BLAKENEY POINT and 'The Albatross'!

 Me at Half Way House, Blakeney Point this evening.

Very High Tide – as you can see!

It was more of a social day down the 'Point' today, I saw more birders than birds – well almost!!! Rain, sun, wind, cold, more rain and little in return for all the hard work. A handful of wheatears were the highlight and was gripped off with a Snow Goose!


I had good views of the Red-backed Shrike sitting in a bramble bush by the windmill at Cley this morning. Thank you to the two birders who kindly let me look through their scopes and also had to lower them for me too! It was raining, no surprise there – at least the forecast was correct!

Parked up at Coastguards and had a coffee before my potentially, exciting walk to Blakeney Point. There had to be something today, surely? I was slightly worried when I realised that James Mcallum's  car was not in the carpark – so where was he? East Hills or was I just one step ahead of him?! I set off for the 'Point' in the rain and it all started well. Within minutes of walking I flushed 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Wood Pigeons, several Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings and a Wheatear. I don't normally see much until I get to Half Way House, so this was surely a good sign? I had another Wheatear, a Curlew and 5 Linnets. The noise of the wind mean't that I wouldn't be able to hear calls or texts on my phone, so I checked it every once in a while. I noticed I had a text from MAG which said 'ALBATROSS off Coastguards now! Turn around and you are guaranteed to see it. Heading slowly west' – WHAT!!!!! I raced across the shingle in a mad panic to view the sea and as I was running I was thinking why didn't he phone me rather then text with info like that!!! I phoned him and soon realised he was talking about a bl**dy boat called 'Albatross' - Ha bl**dy Ha Mr Golley! He was laughing his head off as I was cursing him. Ok, I fell for that hook line and sinker!!!! I will remember this – revenge will be sweet! Maybe a call about a Little Green Bee-eater flying over Cley Church one evening – hmmm..... we'll see.

I sat and had a sandwich on the South side of Half Way House – it was very sheltered here and wonderfully warm. Got a voicemail text and when I listened, it was Connor who said 'Hello Miss Clarke, I've heard rumours that you are currently striding up Blakeney Point.........' well I wouldn't say 'striding' more like plodding. You only 'stride' up Blakeney Point when you are 18 and I'm way, way past that! Anyway Connor went on to say he was with Ben Lewis and they had seen s*d all and hoped that all the birds would be following up with me – yep so do I! So Connor and Ben were an hour ahead of me and half an hour behind me was that familiar head of red hair – James McCallum along with Ashley McElwee and Mark Golley. I rang Connor to see if he had anything since his message and he told me that the Plantation was birdless the first time they looked in, but now had a Whinchat there.

I worked hard to find something and did lots of sueda bashing. It's very difficult to flush birds alone on BP, it really helps if you are with others, but I wasn't so had to make the best of it. At 'The Plantation' it was lovely to catch up with Connor and Ben, but sadly the Whinchat had flown off east '5 minutes ago' Connor told me. Also Kieren and Leyla (probably spelt this wrong?) were also seconds behind me in arriving at the Plantation. No other birds were seen in the Plantation whilst we sat here. 5 Whimbrel flew west. Later Connor then declared he was going to walk back at 4pm and I teased him about leaving early. But I wish I had now too!

I stuck it out and stayed and sat to watch for any birds drop into the Plantation. Mark Golley phoned to say they had a Snow Goose flying fast and going west from 'Long Hills'. I raced up the dunes to the highest point whilst phoning Connor at the same time and scanned the sea from west to east several times, but no luck. Went back and sat down and continued to watch. The heavens opened and the rain was torrential. This is excellent news with east winds IF it drops birds in! Well I did have one tiny bit of excitement – a bird with a white rump shot through the sycamore and landed on the pine tree but it was on a branch that was out of my view. My heart started racing, OMG this is it! The bird then flew down into the sandy gully and my heart sank when I could see that it was clearly a male Wheatear!!!! Bother! Sitting here in the rain and now feeling seriously cold, I felt really fed-up and asked myself what the hell I was doing here! James, Ashley and Mark then turned up and James spotted a bird diving into the cover but we couldn't find it at all. We then walked to the lupins and the heavens opened again. Whilst the others tried to shelter by the shed, I nipped into the loos here to rummage through my rucksack for my emergency silk, thermal jacket to put on underneath my coat as I was seriously cold now. Wrapped my scarf round my head underneath my jacket hood and set off again. I decided to stay behind at the Plantation, whilst the others went on ahead of me, as I needed a coffee and food before walking back. I said I would catch them up, but of course I never did. The rain had now stopped momentarily. I saw the Wheatear again on the fence, but nothing else here at all. Oh, just remembered, James told me he saw a Hawfinch fly over Kelling Water Meadows this morning!

I set off back to Coastguards and saw another couple of Wheatears and also a few LBJ's who melted into sueda and just magically disappeared – so incredibly frustrating, but typical of birding on BP! The light, dramatic skies and sun setting was strikingly beautiful this evening and the very high tide which had flooded the marshes added to the magical beauty before me. I was taking a picture of Half Way House and decided it would be more interesting to add someone to it and it took several self portrait shots to get the house where I wanted it with me! Had fun trying to achieve this! Flushed another Wheatear and also a couple of Grey Partridges, but apart from more Meadow Pipits and a couple of Reed Buntings, nothing else was seen at all. Got back to Coastguards at 8.30pm.

Parked up by the Windmill and looked to see if the Red-backed Shrike was still there – no sign. I then parked at the East Bank carpark and had a coffee with ginger & pear cake (scrumptious) and then walked to 'The Serpentine' to see the Pectoral Sandpiper which of course also wasn't there! The full moon over Walsey Hills looked extra clear and bright this evening.

Drove home listening to Calvin Harris's 18 Months – I love this album!

Hoping very much there will be something good this weekend – PLEASE!

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Red-backed Shrike, Pectoral Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper,
Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley
Wood Warbler at East Wretham Heath
Snow Goose flew west from Long Hills, Blakeney Point
Montagu's Harrier at Great Yarmouth
Temminck's Stint at Titchwell RSPB
Osprey at Hunstanton
Montagu's Harrier, Gargeney at Buckingham Marshes RSPB

Natural England issues licence to destroy buzzard eggs & nests to protect pheasants!!!

This is just unbelievable – I can't believe what I am reading!!!

http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/natural-england-issues-licence-to-destroy-buzzard-eggs-nests-to-protect-pheasants/

Cley All Day with NW Winds!

SWALLOW

Sheltering from the strong north winds at Coastguards, Cley.

I arranged to go birding with Pete Snook today who is on holiday this week, although I think he probably wishes he hadn't booked this week off – although that could all change tomorrow! Well I hope so anyway. My two week holiday is disappearing quickly, far too quickly for my liking. I have seen some excellent birds including the Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-spotted Bluethroat, Wood Warbler and the Red-footed Falcon, BUT it would be very nice indeed to see a REALLY good bird this weekend – I want a bird that sets the pulse racing, gets the car racing up the road, the camera clicking........ well you know what I mean! Or trudging through more shingle, I don't mind, just give me a MEGA, pretty please before I go back to work. Not too much to ask surely?!

Anyway Pete and I met up at the sluice, along Beach Road at Cley and sadly dipped on the Red-backed Shrike by about half an hour. No more news of the bird throughout the day. Parked up at Coastguards – I was alarmed by the strength of the wind when I opened my car door! My hair whipped around my face and its moments like this when you wish you had short hair! We had a quick look at the sea and saw a Fulmar going west, low along the shingle. The sea was dramatic with huge waves rolling in. It seemed like an October day, you would never have thought it was May! There were three birders sitting on the shingle seawatching. We decided to walk to North Hide first and look at the sea later. On route we saw a beautiful Golden Plover on the Eye Field,which took off west, a few Lapwing, 2 Wheatears and Sandwich Terns flying overhead. From North Hide, Pete found a lovely Curlew Sandpiper amongst the Dunlins, 5 Sanderling. Little Ringed Plovers and Ringed Plovers along with the usual Avocets, Cormorants, Redshanks, 2 Common Sandpipers etc. Sue Bryan joined us in the hide (nice to see you Sue). Walked back to Coastguards and then parked up at the Cley NWT Visitor Centre and walked to the East Bank and to the Serpentine to view a Wood Sandpiper. Not much else seen really. Walked back to Bishops Hide where the highlight was a huge number of Sand Martins skimming past.

Had lunch at the Visitor Centre. Said hello to Sue G. who told me she has a day off tomorrow – could be a great day to have off Sue!

Went to Walsey Hills NOA and worked hard to find something, but only came up with a Whitethroat, Blackcap, a Chaffinch with feathers and a Common Buzzard distantly over the fields. A birder round the top path kindly pointed out a Ruddy Shelduck to us on Arnold's Marsh distantly.

I went to the Cley Deli to buy Ginger and Pear cake for what is going to be a hardcore birding day tomorrow. Pete and I went back to Coastguards and sat on the shingle to sea watch. We saw lots of Sandwich Terns going past, a few Common Terns, at least 5 Little Terns, an adult Gannet going west, 20+Common Scoter going east, 2 Auk sp. going west and a Red-throated Diver also going west.

Mark Golley joined us and we all walked to North Hide again. Sandwich Terns were flying across the Eye Field. From the hide, the Curlew Sandpiper remained, 15 Sanderling, 2 Knots, several Dunlin, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover and the usual Avocets etc.

Walked back to Coastguards. Mark and Pete left. Eddie arrived and very kindly pointed out a Swallow sitting on the seat in the shelter looking so beautiful, but fed up with these ferocious north west winds. Got some lovely photos, seconds before I left. Got home early tonight, filled up with diesel and aiming to get more sleep than I usually do! Tomorrow could be an interesting day – fingers crossed.

6am WSW - 7am WSW - 8am WSW - 9am SW - 10am SSW - 11am SSE - 12pm ESE - 1pm E - 2pm E - 3pm ENE - 4pm ENE - 5pm ENE - 6pm ENE - 7pm ENE - 8pm NE - 9pm NE with rain all morning and sunshine in the afternoon!!! http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2652856 potentially a VERY exciting day – hope to see lots of birders out in the field tomorrow.

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Red-backed Shrike fem., Whinchat, Temminck's Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Cley
Sabine's Gull (possible) flew west past Cley
Montagu's Harrier, Garganey at Buckingham Marshes RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Welney WWT
Roseate Tern at Sheringham (KS)

Other News
RED-FOOTED FALCON and GOLDEN ORIOLE at Lakenheath Fen RSPB, Suffolk.

RBA Weekly Round-Up 15th-21st May

http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyroundup2013no21.aspx?s_id=568262937

Three of my pictures featured in this – thanks!

MEGA!!! Male INDIGO BUNTING!!!

On RBA Website at 9.27pm this evening.

Monday - 3 miles NNE of Menai Bridge at Llansadwrn on feeder in garden for 1 hour in evening, but no sign since! (Identified from photographs)

Picture and info. here – if only that had stayed I would have twitched that in my hols!
http://webirdnorthwales.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/male-indigo-bunting-on-anglesey.html

Holme and the Hairdressers!

LINNET
Along the coastal path west of the NWT pay hut at Holme.

You can tell its been a pretty boring day by the title!!!

Got up early and went to search for the Red-backed Shrike at the Forestry, Holme NWT but it wasn't to be found at all. But I did have wonderful views of three Turtle Doves! It was such a gloomy day, no sun at all. There were also 10 Shelducks, 1 Whitethroat and 2 Hedge Sparrows. Walked behind the bungalows by the NWT pay hut and saw at least 3 Cuckoos who were making a right racket with their burblings, a pair of Bullfinches, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Robins, 5 Goldfinches and 2 Linnets. A Little Egret flew east over the Saltings. The wonderful thing about being at Holme in the week is the massive lack of dog walkers, I think I only saw two all morning! This is one of the reasons I prefer Cley – you just don't seem to get anywhere near the amount of unruly dogs (sorry I mean owners) there.

At the NWT Wader Pools from the third hide I watched a Common Sandpiper along with a Little Egret, 2 pairs of Pochard, a Reed Bunting, Tufted Ducks, Mallard, Heron, Black-headed Gulls and a Marsh Harrier.

At Holme Bird Observatory a ringer there (can't remember his name) said all he had caught in the mist nets this morning was a re-trapped Whitethroat! I walked all round the back of the pines trying to find something but couldn't find a single bird – a rubbish day for migrants!

 Yellow Flag Irises in the pond at Holme Bird Observatory.

Went to my parents to help my mother out with stuff and then had lunch with them. The skies blackened and it poured with rain for a short while. I was supposed to be leaving at 3.15pm to go to the hairdressers, but nipped to Choseley Barns on route back to Lynn. Typical – the sun decided to show itself and the light was incredibly beautiful. I positioned the car next to the gate with my camera at the ready. Recently someone had taken an incredible picture of two Turtle Doves here early in May – I can't remember where I found the picture on the net now. There were quite a few Yellowhammers here and also Corn Buntings (couldn't be bothered to count them), Chaffinches, Hedge Sparrows, 2 Mallard and 3 Racing Pigeons feeding on the scattered corn. A birder sitting in another car came across to tell me that he and his wife had just been watching 2 Turtle Doves just before I turned up! I waited and waited until I just had to leave. Pity I didn't see them as the light was perfect for photographing Turtle Doves! I also saw a Harrier sp. which I managed to photograph (see below). I then had to do a 'Penelope Pitstop' back to King's Lynn and only just made it time to the hairdressers. I was there for three hours! Hence why I only go every three months!

The weather looks disgusting tomorrow, but I am still going out – only so many days left before I have to go back to work on Tuesday. I don't want to back at all, really I don't. BUT Friday looks very promising indeed!!! http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2652856

 Hen Harrier at Choseley Barns.

Hen Harrier at Choseley Barns.

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Great Northern Diver at Trimingham
Wood Sandpiper at Cley
BEE-EATER flew north over Winterton!
Montagu's Harrier, Little Gull at Buckingham Marshes RSPB
Montagu's Harrier, Curlew Sandpiper at Breydon Water
Red-backed Shrike fem. at Cley
Temminck's Stints x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Warbler at East Wretham Heath NWT (See fab pic HERE)
Ruddy Shelduck at Salthouse
Little Gull x 4 at Stiffkey Fen
Wood Sandpiper at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

Other News
RED-FOOTED FALCON, at Lakenheath Fen RSPB, Suffolk

• Nick Isherwood had a lovely shot of a Fulmar at Hunstanton.

• Roger Ridley had taken an Awesome shot of the Red-backed Shrike at Holme yesterday (no sign of it today by the way)

• Useful information/advice for Blakeney Point what time to go/when etc HERE

Wood Warbler at East Wretham Heath NWT!

WOOD WARBLER

East Wretham Heath NWT

I was editing pictures until 2am which obviously resulted in getting up rather late this morning! Continued to finish pictures when I got up, then had lunch and then escaped!


East Wretham Heath NWT
Can't remember what time I arrived now, but think it was around 3.30pm. I had seen the forecast and could see that it was going to be sunny, late this afternoon, more so here than on the Norfolk coast! A couple of friends at Cley reported that it was freezing cold, drizzling with rain and no birds this morning. My plan was to find the Wood Warbler and take spectacular pictures (ha ha).

As I pulled up into the carpark, I noticed Ashley Saunders was also here (Oriole Birding Tours) with a group of people and they were part way along the footpath on the heath, intently viewing something distantly. When I caught up with them, I discovered they were watching fox cubs playing – how cute were they!!! Four of them playing and tumbling in the sunshine – fabulous! I went on ahead to the area where the Wood Warbler has been and found and heard nothing at all. Disappointed, but determined to do the circuit again, I carried on. Two birders from Ashley's group bumped into me and kindly informed me that Ashley had heard/found the Wood Warbler – excellent! So I walked back with them and listened to the Wood Warbler. I watched it fly past but didn't have very good views initially. We watched a party of Long-tailed Tits and two lots of them were furiously chasing each other like the devil possessed – don't know what was going on there! Ashley told me he had seen a Spotted Flycatcher and a Marsh Tit not far from this spot. After Ashley and his group had left, I stayed there until I saw the bird and got photographs. I had fabulous views in the afternoon sunshine and heard it 'trilling' several times. But I found that photographing this bird was almost as frustrating as that Red-backed Shrike! I did get a few record shots, but certainly nothing to get excited about. Most of the shots were of sharp branches and fuzzy bird, you know how it goes! The Wood Warbler spent the majority of its time, feeding high up amongst the oak leaves. My best shots were when he bird was really high up on a pine branch next to blue sky. But watching this beautiful bird against bright green leaf foliage was just magical. Wood Warblers are just exceptionally classy birds and an absolute joy to watch.

Typical Wood Warbler shot!!!

 Pity this wasn't sharp!

While all this was going on, the pager bleeped up with 'Red-footed Falcon + 12 Hobbies and a male Golden Oriole at Lakenheath Fen RSPB' – hmmmm...... well, I was thinking about the Golden Oriole more than anything else. Had I got time to nip there too? Had I? I hummed and harred and decided to be sensible. I am very glad I made that decision, as I had a wonderful time shortly after this.

I tore myself away from the Wood Warbler who was still singing at 6.45pm and started to walk back through the heath along the green trail. I saw a Treecreeper, heard a Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Just after the hide there was loads of rabbits all on the short turf and a particular cute baby bunny just in front of me, who I spent ages photographing – he was so incredibly sweet and just sat there while I laid down to photograph him at eye level. The light was beautiful now and I carried on taking cute bunny pictures.

BUNNY PORTFOLIO!

In the distance I could see the fox cubs still playing. I wondered if I would be able to get closer to them, so gave it a go. Covered my hair with my green scarf and walked across the heath, stopping every so often to ensure they didn't spot me too soon. I got really close before one of the cubs clocked me – he alerted the others, one shot down a hole and the other two rebelled and continued to play. As I got closer they all vanished into their den. I walked closer and positioned myself with the sun behind me and close enough to get some good shots with my 300ml lens. I sat and waited and I waited! Eventually (knew they would) curiosity got the better of one them and out he popped, mind you it was a set of rusty coloured ears only – I could just see his eyes as he turned his head to look a me, just enough time to take a picture, then he disappeared back down the hole again. I then had a very long wait. Trust me to have left my tea in the car, I was starving hungry and was freezing cold now at 8.30pm. I persevered and was just about to give up when a different cub popped up out of a different hole and almost stood up to take a look at me, before scurrying back into his den. I got a picture of him, but the light was rubbish now, if only he had come out when I had taken the previous cub, the light was so much better then. Light makes such a massive difference with photography. Trudged back over the heath and sat and had my tea in the car before driving home late again!

 FOX CUBS playing at East Wretham Heath.

Norfolk Bird News etc!

Main Highlights – RBA
Roseate Tern flew west at Kelling
Lapland Bunting flew west, Arctic Tern x 3, Little Gull, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley
Red-backed Shrike at Holme NWT but mobile (yeah I know that!)
RED-FOOTED FALCON flew over Holt at 6.30pm!
Sacred Ibis x 2 at Ormsby St Margaret
Wood Warbler at East Wretham Heath (me)
Spoonbill, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint at Titchwell RSPB
Montagu's Harrier at Buckingham Marshes RSPB
No sign of Night Heron this evening
Black Redstart at Salhouse Broad (Footpath)

Other News
RED-FOOTED FALCON, Hobbies x 12 and Male GOLDEN ORIOLE at Lakenheath Fen RSPB, Suffolk
RED-FOOTED FALCON SE of Sudbury, Suffolk at 5.30pm

I was happy with my picture until I just saw The BEST picture I have seen of the Red-footed Falcon added on the net today by Gary Thoburn HERE  – Congratulations!

Fascinating write up on Titchwell, Snettisham and Holme reserves here which I found via facebook: http://szimistylebirding.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/the-spectacular-norfolk/

More Pictures Added

Pictures now added to 11th May HERE – includes Grey Wagtail pics
and 13th May HERE

All pictures now up-to-date for this year. If only last year was too – will be working on that! Its highly unlikely that anyone will want to look at pictures for last year, but I want to add them for me – I hate things incomplete.

Emails this evening

Just received a number of emails and requests this evening about my bluethroat pictures. I will reply to all asap, but am desperately trying to editing pictures at the moment which I want to finish this evening. Sorry but I will reply soon!!!!

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Red-backed Shrike fem., Short-eared Owl at Holme NWT Forestry.
Black Tern, Arctic Terns x 6 flew west at Cley NWT
Iceland Gull flew SE at Sea Palling
SABINE'S GULL flew west at 4.09pm over Kelling Hard
Wood Warbler and Redstart at East Wretham Heath NWT
Glaucous Gull at Waxham
Short-eared Owl at Morston
Little Gulls x 2 at Stiffkey Fen
Black Redstart at Holme NOA
NIGHT HERON imm. this evening near Windmill at Cley

Other News
RED-FOOTED FALCON remains at Lakenheath Fen RSPB, Suffolk
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN at Ferry Meadows Country Park, Cambs.

Dire start to the day here with overcast skies in King's Lynn and even worse on the coast with very thick fog according to E.T.M. Editing pictures all day.

More Spring Migrants and Hot Weather!

 RED-BACKED SHRIKE

at Holme NWT

It was forecast to be a glorious day and indeed it was, mostly. Sunny from the start until very late afternoon and then sea mist rolled in and it was freezing!

Brancaster Staithe
I wanted to find my own birds, but didn't fancy walking on shingle again! I decided to go to Brancaster Staithe. I parked the car in 'Harbour Way' on the grass verge just before the quay (free parking) and walked west along the public footpath to Brancaster and back again. This walk is very beautiful and is potentially an excellent place to find migrants. The path is raised and consists of wooden planks, as it's very wet either side and there are odd pools on route, backed by reed beds and then Brancaster golf course beyond. The hedgerows, fields and trees on the left hand side are very scenic,  and you pass the Roman Fort of Branodunum on route, it's a lovely walk. I didn't see anything too exciting but did see several Cuckoos zipping about, Whitethroats singing, Sedge and Reed Warbler. Whilst in the Roman Fort I spotted a harrier sp. flying between two trees, with very long, straight tail and looked like a Monty's, I raced out to get a clear view and it had just vanished! I really don't know where that disappeared to, I can only think it must have flown down into the reed bed. Continued my walk back. At the start of this walk is a very pretty White house with bright blue shutters and neatly mowed lawn which needed a Hoopoe to complete the picture! Also a very large tamarisk, well a hedge of tamarisk actually, lines the garden with reeds and a watery pool below. A telegraph wire goes from that house to another and the whole scene looks mediterranean – to set the scene there should have been Bee-eaters on the wires aswell! Anyway, enough dreaming – birds that were really there were a family of House Sparrows in the tamarisk, a couple of wood pigeons and on the telegraph wire, two Swallows.

 Swallow at Brancaster Staithe, where there should have been a Bee-eater!

Thornham in search of Orioles!
Parked the car on the main road just east of Thornham Farm Shop and walked along the public footpath to Jameson's wood where there is a fairly large poplar plantation. Paul Eele, Warden at Titchwell RSPB had been lucky enough to hear a Golden Oriole singing at 6.20am this morning at the reserve – I know it was more than probably just passing through, but I just had to have a quick look in this poplar plantation, just in case there was a slim chance it hadn't quite left the area yet! Nothing really of note here, there were more butterflies than birds and saw lots of Orangetips, Tortoishell, Peacock, Speckled Woods and Large Whites. A Wren was singing and saw a blackbird. The poplar wood looked exciting, but sadly wasn't.

Titchwell RSPB
Lunch outside on the picnic tables. I really don't know what quite was going on here when I arrived. I was of the understanding that the tables immediately outside the 'Feeding Station' were for food ordered from the cafe. Maybe I am completely wrong? There was a very 'posh' party of approx 15+ non birders + dogs who had bought all their own food, spread on one picnic table and singing Happy Birthday. I went to the hatch to collect my lunch and as I turned to walk back, the party had very quickly extended onto my table! I had left my cutlery and bag on the table on purpose! I soon kicked them off – 'we thought you had left' a lady said! I really don't understand why they would come to this reserve to crowd round a small table to celebrate a birthday when they could have afforded to go anywhere for their lunch! I just don't get it all! Being bl**dy minded I stayed on the table longer than I needed to!!!

Looking in the sightings book in the shop I read that someone had seen a Spotted Flycatcher today by the Dragonfly Pond – excellent news! At the pond I discovered not only one, but two Spotted Flycatchers together flitting round in the sunshine at 2pm!!! I sat in the bench for quite a well watching them – magical! Photography for a 300mm lens was rubbish though and I almost didn't bother posting the picture! I felt quite pleased to have helped a few people who were not sure on the ID's of birds they were watching. One couple were quite excited about a bird they saw moving around in a willow and said it was a song they hadn't heard before – we waited and waited and suddenly a Cettis's Warbler burst into song, the lady was especially pleased when I told her what it was. Also helped somebody else ID a Willow Warbler etc etc. Anyway, I felt really lazy and couldn't be bothered to walk along the main path in this heat. I love Titchwell reserve, but there is no shade along the main path and I'm not really a hot weather person! Plus there was a Red-backed Shrike to be seen at Holme!

 Spotted Flycatcher by the Dragonfly Pool, Titchwell RSPB.

Rubbish shot, best I could get!

Cute Coot Chick at the Dragonfly Pond, Titchwell RSPB.

Holme NWT
Parked by the 5-bar gate half way along the Firs Road. Walked up to the NWT Forestry to view the female Red-backed Shrike. There were a few people there and this shrike seemed particularly elusive. Occasionally it would appear in a gully and then disappear again for about half an hour. It took me ages to sit it initially – a very smart bird, but impossible for my camera lens at this range. Heard a Turtle dove calling! Lots of Cuckoos around too. It was also nice to meet a couple birders who were the people seeing the 4+ Short-eared Owls earlier in the year, round the corner from my house (that I didn't see!). Hearing news about Turtle Doves being seen behind the bungalows behind the NWT pay hut,  I went to look and I did see two Turtle Doves fly across me and managed to get a 'record' shot of one sitting on a bush! I have never seen so many Cuckoos in one spot either! Also saw two Bullfinches in here, several Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats. Also a Short-eared Owl flew across the Forestry. Had a nice chat with a local birder (Mr. J) who I have known since I was a youngster – who told me he has Turtle Doves feeding on his bird table daily at the moment! I had tea and then a nap in the car. Then I went back to attempt to photograph the Red-backed Shrike, which was not successful. I tried all sorts of fieldcraft, sitting and waiting at all the birds favourite spots, creeping slowly up to the bird etc, but it wasn't having any of it, so I gave up! Basically I needed a longer lens – one day!

Went to visit my parents and show Mother my bluethroat pictures on the camera. Very, very sadly father couldn't see the pictures – he tried to look, but just told me the viewfinder looked blank. His Macular Degeneration has got so much worse – breaks my heart! On a happier note, he did chuckle though when I told him about the blackbird harrassing me at Walsey Hills which reminds me, John Furse also got harrassed today - see HERE.

Turtle Dove at Holme – a rarity nowadays.

 RED-BACKED SHRIKE

at Holme NWT

Rubbish photos – but best I could get today I'm afraid!

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
GOLDEN ORIOLE, male heard at 6.10am on the Meadow Trail, Titchwell RSPB by Warden Paul Eele- Congratulations!
GOLDEN ORIOLE flew SE over Kelling Heath at 9.25am
Wood Warbler remains at East Wretham Heath NWT
Arctic Tern x 3, Montagu's Harrier at Breydon Water
Red-spotted Bluethroat still at Blakeney Point but elusive
Red-backed Shrike, fem. remains at Holme NWT and also elusive
Citrine Wagtail, Holme (unconfirmed report yesterday)
Montagu's Harrier at Buckingham
Firecrest x 2 at Waxham
Redstart at Burnham Overy Dunes

Other News
RED-FOOTED FALCON remains at Lakenheath Fen RSPB, Suffolk.
WOODCHAT SHRIKE and RED-BACKED SHRIKE at North Denes, Lowestoft, Suffolk
MEGA DUSKY THRUSH – NO NEWS!!! (Margate Cemetery, Kent.)

Two Golden Orioles in one day – how fantastic is that! Very few new birds reported for Norfolk today, which I am surprised by, unless of course there is lots of suppression going on! Lets hope not!

Blakeney Point and THE Red-spotted Bluethroat!!!

RED-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT

Blakeney Point

James McCallum and Ashley McElwee found the Red-spotted Bluethroat
at Blakeney Point and has made my day, thank you both!

I printed map and directions out very early this morning, thinking that I might be going with a friend to Margate to see the Dusky Thrush, but that didn't work out, long story and I didn't fancy driving alone, so stuck to my original plan of walking Blakeney Point.

Arrived at Cley fairly early this morning and started off at Walsey Hills NOA. It was really cold, dull and overcast. Found a pair of Blackcaps, the usual lovely Bullfinches, a couple of Chiffchaffs and that was about it really. Was hoping to find much more than this in here. I walked right round on the top path and just along this path by the round bales, I encountered some serious harrassment! By guess what – a blackbird, seriously! It was so funny! When I first saw the bird, I thought that it would make a nice picture, being as it was quite close, but I couldn't photograph the whole bird, as it was too close! It ran right up to me and was inches from my feet and then looked up at me and eyeballed me! I tried stepping back to take a picture, but it just moved closer to me even quicker! It's attention was diverted briefly by a nice juicy snail it discovered, but then tossed it to the side to chase me again! I was tickled pink by all this! I eventually got away! I saw Eddie in the NWT Visitor Centre afterwards and told him all about it. I also succumbed to a hot cheese scone whilst I was there, lovely! Later in the day Eddie sent me a text to say he was being harrassed by a blackbird at Walsey Hills! Eddie informed me that all the regular Blakeney Point birders had already gone out there! I had hoped to find something on the 'Point' today, maybe a nice bluethroat (they have had several along the East Coast today already I noted on RBA website). I nipped to Cleyspy briefly to buy another baselayer (bought one the other day and loved it so needed a second!) and then went to Coastguards.

 THE ASBO Blackbird at Walsey Hills!

As I was packing up my BP Rucksack ready for the day, the pager bleeped up with 'Norfolk, Bluethroat male, Blakeney Point between Watchhouse and The Hood' – I had mixed feelings when I read that message – excitement because I was just heading that way, but disappointment because I had wanted to find one myself! I was also right in thinking that James MacCallum probably found it – he did indeed I found out later along with Ashley McElwee! James finds most of the good birds down BP, if not all!!! They just fall at his feet, some people have all the luck, but to be fair he puts the hours in.

Richard Porter had come back from the 'Point' earlier and hadn't seen anything much, I bet he was disappointed to hear that! Andy Stoddart arrived in the carpark – blimey he must walk quick, by the time I had got my bag packed up he was gone – I couldn't even see him in the distance!

I started my plod across the shingle and just because I wanted to walk quick, it seemed like really hard work. I have had enough of shingle! Anyway, a few hundred 'ish yards after Halfway House (Watch house) there is a huge piece of old timber on your right hand side, shortly after this on your left is a bright yellow plastic container – this is the bird's favoured area. There were only a handful of birders there, but it was not in view as I arrived. I flushed the bird from the sueda in front of me and it landed – What a bird!!! The blue and red were vivid, a stonking male Red-spotted Bluethroat!!! I indicated to the others where it was and someone walked up from the lower path a bit too quickly and the bird sneaked back in the sueda again. I had only managed at that point, an out of focus shot, in other words a crap picture. I badly wanted a good picture of this bird, it was just awesome. Several of us stood at a sensible distance and excellent fieldcraft was carried out – no one spoke or moved an inch for at least 30 minutes – we were too good, we didn't get a glimpse for ages! Then everyone got restless and we all walked around in different areas. The bird was seen several times but incredibly shy and elusive and when it did show, it was only for a second or two, not even long enough to fire the shutter off. Andy Johnson was walking up the Point to see the bird and a bit later he phoned me and waved (at a distance) and said 'I have the Bluethroat here'. So we all re-located to near Halfway House. The bird was obviously ranging quite a distance, more then we would have liked! We saw the bird here and some people got some decent pictures with longer lenses, but sadly all I managed were more out of focus shots. Steve and Sue G. arrived and again with them, all we could manage was views of nano seconds and no photographs at all. I gave up and carried on walking to 'The Plantation' passing and chatting with Rob Martin (Punkbirder) and another man about birds, East Hills and rares etc. Rob asked if I had seen the Short-eared Owl, no I hadn't, but I did see it 5 minutes later just before I crossed over the short turfed area to The Plantation'. Also Marsh Harrier out here and a couple of Wheatears (at least).

 Short-eared Owl at Blakeney Point.

At 'The Plantation' I saw what was either a Robin or a flycatcher flick off the fence wire and back into the bushes at the back, but it was so quick I just couldn't see what it was. Very sadly, I didn't see it again, so I am telling myself it must have just been a robin. Two Willow Warblers in here, plus at least 3 Chiffchaffs, couple of Chaffinches and that was about it. Had a coffee and snack, chatted to two BP staff who asked if they could link my red-breasted fly pictures to their BLOG and then made my way back.

 

 RED-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT

Blakeney Point

I searched hard for that bluethroat again and slowly walked along the shingle, close to the sueda and was going to carry on, but I refused to give up, so walked back again and re-traced my steps a second time. Suddenly a bird bombed out of the sueda and luckily into a smallish single sueda bush out on the shingle. I kept my eyes on this bush, there was no way I was going to let this bird sneak out of the back. I dropped to the ground and with camera posed, finger on shutter, I waited patiently. Suddenly the bluethroat crept out and appeared on the shingle, magic!!! It didn't seem bothered by the camera firing off and continued to feed. It just got better and better. The bird moved closer and closer, in fact so close I had to change the camera setting to Macro!! I didn't even need binoculars, it was only yards away. I just couldn't believe this magnificant jewel of bird in all its glorious colours was a few yards away and seemed happy for me to take pictures and even more fantastic was the fact that I was a lone observer. I had this bird selfishly all to myself. This was undoubtedly one of the best birding moments I have had. I have never been this close to a Bluethroat and probably won't ever again.

I know this is, as they say 'blowing my own trumpet' but when I looked at the viewfinder I smiled! They are still not perfect shots, they would have been better with more light. After all it was just after 7.30pm when I took these pictures, but they are not too bad at all!

Oystercatchers nest – look where you are treading!

My top tip for anyone going tomorrow morning would be to sit and wait for it to appear rather than stand. It is a very shy bird, even with only a small amount of people standing around.

I walked really slowly back, as I had no energy left at all and arrived back at Coastguards at a more respectable time of 9.30pm!!!! Well an hour earlier than Thursday anyway! Got home about 10.45pm.