NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Osprey at Horsey
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Long-tailed Skua, Curlew Sandpipers x 4, Spoonbills x 10, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB
Osprey at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Pied Flycatcher at Burnham Deepdale
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Pectoral Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Glossy Ibis, Spoonbills x 2, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Short-eared Owl at Beighton
Osprey at Holme
Pectoral Sandpiper at Cantley Beet Factory
Pectoral Sandpiper x 2, Garganey x 10, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Knot at Potter Heigham Marshes
Wood Sandpiper at Welney WWT
Wood Sandpiper at Blakeney Freshmarsh

MEGA NEWS
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Loop Head, County Clare, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Spoonbills x 6, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Pectoral Sandpiper, Osprey at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Glossy Ibis, Garganey x 2 at Cley NWT
Pectoral Sandpiper, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey x 4 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Long-tailed Skua, Black-throated Diver at Sheringham
Black-throated Diver at Weybourne
Great White Egret at Holme

MEGA NEWS
YELKOUAN SHEARWATER
Porthgwarra, Cornwall

RBA Weekly Round-Up 23rd to 29th August!

By Mark Golley
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-35.aspx?s_id=838573457

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Pectoral Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Pectoral Sandpiper at Cantley Beet Factory
Spoonbills x 37 at Stiffkey Fen
Pectoral Sandpiper at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl, Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpipers x 4, Spoonbills x 5 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret, Crossbill at Holme
Glossy Ibis, Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Osprey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

MEGA NEWS
None

BANK HOLIDAY NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Spoonbill, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB
Hen Harrier flew past Sheringham
Glossy Ibis, Spoonbills x 2 at Salthouse
Caspian Gull at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Glossy Ibis, Spoonbills x 2, Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Continental Black-tailed Godwit, Spoonbills x 2, Garganey at Potter Heigham Marshes
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper at Cantley Beet Factory
Honey Buzzards x 2 flew over Fakenham
Pectoral Sandpiper, Osprey, Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Hen Harrier flew over Weybourne
Great White Egret, Spoonbill at Holme Dunes NWT
Gargeney at Stiffkey Fen

MEGA NEWS
None

Sun, Beach, Birds, Mother & Titchwell RSPB!

Mother and I at Holme Beach this morning – high tide, beautiful day!

I spent a wonderful morning with my mother at Holme. Its been very difficult to get my mother to go out much at all, so I was pleased she agreed to come out with me. Although, going out on a bank holiday weekend was probably not the best idea! Mother can't walk very far (because of illness) and gets very short of breath, so we couldn't go too far.

Parked up on the NOA car park and walked north over the dunes and sat on the edge of the dunes overlooking the sea. It was a very high tide and it was really beautiful – far too many people and dogs though (see picture below). Mother agreed to a 'selfie' with me, which didn't come out too bad at all! I couldn't see a single bird on the sea, even though it was high tide.

Holme beach – hot day, busy bank holiday!

We continued our walk through the pine belt, up the new wheelchair friendly board ramp and on to Holme Bird Observatory to see Sophie, but she wasn't there and Ray Roach was manning the observatory. Ray kindly let us look through his scope at the Great White Egret sitting on a fence, way out in the heat haze of the marshes – good tick! Mother thought the new windows and door looked good and we discussed the plaque for father, which we will be sorting very soon. Had a nice catch up with Ray, sitting in the cool observatory – it was too hot to sit outside. Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshells were on the orange buddleia. Mother has not been to Holme reserves since we scattered father's ashes on the 4th May, so she found it a bit difficult to cope with, especially when we passed where he is now at rest.

Made our way to the NWT visitor centre for lunch. Both the NWT and NOA car parks were jam packed with cars and also cars were parked alongside the road (never seen that before!). Sadly we discovered the cafe were not doing hot food because of the volume of holidaymakers, so we had sandwiches, cake and cold drinks. We very luckily got a table in the shade! Headed back to the car at the NOA car park. Mother had no energy left to walk round the NWT hides to look at the Great White Egret and it was too hot to leave her here whilst I went, so I took her home. On route we stopped to watch and photograph Swallows gathering on telegraph wires between two houses, not far from the entrance of the Firs Road.

Back at the family home, we both had a Spanish siesta for a couple of hours in the wonderful coolness of the house. Watched Robins bathing in one of mother's many little ponds, a Blackbird, Chaffinches, Hedgesparrow, Great Tit and several rats! We both had some fruit salad, which I made last night and then I left to go to Titchwell RSPB.

It was slightly cooler now and a much nicer temperature. I sat in the Titchwell car park having a cup of coffee before I set off and bumped into photographer David Tipling! I headed to the East Trail where I had a wonderful time watching a tit flock in a large hawthorn, which included a party of Long-tailed Tits, Great and Blue Tits, several Chiffchaffs and best of all a cracking Lesser Whitethroat! A flock of Goldfinches and Greenfinches were perched on a large dead tree, south of the East Trail path and a Great Spotted Woodpecker bounded across east to the wood. A Sparrowhawk also flew west and I watched a Stoat scurry along the path and disappear in the undergrowth.

From Island Hide I counted 60 Dunlin feeding, 2 Spoonbills flew west and another east later on. Lots of Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, Redshanks, Shelducks, Lapwings, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, a Curlew, a Bearded Tit pinging and a Hobby flew low over the reserve at 8.20pm. I walked back by moonlight! I don't like the shorter evenings – now dark by 8.30pm.

Phoned Eddie about a gull I had been watching and he told me that he and Richard M. had watched two young Otters in front of Daukes' Hide briefly at dusk!!! Lucky them! Left Titchwell and bought a single portion of chips for mother and I to share from Eric's at Thornham. The fish 'n' chip restaurant was still packed out with people at 8.45pm and they stop frying at 9pm! People were sitting outside having their fish 'n' chips by candle light! I was annoyed to find the price of the chips has now jumped up from £2.00 to £2.25! After mother and I enjoyed our chips, I left to go home. Working all day tomorrow on the hottest day of the weekend – oh joy!

MORE PICTURES TO FOLLOW

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Spoonbills x 4, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Pectoral Sandpiper, Osprey at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Spoonbills x 32 at Stiffkey Fen
Pectoral Sandpiper at Cantley Beet Factory
Glossy Ibis, Caspian Gulls x 3, Garganey at Cley NWT
Osprey at Rockland Broad
Great White Egret at Holme Dunes NWT
Spotted Redshanks x 16 at Snettisham RSPB
Pectoral Sandpiper at Potter Heigham Marshes
Spoonbills x 2 flew past Weybourne Camp
Spoonbill at Thornham Harbour
Honey Buzzard flew over Salthouse

MEGA NEWS
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
SATURDAY 26th AUGUST
Great White Egret at Thornham Point
Osprey at Wroxham Broad
Osprey at Wymondham
Glossy Ibis, Spoonbills x 4, Black Terns x 2 off East Bank & possible Minke Whale at Cley NWT
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper at Cantley Beet Factory
Pectoral Sandpiper flew over Salthouse
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Garganey x 2, Spotted Redshank at Potter Heigham Marshes
Black Tern flew past Kelling
Honey Buzzard south of Mundesley
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 4 at Holme Dunes NWT
Pectoral Sandpiper, Osprey at Buckenham Marshes RSPB

MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland
ORANGE-BILLED TERN (probably ELEGANT TERN)
on Thursday, at sea from pelagic, Marazion, Cornwall

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Grey-headed Wagtail, Spoonbills x 3, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Tern (red ringed), Pied Flycatcher at Breydon Water
Garganey x 3 at Welney WWT
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Black Tern at Breydon Water
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey at Cantley Beet Factory
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshank at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Little Stint at Holme Dunes NWT
Little Gull flew past Weybourne Camp
Dotterel juv. flew in off sea at Waxham
Little Gull flew over Norwich
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cromer
Caspian Gull at Gorleston-on-Sea

MEGA NEWS
None

Bank Holiday Weekend Birding!

The weather looks glorious the entire weekend, which makes a change! This also means there will be tons of traffic out on the roads. Start early, leave late! I have Saturday and Sunday off, but working Bank Holiday Monday.

Weather: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2634567

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Number 9 – Highest Ranking Ever!

Now ranked 9th in the

"Fat Birder" Top 1000 Birding Websites!!!

Thanks to the continued support from all my readers!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Caspian Tern (red ringed) at Breydon Water
Caspian Tern (red ringed) at Hickling Broad NWT
Grey-headed Wagtail, Spoonbills x 15, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Montagu's Harrier juv., Pied Flycatcher, Whinchats x 3 at Winterton
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Honey Buzzard, Spoonbills x 3, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper at Cley NWT
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper at Potter Heigham Marshes
Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Wood Sandpipers x 3 at Cantley Beet Factory
Short-eared Owl, Osprey at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Spoonbills x 33, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Stiffkey Fen
Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 17 at Snettisham RSPB

MEGA NEWS
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Annagh, County Mayo, Ireland
SOLITARY SANDPIPER
possible, at Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Pied Flycatcher, Grey-headed Wagtail, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 11, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Tern (red ringed) at Breydon Water
Caspian Tern (red ringed), Little Stint at Hickling Broad NWT
Glossy Ibis, Common Crane at Salthouse
Great White Egret at Burnham Overy Staithe
Pied Flycatcher, Hen Harrier at Blakeney Point
Purple Sandpiper at Thornham Point
Common Crane at Glandford
Great White Egret, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spoonbills x 2 at Holme Dunes NWT
Spoonbills x 28, Hen Harrier at Stiffkey Fen
Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat at Gramborough Hill
Pied Flycatcher at North Dunes, Winterton
Spoonbills x 3 at Cley NWT
Osprey at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Osprey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Garganey x 8 at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Bridges of Ross, County Clare, Ireland

RBA Weekly Round-Up 16th to 22nd August!

By Mark Golley
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-34.aspx?s_id=673692079

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Caspian Tern (red ringed) at Breydon Water
Caspian Tern (red ringed) Little Stints x 2 at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Spoonbills x 5 at Titchwell RSPB
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Hen Harrier ringtail over Burnham Overy Dunes
Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley NWT
Common Crane at Bayfield Hall
Spoonbills x 7 flew over Brancaster
Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Hen Harrier at Blakeney Point

MEGA NEWS
YELLOW WARBLER
Mizen Head, County Cork, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Caspian Tern (red ringed) at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Caspian Tern (red ringed) at Breydon Water
Turtle Dove, Great White Egret, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spoonbills x 6, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Cantley Beet Factory
Wood Sandpiper, Garganey x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Stone Curlew flew over Burnham Overy Staithe
Ruddy Shelducks x 3 at Barnham Broom

MEGA NEWS
YELLOW WARBLER
Mizen Head, County Cork, Ireland
YELLOW WARBLER
Isle of Portland, Dorset

A BULL in My Path at Burnham Overy Dunes!!!

SUNDAY 20th AUGUST
Eventually I hauled myself out of the house and headed east to go birding at one of my favourite places – Burnham Overy Dunes. Parked up along the main road in the usual spot and headed along the track. Suddenly there was a terrific noise of low aircraft – I looked up to see the Red Arrows heading in the direction of 'The Wash' – heading home from a display I presume.

A pretty stupid day to walk out to B.O.D, with a westerly wind, but hey ho! Winds turn South East tomorrow, which may drop in some Autumn migrants. I hadn't even reached the 5-bar gate and stile before being stopped in my tracks – a couple informed me that a bull had swam across the dyke and was now loose on the public footpath!!! They had just walked past it (silly people!) and yes, there it was larging it up, only a few yards away on the other side of the stile! BOTHER! I sighed, as my planned walk obviously wasn't going to happen now. Another couple walked past it and with an muzzled Alsatian!!! I commented "you're brave........and with a dog"!!! The man shrugged coolly! I didn't have enough signal to ring anyone, but just about managed a text to Holkham Estate Warden Andrew Bloomfield. The couple with dog had more signal than me and found me the number of Holkham Estate, which was a waste of time as a recorded voice mentioned ticket sales and opening times only, so I phoned Holkham pub and spoke to a very helpful lady, who said she would get her Manager to contact someone. Then I got a text back from Andrew B. who said the cowmen were on their way.

I could see another couple with a tiny dog who had stopped in their tracks, the other side of the bull. I could see they were frustrated as they wanted to get to their car on the main road, but they decided not to risk it when the bull turned and started to walk towards them and they promptly climbed over a gate into a field to escape – sensible decision! There was no way, I was going to walk past it! Not too long after this, the cowmen from Holkham Estate turned up in two vehicles and assured me that it would only take 10 minutes to round him up in the pen by the gate. I didn't quite believe them and asked how they would achieve this and one of them replied 'he's used to us and I feed him' and grinned! They were correct – in under 10 minutes he was penned up. They told me that this is the second time the bull had escaped and that he would now be taken back to the farm. They had to go and get a cattle trailer – I got clarification that the bull would be taken this evening and then continued with my evening walk. I didn't want to get a surprise on my return later!

I had a decent list of birds for an evening walk: Grey Partridge in the fields on route along with 2 Mute Swans. Heron, Coots and Little Grebe along with Mallards and Greylag Geese on the pool west of the path by the sluice, 9 Little Egrets on the marshes, a big gull roost by the harbour, several flocks of Starlings, a Wren in the sueda bushes and a Kestrel hovering. The sloped banks either side of the footpath have been mown short (scalped) all the way along, so no flowers for insects to feed on – sadly, this seems to happen yearly. No birds in the bushes at the end of the path or in the famous apple tree, but just east of here I had a female Wheatear sitting on the fence wire. Best of all were big numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins and also at least 6 Swifts over my head and flying low west along the dune ridge – lots of gulls were in the air too and I'm guessing they were all feeding on flying ants. I sat and had a coffee on the dune ridge overlooking the dunes towards Holkham and then returned the same way. In the same place I had seen the Wheatear, a female Stonechat appeared! 2 Barn Owls were hunting over the marsh on the east side of the sluice/pool, which was a treat – can't remember the last time I saw two together! Then a Spoonbill headed east at dusk! High above the pool I watched huge numbers of hirundines swirling around in the dark clouds – they seemed to fill the skies – a magnificent sight!

Headed back to my car. The rebel bull had been taken back to the farm and all was calm! Back to work tomorrow. A busy bank holiday weekend coming up – if Lucy's violin is ready, we are both going to Cambridge to collect it on Saturday, Sunday off and then working on the B.H. Monday. I note the winds are SE on that Sunday and Monday!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
SUNDAY 20th AUGUST
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Osprey yesterday at Felbrigg Hall NT
Great White Egret, Osprey flew over, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Sacred Ibises reported yesterday west over Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbills x 31 at Stiffkey Fen
Great White Egrets x 3, Spoonbills x 4 at Holme
Pied Flycatcher at Lynford Aboretum
Caspian Gull at Kelling Water Meadows
Red-crested Pochard at Nar Valley Fisheries
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
FEA'S OR DESERTAS SHEARWATER
Falmouth, Cornwall
FORSTER'S TERN 
Solidier's Point, County Louth, Ireland

Weekend Update & Bird Fair

I decided not to go to Bird Fair this weekend for a number of reasons. I wanted to go and was looking forward to it. But, I still haven't come to terms with my father's death and realised I couldn't deal with all the hundreds of people at Bird Fair or with people kindly asking how I was since he died etc. I know he lived a very long time – there are few people that get to 90 years old! But, it makes no difference to me that he lived that long – it doesn't change that fact that I adored him and miss him terribly. Time does not heal – its all a myth! Also my recent injury at Titchwell is still very painful and even sitting for half an hour in the car is too much, so a couple of hours journey would be agony!

I have lost my spirit since that sad day in February. There are several birds I would have normally rushed over to see and photograph, but I haven't felt like it. I didn't even go and see the Black-winged Stilts at Potter Heigham – the normal Penny would have been over there like a shot. I also regret not going to see the 7 Bee-eaters too – my favourite bird. Hopefully my spirit will bounce back at some point. I have wasted a lot of my days off – not good at being on my own, when I'm not myself, I really shouldn't have booked any holiday this year!

I hope everyone has a productive and joyful time at Bird Fair and hopefully I will be there next year. Someone say hello to Bill Oddie👋 and give Simon King a hug for me please😉!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Black Redstart at Cockley Cley
Spotted Redshanks x 2, Spoonbills x 4 at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Gulls x 5, Wood Sandpiper at Cley NWT
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Great White Egret at Holme Dunes NWT

MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Solidier's Point, County Louth, Ireland
AMERICAN WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
South of Blackdog, at Mucar Golf Course, Aberdeen

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Caspian Tern (red-ringed), Avocets x 1,300, Spotted Redshank, Spoonbills x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Breydon Water
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Spoonbills x 12, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Tern (red-ringed) at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Osprey flew over Newton Flotman
Great White Egret at Holme Dunes NWT
Little Gulls x 6, Arctic Skua at Hopton-on-Sea
Wood Sandpipers x 4 at Cantley Beet Factory
Spoonbill at Thornham Harbour
Caspian Gulls x 4 at Cley NWT
Black Redstart at Cockley Cley
Icterine Warbler reported yesterday at Burnham Overy Dunes

MEGA NEWS 
FEA'S OR DESERTAS SHEARWATER
Brandon Point, County Kerry, Ireland
BAROLO SHEARWATER
Bridges of Ross, County Clare, Ireland
WESTERN OR SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
South of Nosterfield Nature Reserve, Yorkshire

Sir Bruce Forsyth: TV Legend Dies Aged 89!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40978576

Very sad news – a little younger than my dear father was, but the same 'generation'. My father and all of my family loved watching "The Generation Game" – it was the main TV entertainment of the week in those days. Very fond memories: fondue sets, cuddly toys, food mixers, holiday for two.... the list goes on😀 "Didn't he do well" – yes he did...... the longest and most loved entertainer of all time. Your irrepressible sense of humour will always be in our memories. Rest in Peace Sir Bruce.

Salthouse & Cley NWT!

Shopping in Holt for funky sandals – mission accomplished! Forgot my cool bag – never done this before – must be dementia setting in...... left it in the kitchen containing my bottle of water, sandwiches, oats, soya yoghurt and raspberries, grapes and rice milk for my coffee! So with no water or tea, I nipped into Budgens in Holt for supplies.

No sign of the Glossy Ibis north of the duck pond! A beautiful walk to Gramborough Hill at Salthouse produced a single male Stonechat and a stunning adult Hobby flew west over my head. Some lovely Parasol mushrooms were at the base of the bushes, but no rares to be found here! Several Sand Martins graced the cloudless blue skies. An obliging young Little Egret posed for photos in the ditch at the end of Beach Road, by the parked cars and a young Pied Wagtail was having a splash in a puddle by the side of the road.

Researched for the Glossy Ibis – failed again. With a tip off about an obliging Water Vole I headed to the NWT hides at Cley – failed at this too! Saw a Caspian Gull through Eddie's scope in Daukes' Hide – several birders gull watching.

Headed west and popped in to visit Mother, whom I have not seen for a while. Deflead the cat who did not expect me – the cat's usual reaction was very slow in coming, lucky me!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Caspian Tern at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Spoonbill at Brancaster Staithe
Wood Sandpipers x 4 at Cantley Beet Factory
Great White Egret at Holme
Cattle Egret, south of Wells Woods
Turtle Doves x 2, Spoonbills x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Gulls x 5, Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Caspian Tern at Breydon Water
Black Redstart at Cockley Cley

MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
South of Blackdog at Murcar Golf Course, Aberdeen
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland
WESTERN OR SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
South of Nosterfield Nature Reserve, Yorkshire

Fears that Sally, Norfolk’s Rare Montagu’s Harrier, Killed!

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/fears-that-sally-norfolk-s-rare-montagu-s-harrier-killed-1-5151544

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-40936537

Third Sighting of Elusive Purple Emperor Butterfly in North Norfolk!

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/third-sighting-of-elusive-purple-emperor-butterfly-in-north-norfolk-1-5149030

SUMMER HOLIDAY!

Five days off work, back next Monday! It was a beautiful day here, but I was catching up with some laborious jobs, so nothing exciting to report on the first day of my short break. I was going to the Bird Fair two days running, but decided I only need to go for one day, so going on Saturday – hope to see some of you there.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Turtle Doves x 4 at Seething
Glossy Ibis, Turtle Dove, Caspian Gull at Salthouse
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holme
Turtle Dove, Spoonbills x 19, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Tern, Night Heron at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Wood Sandpipers x 4 at Cantley Beet Factory
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Garganey x 3, Little Stint at Potter Heigham Marshes
Spoonbills x 32 at Stiffkey Fen

MEGA NEWS
BAROLO SHEARWATER
Flew past Hook Head, County Wexford, Ireland
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland

RBA Weekly Round-Up 9th to 15th August!

By Mark Golley
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-33.aspx?s_id=508792782

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Turtle Doves x 2, Spoonbills x 16, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Garganey at Welney WWT
Caspian Gulls x 2, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 3 at Cley NWT
Turtle Dove at Seething
Pied Flycatcher at Trimingham
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Garganey at Cantley Beet Factory
Pied Flycatcher at Holme NOA
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, Spotted Redshanks x 18 at Snettisham RSPB
Pied Flycatcher at Wells Woods
Whinchat at Roydon Common NR
Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Garganey x 6 at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Quail at Aylmerton
Turtle Doves x 3 at Seething
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Great White Egret at Holme
Glossy Ibis, Little Gulls x 5 at Salthouse
Spoonbills x 10 at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egret between Gypsy Lane and road to Brancaster Golf Course, Titchwell
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Snettisham RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 5 at Cantley Beet Factory

MEGA NEWS
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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SUNDAY 13TH AUGUST
Great White Egret, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Little Gulls x 2, Spoonbills x 8 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holme Dunes NWT
Wood Sandpipers x 4, Garganey x 2, Little Stint at Cantley Beet Factory
Night Heron at Hickling Broad NWT
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Garganey x 6 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Glossy Ibis, Caspian Gull, Garganey, Black Tern, Spoonbill, Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Cley NWT
Short-eared Owl at Breydon Water
Wood Sandpiper at Berney Marshes RSPB
Turtle Dove at Beeston Common, Sheringham
Garganey at Welney WWT

MEGA NEWS
BAROLO SHEARWATER
Porthgwarra, Cornwall

Cambridge!

Today I went on the train to Cambridge for my sister Lucy – her second violin needed a new bridge, her bow needed re-hairing and she needed some new rosin. There are no music shops in King's Lynn now and so Cambridge is the nearest place to go. I have not been on a train for over seven years! The last time being 2010 to go to Aberdeen and onto Fair Isle!

My recent tailbone injury is still painful and the ride to Cambridge was rough – there were at least a couple of times when it felt the train was coming off the tracks and everyone around me looked alarmed! I love train journeys, but this one was extremely uncomfortable.

With Lucy's violin, I walked all the way to the recommended music shop and it took me 40 minutes to walk from the train station – it was far longer than I had anticipated. I left the violin and bow in the shop for the work to be done, purchased the rosin and left – will have to return to collect violin and bow in approximately a couple of weeks time.

I then had another long walk to the Rainbow Cafe, which is a vegetarian cafe just off King's Parade – a longer walk than expected, as I walked past it by about 1/4 of a mile! I have been to this cafe before and loved the food, but I wasn't over excited by what I had today – I can't remember the name of the main course I choose, but it wasn't anything special. I choose what I thought was an exciting dessert: Mango and Coconut Cheesecake but it was bland and had no kick to it whatsoever. The best thing was the ginger beer! The sheer numbers of people in Cambridge was almost claustrophobic – lots of sight seeing tours were going on, mostly Chinese tourists I noticed.

I then went clothes shopping for particular items – none of which I found – very rare for me not to spend any money! I did find a stunning resin ring by a designer in a unique jewellery shop along King's Parade, which was a mixture of deep blue and turquoise swirls, but it was £65.00 and I didn't succumb! I went into "Sahara" – love this shop, but didn't find what I was looking for. The general clothes shops eg: Wallis, Top Shop, Gap, Next etc were full of tedious sale rails, which stressed me out and I didn't hang about in these for long! I didn't even make it to the newest shopping centre "The Grand Arcade" before the shops closed. Made my way back to the train station and on route stopped to buy a Pear Tart from a small bakers – it was the best thing I had eaten all day!

I would have had a more productive day if I had started earlier – nobody's fault but my own! I had intended in visiting the beautiful Botanic Gardens too, but didn't have time for that either. Maybe next time. The train journey back to King's Lynn was no smoother than the journey there and I was glad to get off at the end – walked back to my car, which I had parked at Lucy's, gave her the rosin and then returned home exhausted.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Black Tern at Snettisham RSPB
Spoonbills x 4 at Cley NWT
Glossy Ibis at Salthouse
Little Stint at Breydon Water
Purple Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 5 at Titchwell RSPB
Purple Sandpiper at Thornham Point
Little Stint, Wood Sandpipers x 5, Garganey x 2 at Cantley Beet Factory
Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Burnham Norton
Spoonbills x 30 at Stiffkey Fen
Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holme Dunes NWT

MEGA NEWS 
AMERICAN WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
South of Blackdog at Mucar Golf Course, Aberdeen

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Turtle Dove at Nunnery Lakes NR
Curlew Sandpiper, Arctic Tern, Spotted Redshanks x 4 at Breydon Water
Glossy Ibis at Cley NWT
Spoonbills x 33 at Stiffkey Fen
Common Crane at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egret at Holme Dunes NWT
Spoonbills x 12, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Purple Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB
Little Stint, Wood Sandpipers x 5, Garganey x 3 at Cantley Beet Factory

MEGA NEWS  
AMERICAN WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
South of Blackdog at Mucar Golf Course, Aberdeen

THRUSH NIGHTINGALE at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse!

After a very busy day at work, the plan for this evening was to collapse and do nothing, but a Thrush Nightingale appeared on my pager and I just had to go! I didn't feel like driving all the way to Salthouse, but it was too tempting not to!

I am extremely lucky as I don't 'need it' at all – I saw the first Thrush Nightingale for Norfolk with my dear father on the morning of the 14th May 1977! I was 12 years old and I remember that day clearly. We had just walked into the third heligoland trap and started 'pishing' to flush birds to the end of the funnel and a bird was flushed and caught, which at first my father thought was a Nightingale, but then he identified it as a Thrush Nightingale! I remember that after he had rung the bird, he took a lot of pictures with his Canon film camera and there are lots of black and white photos of this bird in his photographic collection. Ringers hold a bird differently nowadays, but father always held a bird in the palm of his hand and photographed with the other! I remember him releasing the bird and it flying straight south from the observatory and into the bushes and was not seen again as far as I can recall.

Anyway, back to this evening – made a few phone calls to Cley Birders, to find out if it was actually the real deal – James McCallum found it, say no more! So off I went to Salthouse – a beautiful sunny evening – a complete contrast to the torrential rain and winds yesterday. Arrived at Beach Road at about 6pm and arrived on site at Gramborough Hill, just in time to see good flight views of the Thrush Nightingale and a second poorer viewing in flight later on – I didn't see it perched at all, extremely elusive was an understatement! Glad I have seen one closer! Good banter on site and it was nice to catch up with some local birders. Other birds seen whilst here: Whitethroat, Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Goldfinches, Stonechat, Little Egret and lots of Sand Martins skimming over. Dave Appleton and I were the last to leave this evening – it was cool walking back to the car. Dave had sadly dipped and got there a few minutes too late – he said it was his bogey bird and had never seen one in Norfolk – not as bad as me never seeing a Storm Petrel or a Leach's Petrel in Norfolk I replied!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Curlew Sandpiper at Breydon Water
Purple Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley NWT
Black Tern flew past Holme
Baird's Sandpiper, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Gargeney x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
THRUSH NIGHTINGALE at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Hooded Crow at Hickling Broad NWT
Spoonbills x 31 at Stiffkey Fen
Pied Flycatcher at Walsey Hills NOA
Sabine's Gull flew past Sheringham
Long-tailed Skua flew past Weybourne

MEGA NEWS
BERMUDA PETREL
possible, on Monday at sea off Lamorna, from pelagic in Cornwall

Bev's 50th Birthday Celebratory Cream Tea at The Bank House, King's Lynn!

Cream Tea at The Bank House!

From left: Charly, Jane, Emily, Maureen, Andrea, Alison, Sara, Lily, James, Gemma, Penny, Bev, Hilary, Sarah and Annie!

Bev is our very efficient and wonderful administrator and one of the nicest people you could wish to meet – always smiling and a ray of sunshine. I organised an afternoon cream tea at The Bank House in King's Lynn, to celebrate her birthday and along with lots of our colleagues, we all enjoyed a wonderfully 'healthy' cake extravaganza!

We had an entire room to ourselves – the 'Counting Room' overlooking the quayside. Jazz music was playing in the background and the service was excellent. There were finger sandwiches, scones with jam & cream, various cakes, cup cakes, shortbread hearts, raspberry pavlovas, endless pots of tea and coffee, sparkling water etc. I treated Bev to a glass of Prosecco to start off the celebrations when we arrived – a lovely evening in a very relaxed and beautiful setting. Thank you to everyone for helping to make this a lovely evening out for Bev.

 

From left: Charly, Jane, Emily, Maureen, Andrea, Alison, Sara, Lily, James, Gemma, Bev, Hilary, Sarah and Annie!

It has been raining for the most of the day with very strong north easterly winds. It was pretty blustery when Bev and I parked up on the quayside! Not your typical August weather!

Last night I was in the hairdressers for three hours and then went to the supermarket to choose some flowers and chocs for Bev – by the time I got home it was about 9.15pm. Had a lovely time designing a poster for Bev (see below) and completely forgot about my potatoes and eggs that I had been boiling in the saucepan to make a salad with for work today! Flew into kitchen when I smelt something funny – black potatoes, eggs and saucepan, still soaking now in bicarbonate of soda!

I have loads of pictures to put on recent posts, including the hot tub babes etc!!! Will sort these all out tomorrow night – cream crackered now! Good night!

The flowers we gave Bev, along with some chocolates truffles

and treated her to the Cream Tea Event this evening

Poster I designed last night to put up in our office for Bev today

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Spoonbills x 10, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Pied Flycatcher at Holme NOA
GREAT SHEARWATER, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skuas x 52, Great Skuas x 19, Manx Shearwaters x 226, Arctic Terns x 4, Little Gulls x 3 at Sheringham
Turtle Doves x 2 at Seething
Sooty Shearwater at Walcott
Spoonbills x 27 at Stiffkey Fen
Great Skuas x 2, Arctic Skuas x 5, Arctic Terns x 4 at Lynn Point, King's Lynn
Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Cantley Beet Factory

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 2nd to 8th August!

By Jon Dunn
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyRoundup2017-32.aspx?s_id=343905404

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Spoonbills x 11, Little Gulls x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Mediterranean Gulls x 880, Little Gulls x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Breydon Water
Wood Sandpiper at Salthouse
Baird's Sandpiper, Little Stints x 3, Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Great White Egret at Holme Dunes NWT
Black Redstart, Little Gulls x 4 at Weybourne Camp
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 3 at Thornham Harbour
Black Tern at Sheringham
Wood Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Caspian Gulls x 2, Garganey, Spoonbill at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
South of Blackdog on sea at Mucar Golf Course, Aberdeen

New Grass Snake Discovered in the UK!

"Scientists say the Barred Grass Snake, Natrix helvetica, is actually a different species to the Common or Eastern Grass Snake, Natrix natrix"

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40853286

BIRD FAIR – RUTLAND WATER!

 

http://birdfair.org.uk/

Friday 18th, Saturday 19th, Sunday 20th August

SEE YOU THERE ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY!

Don't forget to buy your on-line tickets at a reduced rate before 5pm on 16th August!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Spoonbills x 7, Little Stint, Little Gulls x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Baird's Sandpiper, Little Stints x 2, Garganey x 2, Spoonbills x 11 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egret flew past at Sheringham
Turtle Dove at Beeston Common
Great White Egret flew past Weybourne
Great White Egret, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill, Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Cley NWT
Wood Sandpiper at Salthouse
Great White Egrets x 5 (2 adults + 3 juvs) recently at Holkham NNR
Spoonbills x 27 at Stiffkey Fen
Turtle Dove at Seething
Great White Egret at Holme Dunes NWT
Wood Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Mediterranean Gulls x 313 at Gorleston-on-Sea

MEGA NEWS 
FOSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland

Great White Egret Breeds in Norfolk for First Time!

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/great-white-egrets-breed-at-holkham-nature-reserve-1-5139261

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Spoonbills x 14, Short-eared Owl at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egrets x 2, Spoonbills x 19 at Burnham Deepdale
Great White Egrets x 3 at Holme Dunes NWT
Baird's Sandpiper, Cattle Egret at Potter Heigham Marshes
Wood Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Caspian Gulls x 5, Spoonbills x 7, Continenental Black-tailed Godwit at Cley NWT
Mediterranean Gulls x 500 at Breydon Water
Garganey x 2, Green Sandpipers x 30 at Cantley Beet Factory

MEGA NEWS 
AMERICAN WHITE-WINGED BLACK SCOTER 
South of Blackdog on sea at Murcar Golf Course, Aberdeen

The Inglorious 12th!

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/58601-the-inglorious12th

Rob Sheldon & Chris Packham Speaking for Hen Harrier Day at RSPB Rainham Marshes

Saturday Evening At Titchwell RSPB!

I have been 'resting' from my night out, so didn't get out of the house until later! Gutted that Usain Bolt didn't win his final 100m in London – my heart sank. My new Rayban sunglasses arrived from Italy on Friday – a wonderful blue/violet colour!

Perfect light from Island Hide – I had a massive count of 257 Dunlins, 32 Common Terns, 9 Spoonbills, 1 Heron, 7 Knot, 2 Little Gulls, 3 Turnstones, 6 Little Ringed Plovers & hundreds of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits, also Shelducks, Med. Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Redshanks, Ruff and a Bearded Tit briefly in the reedbed, Marsh Harrier and 2 Little Egrets this evening at Titchwell RSPB.

Videos to be added

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Spotted Redshanks x 5, Spoonbills x 10, Little Gulls x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Black-winged Stilts x 6 (male/fem + 4 juvs), Baird's Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Cattle Egret, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Garganey, Common Cranes x 20 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Spoonbills x 9, Wood Sandpiper at Burnham Norton
Garganey x 2 (yesterday) at Cantley Beet Factory
Little Stint at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Little Gulls x 2 flew past Weybourne
Garganey at Welney WWT
Spoonbills x 33, Whimbrel at Stiffkey Fen
White Stork (presumed esc.) at Great Moulton
Wood Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret at Holme
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
GREEN WARBLER
On 4th to 7th July [ID confirmed by DNA analysis] – Fair Isle
AMERICAN WHITE-WINGED BLACK SCOTER
South of Blackdog on sea at Murcar Golf Course, Aberdeen

Kelly's Leaving Party – Hot Tub, Barbecue, Music, Lights!

update later......

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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FRIDAY 4th AUGUST
Spotted Redshanks x 5, Spoonbills x 5, Little Gulls x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley NWT
Wood Sandpiper at Burnham Norton
Little Gull at Kelling
Little Gulls x 4, Arctic Tern at Hopton-on-Sea

MEGA NEWS
None

My First Guided Birding Tour At Titchwell RSPB!

Beach to ourselves at Titchwell RSPB!

"Penny's Hot Birding Tours"

Titchwell RSPB

with my work colleagues and friends:

Gemma, Jane, Maureen, Cilla & Mat with Theo in pushchair, Emily M. with baby Thomas in pushchair, Sara, Lily & Gary, Helen, Hilary, Scott, Emily W. and Andrea.

I organised this a few months ago, to give my work colleagues a little taste of 'hot birding' and to enjoy the wilds of Norfolk, the sea, sand, wind in your hair and Fish 'n' Chips from Eric's!

We more or less went straight from work and met up in the car park at Titchwell at 5.30pm. Theo had come prepared with his orange plastic telescope – a birder in the making! I set up my telescope at the lowest level for him to look through at Daddy, he was smiling when he looked through the scope, but I wasn't sure if he could see or not! I bored everyone senseless straight away, after leading them all to the second car park to listen to the Turtle Dove purring away..... who wasn't and didn't show either! Typical! Mind you, it was very windy, so would have been a job to hear anyway. So, back we trundled, prams and all to the first car park and onto the main path via visitor centre. First bird we saw was a Wood Pigeon (all exciting stuff!) in the picnic area. It spiced up a bit with Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Greenfinches at the bird feeders. None of the normally showy, tame Robins appeared at all – I can't recall every visiting here without seeing a Robin!

Along the main path, the strong winds killed off all sound of any birds singing! We all squeezed into Island Hide (apologies to the one birder in there!) and I set up my scope for viewing and lent out my two pairs of binoculars. I counted approximately 70+ Dunlin on the Freshmarsh, tons of Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Mallard, Common Terns, Little Gulls x 2, Med. Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Cormorants, Shelducks. Not a single 'bl**dy' Spoonbill was on show for anyone to look at! How frustrating! It was equally frustating to see only mud for quite a distance next to Island Hide – normally the water level is right next to the hide and Avocets etc are feeding right under your nose for excellent viewing without binoculars. I just couldn't understand why this was, so phoned Eddie on my return home later, to see if he knew why – he explained that very simply, it was the strong winds and direction of wind, that had swept the shallow areas of water dry (long story short).

Out on the beach, three of the girls decided to go swimming, so off they went for a dip in the sea! Rather them than me! There was a raft of Common Scoter on the sea and Common Terns and Sandwich Terns were fishing. Some Cinnabar Caterpillars were feeding on Ragwort, which I showed to a few people. Jane had seen a Sanderling running along the shoreline.

People started to drift back along the main path and last to leave was Jane, Gemma and I – luckily we saw 3 Spoonbills distantly at the back of the Freshmarsh, a Little Egret was roosting on the dead trees and a Little Ringed Plover was fairly close to the path. No Barn Owls or Marsh Harriers were seen at all. A Reed Bunting flew across the path and landed in the sueda bushes briefly, before diving for cover in the blustery winds. We all met back at the car park and then drove in convoy to Eric's. My birding group of 14 + toddler & baby went down to 11 adults for fish 'n' chips.

When we walked into Eric's Fish 'n' Chips, my heart sank – I have never seen that restaurant packed out with so many people! I was shocked! Far bigger numbers than a Saturday lunch time! I had already tipped the staff off that I was bringing in a large number of people and they were very accommodating and quickly pushed together three tables for us. Considering how packed they were, their service was excellent and it didn't seem very long at all before they dished up our orders. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal – Gemma was the only one that succumbed to dessert and had salted caramel ice-cream which looked very nice indeed! We all left at about 9.15pm. It was really nice that some of my colleagues had joined me, when they had such a long way to return home, some in the Norwich direction and some to Ely etc and we all have work in the morning, so thank you all for coming – I really enjoyed the evening.

I was shattered, but just couldn't drive past my mother's house without popping in. It was a good job I did, as mother was incredibly frustrated with her TV  – the station for 24 hour BBC news, which is normally 130, had disappeared and the whole TV needed to be re-tuned and mother had no idea how to do this – mind you, neither did I, but sorted it out in the end! BBC News channel is now 231 – mother was very pleased I had managed to find this for her! Good day all round!

I don't know how many potential serious birders I have created this evening, probably none, but I think they all enjoyed it! Beautiful walk, dark clouds and dramatic light, empty beach, what more could you ask for!

We all have a very busy week socially – one of our lovely physio's Kelly's last day is tomorrow, she leaves for pastures new and we have a barbecue leaving party in the evening. Next week we are celebrating with a surprise evening event on Wednesday for Bev's 50th Birthday! Busy, busy, busy – oh and the hairdressers too! The following week, my car is going in for its first full service (2 years old in September) and then we have the Rutland Bird Fair!

Pictures of Hot Babes swimming to be added!!!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Black-winged Stilts x 4 (male + 3 juvs), Garganey, Wood Sandpiper at Potter Heigham Marshes
Spoonbills x 10, Little Gulls x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 5, Wood Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB
Little Gull flew past Weybourne
Black Tern, Arctic Tern at Winterton
Great White Egret at Holme
Wood Sandpiper, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Black-necked Grebes x 2 (both juvs) on Hardwick Flood Lagoon at King's Lynn

MEGA NEWS
BAROLO SHEARWATER
Prawle Point, Devon
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Mousehole, Cornwall

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Garganey, Bitterns x 2 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Black-winged Stilts x 4 (male + 3 juvs), Cattle Egret, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Temminck's Stint, Spoonbills x 7 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Spoonbills x 9 at Hickling Broad NWT
Great White Egret at Holme Dunes NWT
Turtle Doves x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 7, Spoonbills x 12, Little Gulls x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Kittiwake at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Turtle Dove at Seething
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 9 at Burnham Deepdale
Quails x 3 at Aylmerton
Spoonbills x 37 at Stiffkey Fen
Turtle Doves x 3, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Great White Egret at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Porthgwarra, Cornwall
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Galley Head, County Cork, Ireland