NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Stejneger's Scoter (probable) with Velvet Scoters x 4, Shorelarks x 5, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Holkham Bay

Great Grey Shrike at Waxham

Snow Buntings x 6, Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE at lake, Holkham Park

Russian White-fronted Geese x 14, Cattle Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh 

Snow Buntings x 26 at Snettisham Coastal Park

Glaucous Gull, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Snow Buntings x 40 at Cley NWT

Siberian Chiffchaff at Wells Woods

Russian White-fronted Geese x 50 at Cantley Marshes RSPB

Cattle Egret at Horsey

Bewick's Swans x 7 at Hempstead Marshes

Hawfinches x 25 at Lynford Aboretum

Glaucous Gull at Salthouse

Snow Buntings x 5 at Gramborough Hill

Caspian Gull at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford

Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Gulls x 4, Short-eared Owl at Sheringham

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm. at Sculthorpe Moor NR

 

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER
Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside

STEJNEGER'S SCOTER 

Probable, at Holkham Bay, Norfolk

ISABELLINE SHRIKE sp.

Marloes, Pembrokeshire

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Little Auk at Winterton

White-winged Scoter or Stejneger's Scoter (possible) with Velvet Scoters x 5, flew past Holkham Gap

Shorelarks x 5 at Holkham Bay

Dusky Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff at Holkham Pines

Russian White-fronted Geese x 23 at Holkham Freshmarsh

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE at lake, Holkham Park

Siberian Chiffchaff, Lapland Bunting at East Hills, Wells

Little Auk at Trimingham

Cattle Egrets x 5 at Horsey

Siberian Chiffchaff, Great Grey Shrike at Waxham

Little Stints x 2 at Snettisham RSPB

Siberian Chiffchaff at Titchwell RSPB

Glaucous Gull, Hen Harrier at Thornham Point

Iceland Gull, Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 2, Little Gull at Salthouse

Bewick's Swans x 6 at Sea Palling

Cattle Egrets x 7 at Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park

Brunnich's Guillemot (possible) flew past Coastguards, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Short-eared Owl at Cley

Glaucous Gulls x 2, Grey Phalarope, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Snow Buntings x 35 at Blakeney Point

Hawfinches x 3 at Lynford Aboretum

Siberian Chiffchaff at Beeston Common, Black Redstart at Beeston Regis, Sheringham

Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Gulls x 4 at Sheringham

 

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER
Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 

Probable, flew past Inverbervie, Aberdeenshire

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 

Flew past Collieston, Aberdeenshire

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 

Torness Point, Lothian

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT
Flew past Whitburn Coastal Park, County Durham

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 

Flew past Cullercoats, Northumberland

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 

Probable, flew past Seahouses, Northumberland

ISABELLINE SHRIKE sp.
Marloes, Pembrokeshire

FORSTER'S TERN

Mutton Island, County Galway, Ireland

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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White-winged Scoter or Stejneger's Scoter (possible) photographed, flew west past Cley

Glaucous Gull, Little Auk, Black Guillemot, Red-necked Grebes x 6, Velvet Scoters x 4, Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Divers x 5, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Little Gull, Snow Buntings x 50 from beach car park, Black Brant, Caspian Gull at Cley

Storm Petrel, Little Auk, Puffins x 3, Velvet Scoters x 2, Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpipers x 3 at Sheringham

Kittiwake flew over Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford

Little Auk, Grey Phalarope, Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Diver at Winterton

Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Great Northern Diver at Trimingham

Glaucous Gull, Great Northern Divers x 3 at Holme

Little Auk at Blakeney Point

Little Auk at Reepham, taken into care and released at Wells

Puffin in harbour, then killed by Great Black-backed Gull at Wells

Hen Harrier at Cawston

Glaucous Gull, Little Auk (eaten by Great Black-backed Gull), Purple Sandpipers x 8 at Waxham

Russian White-fronted Geese x 22, Cattle Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE at lake, Holkham Park

Shorelarks x 6 at Holkham Bay

Hen Harrier male at Burnham Overy Staithe

Russian White-fronted Geese x 100 at Cantley Marshes RSPB

Little Auks x 2 at Gorleston-on-Sea

Hawfinches x 4 at Lynford Aboretum

Great Northern Divers x 3, Purple Sandpiper, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Sidestrand

Little Auks x 2, Puffins x 5, Great Northern Divers x 2, Little Gulls x 2, Velvet Scoter, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Great Skua at Mundesley

 

MEGA NEWS

BELTED KINGFISHER
Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 

Flew past Hartlepool, Cleveland

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 

Flew past Whitby, Yorkshire

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOTS x 3

Flew past Whitburn Coastal Park & Hendon on Sea, County Durham

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 

Flew past Tynemouth, St Mary's Island, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Snab Point, Cullercoats, Low Hauxley, Northumberland

ISABELLINE SHRIKE sp.

Marloes, Pembrokeshire

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Glaucous Gulls x 2, Little Auks x 2, Black Guillemots x 2, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Little Gulls x 10, Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Divers x 6, Black-throated Divers x 3, Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Red-necked Grebe flew past beach car park, Snow Buntings x 25, Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Cley

Glaucous Gull, Slavonian Grebe, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB

Little Auk, Black Guillemot, Little Gulls x 5, Pomarine Skua (probable), Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 3, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Sooty Shearwater, Short-eared Owl at Sheringham

Snow Buntings x 100 at South Denes, Great Yarmouth

Siberian Chiffchaff at Waxham

Russian White-fronted Geese x 12, Cattle Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh

Hawfinches x 5 at Lynford Aboretum

Long-tailed Duck, Snow Buntings x 20 at Walcott

Little Gull at Fisher Fleet, Pomerine Skuas x 2 at Lynn Point, King's Lynn

Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2 at Holme

Great Northern Divers x 2 at Happisburgh

 

MEGA NEWS

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 

Fisherrow, Lothian

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER

Crookhaven, County Cork, Ireland

Best Pillows EVER & Weekend Update!

I have always had good quality feather pillows to sleep on, but I decided to try something different and after lots of research, purchased a Levitex pillow – these are £70 on the Levitex website: https://www.levitex.co.uk/pillow/ where you can do a quiz, to determine which is the correct pillow height to buy. I bought two of these pillows in the Black Friday sale for £45 from "Dreams" on the Hardwick Industrial Estate in King's Lynn: https://www.dreams.co.uk/levitex-gravity-defying-mid-pillow/p/719-00277 

You only use one pillow (I normally have two) – I purchased two to alternate and lengthen the lifespan of the pillows. As soon as you lay your head on the pillow its perfect! No bunching up the pillow to get comfy as you have to with feather ones, its extremely supportive and I wish I had bought one years ago. Recommended by physiotherapists and sports professionals for neck and spine alignment etc.

* * * * *

I few years ago I would have been sitting in the Sheringham shelters for a sea watch with others today, but I felt so exhausted after work yesterday, that I couldn't face going out in "Storm Arwen". Severe winds and rain here, but no snow yet. It felt dangerous, just going outside to top the bird feeders up! I did pop into town quickly though, to get a fur covered hot water bottle for Lucy because she said she was cold and some chocolate for her. Bought my usual WHSmith photo calendar for 2022 – I really should sort out doing a Penny's Hot Birding Calendar to sell! New neighbours moved into the house opposite me today, what awful weather conditions they had!

A very sad individual decided to leave a suspect "package" outside the front of the hospital yesterday, which caused utter chaos! I hope very much the CCTV catches who it was – the NHS is under enough pressure as it is! Since being at work this week I seem to have stirred up my thumb injury again, its extremely painful this evening. Watched An Audience with Adele this evening, WOW! I have not worked a Sunday for a long time, but I'm scheduled to work tomorrow. I have a hearing consultation at the hospital on Monday! Oh dear, its all downhill now!

Boris announced in his press conference this evening that we all need to wear masks again in shops and on public transport from next week, which won't make any difference to me as I never stopped wearing them. It should never have stopped – its not much to ask really is it?! We have to wear them for 7.5+ hours every day, so wearing them in a shop etc should not be an issue for anyone.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Black Guillemot on sea, Puffin flew past, Glaucous Gull juv., Little Gull, Velvet Scoter at Cley

Black Brant, Snow Buntings x 6 at Cley NWT

Caspian Gulls x 2 at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford

Velvet Scoter on sea (for 2nd day) at Weybourne Camp

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT at Holkham Bay, then Wells Harbour

Shorelarks x 5, Snow Buntings x 5 at Holkham Bay

Cattle Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh

Spotted Redshank, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB

Black-throated Diver at Wells

Glaucous Gull over Boal Quay, King's Lynn

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm. at Holkham Park

Hawfinches x 21 at Lynford Aboretum

Snow Buntings x 30 at Snettisham Coastal Park

Little Stints x 2 at Snettisham RSPB

Ferruginous Duck at Ormesby Broad

Scaup at Rollesby Broad

Hen Harrier at Horsey

 

MEGA NEWS

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT

On beach at Wells and later sadly died, Norfolk

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 

St Agnes, Cornwall

BELTED KINGFISHER

Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Black Guillemot, Grey Phalarope, Pomarine Skua, Little Gulls x 5, Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpipers x 4, Velvet Scoters x 2 off Coastguards, Black Redstart in churchyard at Cley

Snow Buntings x 80, Black Brant at Cley NWT

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm., Shorelarks x 5, Red-necked Grebes x 2 at Holkham Bay

Russian White-fronted Geese x  17, Cattle Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm. at Holme, Titchwell RSPB & Snettisham RSPB

Little Auk at Titchwell RSPB

Hawfinch x 16 at Lynford Aboretum

Pomarine Skuas x 2, Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpiper, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Sheringham

Short-eared Owl SW of Fring

Black-throated Diver at Wells Harbour

Sooty Shearwater, Red-necked Grebe, Black-throated Diver off Holme Dunes

Russian White-fronted Geese x 60 at Cantley Marshes RSPB

Ring Ouzel at Congham, north of Grimston

 

MEGA NEWS

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

BELTED KINGFISHER

Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER

Crookhaven, County Cork, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Snow Buntings x 30, Cattle Egret at Snettisham RSPB

Water Pipits x 6, Cattle Egret at Ken Hill Marsh, Snettisham Coastal Park

ISABELLINE WHEATEAR fem., Black Guillemot, Black Brant, Snow Buntings x 75 at Cley NWT

Siberian Chiffchaff at North Foreland Wood, Black Redstart in churchyard at Cley

Siberian Chiffchaff at Walsey Hills NOA

Little Auks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB

Shorelarks x 5, Grey Phalaropes x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 6, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Velvet Scoters x 3, Great Northern Divers x 2, Black-throated Diver at Holkham Bay

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm., Russian White-fronted Geese x 11 at Holkham Freshmarsh

Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum

Scaup x 2 at Breydon Water

Todd's Canada Goose with Pink-footed Geese x 1,000+ at Bircham Newton

Black-throated Diver at Wells Harbour

Velvet Scoters x 5 at Mundesley

Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

Snow Buntings x 7 at Caister-on-Sea

 

MEGA NEWS

LONG-TOED STINT

Rockcliffe Marsh, Cumbria

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 

Musselburgh, Lothian

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

Isabelline Wheatear at Cley Marshes NWT!

ISABELLINE WHEATEAR 

Cley Marshes NWT

 

 

Late this afternoon I managed to see what was originally ID'd as a Desert Wheatear earlier today and has now been re-identified as an Isabelline Wheatear. This just goes to show that you should question everything you see. After news of this new ID came out this evening, I sat studying my Collins bird book and I can see now that it is indeed an Isabelline Wheatear, even from my picture with the black alula contrasting with the wing and looking at the markings around eye! Also someone else had a brilliant set of photos to confirm its identity here.

I arrived a bit too late really, but managed to get this distant record shot (the other pics are dreadful and out of focus). This bird was in the exact same spot as the last one in November 2019 – see my pictures of the first Isabelline Wheatear for Cley here. Lovely walk along the East Bank and saw a big flock of Snow Buntings on the shingle ridge, a Meadow Pipit and a Stonechat perched up. On the way back a Woodcock flew over and I watched thousands of Pink-footed Geese flying through beautiful orange skies.

Pink-footed Geese 

From East Bank at Cley Marshes NWT

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Hawfinches x 30 at Lynford Aboretum

Purple Sandpipers x 2 at Sheringham

Black Guillemot, Little Auk, Grey Phalaropes x 2, Little Gull, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe off beach car park, Black Redstart in churchyard at Cley

ISABELLINE WHEATEAR fem., Little Auks x 2, Snow Buntings x 100 off East Bank, Water Pipits x 2 at Cley NWT

Little Auk, Short-eared Owl at Salthouse

Dusky Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff at Holkham Pines

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE on west side of lake in trees at Holkham Park

Siberian Chiffchaff at Wells Woods

Pallid or Montagu's Harrier ringtail flew over, Lapland Buntings x 2 at Happisburgh

Black Redstart on Esplanade at Sheringham

Red-flanked Bluetail still and probable Dusky Warbler at Blakeney Point

House Martin flew over, Snow Buntings x 20 at Caister-on-Sea

Little Auk on roof of gold club house at Brancaster

Siberian Chiffchaff, Water Pipit, Common Cranes x 20 at Stubb Mill Roost, Hickling Broad NWT

Lapland Bunting at Holme Dunes

Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT

Black Redstart at South Denes, Great Yarmouth

Hen Harrier at Roydon Common NNR

 

MEGA NEWS

LONG-TOED STINT

At undisclosed location, Cumbria

KILLDEER
Balevullin, Tiree, Argyll & Bute

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 

Fisherrow, Lothian

NORTHERN HARRIER

Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland

FORSTER'S TERN 

Nimmo's Pier, County Galway, Ireland

Birdfair – ‘Glastonbury of birdwatching’ – Cancelled After 30 Years!!!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/23/birdfair-glastonbury-of-birdwatching-cancelled-after-30-years

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59393474

 

https://twitter.com/TheBirdfair/status/1463130214326624263

 

Very, very sad to hear this news!😢

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

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2021_47.aspx?s_id=602159134

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Siberian Chiffchaff, Little Auk, Grey Phalaropes x 2, Black Guillemot, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Snow Bunting, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB

Common Cranes x 6 at East Wretham Heath

Little Auks x 4, Long-eared Owl, Pomarine Skua, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 5, Red-necked Grebe, Scaup x 8, Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter at Sheringham

Hawfinches x 35 at Lynford Aboretum

Sabine's Gull 1w, Little Auks x 2, Long-tailed Duck at Winterton

Shorelarks x 5, Red-necked Grebe, Velvet Scoters x 3 at Holkham Bay

Dusky Warbler at Holkham Pines

Bittern at Whitlingham Country Park

Little Auk at Trimingham

Black Guillemot, Little Auk, Pomarine Skua, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 3 from beach car park, Short-eared Owl at Cley

Snow Buntings x 23 at Cley NWT

Barred Warbler, Great Grey Shrike, Little Auk, Black-throated Diver at Waxham

Richard's Pipit flew over, Velvet Scoter at South Beach, Heacham

Little Auks x 3, Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Black Redstart, Long-tailed Duck flew past Weybourne

Little Stints x 2, Snow Buntings x 20 at Snettisham RSPB

Great Northern Diver, Snow Bunting at Holme Dunes

Whooper Swans x 30 at Hempstead Marshes

Snow Buntings x 13 at North Denes, Black Redstarts x 2 at South Denes, Great Yarmouth

Lapland Buntings x 6, Snow Bunting at Happisburgh

Little Auk, Great Northern Diver at Sidestrand

Short-eared Owl at Blakeney Freshmarsh

Red-flanked Bluetail at Blakeney Point

Hen Harrier male west of North Point Pools at Wells

Water Pipit, Russian White-fronted Geese x 30 flew over, Common Cranes x 39, Hen Harrier male at Stubb Mill Roost, Hickling Broad NWT

Little Auk at Mundesley

Hen Harriers x 3, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Stiffkey

Russian White-fronted Geese x 8, Common Cranes x 5 at Cantley Marshes RSPB

 

MEGA NEWS

KILLDEER

Sandaig, Argyll & Bute

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 

Fisherrow, Lothian

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER

Crookhaven, County Cork, Ireland

Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1L IS USM Lens!!!

I ordered this lens at Wex on 13th September and I have been in a very long queue. I was told that I probably wouldn't get this lens before Christmas, but on Friday I had a phone call to say that a large batch had arrived at Wex and my Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1L IS USM lens was ready to collect! So on Sunday afternoon I nipped over to Wex and collected my lens. This will be the last of my big spending spree on camera gear for many years!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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SUNDAY 21st NOVEMBER

Hawfinches x 35 at Lynford Aboretum

Leach's Petrel, Grey Phalaropes x 3, Little Auks x 2, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Manx Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Puffin, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Little Gulls x 17, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 5, Velvet Scoters x 3, Snow Buntings x 2 offshore, Black Redstart in churchyard at Cley

Leach's Petrel, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Puffins x 7, Sooty Shearwaters x 4, Manx Shearwaters x 7, Arctic Skua, Great Northern Divers x 8, Velvet Scoter, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Little Gulls x 72, Purple Sandpipers x 2, Short-eared Owl at Sheringham

Grey Phalarope, Black-throated Diver, Jack Snipe, Water Pipit, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, Pomarine Skua, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB

Great Grey Shrike, Sooty Shearwaters x 2 at Waxham

Whooper Swans x 11 at Sea Palling

Cattle Egrets x 3, Spoonbills x 10, Common Cranes x 27 at Hickling Broad NWT

Little Auk at Gorleston-on-Sea

Shorelarks x 5, Snow Bunting at Holkham Bay

Pomarine Skua, Short-eared Owl, Great Northern Diver, Snow Buntings x 35 at Weybourne

Great Northern Diver, Snow Buntings x 7 at Winterton

Grey Phalarope at Blakeney Point

Russian White-fronted Goose, Cattle Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh

Little Gulls x 7 at Happisburgh

Grey Phalarope, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Little Gull, Manx Shearwaters x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Velvet Scoter at West Runton

Caspian Gull, Snow Bunting at East Wretham Heath

Pomarine Skuas x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Little Gulls x 2, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater at Holme

Black-throated Diver, Velvet Scoter at Trimingham

Great Northern Divers x 3, Velvet Scoter at Mundesley

 

MEGA NEWS

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

FORSTER'S TERN

Kinvarra, County Galway, Ireland

NORTHERN HARRIER

Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 

Fisherrow, Lothian

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, Great Northern Diver off beach car park, Short-eared Owl at Cley

Grey Phalarope, House Martin, Snow Buntings x 100, Caspian Gull, Russian White-fronted Goose, Slavonian Grebe at Cley NWT

Water Pipit, Black-throated Diver, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB

Snow Buntings x 52 at Gramborough Hill, Grey Phalarope, Russian White-fronted Goose at Salthouse

Great Grey Shrike at Waxham

Hawfinches x 6 at Lynford Aboretum

Shorelarks x 5, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Holkham Bay

Water Pipits x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes

Lapland Bunting at Happisburgh

Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 6, Little Gulls x 5 at Sheringham

Snow Buntings x 40 at Caister-on-Sea

Short-eared Owl at Cromer

Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Common Cranes x 40 at Stubb Mill Roost, Hickling Broad NWT

Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting flew over Wells Harbour

Snow Buntings x 40 at Blakeney Point

 

MEGA NEWS

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER

Crook Haven County Cork, Ireland

NORTHERN HARRIER

Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Hawfinches x 25 at Lynford Aboretum

Great Grey Shrike at Waxham

Siberian Chiffchaff at Beeston Common, Beeston Regis

Black Guillemot, Snow Bunting, Little Gull at Weybourne

Lapland Bunting, Snow Buntings x 18 at Gramborough Hill

Bean Goose sp., Russian White-fronted Goose at Salthouse

Slavonian Grebe, Snow Buntings x 20 at Titchwell RSPB

Shorelarks x 3 at Holkham Bay

Lapland Bunting at Happisburgh

Black Guillemot on sea at Kelling

Hen Harrier at Roydon Common

Tundra Bean Goose at Choseley

Little Auks x 2, Short-eared Owl, Snow Buntings x 100 at Cley NWT

Lesser White-fronted Goose (presumed escape) between Ringstead & Sedgeford

Long-tailed Duck at Holme

Black Guillemot at Sheringham

 

MEGA NEWS

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 

Fisherrow, Lothian

NORTHERN HARRIER

Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland

AMERICAN COOT

Tacumshin, County Wexford, Ireland

LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 

Presumed escape, between Ringstead & Sedgeford

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT

Probable, between Stornoway & Ullapool, Highland and Caithness

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Great Grey Shrike, Purple Sandpiper at Waxham

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE released at Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park

Hawfinches x 10 at Lynford Aboretum

Lapland Bunting at Cley NWT

Black Guillemot on sea at Weybourne

Hen Harrier flew over South Beach, Heacham

Russian White-fronted Goose at Salthouse

Shorelarks x 4 at Holkham Bay

Snow Bunting at Winterton

Whooper Swans x 10 at Sea Palling

Snow Bunting, Manx Shearwater at Cley NWT

Lesser White-fronted Goose (presumed escape), Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 between Ringstead & Sedgeford

Little Stints x 2 at Snettisham RSPB

Caspian Gull at Whitlingham Country Park

Common Cranes x 4 at Welney WWT

Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey

Snow Buntings x 15 at Caister-on-Sea

Bewick's Swans x 11 at Thorpe Marshes, Haddicoe

Hen Harrier at Thornham Harbour

Caspian Gull at Cromer

Common Cranes x 3 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT

Common Cranes x 11 at Ludham

Little Gulls x 8 at Sheringham

Russian White-fronted Goose at Cantley Marshes RSPB

Hawfinch flew over, Serins x 2 (for 2nd day) SSW of Horsford

Common Cranes x 3 at Horsey

 

MEGA NEWS

AMERICAN COOT

Tacumshin, County Wexford, Ireland

NORTHERN HARRIER

Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER

Crook Haven County Cork, Ireland

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 

Fisherrow, Lothian

LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 

Presumed escape, between Ringstead & Sedgeford

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Hawfinches x 22 at Lynford Aboretum

Great Grey Shrike, Lapland Bunting flew over Waxham

Common Cranes x 12 north of Clippesby

Shorelarks x 5 at Holkham Bay

Yellow-browed Warbler reported at Titchwell RSPB

Little Auk on sea at Salthouse

Black Guillemot at Weybourne

Hen Harrier male at Snettisham RSPB

Snow Buntings x 7, Manx Shearwater at Kelling

Snow Buntings x 10 on beach at Winterton

Black-throated Diver at Holme

Great Northern Diver, Puffin, Little Gulls x 6 at Sheringham

Snow Buntings x 60 at Happisburgh

Common Cranes x 12 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT

Snow Buntings x 34 at Cley NWT

 

MEGA NEWS

AMERICAN COOT

Tacumshin, County Wexford, Ireland

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING

Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 

Joppa, Lothian

Holme Reserves and Titchwell RSPB!

Snettisham Coastal Park

Monday 14th October

 

I had intended on going out birding all day yesterday, but felt incredibly fatigued. I did go out for a short while in the end, to Snettisham Coastal Park, just before dark, where I saw a few Blackbirds and Redwings. As the sun was setting, I had spectacular views of thousands upon thousands of Pink-footed Geese flying over in massive skeins over The Wash.

 

Holme Reserves

I searched hard to try and find my own birds today – a Pallas's Warbler would have been fabulous, but that wasn't to be. I started at Holme and searched all the scrub around the village car park and behind the back of the bungalows along the coastal footpath – shockingly, it was completely devoid of any birds.

Continued my search and on route to the NWT Forestry I found a Stonechat perched in the sueda and a Little Egret flew over. In the Forestry itself, I saw a Robin, 1 Blackbird, 1 Redwing and a Pheasant. Golden Plover and Starlings flew over and a few Curlew were on the marshes. Returned to my car and drove along the Firs Road and parked up in the NWT car park, next to the large sycamore tree. No birds seen here at all. I noticed the NOA has replaced the seat in the corner of the car park, which looks very nice. Walked along the path via the Firs House to the coastal footpath through the pines and found 1 Blue Tit only!

Walked through the gate to Holme Bird Observatory, where there were tons of duck on the Broadwater, mostly Wigeon and Teal, but also good numbers of Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and 2 Little Grebes. Chatted with Keith briefly (who was doing some maintenance work at NOA) and later on Gary Elton (A.W.). Paused to spend a few moments where my parent's ashes lie and then headed back to my car. Spent a few minutes in the hide at Redwell Marsh, but only saw a handful of Wigeon, Teal and a single Redshank – there were a couple of Mallards in the River Hun.

Titchwell RSPB

It was mid afternoon by the time I arrived and on hindsight, I wish I had come here this morning, as there were far more birds to see here, as is usually the case when Autumn migration has finished, which may well be now! Its quite shocking when you realise how quickly the months have disappeared – I didn't have time to go birding in Norfolk on the run up to Shetland and I have not been to Titchwell, since they have done their improvements to the reserve. I was very impressed to find they have new toilets and sink etc! They look absolutely fantastic and there are hooks on the back of the doors to hang you gear on, at last! My only criticism is having only one hand dryer and it doesn't dry your hands really at all, as another lady and I discussed! The best (and of course most expensive) public hand dryers are the Dyson ones, which are very quick indeed.

Said hello to Sue B. and also to Trever G. and bumped into several familiar faces, including some new blog readers – nice to meet you all. Had a lovely walk round the Meadow and Fen Trail – it was late in the day, so didn't see very much in this area, but plenty of duck on Patsy's Pool.

Along the main path, there were several Marsh Harriers over the reedbeds and a Great White Egret was in a new channel. New islands have been created on the freshwater marsh, which were all full of birds and look absolutely brilliant. Loads of Golden Plover, Lapwings, Starlings, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Black-headed Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, 5 Avocets, a few Black-tailed Godwit and lots of Dunlin feeding right in front of Island Hide! I also saw a Jack Snipe sitting motionless at the edge of the reeds. After walking out of the hide, I immediately picked up a ringtail Hen Harrier over the west side of the path over Thornham Point, much to the joy of another birder who had wanted to see one on his trip here – nice to meet you and glad you saw the Hen Harrier. A Cetti's Warbler burst into song briefly and the Great White Egret was at the very far end of the new channel. Also bumped into Chris M. with a tour party and followed behind them in the failing light to the car park. Sadly I didn't have time to walk any further, so I don't know what other changes have been made further along. I will have to return next weekend. Drove home via Ringstead.

I have felt very tired for months now and I'm not sure if its Long Covid or what is going on. Requested a GP telephone call today and after discussion, I'm being sent for a a full blood test this week. The last time I had a blood test, I was very low in Vitamin D and was prescribed some high dosage tablets and then continued on a general Vitamin D tablet (as recommended from GP) daily from the chemist, which I'm still doing, so I don't think its that.