Birdforum have stolen the Number One spot in the 'Fat Birder's Top 500 Ranking' - see here. Will I ever get there? Ha ha - maybe, possibly, well actually no, never. Does it matter anyway? No. Of course it matters!!!!!! Now, maybe if I posted something raunchy - hmmmm......... Being serious now, the highest I ever got in the 'rankings' was 20 something or other, when I was amongst the first to post pictures of James McCallum's Alder Flycatcher on Blakeney Point.
Birdforum was actually the reason I started my blog. I used to post my sightings on the Norfolk thread and had a habit of waffling on about other stuff - how dare I!!!!! A few members complained about me 'going off thread' and 'what had that got to do with the Norfolk thread' - fair enough, so I decided to start my own blog, so I could waffle as much as I liked, about anything I liked and when I liked and no one could stop me!!!! I soon realised what fun it was to have an on line diary. I still post on Birdforum - its a fabulous site and certainly the best place for reading all the latest up to the minute info on a rare bird - you need to join the site to see the rare birds thread though, but its free to join. The only real downside to keeping up a blog is the massive amount of time spent sorting, choosing, editing and adding pictures!!! I do wish I was paid though, that would be great! I spend a huge amount of time writing posts sometimes and then realise I actually should have been in bed hours ago! On that note, goodnight!
Monday, 28 November 2011
Semipalmated Sandpiper at Cley!!!
Congratulations to Mark Golley who found the SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER today at Cley!!
Update - see 1st December post, now ID'd as a WESTERN SANDPIPER.
Didn't even know about this until late this evening as I had my phone switched off all day and had to fly to Barclays at lunch time, when I normally look on the RBA website via my iphone. Its good to see another good bird turning up in Norfolk! Also a Hume's Yellow browed Warbler was caught and rung at Holme Bird Observatory today.
Whilst chatting to my parents this evening and telling them about Mark's find, father told me that he had found the first Semipalmated Sandpiper for Britain and Europe at Cley in July 1953 (19th-24th).
See pictures and discussion about being a possible Western Sandpiper here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=217239
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348&page=571
Update - see 1st December post, now ID'd as a WESTERN SANDPIPER.
Didn't even know about this until late this evening as I had my phone switched off all day and had to fly to Barclays at lunch time, when I normally look on the RBA website via my iphone. Its good to see another good bird turning up in Norfolk! Also a Hume's Yellow browed Warbler was caught and rung at Holme Bird Observatory today.
Whilst chatting to my parents this evening and telling them about Mark's find, father told me that he had found the first Semipalmated Sandpiper for Britain and Europe at Cley in July 1953 (19th-24th).
See pictures and discussion about being a possible Western Sandpiper here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=217239
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348&page=571
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Lazy Day!
After a stressful end on Friday to a manic week at work, I drove to Barclays through the typical Friday night traffic to pay some urgent bills. I had just made it in time, or so I thought. As the second hand on my watch was just ticking towards the closing time of 5pm, I sprinted across the Tuesday Market Place and rushed through the doors like a whirlwind - I was horrified to find loads of workmen in the store and no staff! I just stood there aghast - one of the workmen explained that the branch had closed and a new one in the high street would be opening on Monday - bl**dy great!
I decided not to get up early on Saturday morning. I had a very late breakfast and then went to Currys to look at ovens - my oven is so old, its probably older then me and its basically had it, yep that's me aswell! I looked and realised I couldn't afford to buy one anyway. The new store "The Range" on Hardwick Industrial Estate is creating massive traffic problems - it took me ages to get out of the estate.
I was going to stay at home today, to do loads of jobs and with my yearly appraisal coming up in two weeks, I really should be doing some case studies, but decided I couldn't possibly stay in, especially being as I am working tomorrow. So I escaped, like a rebellious teenager!
The car made its way along the A149 and I ended up at Cley - surprise, surprise! Silly really as I didn't get there until mid afternoon. Popped into the visitor centre and noticed that "The Birdwatcher's Yearbook 2012" has been published and I have been plugged!!!!! In the 'Blog' section, where only three blogs have been listed - an excerpt from this read '......the best blog I've seen written by a woman.......' - well, thank you very much!!!! Although, I certainly wouldn't describe my blog as that - my only criticism is that my name has been spelt wrong, but hey ho! It would be a whole lot better if I got round to sorting out all photographs taken since July and actual add them to the blog - IT WILL BE DONE!
Joined Eddie in Bishop's Hide to watch a distant Green-winged Teal asleep - awesome views - ha ha!!! A robin was hopping along the path to the hide and two mute swans were in the dyke. A few marsh harriers were cruising over the reedbeds, wavering in the increasing winds.
Got my sea fix at Coastguards, even though I saw very little. A few gannets, kittiwakes, a guillemot, a razorbill and a pied wagtail were the only birds I saw. There were a really weird bunch of people standing in the side of the shelter, all lighting tealights one by one and as each tealight was lit, someone shouted 'fire'. The amusing thing was that I heard a couple of them question what we were doing with our telescopes, 'they are watching wildlife I think', exclaimed one of them!!!! I saw our behaviour quite normal in comparison!!! There were loads of Brent Geese on the Eye Field close to Beach Road and later on they took off and flew towards Blakeney Point against pink and grey, moody skies.
Drove back to King's Lynn and spent some of my evening watching X-Factor - 'Misha B' IS the X-Factor, second choice 'Little Mix' and third choice 'Marcus'.
I decided not to get up early on Saturday morning. I had a very late breakfast and then went to Currys to look at ovens - my oven is so old, its probably older then me and its basically had it, yep that's me aswell! I looked and realised I couldn't afford to buy one anyway. The new store "The Range" on Hardwick Industrial Estate is creating massive traffic problems - it took me ages to get out of the estate.
I was going to stay at home today, to do loads of jobs and with my yearly appraisal coming up in two weeks, I really should be doing some case studies, but decided I couldn't possibly stay in, especially being as I am working tomorrow. So I escaped, like a rebellious teenager!
The car made its way along the A149 and I ended up at Cley - surprise, surprise! Silly really as I didn't get there until mid afternoon. Popped into the visitor centre and noticed that "The Birdwatcher's Yearbook 2012" has been published and I have been plugged!!!!! In the 'Blog' section, where only three blogs have been listed - an excerpt from this read '......the best blog I've seen written by a woman.......' - well, thank you very much!!!! Although, I certainly wouldn't describe my blog as that - my only criticism is that my name has been spelt wrong, but hey ho! It would be a whole lot better if I got round to sorting out all photographs taken since July and actual add them to the blog - IT WILL BE DONE!
Joined Eddie in Bishop's Hide to watch a distant Green-winged Teal asleep - awesome views - ha ha!!! A robin was hopping along the path to the hide and two mute swans were in the dyke. A few marsh harriers were cruising over the reedbeds, wavering in the increasing winds.
Got my sea fix at Coastguards, even though I saw very little. A few gannets, kittiwakes, a guillemot, a razorbill and a pied wagtail were the only birds I saw. There were a really weird bunch of people standing in the side of the shelter, all lighting tealights one by one and as each tealight was lit, someone shouted 'fire'. The amusing thing was that I heard a couple of them question what we were doing with our telescopes, 'they are watching wildlife I think', exclaimed one of them!!!! I saw our behaviour quite normal in comparison!!! There were loads of Brent Geese on the Eye Field close to Beach Road and later on they took off and flew towards Blakeney Point against pink and grey, moody skies.
Drove back to King's Lynn and spent some of my evening watching X-Factor - 'Misha B' IS the X-Factor, second choice 'Little Mix' and third choice 'Marcus'.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Nature Notes - Lifestyle and Leisure News - Lynn News
My father's monthly nature notes 'on line' picture is not represented by his recent 'First for Norfolk' Moth!
http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestyle-and-leisure-news/nature_notes_1_3262475
See: http://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/rare-moth-in-norfolk.html
http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestyle-and-leisure-news/nature_notes_1_3262475
See: http://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/rare-moth-in-norfolk.html
A Summer's Day!
This morning was beautiful, sunny and clear blue skies – common darters were seen, bees were buzzing, wasps were sitting on alexander heads, the sun was beaming down and its November!
Holme Marsh Reserve
From the first hide, there was little of note apart from a Pochard, a Heron sitting on the far bank and several Woodpigeons. Lots of blackbirds around this morning and a Song Thrush and Common Darter was seen. 4 Bullfinches were seen in the hawthorns just before the second hide and a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. From the second hide, 2 marsh harriers were seen and distant views of a Bittern flying over the marsh. Met two of my blog readers - nice to meet you both and thanks! Along the public footpath next to the carpark we saw and heard a Water Rail and another Cetti's Warbler.
Titchwell RSPB
Watched and photographed (badly!) the Yellow-browed Warbler in the picnic area as soon as we arrived. Walked around the Fen Trail via the main path. Had wonderful views of both male and female Siskins feeding on catkins at the beginning of the main path. Around the Fen Trail we saw a Cetti's Warbler which I managed to get a photo of (just!) before it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared and also a Common Darter sunning itself on a reed stem. Had a quick hot snack at the Feeding Station and then had to leave by 12.30pm to go to work and had to leave Eddie to carry on birding without me!!!! Torture!
I drove home via Choseley and saw a Marsh Harrier near the barns and about 15 Red-legged Partridges were close to the edge of the road in the field further along the road.
Please see: here and scroll to the bottom of post for 'Udate' on a confirmed Greenland White-fronted Goose that I saw and photographed.
See latest on the Eyebrowed Thrush including a street name now! https://twitter.com/#!/TillSmith and also discussion here on: BIRDFORUM
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
Holme Marsh Reserve
From the first hide, there was little of note apart from a Pochard, a Heron sitting on the far bank and several Woodpigeons. Lots of blackbirds around this morning and a Song Thrush and Common Darter was seen. 4 Bullfinches were seen in the hawthorns just before the second hide and a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. From the second hide, 2 marsh harriers were seen and distant views of a Bittern flying over the marsh. Met two of my blog readers - nice to meet you both and thanks! Along the public footpath next to the carpark we saw and heard a Water Rail and another Cetti's Warbler.
Titchwell RSPB
Watched and photographed (badly!) the Yellow-browed Warbler in the picnic area as soon as we arrived. Walked around the Fen Trail via the main path. Had wonderful views of both male and female Siskins feeding on catkins at the beginning of the main path. Around the Fen Trail we saw a Cetti's Warbler which I managed to get a photo of (just!) before it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared and also a Common Darter sunning itself on a reed stem. Had a quick hot snack at the Feeding Station and then had to leave by 12.30pm to go to work and had to leave Eddie to carry on birding without me!!!! Torture!
I drove home via Choseley and saw a Marsh Harrier near the barns and about 15 Red-legged Partridges were close to the edge of the road in the field further along the road.
Please see: here and scroll to the bottom of post for 'Udate' on a confirmed Greenland White-fronted Goose that I saw and photographed.
See latest on the Eyebrowed Thrush including a street name now! https://twitter.com/#!/TillSmith and also discussion here on: BIRDFORUM
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
Saturday, 19 November 2011
We couldn't raise the Eyebrow!!!
Hunstanton Cliffs
A beautiful sunny morning, but very cold. Arrived at St Edmunds Chapel by the lighthouse at Hunstanton and walked along the cliff top and the public footpath that runs past the 'Le Strange Arms Hotel' and through Old Hunstanton Golf course and almost to Holme. Very few birds in the lighthouse garden itself, the usual house sparrows and a blackbird on the wall. Walked past the lifeboat station and through to the wooden chalets on the sandy cliff and continued on through the beach huts and way beyond. Saw a distant Stonechat, a large flock of linnets and greenfinches, a few song thrushes and blackbirds and that was about it! Walked back along the beach and photographed an obliging turnstone. Also bumped into a couple who live locally and told us that they had had awesome views a couple of days ago of the escaped Red Bishop sitting on sea buckthorn and then flying past them, back over the beach huts towards Hunstanton! Back at the pine tree copse by the cliff carpark we had a Red Admiral and a Comma Butterfly which made it feel like a summer's day!
Stood at the lighthouse at 11.25am seawatching and saw the following: 2 Velvet Scoters, 2 Slavonian Grebes, loads of Red-breasted Mergansers (didn't count them today as they were dotted all over the sea!), 8 Eider, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Gannets and lots of Little Gulls and also the usual Fulmars.
Lunch stop and then went to the Ski Ramp at Hunstanton to look for Purple Sandpipers, but no luck. Loads of turnstones feeding on 'The Green' at Hunstanton by the Golden Lion Hotel.
Cruised round some of the roads around the lighthouse area looking for the Eyebrowed Thrush. We found out the Eagle Owl is still about in the area! On the pitch 'n' putt by the lighthouse I counted 56 Oystercatchers along with curlews and black-headed gulls which were all scattered by a Sparrowhawk that bolted through them and across the road.
Titchwell RSPB
Fantastic views of the Yellow-browed Warbler in the picnic area, but no photographs obtained, but a robin posed very cutely for pictures! Along the main trail a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were on the fresh lagoon along with thousands of Golden Plover and Eddie also noted one with a white head. A Stonechat sat distantly on a bush out on the marsh and 2 ring tailed Hen Harriers were seen along with 5 Marsh Harriers.
I am removing all twitter information from my posts about the Eyebrowed Thrush as its looks messy on my blog I have decided!!!!!
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
A beautiful sunny morning, but very cold. Arrived at St Edmunds Chapel by the lighthouse at Hunstanton and walked along the cliff top and the public footpath that runs past the 'Le Strange Arms Hotel' and through Old Hunstanton Golf course and almost to Holme. Very few birds in the lighthouse garden itself, the usual house sparrows and a blackbird on the wall. Walked past the lifeboat station and through to the wooden chalets on the sandy cliff and continued on through the beach huts and way beyond. Saw a distant Stonechat, a large flock of linnets and greenfinches, a few song thrushes and blackbirds and that was about it! Walked back along the beach and photographed an obliging turnstone. Also bumped into a couple who live locally and told us that they had had awesome views a couple of days ago of the escaped Red Bishop sitting on sea buckthorn and then flying past them, back over the beach huts towards Hunstanton! Back at the pine tree copse by the cliff carpark we had a Red Admiral and a Comma Butterfly which made it feel like a summer's day!
Stood at the lighthouse at 11.25am seawatching and saw the following: 2 Velvet Scoters, 2 Slavonian Grebes, loads of Red-breasted Mergansers (didn't count them today as they were dotted all over the sea!), 8 Eider, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Gannets and lots of Little Gulls and also the usual Fulmars.
Lunch stop and then went to the Ski Ramp at Hunstanton to look for Purple Sandpipers, but no luck. Loads of turnstones feeding on 'The Green' at Hunstanton by the Golden Lion Hotel.
Cruised round some of the roads around the lighthouse area looking for the Eyebrowed Thrush. We found out the Eagle Owl is still about in the area! On the pitch 'n' putt by the lighthouse I counted 56 Oystercatchers along with curlews and black-headed gulls which were all scattered by a Sparrowhawk that bolted through them and across the road.
Titchwell RSPB
Fantastic views of the Yellow-browed Warbler in the picnic area, but no photographs obtained, but a robin posed very cutely for pictures! Along the main trail a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were on the fresh lagoon along with thousands of Golden Plover and Eddie also noted one with a white head. A Stonechat sat distantly on a bush out on the marsh and 2 ring tailed Hen Harriers were seen along with 5 Marsh Harriers.
I am removing all twitter information from my posts about the Eyebrowed Thrush as its looks messy on my blog I have decided!!!!!
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Friday, 18 November 2011
Autumnwatch
Nice to see Bill Oddie on Autumnwatch this evening. Bring back Bill and remove Martin Hughes-Games!!!!
No Sign of Louise"s Mega!!!!
No exciting birds at the hospital this morning I"m afraid. Was there from first light with meal worms, seed and apples!!!!
No sign of the bird at all - had another look at lunchtime and Louise didn't see the bird again either. Very disappointing, another one that got away.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
No sign of the bird at all - had another look at lunchtime and Louise didn't see the bird again either. Very disappointing, another one that got away.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Eyebrowed Thrush in Hunstanton
According to TillSmith on Twitter the Eyebrowed Thrush is still being seen in the garden in Hunstanton today both at lunch time and in the afternoon!! I know where I am going to be on Saturday morning!!!!
If the bird is being seen most days then please ask the owners to take some pictures and post to us all – would love to see some more poses please? If they haven't got a good enough camera to improve on the last picture – I would be more than happy to come and take an nice sharp photo of it!!! I am available to take pictures on Saturday! Please email me via my blog!
https://twitter.com/#!/TillSmith
If the bird is being seen most days then please ask the owners to take some pictures and post to us all – would love to see some more poses please? If they haven't got a good enough camera to improve on the last picture – I would be more than happy to come and take an nice sharp photo of it!!! I am available to take pictures on Saturday! Please email me via my blog!
https://twitter.com/#!/TillSmith
MEGA in King's Lynn?
The one that got away?
Two of my work colleagues saw a VERY, VERY interesting bird this morning in King's Lynn - they described it as 'black, white and blue' - 'a very striking, pretty little bird' the 'steely blue grey colour was on the back of the bird' and the rest of the bird was black and white, but the black and white was 'more prominent on the sides on the bird'. They are not birdwatchers, but know enough to know that it wasn't any of the common birds that I listed/showed them pictures of. It was a small bird and was seen on the grass by the kerb and also momentarily on a small 2ft wall and also in some lower branches of an oak tree. They described it as around robin(ish) sized. I was naturally VERY excited and flew home lunchtime to get my bins and camera and whizzed back to search for it in my lunch slot, but I could not find the bird anywhere. The only bird that sprang to mind when I asked someone's else advice was a Black-throated Blue Warbler or maybe a Siberian Blue Robin!!!!! Any other more sensible ideas please? Louise (one of the two ladies that saw the bird) has recently bought an iphone 4 and was trying to work out how the zoom worked on the camera to take a picture, but was unable to find this out until later when she did not see the bird again! I am absolutely gutted. I pointed out to Louise that if she had managed to photograph it and it had turned out to be a black throated blue warbler, she and I would have been mega famous - she is now cursing not being able to work the zoom on the camera! I am also cursing her!!!!!!
I will get to the spot at dawn tomorrow which means I will only have about an hour to look before work. Will ring RBA immediately if I find it, if its something good, even though I would be in massive trouble because of where it is - but hey ho, life's too short!!!
Update - 7.15pm - Louise is trying to find the bird she saw on the net and is suggesting 'Black throated Gray Warbler. I have so far come up with Cerulean Warbler and others to match her description...... but she said she is 'sticking with 'Black-throated Gray Warbler'. So I will look VERY hard tomorrow morning!!!!!
I can't cook, rest or do any jobs this evening - this bird is REALLY bugging me massively!!!!!
Two of my work colleagues saw a VERY, VERY interesting bird this morning in King's Lynn - they described it as 'black, white and blue' - 'a very striking, pretty little bird' the 'steely blue grey colour was on the back of the bird' and the rest of the bird was black and white, but the black and white was 'more prominent on the sides on the bird'. They are not birdwatchers, but know enough to know that it wasn't any of the common birds that I listed/showed them pictures of. It was a small bird and was seen on the grass by the kerb and also momentarily on a small 2ft wall and also in some lower branches of an oak tree. They described it as around robin(ish) sized. I was naturally VERY excited and flew home lunchtime to get my bins and camera and whizzed back to search for it in my lunch slot, but I could not find the bird anywhere. The only bird that sprang to mind when I asked someone's else advice was a Black-throated Blue Warbler or maybe a Siberian Blue Robin!!!!! Any other more sensible ideas please? Louise (one of the two ladies that saw the bird) has recently bought an iphone 4 and was trying to work out how the zoom worked on the camera to take a picture, but was unable to find this out until later when she did not see the bird again! I am absolutely gutted. I pointed out to Louise that if she had managed to photograph it and it had turned out to be a black throated blue warbler, she and I would have been mega famous - she is now cursing not being able to work the zoom on the camera! I am also cursing her!!!!!!
I will get to the spot at dawn tomorrow which means I will only have about an hour to look before work. Will ring RBA immediately if I find it, if its something good, even though I would be in massive trouble because of where it is - but hey ho, life's too short!!!
Update - 7.15pm - Louise is trying to find the bird she saw on the net and is suggesting 'Black throated Gray Warbler. I have so far come up with Cerulean Warbler and others to match her description...... but she said she is 'sticking with 'Black-throated Gray Warbler'. So I will look VERY hard tomorrow morning!!!!!
I can't cook, rest or do any jobs this evening - this bird is REALLY bugging me massively!!!!!
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Monday, 14 November 2011
Desert Wheatear re-locates!
The Desert Wheatear has re-located to Titchwell RSPB. My guess is that it spent most of Sunday at Thornham Point just across the channel from Holme.
One Stop Nature Shop opening in North West Norfolk!!!
This new shop opens in December.
http://www.deepdalefarm.co.uk/dalegatemarket/indshop.asp?UnitID=6
Director Richard Campey opens The One Stop Nature Shop on the 1st December at Dalegate Market, Burnham Deepdale and will feature a wide range of equipment from binoculars and telescopes , to bat detectors, nest box cameras, magnifiers, night vision scopes and a comprehensive selection of microscopes.
The shop will be open seven days a week 10am- 5pm and will also be running a series of courses based around nature conservation.
http://www.deepdalefarm.co.uk/dalegatemarket/indshop.asp?UnitID=6
Director Richard Campey opens The One Stop Nature Shop on the 1st December at Dalegate Market, Burnham Deepdale and will feature a wide range of equipment from binoculars and telescopes , to bat detectors, nest box cameras, magnifiers, night vision scopes and a comprehensive selection of microscopes.
The shop will be open seven days a week 10am- 5pm and will also be running a series of courses based around nature conservation.
EYEBROWED THRUSH in Hunstanton!!!!!
Unconfirmed report of an Eyebrowed Thrush in a garden in Hunstanton for second day. No access to garden – RBA!!!!!!!!!!
Apparently I was told of a rumour that the bird was in my parent's garden, well I think I would know if it was!!!!!!!! Also I would have photographed it and I would have posted the picture EVERYWHERE!!!!!! It most certainly isn't in their garden and whoever started the rumour – my parents don't live in Hunstanton either!!!!!!
All gossip/rumours/speculation etc etc and picture now on:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=216140
and picture linked here from Twitter which crashed!!!: http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2290804&postcount=62
https://twitter.com/?photo_id=1#!/TillSmith/status/136187187074056192/photo/1
https://twitter.com/?photo_id=1#!/TillSmith
Apparently I was told of a rumour that the bird was in my parent's garden, well I think I would know if it was!!!!!!!! Also I would have photographed it and I would have posted the picture EVERYWHERE!!!!!! It most certainly isn't in their garden and whoever started the rumour – my parents don't live in Hunstanton either!!!!!!
All gossip/rumours/speculation etc etc and picture now on:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=216140
and picture linked here from Twitter which crashed!!!: http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2290804&postcount=62
https://twitter.com/?photo_id=1#!/TillSmith/status/136187187074056192/photo/1
https://twitter.com/?photo_id=1#!/TillSmith
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Brilliant Torch for iphone!
Search for "iTorch4" in "Apps" - it's a free download and it's brilliant. Considerably brighter than the iphone"s natural light and there is also a strobe effect option aswell. I have the 3GS and it works for this.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Spectacular Morning!
Greenland White-fronted Goose
The Saltings, Holme.
The Saltings, Holme.
I didn't get up as early as planned, as I needed as much sleep as possible. It was a gloriously beautiful day and I tried to blot out the fact that I had to be at work for 2pm!
Hunstanton Lighthouse
I arrived at Hunstanton Lighthouse just after 9am and parked by the remains of St Edmund's Chapel. A good place to start I decided, just in case the 'Pallid' Swift was still cruising round - but no swift sp.'s were seen at all. Lots of action in the lighthouse garden though – blackbirds, goldfinches, greenfinches, house sparrows and robins. I photographed a female blackbird eating hawthorn berries by the clifftop and also a house sparrow, who posed for a picture. Opposite the lighthouse on the pitch 'n' putt were 28 Curlew feeding, along with a few oystercatchers. I had left the scope in the car and asked another birder who was sea-watching if the birds I could see sitting distantly were Eider – they were indeed. I returned to the car to get the scope and went back to scan the sea. I was gobsmacked when I realised there were a huge number of Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea – my initial count was 11, which I thought was brilliant in itself, but further counts resulted in a massive number of 32 Red-breasted Mergansers!!!!!!! all sitting on the sea, along with 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Drake Eiders and a Gannet flew east. I have never seen this many mergansers together before – it was simply magical! No sign of the 'Red Bishop' I mentioned in my post yesterday. The birder who had been seawatching told me that some friends of his had just seen the Hoopoe again at Holme! This was where I was going next anyway. Also the Desert Wheater had not been seen at Holme today at all.
Update: there was I, thinking how brilliant it was to have seen 32 Red-breasted Mergansers until I read on Birdforum this evening, that someone else had seen 40 and in the same spot!!!!! See here.
Holme NWT Reserve
Along the Firs Road, I noticed the owners of the standing caravan (opposite Sandy Ridge) were in their garden so I stopped to ask them very politely why they had cut so many of their trees down and the man replied 'watch this space'. As the youngsters say 'whatever'!!!!! I complimented his 'patch' and said those trees had been there a very long time and did he realise how many rare birds had been in there over the years - he replied 'we had a hoopoe in here this morning, so we can't be doing too much wrong'. Passing Robert at the pay hut, he told me that the Hoopoe had gone south-east over the pay hut, not west, as on the pager message. Parked by the 5-bar gate and worked the NWT Forestry hard, to find this hoopoe. I walked all the way to the far bunk houses and back again. In the gorse opposite Gore Point I had lovely views of a pair of Stonechats - the female being ringed, I noticed. Also a good number of greenfinches and goldfinches here, a few robins, blackbirds and wrens. I ticked off a dog walker - a couple with dog off lead and said they should 'have their dog on a lead on the reserve' and pointed out where the public footpath was. They replied 'we are local' - I replied that 'the warden would be less polite if he saw you' - they replied 'we know the warden' - at this point I gave up - another pointless 'dog' conservation! Back up on the pubic footpath I bumped into Sue Bryan and Andy B. and asked them if they had seen the hoopoe - they had not, but pointed out a Greenland White-fronted Goose to me in the lagoon, seaward side (The Saltings) which I got a few pictures of. Andy B. told me that the large number of red-breasted mergansers I had seen had been there for a while. Just before I got to the car a local birder very kindly let me look through his scope at a lovely Short-eared Owl sitting in the fields by the marshes. Left at 12.45pm to start work in Lynn at 2pm. I made it back in time - just!
DUSKY WARBLERS reported at Blakeney Point and Horsey today!!!!! The Horsey bird being found by Graham Etherington - see picture here.
UPDATE - 19-11-11: Robert Smith very kindly let me know that the day after I saw the White-fronted Goose in Gore Point channel at Holme, it was sadly found dead by a local birder, but was confirmed that the bird was of the Greenland race! Thanks Robert, for letting me know.
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Desert Wheatear in glorious sunshine!
DESERT WHEATEAR
Holme
Holme
I was tired before I started this morning, which doesn't help one get through the day! As I type, next door's dog is howling and barking continuously, like a devil possessed and all because the owner is not there - in fact they are not there much at all really. I wanted to go to sleep early tonight, but not much chance of that! Part of me thinks poor dog and the other part wants to go round there with a gun - can't take much more of it. People really should not have pets if they are not there, especially a dog, its a full time commitment and they should not be left in the house alone for any length of time. I am so tired tonight, that I am not even watching X-Factor and I ALWAYS watch it normally!
Eddie started at Cley this morning with a seawatch and had quite a good selection: Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, a Bonxie, a Pom Skua, 2 Velvet Scoter etc.
Holme Reserves
I arrived at Holme NOA carpark at around 9.20am. On route along the Firs road I saw 4 Stonechats on the barbed wire fence and brambles. Quite a few cars in the carpark already! Andy W. pulled into the NWT carpark shortly after me, so we both walked across the dunes, through the pines and crossed over opposite the observatory and walked east to see the DESERT WHEATEAR at just after 10am. What a cracking bird! It was eating mealworms along the tide line – somebody had obviously sprinkled a few there earlier this morning! I phoned RBA with an update as no one else had bothered to do so since the first message just after 8am this morning and updated them again at 11.20am and 12.40am. I spent far too long really here - or did I? I sat on the sand for several hours watching and enjoying this beautiful little bird along with a Northern Wheatear who was not happy to be second best and chased the Desert Wheatear at every opportunity! With my 300mm lens I found it incredibly difficult to focus on this bird in the dull light as it camouflaged well against the sand and obviously I couldn't get as close as I would have liked - although I did wiggle as close as I dare! The light did improve later on though and I managed to get some reasonable shots. The bird didn't seem bothered at all by anyone's presence, but it was very much bothered by an unleashed dog. Now everyone knows how I feel about dogs, but this dog did me a huge favour - it bounded right up to the bird and the Desert Wheatear stood in a perfect stance on a large stone - the only shot on my camera I was happy with, so thanks dog! Having not eaten or drank since early morning, my head was rocking and I felt awful. The light was now beautiful but I was now on my last Sansdisk card anyway (still havn't sorted all my photos out!), so left and walked back to the carpark for late lunch. I watched a Woodcock fly from the pines behind the Firs house - it flew out across the marsh in a big circle and returned to the same pines! Sue Bryan came and joined me for a chat and whilst there, two birders walked into the carpark and kindly told us there was a Hoopoe along a grassy track the other side of a gate, half way down the Firs Road! Off we shot down the road! I phoned Eddie to let him know, (who hasn't got a pager anymore) who was watching the Desert Wheatear at this point. Anyway, got to the area where the Hoopoe was seen and guess what, it was out of view. We had missed it by minutes! In fact it stayed out of view for the rest of the day!!!! A few lucky people had seen it and one man showed me a record shot on his camera - see here. Dawn Balmer had found it apparently - congratulations! Lots of people stood there until dusk in hope of seeing this bird, but sadly it didn't appear again. I was bored with waiting and went off to the NWT Forestry to find something exciting, but only came up with lots of blackbirds, robins and hedgesparrows and masses of magpies. I returned to watch for the Hoopoe again with others and saw 4 Barn Owls hunting around the marsh and a Pipistrelle Bat. Whilst standing there, news came through about a Pallid Swift at Hunstanton this morning and also 10 Waxwings that were seen by the Hun Bridge at Holme at 3pm - nice late news now its dark on both lots of birds! A swift sp. has been seen the last couple of days at Hunstanton and had been ID'd as a Common Swift and now apparently re-identified as a Pallid. But is this the same bird? Possibly another swift that actually was a Pallid!!! Well, its gone now anyway, so we may well never know! I also heard through the grapevine, that there is a residing 'Red Bishop' (obviously escaped) in Hunstanton at the moment, that has been frequenting the same garden, but recently has been touring the rest of 'Sunny Hunny' – this morning it was seen in a small bush on the cliff top - how awesome is that!!! See pictures etc here on: birdforum.
Got chips from 'Sunny Hunny' on the way home.
Dog still barking.........
Desert Wheatear, Holme.Friday, 11 November 2011
Happy Birthday Vivien!!!
Happy Birthday
to my baby sister Vivien
who is..... no I am not going to say her age as this makes me feel REALLY old!!!!!
Have a lovely day Vivien - see you later!
Love Penny x x x
to my baby sister Vivien
who is..... no I am not going to say her age as this makes me feel REALLY old!!!!!
Have a lovely day Vivien - see you later!
Love Penny x x x
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Rares all Week!!!!!
Yep, and I am stuck at work. How frustrating is that!!!
MELODIOUS WARBLER at Happisburgh along with Pallas's Warblers, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler, Great Grey Shrike and Firecrest at Trimmingham.
My mother yesterday predicted 'there will be a Desert Wheatear at Holme this week' and up on the pager this afternoon "DESERT WHEATEAR male Holme Dunes at east end on tideline near Thornham Channel at 3.42pm. Access from Thornham harbour car park"
Trying not to think about all these birds too much, plus all the ones undiscovered yet!!!
Roll on Saturday!
MELODIOUS WARBLER at Happisburgh along with Pallas's Warblers, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler, Great Grey Shrike and Firecrest at Trimmingham.
My mother yesterday predicted 'there will be a Desert Wheatear at Holme this week' and up on the pager this afternoon "DESERT WHEATEAR male Holme Dunes at east end on tideline near Thornham Channel at 3.42pm. Access from Thornham harbour car park"
Trying not to think about all these birds too much, plus all the ones undiscovered yet!!!
Roll on Saturday!
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
4 Waxwings!
I am working in the community at the moment and a patient I go out to see regularly in Watlington had 4 Waxwings in their garden this morning!!!! Sadly I was too late to see them though!
Sunday, 6 November 2011
SEAWATCHING - CLEY!!!
LITTLE AUKCoastguards, Cley.
6.50am–12.50pm Cley Coastguards with E.T.M.
Very difficult to get up this morning with the wind howling ferociously outside, but the excitement of a good seawatch enticed me to get out of the house! I arrived at Coastguards at 6.50am and was pleased to be the first one there - I even beat Eddie by 10 minutes! It was freezing cold, but I had prepared well with thermal leggings, trousers and rain trousers etc!!!
The first bird I saw through the scope was an Arctic Skua going east. It all looked very exciting. Huge numbers of wildfowl going through, especially shelduck. Loads of Kittiwakes and good numbers of Little Gulls. We had some surprising birds, as you will see from the list! Most of the passage had tailored off by midday though.
Several birders joined us both throughout the morning including R. M., Robin A., Pete S., Pete D., Steve B., Steve G., Tim and Irene L. and loads of others!
I photographed a Pom Skua which landed in the Eye Field - a stunning bird, but sadly it didn't fly in the short time that I stood there! I was torn between waiting for a flight shot or returning to seawatch! I returned to seawatch instead. Julian B. reported to me later (beaming from ear to ear) that he had got some flight shots - which means of course, they will be more than good!
Pete Snook picked up a Little Auk sitting on the sea (whilst I had nipped away for 10 minutes to go to VC) - luckily it was still there when I returned and I got some record shots of it, fairly close in to the surf. Several very annoying birders walked up the shingle and stood directly on the ridge in front of us - how rude! Eddie got rather hot under the collar (putting it mildly!)
Bird of the morning was a LEACH'S PETROL - seen by Eddie Myers only, at 11.49am going west. Very sadly no one else could get on it and we wondered if had turned and gone east and possibly been the same bird that Stuart White had seen at Gramborough Hill, that then flew inland being mobbed by crows.
Frustratingly I had to leave by lunchtime, as had to be at work for 3pm for a six hour shift.
Now absolutely shattered!
Birds I saw at Coastguards:
Loads of Kittiwakes, Little Gulls, Teal, Wigeon, Common Scoter, Gannets, a few Dunlin and Knot (I didn't count these)
Bonxies x 25
Arctic Skuas x 7
Pom Skua x 6
Little Auks x 3 (2 flying east and one on sea picked up by Pete S.)
Razorbill x 2
Guillemot x 1
Auk sp. x 8 (at least)
Puffin x 1 west at 8.55am
Merlin x 1 west at 7.55am
Shag x 2
Slavonian Grebes x 2 west
Red-necked Grebes x 3
Red-breasted Mergansers x 22
Red-throated Divers x 18
Golden Eye x 7
Eiders x 51
Long-tailed Duck x 1 with 2 Teal west
Shelduck x 173
Shoveler x 2
Gadwall x 3
Avocets x 6 (flew through in two lots of three)
Curlew x 1
Redwings x 3
Skylarks x 2
UPDATE: SABINE'S GULL - seen by Eddie Myers and others this afternoon at 2.55pm going east from Coastguards, Cley.
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Cley Birding
Coastguards - 7am-10.15am – foggy – with E.T.M.
2 Great Northern Divers going west at 7.55am, 1 Eider west, 2 Golden Eye going west, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Bonxie, 1 Razorbill. Lots of Gannets and Little Gulls, Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 100+ Common Scoter. A surprise Yellow Wagtail with Meadow Pipits, sitting on the shingle east of the shelter at 9.35am. Skies brightened up by 9.30am. Saw two Blakeney Point regulars heading off down the point. Went to the NWT Visitor Centre for cheese scones with Eddie (bad influence!)
Walsey Hills NOA – with E.T.M.
Quite a lot of birds in here including a Blackcap, Goldcrests, lots of blackbirds, song thrushes, redwings, fieldfares and the usual blue tits, great tits, chaffinches, hedgesparrows and robins.
Warham Greens – with E.T.M and John F.
Male Hen Harrier, 2 juv. Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine sitting on the beach, several Linnets, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Skylarks and a Barn Owl. A single Lapland bunting came over the path with loads of skylarks and finches.
Coastguards, Cley with E.T.M.
2 Bonxies east, several Little Gulls, a Razorbill, 3 Arctic Skuas and a Woodcock (picked up by ETM) in off the sea at 4pm!
2 Great Northern Divers going west at 7.55am, 1 Eider west, 2 Golden Eye going west, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Bonxie, 1 Razorbill. Lots of Gannets and Little Gulls, Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 100+ Common Scoter. A surprise Yellow Wagtail with Meadow Pipits, sitting on the shingle east of the shelter at 9.35am. Skies brightened up by 9.30am. Saw two Blakeney Point regulars heading off down the point. Went to the NWT Visitor Centre for cheese scones with Eddie (bad influence!)
Walsey Hills NOA – with E.T.M.
Quite a lot of birds in here including a Blackcap, Goldcrests, lots of blackbirds, song thrushes, redwings, fieldfares and the usual blue tits, great tits, chaffinches, hedgesparrows and robins.
Warham Greens – with E.T.M and John F.
Male Hen Harrier, 2 juv. Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine sitting on the beach, several Linnets, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Skylarks and a Barn Owl. A single Lapland bunting came over the path with loads of skylarks and finches.
Coastguards, Cley with E.T.M.
2 Bonxies east, several Little Gulls, a Razorbill, 3 Arctic Skuas and a Woodcock (picked up by ETM) in off the sea at 4pm!
Wells Woods and Cley
FRIDAY 4th NOVEMBER
Had some jobs to do in the morning, but managed to get out for a short while in the afternoon.
Wells Woods - nothing spectacular of note apart from a couple of Goldcrests in the tit flock.
Cley Coastguards - 4 Arctic Skuas this evening along with loads of Gannets and Kittiwakes.
Had some jobs to do in the morning, but managed to get out for a short while in the afternoon.
Wells Woods - nothing spectacular of note apart from a couple of Goldcrests in the tit flock.
Cley Coastguards - 4 Arctic Skuas this evening along with loads of Gannets and Kittiwakes.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
A career change?
http://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/career_of_the_week_graphic_designer_1_1111708
After spending over 20 years as a typesetter/artworker I most definately have a wealth of experience, but lack photoshop skills. Yes I can do the basics, but you have to be a wizard in photoshop and all other software packages to get anywhere nowadays and also being under 30 helps aswell!!!
Anyone out there want to employ me? – (note 'en' rule used) or an — ('em' rule) I fancy a career change. I miss being creative and I need to earn some serious dosh!!!
If anyone wants anything re-designing, please email me!
After spending over 20 years as a typesetter/artworker I most definately have a wealth of experience, but lack photoshop skills. Yes I can do the basics, but you have to be a wizard in photoshop and all other software packages to get anywhere nowadays and also being under 30 helps aswell!!!
Anyone out there want to employ me? – (note 'en' rule used) or an — ('em' rule) I fancy a career change. I miss being creative and I need to earn some serious dosh!!!
If anyone wants anything re-designing, please email me!
Looking good for seawatching at the weekend!!!
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=sheringham
http://www.accuweather.com/ukie/forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&postalcode=PE36%206LP&metric=1
I have a day off work tomorrow, so looking forward to some exciting birding - hopefully, anyway!
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=sheringham
http://www.accuweather.com/ukie/forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&postalcode=PE36%206LP&metric=1
I have a day off work tomorrow, so looking forward to some exciting birding - hopefully, anyway!
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Happy 85th Birthday!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
To My Dearest Father!!!
May your day be full of surprises!
Love Penny x x x
To My Dearest Father!!!
May your day be full of surprises!
Love Penny x x x
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