Busy Bee, Booking Flights, B&B's etc!

The last two days have not been good at all and caused lots of stress, but can't talk about it yet. Today was a day of jobs – things I had to get sorted. Drove over to Ely to drop important documents off at Vivien's bedsit and came straight back to King's Lynn.

I spent the entire afternoon and evening, sorting and booking things to complete my trip to Fair Isle in October. I had already paid for the Airtask flight from Tingwall to Fair Isle and the North Link Ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick, but cancelled this and got a full refund on the ferry as have changed my travel plans.

The price of the train up to Aberdeen, which is always the first leg of my journey is now twice what is used to be, so instead I have booked a Loganair flight from Norwich to Aberdeen and Aberdeen to Sumburgh on Shetland! Yes, this is more expensive than the train fare and ferry, but not much more and worth it to get there quicker without all the hassle of changing trains and sleeping on the floor on the 14 hour ferry! I have also added a day to my holiday and am now going up to Shetland two days before I go to Fair Isle and am in the midst of booking a B&B for a couple of nights. This will give me a small window to see some birds on Shetland before heading to Fair Isle.

So I will be away on holiday for 16 days and have to keep my luggage to 15kg (not counting camera and binoculars) – that will be very difficult indeed! Going birding tomorrow. Looking forward to my September holiday, which is a week from Saturday 21st – birding in Norfolk!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Turtle Dove, Spoonbills x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Black Tern, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 12, Curlew Sandpipers x 12, Garganey, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Arctic Tern at Breydon Water
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cromer
Black Guillemot on sea, Black Tern off beach car park at Cley
Cattle Egret, Wood Sandpipers x 3 at Cley NWT
Spoonbills x 54 at Stiffkey Fen
Pied Flycatcher in wood behind Kimberley Home Farm
Common Cranes x 25 at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Holme
Pied Flycatcher along Nelson Head Track at Horsey

MEGA NEWS
BROWN BOOBY 1s 
Gwithian and Pendeen, Cornwall

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Osprey over South Beach, Heacham
Pied Flycatcher, Ring Ouzel, Caspian Gull at Sidestrand
Black Tern, Curlew Sandpipers x 6, Spoonbills x 6, Great White Egret at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egrets x 8 at Burnham Norton
Osprey, Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Pied Flycatcher at Horsey
Whinchats x 4 at Horsey Gap
Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Garganey, Spoonbill at North Point Pools, Wells
Osprey at Ranworth Broad NWT
Caspian Gull Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
BROWN BOOBY 1s 
South of Gwithian, Cornwall
FEA'S, DESERTAS or ZINO'S PETREL
Flew past Annagh Head, County Mayo, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
THURSDAY 29th AUGUST
Turtle Dove, Whinchats x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 6, Great White Egrets x 2, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 6 at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 14, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Gull, Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Spoonbills x 4 at North Point Pools, Wells
Wryneck, Pied Flycatcher at North Dunes, Winterton
Spoonbills x 53 at Stiffkey Fen
Common Cranes x 26 at Welney WWT
Cattle Egrets x 8, Osprey, Spoonbills x 47 at Burnham Norton
Ruddy Shelducks x 2 at Breydon Water
Pied Flycatcher at Holme Dunes
Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Wood Sandpiper, Garganey, Common Cranes x 5, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Whinchats x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Pied Flycatcher at Weybourne
Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 4 at Hemsby
Common Cranes x 2 east of Horsey Mill

MEGA NEWS
BROWN BOOBY 1s 
South of Gwithian Towans Cornwall

Penny's Hot Birding Tour at Titchwell RSPB!

"Penny's Hot Birding Tours"

TITCHWELL RSPB

With my work colleagues and friends:

Annie, Emily and Thomas (age 2), Bev, Keri, Andrea, Emma, Ellie, Scott, Victoria, Deana, Hilary, Helen, Cilla, Lily and Bea (not 1 yet)

I organised this little birding trip at the beginning of the year for all my lovely work colleagues. I last did this in 2017 and organised it last year, but had to cancel due to my mother's death. It was very difficult to organise as some people work part time, some full time and I also wanted to make sure it was a high tide, as some of the girls like to go swimming – it was the only day in August to suit everyone. Not all my colleagues were able to come, but had quite a good turnout of 16 people including Emily's son Thomas who is 2 and the most likely one in the group to become a serious birder!!!

We met up straight after work in the car park at Titchwell RSPB at 5.30pm. We took over all the picnic tables at the visitor centre, where we enjoyed our picnic! Everyone had bought all kinds of scrumptious food, including scones, clotted cream and jam, Victoria sandwich (made by me), Bread and butter, smoked cheese, other cheeses, meats, sausages, fancy salads, couscous, strawberries, tomatoes, crisps, dips, chocolate brownies, drinks, cheese straws etc! It then started to spit with rain, but it quickly stopped thank goodness. Keith Tinworth walked past and we gave him a piece of my Victoria Sandwich! We also saw Trevor G. here. At the bird feeders where we had been sitting we saw a Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, Moorhen and a rat! No sign of any of the tame robins whilst we were eating, which I found very strange. We cleared everything up and put everything back in our cars. Lily had to take little Bea home at this point, as it was past her bedtime! From the car park there were House Martins and Swallows overhead. After toilet stops etc we set out to walk along the main bank for our guided birding tour!

Along the main bank and from Island Hide we had excellent views of 2 Bearded Tits in the reeds right next to the hide, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 100+ Dunlin, Teal, Mallards, Redshanks, Lapwings and a massive gull roost. Lots of Cormorants were roosting on the dead trees. Several people enjoyed looking through the telescope for the first time, which is exciting when you realise that the bird you can see in all its glory is a meer dot in the distance! I was surprised we didn't see a single Marsh Harrier though. Frustratingly the light was appalling with grey skies, which I was upset about as several of my work colleagues were visiting this reserve for the first time and it makes a huge difference to viewing and general enjoyment if you have bright blue skies and blue water instead of grey dismal water and viewing! Oh well, you can't predict the weather, at least it didn't rain whilst we were there!

From Parrinder Hide we saw a Pied Wagtail and Shelducks, besides all the birds seen above. Young Thomas tried so hard to look through the scope, but his eyeball was almost touching the lens and as is typical at that age, lost concentration to attempt to adjust his viewing, bless him! He also enjoyed squeaking my Audubon Bird Call whistle and seemed fascinated by this. The midges started to appear in force! A Little Egret flew over the path south. We headed to the beach and Cilla and Deana went swimming! Thomas kept us entertained and bird of the evening was a Wheatear I found, as I was scanning through the scope – it was a long way east along the beach and I managed to get several people onto the bird as it kept moving around. We saw Turnstones, Oystercatchers and Black-headed Gulls and others in huge numbers on the beach. We started to head back along the bank.

Something interesting dived in the sueda bushes just south of the beach, but it didn't reveal itself with several attempts of 'pishing' and squeaking! Cilla and I were trailing behind the others and heard a Cetti's Warbler bursting into tune and we also saw 5 Spoonbills right at the back of the freshmarsh – I really wanted the others to see these earlier and in better light – typical that they were not there earlier!

Apologies to any birders we disturbed in the hides, when we turned up on mass! Emma one the prize for best birding attire with her bright pink flamingo birding umbrella! Thomas one the prize for the keenest new birder! I hope everyone enjoyed it and huge thanks for the excellent food that everyone took great efforts to make and bring for our lovely picnic – our team knows how to do food! I also appreciate very much those colleagues that came, when they have to travel so far back to their homes after being at work all day – several of them live close by to Norwich!

Next year, I will plan it for earlier in the year when its light until 9pm – June I think would be better and we'll start off with fish 'n' chips at Erics in Thornham. Very unusually for me, I didn't get round to taking a single picture this evening, so apologies there are no 'pictures to be added'!!!

Back in the car park a few of us decided to do something a bit mad...... I took Andrea, Hilary, Helen and Bev to our family home in Holme to show them where I grew up. It was almost dark and we walked round the garden with a torch – how crazy was that!!!

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 Sandpipers x 3, Great White Egrets x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Spoonbills x 6, Garganey x 2, Titchwell RSPB at Titchwell RSPB
Curlew Sandpiper, Osprey at Breydon Water
Common Cranes x 27 at Welney WWT
Wryneck, Pied Flycatchers x 3 at North Dunes, Winterton
Wood Sandpipers x 20, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Pied Flycatcher at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Garganey, Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Holme Dunes
Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Wells Woods

MEGA NEWS
PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER
Possible, unconfirmed report in bushes near beach car park at Cley (6.12am), Norfolk
BROWN BOOBY 1s
Fishing offshore at St Ives, Cornwall

RBA Weekly Round Up 21st to 27th August!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2019_35.aspx?s_id=807170957

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Pied Flycatcher, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Wood Sandpipers x 6 at Cley NWT
Cory's Shearwater flew past, Balearic Shearwaters x 2 reported off Coastguards, Cley
Curlew Sandpiper, Ruddy Shelduck, Whinchats x 3 at Breydon Water
Spoonbills x 5 at North Point Pools, Wells
Turtle Dove, Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Whinchat, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 24 at Welney WWT
Wryneck, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Whinchats x 3 at North Dunes, Winterton
Spoonbills x 40, Whinchats x 3 at Stiffkey Fen
Pied Flycatcher at Stiffkey Campsite Wood
Whinchats x 2 at Horsey
Honey Buzzard at Ormesby Broad
Wryneck SE of Waxham
Pied Flycatcher at Garden Drove, Warham Greens
Caspian Gulls x 4 at Cromer
Black Tern at Ranworth Broad
Great White Egrets x 2 at Hickling Broad NWT
Wood Sandpiper flew over Mundesley

MEGA NEWS
CLIFF SWALLOW
Milovaig, Isle of Skye
BROWN BOOBY
Fishing offshore at St Ives, Cornwall
FEA'S or DESERTAS PETREL
From pelagic south of St Mary's, Isles of Scilly

MEGA! CLIFF SWALLOW – Isle of Skye!

https://twitter.com/samuellanglois1/status/1166416660221321216

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Pied Flycatcher, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Great White Egret at Titchwell RSPB
Whinchat behind car park at Brancaster
Pied Flycatcher at Beeston Bump, Sheringham
Balearic Shearwater flew past Sheringham
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Quail, Whinchats x 2, Great White Egrets x 2 at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Spoonbills x 5 at North Point Pools, Wells
Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Wrynecks x 2, Pied Flycatchers x 5, Lesser Emperor Dragonfly at North Dunes, Winterton
Pied Flycatchers x 3 between Horsey Gap and Winterton
Pied Flycatcher at The Plantation, Blakeney Point
Common Rosefinch near static caravans at campsite, Stiffkey
Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Trimingham Church
Wryneck along Nelson Head track at Horsey
Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 10 at Cley NWT
Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Holme NOA
Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Cantley Beet Factory

MEGA NEWS
None

Holme Bird Observatory!

Hummingbird Hawk-Moth

HOLME BIRD OBSERVATORY

I woke up at 5.24am precisely! Left the house by 6.30am and headed to Holme. There was no traffic yet, fabulous journey! Started at Hunstanton to look for migrants in the sycamore trees next the large car park on the sea front, but nothing at all seen here. Cruised along the cliff top and headed for Holme Reserves.

Drove into the village car park opposite the toilet block to look for birds. The scrub next to the kiosk is an excellent spot for migrants. But, today this wasn't to be, as there were several cars with music playing and youths parked up on the grass – a barbecue had been used and from the scene and beer cans and other items left, it was fairly obviously they had been there last night and were shortly leaving. They stared at me with my binoculars and camera – after all, its very unusual to see a birder in an area that is part of an SSSI site and nature reserves!!!

Along the Firs Road I saw several Whitethroats flitting around by the 5-bar gate. Parked up on the NOA car park at around 8am. Had a lovely time here before it got really hot. Saw 3 Pied Flycatchers around the back of the pine trees, by the sea-watching hide. It was alive here with birds! Several Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, Whitethroats, several Goldcrests, Hedge Sparrow, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and a Whimbrel flew over.

PIED FLYCATCHER

Holme Bird Observatory

At the observatory, Sophie was busy ringing birds, one of which was a Garden Warbler. 8 Whimbrel flew over and there was a pair of Stonechats flitting around Hide 8 by the Broadwater. I was chatting to 'Cat', (who is volunteer with the NOA) about the fact that I had not seen a Hummingbird Hawk-Moth yet this year – she replied 'the last one I saw was......' As she said this, one appeared on the globular buddleia!! This was the star of the day! Spent ages trying to photograph this wonderful moth, but they hardly spend more than a couple of seconds at each flower! Met a wonderful elderly gentleman with his grandson, who showed me some early NOA news bulletins he had brought down to (presumably) show Sophie – he remembered my dear father well from little stories he was telling me. Mark and Tracey B. were also here along with Steve N. Stayed here far too long in the heat!

Went for my lunch at The Firs NWT and was shocked to see how many cars had managed to squeeze into both the NWT and NOA car parks – I had never seen it this packed out ever! I managed to get a table in the shade, which was a miracle and then shared it with another couple of birders, who I got chatting to about the 'good old days' on the reserves. It was now far too hot to do anything but leave.

I had been sandwiched in between 2 4x4's on the car park and just about managed to reverse out of my little space! There were cars all the way along the road between the 5-bar gate and the pay hut and I was shocked to see that Gary (NWT warden) and collegue were having to man the top of the Firs Road with a barrier and walky talkies. How stressful for them to have to ring the Firs reception every time a car turned up at the barrier (which seemed like every few seconds) to see if a car had left the car parks, in order to let another car through the barrier! I have never seen anything like this in all my years of being here. What a dreadful job for reserve staff to have to do. Holidaymakers don't like keeping to the 15mph signs either, a sports car travelling behind me was not happy at all, as I was driving at just below this speed. Everyone that arrives here, brings picnic baskets and their own food. The odd one of two might buy an ice-cream or a drink – its not financially worth all the hassle for the Wardens, for the environment and the damage to the already churned up road. Maybe they should increase the parking cost significantly! I think its dreadful that NWT and NOA members can not park on the car parks that they pay membership for if they were to turn up a bit too late. God forbid if a mega turned up – what would happen then? It would be a serious issue!

I escaped all this craziness and went to check our family home. I hadn't been here for two weeks. It was wonderfully peaceful here. I found two Chiffchaffs in the garden, which was nice. Filled all the bird baths up and picked some brambly apples from the trees at the end of the garden. Tons of butterflies on mother's buddleias in the front garden: Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admirals, Peacocks, Painted Ladies, Commas and Bumble and Honey Bees. The grape vine in the greenhouse has produced less grapes than previous years, but there are a few bunches of green grapes (still to turn red). Sat on the front door step in the shade and reminisced of my childhood days here.

Left mid afternoon to avoid what was obviously going to be massive queues of traffic later on. Chilled at home and later carried out my usual chores of changing all the bird baths, topping up bird food and watering all the plants. At work all day tomorrow, which isn't going to be funny at all in this heatwave!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Holme Bird Observatory
Great White Egret on Broadwater at Holme NWT
Barred Warbler at The Plantation, Blakeney Point
Little Stint, Wood Sandpipers x 28, Curlew Sandpiper, Great White Egrets x 2 at Cley NWT
Quail, Whinchat at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Pied Flycatchers x 4 at Gypsy Lane, Titchwell
Pied Flycatcher, Purple Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Great White Egret, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Pied Flycatchers x 4 at Garden Drove, Warham Greens
Osprey at Rockland Broad
Dark Crimson Underwing trapped overnight at Great Yarmouth
Osprey flew over Bowthorpe
Whinchats x 4 south of Horsey Gap
Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 11 at North Point Pools, Wells
Pied Flycatcher, Black Redstart at Old Hunstanton
Pied Flycatcher at Beeston Bump, Pied Flycatcher at Beeston Priory, Sheringham
Wood Sandpiper, Garganey x 4 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Hopton-on-Sea
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly at North Dunes, Winterton
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker male by South Beach, Heacham
Wood Sandpiper at Cantley Beet Factory
Pied Flycatcher at Burnham Overy Dunes

MEGA NEWS
None

Girly Day Out At The Cambridge Botanic Gardens!

Penny, Keri, Hilary and Annie

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Had a fabulous girly day with some of the lovely girls from work: Keri, Hilary and Annie, at the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge. The weather was a little too hot though! Lovely lunch, drinks, ice-creams etc! Lots of dragonflies whizzing around, but didn't see any Painted Ladies today. A tame young Magpie was having a bath in one of the central fountain pools later on in the day. A stunningly beautiful, exotic and tranquil place – I love it here.

Looks like there has a been a large fall of Pied Flycatchers on the coast today and that's without all the ones that haven't been reported! Need to get out in the field early tomorrow, before the heat kicks in! I have to work on Bank Holiday Monday, so tomorrow is my only chance to go birding this weekend. 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  
Black Guillemot on sea off beach car park at Cley
Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Great White Egret, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Wood Sandpiper at Cley NWT
Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Quail singing at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Black Redstarts south of of South Beach Road, Heacham
Pied Flycatcher x 10+ at Brancaster
Pied Flycatchers x 5 at Blakeney Point
Pied Flycatchers x 2 opposite Manor Hotel, Blakeney
Pied Flycatchers x 3, Whinchats x 3 at Meadow Lane, Kelling
Common Cranes x 27 at Welney WWT
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 13 at North Point Pools, Wells
Whinchats x 3 SW of coal barn at Thornham
Pied Flycatchers x 3+ at Holme Dunes
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cromer
Pied Flycatcher at Beeston Bump, Sheringham
Caspian Gull, Little Gulls x 2 flew past Sheringham
Pied Flycatcher at Walsey Hills NOA
Pied Flycatcher at Hickling Broad NWT
Pied Flycatcher at Weybourne Camp
Great White Egret north of sewage works at Wymondham
Pied Flycatchers x 3 at Campsite Wood at Stiffkey
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2, Curlew Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 3, Spotted Redshank, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Burgh Castle

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  
Turtle Dove, Great White Egret, Continental Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Whinchats x 2 at Meadow Lane, Salthouse
Black Guillemot on sea off beach car park at Cley
Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cromer
Mediterranean Gulls x 1,960 at Breydon Water
Sabine's Gull offshore at Winterton
Pied Flycatcher at Winterton
Whinchats x 2 at Kelling Quags
Cattle Egrets x 4 at Burnham Norton
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2 at Holme Dunes NWT
Black Tern flew past Hemsby
Spoonbills x 2, Spotted Redshank at Snettisham RSPB
Vagrant Emperor Dragonfly at Weybourne

MEGA NEWS
SOLITARY SANDPIPER
Possible, Hayle Estuary RSPB, Cornwall
FEA'S or DESERTAS PETREL
South of Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Unconfirmed report, Isle of Rhum, Highland

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 Spotted Woodpecker in garden at Aylsham
Purple Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 12, Spotted Redshank, Continental Black-tailed Godwit, Clifden Nonpareil Moth at Titchwell RSPB
Pomarine Skua, Black Guillemot on sea off beach car park, Curlew Sandpipers x 5 flew past at Cley
Wood Sandpiper at Cley NWT
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Pied Flycatchers x 5 at Winterton
Whinchat at Poplar Farm, Waxham
Whinchats x 2 at Kelling Quags
Osprey, Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Spoonbill at North Point Pools, Spoonbills x 2 on saltmarsh south of East Hills at Wells
Pied Flycatcher at Nelson Head Track, Horsey
Pied Flycatcher at Happisburgh

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  
Pied Flycatchers x 3 at South Dunes, Caspian Gull flew past Winterton
Turtle Dove, Purple Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 14, Bedstraw Hawk-moth (trapped last night) at Titchwell RSPB
PURPLE HERON juv. at Cantley Beet Factory
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 14th to 20th August!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2019_34.aspx?s_id=702556211

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  
Purple Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 19, Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 2 at Welney WWT
Pomarine Skua flew past beach car park at Cley
Cattle Egret, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Little Gull, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
PURPLE HERON juv. at Cantley Beet Factory
Southern Emerald Damselflies x 2 at North Dunes, Winterton
PURPLE HERON near windpump at Horsey
Great White Egret flew towards Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Spoonbills x 5 at Snettisham RSPB
Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Great White Egret flew over, Spoonbills x 3 at Thornham Harbour
Garganey x 3, Spoonbills x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Flew past Bardsey Island, Gwynedd
FEA'S, DESERTAS OR ZINO'S PETREL
At sea from pelagic off Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Turtle Dove, Whinchat, Spoonbills x 6, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 11 at Snettisham RSPB
Turtle Dove at Snettisham Coastal Park
Common Cranes x 4 at Welney WWT
Turtle Dove, Purple Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 18, Great White Egret, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Southern Emerald Damselfly at Winterton
Black Guillemot on sea off beach car park at Cley 
Lesser White-fronted Goose, Spoonbills x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Cattle Egrets x 5, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 4 at Burnham Norton
Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Whinchats x 2 at Limpenhoe Marsh
PURPLE HERON juv. at Cantley Beet Factory
Spoonbill at Thornham Harbour

MEGA NEWS
None

Weekend Update & Visit To Cley NWT & Gramborough Hill, Salthouse!

WASP SPIDER

Salthouse

I have been pretty exhausted lately, since rotating to the community stroke team in early August – we are so busy and cover a lot of miles visiting our patients. I have been very low and depressed since the loss of my dear mother last year and particularly on and around the 7th August, which was the anniversary of her death – it is still too much for me to cope with. I miss her so much. The last few weekends have been difficult for me and this has resulted in me not going out birding at all, which is why the blog has been devoid of my ramblings!

I was going to the Bird Fair this weekend, but my depression got the better of me. The thought of talking to loads of people, which I normally enjoy, seemed far too stressful. Yesterday I did nothing, nothing at all and just sat on the sofa all day, which was a pity as it looked like it was a beautiful sunny day. An entire day wasted. Well, I suppose it must have been tiredness too, as I worked last Sunday, so had just done six full day's work. I didn't get up very early this morning either and had to gather all my mental strength to get out of bed and in the shower. I forced myself to go out, I couldn't carry on as I have been.

So, I finally got out of the house and went to Cley this afternoon and headed straight to the NWT Visitor Centre for lunch. I didn't feel excited, but my mood lifted a little and I was pleased I had made the effort. I managed to get a window seat and enjoyed a jacket potato with cheese and coleslaw with salad and a lemonade. It was very chilled sitting here viewing the marshes, birds and blue skies. It felt comforting to be in a familiar and much loved place.

Perusing the books in the visitor centre, I opened up 'Bird Therapy' by Joe Harkness and discovered that he had signed his book, whilst birding on the reserve and he had dated it 6.8.2019 – he wrote the following 'I just popped in to look at some waders – the scrapes were amazing today: Pectoral Sandpiper and 11 Wood Sandpipers were the highlight. Hope you enjoy my book! Joe Harkness' Well, I just had to buy it! I look forward to reading this book very much. The foreword is by Chris Packham.

I parked up at Coastguards and meandered to North Hide (that was) to look for the 2 Whinchats that had been reported on RBA this morning. No sign of them at all, in fact no sign of anything and North Scrape was completely dry, not a drop of water to be seen amidst the cracked, dry mud. On the way back, I suddenly spotted 3 Wheatears sitting on the wire fence just west of North Scrape and also Steve G. walking towards me with no camera!!! I have never seen Steve without his camera which I remarked upon when we met up. Walked back to the car park and headed to Gramborough Hill at Salthouse. Here I saw a Ringed Plover with 4 young, a Dunlin and 2 Black-headed Gulls in the pool just west of the hill. No other birds of note at all. Left here and headed west back to Cley. I was then very kindly shown 9 fabulous Wasp Spiders in webs amongst brambles – I suppose I must have done, but can't actually remember having seen any of these before, so this made my day.

Walked out to the hides with Eddie and had lovely views of the Water Vole under the bridge by the A149 and then from Teal Hide, we watched a big gull roost, cows in front of the hide, Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, Pied Wagtails and a Sparrowhawk which caught one of the 20+ Pied Wagtails as they flew overhead. Left Eddie watching gulls and walked back to my car, where I saw a Little Egret and a Barn Owl flying east of the visitor centre.

Just before I left, I lodged a gingerbread man biscuit in the driver's door handle of Eddie's car, as a little surprise. Now, the mystery is that Eddie never saw that gingerbread man! So somebody or something had pinched it!!! Must have been a big scary 'Seagull'!!!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Whinchats x 2 east of beach car park, Little Gull, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Pomarine Skua flew past Weybourne
Common Cranes x 2 at Welney WWT
Great White Egret, Purple Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 12, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Southern Emerald Damselfly at Winterton
Great White Egret between Ongar Hill and Admiralty Point
Great White Egret, Common Cranes x 2 on Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cromer
Whinchat near Barnhamcross Common
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spoonbills x 2 at North Point Pools, Wells

MEGA NEWS
BAROLO SHEARWATER
Corsewall Point, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
FORSTER'S TERN
ENE of Dundalk at Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Bridges of Ross, County Clare and Kerry Head, County Kerry, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Great White Egret, Purple Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
PALLID SWIFT possible, flew south over Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Osprey at Burgh Castle
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Little Gull, Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT
Little Gull at Hopton-on-Sea
Curlew Sandpiper at Breydon Water
Southern Emerald Damselfly at Winterton
Common Cranes x 2 at Welney WWT
Spoonbills x 12 at Wells
Spoonbills x 5 at Thornham Harbour
Great White Egret, Black Tern at Holme NWT
Spoonbills x 5 at Snettisham RSPB
Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

MEGA NEWS
GREAT SNIPE
Boddham, Shetland
FORSTER'S TERN
ENE of Dundalk at Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland
FEA'S OR DESERTAS OR ZINO'S PETREL
Bridges of Ross, County Clare, Ireland

Cley NWT Named in Attenborough's Top-Ten Destinations!

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2019-08-16/cley-marshes-named-in-attenborough-s-top-ten-destinations/

THE RUTLAND BIRD FAIR – THIS WEEKEND!

https://birdfair.org.uk/

https://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/photos-from-day-one-as-rutland-birdfair-2019-gets-underway-9079939/

Boris Johnson's Partner Carrie Symonds Speaks at the Rutland Bird Fair!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49362956?fbclid=IwAR1WlATTSoWPcgkdOohukc2Zs9l5CbTyMFOnLngEq8mF-cOwXtzHa6mjeLU

BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner, who is the new BTO President and Dragon’s Den's Deborah Meaden also at the Rutland Bird Fair this weekend!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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FRIDAY 16th AUGUST
Goshawk at Willow Wood, Turtle Dove, Purple Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 21, Wood Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Osprey flew over Thornham Point
Great White Egrets x 2 flew past Weybourne Camp
Dark Crimson Underwing moth at Gorleston-on-Sea
Wood Sandpiper at Welney WWT
Great White Egret, Wood Sandpiper, Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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THURSDAY 15th AUGUST
Purple Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 16, Spotted Redshanks x 5, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpiper flew over Horsey
Wood Sandpipers x 7, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Gull, Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Cley NWT
Black Tern at Rollesby Broad
Scaup at Barton Broad
Great White Egret at Holme NWT
Great White Egrets x 2 at Hickling Broad NWT
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spoonbill at North Point Pools, Wells
Lesser White-fronted Goose esc., Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 3, Garganey x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
ENE of Dundalk at Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland
PACIFIC SWIFT
Possible, by boating lake at Southwold, Suffolk

Ban Driven Grouse Shooting Wilful Blindness Is No Longer An Option

PLEASE SIGN and SHARE, thank you.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/266770

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Great White Egret, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshank, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Quail at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Purple Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 3, Spotted Redshank, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Garganey at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 7th to 13th August!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2019_33.aspx?s_id=477370500

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Great White Egret at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Long-tailed Skua, Great White Egret, Spoonbill flew past Weybourne Camp
Purple Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 14 at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Gulls x 4 at Cromer
Spoonbills x 30 at Stiffkey Fen
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley NWT
Garganey x 4 at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Wood Sandpipers x 12, Garganey x 3, Spoonbills x 4 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Cory's Shearwater flew past Coastguards, Wood Sandpipers x 12 at Cley NWT
Purple Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 3, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 15, Caspian Gulls x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 7 at North Point Pools, Wells
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cromer

MEGA NEWS
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Wood Sandpipers x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Black Tern flew past Cley
Wood Sandpipers x 5, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Spoonbills x 8 at Thornham Harbour
Pomarine Skuas x 2 flew over saltmarsh at Thornham
Turtle Doves x 3, Purple Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 15 at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpiper, Great White Egret at Holme NWT

MEGA NEWS
LITTLE BUSTARD 
At Mickletown Ings, ENE of Methley, West Yorkshire

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SATURDAY 10th AUGUST
Storm Petrel, Long-tailed Skuas x 2 offshore, large Shearwater sp. at Cley
Wood Sandpipers x 5 at Cley NWT
Long-tailed Skuas x 2, Spoonbills x 7, Purple Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Great White Egret at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Wood Sandpipers x 6, Spoonbills x 8 at North Point Pools, Wells
Spoonbills x 47 at Stiffkey Fen
Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank at Holme

MEGA NEWS
PACIFIC SWIFT
Over Easington Church, Yorkshire
LITTLE BUSTARD
At Mickletown Ings, ENE of Methley, West Yorkshire

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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FRIDAY 9th AUGUST
Osprey flew over Rockland Broad
Wood Sandpipers x 9 flew over Weybourne Camp
Wood Sandpipers x 12 at North Point Pools, Wells
Great White Egret, Wood Sandpipers x 3, Curlew Sandpiper, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Gull off Burrell Way, Thetford
Wood Sandpipers x 6 at Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
LITTLE BUSTARD
At Mickletown Ings, ENE of Methley, West Yorkshire

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Turtle Dove, Great White Egret, Wood Sandpipers x 6, Spoonbills x 4 at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 20, Little Gull, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley NWT
Wood Sandpipers x 12, Spoonbills x 7 at North Point Pools, Wells
Queen of Spain Fritillary Butterfly at 1pm then flew off at Thetford
Turtle Dove, Great White Egret at Holme
Ring Ouzel reported, Wood Sandpipers x 7 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Cantley Beet Factory
Purple Heron at Upton Broad NWT
Quail singing at Walsey Hills NOA

MEGA NEWS
LITTLE BUSTARD
At Mickletown Ings, ENE of Methley, West Yorkshire

Cambridge University Botanic Gardens – A Day of Remembrance

I had booked a day's holiday today in order to spend time with my sisters in remembrance of our dear mother. We decided to do something very different. We knew that if we headed for the coast, we would become upset and our mother would not have wanted that. Mother loved her flowers and visiting gardens, and although she had never visited the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge, I dearly wished she had. So it was here, where we decided to spend our day.

A few days ago, I picked all the Victoria Plums I could reach from the tree in our family garden at Holme and then last night I made a plum crumble, as a surprise for my sisters today. This will be the last time we have plums from this tree, which has been in the centre of the garden by the greenhouse, since we were tiny children. Happy childhood memories of our Grandad Charlie (mother's adoptive father) knocking the plums from this tree with his walking stick for us to collect!

Lucy and I caught the train to Cambridge and Vivien joined us on the train at Ely. The gardens are only a short 5 minute walk from the station and for those of you who haven't been, they are well worth a visit. It costs £6 for adults and is free for children under 16. I have been a couple of times before, but it was many, many years ago with Lucy. When we last visited there was only a small tea shop within the gardens – now there is a very large and modern tea shop with seating inside and out and it is beautifully laid out. There is also a shop with the usual trinkets and gifts in by the main entrance. No dogs are allowed, apart from guide dogs, so it was a peaceful and beautiful day. The park was very busy, especially with families. The gardens are very children orientated with lots of features etc to keep them enthralled. There are over 8,000 species of plants in the Botanic Gardens! There are many seats too, including some hidden away in secretive little corners.

We spent our day meandering around these beautiful gardens, sitting, thinking, chatting and dozing by the beautiful lake. You can walk over some huge stepping stones across a corner of the lake, where we saw a few Mallard and a Moorhen, but there was sadly a distinct lack of common birds here. When I last visited, I saw many species here, including a Spotted Flycatcher! I didn't see any typical garden birds at all, no blackbirds or thrushes, no robins or any small birds! I needn't have brought my binoculars with me! We saw a Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Damselflies, a Migrant Hawker and Emperor Dragonfly and lots of Bees and Hover Flies.

There were so many flowers that reminded us of our mother, so many she had in her garden at Holme, both in the past and present. In the vegetable garden we found some 'Everlasting Flowers' – I had forgotten about these, memories came flooding back of a large border of these in our family garden, that my father used to pick and take to our Great Auntie Ile who lived in Hunstanton. There is a beautiful water fountain feature in the centre of the gardens surrounded by seats – an idyllic little spot to sit and ponder. The garden is a wonderful and tranquil oasis of colour. There are tropical glasshouses full of exotic cacti and all sorts of weird and wonderful plants – obviously very hot in these, so we couldn't spend as much time in here as we would have liked. There are many types of garden sections, too many to list, but I particularly like the Bog Garden, Bee Borders, Dry Garden, Dry Meadow, Fen Display, Glasshouse Range, The Stream Garden and the Scented Garden.

It was in these gardens that the Met Office confirmed 38.7 degree C recording, taken in the garden on 25th July 2019. It is the highest ever temperature officially recorded in the UK.

You can easily spend all day here and we did! We found a charismatic, but sad looking ginger tabby cat, snoozing on one of the many picnic tables in the garden, but it was very unkempt, so presumably wild. It was in this little spot that we sat and ate my home-made Plum Crumble with Alpro soya cream, which Lucy and Vivien both enjoyed. The only mistake we made today, was catching the 5.38pm train home – it was rush hour and we had to stand with many other people, all the way to Downham Market. Vivien left us to get off at Ely station and we continued our journey back to King's Lynn. Lucy and I then walked back to where I had left my car and we all returned to our homes. A very peaceful and therapeutic day and quality time spent with my sisters.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Turtle Dove, Wood Sandpipers x 7, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 10, Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 12, Continental Black-tailed Godwit, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Cattle Egret on saltmarsh, Burnham Overy Dunes
Wood Sandpipers x 8, Spoonbills x 9 at North Point Pools, Wells
Wood Sandpipers x 9, Spoonbill at Potter Heigham Marshes
Spoonbills x 37 at Stiffkey Fen
White-rumped Sandpiper, Turtle Dove, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 5 SW of Ongar Hill, Terrington St Clement

MEGA NEWS
LITTLE BUSTARD
At Mickletown Ings, ENE of Methley, West Yorkshire

RBA Weekly Round-Up 31st July to 6th August!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2019_32.aspx?s_id=312483575

In Memory of My Dearest Mother

 
MARGARET CLARKE

Dearest mother of Penny, Lucy and Vivien

Time does not make any difference to our sorrow,
we can't believe a year has passed already since your death.
It only feels like a few months since we lost you
Our hearts are still broken

We miss you so much, forever in our hearts 💔

9th February 1940 — 7th August 2018
 

https://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.com/2018/08/mothers-funeral-end.html 

https://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.com/2018/09/mother-now-at-rest-united-with-father.html

Margaret with baby Vivien, Lucy and Penny
circa 1969 

Margaret on The Farne Islands

Margaret scything hay just outside 'The Firs' at Holme

Margaret and Penny at Holme Bird Observatory

Penny on left with Margaret holding Vivien
The main bank to Holme Bird Observatory
Picture taken circa 1970

Margaret and Peter with Penny
The Firs House at Holme overlooking the Broadwater

 HONEYMOON
Margaret and Peter just outside The Firs House at Holme

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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TUESDAY 6th AUGUST
Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 5, Spoonbills x 6, Great White Egret at Titchwell RSPB
Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 16, Great White Egret at Cley NWT
Great White Egret in ditch by Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
White-rumped Sandpiper, Turtle Doves x 3 (1 juv.), Curlew Sandpipers x 4, Spotted Redshanks x 15 at Snettisham RSPB
Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 2 flew past Weybourne Camp
Spoonbills x 3 flew over Holme NOA
Wood Sandpipers x 20 at North Point Pools, Wells
Cattle Egret on saltmarsh, Burnham Overy Dunes
Black Tern, Spoonbill, Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham

MEGA NEWS
LITTLE BUSTARD
At Mickletown Ings, ENE of Methley, West Yorkshire

In Memory Of My Dearest Mother

I’ve been in a real bad state over the last few days.

Tomorrow we lost you a year ago, I will never get over losing you.

The most vibrant person I have ever known and loved.

I miss you so much, my dearest mother and my best friend xxx

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 16, Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill, Garganey, Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cley NWT
Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 4 at North Point Pools, Wells
Turtle Dove, Garganey, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 7, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 25, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
White-rumped Sandpiper at Snettisham RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Cantley Beet Factory
Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Breydon Water
Wood Sandpipers x 8, Garganey x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS
LITTLE BUSTARD
Unconfirmed report at undisclosed site near Leeds, Yorkshire
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
From pelagic south of St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
FORSTER'S TERN 
Soldier's Point, ENE of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland