obliged

on the way out near some pines which was nice

A  charm of Goldfinch and Linnet along the shoreline ended a lovely afternoon here.

Lewis and Carter

After the disappointment of blowing out on a trip to Minsmere with Dave Cole we had to settle for a
sunny autumnal afternoon at Maple Lodge.Prior to leaving the regular red kite did its daily flypast.
already getting a nickname Red Arrow as it cruises  across an azure sky.

Met Paul around 12 30 hrs and we walked to the Teal hide where some were having tea others about
to leave ,some concerned about the foliage making viewing difficult.
There were 3 Green sands 2 Snipe a host of teal all present along with a pair of Kingfishers,also
heard only a Cettis warbler and a female reed bunting singing.

Moving to Long hedge we encountered little and great crested grebes numbers of black headed gulls and up to3 little egrets,2 ring neck parakeets flew over strangely silent.

Before heading back the kingfishers obliged but distant even for long lenses ,but overall
a splendid few hours at the lodge.

Tring Reservoirs with Paul Lewis 13th of October2015

Well I don't see much of Lewis these days so the reservoir dogs made their way to Wilstone res
the bypass was shut due to an accident so we cut through the lanes to Wendover.
Wilstone was very low lots of duck.
Of note wigeon,tufted,gadwall,teal and shoveler plus the elusive pintail from the hide,where a green
sandpiper was not showing well.
We walked back to the car park noting grey and pied wagtail,arrival at Startops the sun came out
briefly as the circular walk produced the Ring necked Duck.

Also of note up to three red crested pochards obliged,finally a female sparrowhawk flushed
everything and a couple of little grebes on adjacent Tringford ended our trip.

On arrival home at Denham way a pair of Red Kite seem to have set up territory in the adjacent gardens.

Vancouver Capilano bridge,Granville Market and shopping 27th 28th Sept 2015

Had breakfast and took the shuttle to the Capilano bridge,on arrival paid our admittance.
On entry we noticed Kia'Palano  a number of totem poles are here on entry.

Along with a replica dug out canoe and various native American obelisks etc to view.

Capilano bridge is a suspension bridge over the Capilano river I was here in 1984 and
walked along the river noting belted kingfisher.Today this bridge is not for the fearfull
I walked across taking photos on route its 450ft long and 230ft high and has been wobbly
since 1889.

 Through the rainforest passing raptors ridge unfortunately only tourists present.
Suspended walkways along sheer granite cliff faces.

After this we took a taxi to Granville market,our evening meal at Joe Fortes featuring
oysters was superb.
Our final day in Vancouver was spent shopping at the Pacific centre,tea at the TWG CENTRE
then was of to an Inuit art gallery in Gas town where the steam clock still chimes.

Finally visiting other art galleries such as coastal peoples  and Hill's

Native Arts showed the versatality of the Inuit and Tlingit peoples.