Stephen Howell

Bleedin' Londoner! Love birding, Tottenham Hotspur FC, cinema. Favourite film - Alien.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Six White-fronted Geese (3 ad, 3 juv) best sighting at Ranworth Broad NWT this evening and some excellent counts inc 205 Shoveler, 110 Tufted Duck and roost gatherings of 335 Cormorants, 1500 Common Gull and 5000 Black-headed Gull. Also 2 Kingfisher, 4 Grey Heron, Barnacle Goose.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

@Chris_Lansdell @andymus1 Ha ha! I was just commenting on not having seen a photo of the comet on X yet! 😀

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Rather surprisingly, I haven’t seen a single photo of the recent comet on X yet so here’s one of mine taken this evening. Amazing what these phones can do nowadays!

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Many thanks to everyone from the @WaveneyBirdClub who attended my Winterton to Horsey walk today.
Highlights inc 160 Meadow Pipits, 17 Stonechat, 8 Reed Bunting, 7 Snipe, 2 Cranes, Bittern and GW Egret. Three notable flocks of Chaffinch flew in off the sea totalling 190 birds.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Pleased to see Wasp Spiders again in south Norfolk at Dunston Common today. This one obviously went large!

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Having never had a good view of an Oak Eggar before, I was very pleased to find this obliging individual near Blaxhall Heath in Suffolk this afternoon.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Lovely Old Lady spotted along Long Stratton high street this afternoon. Always impressed with how big these are!

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

@CarolRushton7 No and that definitely beats my Southern Hawker in a similar situation 😀

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Male Lesser Emperor whizzing around briefly at the A149 Rollesby Bridge on the Ormesby Broad (north) side this afternoon. First UK record for me. Also Tawny Owl flew over the road, Hobby, a few Garden Warblers - lovely! This beautiful Mother Shipton was from a couple of days ago.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

A couple of insect rescues and great photo opportunities, both today. The Lesser Stag Beetle was wandering around on Long Stratton high street and the Elephant Hawkmoth was picked up from the side of the road in Swardeston.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

@Faye_cheers Thank you. It was a little overcast at times on that particular day which made it less flighty and more cooperative than it might have usually been.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

A rainy afternoon at Strumpshaw but I still managed to record 63 species of bird, virtually all of them from the dry comfort of the wonderful reception centre viewpoint. Highlights inc Bittern, Tawny Owl, Grey Wagtail, Bearded Tit, 2 Common Terns, Treecreeper and Grass Snake.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Great thing about insects is that no matter how long you’ve been observing them, quite regularly and without even trying, you get to see something you’ve never seen before, as was the case with this pair of Brassica Bugs at Kelling Water Meadow yesterday.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

@PeterJRansome Having just checked my hoverflies of Britain book, I believe you are correct. Latin name - Merodon equestris. Excellent photos.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

@DavidNorgate Thanks David. Yes I’ll definitely be going to Rush Meadows again.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Very nice White Stork at Rush Meadow near E Dereham this morning before it took to flight. Unringed and immaculate wings on this bird. Managed to scope a distant Osprey from south of Titchwell late morning and a pair of Raven flew west. Please, is this moth Common or Wood Carpet?

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Found this Tawny Owl injured on the side of the road a couple of weeks ago near Corpusty. Took at to PACT wildlife rescue who very kindly nursed it back to full health and took these two quick photos before it was released where we found it. Delighted to see it fly off strongly.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Several newly-emerged Green Hairstreaks were reported in Suffolk today, so it was nice to find one in Norfolk along the Wensum Valley at Billingford Lakes. My earliest by at least ten days. Also my first Green Carpet of the year.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

@DeeksCheryl @WaveneyBirdClub Thank you Cheryl. It was indeed a lovely day for birds, company and weather.

[Stephen Howell @StrattonOuzel]

Excellent habitat at the Fornhams north of Bury St Edmunds produced 47 bird sp inc Grey Wagtail, 3 Cetti’s Warb, 50 Siskin, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and fab views of Water Rail. An accidental walk kick-started by finding a pair of RN Parakeet and a Green Sand at the B1106 roundabout