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Sunday, 28 February 2021

Lifeboat Called To Four People and Dog Stranded Off The Coast

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/wells-lifeboat-called-to-group-stranded-east-quay-7795916

I seriously think people should be charged for using the RNLI. Whatever the reason, payment is valid in my opinion. If you were in serious trouble, most people would be quite happy to pay to be rescued, I know I certainly would. Making people pay will stop the stupid, selfish people walking out over the marshes, who don't bother checking tide tables and know full well, that if they call 999, they will get a free lift back to safety!!! Making people pay a decent amount, would soon stop a lot of people using it as a free boat ride back to shore! I'm guessing the four people today were not local, so also breaking lockdown rules. A 'local' person wouldn't be so stupid as to not check the tide table before venturing out over the marshes!!!

'They Think They Can Get Away With It' – Crowds Flock To Seaside Village

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/sea-palling-crowds-continue-social-distancing-lockdown-7795726

Police Give Out £200 Penalty Notices To Day-Trippers For Second Weekend Running

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/norfolk-police-issue-fines-for-lockdown-breaches-7794794

Put the fines up to £1000, might make some people think a bit more!!!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Black Redstart in garden between North Walsham & Aylsham
Hen Harrier at Hindolveston
Iceland Gull at Winterton
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Postwick Marshes
Black-necked Grebe, Water Pipit at Salthouse
Iceland Gull at Weybourne Camp
Water Pipits x 2 at Holme Dunes
Cattle Egret at Welney WWT
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
In garden at Exmouth, Devon

New Campsite Planned Near Holme Beach!!!

https://www.yourlocalpaper.co.uk/2021/02/26/new-campsite-planned-near-holme-beach/

I was alerted to this from a local person in Holme and also phoned up someone else to find out where exactly this campsite is being proposed. See red cross in picture below. The road going left is Beach Road, that leads to the reserves/beach. This particular area is also an accident blackspot – people overtake on this stretch, not realising this is a hill/corner just before the approach to Holme village crossroads. Beach Road is very narrow and has traffic issues in the Summer months, well in fact anytime there is nice weather or in school holidays etc.


I seriously hope this does not go through and doubt it will. Holme is already overrun with far too many cars, people etc in the Summer months, without adding a bl**dy campsite for 50 people!!! The reserves are packed with people who are generally, not the slightest bit interested in wildlife and are only coming here to take their dogs for a walk and go for a picnic – ok, yes I don't blame them, but NWT and NOA members have a job to park on the small car parks, for which they pay membership for as it is! Will the 50 campers at this proposed site, walk all the way to the beach? I doubt it, so more traffic congestion!!! Plus a potential 50+ more dogs to disturb wildlife, just saying!!!😡

UPDATE – PLANNING APPLICATION LINK:

Saturday, 27 February 2021

Lockdown? What Lockdown! Camping at Holme & Attempted Dog Kidnapping!

A family of four where camping on Holme beach today and had travelled from Mansfield. Not only were they massively breaking lockdown rules, but they were camping on a beach that you are not allowed to camp on normally anyway!!! Just unbelievable!

People travelled from Ipswich and Peterborough to go to the beach at Sea Palling today and that was just the ones that were caught!

Lots of cars parked up at Hunstanton seafront today – I know, because I could see them all on the South Prom webcam! If you are local and live in Hunstanton, you would be walking, not driving!

Paraglider over Hunstanton Cliffs today on his essential journey AND disturbing all the Fulmers on ledges and birds feeding on the shore: https://twitter.com/AndyinNorfolk/status/1365801129771163648

Us locals are not going to the beach and we live in Norfolk, except of course those lucky enough to live by the beach or within walking/cycling distance.

I also heard today that three men with a white van were being searched for by police for attempting to steal a dog from the beach at Holme! This was also mentioned on the Brancaster Parish Community FB page, quote "Keep an eye on your dogs folks, police have been looking for three guys with whistles trying to lure dogs of the beach at Hunstanton/Holme this morning, apparently one failed abduction attempt earlier today" Time to keep you dog on a lead (if you don't already) when out and about!

What I can't take in, is people are paying huge amounts of money for dogs in lockdown, no wonder the criminals are abducting dogs! What a world we live in!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Slavonian Grebe at Ormesby Broad
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Little Broad
Bewick's Swans x 18 flew over Barford
Scaup at Whitlingham Country Park
Cattle Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Postwick Marshes
Black-necked Grebe at Salthouse
Lapland Bunting at Scolt Head Island NNR
Hen Harrier ESE of Surlingham
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
In garden at Exmouth, Devon

Friday, 26 February 2021

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Common Crane flew over Sprowston
Ring-necked Parakeet in garden then flew off at Wells
Smew redheads x 3 at Rollesby Broad
Slavonian Grebe at Ormesby Broad
Common Cranes x 5 flew over Fulmodeston
Common Cranes x 5 flew over Hindolveston
Spotted Redshank, Great White Egret at Breydon Water
Black-necked Grebe, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Salthouse
Russian White-fronted Geese x 25 flew over Weybourne Camp
Caspian Gull at Winterton
Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Caister-on-Sea
Short-eared Owl at Hardley Staithe, Chedgrave
Spotted Redshank at Thornham Harbour
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
In garden at Exmouth, Devon
FORSTER'S TERN
Newtownlynch, County Galway, Ireland

Thursday, 25 February 2021

King's Lynn Hospital Reports Big Drop In Coronavirus Patients

https://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/kings-lynn-hospital-reports-big-drop-in-coronavirus-patients-9158191/

Police Fine 39 Second-Homers And Day-Trippers In Resort Crackdown!

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/second-home-owners-fined-for-breaching-lockdown-7789952

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Ravens x 2 flew over Felmingham
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Postwick Marshes
Smew redheads x 3, Slavonian Grebes x 2 at Rollesby Broad
Spoonbill flew over Holme Dunes
Hen Harrier at Winterton
Black-necked Grebe, Hen Harrier at Salthouse
Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 flew over California
Bewick's Swan flew over Hellesdon
Iceland Gull at Weybourne Camp
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
In garden at Exmouth, Devon
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Musselburgh, Lothian, Scotland

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Rare Bird: 'Half-male, Half-female' Cardinal Snapped In Pennsylvania!

Wild Dobruja Conservation Project!

Stephen Wiltshire is organizing this fundraiser – he writes:

"The region of Dobruja is located in Northeast Bulgaria and is where, in 2016, I purchased the piece of land pictured above. It’s not very big, a large garden really, but, like much of Eastern Europe it remains a good place for wildlife. However, as with the countryside in Western Europe, declines in wildlife have begun even here because of intensive agriculture which encroaches all around.
 
Currently this plot is abandoned cultivated land – which is OK – but I want to revert it into what Dobruja looked like before humans intervened: Flower, Butterfly, Bee, and Bird-rich Steppe grassland with areas of Trees and Scrub. I would also like to dig a pond, put up numerous bird-boxes, and create other features to maximise biodiversity. I have already recorded an amazing 80 species of birds from the site and there are nesting Golden Orioles, Red-backed Shrikes, Turtle Doves, Nightingales, and Tree Sparrows nearby – all  species that have declined massively or already been lost from the British countryside in recent years."

Please open the link for pictures and full write up!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/wild-dobruja-conservation-project?memberId=8281596&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Smew redheads x 4 at Rollesby Broad
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Little Broad
Russian White-fronted Goose at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 6 flew over Langham
Common Cranes x 7 flew over Buxton
Spoonbill flew over Weybourne Camp
Scaup at Whitlingham Country Park
Spotted Redshank at Thornham Harbour
Cattle Egrets x 4, Great White Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
 
MEGA NEWS
None

Tuesday, 23 February 2021

Attenborough Gives Stark Warning On Climate Change To UN!

A Beautiful Spring Day?!

A Squirrel feasting on my home-made rye bread!
The Walks, King's Lynn


I know we are a long way off Spring, but it felt like a Spring day! Over the weekend I have slept quite a bit, as still have exhaustion from Covid. This afternoon I went for a social distanced walk with my sister Lucy to 'The Walks' in King's Lynn. This would not have been my first choice, but its the nearest place for Lucy to walk to. It was full of people and too many dogs, but still quite pretty to walk round, with lots of Snowdrops and Crocuses adorning the river banks.

I had brought some of my rye bread for the ducks and we had an unexpected surprise. A Squirrel came running up to us, so I threw some rye bread on the ground and was astonished to see the squirrel take it! It then settled itself by the base of a tree to enjoy it! It was so sweet to watch! Sadly, I only managed to get one picture, as a big ginger coloured dog (off lead) came charging over (to seemingly chase the squirrels) and our little squirrel and two others scarpered and that was that!!! That special moment ended in seconds and all because of a dog (that was supposed to be on a lead). The dog owner who was standing at a distance then continually threw a ball in our direction for the dog to retrieve – it was as if, it was being done on purpose. I was fuming, but had to control my fury, as didn't want to spoil Lucy's walk.
 
We continued our walk around the bandstand area and came across a flock of Black-headed Gulls, including one that had two rings: a big white plastic ring on its right leg with 7MR writtten in black and a normal silver metal ring on its left leg, which I couldn't decipher the numbers/letters on, even at close range with my binoculars. The gulls seemed to love my rye bread! I contacted a 'gull' friend (MAG) to ask how to find out where my gull was ringed and have submitted the details this evening to: https://www.cr-birding.org/node/1508 and then emailed [ktpedersen@gulls.dk], so will keep you posted if and when I find out where this BHG was ringed! I didn't have my Canon gear with me, so all pictures taken with iphone and not my best photos, but hey ho!

Black-headed Gulls eating my rye bread
The Walks, King's Lynn – taken with iphone
 
Black-headed Gull with ring 7MR
The Walks, King's Lynn – taken with iphone

The Walks, King's Lynn
 
 
On Friday, after watching a You Tube Video, I cut and layered my fringe for the first time ever! I was quite pleased with the results. I was due to be in the hairdressers today, but obviously that didn't happen, so had to make do with 'Penelope's Hairdressing'🤣 
 
I hope very much we will have more clarification on the run up to 29th March, as to when we can freely drive to the coast – I miss the sea, SO much. I miss seeing my sisters together and being able to give them a hug. Not being able to go to the coast is seriously affecting how I'm feeling right now. Below are a couple of pictures from local walks I've been on, over the last few days.
 
 

The Custom House, King's Lynn
 
 
My mother’s Snowdrops emerged after the snow 
I dug these up from our family home at Holme and planted in a big pot in my garden –
so glad I did!
 
💖

In Memory Of My Dear Father


PETER CLARKE
Summertime at Holme Bird Observatory!
 Typical pose in shorts, sunhat, warden's badge amongst others!
 
 
2nd November 1926 — 23rd February 2017

 
My dearest father – four years ago today, we lost you.
Where has the time gone?!
I miss you so much. 
You are in my thoughts daily
until we meet again
Forever in my heart
x x x
💔
 
The Lark Ascending
(Romance for Violin and Orchestra)
Ralph Vaughan Williams
 
Played at my father's funeral – such beautiful music

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Common Cranes x 3 flew over Honingham
Bewick's Swans x 40 flew over Earlham & Colney
Bewick's Swans x 42 flew over Horsey Corner
Spoonbill flew over Holkham Freshmarsh
Black-necked Grebe at Salthouse
Hen Harrier, Spoonbills x 4 at Cley NWT
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Postwick Marshes
Common Cranes x 2 flew over Holme Dunes
Slavonian Grebe at Ormesby Broad
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Little Broad
Slavonian Grebe at Breydon Water
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Pentney Gravel Pits
Iceland Gull at Weybourne Camp
Russian White-fronted Geese x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 3 flew over Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Spoonbills x 4 flew over Blakeney Harbour
Bewick's Swans x 56 flew over Sidestrand
 
MEGA NEWS
None

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

By Jon Dunn

Monday, 22 February 2021

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Common Cranes x 3 flew over Norwich
Common Cranes x 3 flew over Colney Gravel Pits
Common Crane flew over Thorpe St Andrew
Cattle Egrets x 5 at Welney WWT
Black-necked Grebe, White Wagtail male at Salthouse
Common Crane at Buckenham Marshes
Bewick's Swans x 33 flew over How Hill NNR
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Little Broad
Iceland Gull at Weybourne Camp
Spoonbills x 3 at Cley NWT
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
In garden at Exmouth, Devon

Lockdown: Boris Johnson unveils plan to end England restrictions by 21 June

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56158405

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/963491/COVID-19_Response_-_Spring_2021.pdf

Sunday, 21 February 2021

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Black-necked Grebe at Salthouse
Common Cranes x 15 between Acle & Billockby
Smew redheads x 2 at Rollesby Broad
Slavonian Grebe at Ormesby Broad
Tundra Bean Goose, Pink-footed Geese x 3,000 at Winterton
Cattle Egrets x 4 at Welney WWT
Shag at Denver Sluice
Crossbill SE of Ketteringham
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Postwick Marsh
Spoonbills x 4 at Cley NWT
Iceland Gull at Weybourne Camp
Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Thornham Channel
Russian White-fronted Goose on marsh at Holme
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Pentney Gravel Pits
Caspian Gull at Sidestrand
Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Hen Harrier at Terrington St Clement
Hawfinches x 18 at Lynford Aboretum
Common Cranes x 3 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
In garden at Exmouth, Devon
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Joppa, Lothian, Scotland

Saturday, 20 February 2021

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 Egrets x 4 at Welney WWT
Russian White-fronted Geese x 27 at Walsey Hills NOA
Spoonbills x 3 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7, Hen Harrier at Postwick Marshes
Short-eared Owl at Holme Dunes
Black-necked Grebe at Salthouse
Great White Egrets x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
White-fronted Goose at Breydon Water
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Little Broad
Water Pipit, Great White Egret at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Caspian Gull at Overstrand
 
MEGA NEWS
SOCIABLE LAPWING
Maer Lake CBWPS, Bude, Cornwall

Friday, 19 February 2021

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Hawfinches x 2 at Kimberley Hall
Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebe at Ormesby Little Broad
Cattle Egrets x 4 at Welney WWT
Iceland Gull at Weybourne Camp
Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Thornham Harbour
Scaup x 5, Smew Redhead at Hickling Broad NWT
Smew Redheads x 5 at Rollesby Broad
Lesser spotted Woodpecker at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Iceland Gull at Kelling Hard
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
Still in garden at Exmouth, Devon
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Musselburgh, Lothain, Scotland

Nasa's Perseverance Rover Lands On Mars!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56119931

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/science-environment-56101496

Thursday, 18 February 2021

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Bewick's Swans x 38 near Winterton
Bewick's Swans x 30, Common Cranes x 2 between West Somerton & Horsey
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Short-eared Owls x 3 at Snettisham RSPB
Smew redhead, Slavonian Grebe at Ormesby Broad
Scaup x 4 at Hickling Broad NWT
Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Caister-on-Sea
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
Still in garden at Exmouth, Devon

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Waxwings x 5 at Wymondham
Spotted Redshank, Hen Harrier at Thornham Harbour
Bewick's Swans x 30 at Honing
Great White Egret west of Ingworth
Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoters x 2, Great Northern Diver offshore at Holme Dunes
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Little Broad
Scaup x 5, Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 at Hickling Broad NWT
Velvet Scoters x 2 at Weybourne Camp
Red-breasted Merganser at Barton Broad
Tundra Bean Geese x 5, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 near Cley
 
MEGA NEWS
None

Tuesday, 16 February 2021

Surge Testing In Norfolk After South African Covid Variant Found

Murmurations Above Norwich Asda Store 'Wow' Shoppers

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 at Whitlingham Country Park
Iceland Gull, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Weybourne Camp
Common Cranes x 2 flew over Thorpe St Andrew
Smew redhead at St Andrew's Broad, Thorpe St Andrew
Great White Egret at Salthouse
Caspian Gull at Winterton
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Potter Heigham Marshes
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
Still in garden at Exmouth, Devon

RBA Weekly Round-Up 6th to 15th February!

By Jon Dunn

Monday, 15 February 2021

Covid-19: Exmouth Bird Tweet Prompts Rule-Break Fines For Twitchers!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56075391

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-birdwatchers-mockingbird-fine-b1802503.html

A £200 fine is nothing to listers who spend far more than that on occasions to get their ‘tick’. Some will have spent that in fuel to get there and back!
 
I tweeted about this earlier, which obviously some birders commented on. In response to a couple of comments, in part I agree that it seems 'ridiculous police are wasting their time on birders'. Birders certainly shouldn't be fined for simply birding on their daily walk, especially when people are allowed to sit and fish and shooters (probably more than 6) are not social distancing and killing wildlife for fun! The rules for some activities are completely bonkers! But, police should fine anyone (not just birders) who are driving through several counties unnecessarily. There is no way, someone can drive long distance without stopping at a garage, getting something to eat, going to the toilet etc and so risking others if you have undiagnosed Covid-19.
 
Several of my colleagues have had Covid along with myself, some people were ill, some more so than others and some were tested positive, who had no symptoms at all and returned work after the 10 day isolation period. Also nobody knows yet 100%, if you can carry the virus after you have had the vaccine or not. So nobody can say I havn't got Covid-19 when you are about to break the rules!

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-necked Grebe, Scaup at Whitlingham Country Park
Cattle Egrets x 5, Common Cranes x 8 at Welney WWT
Water Pipits x 2, Great White Egrets x 4 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Coues's Arctic Redpoll, Mealy Redpolls x 3 at Wells Woods
Lammergeier flew east of North Tuddenham
Caspian Gull at Costessey
Smew at St Andrew's Broad, Thorpe St Andrew
Russian White-fronted Geese x 12, Common Cranes x 23 at Hickling Broad NWT
Russian White-fronted Goose at Burgh Castle
Hen Harriers x 2 at South Walsham
Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Cley NWT
Hen Harrier at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Bewick's Swan (ID'd from sound recording) flew over Thorpe Marriott
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Cley
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
Still in garden at Exmouth, Devon

Sunday, 14 February 2021

HAPPY VALENTINE'S!

 To everyone on their own today  💖 🤗


I went for a late afternoon walk, but didn't see any birds of note at all. There are far more birds in my garden, than I see on any of my walks around King's Lynn! No Woodcocks seen anywhere, feels like I'm the only one that hasn't seen one – not close enough to the coast here, oh well at least I'm following the lockdown rules.

RSPB Minsmere Is At Risk – We Need Your Help To Save It

https://e-activist.com/page/71193/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=LMdomain

ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT TO SIGN!

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   

Smew redhead, Scaup, Bittern at Whitlingham Country Park
Scaup x 4, Common Cranes x 7 at Hickling Broad NWT
Cattle Egrets x 3, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Russian White-fronted Geese x 20 at Walsey Hills NOA
Woodcock x 150 at Cley
Hen Harrier at Holme Dunes
Common Cranes x 2 flew over Colby
Water Pipit, Great White Egret at Surlingham Church Marsh RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 5 at Thornham
Lammergeier reported flying over Lenwade
Smew drake at Barton Broad
Little Gull, Great Northern Diver flew past California
 
MEGA NEWS
None

Saturday, 13 February 2021

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   

Smew redhead, Scaup, Bittern at Whitlingham Country Park
Great White Egret at Kimberley Hall Lake
Caspian Gull at Longwater, Norwich
Cattle Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
Long-tailed Duck, Bittern at Ormesby Little Broad
Russian White-fronted Geese x 68 at Hickling Broad NWT
Caspian Gull, Little Gulls x 2 at Overstrand
Water Pipit at Cley NWT
Caspian Gull, Iceland Gull at Cromer
 
MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
Still in garden at Exmouth, Devon
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
Barcombe, Sussex
BELTED KINGFISHER
Castletown Bearhaven, County Cork, Ireland

Salters Sanctuary!

My neighbours Lewis and Anne told me about 'Salters Sanctuary' ages ago and I never got round to going there until today! First of all, Lewis sent me a message this morning saying that last night, when walking their dog, that he had seen a 'large owl' a couple of streets away. I immediately rang him to discuss the owl sighting and shortly joined Lewis on his walk with 'Molly' the dog to see if the owl was still around – it wasn't, but being as 'Salters Sanctuary' was only a short distance away, Lewis showed me where this little place was exactly. Still lots of snow and ice around, which made this lovely little spot look very scenic. It was around 11.15am and apart from a Blackbird, Robin, some House Sparrows and a Muntjac Deer, we didn't see anything else, but it will be very interesting to see what birds are around early morning and in the Spring time. A new local 'patch' for birding and far less muddy than Gaywood Reservoir area!

Back at home after a very late breakfast, I managed to remove most of the ice from the bird baths and topped up all the feeders. Lots of Blackbirds enjoying the dried fruit and the usual House Sparrows, Hedge Sparrows, Robins, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, Starlings and Collared Doves.  Fell asleep this afternoon and this evening I made a Victoria Sandwich! Its supposed to be much warmer tomorrow and increasing temperatures next week, which will make a nice change.

Friday, 12 February 2021

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   

Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Little Broad
Jack Snipe at Wymondham
Scaup, Bittern at Whitlingham Country Park
Common Cranes x 2 flew over Hethersett
Glaucous or Iceland Gull at Breydon Water
Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 flew over Hickling Broad NWT
Russian White-fronted Geese x 2, Water Pipit at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Overstrand

MEGA NEWS
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
Still in garden at Exmouth, Devon