Monday, 31 December 2018
NEW YEAR'S EVE!
I'm in my pyjamas and doing nothing much at all after being at work all day – probably one of the most uneventful New Year's Eve's ever!
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
Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Waxwings x 4 at Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich
Cattle Egret at Heigham Holmes
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER at Ebridge Mill Lock, SE of North Walsham
Waxwings x 5 at Long Stratton
Taiga Bean Geese x 8 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 5, Great White Egrets x 2, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Welney WWT
Bewick's Swans x 53 at airfield, Hen Harrier at Ludham
Waxwings x 5 west of A147 at Norwich
Water Pipits x 2, Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 2, Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 11 at Titchwell RSPB
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 50, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Divers x 2, Velvet Scoters x 3, Glaucous Gull at Holkham Bay
Velvet Scoters x 5 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Twite x 13 at Thornham Harbour
Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 3, Little Gull, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck at Holme
Hen Harriers x 5 at Warham Greens
MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Nimmo's Pier, County Galway, Ireland
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Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Waxwings x 4 at Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich
Cattle Egret at Heigham Holmes
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER at Ebridge Mill Lock, SE of North Walsham
Waxwings x 5 at Long Stratton
Taiga Bean Geese x 8 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 5, Great White Egrets x 2, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Welney WWT
Bewick's Swans x 53 at airfield, Hen Harrier at Ludham
Waxwings x 5 west of A147 at Norwich
Water Pipits x 2, Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 2, Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 11 at Titchwell RSPB
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 50, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Divers x 2, Velvet Scoters x 3, Glaucous Gull at Holkham Bay
Velvet Scoters x 5 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Twite x 13 at Thornham Harbour
Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 3, Little Gull, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck at Holme
Hen Harriers x 5 at Warham Greens
MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Nimmo's Pier, County Galway, Ireland
Sunday, 30 December 2018
Ebridge Mill – Painted By My Great Grandfather!
EBRIDGE MILL
Painted by my Great Grandfather, Henry Waterson
Henry Waterson was father to Hester Violet Clarke,
mother of my father Peter Robert Clarke
This painting will be sold at Keys Auctioneers, Aylsham in January
mother of my father Peter Robert Clarke
This painting will be sold at Keys Auctioneers, Aylsham in January
Black-bellied Dipper at Ebridge Mill – History Tour & Blickling Hall NT
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER
Ebridge Mill
I only recently discovered that my Great Grandfather Henry Waterson had painted Ebridge Mill – an oil painting found amongst my late father's belongings – on a newspaper cutting of the mill, my father had written 'painted by my Grandfather Henry Waterson...'. Although the painting is fascinating (see following post on blog), we decided to auction it off, as none of us have children to pass anything on to, so some things we kept and others have gone to Keys Auctioneers for their January/February specialist sales. I had never visited Ebridge Mill and the painting had intrigued me. How odd, that shortly after discovering this painting, that a Black-bellied Dipper should turn up at this mill!
Phone-scoped in poor light
Black-bellied Dipper
Sitting on the bank – honest!
BLICKLING HALL
On the way home, I stopped to take pictures of Blickling Hall which was lit up like a firework display. Lots of people had also stopped to take pictures of this spectacle. I'm at work tomorrow as normal, but have New Year's Day off.
My best pictures of a Black-bellied Dipper were taken at Thetford on 2nd February 2013.
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
Shorelarks x 21, Snow Buntings x 48, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Short-eared Owls x 2, Hen Harrier at Holkham Bay
Velvet Scoter at Gorleston-on-Sea
Waxwings x 5 at Long Stratton
Waxwings x 3 flew over, Lapland Bunting, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 3, Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 10, Little Gulls x 9, Spotted Redshank, Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER at Ebridge Mill Lock, SE of North Walsham
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 2 at Walcott
Waxwings x 7 at Jenny Lind Park, Norwich
Russian White-fronted Geese x 59, Golden Plover x 27,900 at Breydon Water
Twite x 16, Lapland Bunting at Thornham Harbour
Black-throated Diver at Thornham Point
Common Cranes x 3 between Clippesby & Repps
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2, White Stork at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Kimberley Hall Lake
Tundra Bean Goose with Pink-footed Geese west of West Rudham
Bewick's Swans x 26 flew over Honingham
Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Little Gulls x 6 at Holme Dunes
Black-throated Diver on sea at Weybourne Camp
Great Northern Divers x 2 at Sheringham
Short-eared Owl at Burnham Norton
Short-eared Owls x 4 at Haddiscoe Island
Tundra Bean Goose at Ridlington
MEGA NEWS
None
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Shorelarks x 21, Snow Buntings x 48, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Short-eared Owls x 2, Hen Harrier at Holkham Bay
Velvet Scoter at Gorleston-on-Sea
Waxwings x 5 at Long Stratton
Waxwings x 3 flew over, Lapland Bunting, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 3, Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 10, Little Gulls x 9, Spotted Redshank, Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER at Ebridge Mill Lock, SE of North Walsham
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 2 at Walcott
Waxwings x 7 at Jenny Lind Park, Norwich
Russian White-fronted Geese x 59, Golden Plover x 27,900 at Breydon Water
Twite x 16, Lapland Bunting at Thornham Harbour
Black-throated Diver at Thornham Point
Common Cranes x 3 between Clippesby & Repps
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2, White Stork at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Kimberley Hall Lake
Tundra Bean Goose with Pink-footed Geese west of West Rudham
Bewick's Swans x 26 flew over Honingham
Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Little Gulls x 6 at Holme Dunes
Black-throated Diver on sea at Weybourne Camp
Great Northern Divers x 2 at Sheringham
Short-eared Owl at Burnham Norton
Short-eared Owls x 4 at Haddiscoe Island
Tundra Bean Goose at Ridlington
MEGA NEWS
None
Saturday, 29 December 2018
New Year Honours 2019: Chris Packham Appointed CBE!
Congratulations to Naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham, who has been appointed CBE in the New Year Honours list.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-46700648
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-46700648
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Grey-bellied Brant (possible) with Pink-footed Geese, half a mile south of Docking
Waxwings x 5 at Long Stratton
Velvet Scoters x 5 at Hopton-on-Sea
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER on canal at Briggate, SE of North Walsham
Long-tailed Ducks x 6 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 at Welney WWT
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Red-necked Grebe offshore at Holme
Shorelarks x 7, Snow Buntings x 50, Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter, Short-eared Owl at Holkham Bay
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLLS x 2, Mealy Redpolls x 40 at Wells Woods
Great White Egret, Common Cranes x 7, Hen Harriers x 2 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Marshes
MEGA NEWS
None
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Grey-bellied Brant (possible) with Pink-footed Geese, half a mile south of Docking
Waxwings x 5 at Long Stratton
Velvet Scoters x 5 at Hopton-on-Sea
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER on canal at Briggate, SE of North Walsham
Long-tailed Ducks x 6 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 at Welney WWT
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Red-necked Grebe offshore at Holme
Shorelarks x 7, Snow Buntings x 50, Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter, Short-eared Owl at Holkham Bay
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLLS x 2, Mealy Redpolls x 40 at Wells Woods
Great White Egret, Common Cranes x 7, Hen Harriers x 2 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Marshes
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
FRIDAY 28th DECEMBER
Cattle Egret at Heigham Holmes
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 14, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebe at Titchwell RSPB
Grey-bellied Brant (possible), Tundra Bean Geese x 2, Pale-bellied Brent Goose in field by road to Fring, SW of Docking
Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Great Northern Divers x 4 at Holme NOA
Black-throated Diver at Hunstanton Cliffs
Cattle Egret, White Stork, Great White Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER at Ebridge Mill, North Walsham
Great White Egret at Breydon Water
Shorelarks x 12, Snow Buntings x 30 at Holkham Bay
Hen Harrier at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egret at Nar Valley Fisheries
Russian White-fronted Geese x 120 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL at Wells Woods
Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Goose on meadows east of Wells
Taiga Bean Geese x 8 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Short-eared Owl at Horsey
Hen Harrier at Thornham Marsh
Short-eared Owls x 4 at Haddiscoe Island
Hen Harrier at Salthouse
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Snow Buntings x 2 at Weybourne
Russian White-fronted Goose at Brancaster
Black-throated Diver at Cley
MEGA NEWS
None
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FRIDAY 28th DECEMBER
Cattle Egret at Heigham Holmes
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 14, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebe at Titchwell RSPB
Grey-bellied Brant (possible), Tundra Bean Geese x 2, Pale-bellied Brent Goose in field by road to Fring, SW of Docking
Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Great Northern Divers x 4 at Holme NOA
Black-throated Diver at Hunstanton Cliffs
Cattle Egret, White Stork, Great White Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER at Ebridge Mill, North Walsham
Great White Egret at Breydon Water
Shorelarks x 12, Snow Buntings x 30 at Holkham Bay
Hen Harrier at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egret at Nar Valley Fisheries
Russian White-fronted Geese x 120 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL at Wells Woods
Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Goose on meadows east of Wells
Taiga Bean Geese x 8 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Short-eared Owl at Horsey
Hen Harrier at Thornham Marsh
Short-eared Owls x 4 at Haddiscoe Island
Hen Harrier at Salthouse
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Snow Buntings x 2 at Weybourne
Russian White-fronted Goose at Brancaster
Black-throated Diver at Cley
MEGA NEWS
None
Thursday, 27 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Cattle Egret, Common Cranes x 2 at Heigham Holmes
Caspian Gull, Great Northern Divers x 4, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 17, Black Brant at Titchwell RSPB
Black-throated Diver at North Beach, Heacham
Great Northern Divers x 3, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Long-tailed Duck offshore at Holme NOA
Grey-bellied Brant (possible), Tundra Bean Geese x 2, Barnacle Geese x 4, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3 in field by road to Fring, SW of Docking
Taiga Bean Geese x 14 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Waxwings x 4 at Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich
Shorelarks x 25, Snow Buntings x 60, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Red-necked Grebe at Holkham Bay
Pale-bellied Brent Goose by Lady Anne's Drive, Holkham
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 5, Tundra Bean Geese x 5, White Stork at Welney WWT
Hen Harriers x 2 at Thurne
Snow Buntings x 33 flew over North Dunes, Winterton
Short-eared Owl at Burgh Castle
Hen Harrier at Cley
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLLS x 2 at Wells Woods
Short-eared Owls x 5 at Haddiscoe Island
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Cattle Egret, Common Cranes x 2 at Heigham Holmes
Caspian Gull, Great Northern Divers x 4, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 17, Black Brant at Titchwell RSPB
Black-throated Diver at North Beach, Heacham
Great Northern Divers x 3, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Long-tailed Duck offshore at Holme NOA
Grey-bellied Brant (possible), Tundra Bean Geese x 2, Barnacle Geese x 4, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3 in field by road to Fring, SW of Docking
Taiga Bean Geese x 14 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Waxwings x 4 at Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich
Shorelarks x 25, Snow Buntings x 60, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Red-necked Grebe at Holkham Bay
Pale-bellied Brent Goose by Lady Anne's Drive, Holkham
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 5, Tundra Bean Geese x 5, White Stork at Welney WWT
Hen Harriers x 2 at Thurne
Snow Buntings x 33 flew over North Dunes, Winterton
Short-eared Owl at Burgh Castle
Hen Harrier at Cley
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLLS x 2 at Wells Woods
Short-eared Owls x 5 at Haddiscoe Island
MEGA NEWS
None
Wednesday, 26 December 2018
BOXING DAY
BLUES!
I normally go birding on Boxing Day, but felt really down in the dumps. The weather was dull, dismal, gloomy and uninspiring. I spent the entire day alone and doing nothing much at all. Back to work as normal tomorrow.
I normally go birding on Boxing Day, but felt really down in the dumps. The weather was dull, dismal, gloomy and uninspiring. I spent the entire day alone and doing nothing much at all. Back to work as normal tomorrow.
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
Cattle Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 120 at Heigham Holmes
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 35, Hen Harrier at Cley NWT
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 60, Red-necked Grebes x 4, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 2, Velvet Scoters x 5 at Holkham Bay
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Goose, Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Welney WWT
Waxwing at Bowthorpe
Whooper Swans x 6 at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham
Snow Buntings x 14 at Winterton
Caspian Gull, Long-tailed Ducks x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN ROYAL TERN
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
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Cattle Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 120 at Heigham Holmes
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 35, Hen Harrier at Cley NWT
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 60, Red-necked Grebes x 4, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 2, Velvet Scoters x 5 at Holkham Bay
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Goose, Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Welney WWT
Waxwing at Bowthorpe
Whooper Swans x 6 at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham
Snow Buntings x 14 at Winterton
Caspian Gull, Long-tailed Ducks x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN ROYAL TERN
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
Tuesday, 25 December 2018
CHRISTMAS DAY!
I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS,
A HAPPY NEW YEAR, GOOD HEALTH,
HAPPINESS & MEGA BIRDING IN 2019!
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS,
A HAPPY NEW YEAR, GOOD HEALTH,
HAPPINESS & MEGA BIRDING IN 2019!
Its been a very tough year and I would like to thank you all for your support, with so many lovely emails and so many kind words. I will be glad to see the back of 2018 and 2017 – it can only get better! I would also like to thank my blog subscribers for your continued support.
Lucy and I have had a lovely day together at my house. I cooked far too much and we didn't manage to clear our plates! It was lovely watching the birds feeding in the garden, whilst we enjoyed our Christmas Dinner and listened to HRH reading her Christmas Message. I even managed to make a loaf of bread and a scrumptious Victoria Sandwich early morning, before I started the veg prep! We had a lovely tea – all we did was eat all day!
Vivien spoilt us both with presents, but particularly sweet was a heart shaped Christmas decoration, which held pictures of us and our parents – this brought a tear to our eyes! We both coped better than we thought today and raised a glass to our dear parents, whom we miss so much.
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
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Cattle Egret, Hen Harrier, Russian White-fronted Geese x 25 at Heigham Holmes
Bewick's Swans x 10 flew past beach car park at Cley
Snow Buntings x 48 at Holkham Bay
Velvet Scoters x 4 at Hopton-on-Sea
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 3, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 13 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Warham Greens
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl north of Wymondham Abbey
Short-eared Owl at Waxham
Scaup at Stiffkey Fen
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Cattle Egret, Hen Harrier, Russian White-fronted Geese x 25 at Heigham Holmes
Bewick's Swans x 10 flew past beach car park at Cley
Snow Buntings x 48 at Holkham Bay
Velvet Scoters x 4 at Hopton-on-Sea
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 3, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 13 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Warham Greens
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl north of Wymondham Abbey
Short-eared Owl at Waxham
Scaup at Stiffkey Fen
MEGA NEWS
None
Monday, 24 December 2018
CHRISTMAS EVE!
I spent the weekend meeting my sisters for lunch at nice little cafe called Archers in King's Lynn on Saturday and the rest of the time was spent food shopping, putting up Christmas decorations and doing chores.
I have been working all day today (normal hours) and arrived home at about 4.45pm. I have been extremely busy this evening, preparing for my only guest tomorrow. Lucy is spending the day with me and I'm cooking our vegetarian Christmas dinner and tea later. Hopefully we will get out for some fresh air at some point. Vivien is spending Christmas with Ray in Ely. Last Christmas was spent with our mother at Holme and I remember every detail of that day – it was our first Christmas without our father and now this is our first Christmas with neither mother or father – its going to be a tough day. Hopefully I will be so busy cooking, that I won't have time to think too much!
Boxing Day I'm free, so may get out birding somewhere. I would dearly love to go and see the Royal family walking to church tomorrow, but there is no way in a million years would Lucy stand that long and wait, so will have to forget about that!
I have been working all day today (normal hours) and arrived home at about 4.45pm. I have been extremely busy this evening, preparing for my only guest tomorrow. Lucy is spending the day with me and I'm cooking our vegetarian Christmas dinner and tea later. Hopefully we will get out for some fresh air at some point. Vivien is spending Christmas with Ray in Ely. Last Christmas was spent with our mother at Holme and I remember every detail of that day – it was our first Christmas without our father and now this is our first Christmas with neither mother or father – its going to be a tough day. Hopefully I will be so busy cooking, that I won't have time to think too much!
Boxing Day I'm free, so may get out birding somewhere. I would dearly love to go and see the Royal family walking to church tomorrow, but there is no way in a million years would Lucy stand that long and wait, so will have to forget about that!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
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
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Cattle Egret, Common Cranes x 4, Russian White-fronted Geese x 45 at Heigham Holmes
Long-tailed Ducks x 10, Spotted Redshank, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Black-throated Diver, Water Pipit, Caspian Gull, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 12 off Coastguards, Hen Harrier at Cley
Snow Buntings x 30 at Winterton
Great White Egret at Kimberley Hall Lake
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Haddiscoe Island
Hooded Crow NE of West Somerton
Rough-legged Buzzard, Russian White-fronted Geese x 71 at Breydon Water
Great White Egrets x 2, White Stork, Short-eared Owls x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Blackborough End
Russian White-fronted Geese x 15, Short-eared Owl at Wickhampton Marshes
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Shorelarks x 8, Snow Buntings x 60, Short-eared Owls x 2, Great White Egret, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Velvet Scoters x 6, Russian White-fronted Geese x 50 at Holkham Bay
Hen Harrier at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Grey-bellied Brant (possible) in field at Docking
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Thornham Harbour
MEGA NEWS
TENGMALM'S OWL
Copinsay, (on 2nd November, but no sign since) Orkney
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Cattle Egret, Common Cranes x 4, Russian White-fronted Geese x 45 at Heigham Holmes
Long-tailed Ducks x 10, Spotted Redshank, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Black-throated Diver, Water Pipit, Caspian Gull, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 12 off Coastguards, Hen Harrier at Cley
Snow Buntings x 30 at Winterton
Great White Egret at Kimberley Hall Lake
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Haddiscoe Island
Hooded Crow NE of West Somerton
Rough-legged Buzzard, Russian White-fronted Geese x 71 at Breydon Water
Great White Egrets x 2, White Stork, Short-eared Owls x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Blackborough End
Russian White-fronted Geese x 15, Short-eared Owl at Wickhampton Marshes
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Shorelarks x 8, Snow Buntings x 60, Short-eared Owls x 2, Great White Egret, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Velvet Scoters x 6, Russian White-fronted Geese x 50 at Holkham Bay
Hen Harrier at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Grey-bellied Brant (possible) in field at Docking
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Thornham Harbour
MEGA NEWS
TENGMALM'S OWL
Copinsay, (on 2nd November, but no sign since) Orkney
Sunday, 23 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS!
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
Common Cranes x 6, Hen Harrier, Russian White-fronted Geese x 45 at Heigham Holmes
Common Cranes x 10 flew towards Potter Heigham Marshes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 35 at Horsey
Bean Goose sp. at Sea Palling
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Red-necked Grebes x 3 at Wells Harbour
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Common Cranes x 6, Hen Harrier, Russian White-fronted Geese x 45 at Heigham Holmes
Common Cranes x 10 flew towards Potter Heigham Marshes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 35 at Horsey
Bean Goose sp. at Sea Palling
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Red-necked Grebes x 3 at Wells Harbour
MEGA NEWS
None
Saturday, 22 December 2018
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
Otter at Martham Ferry
Short-eared Owl, Common Cranes x 9, Hen Harrier, Russian White-fronted Geese x 45 at Heigham Holmes
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Russian White-fronted Geese x 95 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret, White Stork, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3 at Welney WWT
Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 12 off Coastguards, Cley
Bittern at Whitlingham Country Park
Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Bewick's Swans x 9, Whooper Swans x 16 at Sea Palling
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN ROYAL TERN
Gann Estuary, Pembrokeshire
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Otter at Martham Ferry
Short-eared Owl, Common Cranes x 9, Hen Harrier, Russian White-fronted Geese x 45 at Heigham Holmes
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Russian White-fronted Geese x 95 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret, White Stork, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3 at Welney WWT
Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 12 off Coastguards, Cley
Bittern at Whitlingham Country Park
Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Bewick's Swans x 9, Whooper Swans x 16 at Sea Palling
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN ROYAL TERN
Gann Estuary, Pembrokeshire
Friday, 21 December 2018
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
Hen Harrier, Water Pipits x 2, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 45 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Common Cranes x 3 at Horsey Mill
Russian White-fronted Geese x 14, Tundra Bean Geese x 5, White Stork, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Twite x 15, Hen Harrier at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Mealy Redpolls x 5 at Costessey Gravel Pits
Black-necked Grebe, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Holme
Bewick's Swans x 10 at Sea Palling
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Wells Woods
Great Northern Diver at Power Dock, Wells
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Russian White-fronted Geese x 55, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Twite x 10 at Thornham Harbour
Spoonbill, Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Hen Harrier, Water Pipits x 2, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 45 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Common Cranes x 3 at Horsey Mill
Russian White-fronted Geese x 14, Tundra Bean Geese x 5, White Stork, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Twite x 15, Hen Harrier at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Mealy Redpolls x 5 at Costessey Gravel Pits
Black-necked Grebe, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Holme
Bewick's Swans x 10 at Sea Palling
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Wells Woods
Great Northern Diver at Power Dock, Wells
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Russian White-fronted Geese x 55, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Twite x 10 at Thornham Harbour
Spoonbill, Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
MEGA NEWS
None
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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THURSDAY 20th DECEMBER
Hen Harrier, Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Jack Snipe, Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 100, Slavonian Grebes x 6, Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter at Holkham Bay
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Velvet Scoter at Gorleston-on-Sea
Smew redhead on Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Tundra Bean Geese x 4, Russian White-fronted Geese x 14, White Stork, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Snow Bunting at Winterton
Long-tailed Ducks x 2 on sea at Holme Dunes
Common Cranes x 5, Hen Harrier at Stubb Mill Roast, Hickling Broad NWT
White-fronted Geese x 3, Common Cranes x 3 at Horsey
Taiga Bean Geese x 12 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Hen Harrier at Warham Greens
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL at Wells Woods
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
MEGA NEWS
None
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THURSDAY 20th DECEMBER
Hen Harrier, Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Jack Snipe, Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 100, Slavonian Grebes x 6, Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter at Holkham Bay
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Velvet Scoter at Gorleston-on-Sea
Smew redhead on Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Tundra Bean Geese x 4, Russian White-fronted Geese x 14, White Stork, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Snow Bunting at Winterton
Long-tailed Ducks x 2 on sea at Holme Dunes
Common Cranes x 5, Hen Harrier at Stubb Mill Roast, Hickling Broad NWT
White-fronted Geese x 3, Common Cranes x 3 at Horsey
Taiga Bean Geese x 12 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Hen Harrier at Warham Greens
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL at Wells Woods
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
MEGA NEWS
None
Wednesday, 19 December 2018
MEGA EXCITED! FAIR ISLE BOOKED!!!
North Haven, Fair Isle 2010
I have not been to Fair Isle since I started this blog in 2010. I visited in May and have only ever been in May/June when the weather and birds are equally as good. I seem to remember my first two visits were in 2005 and 2006. This will be my fourth trip to Fair Isle and the first time I have visited in October, which is the most serious month for megas on Fair Isle, but the weather will more than likely be atrocious, but so excited! The rooms are cheaper after 14th October too – bonus! Two weeks of serious birding in the most amazing place for megas in the UK. Hoping for my first Siberian Rubythroat at least!!!
With the death of both my parents within the last two years, it has been the most horrific time in my life and I am still very much in turmoil over my mother's death in August. I had my first bereavement appointment with Tapping House (Norfolk Hospice) yesterday and it was very difficult indeed – I was in floods of tears again. My mother was such a huge character and there is a massive void now she's gone – part of me feels like I've died with her – she was my best friend, someone I phoned several times a day to talk to about everything. There is no one else I talked to like that, no one.
My birding and photography has taken a massive back seat and there are still loads of big jobs to do. We still have our parent's house to sell, then I will be selling my house in King's Lynn and moving somewhere nicer – someone within half an hour of work or I might even escape further afield – who knows what 2019 will bring! The new year will be a new chapter in my life. The first and most important job in January is to restart a serious weight loss campaign, to return to what I once was and becoming a healthier and fitter me!
I needed to have something amazing to look forward to and I have been meaning to return to Fair Isle for a long time now. Fair Isle is the most beautiful island and when I think about this beautiful place, the following thoughts cascade through my mind.......peace, tranquility, big seas, crystal turquoise waters, white sands, dramatic cliffs, puffins, eiders, bonxies, dramatic skies, exhilarating, wonderful islanders, breathtaking and life changing.
Its a long journey to Fair Isle, but a journey I love – train from King's Lynn very early morning to Aberdeen, then the Northlink Ferry overnight (14 hours) to Lerwick, Shetland arriving 7am the following morning. Normally, I then walk to the bus station and take the bus (hour's journey) to Sumburgh Head and catch the 'The Good Shepherd' boat, arriving Fair Isle mid afternoon, but in October the Good Shepherd only runs on a Tuesday and because of the usual dire weather at this time of the year, is far better to book the small plane, which I don't like at all (been on it once when the boat couldn't go) but there isn't much choice, so I will have to go on it! The plane is also far most expensive than the Good Shepherd.
October seems a long time to wait, but I am so looking forward to it. Hopefully I will be moved and settled before this trip, fingers crossed! I still might be going to Israel in March if there is enough people booked on this amazing Oriole Birding trip!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Water Pipit, Caspian Gulls x 2, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 12 off Coastguards, Cley
Tundra Bean Geese x 5, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3, White Stork, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Twite x 15, Hen Harrier at Thornham Harbour
Spoonbill, Hen Harrier at Stiffkey Fen
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Wells Woods
Shorelarks x 26, Snow Buntings x 60, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 5 at Holkham Bay
Taiga Bean Geese x 14 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Burrell Way, Thetford
MEGA NEWS
None
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Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Water Pipit, Caspian Gulls x 2, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 12 off Coastguards, Cley
Tundra Bean Geese x 5, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3, White Stork, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Twite x 15, Hen Harrier at Thornham Harbour
Spoonbill, Hen Harrier at Stiffkey Fen
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Wells Woods
Shorelarks x 26, Snow Buntings x 60, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 5 at Holkham Bay
Taiga Bean Geese x 14 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Burrell Way, Thetford
MEGA NEWS
None
Tuesday, 18 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Slavonian Grebes x 2, Great Northern Diver, Caspian Gulls x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Scaup at Stiffkey Fen
Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Taiga Beans Geese x 14 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Shorelarks x 22, Snow Buntings x 65, Red-necked Grebe, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver at Holkham Bay
Shorelarks x 3 at Holme Dunes NWT
MEGA NEWS
None
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Slavonian Grebes x 2, Great Northern Diver, Caspian Gulls x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Scaup at Stiffkey Fen
Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Taiga Beans Geese x 14 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Shorelarks x 22, Snow Buntings x 65, Red-necked Grebe, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver at Holkham Bay
Shorelarks x 3 at Holme Dunes NWT
MEGA NEWS
None
Monday, 17 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Common Cranes x 14, Great White Egret, Tundra Bean Geese x 5, White-fronted Geese x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Welney WWT
Bewick's Swans x 4 at Sea Palling
Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Caspian Gull, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL, Mealy Redpolls x 40 at Wells Woods
Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 55 at Holkham Bay
Taiga Beans Geese x 17 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Snow Bunting at Holme
Great White Egret at Breydon Water
Scaup, Spoonbill at Stiffkey Fen
Hen Harrier from Stiffkey Campsite
Great Northern Diver at Blakeney Harbour
Snow Buntings x 26 at Winterton
MEGA NEWS
None
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Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Common Cranes x 14, Great White Egret, Tundra Bean Geese x 5, White-fronted Geese x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Welney WWT
Bewick's Swans x 4 at Sea Palling
Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Caspian Gull, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL, Mealy Redpolls x 40 at Wells Woods
Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 55 at Holkham Bay
Taiga Beans Geese x 17 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Snow Bunting at Holme
Great White Egret at Breydon Water
Scaup, Spoonbill at Stiffkey Fen
Hen Harrier from Stiffkey Campsite
Great Northern Diver at Blakeney Harbour
Snow Buntings x 26 at Winterton
MEGA NEWS
None
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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SUNDAY 16th DECEMBER
Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Water Pipits x 2, Hen Harriers x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 7 at Catfield
Bewicks Swans x 18, Whooper Swans x 15 at Sea Palling
Shorelarks x 23, Snow Buntings x 60, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 4, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Scaup, Velvet Scoter, Short-eared Owl at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 4 at Waxham
Taiga Bean Geese x 5, White Stork, Common Cranes x 27 at Welney WWT
Great Grey Shrike at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Long-tailed Duck at Blakeney Harbour
Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Holme
Hawfinches x 5 at Lynford Aboretum
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Cockley Cley Wood south of Drymere
Taiga Beans Geese x 8 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Taiga Beans Geese x 5, Russian White-fronted Geese x 200, Water Pipit at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
MEGA NEWS
None
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SUNDAY 16th DECEMBER
Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Water Pipits x 2, Hen Harriers x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 7 at Catfield
Bewicks Swans x 18, Whooper Swans x 15 at Sea Palling
Shorelarks x 23, Snow Buntings x 60, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 4, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Scaup, Velvet Scoter, Short-eared Owl at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 4 at Waxham
Taiga Bean Geese x 5, White Stork, Common Cranes x 27 at Welney WWT
Great Grey Shrike at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Long-tailed Duck at Blakeney Harbour
Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Holme
Hawfinches x 5 at Lynford Aboretum
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Cockley Cley Wood south of Drymere
Taiga Beans Geese x 8 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Taiga Beans Geese x 5, Russian White-fronted Geese x 200, Water Pipit at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
MEGA NEWS
None
Saturday, 15 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Taiga Bean Geese x 21, Russian White-fronted Geese x 187, Hen Harrier at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 18, Whooper Swans x 10 at Ingham
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Common Cranes x 10 between Clippesby and Thurne
Northern Bullfinch at Sculthorpe Moor NR
White-fronted Geese x 2, Tundra Bean Goose at Waxham
Shorelarks x 27, Snow Buntings x 30 at Holkham Bay
Rough-legged Buzzard at Barrow Common, Brancaster
Hen Harriers x 3 at Warham Greens
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Taiga Bean Geese x 4 at Welney WWT
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 4 at Haddiscoe Island
MEGA NEWS
None
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Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Taiga Bean Geese x 21, Russian White-fronted Geese x 187, Hen Harrier at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 18, Whooper Swans x 10 at Ingham
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Common Cranes x 10 between Clippesby and Thurne
Northern Bullfinch at Sculthorpe Moor NR
White-fronted Geese x 2, Tundra Bean Goose at Waxham
Shorelarks x 27, Snow Buntings x 30 at Holkham Bay
Rough-legged Buzzard at Barrow Common, Brancaster
Hen Harriers x 3 at Warham Greens
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Taiga Bean Geese x 4 at Welney WWT
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 4 at Haddiscoe Island
MEGA NEWS
None
Friday, 14 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Tundra Bean Geese x 6, Common Cranes x 2 at Ashby, NW of Clippesby
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe at North Beach, Heacham
Tundra Bean Geese x 7 at ESE of Repps
Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Horsey
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Hen Harrier at Holme NOA
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup at Barton Broad
Short-eared Owl at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham
Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 SSE of Waxham
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL, Mealy Redpolls x 40 at Wells Woods
Hen Harriers x 2 at Morston
Great White Egret, Hen Harrier at Thornham Marsh
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
MEGA NEWS
None
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Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Tundra Bean Geese x 6, Common Cranes x 2 at Ashby, NW of Clippesby
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe at North Beach, Heacham
Tundra Bean Geese x 7 at ESE of Repps
Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Horsey
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Hen Harrier at Holme NOA
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup at Barton Broad
Short-eared Owl at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham
Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 SSE of Waxham
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL, Mealy Redpolls x 40 at Wells Woods
Hen Harriers x 2 at Morston
Great White Egret, Hen Harrier at Thornham Marsh
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
MEGA NEWS
None
Thursday, 13 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Red-necked Grebe, Hen Harrier, Slavonian Grebe at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 13, Hen Harrier at Thornham Harbour
Black-throated Diver, Velvet Scoters x 5, Hen Harrier off beach car park at Cley
Hen Harrier at Martham
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Beeston Common, Sheringham
Hen Harrier at Hemsby
Velvet Scoters x 5 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Smew redhead at Filby Broad
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 at Ashby, NW of Clippesby
Tundra Bean Geese x 10 at West Somerton
White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Geese x 600 south of Horsey Mill
White-fronted Geese x 2, Pink-footed Geese x 250 at Waxham
Snow Buntings x 24 on beach at Winterton
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great Northern Diver in relief channel at Downham Market
Bittern at Saddlebow Bridge
Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe off Hunstanton Cliffs
MEGA NEWS
None
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Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Red-necked Grebe, Hen Harrier, Slavonian Grebe at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 13, Hen Harrier at Thornham Harbour
Black-throated Diver, Velvet Scoters x 5, Hen Harrier off beach car park at Cley
Hen Harrier at Martham
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Beeston Common, Sheringham
Hen Harrier at Hemsby
Velvet Scoters x 5 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Smew redhead at Filby Broad
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 at Ashby, NW of Clippesby
Tundra Bean Geese x 10 at West Somerton
White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Geese x 600 south of Horsey Mill
White-fronted Geese x 2, Pink-footed Geese x 250 at Waxham
Snow Buntings x 24 on beach at Winterton
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great Northern Diver in relief channel at Downham Market
Bittern at Saddlebow Bridge
Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe off Hunstanton Cliffs
MEGA NEWS
None
Wednesday, 12 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe at Titchwell RSPB
Hen Harrier flew over Thornham Marsh
Velvet Scoter at Gorleston-on-Sea
Velvet Scoters x 2 at Coastguards, Cley
Hen Harrier at Sheringham
Rough-legged Buzzard at Brancaster Marsh
Taiga Bean Geese x 15, Russian White-fronted Geese x 10 at Hassingham
Shorelarks x 7, Snow Buntings x 40, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Holkham Bay
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Marshes
MEGA NEWS
None
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Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe at Titchwell RSPB
Hen Harrier flew over Thornham Marsh
Velvet Scoter at Gorleston-on-Sea
Velvet Scoters x 2 at Coastguards, Cley
Hen Harrier at Sheringham
Rough-legged Buzzard at Brancaster Marsh
Taiga Bean Geese x 15, Russian White-fronted Geese x 10 at Hassingham
Shorelarks x 7, Snow Buntings x 40, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Holkham Bay
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Marshes
MEGA NEWS
None
Tuesday, 11 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Long-tailed Ducks x 8, Great Northern Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Turtle Dove in garden on Langham Road (present c2. wks), Blakeney
Waxwing in garden at New Costessey
Short-eared Owl at Snettisham Coastal Park
Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Slavonian Grebe at Sheringham
Smew redhead on Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
Rough-legged Buzzard (possible) by A47 Swaffham
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 9 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 15 at Holkham Bay
Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 5 at Haddiscoe Island
Hen Harrier at Morston Quay
Red-necked Grebe at Holme Dunes
Black-necked Grebe at Weybourne
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
Waxwing flew over Fordham
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN ROYAL TERN
Traeth Lligwy, Anglesey
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Long-tailed Ducks x 8, Great Northern Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Turtle Dove in garden on Langham Road (present c2. wks), Blakeney
Waxwing in garden at New Costessey
Short-eared Owl at Snettisham Coastal Park
Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Slavonian Grebe at Sheringham
Smew redhead on Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
Rough-legged Buzzard (possible) by A47 Swaffham
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 9 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 15 at Holkham Bay
Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 5 at Haddiscoe Island
Hen Harrier at Morston Quay
Red-necked Grebe at Holme Dunes
Black-necked Grebe at Weybourne
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
Waxwing flew over Fordham
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN ROYAL TERN
Traeth Lligwy, Anglesey
Monday, 10 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Twite x 26 at Thornham Harbour
Arctic Redpoll (unconfirmed report) yesterday at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Black Brant at Stiffkey
Little Auk flew past Coastguards, Cley
Bewick's Swans x 8 flew over Cley NWT
Taiga Bean Geese x 9, Russian White-fronted Geese x 30 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Black-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Great Northern Diver, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Water Pipit, Great White Egret at Titchwell RSPB
Dusky Warbler at Stiffkey Fen
Little Auk at Sheringham
Taiga Bean Geese x 5, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Snow Buntings x 33 at Holkham Bay
Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Clippesby
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN ROYAL TERN
Traeth Lligwy, Anglesey
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Twite x 26 at Thornham Harbour
Arctic Redpoll (unconfirmed report) yesterday at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Black Brant at Stiffkey
Little Auk flew past Coastguards, Cley
Bewick's Swans x 8 flew over Cley NWT
Taiga Bean Geese x 9, Russian White-fronted Geese x 30 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Black-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Great Northern Diver, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Water Pipit, Great White Egret at Titchwell RSPB
Dusky Warbler at Stiffkey Fen
Little Auk at Sheringham
Taiga Bean Geese x 5, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Snow Buntings x 33 at Holkham Bay
Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Clippesby
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN ROYAL TERN
Traeth Lligwy, Anglesey
Weekend Update!
Very busy sorting things at our family home in Holme with both my sisters all day on Saturday. My parent's black, french polished bookcase was collected for restoration today. Sold my father's large desk thank goodness. I spent most of Sunday at the house too, visited the tip and the charity shop. Sold a bicycle and a sofa! No more large items in house, so at least we won't have to pay for any house clearance now. Still have two armchairs to sell, but think these will go soon. Cruso Wilkins collecting a few things for auction this week. Also sold the Bannerman Bird Books and The Birds of the Western Palearctic to an ornithologist, so these will be looked after well.
I managed to escape for a short while this afternoon and had planned to see the Red-rumped Swallow at Cley, but after a no news message, I opted for Stiffkey Fen in hope of seeing the Dusky Warbler. I failed, but did 'pish' in a couple of Goldcrests in a large willow. I really miss going birding, can't wait to get back to my 'normal' life!
I managed to escape for a short while this afternoon and had planned to see the Red-rumped Swallow at Cley, but after a no news message, I opted for Stiffkey Fen in hope of seeing the Dusky Warbler. I failed, but did 'pish' in a couple of Goldcrests in a large willow. I really miss going birding, can't wait to get back to my 'normal' life!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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SUNDAY 9th DECEMBER
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Red-rumped Swallow at East Bank until 9am, Cley NWT
Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Divers x 5 flew past beach car park at Cley
Shorelarks x 21, Snow Buntings x 105 at Holkham Bay
Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB
Dusky Warbler, Richard's Pipit flew over at Stiffkey Fen
Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey
Great White Egret at Burnham Norton
Smew Redhead at Filby Broad
Great White Egret, Taiga Bean Geese x 3 at Welney WWT
Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 2 flew over, Great Northern Diver at Wells Harbour
Taiga Bean Geese x 7 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Red-rumped Swallow along seafront at 1.50pm (no further sign by 3.15pm), Gorleston-on-Sea
Ravens x 2 flew over Methwold
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Great White Egret at Belton Marshes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 4 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Great Northern Divers x 3, Little Gull at Sheringham
Common Cranes x 3, Whooper Swans x 20 at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham
MEGA NEWS
None
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SUNDAY 9th DECEMBER
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Red-rumped Swallow at East Bank until 9am, Cley NWT
Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Divers x 5 flew past beach car park at Cley
Shorelarks x 21, Snow Buntings x 105 at Holkham Bay
Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB
Dusky Warbler, Richard's Pipit flew over at Stiffkey Fen
Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey
Great White Egret at Burnham Norton
Smew Redhead at Filby Broad
Great White Egret, Taiga Bean Geese x 3 at Welney WWT
Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 2 flew over, Great Northern Diver at Wells Harbour
Taiga Bean Geese x 7 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Red-rumped Swallow along seafront at 1.50pm (no further sign by 3.15pm), Gorleston-on-Sea
Ravens x 2 flew over Methwold
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Great White Egret at Belton Marshes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 4 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Great Northern Divers x 3, Little Gull at Sheringham
Common Cranes x 3, Whooper Swans x 20 at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham
MEGA NEWS
None
Saturday, 8 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Red-rumped Swallow, Hen Harrier, at East Bank, Cley NWT
Dusky Warbler at Stiffkey Fen
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Divers x 3, Little Gulls x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Mealy Redpoll at Beeston Common
Shorelarks x 12, Snow Buntings x 90 at Holkham Bay
Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter, Snow Buntings x 29 at Winterton
Hen Harrier, Taiga Bean Geese x 9 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Acle
Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Little Gulls x 4 at Holme
Hen Harriers x 6 at Warham Greens
Taiga Bean Geese x 2 at Sea Palling
Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Island
MEGA NEWS
None
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Red-rumped Swallow, Hen Harrier, at East Bank, Cley NWT
Dusky Warbler at Stiffkey Fen
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Divers x 3, Little Gulls x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Mealy Redpoll at Beeston Common
Shorelarks x 12, Snow Buntings x 90 at Holkham Bay
Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter, Snow Buntings x 29 at Winterton
Hen Harrier, Taiga Bean Geese x 9 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Acle
Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Little Gulls x 4 at Holme
Hen Harriers x 6 at Warham Greens
Taiga Bean Geese x 2 at Sea Palling
Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Island
MEGA NEWS
None
Friday, 7 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Red-rumped Swallow, Hen Harrier, at East Bank, Cley NWT
Dusky Warbler at Stiffkey Fen
Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 at Welney WWT
Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Twite x 4 at Thornham Harbour
Waxwings x 3 flew over East Bank at Cley
Common Cranes x 4 at Clippesby
MEGA NEWS
None
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Red-rumped Swallow, Hen Harrier, at East Bank, Cley NWT
Dusky Warbler at Stiffkey Fen
Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 at Welney WWT
Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Twite x 4 at Thornham Harbour
Waxwings x 3 flew over East Bank at Cley
Common Cranes x 4 at Clippesby
MEGA NEWS
None
Thursday, 6 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Black-throated Divers x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Water Pipits x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Red-rumped Swallow at East Bank, Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 2 at Cley
Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey
Short-eared Owl at Upton Marshes NWT
Rough-legged Buzzard at Thornham Marsh
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Rough-legged Buzzard at Sheringham
Twite x 7 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
MEGA NEWS
None
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Black-throated Divers x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Water Pipits x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Red-rumped Swallow at East Bank, Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 2 at Cley
Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey
Short-eared Owl at Upton Marshes NWT
Rough-legged Buzzard at Thornham Marsh
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Rough-legged Buzzard at Sheringham
Twite x 7 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
MEGA NEWS
None
Southern Israel – The Arava Desert Flyway!
23rd to 30th March 2019
Leaders: Ashley Saunders and Gary Elton
This looks very exciting indeed and would fit in with my booked holiday at work very nicely! I really need to do something amazing to lift my spirits. The list of birds on this trip is insane! I will hopefully be going, but as with all birding tours, there has to be enough people for it to go ahead and we need a few more. Come and join Ashley, Gary and I for a week of incredible birding!
One of many amazing trips from Oriole Birding
Still places available if anyone is interested?!
One of many amazing trips from Oriole Birding
Still places available if anyone is interested?!
Wednesday, 5 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Red-rumped Swallow at East Bank, Cley NWT
Long-tailed Ducks x 8 at Titchwell RSPB
Short-eared Owls x 6 at Haddiscoe Island
Shorelarks x 11 at Holkham Bay
Great Northern Diver at Sheringham
MEGA NEWS
DUSKY THRUSH
Isle of Whalsay, Shetland
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Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Red-rumped Swallow at East Bank, Cley NWT
Long-tailed Ducks x 8 at Titchwell RSPB
Short-eared Owls x 6 at Haddiscoe Island
Shorelarks x 11 at Holkham Bay
Great Northern Diver at Sheringham
MEGA NEWS
DUSKY THRUSH
Isle of Whalsay, Shetland
Tuesday, 4 December 2018
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
Hawfinch flew along beach at Trimingham
Spotted Redshanks x 2, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 4, Little Gulls x 5, Velvet Scoter, Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelark, Snow Buntings x 50, Slavonian Grebes x 2 at Holkham Bay
Sooty Shearwater, Great Northern Diver, Lapland Bunting at Sheringham
Taiga Bean Geese x 9 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 7 at Haddiscoe Marshes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 21 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Red-necked Grebe at Holme
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
MEGA NEWS
None
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Hawfinch flew along beach at Trimingham
Spotted Redshanks x 2, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 4, Little Gulls x 5, Velvet Scoter, Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelark, Snow Buntings x 50, Slavonian Grebes x 2 at Holkham Bay
Sooty Shearwater, Great Northern Diver, Lapland Bunting at Sheringham
Taiga Bean Geese x 9 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 7 at Haddiscoe Marshes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 21 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Red-necked Grebe at Holme
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
MEGA NEWS
None
Monday, 3 December 2018
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
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Taiga Bean Geese x 6 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Rough-legged Buzzard, Common Cranes x 8 at Thurne
Caspian Gull at Sidestrand
Water Pipit, Black-throated Diver, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks x 4 at Titchwell RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 4, Pink-footed Geese x 1000 in sugar beet field at Catfield
Black Redstart at Sheringham
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Taiga Bean Geese x 6 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Rough-legged Buzzard, Common Cranes x 8 at Thurne
Caspian Gull at Sidestrand
Water Pipit, Black-throated Diver, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks x 4 at Titchwell RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 4, Pink-footed Geese x 1000 in sugar beet field at Catfield
Black Redstart at Sheringham
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
MEGA NEWS
None
Sunday, 2 December 2018
Weekend Update!
It has been an extremely busy weekend, sadly none of it involved birding. On Saturday I had to go Keys Auctioneers at Aylsham to drop off lots of antiques (from my parent's house) for forthcoming sales. I had most of the items at my house, but went to Holme first, to pick up some more items and then headed to Aylsham arriving at around 9.30am. I spent a long time there, booking everything in and deciding which sales each item was going in to. Then had to get back to Holme for 1pm for a van company arriving to pick up the piano I sold to 'Annie' last week. The van company were arriving some time between 1pm and 6pm. I was really hoping they were going to arrive in daylight as I knew it would be difficult to get the piano out of the house and the ground is rough at best outside the property, plus there is no street lighting! I had a message from Annie that the van was turning up at 3pm, then later she sent another message saying 4pm. It was freezing sitting in my parent's house all this time, I didn't want to turn the heating up as we all have to pay the bill now, so stuck it out and put my hands in my pockets and tried to have a nap, but it was too cold to settle. The van company eventually turned up, very unprofessionally at 5.50pm!!!
They were not very good drivers and made a pig's ear out of backing up down the road – it was a good job I stood by my Skoda! The whole thing was a complete debacle! Only three men turned up in a food transit van with no tail lift!!! They were all Portuguese and were swearing and shouting throughout the move. They were unprepared for the job and in some ways I felt sorry for them to be honest. The boss of the group said he 'normally has the vehicle with the tail lift', but 'not today'. Annie and her husband had arrived to oversee things and I thought it was dreadful that her husband had to help with the piano, when they had paid for four men to remove and deliver their piano. The van service was AnyVan – the 'boss' said he was a courier for 'AnyVan' – I didn't really understand the set up at all, but I wouldn't recommend them! They struggled just to get it from the dining room to the front door and that was where the problems really started – it was extremely difficult once they got it over the threshold of the door and one of the men was wedged in between the piano and the postbox. The postbox was pushed into the glass of the porch and the entire pane smashed! They also scraped off a large chunk of polished wood from the piano – hopefully it can be super-glued back into place. They then had to carry the piano down a step, then up a step and onto the unmade up, very muddy road. The worst bit was then walking with the piano over uneven ground and then having to lift it high into the back of the transit van – I really don't know how they did it. It broke all safety rules and they must all be in agony with their backs today. I tried to ring Vivien to discuss the broken porch window, but she didn't answer her phone.
I was at work all today until 3pm (my first scheduled Sunday for months, since I have been off work) and after doing the supermarket run, I collapsed in front of the TV all evening. I have been trying to get hold of Vivien since 5.15pm and sent her several texts, no reply by 12pm. There is not much point in her being my ICE (in case of emergency) on my phone as if anything serious ever happened to me, the police would never be able to get hold of her. Her phone is either on silent, or she is out of signal – for someone not working, she is incredibly difficult to get hold of! At least I got to chat with Lucy this evening. On that note, Christmas is going to be extremely difficult this year. Lucy and I ALWAYS spend Christmas at Holme with our parent's. Last year it was with mother only (father had died in February), but I'm grateful we spent that Christmas with her at least. This year I will be cooking for Lucy at my house in King's Lynn. Roll on the new year! Sell the house at Holme, then mine, then I'm off!!! I had a large response to my post about selling the house, so we should get a good price for it when it goes on the market in late December!
I still havn't sold the bird books and two paintings in my post HERE – please take a look and email if interested, thanks!
They were not very good drivers and made a pig's ear out of backing up down the road – it was a good job I stood by my Skoda! The whole thing was a complete debacle! Only three men turned up in a food transit van with no tail lift!!! They were all Portuguese and were swearing and shouting throughout the move. They were unprepared for the job and in some ways I felt sorry for them to be honest. The boss of the group said he 'normally has the vehicle with the tail lift', but 'not today'. Annie and her husband had arrived to oversee things and I thought it was dreadful that her husband had to help with the piano, when they had paid for four men to remove and deliver their piano. The van service was AnyVan – the 'boss' said he was a courier for 'AnyVan' – I didn't really understand the set up at all, but I wouldn't recommend them! They struggled just to get it from the dining room to the front door and that was where the problems really started – it was extremely difficult once they got it over the threshold of the door and one of the men was wedged in between the piano and the postbox. The postbox was pushed into the glass of the porch and the entire pane smashed! They also scraped off a large chunk of polished wood from the piano – hopefully it can be super-glued back into place. They then had to carry the piano down a step, then up a step and onto the unmade up, very muddy road. The worst bit was then walking with the piano over uneven ground and then having to lift it high into the back of the transit van – I really don't know how they did it. It broke all safety rules and they must all be in agony with their backs today. I tried to ring Vivien to discuss the broken porch window, but she didn't answer her phone.
I was at work all today until 3pm (my first scheduled Sunday for months, since I have been off work) and after doing the supermarket run, I collapsed in front of the TV all evening. I have been trying to get hold of Vivien since 5.15pm and sent her several texts, no reply by 12pm. There is not much point in her being my ICE (in case of emergency) on my phone as if anything serious ever happened to me, the police would never be able to get hold of her. Her phone is either on silent, or she is out of signal – for someone not working, she is incredibly difficult to get hold of! At least I got to chat with Lucy this evening. On that note, Christmas is going to be extremely difficult this year. Lucy and I ALWAYS spend Christmas at Holme with our parent's. Last year it was with mother only (father had died in February), but I'm grateful we spent that Christmas with her at least. This year I will be cooking for Lucy at my house in King's Lynn. Roll on the new year! Sell the house at Holme, then mine, then I'm off!!! I had a large response to my post about selling the house, so we should get a good price for it when it goes on the market in late December!
I still havn't sold the bird books and two paintings in my post HERE – please take a look and email if interested, thanks!
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 Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 40, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Cley
Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Greenland White-fronted Geese x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 20 at Holkham Bay
Shorelarks x 3, Arctic Tern (probable), Water Pipits x 2, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoter at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 4 in field south of Catfield
Taiga Bean Geese x 10, Russian White-fronted Geese x 65 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 6 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 2, Great White Egret at Haddiscoe Marshes
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey
DUSKY WARBLER (probable) heard only at Stiffkey Fen
Twite x 16 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Hen Harriers x 8 at Warham Greens Roost
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Black Redstart at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 40, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Cley
Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Greenland White-fronted Geese x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 20 at Holkham Bay
Shorelarks x 3, Arctic Tern (probable), Water Pipits x 2, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoter at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 4 in field south of Catfield
Taiga Bean Geese x 10, Russian White-fronted Geese x 65 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 6 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 2, Great White Egret at Haddiscoe Marshes
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey
DUSKY WARBLER (probable) heard only at Stiffkey Fen
Twite x 16 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Hen Harriers x 8 at Warham Greens Roost
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
MEGA NEWS
None
Saturday, 1 December 2018
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
Bittern at Cley NWT
PALLAS'S WARBLER in The Dell, Mealy Redpolls x 8 at Wells Woods
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 in field south of Catfield
Snow Buntings x 16 on beach at Winterton
Black-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck at Holme
Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank, Russian White-fronted Geese x 15 at Breydon Water
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Water Pipit at Haddiscoe Marshes
Great White Egret flew over Caston
Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 21 at Thornham Harbour
Hawfinches x 12, Crossbills x 4 at Lynford Aboretum
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Bittern at Cley NWT
PALLAS'S WARBLER in The Dell, Mealy Redpolls x 8 at Wells Woods
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 in field south of Catfield
Snow Buntings x 16 on beach at Winterton
Black-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck at Holme
Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank, Russian White-fronted Geese x 15 at Breydon Water
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Water Pipit at Haddiscoe Marshes
Great White Egret flew over Caston
Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 21 at Thornham Harbour
Hawfinches x 12, Crossbills x 4 at Lynford Aboretum
MEGA NEWS
None
Friday, 30 November 2018
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
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Black Redstart by The Leas, Sheringham
PALLAS'S WARBLER in The Dell, Mealy Redpolls x 3 at Wells Woods
Shorelarks x 15, Snow Buntings x 25 at Holkham Gap
Shorelarks x 35 reported between Holkham & Wells
Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Long-tailed Ducks x 10, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Pale-bellied Brent Goose flew past Weybourne Camp
Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Lapland Buntings x 3, Twite x 16 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Velvet Scoters x 6 off beach car park at Cley
Taiga Bean Geese x 2 (possible), Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Waxham
Great White Egret at Breydon Water
Taiga Bean Geese x 9 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Hen Harrier, Twite x 25 at Thornham Harbour
Rough-legged Buzzards x 2, Short-eared Owls x 9 at Haddiscoe Island
Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Great Yarmouth
Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3, Barnacle Goose, Pink-footed Geese x 8,500 west of B1153 near Docking
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 2 at Holme
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Black Redstart by The Leas, Sheringham
PALLAS'S WARBLER in The Dell, Mealy Redpolls x 3 at Wells Woods
Shorelarks x 15, Snow Buntings x 25 at Holkham Gap
Shorelarks x 35 reported between Holkham & Wells
Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Long-tailed Ducks x 10, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Pale-bellied Brent Goose flew past Weybourne Camp
Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Lapland Buntings x 3, Twite x 16 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Velvet Scoters x 6 off beach car park at Cley
Taiga Bean Geese x 2 (possible), Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Waxham
Great White Egret at Breydon Water
Taiga Bean Geese x 9 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Hen Harrier, Twite x 25 at Thornham Harbour
Rough-legged Buzzards x 2, Short-eared Owls x 9 at Haddiscoe Island
Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Great Yarmouth
Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3, Barnacle Goose, Pink-footed Geese x 8,500 west of B1153 near Docking
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Divers x 2 at Holme
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
MEGA NEWS
None
Thursday, 29 November 2018
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
Red-necked Grebes x 2, Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 8, Snow Bunting, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
PALLAS'S WARBLER in The Dell, Wells Woods
Purple Sandpiper at Hunstanton
Taiga Bean Geese x 7 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Shorelarks x 24 at Holkham Bay
Snow Buntings x 30 on beach at Cley
Spoonbill, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Rough-legged Buzzard at Felbrigg Hall NT
Great White Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
Water Pipits x 2 at Rockland Broad
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Red-necked Grebes x 2, Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 8, Snow Bunting, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
PALLAS'S WARBLER in The Dell, Wells Woods
Purple Sandpiper at Hunstanton
Taiga Bean Geese x 7 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Shorelarks x 24 at Holkham Bay
Snow Buntings x 30 on beach at Cley
Spoonbill, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Rough-legged Buzzard at Felbrigg Hall NT
Great White Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
Water Pipits x 2 at Rockland Broad
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
MEGA NEWS
None
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
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
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Rough-legged Buzzard, Black-throated Divers x 3, Great Northern Divers x 3, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 12, Hen Harriers x 2, Water Pipits x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Snow Buntings x 25, Velvet Scoters x 8 at Cley
Smew redhead flew past, Black Redstart at Sheringham
Short-eared Owl at Thornham Point
Rough-legged Buzzard at Blakeney Point
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Rough-legged Buzzard, Black-throated Divers x 3, Great Northern Divers x 3, Slavonian Grebes x 3, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 12, Hen Harriers x 2, Water Pipits x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Snow Buntings x 25, Velvet Scoters x 8 at Cley
Smew redhead flew past, Black Redstart at Sheringham
Short-eared Owl at Thornham Point
Rough-legged Buzzard at Blakeney Point
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
MEGA NEWS
None
Tuesday, 27 November 2018
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
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Hen Harriers x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Long-tailed Ducks x 11, Great Northern Divers x 3, Black-throated Diver, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret, Taiga Bean Geese x 4, Water Pipits x 2, Bittern at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Twite x 26, Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Thornham Harbour
Slavonian Grebe, Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank, White-fronted Geese x 3 at Breydon Water
Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe at Sheringham
Taiga Bean Geese x 7, Russian White-fronted Geese x 80, Hen Harrier at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 7, Great Northern Diver off beach car park at Cley
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
PALLAS'S WARBLER still at The Dell, Mealy Redpolls x 3 at Wells Woods
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Lapland Bunting, Caspian Gull, Velvet Scoters x 3, Snow Bunting at Happisburgh
Rough-legged Buzzard at Holkham Freshmarsh
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Smew redhead, Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Snow Buntings x 2, Little Gulls x 3 at Snettisham Coastal Park
Lapland Buntings x 4, Twite x 16, Hen Harrier at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Spoonbill at Blakeney Harbour
Caspian Gull at Walcott
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at South Walsham Marshes
Slavonian Grebe at Burgh Castle
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Hen Harrier at Warham Greens
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Hen Harriers x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Long-tailed Ducks x 11, Great Northern Divers x 3, Black-throated Diver, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret, Taiga Bean Geese x 4, Water Pipits x 2, Bittern at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Twite x 26, Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Thornham Harbour
Slavonian Grebe, Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank, White-fronted Geese x 3 at Breydon Water
Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe at Sheringham
Taiga Bean Geese x 7, Russian White-fronted Geese x 80, Hen Harrier at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 7, Great Northern Diver off beach car park at Cley
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
PALLAS'S WARBLER still at The Dell, Mealy Redpolls x 3 at Wells Woods
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Lapland Bunting, Caspian Gull, Velvet Scoters x 3, Snow Bunting at Happisburgh
Rough-legged Buzzard at Holkham Freshmarsh
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Smew redhead, Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Snow Buntings x 2, Little Gulls x 3 at Snettisham Coastal Park
Lapland Buntings x 4, Twite x 16, Hen Harrier at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Spoonbill at Blakeney Harbour
Caspian Gull at Walcott
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at South Walsham Marshes
Slavonian Grebe at Burgh Castle
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Hen Harrier at Warham Greens
MEGA NEWS
None
Monday, 26 November 2018
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
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Black-throated Divers x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Spotted Redshank, Water Pipit, Rough-legged Buzzard at Titchwell RSPB
Short-eared Owl, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 21 at Holkham Bay
PALLAS'S WARBLER in The Dell, Spoonbill flew over Wells Woods
Great White Egrets x 2, Snow Buntings x 4, Slavonian Grebe, Russian White-fronted Geese x 9 at Breydon Water
Short-eared Owls x 2, Ruddy Shelduck at Snettisham RSPB
Purple Sandpiper at Hunstanton
Taiga Bean Geese x 6 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret at Ongar Hill
Twite x 7 at Thornham Harbour
Hen Harrier at Thornham
Snow Buntings x 2 at Waxham
Russian White-fronted Geese x 2, Taiga Bean Geese x 16, Great White Egret at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Little Auk, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Blue Fulmar, Little Gulls x 4, Puffin at Sheringham
Hen Harriers x 2 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Divers x 2 at Holme
MEGA NEWS
None
For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Black-throated Divers x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Spotted Redshank, Water Pipit, Rough-legged Buzzard at Titchwell RSPB
Short-eared Owl, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 21 at Holkham Bay
PALLAS'S WARBLER in The Dell, Spoonbill flew over Wells Woods
Great White Egrets x 2, Snow Buntings x 4, Slavonian Grebe, Russian White-fronted Geese x 9 at Breydon Water
Short-eared Owls x 2, Ruddy Shelduck at Snettisham RSPB
Purple Sandpiper at Hunstanton
Taiga Bean Geese x 6 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret at Ongar Hill
Twite x 7 at Thornham Harbour
Hen Harrier at Thornham
Snow Buntings x 2 at Waxham
Russian White-fronted Geese x 2, Taiga Bean Geese x 16, Great White Egret at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Little Auk, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Blue Fulmar, Little Gulls x 4, Puffin at Sheringham
Hen Harriers x 2 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Divers x 2 at Holme
MEGA NEWS
None
Sunday, 25 November 2018
Weekend Update!
Last week was horrible – went to work on Monday and did something at work which resulted in me doing my back in, but didn't realise how much until Tuesday afternoon. Woke up Tuesday morning feel seriously dizzy and not able to go to work. Later on that day, my back was so painful I could hardly walk and on Wednesday I couldn't walk upright – the pain was really bad, the worst back pains I have ever had and couldn't even put my socks on. I was also experiencing severe pins and needles in both my hands on and off for several days. I phoned the surgery and got a call back from a nurse, who advised me to take Voltarol (that I had in the house) and Paracetamol to relieve the pain and to keep moving, but to sign myself off work for a week. Moving was easier said than done, especially when laying flat felt more comfortable! It was quite frightening to be honest, as I have never had pains like these in my back before – I was not able to stand upright properly until Friday. The Voltarol definitely helped, but I felt very drugged up and slept alot. Since I arrived home from work on Monday evening, I didn't go out of my front door at all until Saturday morning.
Over the weekend I sold the piano (at last) – to a very nice lady in Burnham Market (still to be collected though), I've also sold a Norwegian Jumper (that was sitting on the top shelf of my parent's airing cupboard for years), a first edition 'Dictionary of Entomology' and received a big fat refund/compensation cheque from BT (from my parent's house). My back was still painful over the weekend, but minor compared to last week. Had to finish sorting through paperwork at Holme and started the dreaded shredding process – so exciting!
I didn't get time to go birding sadly, as too many other things to sort out. Birders who have enjoyed the comfort of using my mother's cushions in the hides at Holme Marsh Reserve NWT, will be pleased to know that I have added three more comfortable cushions to hide 1 and 2! Could I kindly request that people pile up the cushions on the single chair in each hide when they have finished, rather than leaving them on the bench seat, from where they generally end up falling onto the dirty hide floor. My mother used to remove the cushions, handwash them and return them, but I'm not that dedicated!
I popped into The White Horse pub at Holme this afternoon, just to ask how the cat was doing. My sisters and I had been worried, as we had not seen the cat in mother's garden at all and this either mean't it had settled in to its new home or something more sinister! I was hugely relieved to hear from a young lad in the pub that 'Misty' has settled in well and 'rules the roost' and seems to like spending time with her brother. I had a tear in my eye as I walked out of the pub, such a relief! Thank goodness we made the right decision.
It looks incredibly bare outside mother's house after the massive buddleia cull and part of me regrets doing it, but as I said last week, somebody would have done it eventually anyway. Every time I return to the property, an immense sadness envelops me – every item we sell or take out, is another memory erased. Apart from a Robin, I didn't see a single bird in the garden today and all because there is no one there to feed them anymore – its almost haunting.
The house is probably going up for sale soon. I don't want to sell it really, but there isn't much choice. I'm the only one that could just about buy my sisters out (from selling my house), but my mortgage would be much bigger than my current one and I wouldn't have any pennies to do the house up (trust me it needs sorting!), plus I don't really want all that added pressure/financial burden at my age. Besides the fact that I don't think I could live in it emotionally – I think the sadness would continue and I can't see me ever feeling any different in that house. The biggest thing that frustrates me, is that it is highly likely that it will be sold to a second home owner and like most of the houses in the road and in fact the village, will stand empty for most of the year and lets be honest, the chances of them being naturalists are probably nil. The house will be extended and the garden will be destroyed and replaced by decking, concrete, pots and barbecue area. Any naturalists/birders/ornithologists out there, who would like to buy a two bed house (that needs alot of work doing) but has an amazing organic wildlife garden for the last fifty years, please email your interest! It will save us the estate agents fees if we sell it privately!!!
Over the weekend I sold the piano (at last) – to a very nice lady in Burnham Market (still to be collected though), I've also sold a Norwegian Jumper (that was sitting on the top shelf of my parent's airing cupboard for years), a first edition 'Dictionary of Entomology' and received a big fat refund/compensation cheque from BT (from my parent's house). My back was still painful over the weekend, but minor compared to last week. Had to finish sorting through paperwork at Holme and started the dreaded shredding process – so exciting!
I didn't get time to go birding sadly, as too many other things to sort out. Birders who have enjoyed the comfort of using my mother's cushions in the hides at Holme Marsh Reserve NWT, will be pleased to know that I have added three more comfortable cushions to hide 1 and 2! Could I kindly request that people pile up the cushions on the single chair in each hide when they have finished, rather than leaving them on the bench seat, from where they generally end up falling onto the dirty hide floor. My mother used to remove the cushions, handwash them and return them, but I'm not that dedicated!
I popped into The White Horse pub at Holme this afternoon, just to ask how the cat was doing. My sisters and I had been worried, as we had not seen the cat in mother's garden at all and this either mean't it had settled in to its new home or something more sinister! I was hugely relieved to hear from a young lad in the pub that 'Misty' has settled in well and 'rules the roost' and seems to like spending time with her brother. I had a tear in my eye as I walked out of the pub, such a relief! Thank goodness we made the right decision.
It looks incredibly bare outside mother's house after the massive buddleia cull and part of me regrets doing it, but as I said last week, somebody would have done it eventually anyway. Every time I return to the property, an immense sadness envelops me – every item we sell or take out, is another memory erased. Apart from a Robin, I didn't see a single bird in the garden today and all because there is no one there to feed them anymore – its almost haunting.
The house is probably going up for sale soon. I don't want to sell it really, but there isn't much choice. I'm the only one that could just about buy my sisters out (from selling my house), but my mortgage would be much bigger than my current one and I wouldn't have any pennies to do the house up (trust me it needs sorting!), plus I don't really want all that added pressure/financial burden at my age. Besides the fact that I don't think I could live in it emotionally – I think the sadness would continue and I can't see me ever feeling any different in that house. The biggest thing that frustrates me, is that it is highly likely that it will be sold to a second home owner and like most of the houses in the road and in fact the village, will stand empty for most of the year and lets be honest, the chances of them being naturalists are probably nil. The house will be extended and the garden will be destroyed and replaced by decking, concrete, pots and barbecue area. Any naturalists/birders/ornithologists out there, who would like to buy a two bed house (that needs alot of work doing) but has an amazing organic wildlife garden for the last fifty years, please email your interest! It will save us the estate agents fees if we sell it privately!!!
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