SHETLAND BIRD NEWS, PHOTOS, BIRDING, LIFE AND MORE! MY 14th YEAR ANNIVERSARY 2024!


Ring RARE BIRD ALERT with your sightings to: 01603 456789 or Hotline: 0207 0382820 or Text: 07520 634324
All Bird News & Megas via The Rare Bird Alert Website – Subscribe To RBA For Detailed News & Much More!

OVER TEN MILLION VIEWS! If you would like to advertise here, please contact me at [pennyclarke@talktalk.net]

Tuesday 31 July 2018

Still in A&E!

Mother remained in A&E until a bedspace in a ward became available, mid afternoon today! This evening, my mother was still in the same clothes she left the house in yesterday – she looked bedraggled and very weak. She has had IV antibiotics running to kill off the infection. I just have to hope and pray that she can come home very soon, as I don't want her ending her days in hospital.

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  
ALPINE SWIFT at 8.19am only, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spoonbills x 9, Curlew Sandpipers x 13, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshank, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB
Spotted Crake, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 4, Great White Egret, Spoonbill at Potter Heigham Marshes
Spoonbills x 6, Wood Sandpiper at Cley NWT
Black-winged Stilt juv reported, Black Tern, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Bittern at Welney WWT
Curlew Sandpipers x 15, Little Stints x 4 at Snettisham RSPB
Little Stints x 3 flew past Weybourne Camp
Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cromer
Pied Flycatcher at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Wood Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Great White Egrets x 2 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN 
Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
BAROLO SHEARWATER
Bridges of Ross, County Clare, Ireland

Monday 30 July 2018

Mother in A&E

A doctor turned up at 1.40am!!! Unbelievable that we had to wait over 12 hours! The doctor gave my mother a full check-up and a anti-sickness injection at 2.10am and some new anti-sickness tablets to take later in the morning – he said he would request that mother's GP come out later today for a full assessment. He also recommended that we stay by her bed to keep an eye on her.

We were all wrecked by daylight. We spent the morning, ringing District Nurses, Tapping House, OT's etc and organising an urgent one day delivery of a hospital bed, slide sheets, over-bed table etc. After lunch a doctor came out from Hunstanton Surgery, a different one to who we were expecting. The doctor recommended that mother go to hospital by ambulance, as she may have an infection of some kind since having her procedure last Thursday. The doctor also gave us a shorter prognosis than we were given recently by another clinician – no words.

We were told the ambulance would be approximately an hour and a half. Whilst we were waiting we managed to clear the dining room of all chairs, coffee table and various things and hoover in preparation of the hospital bed being delivered tomorrow. The ambulance crew turned up at 6pm and took mother to A&E at the QEH, King's Lynn.

On arrival at A&E, there were no beds available anywhere in the hospital and this remained the same throughout the night. Mother had to stay on a trolley (far too long) for approximately 8 hours before they transferred her to a hospital bed when they realised how red she was from laying in the same position on a hard trolley for so long!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Spotted Crake, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Sandwich Terns x 2, Spoonbill at Potter Heigham Marshes
Semipalmated Sandpiper, Roseate Tern, Black Tern, Arctic Terns x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 15, Little Stints x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 10 at Snettisham RSPB
Lesser Yellowlegs, Spoonbills x 26, Curlew Sandpipers x 20, Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 6, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbills x 6, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey at Cley NWT
Spoonbills x 12 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Common Cranes x 2 at Welney WWT
Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Wood Sandpiper at Holme NWT
Great White Egrets x 2 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Curlew Sandpipers x 3 at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN 
Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
FEA'S OR DESERTAS OR ZINO'S PETREL
Carnsore Point, County Wexford, Ireland

Sunday 29 July 2018

Another Difficult Day

Mother continues to deteriorate and has been feeling very sick all day and has been sick several times. I rang 111 at 1.20pm and still waiting for a doctor to visit at 21.45 – no sign yet! They wonder why people go straight to A&E!!! Vivien is here with me now.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 4, Spoonbill at Potter Heigham Marshes
Lesser Yellowlegs, Spoonbills x 16, Spotted Redshanks x 10, Curlew Sandpipers x 11, Little Stint, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Semipalmated Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Little Stints x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Wood Sandpiper, Garganey x 3, Spoonbills x 5 at Cley NWT
Swifts x 8,542 (5.50am-7.20am) flew past Hemsby
Wood Sandpiper at Holme NWT
Roseate Terns x 2 & Little Stints x 2 flew past Weybourne Camp
Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Black Tern, Wood Sandpiper at Welney WWT

MEGA NEWS
TRINDADE PETREL
Intermediate Morph – flew past Porthgwarra at 12.10pm, Cornwall
SOOTY TERN
Eden Estuary, Guardbridge, Fife, Scotland

Saturday 28 July 2018

Another Day With Mother

Vivien returned to Ely and I arrived at Holme at 8.50am to care for mother. Horrible day – mother being sick over and over again, stomach pains, hardly ate a thing, getting extremely weak, can't turn over in bed and off balance. She let me wash her hair, her but she didn't feel well enough for me to wash her. Spent a while searching for the cheapest site for Tena incontinence pants, which turned out to be Age Concern – you are only allowed two pairs per day from the continence nurse and if you run short, you have to purchase them yourself.

A much cooler day with a mixture of sun, very strong winds and then another storm late afternoon. A male Great Spotted Woodpecker has been feeding on the nut feeder on and off for most of the day which was nice. Such a pity that my mother wasn't well enough to go to the Old Hunstanton Flower Festival – she usually goes every year. Had to discuss some serious things with mother, which made me very upset. A difficult and emotional day.

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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Spoonbills x 11, Caspian Gull, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Wood Sandpiper, Little Gulls x 2, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Curlew Sandpipers x 19, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water
Wood Sandpipers x 3, Garganey x 3, Spoonbills x 3, Little Stint, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Curlew Sandpiper flew past Hemsby
Wood Sandpiper at Holme NWT
Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN
Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire
FEA'S OR DESERTAS OR ZINO'S PETREL
Flew past Mizen Head, Ireland

Friday 27 July 2018

Cracking Storms!

We had violent thunderstorms early this morning and again this evening, producing massive hailstones and flooding. The lighthouse at Hunstanton was struck by lightening in the early hours:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/old-hunstanton-lighthouse-damaged-after-lightning-strike-1-5626841

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/flooding-hits-parts-of-east-anglia-wisbech-heatwave-1-5627727

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/rain-in-norfolk-yellow-weather-warning-issued-1-5625990

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/roads-melting-1-5627656

It was the hottest day in the hospital EVER today. The best description to portray how we all felt was the feeling that hot water was running from top to bottom all day long, which is it was!!! Everyone's clothes were wet and it was beyond exhausting. I suppose my colleague and I who were out in the community for some of the day should have felt lucky, but not when in one particular person's prefab property where it was 40°c!!! We were both close to collapse! I can't wait for the predicted cooler weather this weekend – they better not be wrong!!!

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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Curlew Sandpipers x 6, Little Gull, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank at Cley NWT
Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

MEGA NEWS
FEA'S OR DESERTAS OR ZINO'S PETREL
Flew past Porthgwarra, Cornwall

Thursday 26 July 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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Spoonbills x 17, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers x 4, Little Gull, Caspian Gull, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbill at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath
Spoonbills x 7, Wood Sandpiper at Cley NWT
Pectoral Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Spoonbill at Welney WWT
Black Redstart at Norwich

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN
Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire

Firefighters tackle 40 hectare field fire in Ringstead!

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/ringstead-fire-in-a-field-1-5625492

BURNING UP!

It was so hot at work today, I could have cried to be honest! Its not funny at all working in thick non-cotton uniforms, but I was overjoyed to hear that Therapy Assistants can now wear a white polo shirt whilst its hot – thank goodness. You can guess where I went straight after work – I bought three white polo shirts from Sainsbury's and they are currently whizzing round in the washing machine – I think I can safely say they will be dry by the morning!

I know we are all suffering badly, but I feel so sorry for the patients that are immobile in bed on a hot ward – torture! I really don't understand why all wards don't have air conditioning (there are only a few) most are like boiling furnaces in this unprecedented heat. Roll on the thunderstorms!

My mother had a procedure in hospital today and looked dreadful when I saw her at lunchtime. Vivien is currently looking after her at home – I'm now popping over to see if I can help in any way. An exhausting day all round.

Wednesday 25 July 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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Spoonbills x 12, Little Stints x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Gull, Turtle Dove at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbills x 5, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Honey Buzzard at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN
Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire

RBA Weekly Round-Up 18th to 21st July!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2018-30.aspx?s_id=1072155585

Tuesday 24 July 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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Spoonbills x 19, Caspian Gull, Garganey x 2, Little Stints x 3, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Little Gull, Great White Egrets x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cromer
Spotted Redshanks x 8 at Snettisham RSPB
Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Cley NWT
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly at Felbrigg Hall NT
Pectoral Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Great White Egrets x 5, Hooded Crow at Hickling Broad NWT
Caspian Gull, Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Spoonbills x 7 at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN
Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire

Monday 23 July 2018

UK Set For Hottest Day of Year As Heatwave Continues!

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/22/uk-set-for-hottest-day-of-year-as-heatwave-continues

HOT TIPS!
  • Keep all windows closed 24 hours – why do people think that having the window open 'gives them some air'?! If the air feels boiling when you open a window it needs to be closed! No point in allowing hot air to fill your room – makes things a million times worse!
  • Only open window IF air feels cooler (night time only)
  • Keep all curtains and blinds closed 24 hours
  • Turn all lights out where possible
  • Cover any windows that don't have curtains eg glass front door with a pale coloured sheet or other fabric and tape with duck tape to hold in place.
  • Fill a hot water bottle with cold tap water and put in freezer for 15 minutes!
  • Buy a Cobber Neck Wrap!

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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Pectoral Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Knot, Great White Egrets x 2 at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cromer
Curlew Sandpiper at Welney WWT
Spoonbills x 5 at Cley NWT
Spoonbill flew over Holme NWT
Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN
Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire

Sunday 22 July 2018

Weekend Update!

I've just spent nine days living and looking after my dear mother (whilst working full time + 2 carers visiting am and pm) and I didn't want to leave her tonight – her health is deteriorating rapidly and time is running out, but Vivien has now taken over to look after her this week (after returning from her holiday). I have returned home to my boiling hot house in King's Lynn feeling very sad – this is not where I want to be right now.

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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Temminck's Stint, Little Stints x 2, Spoonbills x 13, Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Black Tern at Blakeney Point
Wood Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Temminck's Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 10, Black Redstart at Cley NWT
Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Breydon Water
Scaup x 2 at Thorpe Broad, Thorpe St Andrew
Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Spoonbills x 6 at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS
None

Saturday 21 July 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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Temminck's Stint, Caspian Gull, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 9, Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB
Knot x 2 at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Spoonbills x 5, Garganey x 2, Great White Egret, Curlew Sandpiper at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egrets x 5 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
White-winged Black Tern at Snettisham RSPB
Wood Sandpiper, Garganey at Welney WWT
Curlew Sandpiper at Breydon Water
Spoonbill on Broadwater at Holme
Honey Buzzard at Swanton Novers
Bittern, Caspian Gull, Spoonbills x 10 at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
None

Friday 20 July 2018

Friday At Last!

Its been a tough week, thank goodness its Friday! Whilst I was at work today a neighbour left a vase of beautiful flowers and a home grown cucumber in my mother's front porch. We are hugely appreciative of all our neighbours' kindness, thank you all.

The predicted storm loomed early evening and there were a few spots of rain, but then it stopped almost as quickly as it started. We NEED a massive storm to break this dreadful humidity and put some life into the yellow grass! Just looked at the weather forecast for the next couple of weeks – the heatwave continues!

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  
Temminck's Stint, Great White Egrets x 4, Curlew Sandpiper, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Great White Egret at Blakeney Freshes
Lesser Yellowlegs, Temminck's Stint, Spoonbills x 12, Curlew Sandpipers x 4, Spotted Redshank, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB
Curlew Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Garganey x 2, Spoonbills x 5 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egrets x 2 flew past Weybourne Camp
Little Stint, Knot x 2 at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN
Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire

Thursday 19 July 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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water
Honey Buzzard x 2 at Swanton Novers
Great White Egret at Wells
Curlew Sandpiper at Welney WWT

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN
Farne Islands, then south of Beadnell, Northumberland

Wednesday 18 July 2018

Crazy Day!

My mother has had bad toothache since the weekend and last night I had to organise an emergency appointment for her. Very luckily there was one for today!

I had to take emergency leave off work this morning to take mother to a Dental Access Centre in King's Lynn – her appointment was 8.30am and at 9am she had two fillings. We had to get up even earlier than normal to make this appointment. Took mother back to Holme and then returned to King's Lynn to do a half day's work. Working in the community currently, mean't that I did a load more driving and then returned to Holme this evening. I collapsed in the chair for nearly two hours as soon as I walked in the door. Cooked dinner and sorted out the on-line shopping that arrived at 8pm. Topped up the bird feeders, cleaned out the ponds, got a massive load of washing in etc etc.

Yesterday a neighbour had left a jam jar full of sweet peas in the porch for mother, which was extremely kind and much appreciated and today another neighbour popped round with a huge bunch of lavender! Huge thanks to both of them.

Cream crackered! Good night!

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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spotted Redshanks x 2,  Little Gulls x 5, Spoonbills x 12, Garganey, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Cromer
Spoonbills x 8, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Cley NWT
Whale sp. unconfirmed report in The Wash off Hunstanton

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 11th to 17th July!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyRoundup2018-29.aspx?s_id=907276055

Tuesday 17 July 2018

Titchwell RSPB!


I had a small window to go birding this evening and went to see the Lesser Yellowlegs at Titchwell RSPB. It was happily feeding just west of Island Hide and I watched it from the main path along with Justin Lansdell, James McCallum and one other birder. The freshmarsh was teaming with birds, too many to mention right now as I've had a crazy evening.

I had a warning notice on my car dashboard that I needed to change the battery in my keyfob – this happened to me before and its not funny at all when you can't start your car! So I had to drive to Tescos in Hunstanton to buy a battery, so all is well now! When I returned to Holme, there was a Hedgehog on the front door step – how cute!

Mother and I had fish 'n' chips from Eric's at Thornham earlier this evening and were very disappointed – they were not up to their usual standard at all – so I took them back to complain and was given two 'stamped' cards, which means we can have two free orders next time.

I am currently living with my mother with carers visiting twice during the day whilst I'm at work, as Vivien is holiday with Ray at the Bedford River Festival on Ray's narrowboat. Its going to be a challenging week, with work as well!

Pictures to follow

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Gulls x 5, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Spoonbills x 11, Garganey, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egret at Dickleburgh Moor
Black-winged Stilt male, Spoonbills x 8, Garganey at Potter Heigham Marshes
Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 8, Continental Black-tailed Godwits x 3 at Cley NWT
Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull at Cromer
Great White Egret at Wells

MEGA NEWS
None

Monday 16 July 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  
Spoonbills x 7 at Cley NWT
Cattle Egret at Dickleburgh Moor
Lesser Yellowlegs again, Little Gull, Spotted Redshank, Spoonbills x 12, Garganey, Curlew Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spoonbills x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Caspian Gull at Cromer

MEGA NEWS
None

Sunday 15 July 2018

Another Heatwave!

Too hot to move this weekend. Even mother was complaining she was too hot, which she doesn't normally. Watched the world cup final and as predicted France won – what a downpour at the end! District Nurse has been daily to change dressings on mother's leg, which seems to be improving – she started a new blood pressure tablet today as the previous one seemed to make her legs swell more than they should.

The birds have been bathing in our many bird baths – a regular Blackbird favours a silver stainless steel dish and seemed to appreciate me changing it a couple of times to give it the opportunity to bathe in cool water. I have not seen the squirrels much today, which is very good news indeed, but was delighted to watch a hedgehog gobbling up spilt peanuts. There is no grass anywhere, only yellow stubble! We need some rain desperately.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Spoonbills x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egret at Dickleburgh Moor
Black Tern at Rollesby Broad
Black-winged Stilt male, Spoonbills x 2, Great White Egrets x 3, Garganey, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Curlew Sandpiper at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Black Tern at Snettisham RSPB
Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Spoonbill at Salthouse

MEGA NEWS
GREATER SAND PLOVER
At Kilnsea, Spurn & then Easington, East Yorkshire

Saturday 14 July 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  
Garganey, Spoonbills x 10, Little Gulls x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Glossy Ibis at Hickling Broad NWT
Curlew Sandpiper at Breydon Water
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly at the lake, Felbrigg Hall NT
Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Black-winged Stilt male, Spoonbills x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS
GREATER SAND PLOVER
On beach at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire
AUDOUIN'S GULL 2s
Early morning only, near Norfolk Bridge, Sheffield, Yorkshire

Friday 13 July 2018

Lucky Friday 13th!

No more mishaps today thank goodness! Staying with mother this weekend. Mother has aches and pains from her fall yesterday and is extremely tired, but okish. Please be aware that I can receive emails at Holme, but still can't reply as TalkTalk seem incapable of sorting this out. Its going to be roasting hot again this weekend – I will be chilling in the shade somewhere!

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  
Lesser Yellowlegs, Garganey, Spoonbills x 8, Spotted Redshanks x 4, Little Gulls x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbill at Holme
Cattle Egret still at Dickleburgh Moor Nature Reserve
Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Spotted Redshanks x 8 at Snettisham RSPB

MEGA NEWS
AUDOUIN'S GULL 2s
Near Norfolk Bridge, Sheffield, Yorkshire

Thursday 12 July 2018

Early Friday 13th!!!

My mother fell again in the garden this afternoon and Vivien had to call an ambulance out to help get her up and check her out – seems to be ok and didn't have to go to QEH – bet she will be bruised in the morning though – she was walking on the rough ground part of the garden (again) where she has been told not to walk – just like a disobedient child.

I stabbed my finger with a scalpel this evening, good job I'm a quick reacting first aider and stopped the blood flow fairly quickly! That's two things and its not even Friday 13th yet!!! Well I suppose if you count England losing, that makes three – nothing else please, thank you very 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  
Spoonbills x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 7, Little Gulls x 5, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egrets x 3 flew over Beeston Bump, Sheringham
Caspian Gull on beach at Cromer
Great White Egret at Burnham Overy Staithe
Great White Egrets x 2, Spoonbill at Welney WWT
Black-winged Stilt male, Spoonbills x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great White Egret at Hickling Broad NWT
Lesser Yellowlegs (possible) at Buckenham Marshes RSPB

MEGA NEWS
None

Wednesday 11 July 2018

World Cup 2018: Despair as England Lose Semi-Final!

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-44799379

We put the England Flag and shirts up in the office today and everyone was excited. That early goal got everyone even more excited and you just hoped and prayed this dream was going to continue – very sadly it didn't. I really felt for the England team – their faces said it all, but they should hold their heads high – youth is on their side and I'm sure they will continue to grow and with more experience, we may dare to dream again.

Video of the day:
https://twitter.com/T_Mackintosh/status/1017108006297882626

England play Belgium in the Third Place Play-Off at 3pm this Saturday.
https://twitter.com/T_Mackintosh/status/1017108006297882626
 882626

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  
Spoonbill, Spotted Redshanks x 8, Little Gulls x 9, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB
Black-winged Stilt male, Spoonbills x 8, Garganey x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Curlew Sandpiper at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Sooty Shearwater flew past Sheringham
Cattle Egret still at Dickleburgh Moor Nature Reserve
Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Black Redstart at Norwich

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 4th to 10th July!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyRoundup2018-28.aspx?s_id=742395557

Tuesday 10 July 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  
Temminck's Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 7, Little Gulls x 9 at Titchwell RSPB
Garganey, Spoonbill at Welney WWT
Little Gull flew past Weybourne Camp
Honey Buzzard seen from Raptor Watch Point at Swanton Novers
Cattle Egret still at Dickleburgh Moor Nature Reserve
Little Gulls x 6 offshore at Holme

MEGA NEWS
None

Monday 9 July 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  
Cattle Egret still at Dickleburgh Moor Nature Reserve
Temminck's Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Honey Buzzard flew over Swanton Novers
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly male at Filby Broad
Common Cranes x 5, Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Spoonbills x 2 at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
None

Sunday 8 July 2018

A BOILING HOUSE!

I thought it was hot at my mother's house, until I returned to King's Lynn this evening! A boiling oven is the best way to describe my house! Apart from looking after mother, cooking dinner and topping up the bird feeders etc, I have not done anything too exciting – the best thing I was did was have a long snooze in the living room this afternoon when it was like a furnace outside. All the grass is pale yellow and sizzled – we desperately need some rain please!

This has to be the worst year ever for insect bites – I have so many and am constantly scratching, its driving me insane – I have scars from several of them too, which weirdly don't seem to be healing. We had a hedgehog clearing up the leftovers from the cat meat last night which was a nice surprise. The Squirrels have won and now have complete control over all the bird feeders – the only thing they have not mastered is to get through my home-made chicken wire netting cage which is around the fat ball feeder – I expect its only a matter of time!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret (+ 2 Cattle Egrets recently) still at Dickleburgh Moor Nature Reserve
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly male at Filby Broad
Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Spoonbills x 5 at Breydon Water
Little Gulls x 2, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley NWT
Spoonbills x 26 at Holkham Freshmarsh

MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Lady Island's Lake,County Wexford, Ireland

Saturday 7 July 2018

World Cup Quarter Finals – ENGLAND 2, Sweden 0!

I'm spending the weekend caring for mother, whilst Vivien has a couple of days off. The weather is insanely hot here and mother's house is also unusually warm, its usually the best place to be when there is a heatwave – goodness knows what my house must have been like in King's Lynn today!

Due to the intense heat last night, I hardly slept a wink and neither mother or I were in the best of moods when we finally got up! Out of desperation I purchased a Ferretti Fan today from Hughes in Hunstanton – its a noisy metal fan, but it was the 'coolest' one they sold. My mother is having her leg re-bandaged every other day by a District Nurse as it is weeping the entire time and this results in the washing machine going on daily and lots of mopping up, changing of socks etc etc.

After having late breakfast and lunch, we just about managed to get settled down in front of the TV by 2.58pm ready for the England/Sweden World Cup Quarter Final match at 3pm. I didn't dare to believe until the last 5 minutes that England had secured a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup!!! WOW!

ENGLAND 2, Sweden 0!!!

Croatia beat Russia 4-3 on penalties in their quarter final match this evening which means:

England play Croatia at 7pm
Wednesday 11th July!
SEMI-FINALS – WORLD CUP!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Spoonbills x 2, Little Gulls x 9, Spotted Redshanks x 6 at Titchwell RSPB
Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Breydon Water
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2, Common Cranes x 5 at Welney WWT
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly male at Filby Broad
Quail singing at Happisburgh
Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret (present several days) at Dickleburgh Moor Nature Reserve

Red-footed Falcon circled over Witcham, Cambridgeshire

MEGA NEWS
SOOTY TERN
Farne Islands, Brownsman, Northumberland

Friday 6 July 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  
Spoonbill, Little Gulls x 9, Spotted Redshanks x 4 at Titchwell RSPB
Roseate Tern, Little Gull, Curlew Sandpiper at Cley NWT
Spotted Redshanks x 6 at Snettisham RSPB
Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 5, Whimbrel at Potter Heigham Marshes
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly male at Filby Broad

Alpine Swift flew over Trimley St Martin, Suffolk

MEGA NEWS
None

Thursday 5 July 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  
Spotted Redshanks x 4 at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbills x 2 on Thornham Marsh
Black Redstart at Norwich
Spoonbills x 2, Honey Buzzard flew over Cley NWT
Honey Buzzard over Raptor Watch Point at Swanton Novers
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly male at Filby Broad
Spoonbill flew past Weybourne Camp
Scarce Black Arches trapped in Norwich
Black-winged Stilt, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 2, Great White Egret at Potter Heigham Marshes

Bee-eaters x 4 circled over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk


MEGA NEWS
None

Wednesday 4 July 2018

Not One of My Best Days!!!

I have been on phase-return back at work, so was able to use this afternoon to have my annual boiler serviced by British Gas. I knew that it would be bad news one day, and today was the day – the engineer condemned the boiler. The flue had rusted through and was fragmented holes. It was switched off permanently. Even though I detest this heatwave, I suppose I am lucky this has happened now, as I certainly don't have the money for a new boiler. I felt really down in the dumps when the engineer left the house and the afternoon only got worse.

I called my mother to chat about something and she informed me that she had scraped her leg on a buddleia stump and she had a 'bad gash' and that it had 'poured with blood' and filled her shoe! This all happened in the middle of the Sainsbury's shopping being delivered, which had obviously stressed Vivien out to the max! To add to that, mother's leg was leaking fluid badly. I had called the District Nurses to attend last Friday because of mother's oedematous legs and they were due to visit mother on Monday and they didn't turn up (however, when I phoned this afternoon to ask why, they said they had visited in the morning and knocked on the door loudly and had no reply – yeah right! Vivien was there and is not deaf!!!) Vivien phoned for them to visit today and they came out to bandage mother's leg and said they would come out again on Friday. Later on Vivien said the bandages were soaked with fluid, so I phoned Hunstanton Surgery for advice and a message came back from a GP that 'they had not got capacity to see mother today' and to ring the District Nurses – so this I did and was told they would visit again this evening.

I drove to Holme to wait with Vivien and mother for the district nurse to arrive and to discuss why my mother's legs were leaking so badly etc and guess what? We waited until 8.30pm (the  latest they can turn up we were told by the surgery) and they didn't turn up!!! I am fuming to say the least! Hence to say their day will start badly when I ring up at 8am!!! Ok, so obviously they are extremely busy, but they could have least of rung up to say they were not coming out!😡 Wasted my time and petrol, very stressed and feel utter despair this evening.

Phoning 111 is a very long and lengthy process, involving repeating yourself approximatley four times after speaking to a receptionist, nurse, then another nurse and then finally a doctor – I didn't have time or energy for this so cheekily phoned my ward for advice – massive thanks to a couple of lovely colleagues (T. & A.) on my ward, who recommended not to remove the soaked bandages as the leg would be at risk of infection if it was uncovered and to wrap the bandages in towels to help soak up the fluid. Mother's bed will be soaked in the morning #washingmachineonallday – I recommended that Vivien ring the surgery at 8am and demand an emergency appointment. If I had known the nurse was not going to be bother turning up this evening, I would have purchased bandages myself to get mother through the night – a poor service, resulting in Vivien and mother having a bad night ahead of them.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Spotted Redshanks x 2, Little Gulls x 8, Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbill at Thornham Marsh
Spotted Redshanks x 3, Spoonbills x 3 at Cley NWT
Common Cranes x 3 at Welney WWT

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 27th June to 3rd July!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyRoundup2018-27.aspx?s_id=577513829

Tuesday 3 July 2018

World Cup!

I don't normally watch football, but I have been hooked watching all the matches, which is extremely unusual for me. Tonight's match was nail biting to say the least. Columbia deserved to lose, their antics were not exactly professional. Looking forward to Saturday's match against Sweden – do we dare to believe we can get to the next stage? Who knows!

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  
Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley NWT 
Spotted Redshanks x 4, Little Gulls x 11, Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbill at Thornham Marsh
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly x 1+ at Filby Broad
Quail (probable) on beach then flew at Salthouse

MEGA NEWS
None

Monday 2 July 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  
Spotted Redshanks x 10, Little Gulls x 13, Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Titchwell RSPB
Orache Moth trapped last night in Norwich
Great White Egrets x 4 at Hickling Broad NWT
White Stork, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Curlew Sandpiper at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
None

Sunday 1 July 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  
Caspian Gull, Spoonbills x 3, Little Gulls x 13 at Titchwell RSPB

MEGA NEWS
None