Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Pectoral Sandpiper juv. on Freshmarsh, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB.
Balearic Shearwater flew past yesterday at Titchwell RSPB.
Lapland Bunting flew east over Thornham Point.
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Beeston Common.
Tundra Bean Geese, Puffins x 3 flew west at Weybourne.
Glossy Ibis from Tower Hide at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Black-necked Grebes x 2 from Shore Hide, Rock Pipit at Rotary Hide, Snettisham RSPB.
Whinchats x 8 at along Thornham bank at Holme.
Great Northern Divers x 3 flew east past Sheringham.
Lapland Buntings x 3 on tideline at Blakeney Point.
Great White Egret flew over Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park.
Little Stints x 4 at Daukes' Hide, Cley NWT.
Spoonbills x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Stiffkey Fen.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! EASTERN KINGBIRD at Eoligarry, Barra but flew high north east at 2.50pm and no further sign, Western Isles, Scotland.
MEGA! ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at Garinish Point, County Cork, Ireland.
MEGA! BROWN SHRIKE 1w at Bruray, Out Skerries, Shetland.
MEGA! BROWN SHRIKE 1w at Aith, NNE of Bixter, Shetland.
MEGA! SYKES'S WARBLER probable, or Booted Warbler at Sandgarth Nature Reserve, Voe, Shetland.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN at Horsey Island, Devon.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT dead at Anstruther Harbour, Fife, Scotland.
Friday, 30 September 2016
Thursday, 29 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Pectoral Sandpiper juv. on Freshmarsh, Yellow-browed Warbler in willows 100yds north of visitor centre, Osprey flew SE, Spoonbills x 26, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB.
Honey Buzzard flew in off sea at Blakeney Harbour.
Ruddy Shelduck in field by last bend in sea wall before Gun Hill at Burnham Overy Staithe.
Sooty Shearwater flew east past Cley.
Glossy Ibis from Tower Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Lapland Buntings x 2 on coastal path at Weybourne.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA.
Great White Egret at Holkham Hall Lake.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Pomarine Skua, Slavonian Grebe at Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at allotments at Sea Palling.
Common Cranes x 33 flew over Hickling Broad NWT.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! EASTERN KINGBIRD at Eoligarry, Barra, Western Isles, Scotland.
MEGA! ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at Garinish Point, County Cork, Ireland.
MEGA! BROWN SHRIKE 1w by dam at Bruray, Out Skerries, Shetland.
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT still on west side of harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN on ESE of bay at Rock, Cornwall.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
Pectoral Sandpiper juv. on Freshmarsh, Yellow-browed Warbler in willows 100yds north of visitor centre, Osprey flew SE, Spoonbills x 26, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB.
Honey Buzzard flew in off sea at Blakeney Harbour.
Ruddy Shelduck in field by last bend in sea wall before Gun Hill at Burnham Overy Staithe.
Sooty Shearwater flew east past Cley.
Glossy Ibis from Tower Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Lapland Buntings x 2 on coastal path at Weybourne.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA.
Great White Egret at Holkham Hall Lake.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Pomarine Skua, Slavonian Grebe at Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at allotments at Sea Palling.
Common Cranes x 33 flew over Hickling Broad NWT.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! EASTERN KINGBIRD at Eoligarry, Barra, Western Isles, Scotland.
MEGA! ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at Garinish Point, County Cork, Ireland.
MEGA! BROWN SHRIKE 1w by dam at Bruray, Out Skerries, Shetland.
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT still on west side of harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN on ESE of bay at Rock, Cornwall.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
Wednesday, 28 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Whinchat on fence 200yds east of beach car park at Cley.
Pectoral Sandpiper juv. on freshmarsh, Yellow-browed Warbler, Scaup, Spoonbills x 2, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 5, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warbler 100yds east of old toilet block at Wells Woods.
Hoopoe again on golf course at Brancaster.
Osprey flew SE over Thornham Harbour.
Glossy Ibis flew SW at 7.44am, Redwings x 2 at Horstead.
Lapland Bunting flew west over Holme NOA.
Barred Warbler still, north of concrete blocks at North Dunes, Winterton.
Lapland Bunting on coastal path at Weybourne.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 trapped and ringed at Waxham Sands Holiday Park.
Glossy Ibis from Tower Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler, Whinchat from Fen Hide at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Osprey flew south at 2.45pm at Snettisham RSPB.
Great White Egrets x 2, Yellow-browed Warbler east of crosstracks, at Holkham Freshmarsh.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at South Dell, at north end in Ness, Lewis, Western Isles, Shetland.
MEGA! BROWN SHRIKE 1w on east side of Bruray, Out Skerries, Shetland.
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT still in harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Padstow, on Camel Estuary, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
Whinchat on fence 200yds east of beach car park at Cley.
Pectoral Sandpiper juv. on freshmarsh, Yellow-browed Warbler, Scaup, Spoonbills x 2, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 5, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warbler 100yds east of old toilet block at Wells Woods.
Hoopoe again on golf course at Brancaster.
Osprey flew SE over Thornham Harbour.
Glossy Ibis flew SW at 7.44am, Redwings x 2 at Horstead.
Lapland Bunting flew west over Holme NOA.
Barred Warbler still, north of concrete blocks at North Dunes, Winterton.
Lapland Bunting on coastal path at Weybourne.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 trapped and ringed at Waxham Sands Holiday Park.
Glossy Ibis from Tower Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler, Whinchat from Fen Hide at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Osprey flew south at 2.45pm at Snettisham RSPB.
Great White Egrets x 2, Yellow-browed Warbler east of crosstracks, at Holkham Freshmarsh.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at South Dell, at north end in Ness, Lewis, Western Isles, Shetland.
MEGA! BROWN SHRIKE 1w on east side of Bruray, Out Skerries, Shetland.
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT still in harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Padstow, on Camel Estuary, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 trapped and ringed, Lapland Buntings x 3 flew north at Waxham Sands Holiday Park.
Yellow-browed Warbler 1/2 mile south of Shangri-La chalet at Waxham.
Pectoral Sandpiper juv. on freshmarsh, Scaup, Caspian Gull, Spoonbills x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB.
Hoopoe again on golf course at Brancaster.
Shearwater sp. (large) flew west at 9.15am, past beach car park at Cley.
Glossy Ibis yesterday at Upton Fen.
Barred Warbler still, north of concrete blocks, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Lapland Bunting flew north at North Dunes, Winterton.
Lapland Buntings x 2 still on coastal footpath and 2 flew over west at Weybourne Camp.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Beeston Common, Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! BROWN SHRIKE 1w in geo on east side of Bruray, Out Skerries, Shetland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE at North Hill, Out Skerries, Shetland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE again on Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT still in harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Padstow, on Camel Estuary, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 trapped and ringed, Lapland Buntings x 3 flew north at Waxham Sands Holiday Park.
Yellow-browed Warbler 1/2 mile south of Shangri-La chalet at Waxham.
Pectoral Sandpiper juv. on freshmarsh, Scaup, Caspian Gull, Spoonbills x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB.
Hoopoe again on golf course at Brancaster.
Shearwater sp. (large) flew west at 9.15am, past beach car park at Cley.
Glossy Ibis yesterday at Upton Fen.
Barred Warbler still, north of concrete blocks, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Lapland Bunting flew north at North Dunes, Winterton.
Lapland Buntings x 2 still on coastal footpath and 2 flew over west at Weybourne Camp.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Beeston Common, Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! BROWN SHRIKE 1w in geo on east side of Bruray, Out Skerries, Shetland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE at North Hill, Out Skerries, Shetland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE again on Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT still in harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Padstow, on Camel Estuary, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Monday, 26 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Hoopoe again on golf course, Spoonbills x 19 flew east at Brancaster.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 in wood along west side, along Gypsy Lane at Titchwell.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warbler near office at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Lapland Buntings x 2 still on coastal footpath at Weybourne Camp.
Barred Warbler still, north concrete blocks in brambles, Whinchats x 2, Lapland Buntings x 2 flew over at North Dunes, Winterton.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Beeston Common, Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Buntings x 2 flew over Nelson Head Track at Horsey.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at The Dell at Wells Woods.
Richard's Pipit, Lapland Bunting yesterday (no sign today) at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Hemsby.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! LANCEOLATED WARBLER Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE flushed near Busta, Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT still in harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Padstow, on Camel Estuary, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Hoopoe again on golf course, Spoonbills x 19 flew east at Brancaster.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 in wood along west side, along Gypsy Lane at Titchwell.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warbler near office at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Lapland Buntings x 2 still on coastal footpath at Weybourne Camp.
Barred Warbler still, north concrete blocks in brambles, Whinchats x 2, Lapland Buntings x 2 flew over at North Dunes, Winterton.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Beeston Common, Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Buntings x 2 flew over Nelson Head Track at Horsey.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at The Dell at Wells Woods.
Richard's Pipit, Lapland Bunting yesterday (no sign today) at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Hemsby.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! LANCEOLATED WARBLER Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE flushed near Busta, Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT still in harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Padstow, on Camel Estuary, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Sunday, 25 September 2016
Penny's Coastal Tour!
A Special Day With My Mother
I've been hoping for a long time, to get my mother out of the house and out birding for the day. It's taken her months to get used to the idea that she can leave the house, now that father has gone into a care home.
We headed east along the A149 and stopped at Burnham Deepdale shopping complex for mother to search for a birthday present – mission completed, we continued east.
Showed mother Garden Drove at Warham and the route out to East Hills. We started to walk along the track to the copse, but after a short distance Mother decided to she wanted to go back. She didn't feel her usual self this morning. We did manage to see at least three Red Admirals and a few Speckled Woods on the mass of ivy on the left hand side, but no birds of note in the short time we were there. I heard later that Pete Dolton had been down there and found nothing, so I'm sure we hadn't missed anything.
We went to Cley NWT Visitor Centre for lunch and managed to get a window seat! We both had a jacket potato with salad and a mug of coffee each. This was the first time my mother had visited Cley in years and years! The entire visitor centre was new to her!
Went to Weybourne to pop two belated (sorry Pete!) birthday cards into Pete Snook's door and then returned to Beach Road at Salthouse. The skies blackened and the rains fell. Mother and I snoozed in the car. A local man Dave (who seems to live in his van next to the coffee man) came across to chat and showed me a lovely snow bunting mug he had bought at a local boot fair – he bought 4 mugs for £5 he told me – 'far cheaper than the bird mugs in Cley Visitor centre which are £17.99 each!!!' I replied. Mother didn't believe me when I told her the price – she said I had read it wrong and it must be £7.99 – she responded with a loud 'I don't believe it' when she read the price herself in the visitor centre earlier!
I wanted to walk to Gramborough Hill, but Mother didn't feel up to it, so I stayed with her and we bird watched from the car. Three Meadow Pipits landed briefly on tussocks of grass in the field, after the rain stopped. Didn't see anything else of note.
Walsey Hills NOA. Mother said she had not been here since the Cley ringing hut was here!!! That was way before my time! She said there was only a narrow path that climbed up to the hut, there were no steps and she said there was now a lot more scrub than there was in 'those days'. She really seemed to enjoy sitting on the seats at the top of the steps and we sat for a while soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the views over the marshes and Blakeney Point. It was really quite warm sitting here. Saw a Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit and heard a Robin singing. No sign of the lizards on the logs. A Comma butterfly was on the ivy along the bottom path. She also loved standing by Snipe's Marsh and we watched a couple of Little Grebes on the pool along with some dodgy ducks. There were tons of dragonflies over the pool, glittering as they danced in the sunshine – it was a magical scene.
Coastguards at Cley – stopped here briefly for sandwiches and scone with cup of tea. Birds of the day were seen here: a Wheatear and a Whinchat on the wire fence, along Beach Road. The 'Eye Puddle' was indeed a puddle, evaporated to a very small patch of water! The light was beautiful now and the sea looked a crisp deep blue. Fishermen were on the shore and only a handful of people were around, you could tell the school holidays were over, thank goodness!
Detour to Glandford Ford – I was quite disappointed to find the meandering river up to the mill house was very overgrown on both sides and not visible at all now. I used to enjoy watching the Grey Wagtails flitting up and down the the river – hopefully this will be cleared again. Last detour of the day to 'Natural Surroundings' to show mother one of her favourite plants – the huge gunnera's that grow along the entrance road – sadly though, they looked a bit past their best.
Cruised back to Holme via the coast road as the sun was setting. I think mother enjoyed escaping for a while, but annoyingly she was worried about the 'poor cat' all day! The cat has had such a stressful day! The cat had the run of the house all day, choice of seats, chairs, cushions, beds, wicker chair to use as a scratch post, choice of food (dried, fresh and grated cheese!), water, litter tray, Careline button (emergency call bell for my mother) to jump on (it loves doing this!), birds to watch from window, stairs to run up and down, landing to do somersaults on..... poor cat!!!
I've been hoping for a long time, to get my mother out of the house and out birding for the day. It's taken her months to get used to the idea that she can leave the house, now that father has gone into a care home.
We headed east along the A149 and stopped at Burnham Deepdale shopping complex for mother to search for a birthday present – mission completed, we continued east.
Showed mother Garden Drove at Warham and the route out to East Hills. We started to walk along the track to the copse, but after a short distance Mother decided to she wanted to go back. She didn't feel her usual self this morning. We did manage to see at least three Red Admirals and a few Speckled Woods on the mass of ivy on the left hand side, but no birds of note in the short time we were there. I heard later that Pete Dolton had been down there and found nothing, so I'm sure we hadn't missed anything.
We went to Cley NWT Visitor Centre for lunch and managed to get a window seat! We both had a jacket potato with salad and a mug of coffee each. This was the first time my mother had visited Cley in years and years! The entire visitor centre was new to her!
Went to Weybourne to pop two belated (sorry Pete!) birthday cards into Pete Snook's door and then returned to Beach Road at Salthouse. The skies blackened and the rains fell. Mother and I snoozed in the car. A local man Dave (who seems to live in his van next to the coffee man) came across to chat and showed me a lovely snow bunting mug he had bought at a local boot fair – he bought 4 mugs for £5 he told me – 'far cheaper than the bird mugs in Cley Visitor centre which are £17.99 each!!!' I replied. Mother didn't believe me when I told her the price – she said I had read it wrong and it must be £7.99 – she responded with a loud 'I don't believe it' when she read the price herself in the visitor centre earlier!
I wanted to walk to Gramborough Hill, but Mother didn't feel up to it, so I stayed with her and we bird watched from the car. Three Meadow Pipits landed briefly on tussocks of grass in the field, after the rain stopped. Didn't see anything else of note.
Walsey Hills NOA. Mother said she had not been here since the Cley ringing hut was here!!! That was way before my time! She said there was only a narrow path that climbed up to the hut, there were no steps and she said there was now a lot more scrub than there was in 'those days'. She really seemed to enjoy sitting on the seats at the top of the steps and we sat for a while soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the views over the marshes and Blakeney Point. It was really quite warm sitting here. Saw a Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit and heard a Robin singing. No sign of the lizards on the logs. A Comma butterfly was on the ivy along the bottom path. She also loved standing by Snipe's Marsh and we watched a couple of Little Grebes on the pool along with some dodgy ducks. There were tons of dragonflies over the pool, glittering as they danced in the sunshine – it was a magical scene.
Coastguards at Cley – stopped here briefly for sandwiches and scone with cup of tea. Birds of the day were seen here: a Wheatear and a Whinchat on the wire fence, along Beach Road. The 'Eye Puddle' was indeed a puddle, evaporated to a very small patch of water! The light was beautiful now and the sea looked a crisp deep blue. Fishermen were on the shore and only a handful of people were around, you could tell the school holidays were over, thank goodness!
Detour to Glandford Ford – I was quite disappointed to find the meandering river up to the mill house was very overgrown on both sides and not visible at all now. I used to enjoy watching the Grey Wagtails flitting up and down the the river – hopefully this will be cleared again. Last detour of the day to 'Natural Surroundings' to show mother one of her favourite plants – the huge gunnera's that grow along the entrance road – sadly though, they looked a bit past their best.
Cruised back to Holme via the coast road as the sun was setting. I think mother enjoyed escaping for a while, but annoyingly she was worried about the 'poor cat' all day! The cat has had such a stressful day! The cat had the run of the house all day, choice of seats, chairs, cushions, beds, wicker chair to use as a scratch post, choice of food (dried, fresh and grated cheese!), water, litter tray, Careline button (emergency call bell for my mother) to jump on (it loves doing this!), birds to watch from window, stairs to run up and down, landing to do somersaults on..... poor cat!!!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Great White Egrets x 2 on Freshmarsh, Yellow-browed Warbler 100 yds west of Lady Anne's Drive, Firecrest 200 yds and Yellow-browed Warbler 250yds west of crosstracks at Holkham.
Lapland Bunting 200yds west of car park along coastal foopath at Weybourne.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler on Meadow Trail, Jack Snipe on Patsy's Pool, Spoonbills x 2, Caspian Gull 2w, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Whinchat, Scaup at Titchwell RSPB.
Barred Warbler on edge of woodland 100yds past concrete blocks at North Dunes, Lapland Bunting south of east pool at North Dunes, Red-backed Shrike at North Dunes, Winterton.
Spoonbills x 5 in channel at Burnham Overy Staithe.
Whinchats x 10 along sea wall between Holme and Thornham.
Yellow-browed Warbler on east side of The Dell, Pied Flycatcher in birches south of toilet block at Wells Woods.
Redstart from coastal footpath at Holme NOA.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Kelling Heath.
Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stints x 3 on Pat's Pool at Cley NWT.
Caspian Gull 1w on beach at 1.35pm then flew west, Whinchat along Beach Road at Cley.
Whinchat from Fen Hide at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warbler in area with no general access at Nunnery Lakes NT, Thetford.
Garganey juv. on duck pond at Salthouse.
Yellow-browed Warbler briefly at Happisburgh.
Balearic Shearwater east, Lapland Bunting west at Sheringham.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT in harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH still, in garden at Bornish, South Uist, Western Isles.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Padstow, on Camel Estuary, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Great White Egrets x 2 on Freshmarsh, Yellow-browed Warbler 100 yds west of Lady Anne's Drive, Firecrest 200 yds and Yellow-browed Warbler 250yds west of crosstracks at Holkham.
Lapland Bunting 200yds west of car park along coastal foopath at Weybourne.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler on Meadow Trail, Jack Snipe on Patsy's Pool, Spoonbills x 2, Caspian Gull 2w, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Whinchat, Scaup at Titchwell RSPB.
Barred Warbler on edge of woodland 100yds past concrete blocks at North Dunes, Lapland Bunting south of east pool at North Dunes, Red-backed Shrike at North Dunes, Winterton.
Spoonbills x 5 in channel at Burnham Overy Staithe.
Whinchats x 10 along sea wall between Holme and Thornham.
Yellow-browed Warbler on east side of The Dell, Pied Flycatcher in birches south of toilet block at Wells Woods.
Redstart from coastal footpath at Holme NOA.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Kelling Heath.
Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stints x 3 on Pat's Pool at Cley NWT.
Caspian Gull 1w on beach at 1.35pm then flew west, Whinchat along Beach Road at Cley.
Whinchat from Fen Hide at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warbler in area with no general access at Nunnery Lakes NT, Thetford.
Garganey juv. on duck pond at Salthouse.
Yellow-browed Warbler briefly at Happisburgh.
Balearic Shearwater east, Lapland Bunting west at Sheringham.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT in harbour at Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH still, in garden at Bornish, South Uist, Western Isles.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Padstow, on Camel Estuary, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Number Nine!!!
TOP 1000 BIRDING WEBSITES
Number 9 – Wahoooo!!!
This is my highest ranking ever!!! Look out Birdforum, seven places to go, I will get there!!! Ha Ha! Huge thanks to all my followers for getting me to the top 10!!!
Birding With My Father!
Saturday 24th September
Visited my father today and decided it was high time we went birding together! Dressed father up in woolly hat, coat, gloves and a second thick pair of socks and tucked him up with his tartan rug in his wheelchair and off we went! Picked up my camera and binoculars from my car in the car park and we then headed along Fenway, which is a narrow tarmac road and leads to Heacham Sewage Works. Where the tarmac road ends, a public footpath then carries on with oaks, sycamores, high hedges and a water filled ditch.
On route to the sewage works, there are horse meadows either side, all the way along. My father can't see, but I gave him a running commentary about what I could see along the way, which wasn't alot to be honest! I described the horses and the people riding them, the oak trees and picked a leaf and an acorn so he could feel them. The only birds on route were Jackdaws, Woodpigeons, Black-headed Gulls, a Blackbird, Great Tit and a Robin.
At the sewage works, I preceded carefully along the public footpath, but didn't get more than a few yards when father shouted 'oh god!!!' 'Shall I continue on?' I asked 'or go back along the smooth road?' Father's reply was 'smooth road' – so we turned around and headed back to the care home. We would more than probably have seen more birds along the footpath, but understandably the wheelchair ride was pretty rocky along this path!
Back in the car park, I got my deckchair out and we sat outside for a while longer in front of the paddock, where two ponies and a donkey were grazing. Father then said he was 'cold' so we went indoors where I helped him to eat his tea.
Went to visit mother for the rest of the evening and then returned home to King's Lynn.
Visited my father today and decided it was high time we went birding together! Dressed father up in woolly hat, coat, gloves and a second thick pair of socks and tucked him up with his tartan rug in his wheelchair and off we went! Picked up my camera and binoculars from my car in the car park and we then headed along Fenway, which is a narrow tarmac road and leads to Heacham Sewage Works. Where the tarmac road ends, a public footpath then carries on with oaks, sycamores, high hedges and a water filled ditch.
On route to the sewage works, there are horse meadows either side, all the way along. My father can't see, but I gave him a running commentary about what I could see along the way, which wasn't alot to be honest! I described the horses and the people riding them, the oak trees and picked a leaf and an acorn so he could feel them. The only birds on route were Jackdaws, Woodpigeons, Black-headed Gulls, a Blackbird, Great Tit and a Robin.
At the sewage works, I preceded carefully along the public footpath, but didn't get more than a few yards when father shouted 'oh god!!!' 'Shall I continue on?' I asked 'or go back along the smooth road?' Father's reply was 'smooth road' – so we turned around and headed back to the care home. We would more than probably have seen more birds along the footpath, but understandably the wheelchair ride was pretty rocky along this path!
Back in the car park, I got my deckchair out and we sat outside for a while longer in front of the paddock, where two ponies and a donkey were grazing. Father then said he was 'cold' so we went indoors where I helped him to eat his tea.
Went to visit mother for the rest of the evening and then returned home to King's Lynn.
Saturday, 24 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Great White Egrets x 2 flew west mid morning, past Scolt Head Island.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler at end of Meadow Trail, Spoonbills x 6, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spotted Redshank on freshmarsh at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at west side of The Dell at Wells Woods.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 on north side, 200 yards east of Holkham Gap.
Glossy Ibis from Tower Hide, Whinchat from Fen Hide at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Osprey at 10.43am at Thornham Harbour.
Great White Egrets x 2 flew west at 7.25am past West Runton.
Osprey flew over inland at 11.25am, Hunstanton.
Lapland Bunting still at Weybourne Camp.
Yellow-browed Warbler at east end in dunes, north of golf course at Brancaster.
Little Stint at Cantley Beet Factory.
BALTIC GULL possible in roost on Simmond's Scrape, Osprey flew south at 11.30am, Caspian Gull, Little Stints x 5at Pat's Pool, Cley NWT.
Osprey over Thornham village at 3.11pm, Whinchats x 5 along Thornham Bank.
Great White Egrets x 2 flew west distantly, Sooty Shearwater flew east past Gore Point, Velvet Scoter on sea at Holme.
Great White Egrets x 2 flew west, Lapland Bunting at Sheringham.
Spoonbills x 13 at Brancaster Harbour.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! AFRICAN ROYAL TERN presumed, [form albididorsalis] 16th to 28th August; identification suggested by DNA analysis [not American Royal Tern] at County Kerry, County Clare, County Mayo, Ireland.
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH still, in garden at Bornish, South Uist, Western Isles.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles NW of Wadebridge, on Camel Estuary at Dinham Flats, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Great White Egrets x 2 flew west mid morning, past Scolt Head Island.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler at end of Meadow Trail, Spoonbills x 6, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spotted Redshank on freshmarsh at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at west side of The Dell at Wells Woods.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 on north side, 200 yards east of Holkham Gap.
Glossy Ibis from Tower Hide, Whinchat from Fen Hide at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Osprey at 10.43am at Thornham Harbour.
Great White Egrets x 2 flew west at 7.25am past West Runton.
Osprey flew over inland at 11.25am, Hunstanton.
Lapland Bunting still at Weybourne Camp.
Yellow-browed Warbler at east end in dunes, north of golf course at Brancaster.
Little Stint at Cantley Beet Factory.
BALTIC GULL possible in roost on Simmond's Scrape, Osprey flew south at 11.30am, Caspian Gull, Little Stints x 5at Pat's Pool, Cley NWT.
Osprey over Thornham village at 3.11pm, Whinchats x 5 along Thornham Bank.
Great White Egrets x 2 flew west distantly, Sooty Shearwater flew east past Gore Point, Velvet Scoter on sea at Holme.
Great White Egrets x 2 flew west, Lapland Bunting at Sheringham.
Spoonbills x 13 at Brancaster Harbour.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! AFRICAN ROYAL TERN presumed, [form albididorsalis] 16th to 28th August; identification suggested by DNA analysis [not American Royal Tern] at County Kerry, County Clare, County Mayo, Ireland.
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH still, in garden at Bornish, South Uist, Western Isles.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles NW of Wadebridge, on Camel Estuary at Dinham Flats, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Friday, 23 September 2016
Friday Update!
I had a wonderful surprise this week – an unexpected phone call on Tuesday evening from Julian Bhalerao. For those of you that don't know, Julian is a well known birder and photographer in Norfolk and loved by all. Julian suffered a large stroke in May of this year, whilst photographing a Bee-eater at Winterton – this shocking news, shook everyone to the core. With the support of Julian's loving and amazing family, he is recovering well and still rehabilitating in hospital. I wasn't even sure if Julian was able to speak, so it was so fabulous to hear his voice again and his amusing wit is still the same I noted! So nice to hear from him and I felt chuffed that he had taken the time to ring me. He complimented me on my Great Knot pictures and said they were the best he had ever seen of this bird – thanks! He described what had happened to him in May and also spoke so beautifully about how much his wife Sarah had cared for him and been there every step of the way – it brought tears to my eyes. He said when he gets home, I'm invited for coffee and cake!!! Looking forward to it, thank you so much! I don't turn down a cake offer!!!
It has been a very, very difficult few weeks and will become increasingly more difficult over the next few months. I like to write fairly openly on my blog, but there are some things you just can't write about publicly, certainly not yet anyway. There are traumatic things going on right now, which have left me on the 'edge' and feeling so frightened, I felt physically sick today. On a separate issue, I feel pretty ill this evening – I have had an achy left jaw for weeks and now have an ulcer and croaky voice! Quite simply, I'm run down.
I haven't visited my father all week, so will go and see him tomorrow. Hopefully there were will be some good birds for us all to see this weekend.
Weekend Weather
Sunday – Rain gradually clearing Sunday morning, then bright and breezy with a few showers with south west winds.
Tides for Wells Bar
Happy Birding!
It has been a very, very difficult few weeks and will become increasingly more difficult over the next few months. I like to write fairly openly on my blog, but there are some things you just can't write about publicly, certainly not yet anyway. There are traumatic things going on right now, which have left me on the 'edge' and feeling so frightened, I felt physically sick today. On a separate issue, I feel pretty ill this evening – I have had an achy left jaw for weeks and now have an ulcer and croaky voice! Quite simply, I'm run down.
I haven't visited my father all week, so will go and see him tomorrow. Hopefully there were will be some good birds for us all to see this weekend.
Weekend Weather
Saturday – Dry with variable cloud and sunny periods. A brisk southerly breeze developing, becoming gusty at times later, but feeling warm.
Sunday – Rain gradually clearing Sunday morning, then bright and breezy with a few showers with south west winds.
Tides for Wells Bar
Saturday – Low Tide: 8.32. High Tide: 13.39.
Sunday – Low Tide: 9.50. High Tide: 15.10.
Happy Birding!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Lapland Bunting on clifftop path then flew off at Mundesley.
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh.
Yellow-browed Warbler 300 yds west of Lady Ann's Drive at Holkham.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 on west side of The Dell, Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Wells Woods.
Yellow-browed Warbler at north end of Garden Drove at Warham Greens.
PALLID HARRIER or Montagu's Harrier flew south, Honey Buzzards x 2 at 11.05am over Walsey Hills NOA.
Spoonbills x 30 at Stiffkey Fen.
Whinchat at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Whinchats x 2 at Snettisham Coastal Park.
Black-necked Grebe from Shore Hide at Snettisham RSPB.
Wryneck, Redstart still near Dell at Beeston Bump, Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at start of Meadow Trail, Whinchats x 2 on East Trail, Curlew Sandpipers x 3 on Freshmarsh at Titchwell RSPB.
Whinchat at North Dunes, Winterton.
Lapland Bunting, Whinchat east of boardwalk at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Caspian Gull flew west past Weybourne Camp.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Sheringham.
Whinchats x 5 on Thornham Bank,Velvet Scoter on sea at Holme.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH still, in garden at Balephuil, Tiree, Argyll and Bute.
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH still, in garden at Bornish, South Uist, Western Isles.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN off Porthilly Point, on Camel Estuary, south of Rock, Cornwall.
Lapland Bunting on clifftop path then flew off at Mundesley.
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh.
Yellow-browed Warbler 300 yds west of Lady Ann's Drive at Holkham.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 on west side of The Dell, Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Wells Woods.
Yellow-browed Warbler at north end of Garden Drove at Warham Greens.
PALLID HARRIER or Montagu's Harrier flew south, Honey Buzzards x 2 at 11.05am over Walsey Hills NOA.
Spoonbills x 30 at Stiffkey Fen.
Whinchat at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Whinchats x 2 at Snettisham Coastal Park.
Black-necked Grebe from Shore Hide at Snettisham RSPB.
Wryneck, Redstart still near Dell at Beeston Bump, Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at start of Meadow Trail, Whinchats x 2 on East Trail, Curlew Sandpipers x 3 on Freshmarsh at Titchwell RSPB.
Whinchat at North Dunes, Winterton.
Lapland Bunting, Whinchat east of boardwalk at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Caspian Gull flew west past Weybourne Camp.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Sheringham.
Whinchats x 5 on Thornham Bank,Velvet Scoter on sea at Holme.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH still, in garden at Balephuil, Tiree, Argyll and Bute.
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH still, in garden at Bornish, South Uist, Western Isles.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN off Porthilly Point, on Camel Estuary, south of Rock, Cornwall.
Thursday, 22 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Yellow-browed Warblers x 6 at north end of Garden Drove at Warham Greens.
Wryneck in pit at Beeston Bump.
Wryneck at brick ruin west of boardwalk, Whinchats x 2, Lapland Bunting and Redstart at Gun Hill, Burnham Overy Dunes.
Wryneck in back garden at Trafford Road, Norwich.
Ring Ouzel at South Dunes, Winterton.
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Holkham.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 ringed at Holme Bird Observatory NOA.
Red-breasted Flycatcher in The Plantation, Osprey flushed from Lightboat House at Blakeney Point.
Ring Ouzel flew in off sea at North Beach, Heacham.
Yellow-browed Warbler heard in hedge on south edge of James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston-on-Sea.
Osprey at Blakeney Harbour.
Osprey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Ring Ouzels x 3 at Fenway, Heacham.
Spoonbills x 32, Yellow-browed Warbler at Stiffkey Fen.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 in Campsite Wood at Stiffkey.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 7, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstart at Wells Woods.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Whinchat, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Lapland Bunting at East Hills, Wells.
Red-necked Grebe at Breydon Water.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler along main path at Titchwell RSPB.
Hoopoe on golf course at Brancaster.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Buntings x 4 at Weybourne Camp.
Lapland Bunting at Sheringham.
Redstart at Burnham Norton.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 – 2 south of Cart Gap Road, 1 at St Mary's Church, 1 at the Cricket Pitch at Happisburgh.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Sea Palling.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH in garden at Balephuil, Tiree, Argyll and Bute.
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH in garden at Bornish, South Uist, Western Isles.
MEGA! FORSTER'S TERN at Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN SE of Devoran again at Restronguet Creek from Point Quay, Cornwall.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 6 at north end of Garden Drove at Warham Greens.
Wryneck in pit at Beeston Bump.
Wryneck at brick ruin west of boardwalk, Whinchats x 2, Lapland Bunting and Redstart at Gun Hill, Burnham Overy Dunes.
Wryneck in back garden at Trafford Road, Norwich.
Ring Ouzel at South Dunes, Winterton.
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Holkham.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 ringed at Holme Bird Observatory NOA.
Red-breasted Flycatcher in The Plantation, Osprey flushed from Lightboat House at Blakeney Point.
Ring Ouzel flew in off sea at North Beach, Heacham.
Yellow-browed Warbler heard in hedge on south edge of James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston-on-Sea.
Osprey at Blakeney Harbour.
Osprey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Ring Ouzels x 3 at Fenway, Heacham.
Spoonbills x 32, Yellow-browed Warbler at Stiffkey Fen.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 in Campsite Wood at Stiffkey.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 7, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstart at Wells Woods.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Whinchat, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Lapland Bunting at East Hills, Wells.
Red-necked Grebe at Breydon Water.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Yellow-browed Warbler along main path at Titchwell RSPB.
Hoopoe on golf course at Brancaster.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Buntings x 4 at Weybourne Camp.
Lapland Bunting at Sheringham.
Redstart at Burnham Norton.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 – 2 south of Cart Gap Road, 1 at St Mary's Church, 1 at the Cricket Pitch at Happisburgh.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Sea Palling.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH in garden at Balephuil, Tiree, Argyll and Bute.
MEGA! SWAINSON'S THRUSH in garden at Bornish, South Uist, Western Isles.
MEGA! FORSTER'S TERN at Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN SE of Devoran again at Restronguet Creek from Point Quay, Cornwall.
Wednesday, 21 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Barred Warbler reported along track north of A149, between first and second gate, Redstart male before first gate, Black-necked Grebe on sea towards Scolt Head Island, Lapland Buntings in dunes at Gun Hill, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Whinchats x 2 at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Pectoral Sandpiper on saltwater lagoon at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Trimingham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at South Dunes, Winterton.
Whinchats x 4 on path between Thornham and Holme.
Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Breydon Water.
Yellow-browed Warbler near Cedar Springs at Heacham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Yankee Ridge, Black Redstart, Whinchat at Blakeney Point.
Great White Egret, Yellow-browed Warblers x 6 – two at Meals House, three in large sycamore at west end, one at Crosstracks + Redstart at Holkham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Whirligig at Warham Greens.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Marsh Lane, Wiveton.
Yellow-browed Warbler by first stile, Spoonbills x 32, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Stiffkey Fen.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at Stiffkey Campsite Wood.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstart, Tree Pipit at Wells Woods.
Lapland Bunting at Burnham Deepdale.
Spoonbills x 33 at Burnham Norton.
Whinchat in hedge behind shelter at West Runton.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Nightingale at Weybourne Camp.
Great Skua at Welney WWT.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Warham Greens.
Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spotted Redshanks x 5 at Snettisham RSPB.
Crossbill, Redstarts x 3 in pines, Spotted Redshanks x 3 on Broadwater at Holme Dunes NWT.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! LANCEOLATED WARBLER, Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN SE of Devoran again at Restronguet Creek from Point Quay, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Barred Warbler reported along track north of A149, between first and second gate, Redstart male before first gate, Black-necked Grebe on sea towards Scolt Head Island, Lapland Buntings in dunes at Gun Hill, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Whinchats x 2 at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Pectoral Sandpiper on saltwater lagoon at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Trimingham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at South Dunes, Winterton.
Whinchats x 4 on path between Thornham and Holme.
Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Breydon Water.
Yellow-browed Warbler near Cedar Springs at Heacham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Yankee Ridge, Black Redstart, Whinchat at Blakeney Point.
Great White Egret, Yellow-browed Warblers x 6 – two at Meals House, three in large sycamore at west end, one at Crosstracks + Redstart at Holkham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Whirligig at Warham Greens.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Marsh Lane, Wiveton.
Yellow-browed Warbler by first stile, Spoonbills x 32, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Stiffkey Fen.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at Stiffkey Campsite Wood.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstart, Tree Pipit at Wells Woods.
Lapland Bunting at Burnham Deepdale.
Spoonbills x 33 at Burnham Norton.
Whinchat in hedge behind shelter at West Runton.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Nightingale at Weybourne Camp.
Great Skua at Welney WWT.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Warham Greens.
Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spotted Redshanks x 5 at Snettisham RSPB.
Crossbill, Redstarts x 3 in pines, Spotted Redshanks x 3 on Broadwater at Holme Dunes NWT.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! LANCEOLATED WARBLER, Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN SE of Devoran again at Restronguet Creek from Point Quay, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
RBA Weekly Round-up 14th to 20th September!
By Andy Stoddart
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2016-38.aspx?s_id=408943773
Thanks to the RBA Team for including my Red-flanked Bluetail photograph to their weekly Round-Up!
Also thanks to Birdguides for also including the same picture in their 'Review of the Week'.
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2016-38.aspx?s_id=408943773
Thanks to the RBA Team for including my Red-flanked Bluetail photograph to their weekly Round-Up!
Also thanks to Birdguides for also including the same picture in their 'Review of the Week'.
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Hoopoe flew in off sea at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Barred Warbler yesterday at South Dunes, Winterton.
Yellow-browed Warbler at pond near church, Yellow-browed Warbler, Honey Buzzard probable at South Dunes, Winterton.
Dotterels x 2 (both juvs) still at west end of golf course at Sheringham.
Honey Buzzard flew SSW Lapland Bunting flew west over Sheringham.
Red-breasted Flycatcher 1w, Pied Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 in The Dell, Wells Woods.
Great White Egret north of Whirligig at Warham Greens.
Curlew Sandpiper at Breydon Water.
Black-necked Grebe at harbour entrance, Burnham Overy Staithe.
Yellow-browed Warbler in Bure Park, Great Yarmouth.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 4, Great White Egrets x 2 a Holkham.
Yellow-browed Warbler heard at Bacton.
Lapland Bunting, Redstart at Shangri-La Chalet, Waxham.
Hoopoe in Forestry briefly at 8.3am (then flew towards Thornham) Holmes Dunes NWT.
Black Redstart at Blakeney Point.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Friary Hills NT.
Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Spoonbills x 31 at Stiffkey Fen.
Pied Flycatcher at rear of sewage works at Fenway, Heacham.
Osprey at Cockshoot Broad.
Common Cranes x 10 flew over Eastfield Road, Hickling.
GREENISH WARBLER, Redstart along Warren Lane early evening at Gorleston-on-Sea.
Black Redstart at Thornham Harbour.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! BELTED KINGFISHER probable on Wednesday near Enniskillen at Lower Lough Erne, south of Castle Caldwel at Ned's Island, north of Rough Island in area only accessible by boat, but no sign today (ID suggested from video).
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Truro at Malpas from Heron Inn, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Hoopoe flew in off sea at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Barred Warbler yesterday at South Dunes, Winterton.
Yellow-browed Warbler at pond near church, Yellow-browed Warbler, Honey Buzzard probable at South Dunes, Winterton.
Dotterels x 2 (both juvs) still at west end of golf course at Sheringham.
Honey Buzzard flew SSW Lapland Bunting flew west over Sheringham.
Red-breasted Flycatcher 1w, Pied Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 in The Dell, Wells Woods.
Great White Egret north of Whirligig at Warham Greens.
Curlew Sandpiper at Breydon Water.
Black-necked Grebe at harbour entrance, Burnham Overy Staithe.
Yellow-browed Warbler in Bure Park, Great Yarmouth.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 4, Great White Egrets x 2 a Holkham.
Yellow-browed Warbler heard at Bacton.
Lapland Bunting, Redstart at Shangri-La Chalet, Waxham.
Hoopoe in Forestry briefly at 8.3am (then flew towards Thornham) Holmes Dunes NWT.
Black Redstart at Blakeney Point.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Friary Hills NT.
Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Spoonbills x 31 at Stiffkey Fen.
Pied Flycatcher at rear of sewage works at Fenway, Heacham.
Osprey at Cockshoot Broad.
Common Cranes x 10 flew over Eastfield Road, Hickling.
GREENISH WARBLER, Redstart along Warren Lane early evening at Gorleston-on-Sea.
Black Redstart at Thornham Harbour.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! BELTED KINGFISHER probable on Wednesday near Enniskillen at Lower Lough Erne, south of Castle Caldwel at Ned's Island, north of Rough Island in area only accessible by boat, but no sign today (ID suggested from video).
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN 1.5 miles SE of Truro at Malpas from Heron Inn, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
- 123,075 signatures and petition now closed.
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/125003
Monday, 19 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Great White Egrets x 2 in channel, Black-necked Grebe in channel between Gun Hill and Scolt Head Island, Lapland Bunting, Spoonbills x 4 at Burnham Overy Staithe.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 5, Lapland Bunting, Redstarts x 3 between Holkham and Burnham Overy Dunes.
Wryneck on coastal footpath at west end of golfcourse near NT sign, Dotterels x 2 (both juvs) still, Redstart, Whinchats x 2 on south side of Skeldig Hill on fairway below coastal lookout at Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest, Pied Flycatcher in Great Yarmouth Cemetery & Caistor Road Cemetery.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Redstart in grounds of building site behind church at Waxham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at north end of Garden Drove, Yellow-browed Warbler near north end of middle track at Warham Greens.
Red-breasted Flycatcher 100 yds east of whirligig, west from Stiffkey Campsite.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 10, Pied Flycatchers x 7, Brambling, Tree Pipits x 2 at Wells Woods.
Pomarine Skua, Redstarts x 2, Whinchats x 2 yesterday at Holme.
Honey Buzzard juv. dark morph flew SW over Kelling.
Pomarine Skua yesterday off Kelling.
Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at South Dunes, Winterton.
Quail singing at Walsey Hills NOA.
Eurasian White-fronted Goose at Buckenham Marshes RSPB.
Red-backed Shrike 1w, Redstarts x 2, Whinchats x 4 along Nelson Head Track at Horsey.
Yellow-browed Warbler in first hedge west of Old Woman's Lane at Cley.
Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Cross Street, Salthouse.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstarts x 4 at Trimingham.
Spoonbills x 31 at Stiffkey Fen.
Balearic Shearwater flew east past Weybourne Camp.
MEGA NEWS
• RED-FOOTED BOOBY at Mallydams Wood RSPCA, remains in care. It is reportedly intended for it to be flown to Florida to continue its recuperation.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Great White Egrets x 2 in channel, Black-necked Grebe in channel between Gun Hill and Scolt Head Island, Lapland Bunting, Spoonbills x 4 at Burnham Overy Staithe.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 5, Lapland Bunting, Redstarts x 3 between Holkham and Burnham Overy Dunes.
Wryneck on coastal footpath at west end of golfcourse near NT sign, Dotterels x 2 (both juvs) still, Redstart, Whinchats x 2 on south side of Skeldig Hill on fairway below coastal lookout at Sheringham.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest, Pied Flycatcher in Great Yarmouth Cemetery & Caistor Road Cemetery.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Redstart in grounds of building site behind church at Waxham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at north end of Garden Drove, Yellow-browed Warbler near north end of middle track at Warham Greens.
Red-breasted Flycatcher 100 yds east of whirligig, west from Stiffkey Campsite.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 10, Pied Flycatchers x 7, Brambling, Tree Pipits x 2 at Wells Woods.
Pomarine Skua, Redstarts x 2, Whinchats x 2 yesterday at Holme.
Honey Buzzard juv. dark morph flew SW over Kelling.
Pomarine Skua yesterday off Kelling.
Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler at South Dunes, Winterton.
Quail singing at Walsey Hills NOA.
Eurasian White-fronted Goose at Buckenham Marshes RSPB.
Red-backed Shrike 1w, Redstarts x 2, Whinchats x 4 along Nelson Head Track at Horsey.
Yellow-browed Warbler in first hedge west of Old Woman's Lane at Cley.
Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Cross Street, Salthouse.
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstarts x 4 at Trimingham.
Spoonbills x 31 at Stiffkey Fen.
Balearic Shearwater flew east past Weybourne Camp.
MEGA NEWS
• RED-FOOTED BOOBY at Mallydams Wood RSPCA, remains in care. It is reportedly intended for it to be flown to Florida to continue its recuperation.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
- 122,708 signatures so far at:
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/125003
Sunday, 18 September 2016
Mega Exciting Day at EAST HILLS!
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL
First one I've seen at East Hills!
Much to my delight, I re-found this at 4.20pm
Much to my delight, I re-found this at 4.20pm
At last I was able to go birding properly today. The sea-watching had tailed off completely, with very little on the pager first thing this morning, so I wouldn't be seeing any Leach's Petrels today! I felt like walking Blakeney Point, but did I really?! I was also thinking about East Hills, but dismissed this crazy idea – it wasn't worth the treacherous walk out there for an Arctic Warbler! The north west winds would have churned up the quick sands into custard!
As I was driving east along the A148, I phoned Eddie (hands free) who was at Gramborough Hill and said he could see 40+ birders at the Red-breasted Flycatcher at Salthouse – I really wanted to see that, but wasn't going to stand there with that many people. Then, the pager bleeped up with RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL at East Hills. That was enough to persuade me! I also managed to persuade Eddie to join me too! Yes I've seen plenty of bluetails before, but you never get bored of seeing another!
We met up at the concrete pad at Warham Greens at about 12.20pm. Eddie and another birder (Shaun) walked ahead of me whilst I got my gear together and wellies on. I met them halfway along Garden Drove – Shaun had seen a Yellow-browed Warbler briefly. There were two birders walking out ahead of us. 11 people went out earlier on a boat from Wells Quay. It was a very wet walk due to the very high tide this morning. The two birders who were ahead of us were wearing walking boots and stopped at the deep creek, when they realised they were not going to get across in their boots without getting wet, so they diverted east – don't know where they ended up, but they didn't get out to East Hills. You have to wear wellingtons out here if you want to keep your feet dry! We crossed the deep creek in our wellies with no problems. The main creek however, was a different story! Wherever you choose to cross was dodgy, custard sands, we didn't sink higher than just below knees, but still scary though and I was cursing all the way across to the marsh. Your heart is beating nine to the dozen and every time I walk out here, I wonder why the hell I do!
Walking out over the marsh, the sands were pretty wet, but we didn't encounter any more custard sands! Reached the dune ridge and headed towards the sycamores, it was really hot today and it was fabulous to see the sun again.
I was lucky enough to see the Arctic Warbler briefly – two short views, high in the main sycamore glade, but sadly unable to get any pictures. A Yellow-browed Warbler was also seen shortly after this and a further two Yellow-browed Warblers later on. Saw a Spotted Flycatcher perched high on a dead pine stump and also a Pied Flycatcher. Chiffchaffs also seen in the main sycamore glade and there was a Redstart in the pines. Dave Holman was out here, also Ian Brittain, Matthew Shore, Brian Egan and others.
Yellow-browed Warblers
East Hills, Wells
At the west end of East Hills, we saw our second and third Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Garden Warblers, a Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs, female Blackcaps x 2, Wren and also watched a juv. Cuckoo flying around with a very large caterpillar! The Cuckoo also landed in a pine briefly. We were told there were in fact TWO Red-flanked Bluetails out here, one at the west end and one east. I felt incredibly frustrated that I had not seen one yet, but they were very elusive and other birders had only had the briefest of views. There was me expecting to see one at close range and with a stonking picture on my camera, at this rate I was going to see one, never mind photograph one!
Eddie headed east back to the main sycamore glade, as he had not seen the Arctic Warbler earlier. I decided to head back west in a second attempt to look for the bluetail. I walked to the furthest point west and saw another Yellow-browed Warbler in the sycamore and a couple of Chiffchaffs. A Sparrowhawk landed on a pine briefly and a Kestrel also did the same. I then walked around the scrub and onto the beach. Up ahead I had wonderful views of 2 Redstarts perched on the large fallen dead pine (from the 2013 storm surge), but was unable to get any decent pictures. As I was watching these, I noticed something fly onto a low pine branch – it was obscured by branches, but my heart was racing when I realised that I re-found the elusive Red-flanked Bluetail!!! It was 4.20pm. I could see the eye ring, the orange flanks and the blue tail, but it was poor light – I took three pictures in succession, then phoned Eddie. I kept my eye on the bird as I was giving directions to Eddie, it seemed to flick through the pines east and then vanished! I couldn't believe that it had disappeared and I never saw it again, despite much searching with Eddie. I felt really bad that Eddie had not seen it, but I was over the moon that I had managed to see it, even though it was only for a few seconds. There were a few Goldcrests and Chaffinches in the sycamores and the two Redstarts I had watched a short while ago, had re-located to the sycamores.
We headed back east through the main sycamore glade, but didn't see anything other than a Chiffcaff and heard a Yellow-browed Warbler calling. No further sign of the Arctic Warbler. It all seemed a lot quieter now. Eddie headed off round the back of the dunes and we met up at the large pine tree by the pool. Eddie had seen a couple of Whitethroats and a Song Thrush – I should have joined him as I saw nothing new.
We headed back over the sands and over the horrible creek, which gave me the same stress as earlier! A large flock of Golden Plovers graced the skies in beautiful light and also saw a pair of Reed Buntings. It seemed to take forever to get back, but we eventually made it back to Garden Drove. Didn't see any birds of note on route back to our cars, oh apart from 4 Carrion Crows overhead east. Eddie saw a Painted Lady Butterfly on the field side of the hedge.
Got back to the concrete pad at 6.40pm. A Kestrel was perched on the apex of the old barn east of the concrete pad and was promptly kicked off by a Common Buzzard who stole its perch! Took me ages to get my wellingtons off and had to ask Eddie to assist. I should never have bought wellingtons a size too small – I had done this on purpose at the time, so that they didn't come off when crossing the dodgy sands – its worked so far! We sat and wrote our bird list up ,whilst munching on caramel, chocolate digestives and coffee. Eddie headed east and I headed west – an excellent day! My photography skills were not exactly what I had hoped for, but at least I got some records shots.
East Hills, Wells
MY LIST FOR THE DAY:
Red-flanked Bluetail, Arctic Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3+, Garden Warblers x 2, Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstarts x 3, Chiffchaffs (several), Female Blackcaps x 2, Goldcrests, Cuckoo juv., Sparrowhawk, Kestrels x 2, Chaffinches, Wren, Little Egrets x 4, Reed Buntings x 2, flock of Golden Plover, Common Buzzard, Carrion Crows x 4.
Here are some far more acceptable pictures of a Red-flanked Bluetail, which I photographed at Waxham on 14th October 2010!
http://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/red-flanked-bluetail-no2.html
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Sooty Shearwaters x 3, Puffin, Velvet Scoters x 6, Curlew Sandpipers x 8, Great Skuas x 12, Lapland Buntings x 2 at Cley.
Spoonbills x 2 flew west, Little Stints x 9 on Simmonds' Scrape at Cley NWT.
Caspian Gull, Wood Sandpiper yesterday at Titchwell RSPB.
Dotterels x 2 (both juvs) still, at west end of golfcourse at Sheringham.
Red-breasted Flycatcher still in bushes 300yds along Meadow Lane, between Salthouse and Kelling Quags.
Red-breasted Flycatcher (heard only), Wood Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Wells Woods.
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL, ARCTIC WARBLER, GREENISH WARBLER, Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warblers x 6, Redstarts x 4, Pied Flycatchers x 6, Tree Pipit, Whinchats x 4, Lapland Bunting at East Hills, Wells.
Hawfinch in paddocks at 10.21am, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher in scrub opposite toilet block/village car park at Holme.
Yellow-browed Warbler in dell, mid way between entrance gate and The Firs at Holme NWT.
Yellow-browed Warbler in sallow 300 yds north of A149 along track to dunes, Yellow-browed Warbler 200yds NE of Gun Hill at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Whinchats x 3, Redstarts x 2, Tree Pipit in willows north of pipe dump, NE of Waxham.
Pied Flycatcher at Shangri-La chalet, Redstart by church at Waxham.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Whinchats x 4 at Holkham Pines.
PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER juv. probable, on turf field south of Marsh Grazing stables 11.10-11.20am then flew off at Hunstanton.
Richard's Pipit at Weybourne Camp.
HOOPOE 1/4 mile west, along coast path east of fort at 12.45pm, then flew east towards harbour at Brancaster Staithe (C.R.)
Red-breasted Flycatcher 1w at Trimingham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Garden Drove, Warham Greens.
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Whinchats x 3 along Nelson Head Track at Horsey.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest at Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Black-throated Diver flew past North Denes at Great Yarmouth.
Stone Curlew 300 yds east of Halfway House, Yellow-browed Warbler at Yankee Ridge, Black Redstart c200 yds west of beach car park, Redstarts x 5, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Whinchats x 6, Lapland Bunting (heard only), Pomarine Skua flew west at Blakeney Point.
Spoonbills x 15 at Blakeney Harbour.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Redstarts x 2 in Stiffkey Campsite Woods.
Yellow-browed Warbler opposite One Stop Nature Shop, then flew north at Burnham Deepdale.
Whinchat, Redstart at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Curlew Sandpiper at Welney WWT.
Redstart in horse paddocks beyond Church Farm at Happisburgh.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! COMMON YELLOWTHROAT near Castlerock at Bann Estuary from hide in reeds, near large sycamore on opposite bank, briefly at County Derry, Ireland.
MEGA! BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS reported 10 miles NNE of Alnwick at Low Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE for 6th day at Da Water, Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL & DALMATIAN PELICAN, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
Sooty Shearwaters x 3, Puffin, Velvet Scoters x 6, Curlew Sandpipers x 8, Great Skuas x 12, Lapland Buntings x 2 at Cley.
Spoonbills x 2 flew west, Little Stints x 9 on Simmonds' Scrape at Cley NWT.
Caspian Gull, Wood Sandpiper yesterday at Titchwell RSPB.
Dotterels x 2 (both juvs) still, at west end of golfcourse at Sheringham.
Red-breasted Flycatcher still in bushes 300yds along Meadow Lane, between Salthouse and Kelling Quags.
Red-breasted Flycatcher (heard only), Wood Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Wells Woods.
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL, ARCTIC WARBLER, GREENISH WARBLER, Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warblers x 6, Redstarts x 4, Pied Flycatchers x 6, Tree Pipit, Whinchats x 4, Lapland Bunting at East Hills, Wells.
Hawfinch in paddocks at 10.21am, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher in scrub opposite toilet block/village car park at Holme.
Yellow-browed Warbler in dell, mid way between entrance gate and The Firs at Holme NWT.
Yellow-browed Warbler in sallow 300 yds north of A149 along track to dunes, Yellow-browed Warbler 200yds NE of Gun Hill at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Whinchats x 3, Redstarts x 2, Tree Pipit in willows north of pipe dump, NE of Waxham.
Pied Flycatcher at Shangri-La chalet, Redstart by church at Waxham.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Whinchats x 4 at Holkham Pines.
PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER juv. probable, on turf field south of Marsh Grazing stables 11.10-11.20am then flew off at Hunstanton.
Richard's Pipit at Weybourne Camp.
HOOPOE 1/4 mile west, along coast path east of fort at 12.45pm, then flew east towards harbour at Brancaster Staithe (C.R.)
Red-breasted Flycatcher 1w at Trimingham.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Garden Drove, Warham Greens.
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Whinchats x 3 along Nelson Head Track at Horsey.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest at Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Black-throated Diver flew past North Denes at Great Yarmouth.
Stone Curlew 300 yds east of Halfway House, Yellow-browed Warbler at Yankee Ridge, Black Redstart c200 yds west of beach car park, Redstarts x 5, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Whinchats x 6, Lapland Bunting (heard only), Pomarine Skua flew west at Blakeney Point.
Spoonbills x 15 at Blakeney Harbour.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Redstarts x 2 in Stiffkey Campsite Woods.
Yellow-browed Warbler opposite One Stop Nature Shop, then flew north at Burnham Deepdale.
Whinchat, Redstart at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Curlew Sandpiper at Welney WWT.
Redstart in horse paddocks beyond Church Farm at Happisburgh.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! COMMON YELLOWTHROAT near Castlerock at Bann Estuary from hide in reeds, near large sycamore on opposite bank, briefly at County Derry, Ireland.
MEGA! BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS reported 10 miles NNE of Alnwick at Low Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE for 6th day at Da Water, Fair Isle, Shetland.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL & DALMATIAN PELICAN, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
- 122,465 signatures so far at:
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/125003
Not A Normal Day!
Saturday 17th September
Today was a perfect day to go sea-watching – a perfect day to try and see my first (yes you are reading correctly) Leach's Petrel!!! But, because of far bigger stuff going on than birding I was unable to go sea-watching. What a fabulous haul of birds in Norfolk today for those that were out on the coast!
In between the big stuff going on, I visited my father at Heacham along with my two sisters. Father looked really well, in fact he looked the best we have seen him in a long time, which was good. Just before I visited him I had a mini birding session along the track at Fenway. This track was where a Wryneck was reported on 15th September, but it didn't appear to be there today. I wished I had walked along this track before, as it was potentially a brilliant place for birds – it runs alongside Heacham Sewage works and at the end of the main track was a small weir which cascaded down into a ditch. There were several LBJ's flitting around in the very high hedges, but couldn't ID any of them as they dived into deep cover and would not reveal themselves.
When I returned to my car, a man standing next to a land rover asked for my assistance to ID an injured bird – a young Kestrel was sitting on the ground and was not able to fly and also had blood stained feathers above its beak and the top part of the beak was missing! It was desperately sad to see – I could not work out how this had happened. I tried to google and phone East Winch RSPCA in vain and was cut off twice. Phoned Holme Dunes NWT for advice (thanks G.H.) – long story short, the man managed to capture the kestrel and held it with one hand. The man (who ran the Fox & Hounds pub at Heacham) asked a friend to come out with a box and we placed the kestrel quietly inside and it was taken back to the pub. Another friend of the man's very kindly took the Kestrel to East Winch (thanks for the phone call to let me know this). I'm pretty sure this poor bird will have to be euthanized – it would be cruel not to – its not going to be able to feed. The only thing that could have happened is that something snapped at its beak, maybe a dog? But then that doesn't make sense, as how would a dog have caught a Kestrel anyway, unless it had been injured by other means first – will never know.
After the visit to Father we went on to visit Mother with an Indian take-away. I parked my car on the cliff top at Hunstanton and ran to the cliff edge with my bins to have a 1 minute scan. Rough sea and very high tide, perfect sea-watching conditions but I didn't see a single bird go by in that 1 minute. I couldn't stay any longer – the shortest sea-watch in history!!!
Kestrel Update
I emailed the RSPCA at East Winch to ask about the outcome of the Kestrel and they kindly replied:
"Thank you for your email.
The kestrel brought to us was examined by our Vet and he decided that it needed to be put to sleep. I know this is not the outcome you wanted but thank you for bringing it in......"
Today was a perfect day to go sea-watching – a perfect day to try and see my first (yes you are reading correctly) Leach's Petrel!!! But, because of far bigger stuff going on than birding I was unable to go sea-watching. What a fabulous haul of birds in Norfolk today for those that were out on the coast!
In between the big stuff going on, I visited my father at Heacham along with my two sisters. Father looked really well, in fact he looked the best we have seen him in a long time, which was good. Just before I visited him I had a mini birding session along the track at Fenway. This track was where a Wryneck was reported on 15th September, but it didn't appear to be there today. I wished I had walked along this track before, as it was potentially a brilliant place for birds – it runs alongside Heacham Sewage works and at the end of the main track was a small weir which cascaded down into a ditch. There were several LBJ's flitting around in the very high hedges, but couldn't ID any of them as they dived into deep cover and would not reveal themselves.
Injured Kestrel at Fenway, Heacham
When I returned to my car, a man standing next to a land rover asked for my assistance to ID an injured bird – a young Kestrel was sitting on the ground and was not able to fly and also had blood stained feathers above its beak and the top part of the beak was missing! It was desperately sad to see – I could not work out how this had happened. I tried to google and phone East Winch RSPCA in vain and was cut off twice. Phoned Holme Dunes NWT for advice (thanks G.H.) – long story short, the man managed to capture the kestrel and held it with one hand. The man (who ran the Fox & Hounds pub at Heacham) asked a friend to come out with a box and we placed the kestrel quietly inside and it was taken back to the pub. Another friend of the man's very kindly took the Kestrel to East Winch (thanks for the phone call to let me know this). I'm pretty sure this poor bird will have to be euthanized – it would be cruel not to – its not going to be able to feed. The only thing that could have happened is that something snapped at its beak, maybe a dog? But then that doesn't make sense, as how would a dog have caught a Kestrel anyway, unless it had been injured by other means first – will never know.
After the visit to Father we went on to visit Mother with an Indian take-away. I parked my car on the cliff top at Hunstanton and ran to the cliff edge with my bins to have a 1 minute scan. Rough sea and very high tide, perfect sea-watching conditions but I didn't see a single bird go by in that 1 minute. I couldn't stay any longer – the shortest sea-watch in history!!!
Kestrel Update
I emailed the RSPCA at East Winch to ask about the outcome of the Kestrel and they kindly replied:
"Thank you for your email.
The kestrel brought to us was examined by our Vet and he decided that it needed to be put to sleep. I know this is not the outcome you wanted but thank you for bringing it in......"
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Saturday 17th September
Redstarts x 2 yesterday at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Sooty Shearwaters x 2 at Winterton.
Leach's Petrels x 2, Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwaters x 41, Long-tailed Duck, Honey Buzzard flew south over Happisburgh.
Sabine's Gull flew west at 8.27am, Sheringham.
Leach's Petrel flew west at 8.59am and another at 11.39am, Salthouse.
Red-breasted Flycatcher in bushes 300yds along Meadow Lane, between Salthouse and Kelling Quags.
Black-necked Grebes x 3 flew west past Salthouse.
Leach's Petrels x 5, Sabine's Gulls x 3, Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skuas x 3, Balearic Shearwaters x 4, Sooty Shearwaters x 70, Manx Shearwaters x 60, Great Skuas x 50, Grey Phalarope at Cley.
Great White Egret flew WSW with Herons x 7 at 4.10pm over Cley NWT.
Leach's Petrel drifted towards Cart Gap at 9.45am, Happisburgh.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Titchwell RSPB.
Leach's Petrels x 2, Balearic Shearwater, Pomarine Skuas x 4, Sooty Shearwaters x 30, Black-necked Grebes x 3, Great Skuas x 262, Arctic Skuas x 53 at Sheringham.
Leach's Petrel flew past at 4.10pm, Sooty Shearwaters x 2 flew north, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Little Gull at Hunstanton.
Pied Flycatchers x 3, Whinchat, Black-necked Grebes flew west at Blakeney Point.
Spoonbills x 17, Sooty Shearwater, Great Skuas x 54, Redstarts x 3 at Titchwell RSPB.
Sabine's Gulls x 2, Pomarine Skuas x 7, Long-tailed Skua, Balearic Shearwaters x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 70, Black Terns x 3, Puffin, Curlew Sandpiper, Great Skuas x 200, Arctic Skuas x 50, Black-throated Diver, Great White Egret with Grey Herons x 3 west at Sheringham.
Dotterels x 2 on 9th fairway, towards west end of golfcourse at Sheringham.
Wryneck north of boardwalk, Serin flew from west end of dunes towards boardwalk at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Leach's Petrels x 2, Sabine's Gull, Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skua, Great Skuas x 159, Arctic Skuas x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Caspian Gull at Holme.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Redstarts x 2, Tree Pipit at Wells Woods.
ARCTIC WARBLER again, though elusive, GREENISH WARBLER elusive, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at East Hills, Wells.
Firecrests x 2 at Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Leach's Petrel flew west past Walcott.
Pied Flycatchers x 2 south of Shangri -La chalet at Waxham.
Redstart west end of plantation at Stiffkey.
Long-tailed Skua flew offshore at Scratby.
• Fabulous list from Holme Dunes NWT HERE.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! LANCEOLATED WARBLER north of Sumburgh Farm at Sumburgh Head, Shetland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE probable, flew from Crown & Anchor pub car park, Kilnsea, Yorkshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN on Loe Pool, Helston, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL still yesterday, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
MEGA! FORSTER'S TERN at Soldier's Point, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland.
Saturday 17th September
Redstarts x 2 yesterday at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Sooty Shearwaters x 2 at Winterton.
Leach's Petrels x 2, Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwaters x 41, Long-tailed Duck, Honey Buzzard flew south over Happisburgh.
Sabine's Gull flew west at 8.27am, Sheringham.
Leach's Petrel flew west at 8.59am and another at 11.39am, Salthouse.
Red-breasted Flycatcher in bushes 300yds along Meadow Lane, between Salthouse and Kelling Quags.
Black-necked Grebes x 3 flew west past Salthouse.
Leach's Petrels x 5, Sabine's Gulls x 3, Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skuas x 3, Balearic Shearwaters x 4, Sooty Shearwaters x 70, Manx Shearwaters x 60, Great Skuas x 50, Grey Phalarope at Cley.
Great White Egret flew WSW with Herons x 7 at 4.10pm over Cley NWT.
Leach's Petrel drifted towards Cart Gap at 9.45am, Happisburgh.
Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Titchwell RSPB.
Leach's Petrels x 2, Balearic Shearwater, Pomarine Skuas x 4, Sooty Shearwaters x 30, Black-necked Grebes x 3, Great Skuas x 262, Arctic Skuas x 53 at Sheringham.
Leach's Petrel flew past at 4.10pm, Sooty Shearwaters x 2 flew north, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Little Gull at Hunstanton.
Pied Flycatchers x 3, Whinchat, Black-necked Grebes flew west at Blakeney Point.
Spoonbills x 17, Sooty Shearwater, Great Skuas x 54, Redstarts x 3 at Titchwell RSPB.
Sabine's Gulls x 2, Pomarine Skuas x 7, Long-tailed Skua, Balearic Shearwaters x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 70, Black Terns x 3, Puffin, Curlew Sandpiper, Great Skuas x 200, Arctic Skuas x 50, Black-throated Diver, Great White Egret with Grey Herons x 3 west at Sheringham.
Dotterels x 2 on 9th fairway, towards west end of golfcourse at Sheringham.
Wryneck north of boardwalk, Serin flew from west end of dunes towards boardwalk at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Leach's Petrels x 2, Sabine's Gull, Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skua, Great Skuas x 159, Arctic Skuas x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Caspian Gull at Holme.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Redstarts x 2, Tree Pipit at Wells Woods.
ARCTIC WARBLER again, though elusive, GREENISH WARBLER elusive, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at East Hills, Wells.
Firecrests x 2 at Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Leach's Petrel flew west past Walcott.
Pied Flycatchers x 2 south of Shangri -La chalet at Waxham.
Redstart west end of plantation at Stiffkey.
Long-tailed Skua flew offshore at Scratby.
• Fabulous list from Holme Dunes NWT HERE.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! LANCEOLATED WARBLER north of Sumburgh Farm at Sumburgh Head, Shetland.
MEGA! GREAT SNIPE probable, flew from Crown & Anchor pub car park, Kilnsea, Yorkshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN on Loe Pool, Helston, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL still yesterday, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
MEGA! FORSTER'S TERN at Soldier's Point, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland.
- 122,331 signatures so far at:
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/125003
Friday, 16 September 2016
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Avocets 1,200 at Breydon Water.
Pectoral Sandpiper on pool north of River Wissey at Wretton Fen, Stoke Ferry.
Yellow-browed Warbler yesterday (no sign today) at disused railway, Lakenham Way, Norwich.
Whinchat at Nelson Head Track, Horsey.
Wryneck at Horsey Gap.
Pied Flycatchers x 3, Redstart east of Campsite at Stiffkey.
GREENISH WARBLER, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 5, Firecrest, Redstarts x 2 at East Hills, Wells.
American Golden Plover juv. 3/4 miles north of car park on beach, Whinchat, Redstart at Winterton.
Caspian Gull 3w on beach at Gorleston-on-Sea.
Garganey on Redwell Marsh, (key-holders only) Holme NOA.
Pied Flycatchers x 2 in pines at Holme Dunes NWT.
Little Bittern possible yesterday, flew to reeds right of reception hide at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skua, Pied Flycatchers x 6, Redstarts x 2, Whinchats x 4 at Blakeney Point.
Long-tailed Skua, Balearic Shearwater, Pomarine Skua, Black Terns x 2, Great Skuas x 125 flew past beach car park, Cley.
Balearic Shearwater flew west past Weybourne Camp.
Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warbler just east of boardwalk at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh.
Sabine's Gull ad. flew east past North Beach, Heacham.
Sooty Shearwater, Little Gull flew east past Sheringham.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER trapped & ringed at Kilnsea, Yorkshire.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN on Loe Pool, Helston, Cornwall.
MEGA! BAROLO SHEARWATER probable, flew west past Pendeen Watch, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL still yesterday, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
MEGA! RED-FOOTED BOOBY ad. white-tailed brown morph, remains in care at Mallydams Wood RSPCA at St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex. Do not contact the RSPCA or visit, as the bird is not viewable – further updates will be broadcast. Video on facebook.
Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Avocets 1,200 at Breydon Water.
Pectoral Sandpiper on pool north of River Wissey at Wretton Fen, Stoke Ferry.
Yellow-browed Warbler yesterday (no sign today) at disused railway, Lakenham Way, Norwich.
Whinchat at Nelson Head Track, Horsey.
Wryneck at Horsey Gap.
Pied Flycatchers x 3, Redstart east of Campsite at Stiffkey.
GREENISH WARBLER, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 5, Firecrest, Redstarts x 2 at East Hills, Wells.
American Golden Plover juv. 3/4 miles north of car park on beach, Whinchat, Redstart at Winterton.
Caspian Gull 3w on beach at Gorleston-on-Sea.
Garganey on Redwell Marsh, (key-holders only) Holme NOA.
Pied Flycatchers x 2 in pines at Holme Dunes NWT.
Little Bittern possible yesterday, flew to reeds right of reception hide at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skua, Pied Flycatchers x 6, Redstarts x 2, Whinchats x 4 at Blakeney Point.
Long-tailed Skua, Balearic Shearwater, Pomarine Skua, Black Terns x 2, Great Skuas x 125 flew past beach car park, Cley.
Balearic Shearwater flew west past Weybourne Camp.
Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warbler just east of boardwalk at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh.
Sabine's Gull ad. flew east past North Beach, Heacham.
Sooty Shearwater, Little Gull flew east past Sheringham.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER trapped & ringed at Kilnsea, Yorkshire.
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
MEGA! DALMATIAN PELICAN on Loe Pool, Helston, Cornwall.
MEGA! BAROLO SHEARWATER probable, flew west past Pendeen Watch, Cornwall.
MEGA! HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL still yesterday, 4 miles east of Penzance, 500yds west of Perranuthnoe at Boat Cove, Cornwall.
MEGA! RED-FOOTED BOOBY ad. white-tailed brown morph, remains in care at Mallydams Wood RSPCA at St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex. Do not contact the RSPCA or visit, as the bird is not viewable – further updates will be broadcast. Video on facebook.
- 122,226 signatures so far at:
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/125003
Thursday, 15 September 2016
Autumn Migration Kicks In!
A huge haul of migrants in Norfolk today! It took me ages to type up today's sightings! Just wished I had seen some of them, oh well. Sea mist in North West Norfolk all day and NE winds – perfect conditions for birds!
Wasn't able to get out birding until after lunch, partly due to taking Mother shopping after she said she didn't want her usual Sainsbury's van delivery today! Also took her for a hair cut in Hunstanton this morning. For the first time since my Father was admitted to a care home, my Mother agreed to go birding for a short time locally. We visited Holme Marsh Reserve NWT in the village. We were horrified when we walked into the first hide to find that someone had allowed their dog to crap in the hide!!! It was right in front of the seat! I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was going to remove it myself when I discovered that it wasn't exactly old (won't go into any more detail than that!) It totally spoilt our little outing, as Mother wanted to clear it up with dock leaves and I wouldn't let her – we had a right old ding dong about this! I was fuming to say the least! I rang up Holme NWT to let them know and later on bumped into Gary and Robert who had dutifully gone and cleaned it all, well done to them. Yuck!
Mother and I then went to the village car park and sat in the car to watch for migrants in the bushes. We had some lovely sightings of one Chiffchaff and two Willow Warblers in the willows and a good number of the usual House Sparrows. Also a couple of Hedge Sparrows, a Blue Tit, Great Tit and a Robin were seen. It was now 4.30pm. I phoned Holme Dunes NWT and asked if they had any Yellow-browed Warblers or other passerines on the reserve and a lady told me there was a Yellow-browed Warbler in the Forestry. This came out on the pager shortly after my conversation. Mother said she felt really tired and wanted to go home, so I dropped her back at the house and returned to the Forestry to look for the Yellow-browed Warbler.
No sign or sound of the Yellow-browed Warbler, but I did see several LBJ's skulking around in the sea-buckthorn. I half expected some redstarts here, but nothing at all apart from a few magpies, very disappointing. Walked back to my car and drove down to the NOA car park.
Watched the scrub from my car, but again no birds. The sun appeared out of the sea mist for a short time which was nice. I walked straight across to the beach – it was so beautiful here. It was a very high tide and there wasn't another soul on the beach. I stood and reflected on times past with my family here and the many happy memories over the years – I started to get upset, so turned around and walked along the coastal footpath through the pines and scrub to look for birds. With several dead pines, both felled and some standing from the 2013 storm surge, the habitat here looks brilliant and I didn't think I would be saying that. I found a Long-tailed Tit flock with a Chaffinch and a Blue Tit, but nothing else exciting with it. Looked good for a redstart here, but none found.
Walked to the observatory and sat and pondered on one of the seats. I was pleased to see, that the huge sycamore by the nature pond that was chopped down a while back, has started to regrow nicely, although it's nowhere near the size it was yet. Walked along the bottom path that runs alongside the broadwater and was surprised to see mist net poles newly positioned across the path – couldn't work out why this has been done. I hope that NOA members are still allowed to walk along this path, as the scrub at the bottom is a good migrant trap, although I couldn't find any today!
Walked back along the main bank. Several Swallows in the air fly catching and a Muntjack Deer bounded away when it realised it had company. Walked back to my car and visited my Mother again for a short while before returning home.
Wasn't able to get out birding until after lunch, partly due to taking Mother shopping after she said she didn't want her usual Sainsbury's van delivery today! Also took her for a hair cut in Hunstanton this morning. For the first time since my Father was admitted to a care home, my Mother agreed to go birding for a short time locally. We visited Holme Marsh Reserve NWT in the village. We were horrified when we walked into the first hide to find that someone had allowed their dog to crap in the hide!!! It was right in front of the seat! I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was going to remove it myself when I discovered that it wasn't exactly old (won't go into any more detail than that!) It totally spoilt our little outing, as Mother wanted to clear it up with dock leaves and I wouldn't let her – we had a right old ding dong about this! I was fuming to say the least! I rang up Holme NWT to let them know and later on bumped into Gary and Robert who had dutifully gone and cleaned it all, well done to them. Yuck!
Mother and I then went to the village car park and sat in the car to watch for migrants in the bushes. We had some lovely sightings of one Chiffchaff and two Willow Warblers in the willows and a good number of the usual House Sparrows. Also a couple of Hedge Sparrows, a Blue Tit, Great Tit and a Robin were seen. It was now 4.30pm. I phoned Holme Dunes NWT and asked if they had any Yellow-browed Warblers or other passerines on the reserve and a lady told me there was a Yellow-browed Warbler in the Forestry. This came out on the pager shortly after my conversation. Mother said she felt really tired and wanted to go home, so I dropped her back at the house and returned to the Forestry to look for the Yellow-browed Warbler.
No sign or sound of the Yellow-browed Warbler, but I did see several LBJ's skulking around in the sea-buckthorn. I half expected some redstarts here, but nothing at all apart from a few magpies, very disappointing. Walked back to my car and drove down to the NOA car park.
Watched the scrub from my car, but again no birds. The sun appeared out of the sea mist for a short time which was nice. I walked straight across to the beach – it was so beautiful here. It was a very high tide and there wasn't another soul on the beach. I stood and reflected on times past with my family here and the many happy memories over the years – I started to get upset, so turned around and walked along the coastal footpath through the pines and scrub to look for birds. With several dead pines, both felled and some standing from the 2013 storm surge, the habitat here looks brilliant and I didn't think I would be saying that. I found a Long-tailed Tit flock with a Chaffinch and a Blue Tit, but nothing else exciting with it. Looked good for a redstart here, but none found.
Walked to the observatory and sat and pondered on one of the seats. I was pleased to see, that the huge sycamore by the nature pond that was chopped down a while back, has started to regrow nicely, although it's nowhere near the size it was yet. Walked along the bottom path that runs alongside the broadwater and was surprised to see mist net poles newly positioned across the path – couldn't work out why this has been done. I hope that NOA members are still allowed to walk along this path, as the scrub at the bottom is a good migrant trap, although I couldn't find any today!
Walked back along the main bank. Several Swallows in the air fly catching and a Muntjack Deer bounded away when it realised it had company. Walked back to my car and visited my Mother again for a short while before returning home.
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Norfolk Bird News via 'Rare Bird Alert'
Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Whinchat at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Wryneck just east of boardwalk, Yellow-browed Warbler at Gun Hill, Redstarts x 2, Whinchat at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Hoopoe in garden near Titchwell.
Sabine's Gull adult briefly mid evening then flew north, Yellow-browed Warbler in car park, Redstart by Island Hide, Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stints x 2, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB.
Pied Flycatcher, Redstarts x 2 at North Dunes, Redstart at South Dunes, Winterton.
Redstarts x 2 at Warham Greens.
ARCTIC WARBLER, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatchers x 3, Redstarts x 6, Tree Pipits x 3, Whinchats x 6, Hawfinch at East Hills, Wells.
Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Tree Pipit by Bide-a-Wee Cottage at Waxham.
Wryneck in oak tree on left of track by sewage works gate at Fenway, Heacham.
Wryneck still at west edge of Beeston Regis Holiday Park, Redstart at Beeston Bump, Sheringham.
Redstart in bushes NW of community car park at Happisburgh.
Wood Warbler with tit flock west of drinking pool, Yellow-browed Warbler 150yds west of kissing gate, Pied Flycatchers x 8 at Wells Woods.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher by Pottery Cottage at Trimingham.
Pied Flycatchers x 2, Whinchats x 3 at Blakeney Freshes.
Ospreys x 3 at Ranworth Broad NWT.
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Muckleburgh Hill.
Garganey east of the East Bank on The Serpentine, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper at Cley NWT.
Yellow-browed Warbler in Forestry, Redstart along Firs Road at Holme Dunes NWT.
Wood Sandpiper at Redwell Marsh NOA.
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Walsey Hills NOA.
Pied Flycatchers x 3, Redstarts x 3, Whinchats x 2 at Horsey.
Spoonbills x 2 at Brancaster Marsh.
Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstarts x 2 at Weybourne Camp.
Whinchats x 2 at Snettisham Coastal Park.
Garganey x 3 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Hawfinch at Holkham Pines.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Black Redstart, Pied Flycatchers x 7, Redstarts x 22, Whinchats x 6 at Blakeney Point.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Great Yarmouth Cemetery.
Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Whinchat at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.
Wryneck just east of boardwalk, Yellow-browed Warbler at Gun Hill, Redstarts x 2, Whinchat at Burnham Overy Dunes.
Hoopoe in garden near Titchwell.
Sabine's Gull adult briefly mid evening then flew north, Yellow-browed Warbler in car park, Redstart by Island Hide, Pectoral Sandpiper from Parrinder Hide, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stints x 2, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB.
Pied Flycatcher, Redstarts x 2 at North Dunes, Redstart at South Dunes, Winterton.
Redstarts x 2 at Warham Greens.
ARCTIC WARBLER, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatchers x 3, Redstarts x 6, Tree Pipits x 3, Whinchats x 6, Hawfinch at East Hills, Wells.
Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Tree Pipit by Bide-a-Wee Cottage at Waxham.
Wryneck in oak tree on left of track by sewage works gate at Fenway, Heacham.
Wryneck still at west edge of Beeston Regis Holiday Park, Redstart at Beeston Bump, Sheringham.
Redstart in bushes NW of community car park at Happisburgh.
Wood Warbler with tit flock west of drinking pool, Yellow-browed Warbler 150yds west of kissing gate, Pied Flycatchers x 8 at Wells Woods.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher by Pottery Cottage at Trimingham.
Pied Flycatchers x 2, Whinchats x 3 at Blakeney Freshes.
Ospreys x 3 at Ranworth Broad NWT.
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Muckleburgh Hill.
Garganey east of the East Bank on The Serpentine, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper at Cley NWT.
Yellow-browed Warbler in Forestry, Redstart along Firs Road at Holme Dunes NWT.
Wood Sandpiper at Redwell Marsh NOA.
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Walsey Hills NOA.
Pied Flycatchers x 3, Redstarts x 3, Whinchats x 2 at Horsey.
Spoonbills x 2 at Brancaster Marsh.
Pied Flycatchers x 2, Redstarts x 2 at Weybourne Camp.
Whinchats x 2 at Snettisham Coastal Park.
Garganey x 3 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB.
Hawfinch at Holkham Pines.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Black Redstart, Pied Flycatchers x 7, Redstarts x 22, Whinchats x 6 at Blakeney Point.
MEGA NEWS
MEGA! WESTERN PURPLE SWAMPHEN again, 8 miles north of Scunthorpe at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire.
- 122,065 signatures so far at:
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/125003
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