Wryneck, Redstart, Whinchat & More At Stiffkey!

WRYNECK

In the hawthorn hedge, west of the bait diggers path at Stiffkey.

I was so pleased when my colleagues and I finished work much earlier than expected today at 1.45pm! Whizzed home, lunch etc and then decisions – where to go.... with the Red-backed Shrike showing brilliantly at Winterton, I was tempted, but that's a long way to go (and expensive) late in the afternoon. There was an Adult Rose-coloured Starling in a residential street at Weybourne and a Barred Warbler and Wryneck at Stiffkey....... ok decision made, head for Stiffkey first.

It was a beautifully warm, sunny afternoon. Parked up for Stiffkey Fen and then walked along the bait-diggers footpath and headed west. I soon found Eddie (very handy) and he had just found the Wryneck sitting in the hedge west of the path I had just walked along at 5pm – fabulous! Mind you, I didn't get a picture of it at that point and it promptly disappeared. The Wryneck didn't show for the next hour. The place was buzzing with birds!!! There was a Redstart, a Whinchat and loads of Linnets and Goldfinches, all in the same hedge! Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps aswell and several Reed Buntings. I spent a long time also trying to see the Barred Warbler, but in vain. A Sparrowhawk spent a considerable amount of time along the hedgerow, attempting to grab a quick snack! 2 Herons also flew overhead.

Wryneck late evening at Stiffkey.

 

With no news on the Rose-coloured Starling at Weybourne from 3.40pm I decided to stay put. I presume people were not watching it after that and all evening without putting news out (especially those with pagers!). I chatted with two birders who had been to Weybourne and said there had been no news since around 3.30pm – they also said that the police had turned up and residents were not very happy – always difficult in a residential area.

I had a lovely time for the rest of the evening and finally managed to get a record shot at about 7.15pm of the Wryneck, which was in a big hawthorn bush amongst Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs enjoying a feeding frenzie of gnats on offer, as the sun went down. I watched the Wryneck until 7.30pm when it flew off west into a gorse area.

Female Blackcap fly-catching, late evening at Stiffkey.

 Chiffchaff fly-catching, late evening at Stiffkey.

It was chilly as I walked back to my car at 7.45pm. On route I had an amazing sighting of 45 Little Egrets flying east to roost locally!!! Loads of Greylag and Canada Geese in the field next to the path and 3 Curlews flew over north. The night's are really drawing in now, hate it when the evenings get shorter. Sat in my car and had my salad tea and drove home.

45 Little Egrets flying east to roost.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck at North Dunes, Pied Flycatchers x 2 at South Dunes, Winterton.
Spoonbills x 21 at Stiffkey Fen.
Black Terns x 9, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stints x 5 at Cley NWT.
Barred Warbler, Wryneck at Stiffkey Greens.
Rose-coloured Starling, Adult in residential street at Weybourne.
Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Breydon Water.
Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
White-rumped Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 16, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers x 6, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB.
EASTERN COMMON TERN probable, on spit at west end of Scolt Head Island, viewed from Brancaster Golf Course on rising tide for third day along with a Caspian Gull.
Honey Buzzard flew SW over Thornham.
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper at Cantley Beet Factory.
Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Wryneck yesterday in garden at Spalding, Lincolnshire.
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER still at Languard Nature Reserve, Suffolk.
Bufflehead esc. at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK, Wryneck at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
GREENISH WARBLER at sewage works, Southwold, Suffolk.

MEGA NEWS!
None.

Nurse Penny & Holme Reserves!

Me, Redwell Marsh Hide, NOA.

Note to self: do not state on your blog the day before, that you 'will' be getting up at dawn!!! I was horrified when I opened my eyes to see the clock..... 8am – don't know what happened, but I didn't hear my alarm at all! Cursing and muttering I shot out of bed and then decided that I still felt tired, so I got back in bed! I have a week's holiday coming up in September, so hopefully will feel more energised then!

I got out by mid morning and drove to Holme to pay my NOA subs (overdue) and then dropped into my parent's with a few requested groceries. I ended up helping my father for a couple of hours. My father has always been a very proud, immaculate man and pre his stroke, shaved daily. I can never remember seeing him unshaven, but of late he has found it very difficult to shave himself properly and when I saw him today – well he just desperately needed a proper shave. Mother is too worried about doing it to be fair. When I had finished father's shave, he looked so happy and said it was 'marvellous' and that he felt like he had a new face and wanted to know what razor and foam I had used – he couldn't take in that I had used his razor etc and asked how I had achieved his smooth finish  – 'because I am brilliant at shaving and do this regularly at the hospital I told him'!!! Isn't it funny how something so simple, can make someone feel so good and happy. I have offered before to help him with that, but he has never accepted my help before. He was in such a good mood after this, he allowed me to take a 'selfie' of us together!!! By the time I had sorted out his ears with ear drops (deaf as a post) and soaked feet and massaged with cream, it was mid afternoon.

My father (aged 87) and I together – a rare occurrence!
Hate this picture of me though!

I should have driven to Winterton today – at least I would have seen some fabulous birds, instead I ended up seeing hardly anything. I couldn't see the point in travelling any further at this time of the day, so decided to dedicate the rest of my day at Holme Reserves.

Driving along the Firs Road, there were several Chiffchaffs flitting about in bushes by someone's garden and also a Robin. I spent a long time in the NWT Forestry, searching for something good. Annoyingly there were several birds flitting about in there, but simply wouldn't come out!!! In fact all I saw in there to ID was a great tit and some exciting woodpigeons... not!!!

Took the car down to the NOA carpark and then walked into the Firs NWT shop/reception to ask if there were any birds around of note – there wasn't. The ovens are still not in the new cafe yet, so still only a limited choice of food on offer, but it shouldn't be too much longer I heard. Walked up to the observatory, checking all the scrub and buckthorn. Sat in the hide for a while, nothing. Walked along the bottom path adjacent to the broadwater and found a single Reed Warbler at the end. Walked up to the top coastal path and walked along the Thornham Bank to the sluice gates, hoping to find the recent Great White Egret, but only found 2 Black-headed Gulls in the channel. Sat on the seat overlooking the Broadwater to ponder and reminisce about the 'good old days'. I didn't see another birder whilst here – all holidaymakers, children and dogs, how things have changed – it used to be the other way round! There were 2 Mute Swans, Mallards, a Gadwall and a Little Grebe on the broadwater.

Me in The Forestry, Holme NWT.

Holme Beach near 'The Firs' entrance.

Thornham Channel.

Thornham Bank and Sea Wall.

The Broadwater, Holme NOA, from the coastal path.

 The Broadwater, Holme NOA, from Thornham Bank.

Walked back to my car via the dunes. Counted 30 Ringed Plovers on the beach amongst the gulls, Redshanks and Oystercatchers opposite the NWT entrance. A Whimbrel flew over calling and headed west. Back at my car, I had my tea. The brambles and scrub around the NOA carpark is a good spot for Barred Warblers, but none around today!

Redwell Marsh Hide NOA held 9 Black-tailed Godwits, a Little Egret, Moorhens, Teal and a few Swallows skimming over the water. A Snipe also flew over across the marsh.

Holme Marsh Reserve NWT from the second hide.

At Holme Marsh Reserve NWT I saw very little. This was probably due to the fact that I couldn't see the pool from either the first or second hide, as completely overgrown by reeds. Ok I exaggerate a little, I could see a small section of water. There were lots of comments in the visitor sightings books about the overgrown state and several people had written 'cut the reeds'. I did see 3 Marsh Harriers and a Barn Owl hunting as I left.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Whinchats x 3 at West Runton.
GREENISH WARBLER, Wryneck, Pied Flycatchers x 2 at South Dunes, Red-backed Shrike, Corncrake and GREENISH WARBLER at North Dunes, Winterton.
Roseate Tern, Black Tern, Curlew Sandpipers x 8, Little Stint, Spoonbills x 6, Whinchats x 2  at Titchwell RSPB.
Spoonbills x 23 at Stiffkey Fen.
Pied Flycatcher at Campsite Wood, Stiffkey.
Great Skua, Pectoral Sandpiper, Little Stints x 5, Black Terns x 3 (flew west past Coastguards), Caspian Gull at Cley NWT.
Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water.
Great White Egret at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
Osprey at Burnham Norton.
EASTERN COMMON TERN probable, on spit at west end of Scolt Head Island, viewed from Brancaster Golf Course on rising tide for second day.
Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Whinchat at Kelling Water Meadows.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Wryneck, Wood Warbler at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire.
Glossy Ibis at Frampton Marsh RSPB.
GREENISH WARBLERS x 2 at sewage works, Southwold, Suffolk.
Blyth's Reed Warbler at Orford Ness, Suffolk.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK, Wryneck at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER at Languard Nature Reserve, Suffolk.
Bufflehead esc. at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk.
Glossy Ibis at Wicken Fen NT, Cambridgeshire.

MEGA NEWS!
None.

The Weekend!

Well, I'm working again on Sunday but hopefully will be finished by 4.30pm latest, to travel to any megas found in Norfolk whilst I'm at work! I WILL be out at dawn tomorrow – havn't decided where I will start yet though.

LGRE writes on Twitter "Sad News: all 13 BEE-EATERS have departed the Isle of Wight nest-site, possibly crossed the Channel - Bon Voyage".  That is sad! Pity they didn't stay a bit longer and I would like to think they would have been safer here too! I would have loved to have seen them.

Weather for the weekend:
Saturday: A dry day for most with sunny spells, although one or two sharp showers are possible. Still a breeze but a warmer feel to the day than on Friday. Winds are West South West and then West from 2pm.

Sunday: Sunday, mainly dry, sunny spells, pleasantly warm. Thereafter, still feeling quite warm but with rather more cloud. Winds are West North West veering towards South West by mid to late evening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2652856

High Tides for King's Lynn Docks:
Saturday: 9.46am and 22.09
Sunday: 10.18am and 22.43

High Tides for Wells Bar:
Saturday: 9.38am and 22.01
Sunday: 10.08am and 22.33

Here's hoping for some good birds over the weekend!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Great White Egret at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
GREENISH WARBLER at West Cliff, Cromer.
Great Skua on pool at Salthouse.
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Wells Woods.
GREENISH WARBLER, Wryneck, Pied Flycatchers x 3, Tree Pipit, South Dunes, Winterton.
Black Tern, Little Stints x 2 on Arnold's Marsh, Cley NWT.
Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbill, Little Stint, Great Skua (west over North Scrape), Black Terns x 4 (west past coastguards), Cley NWT
Great White Egret, Black Tern at Thornham.
Great White Egret, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB.
Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Breydon Water.
Corncrake, Redstarts x 2, Whinchat along cliff top at Trimingham.
Pied Flycatcher, Redstart at Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Whinchats x 7 at Claxton Marshes.
Great White Egret at Welney WWT.
Whinchat along Firs Road, Holme.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Wryneck, Wood Warbler, Whinchat at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire.
Glossy Ibis at Frampton Marsh RSPB.
Wrynecks x 2 at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
Red-backed Shrike at Corton, Suffolk.
SUBALPINE WARBLER at Languard Nature Reserve, Suffolk.
GREENISH WARBLER at sewage works, Southwold, Suffolk.
Pied Flycatchers, Whinchats & Redstarts at various locations along Suffolk coast. 
Great White Egret, BLACK-WINGED STILT esc. at Needingworth Quarry, Cambridgeshire.
Glossy Ibis at Wicken Fen NT, Cambridgeshire.

MEGA NEWS!
ISABELLINE WHEATEAR Unconfirmed report, Scotvein, Isle of Grimsay, Wester Isles.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Whinchats x 2, Pied Flycatcher at Gramborough Hill, Great Skua at Little Eye, Salthouse.
Barred Warbler in garden (briefly) at Salthouse
Whinchats x 6 at West Runton.
Fieldfare at Sheringham.
Pied Flycatchers x 2, Whinchat at Happisburgh.
GREENISH WARBLER still, Redstart, west of campsite carpark at Stiffkey.
Pied Flycatchers x 5 in campsite woods + 2 along approach road, Stiffkey.
Pied Flycatcher at Warham Greens.
Curlew Sandpipers x 7, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Breydon Water.
Whinchat at Gun Hill, Burnham Overy Staithe.
Whinchat at Sidestrand.
Pied Flycatcher, Whinchats x 4, Great White Egret, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint, Spoonbills x 4 at Titchwell RSPB.
Pomarine Skua, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stints x 2, Whinchats x 5 at Cley NWT.
GREENISH WARBLER (The Plantation), Wryneck (Halfway House) at Blakeney Point.
GREENISH WARBLER still at East Hills, Wells.
Spoonbills x 17 at Stiffkey Fen.
Wryneck, Pied Flycatcher in Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Pied Flycatchers x 2, Whinchats x 4 at Horsey.
Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck, Redstart, Whinchats x 10 (north dunes), Pied Flycatchers x 7, Winterton.
Icterine Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 5 at Wells Woods.
Pied Flycatcher at Walsey Hills NOA.
Wryneck at Sidestrand.
Whinchat at Beeston Bump, Sheringham.
Curlew Sandpiper at Kelling Water Meadows.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Wryneck, Pied Flycatchers x 5, Wood Warbler, Icterine or Melodious? Warbler, Redstart at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire.
Wrynecks x 3 at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
Icterine Warbler, Red-backed Shrike at Corton, Suffolk.
Wryneck at Languard Nature Reserve, Suffolk
Pied Flycatchers, Whinchats & Redstarts at various locations along Suffolk coast.
Redstart at Little Paxton, Cambridgeshire.
Great White Egret, BLACK-WINGED STILT esc, Black Terns x 3 at Berry Fen/Ouse Fen, Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire.
Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret at Wicken Fen NT, Cambridgeshire.
BEE-EATERS x 2, Wydcombe Estate Nature Reserve, Niton, Isle of Wight. Use RSPB/NT carpark + viewpoint.

MEGA NEWS!
MEGA! SWINHOE'S PETREL, County Kerry, Ireland.

Searching for Rares at Burnham Overy Dunes!

    SUNSET AT BURNHAM OVERY    

With Greenish Warblers, Icterine Warblers, Pied Flycatchers etc bleeping up on the pager throughout the day, I just had to go birding after work this evening!

I decided to search Burnham Overy Dunes again and managed to get there by 5.55pm. There were several LBJ's in the sallow and brambles that just wouldn't show themselves, along the first section of the track. At the end of the boardwalk I watched 4 Pied Flycatchers flitting about in the main bushes/scrub, including one in the bushes just east of here – fabulous! Only managed to get a record shot of one of them though. I passed and chatted to two birders who had been searching for the Barred Warbler for over two hours with no luck – which doesn't surprise me at all, they can be elusive at the best of times!

Pied Flycatcher in the scrub at Burnham Overy Dunes.

I was the only person here now at Gun Hill, so hoped very much to find something exciting. The bushes on the seaward side of Gun Hill only held a single Chiffchaff and no LBJ's! There were no other migrants west of Gun Hill at all.

Trudged back along the seawall with failing light. A Green Sandpiper called and there was a massive gull roost in the harbour. 3 Spoonbills, 1 Heron and other birds that I couldn't ID because of light, were on the pool east of the seawall at 8.30pm. Suddenly I could hear the magical and haunting sound of Pink-footed Geese – they filled the skies and approximately 2000+ flew low over my head and landed on the marshes east of the seawall – the noise was tremendous! What a spectacle!!!

It was almost dark when I stumbled upon 2 Barn Owls sitting on the gate by the stile at the end of the track – they had no idea I was standing only yards from them – special moment indeed! They did fly off over the hedge as I got even closer though.

A Greenish or Barred Warbler would have been nice, but even without them it was a fabulous evening's birding after work.

I noticed on facebook that Ashley Banwell found the following at Burnham Overy Dunes this afternoon: 1 Barred Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Whinchats, 4 Wheatears, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Yellow Wagtail – excellent list!

    SUNSET AT BURNHAM OVERY    

RBA Weekly Round-Up 20th to 26th August!

By Mark Golley
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyroundup2014-34.aspx?s_id=798602495

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Corncrake (south dunes), Wryneck, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstart, Red-backed Shrike, Whinchat at North Dunes, Winterton.
Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat at Thornham Point.
Pied Flycatcher, Arctic Tern, Spoonbills x 7, Curlew Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB.
Pied Flycatcher at Gypsy Lane, Titchwell.
Barred Warbler at Eccles-on-Sea.
Wryneck at Hemsby.
Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water.
Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Redshank at Holme NWT.
Pied Flycatcher at Holme NOA.
GREENISH WARBLER, Icterine Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 4 at Wells Woods.
GREENISH WARBLER at East Hills, Wells.
Wood Warbler, Whinchat, Pied Flycatchers at Waxham.
Wrynecks x 3, Pied Flycatchers x 4, Whinchats x 2, Redstart at Blakeney Point.
GREENISH WARBLER (trapped, ringed & released), Red-backed Shrike at Weybourne Camp.
Whinchats x 13 at Horsey.
Little Stint at Cley NWT.
GREENISH WARBLER, Pied Flycatchers x 2, west of Campsite Carpark at Stiffkey.
Red-backed Shrike, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Whinchats x 4 at Kelling Water Meadows.
Pied Flycatcher at Walsey Hills NOA.
Whinchat at West Runton.
Icterine Warbler (probable), Pied Flycatchers x 2, Whinchats x 2 at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Icterine Warbler at Sidestrand.
GREENISH WARBLER (in garden), Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Northrepps
Whinchats x 3 at Caister-on-Sea.
Pied Flycatcher at Lynn Point, King's Lynn.
Pied Flycatchers x 7, Redstart, Whinchat in Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Barred Warbler, Pied Flycatchers, Whinchats x 2, Spoonbills x 3, Pink-footed Geese x 2000+ at Burnham Overy Staithe.
Pied Flycatchers x 4 at Garden Drove, Warham Greens.
Pied Flycatcher in churchyard, Brancaster.
Whinchat at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Glossy Ibis at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Wryneck, Honey Buzzards x 3, Pied Flycatchers x 5, Redstarts x 3, Whinchats x 3 at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire.
Barred Warbler at Landguard NR, Suffolk.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK, Cory's Shearwater, Wryneck at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
Lesser-spotted Woodpecker at Santon Downham, Suffolk.
Pied Flycatchers and Whinchats all along the Suffolk coast.
Great White Egret at Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire.
Glossy Ibis at Wicken Fen NT, Cambridgeshire.
BEE-EATERS x 12 (4 adults & 8 juvs)!!!, Wydcombe Estate Nature Reserve, Niton, Isle of Wight. Adults have been present since 8th June. Use RSPB/NT carpark + viewpoint.

MEGA NEWS!
None.

Snettisham Coastal Park!

Snettisham Coastal Park

Ok, so I gave in and went birding! Closest, decent place to me on the coast is Snettisham Coastal Park so that's were I spent an hour and a half this evening. One Wheatear feeding on the large expanse of short turf, a few magpies and nothing else in the scrub at all – not a single bird. A flock of Sanderling with one Turnstone flew west along the tide and gulls flew across the setting sun – that's it!

Tons of dog crap, every few yards (holiday season). People can afford the holiday, but can't afford a little plastic bag. Mind you some can afford the little bag, but couldn't possibly put it in their car, so hang it in a bush for...... yes, I wonder who they think is going to pick it up.... answer: no one, and there it hangs for ever more, adorning our splendid countryside (that was). Can you tell that I'm tired and ratty?!!! Another rant from me!!!

It was disappointing not to find anything more than the Wheatear, but that's the way it goes sometimes. Lovely sunset walking back along the sea wall.

Sunset at Snettisham Coastal Park

North East Winds Produce!!!

Well these North East Winds did indeed produce today, with good numbers of migrants scattered along the coast, including Pied Flys, Redstarts, Whinchats and Wrynecks and a good passage of sea birds to add to the list. The day's not over yet as I'm sure something amazing will be found by one of the usual rarity finders eg James McCallum just before dusk, when you know that it's far too late in the day to be running down the 'Point'!!!

I should be out birding myself this evening, but far too tired! Just hope nothing mega turns up before dusk! Tomorrow will be fine, but just not this evening please, still need to catch up on sleep from dog incident. Even as I type there are more birds turning up with another Pied Fly now at Holme and Warham..... bother!!!

For anyone with the iphone 5s and who uses the new filter options before taking a picture, please take note – I normally plug my phone into my Mac, open Applications and then open 'Image Capture' which then shows all the pictures on the phone ready for me to 'import' onto chosen folder on the Mac. But, be warned, the  pictures you have applied filters to, do NOT show up in the list – it simply does not recognise the pictures. So with advice from a Mac 'queen' on Facebook (Michelle H.) I found the only way to solve this, was to email the pictures to myself and then open them on the Mac – this method saves the pictures with the applied filter. Crazy that you can't copy these filtered pictures across the normal way. Discussion on the 'Apple Support Communities' HERE.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Black Tern, Arctic Skuas x 23, Great Skuas x 29 at Scratby.
Arctic Skuas x 32, Great Skuas x 15, Little Gulls x 3 at Happisburgh.
Pied Flycatcher in Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Red-backed Shrike at North Dunes, Wryneck (west side of totem pole bushes) Winterton.
Wryneck/s (at Fairway, Near Point, The Hood & Long Hills), Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstarts x 2, Spoonbills x 4, Black Tern at Blakeney Point.
Spoonbills x 9, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Stiffkey Fen.
Pied Flycatcher at Wells Woods.
Pied Flycatcher, Little Gull at Kelling Water Meadow.
Balearic Shearwater, Arctic Skuas x 25, Great Skuas x 20 at Horsey.
Barred Warbler still at Eccles-on-Sea.
Redstart, Whinchat at Waxham.
Whinchat at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Spoonbills x 12, Curlew Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB.
Whinchat at West Runton.
Common Crane at Thorpe Marshes, Haddiscoe.
Pied Flycatcher at Garden Drove, Warham Greens.
Pied Flycatcher at Holme NOA.
Garganey on Broadwater & Arctic Skuas x 22 at Holme NWT.
Long-tailed Skuas x 2, Pomarine Skua, Black Tern at Weybourne.
Wryneck at south end of Walsey Hills NOA.
Sooty Shearwater, Long-tailed Skua flew west past beach carpark at Cley.
Spoonbills x 4 at Cley NWT.
Pied Flycatchers x 4, Whinchats x 2, Spoonbills x 20 at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Pied Flycatcher and Redstart at Hemsby.
Sooty Shearwater, Great Skua, Arctic Skuas x 31 at Hopton-on-Sea.
ELEONORA'S FALCON possible on Saturday over Thetford for 40 minutes early afternoon.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Pectoral Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Arctic Skuas x 20, Great Skuas x 6 flew over Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire.
Wryneck, Pied Flycatchers x 3, Redstarts x 2, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwaters x 6, Arctic Terns x 60, Arctic Skuas x 65, Great Skuas x 50 at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire.
Sabine's Gull at Thorpeness, Suffolk.
Long-tailed Skuas x 7, Pomarine Skuas x 3, Arctic Skuas x 47, Great Skuas x 16, Sooty Shearwaters x 3, Manx Shearwaters at Kessingland, Suffolk.
Good sea passage all along the Suffolk coast, too many to highlight, but more of above!
Pied Flycatchers at Corton and Bawdsey, Suffolk.
Icterine Warbler at Landguard NR, Suffolk.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
Great White Egrets x 2 at Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire.

MEGA NEWS!
None.

Bank Holiday Monday Update

No birds today, just work and a MASSIVE rant!!!

I crawled out of bed like a wrecked zombie, after suffering all night listening to neighbour's dog, which had been left on its own. I felt so tired, but had to get up, as was at work for the entire day. I almost phoned in sick.

I don't know how I got through work today with almost no sleep. The dog had been left alone all night to bark and howl continuously, until neighbour's lodger returned at 4.15am!!! AND that's with a new special 'training collar' fitted to stop him barking!!! That really worked, not!!! My neighbour who is a really nice man (which makes it all the more difficult) told me only yesterday that he has bought a new special 'training' collar for the dog, as he (owner) is now going to be working more night shifts now. WELL..... the collar DOESN'T BLOODY WELL work!!!

Dogs should ONLY be with people that are at home ALL day. Dogs are not supposed to be left on their own all day, whilst owners are at work – not fair to the dog who is obviously lonely and bored, or to neighbour's that want to have a night's sleep!!!

I have since found out this evening that several neighbour's in the street were also kept awake until 4.15am and they are all several doors away from me!!! One neighbour said to me 'don't know how you put up with it, living next door'.

If this carries on, I will turn into a raving psychopath and I'm not joking!

GOOD NIGHT!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Red-backed Shrike at North Dunes, Winterton.
Arctic Skuas x 11, Great Skuas x 2 at Cley NWT.
Spoonbills x 10, TURTLE DOVE at Stiffkey Fen.
Great White Egret, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey x 2 at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
Spoonbills x 14, Whinchat at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Harrier sp., Norwich.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Great White Egrets x 2 at Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire.
Great White Egret at Wicken Fen NT, Cambridgeshire.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.

MEGA NEWS!
MEGA! SWINHOE'S PETREL flew past Bridges of Ross, County Clare, Ireland

 Easterly winds forecast over the next two day's should produce 
 some good birds in Norfolk – hopefully anyway! 

Titchwell RSPB, Burnham Overy Dunes & Gun Hill!

Sunset at Burnham Overy Staithe

Taken with iphone 5s and 'Process' Filter added.

Worked this morning and on my return home I found a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly (see pic) resting on some dead leaves in my garden!

Bumble Bee in my herb garden.

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in my garden.

Titchwell RSPB
Briefly stopped here to buy and collect a book for mother. Quick walk around the Fen Trail – heard a Chiffchaff or two, that was about it. Saw 12 Spoonbills fly west over the main path at 4.45pm.

Burnham Overy Dunes & Gun Hill
Quite weird that I started my walk at the same time as yesterday at 5.45pm. Also the same birds in the same sallow bush as yesterday! This included several Chiffchaffs, a party of Long-tailed Tits, Great and Blue Tit. Met a lovely birding couple, whom I chatted to for a while and we all had a rant about the massive increase in dogs that were out of control. As we chatted a huge muzzled alsatian dog came towards us, off lead – the owners saw us and called dog to put on the lead.... now if it needed to be put on the lead, then a dog like that (with muzzle) should have been on the lead the whole time!

An addition to yesterday's list was a female Blackcap. Hirundines still around, but nowhere near the numbers as I watched gathering yesterday. 7 Spoonbills on the pool east of the sea wall along with a Little Grebe, 6 Shelducks, 1 Heron, 5 Black-tailed Godwits. Further along the track the same juv Kestrel sat on the same post (same..... excess use of this word, sorry!!), but with a second bird sitting further along the fence line.

It didn't have the same feel about it today and I knew I would waste my time walking out to Gun Hill, no birds of note at all out here, oh apart from a single Hedge Sparrow. There were however tons of dogs off leads (when they should be on leads) and annoying owners. I kept my mouth shut as two ladies walked behind me with their 5 dogs (off leads) and when they walked past me as the dogs seemed quite well behaved, but when they got about 20 yards past me they all decided to charge like bullets out of a gun into all the bushes at the end, with the risk of flushing out any birds that might be in there – I couldn't keep quiet any longer and said to the owners 'did they not know that this is a nature reserve and that all dogs must be on a lead' to which the owners called the dogs back. But, it took forever and involved the usual shouting and whistling and one dog did not return for ages, it was having great fun under the fence on the marsh chasing rabbits and a hare and generally causing havoc!

It was really cold as I walked back. The setting sun was particularly spectacular and I spent a while taking pictures and also some with the brilliant choice of filter settings, which you can set up before you take the picture on the iphone 5s. Also took some mono pictures.

The best birds this evening were two Little Owls – one on a wire just before Burnham Norton and the other on a wire just before Burnham Deepdale!

Burnham Overy Harbour from Gun Hill.

Scolt Head Island

Normal Setting in iphone 5s

'Noir' Filter in iphone 5s

Panoramic Setting in iphone 5s

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Spoonbills x 17, Spotted Redshank, Whinchat at Titchwell RSPB.
Whinchats x 4 at Horsey.
Red-backed Shrike at North Dunes, Tree Pipit at South Dunes, Winterton.
Spoonbills x 6, Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper at Cley NWT.
Spoonbills x 18, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Stiffkey Fen.
Great White Egret, Black Tern at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
Barred Warbler at Eccles-on-Sea.
Whinchat, TURTLE DOVE at Holme Dunes NWT.
Spoonbills x 7 on pool east of seawall towards Gun Hill at 8.30pm (PAC).

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Whinchat at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret at Wicken Fen NT, Cambridgeshire.
Great White Egrets x 2 at Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
BEE-EATERS x 12!!!, Wydcombe Estate Nature Reserve, Niton, Isle of Wight. Adults have been present since 8th June. Use RSPB/NT carpark + viewpoint.

MEGA NEWS!
FEA'S PETREL x 2, County Cork, Ireland

Bird Of The Day & The Bomb!!!

PIED FLYCATCHER

My first Autumn find at Gun Hill, Burnham Overy Staithe this evening!

I felt ill last night, but this was probably due to exhaustion and working too much, so I had to sleep in this morning. Obviously in a perfect world, I would have been out birding at dawn, but sometimes you just have to catch up with sleep.

I had lunch and then spent a long time, I mean a really long time talking to TalkTalk to upgrade my account with them – it was worth it in the end though and will now be paying about £6 less for the next 6 months and a couple of pounds less after that than I do currently and also got a free YouView box thrown in as part of a TV package – can't see what use it will be to me, but its free so might as well have it.

I really fancied walking Burnham Overy Dunes to look for some early Autumn migrants – can't remember the last time I walked to Gun Hill. The sun had been out all morning and it was now looking quite unpredictable with dark clouds and rain showers. By the time I got to the pull-in just east of Burnham Overy at 5.45pm, the weather looked sunny and settled, all good!

As I walked along the track it seemed alive with birds! The large sallow on the right hand side held at least 6 Chiffchaffs, a party of Long-tailed Tits, a Great and Blue Tit. There were tons of hirundines gathering on the brambles, fence wires and on small bushes out on the marsh – Swallows and House Martins and even a single Swift! A large flock of Goldfinches were in a feeding frenzie amongst the thistle heads and as many Linnets were with them. One Spoonbill was 'spooning' on the pool east of the seawall along with a few Greylag Geese, Shelducks, Little Egret and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits. I could see a further 5 Little Egrets dotted around the marsh. Other birds seen were 2 Reed Buntings, a Greenshank, 2 Curlew. At the last left hand corner before the path turns towards the bushes at the end of the path, I watched loads of juv. Starlings balancing on the fence wires in the middle of the marsh, whilst a juv. Kestrel watched their antics from the comfort of a large fence post.

In the bushes at the end a couple of Whitethroats were flicking about along with a Hedge Sparrow, 4 Reed Buntings and a flock of Starlings were feasting on blackberries. In the apple tree, which I always get excited by, after photographing a Pallas's Warbler here in 2010, I sadly found nothing. There was a policeman sitting on top of a high dune, just behind the scrub and another policeman heading west towards Gun Hill! I didn't know why they were here at this point – someone missing maybe, someone up to no good? Who knows!

 My Pied Flycatcher!

I also headed west towards Gun Hill and hunted hard to find some birds. I was walking into the sun, which didn't exactly help. I found nothing in the sueda and nothing on the short-turfed area at the base of Gun Hill – thought I might have bagged a wheatear at least, but not a bird. I followed the path left of Gun Hill right up to the cacti type plants and sueda by the 'Grey Goose' (as its called). Suddenly I spotted some movement... something flicked from one bush to another – I felt excited, this just seemed like a good bird. I fixed my gaze on the bush and waited, not breathing properly, adrenalin rush... up it popped – a fabulous Pied Flycatcher at 6.55pm!!! (female/first winter) Wow! So exciting – ok so it wasn't the mega I'd hoped for, but it was my first Autumn migrant and I do believe the first reported Pied Flycatcher in Norfolk this Autumn! Phoned through to RBA. The first picture I took was naff and it didn't want to pose – it took me a while to get a half decent picture. It dived off to a sycamore tree next to the old brick kiln and sat on the wall for a few moments, before returning to the depths of the sueda and disappeared from my view. It's a pity it wasn't a Collared Flycatcher.... one day! There were also nine very brightly coloured Linnets chirping away in the sueda. I was on a roll now.... what would I find in the 'good' bushes seaward side of the hill! As usual I found a LBJ skulking in a bramble bush – I waited for it to reappear, pished, squeaked etc, nothing! There was however a Whitethroat and Hedgesparrow as consolation. I was disappointed to see that my bird perch (old piece of tall drift wood) had fallen over – I made a bad attempt to dig it in the ground again. The high tide was crashing on the white sands and with the setting sun, the view overlooking Scolt Head Island was a vision of beauty and serenity.

 SUNSET

From Gun Hill, looking towards Scolt Head Island
Second picture taken on 'Panoramic' setting on iphone.

I trudged back over the dunes and onto the lower footpath, still hoping for another good bird. As I neared the boardwalk I could see the two policemen on top of the dune still and a Army Personnel striding along towards them! Ahhh... so that's what it was all about! Bomb, I suspect. My assumption was indeed correct, when about 10 minutes later the Army man passed me, walking along the seawall with the BOMB in his hand!!! I commented "I presume that's a dead bomb then?" and chuckled..... he replied with a jolly 'yes'. As I was counting Spoonbills – there were seven now on the pool, east of the seawall along with a Heron – the two policemen also passed me with a polite 'evening' and I chatted about the bomb with them and commented that I presumed the Army personnel was from Colchester, to which they replied 'yes'. I remember this from when I was at Holme Bird Observatory with father – we regularly had the Colchester bomb squad over to detonate bombs found on the beach by holidaymakers and the like.

I flushed a Barn Owl by the stile just before reaching my car at 9pm! Pitch black now! Drove to my parents and proudly showed mother my Pied Flycatcher picture – didn't stay long as it was late.

Sunset over Burnham Overy Staithe

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Great White Egret, Curlew Sandpiper at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
TURTLE DOVE, Spoonbills x 14, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Stiffkey Fen.
Whinchats x 2 at Horsey.
Red-backed Shrike, Whinchat at North Dunes, Winterton.
Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water.
Spoonbills x 8 at Thornham Harbour.
Curlew Sandpiper, Arctic Skua at Holme.
Garganey on pool at Holme NWT.
Osprey at Ellingham.
Pied Flycatcher at West end of Gun Hill, Burnham Overy Dunes at 6.55pm (PAC).
Spoonbills x 7 on pool east of seawall towards Gun Hill at 8.30pm (PAC).
Spoonbills x 2 at Kelling Quags.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Glossy Ibis at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Glossy Ibis at Wicken Fen NT, Cambridgeshire.
Great White Egret at Pondersbridge and Ouse Washes RSPB, Cambridgeshire.
BLACK-WINGED STILT esc., Great White Egret yesterday at Berry Fen, Cambridgeshire.
Wood Warbler at Bawdsey, Suffolk.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
BEE-EATERS x 13!!!, Wydcombe Estate Nature Reserve, Niton, Isle of Wight. Adults have been present since 8th June. Use RSPB/NT carpark + viewpoint.

MEGA NEWS!
None.

Barn Owls 'threatened' By New Legislation!!!

I'm presuming this is a joke!!! Can't believe what I'm reading, I refuse to believe what I have just read!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/11046590/Barn-owls-under-threat-by-new-legislation.html

WHO has the right to kill any creature? No one, that's who! Introduced species, native, whatever, NO ONE has the right to kill anything!

Ruddy Ducks, shot to extinction – I really miss seeing these around Norfolk. Why don't they just shoot everything and be done with it – lets live in a sterile, concrete jungle – what the hell is going on?!!! I wish I hadn't seen this article on the net before I go to bed, just raised my blood pressure, good night!

Nature Lover Leaves Wildlife Haven to RSPCA Who Then Sell It To Be Bulldozed & Built On!

This is REALLY sad!!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136714/Nature-lover-leaves-wildlife-haven-RSPCA--sell-bulldozed-built-on.html

Bank Holiday Weekend!

Reports of a Short-toed Eagle at Gibraltar Point sounds very exciting indeed – please drift south east! In my lunch today at work I had a lovely surprise of a party of around a dozen Long-tailed Tits, a Great Tit and a Blue Tit, all in a small oak tree, right next to my car. I mimicked them and they came really close to me – I love their cute, inquisitive little faces, but as soon as they cottoned to the fact, that the massive 'thing' in front of them was not a Long-tailed Tit, they dispersed and moved on. Also a couple of Robins around too 'ticking' away.

Very heavy rain this evening for several hours – stopped now though. I should be excited about the weekend, well I would be if I had three days off, but sadly I'm working for part of Sunday and all day on Bank Holiday Monday! So tomorrow is my only chance of a full day of birding. Lets hope some good birds turn up for us all soon!

Weather for the weekend:
Saturday starts off with west winds until 9am when it veers North West for most of the day and then turns North East (more like it!) for a couple of hours late in the day, changes again and then back to North West. "Starting dry with sunny spells, but cloudier in the afternoon with scattered showers later in the day, perhaps heavy and thundery in places. A very chilly night to follow."

Sunday starts off West North West for most of the day and then turns South East around 7pm. "Dry on Sunday with sunny spells."

Monday is South East for most of the day. "Turning cloudy with outbreaks of rain".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2646403

High Tides for King's Lynn Docks:
Saturday: 5.57am and 18.28
Sunday: 6.35am and 19.04
Monday: 7.09am and 19.36

High Tides for Wells Bar:
Saturday: 5.37am and 18.15
Sunday: 6.19am and 18.53
Monday: 6.56am and 19.27

Have a fabulous Bank Holiday Weekend!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Great White Egret at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
Whinchats x 5 at Horsey.
Whinchat, Little Gull at Cley NWT.
Spoonbills x 4 at Titchwell RSPB.
Red-backed Shrike, Hen Harrier at North Dunes, Winterton.
Garganey at Cantley Beet Factory.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
SHORT-TOED EAGLE unconfirmed report, flew west over Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire at 8.55am and then flew inland.
Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Whinchats x 5 at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire.
Pectoral Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
LESSER SCAUP reported is a hybrid aythya at Grafham Water, Cambrideshire.
BEE-EATERS x 9 (4 Adults & 5 juvs), Wydcombe Estate Nature Reserve, Niton, Isle of Wight. Adults have been present since 8th June. Use RSPB/NT carpark + viewpoint.

MEGA NEWS!
None.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Hen Harrier at Itteringham.
Spoonbills x 18, Spotted Redshanks x 10 at Titchwell RSPB.
Whinchat at North Dunes, Winterton.
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water.
Spoonbills x 13, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Stiffkey Fen.
EASTERN COMMON TERN possible at Arnold's Marsh at 11.59am then flew out to sea at 12.30pm, Cley.
Caspian Gull at Aylsham.
Spoonbills x 8 at Burnham Overy Staithe.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
BUFFLEHEAD esc. at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
Great White Egret at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, Cambridgeshire.
BEE-EATERS x 2 Adults, Wydcombe Estate Nature Reserve, Niton, Isle of Wight. Adults have been present since 8th June. Use RSPB/NT carpark + viewpoint.

MEGA NEWS!
FEA'S PETREL, possible flew north past Spurn, Yorkshire.
GYR White Morph, presumed esc. Bardsey Island, Gwynedd.

New Scrape, East Bank, Cley NWT!

Picture on Steve Gantlet's website and he writes: "The first new pool on the reserve for many years quickly taking shape".

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
TURTLE DOVE, Spoonbills x 18 at Titchwell RSPB.
Caspian Gull at Salthouse.
Spoonbills x 10, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Stiffkey Fen.
Arctic Skuas x 2 off Beach Carpark at Cley.
Spoonbills x 5, Caspian Gulls x 2, Yellow-legged Gulls x 5 at Cley NWT.
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2, Common Cranes x 6, Curlew Sandpiper at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
Red-backed Shrike at North Dunes, Winterton.
Bittern at Cantley Beet Factory.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Glossy Ibis, Pectoral Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.
BLACK-WINGED STILT esc. at Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire.
LESSER SCAUP at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk.
BUFFLEHEAD esc. at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk.
BEE-EATERS x 2 Adults, Wydcombe Estate Nature Reserve, Niton, Isle of Wight. Adults have been present since 8th June. Use RSPB/NT carpark + viewpoint.

MEGA NEWS!
BAROLO SHEARWATER probable, flew north past Flamborough Head, Yorkshire.
GYR White Morph, presumed esc. Bardsey Island, Gwynedd.

RBA Weekly Round-Up 13th to 19th August!

By Mark Golley
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2014-33.aspx?s_id=589485488
Thanks to RBA team for using my video of the Franklin's Gull.

Also thanks to Birdguides for using my photo of the Franklin's Gull in their weekly review.

Steve Gantlet has by far the best shots of the Franklin's Gull, used for the RBA review this week and also can be seen on his website HERE.

Brain stimulation 'helps in stroke'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28836134
Also see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28850993

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2 at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
Black Tern, Great Skua at Hemsby.
Black Tern, Spoonbills x 13, Spotted Redshanks x 6 at Titchwell RSPB.
Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Breydon Water.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Glossy Ibis, Pectoral Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Glossy Ibis at Stretham, Cambridgeshire.
BEE-EATERS x 4 Adults + 5 juvs, Wydcombe Estate Nature Reserve, Niton, Isle of Wight. Adults have been present since 8th June. Use RSPB/NT carpark + viewpoint.

MEGA NEWS!
None.

Simon King at The Rutland Bird Fair!

Kindly sent to me by RSPB Titchwell Volunteer Tony Gray.
Tony writes: "This photo might help the fact you have not seen
Simon King this year – he was 'showing well' this year at the Bird Fair!"

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TONY!

SIMON KING Rutland Bird Fair – August 2014 Photo by Tony Gray   Lovely picture, but one of my favourite photos of Simon is THIS!

22,000 Flock to The Rutland Birdfair!

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/17/birdfair-rutland-water-22000-birdwatching?CMP=twt_gu

No oil and gas drilling in the UK's national parks!

http://action.sumofus.org/a/national-parks-fracking/?sub=fb

VOTE FOR BRITAIN'S NATIONAL BIRD!

This is quick to do, please do vote!!!

I voted Robin, why should it change?

It's the 'ROBIN' OK!!!

 http://www.votenationalbird.com/

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
SPOTTED CRAKE, Black Tern, Spoonbills x 12, Velvet Scoter, TURTLE DOVE at Titchwell RSPB.
GREAT SHEARWATER at 3.04pm (seen by R.M.), CORY'S SHEARWATER, at 9.55am, Sooty Shearwater at 12.10pm, all west past coastguards, Arctic Skuas x 39 at Cley NWT.
GREAT SHEARWATER at 3.15pm west past 'The Hood', Blakeney Point.
Great Skuas x 5, Arctic Skuas x 7, Manx Shearwaters x 72 flew past at Holme Dunes.
Great White Egret at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT.
Common Cranes x 31, Yellow-legged Gull at Horsey.
Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water.

Suffolk, Cambs, South Lincs Main News & More!
Glossy Ibis at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire.
Manx Shearwaters x 168, Sooty Shearwater, Whinchat at Gibraltar Point NNR.
BUFFLEHEAD esc. at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk.
BEE-EATERS x 4 Adults + 3 juvs, Wydcombe Estate Nature Reserve, Niton, Isle of Wight. Adults have been present since 8th June. Use RSPB/NT carpark + viewpoint.

MEGA NEWS!
FEAS'S PETREL, from Scilly Pelagic this evening.
GYR presumed escape (bearing jesses) Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire.

Glossy Ibis Pair Makes First UK Nesting Attempt at Lincolnshire Nature Reserve!

"This summer, a pair of rare Glossy Ibises were spotted building a nest at RSPB Frampton Marsh. This is believed to be the first recorded nesting attempt by this species in the UK."

RBA have used my picture to illustrate their arcticle – thanks!

http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/Articles.asp

Sunday Update!

Worked today and now completely shattered. No sign of the Franklin's Gull this evening at Cley NWT I see – mind you with its previous appearances, it could turn up again any time!

I feel quite sad now, that I didn't go to the Rutland Bird Fair... oh well. Missed seeing alot of people that I only see once a year – roll on August 2015! Actually I don't want next year to 'roll on' as I will be celebrating a horrible birthday in January...... no, re-word that, I won't be celebrating at all, I will probably hide away in a corner and hope the day passes very quickly and after that I have live with a new decade – a decade where I suppose I had better start growing up, act my age, drive more sensibly, eat more sensibly, slow down – hell no, I refuse to give in to old age!!!

Prediction text from a friend 'odds on Fea's Petrel by 9am tomorrow'. I hadn't even had a chance to look at the forecast for tomorrow, but looked after reading above. Ok, so North West winds at 22mph with showers!!! Get out sea-watching if you can! I'll look at the pager in my lunch break! http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2652856

Interesting article here: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/twitch-and-shout-birdwatchers-raving-over-rare-birds-in-uk-9674652.html