For a month or so during November 2012 and into December, a Black-bellied Dipper was present on the River Thet at Thetford. For various reasons, I was unable to get there and then it disappeared.Panerai Luminor 1950 Replica I had never seen one before so was disappointed to have missed it.

Black-bellied Dippers are the continental race of our own Dipper but, as the name portrays, the undersides are much more darkly coloured that the red-brown of our own nominate race. Odd ones do turn up in East Anglia but this particular bird was very co-operative for birders and photographers.

Surprisingly, it resurfaced again at Thetford on 3rd January, being reported until Monday 7th but not Tuesday 8th when I had planned to go yesterday (Wednesday 9th). Turning up at the car park, a very obliging lady dog walker immediately noticed us as birders and said that the bird was there and directed us to it.

A couple of other photographers were there, but the bird was not showing well and the stream it was feeding in was under trees and very dark. After a while, it started to move allowing a few shots but not ideal - high ISO and low shutter speed.

With other birders and photographers showing up, it showed better although the light did not improve.

eventually coming out into the open.

With a full blown twitch in progress, it was time to move to another position and a wing-stretch promptly ensued

Finally, this very co-operative bird perched on top of a small dam for the best images of the day.

More images in the Recent Additions section of this website.