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


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Saturday 30 July 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  

Lesser Yellowlegs, Turtle Dove, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spoonbils x 4 at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint, Spoonbills x 4 at Cley NWT
Garganey, Wood Sandpiper at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Honey Buzzard at raptor watchpoint (do not park on road) at Swanton Novers
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Wood Sandpiper on Langmere at East Wretham Heath NWT
Garganey, Curlew Sandpipers x 4 at Breydon Water
Hooded Crow at Warham Greens
BEE-EATERS 8+ (7 ads.) in sand quarry at RSPB view point. Park ONLY in designated field, south of Gimingham Road/Mundesley Road junction. 7am-7pm £5.00 charge (cash only). NO access to quarry – SE of Trimingham
Spoonbill at Welney WWT
Turtle Dove at North Point Pools, Wells
Black Redstart juv. on seafront at Sheringham
 
MEGA NEWS
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
TURKESTAN SHRIKE Male
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
LEAST TERN
North of Portrane, County Dublin, Ireland

Weekend Update!

Quick health update. Completely fed up with my situation, so don't really want to talk about it too much, but in summary I have seen an Occupational Health Doctor, who has done a report, had an HR and review meeting.

Annoyingly my symptoms have got worse again and I have had almost no sleep for the last two nights because of nerve pain in arm and shoulder and unable to get comfortable in bed.

Right now, my left arm is pulsating with nerve pain right down to my wrist and that's after taking Gabapentin an hour ago, seriously bored with this now. Back to typing one handed again and using mouse on right side!

I was originally only referred for an MRi for Cervical Spine, so had to go for a second assessment on Wednesday where the doctor I saw decided that I did need an MRi on my entire spine (Lumbar and Clavicle too). I have a date now for my MRi on 18th August at a clinic near Norwich, which is good news and can't come soon enough. It  will take 7-10 days to receive the results I was told.

Friday 29 July 2022

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 14, Spotted Redshanks x 4, Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Lesser Yellowlegs, Turtle Doves x 2, Black Redstart, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 6 at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Sandpipers x 4, Little Stint, Spoonbills x 10 at Cley NWT
Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 4 at Breydon Water
BEE-EATERS 11+ (4+ young at nest) in sand quarry at RSPB view point. Park ONLY in designated field, south of Gimingham Road/Mundesley Road junction. 7am-7pm £5.00 charge (cash only). NO access to quarry – SE of Trimingham
Black-necked Grebe on reservoir at Thorpe End
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cromer
Honey Buzzards x 2 at raptor watchpoint (do not park on road) at Swanton Novers
Spotted Redshank at Cantley Beet Factory
Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbill at Brendan's Marsh, Hickling Broad NWT
 
MEGA NEWS
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
TURKESTAN SHRIKE Male
Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Thursday 28 July 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  

Lesser Yellowlegs, Montagu's Harrier, Spotted Redshanks x 5, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
BEE-EATERS x 6+ (2+ young at nest) in sand quarry at RSPB view point. Park ONLY in designated field, south of Gimingham Road/Mundesley Road junction. 7am-7pm £5.00 charge (cash only). NO access to quarry – SE of Trimingham
Honey Buzzards x 4 at raptor watchpoint (do not park on road) at Swanton Novers
Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spoonbills x 7, Little Stints x 2 at Cley NWT
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Spotted Redshanks x 4, Spoonbills x 12 at Snettisham RSPB
Spoonbills x 3 at North Point Pools, Wells
Spoonbills x 2 at Morston Quay
Spoonbills x 5 at Holme
Spoonbill at Breydon Water
 
MEGA NEWS
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
TURKESTAN SHRIKE Male
Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Wednesday 27 July 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  

Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Curlew Sandpiper at Snettisham RSPB
BEE-EATERS x 5+ (2+ young at nest) in sand quarry at RSPB view point. Park ONLY in designated field, south of Gimingham Road/Mundesley Road junction. 7am-7pm £5.00 charge (cash only). NO access to quarry – SE of Trimingham
Honey Buzzards x 3 at raptor watchpoint (do not park on road) at Swanton Novers
Wood Sandpiper at Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park
Spoonbills x 4 between Holme & Thornham Harbour
Spoonbills x 9 at Cley NWT
Quail west of church at Hempstead
Spoonbills x 4 flew over Morston
Caspian Gull at Cromer
 
MEGA NEWS
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
TURKESTAN SHRIKE Male
Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Tuesday 26 July 2022

Snettisham Coastal Park – The Charred Remains!

I've been pretty low in mood over the last few days due to my ongoing medical issues and not been out for any exercise at all, so this evening, I pushed myself to get out for a while. Snettisham Coastal Park was probably the last place I should have gone to, when I was feeling rubbish, but there we go.

The charred remains and utter devastation at Snettisham Coastal Park was far worse than I was expecting from the raging fires last Tuesday. The only positive thing was that the western end was saved – the area with the pines closest to the car park. To my delight I saw 2 Turtle Doves on the wires here.

The burnt scrub roughly starts at the end of the large open area where the Wheatears and Ring Ouzels are seen in Spring and Autumn. I followed the lower path from here. The vast areas of burnt scrub was dark and depressing. The stench of the burnt vegetation and ash filled your nostrils. The black remains of a rabbit lay amongst the shapes of black and ash. The scrub where I saw a Little Bunting once has gone. So much gone. Some of the tallest trees remain, but are charred black with either no leaves or badly scorched.

The fire had also spread over the outer seawall (next to the sea) and taken out all the Marram grass (dunes) and vegetation here for a long, long stretch. It was the worst fire destruction of habitat I have seen first hand. The burnt scrub goes beyond the dam towards Heacham, but stops just at the kissing gate, along the inner sea wall – so the area where the Great Reed Warblers were being watched earlier in the year is fine. How the fire brigade stopped it reaching Heacham, I will never know! OR how they stopped it spreading to the west end of the coastal park? It could have been so much worse.

The slope on the landward side of the inner sea wall, adjacent to the marshes is also burnt out. A juv. Spoonbill flew east over Ken Hill Marsh as I walked back along the inner sea wall. Even more sad was seeing Wood Pigeons perched on black scorched trees and Swans in the dyke next to the blackened reeds. There are always small positives – I saw 6 youngish Coots, so they obviously survived the trauma of these raging fires.

I know in time, it should recover, but it will takes years to get back to where it was, if it does at all? Another heatwave, a glass bottle magnified by the sun? We still have not had any decent fall of rain, there were a few drops in King's Lynn last night, but not enough to even cover the ground, never mind soften the concrete mud!

pictures taken on iphone to be added tomorrow

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  

Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Spoonbills x 11 at Titchwell RSPB
Garganey, Spoonbill at Welney WWT
BEE-EATERS x 6+ (2+ young at nest) in sand quarry at RSPB view point. Park ONLY in designated field, south of Gimingham Road/Mundesley Road junction. 7am-7pm £5.00 charge (cash only). NO access to quarry – SE of Trimingham
Spoonbills x 3, Spotted Redshanks x 6 at Snettisham RSPB
Turtle Doves x 2, Spoonbills x 13+ at Ken Hill Marsh, Snettisham Coastal Park
Honey Buzzard at raptor watchpoint (do not park on road) at Swanton Novers
Wood Sandpiper at North Point Pools, Wells
Spoonbills x 2 at Holme
Spoonbills x 2 at Thornham Harbour
Spoonbills x 21 at Stiffkey Fen
Caspian Gull at Cromer
 
MEGA NEWS
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
TURKESTAN SHRIKE Male
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
LEAST TERN
North of Portrane, County Dublin, Ireland
ELEGANT TERN
West of Kinvarra at Inishroo, County Galway, Ireland

RBA Weekly Round-Up 19th to 25th July!

By Jon Dunn

Monday 25 July 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  

Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 5, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbills x 10 at Thornham Harbour
Night Heron at Cley NWT
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cromer
Turtle Dove, Wood Sandpipers x 4 at North Point Pools, Wells
BEE-EATERS x 7+ (2+ young at nest) in sand quarry at RSPB view point. Park ONLY in designated field, south of Gimingham Road/Mundesley Road junction. 7am-7pm £5.00 charge (cash only). NO access to quarry – SE of Trimingham
Caspian Tern, Spoonbills x 10 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Honey Buzzards x 3 at raptor watchpoint (do not park on road) at Swanton Novers
Spoonbills x 17 at Holme
Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Spoonbill at Welney WWT
Caspian Gull at UEA Broad, Norwich
 
MEGA NEWS
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
TURKESTAN SHRIKE Male
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
LEAST TERN
North of Portrane, County Dublin, Ireland

Longest Blog Subscriber!

I was very sad to hear on Sunday, that my longest blog subscriber very sadly passed away on Friday, RIP Terry B. and my most sincere condolences to his family.

🕊  🕊  🕊

Sunday 24 July 2022

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  

BEE-EATERS x 6+ (2+ young at nest) in sand quarry at RSPB view point. Park ONLY in designated field, south of Gimingham Road/Mundesley Road junction. 7am-7pm £5.00 charge (cash only). NO access to quarry – SE of Trimingham
Night Heron at Cley NWT
Lesser Yellowlegs, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 8, Little Gull, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Spoonbills x 25 at Stiffkey Fen
Honey Buzzards x 3 at raptor watchpoint (do not park on road) at Swanton Novers
Spoonbills x 2 at Burgh Castle
Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Spoonbills x 15 at Thornham Harbour
Long-tailed Blue Butterfly in garden briefly at Thetford
Turtle Dove singing, Wood Sandpiper at North Point Pools, Wells
Caspian Gull at Cromer
 
MEGA NEWS
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
TURKESTAN SHRIKE Male
Bempton Cliffs RSPB
FEA'S or DESERTAS PETRELS
One flew past Galley Head, second bird past Cape Clear, two past Myross Island, County Cork, Ireland

Saturday 23 July 2022

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 

Wood Sandpiper at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Wood Sandpiper, Little Gull at Cley NWT
BEE-EATERS 8+ (2+young in nest) at sand quarry from RSPB view point. Park ONLY in designated field south of Gimingham Road/Mundesley Road junction 7am-7pm  £5 charge. NO access to quarry – SE of Trimingham
Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Spoonbill at Welney WWT
Spoonbills x 30 at Stiffkey Fen
Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Redshank, Little Gull, Spoonbills x 11 at Titchwell RSPB
Hen Harrier male flew south of Downham Market
Honey Buzzard at raptor watchpoint (do not park on road) at Swanton Novers
Honey Buzzard at Sidestrand
Spoonbills x 13 at Thornham Harbour
Curlew Sandpiper at Snettisham RSPB
 
MEGA NEWS
TURKESTAN SHRIKE male
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
FORSTER'S TERN
West of Kinvarra at Inishroo, County Galway, Ireland
LEAST TERN
Rogerstown Estuary, County Dublin, Ireland

Friday 22 July 2022

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 

Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
BEE-EATERS 6+ (2+young in nest) at sand quarry from RSPB view point. Park ONLY in designated field south of Gimingham Road/Mundesley Road junction 7am-7pm  £5 charge. NO access to quarry – SE of Trimingham
Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Garganey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbill at Thornham Harbour
Osprey flew over Holme Dunes NWT
Spoonbills x 3 at Snettisham RSPB
Honey Buzzards x 3 at raptor watchpoint (do not park on road) at Swanton Novers
Spoonbills x 18 at Hickling Broad NWT
Little Gull, Spoonbills x 2 at Breydon Water
Wood Sandpiper at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Kelling Water Meadow
 
MEGA NEWS
TURKESTAN SHRIKE male
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
ELEGANT TERN
West of Kinvarra at Inishroo, County Galway, Ireland
LEAST TERN
North of Portrane, County Dublin, Ireland