Main Highlights – RBA
Spoonbills x 11, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Little Gulls x 2 at Breydon Water
Spoonbill, Spotted Redshanks x 7, Little Gulls x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbills x 2 Burnham Overy Staithe
Spoonbills x 2 at Redwell Marsh Reserve, NOA (Note: hide is locked, for NOA members only)
Other News
BRIDLED TERN remains in Northumberland, off Croquet Island from Boat Trip
The Eagle Owl is still around in King's Lynn, see latest comments on my post HERE
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Monday, 8 July 2013
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
Spotted Redshanks x 12, Little Gull, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Little Gulls x 2 at Breydon Water
Spoonbills x 5, Black Tern, Little Gull, Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Cley NWT
Other News
BRIDLED TERN remains in Northumberland at Chevington NWT (about time you started flying south I think Mr Tern and when you do don't forget to stop in Norfolk!!!)
BBC News reports on the
MEGA Ascension Frigatebird
Also another account and picture HERE
Blimey No. 26 in the Birding Top 1000 Fatbirder ratings, climbing steadily to steal Birdforum's No. 1 spot!!! Ha Ha!
Spotted Redshanks x 12, Little Gull, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Little Gulls x 2 at Breydon Water
Spoonbills x 5, Black Tern, Little Gull, Continental Black-tailed Godwit at Cley NWT
Other News
BRIDLED TERN remains in Northumberland at Chevington NWT (about time you started flying south I think Mr Tern and when you do don't forget to stop in Norfolk!!!)
BBC News reports on the
MEGA Ascension Frigatebird
Also another account and picture HERE
Blimey No. 26 in the Birding Top 1000 Fatbirder ratings, climbing steadily to steal Birdforum's No. 1 spot!!! Ha Ha!
Titchwell RSPB
Sunday Evening
Worked this morning, which wasn't in the least bit funny in this heatwave. Got home, cleaned bike up, as I now have to cycle to work every day – can't take the car any more as new rules have been implemented – if you live within two miles of the hospital you can not park at 'Peak Times'. This is because of the dire car parking situation at the hospital. I don't like being told how I am going to travel to work!
Watched the most exciting Wimbledon Final since Virginia Wade won in 1977 – showing my age now! I can remember my mother, sisters and I jumping up and down and screaming with excitement when she won that final! Had a shower, cooked my tea and then left to go birding in celebration of Andy's win!
Titchwell RSPB – Island Hide 8.00-9.30pm
It was a beautiful evening and there were tons of birds on the scrapes. 1 Spoonbill, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Little Gulls, 280+ Black-tailed Godwits, loads of Knot, a few Ruffs, Avocets with chicks, Common Terns with 3 teenage chicks, Redshanks, Shelducks, Lapwings, Little Egrets, Pied Wagtail and juvs, Starlings etc. The Spoonbill flew over the main path in the setting sun towards Thornham at 9.30pm.
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
Worked this morning, which wasn't in the least bit funny in this heatwave. Got home, cleaned bike up, as I now have to cycle to work every day – can't take the car any more as new rules have been implemented – if you live within two miles of the hospital you can not park at 'Peak Times'. This is because of the dire car parking situation at the hospital. I don't like being told how I am going to travel to work!
Watched the most exciting Wimbledon Final since Virginia Wade won in 1977 – showing my age now! I can remember my mother, sisters and I jumping up and down and screaming with excitement when she won that final! Had a shower, cooked my tea and then left to go birding in celebration of Andy's win!
Titchwell RSPB – Island Hide 8.00-9.30pm
It was a beautiful evening and there were tons of birds on the scrapes. 1 Spoonbill, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Little Gulls, 280+ Black-tailed Godwits, loads of Knot, a few Ruffs, Avocets with chicks, Common Terns with 3 teenage chicks, Redshanks, Shelducks, Lapwings, Little Egrets, Pied Wagtail and juvs, Starlings etc. The Spoonbill flew over the main path in the setting sun towards Thornham at 9.30pm.
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
Sunday, 7 July 2013
Norfolk Birding!
Main Highlights – RBA
Spoonbills x 7 at Cley NWT
Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Arctic Tern, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water
Honey Buzzard at Swanton Novers
Other News
BRIDLED TERN remains in Northumberland at Cresswell Pond and Chevington NWT
BIGGER NEWS
ANDY MURRAY HAS WON WIMBLEDON!!!!!
Spoonbills x 7 at Cley NWT
Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Arctic Tern, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water
Honey Buzzard at Swanton Novers
Other News
BRIDLED TERN remains in Northumberland at Cresswell Pond and Chevington NWT
BIGGER NEWS
ANDY MURRAY HAS WON WIMBLEDON!!!!!
ANDY MURRAY HAS WON!!!!
OMG!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/23217393
"Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon title and ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's champion with a brilliant victory over world number one Novak Djokovic."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/23217393
"Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon title and ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's champion with a brilliant victory over world number one Novak Djokovic."
Saturday, 6 July 2013
THE BIG TWITCH!!!
BRIDLED TERN, Northumberland
with Andy Wilkinson and Justin Lansdell
On Friday evening Andy asked me if I wanted to twitch the Bridled Tern and I found myself saying yes – well, eventually! I had thought seriously about that Ascension Frigatebird too, but the logistics of getting to Islay, the cost, time and high risk of not seeing the bird, seemed impossible. Even Eddie was tempted, who 'needed it for his world list'. But in the end common sense took over and I opted for the Bridled Tern!
Every twitch I have been on with Andy and Justin is always guaranteed to be hugely entertaining. All of us have fascinating conversations and they both make me roar with laughter. So whatever happens, their company is always excellent. Every bird I have twitched with them has been bagged and I have become used to this and it has become expected. I have never thought for a moment that we wouldn't see a bird we were twitching, the thought has never entered my head!
After phoning Andy back at around 10.45pm to confirm I was going, I left the house to get cash and snacks from the garage. I then had a shower, washed hair, made sandwiches, got birding and camera gear ready by door and had no time left for even a minutes nap! Andy left his house at 12am, got to Justin's at 1am and then picked me up (Justin driving), just after 2am Saturday morning. Justin was currently on holiday with his family and was not exactly supposed to be twitching, luckily he has a very understanding wife! We made good time and stopped at a MacDonalds near our destination for a take away breakfast – I had egg and cheese in a bun, which was really nice. The sunrise was really beautiful with an unsually bright red sun and it just looked like it was going to be a scorcher today.
We arrived at Cresswell Pond at 6.20am. We parked up on the verge, along the narrow road. To our left was Cresswell Pond, which is a large brackish lagoon and on the opposite side of the road are dunes and the sea. Well this all looked very easy and relaxed – pull up and wait for bird to appear over the pond! So we waited and we waited. Nice to bump into Rob Lambert here and also Coventry birder John Jennings. We ate, dozed and we waited. Birds seen here were: 11 Little Gulls, 3 Arctic Terns, Common Terns, Linnets, Herons, 3 Dunlins, 2 Avocets, Barn Owl, Curlew x 4. Even though it was very beautiful here, we got a bit bored in the end and decided to follow the short path opposite the pond out to the dunes to have a look at the sea. It was absolutely fabulous to be watching Puffins, loads of them dotted all over the sea! Also saw 3 Arctic Skuas, Common Terns, 3 Eider, Guillemot, Red-throated Diver, loads of Common Scoter. Also Goldfinches flying over and 2 Tree Sparrows! Coquet Island is visible from here and there was talk of the Bridled Tern possibly roosting there at night. Norfolk birders Ian B. and Richard were also here and lots of birding stories were told whilst we stood here to keep us entertained. Andy flagged after a while and collapsed in the dunes for a nap (see picture).
Suddenly we were running – news of the bird over the pond had come through. But, on reaching the pond, we found the news was inaccurate and it was actually at another pond, further along the road or so we were led to believe, so we all flew up the road to find absolutely nothing. No one knew where that message came from or if the tern had actually been seen or not, but it kept us on our toes! We decided to carry on up the road a few miles away to Chevington NWT to have a look at the pools there. Arctic and Common Terns and also a Lesser Whitethroat and female Marsh Harrier were seen, but nothing else of note. It was incredibly hot now and there was no shade. We returned to Cresswell Pool and re-parked the car, back where we had started. We all had a nap in the car at different stages! 2 Ruddy Shelducks flew south over the pond, an adult Summer. plumage Med Gull flew over the dunes and a Little Grebe and Common Buzzard were added to the day list.
At 12.52am a message came through on the pager to say 'MEGA, Cleveland, Bridled Tern Ad Saltholme RSPB on island from visitor centre at 12.52pm'. We were off, with every other car in convoy! As Justin said, at least it was south and on our way back to Norfolk. We drove like the wind and I waved at a few people we knew, as Justin overtook them!!! Our hearts sank, as the traffic very suddenly came to a complete standstill. We didn't know what was going on, but we crawled along for what seemed like ages. Another pager message came through that the bird was still there at 1.45pm. A further message stated that the bird was still there at 2.07pm as we drove along the track to the carpark. All of us were excited and we felt like we were going to see this bird, we were there and so close. Abandoned the car in the carpark at 2.10pm as did other birders and I ran, as did others, along the path, through the visitor centre, left and onto a viewing platform that overlooked the island. Everything then seemed a blur and all the voices with those words 'its flown' 'was mobbed ferociously by the common terns' just seemed unreal, we slumped into disappointment and despair! How could we have missed it by so few minutes. It later turned out that the 2.07pm pager message was 'erroneous' and that the bird was last seen at 1.50pm and flew NE over the A178 towards Tees Estuary. So we had missed it by 20 minutes! We obviously hoped that the bird would return and we stood with approximately another 100+ birders to wait. We had fantastic views of an Adult Roseate Tern sitting on posts with Common Tern and Arctic Terns at 3.30pm. It turned out that the Roseate Tern WAS in fact bird of the day! Loads of Sand Martins here. Because of the rush from the car earlier, I had forgotten to bring my scarf with me and I really started to suffer with heat stroke, as did Andy and Justin. We were completely exposed to the sun where we stood and it was the hottest time of the day. All of us dared to leave this spot to go into the Visitor Centre to loos and the cafe. Justin returned with a scrumptious looking cheese scone with butter. It was too tempting and in the end I succumbed and off I went to the cafe, but I was moments too late, the last cheese scone had just been sold, so I had to make do with a cherry scone which although nice, was not quite the same. On my return Richard (Norfolk birder) declared with a smile, that he had bought the last cheese scone, great! Lots of birders here including Neil Glen, Rob Lambert again along with John Jennings etc. The longer we stood here the more we realised this bird was not coming back. We just had to face the fact that we had dipped, big time! On a separate note, I was very impressed with this reserve and the layout of the huge visitor centre with the cafe upstairs on another level and a viewing point/veranda adjacent to the cafe and all the staff seemed very helpful. Sheer exhaustion and heat got the better of us and we decided to leave and head back to Norfolk. As we walked back to the visitor centre I passed John Jennings, who said 'I know..... don't say anything' – his face said it all (see his account of the day HERE). Back in the carpark the car was so hot you could have cooked burgers in there! We set off at 5.20pm and Justin said if the bird returned in the next half an hour we would head back.
As we cruised home a message came on the pager that at 6.34pm the Bridled Tern was seen again, but not at Saltholme! It had flown back north to Chevington NWT where we had been this morning – arghhhhhhh!!!!!! Bl**dy bird, my god how frustrating was that!!! I expected it to turn up again somewhere this evening, it was always going to! We had wonderful views of a Red Kite alongside the car, north of Wetherby Race Course along the A1. We stopped at Burger King on route and had a healthy tea of more burgers and chips and then continued home. Justin and Andy dropped me off at just after 9pm. I stumbled into the house and sorted my gear. It felt heaven to get in the shower after the intense heat today. Goodness knows what time Justin got back to his holiday cottage in Suffolk!!! I wrote one sentence on my blog: 'heatstroke, shower, bed, work in morning, blog write up on Sunday.' Got into bed by 10.15pm.
Huge thanks to Justin for driving and for both Andy and Justin's excellent company as always. Our record of seeing all rares twitched together has been broken – I suppose it had to happen one day! Looking forward to the next twitch with them, although it won't be for the Bridled Tern again, I will wait until it arrives in Norfolk! I later heard that several people have been a second time and a third in attempt to see this magnificant tern and frustratingly dipped every time. We heard far worse stories than ours! The title of this post should really be changed to "THE BIG DIP"!!! So, I dipped on a Bridled Tern and a cheese scone, oh well!
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
with Andy Wilkinson and Justin Lansdell
On Friday evening Andy asked me if I wanted to twitch the Bridled Tern and I found myself saying yes – well, eventually! I had thought seriously about that Ascension Frigatebird too, but the logistics of getting to Islay, the cost, time and high risk of not seeing the bird, seemed impossible. Even Eddie was tempted, who 'needed it for his world list'. But in the end common sense took over and I opted for the Bridled Tern!
Every twitch I have been on with Andy and Justin is always guaranteed to be hugely entertaining. All of us have fascinating conversations and they both make me roar with laughter. So whatever happens, their company is always excellent. Every bird I have twitched with them has been bagged and I have become used to this and it has become expected. I have never thought for a moment that we wouldn't see a bird we were twitching, the thought has never entered my head!
After phoning Andy back at around 10.45pm to confirm I was going, I left the house to get cash and snacks from the garage. I then had a shower, washed hair, made sandwiches, got birding and camera gear ready by door and had no time left for even a minutes nap! Andy left his house at 12am, got to Justin's at 1am and then picked me up (Justin driving), just after 2am Saturday morning. Justin was currently on holiday with his family and was not exactly supposed to be twitching, luckily he has a very understanding wife! We made good time and stopped at a MacDonalds near our destination for a take away breakfast – I had egg and cheese in a bun, which was really nice. The sunrise was really beautiful with an unsually bright red sun and it just looked like it was going to be a scorcher today.
We arrived at Cresswell Pond at 6.20am. We parked up on the verge, along the narrow road. To our left was Cresswell Pond, which is a large brackish lagoon and on the opposite side of the road are dunes and the sea. Well this all looked very easy and relaxed – pull up and wait for bird to appear over the pond! So we waited and we waited. Nice to bump into Rob Lambert here and also Coventry birder John Jennings. We ate, dozed and we waited. Birds seen here were: 11 Little Gulls, 3 Arctic Terns, Common Terns, Linnets, Herons, 3 Dunlins, 2 Avocets, Barn Owl, Curlew x 4. Even though it was very beautiful here, we got a bit bored in the end and decided to follow the short path opposite the pond out to the dunes to have a look at the sea. It was absolutely fabulous to be watching Puffins, loads of them dotted all over the sea! Also saw 3 Arctic Skuas, Common Terns, 3 Eider, Guillemot, Red-throated Diver, loads of Common Scoter. Also Goldfinches flying over and 2 Tree Sparrows! Coquet Island is visible from here and there was talk of the Bridled Tern possibly roosting there at night. Norfolk birders Ian B. and Richard were also here and lots of birding stories were told whilst we stood here to keep us entertained. Andy flagged after a while and collapsed in the dunes for a nap (see picture).
Suddenly we were running – news of the bird over the pond had come through. But, on reaching the pond, we found the news was inaccurate and it was actually at another pond, further along the road or so we were led to believe, so we all flew up the road to find absolutely nothing. No one knew where that message came from or if the tern had actually been seen or not, but it kept us on our toes! We decided to carry on up the road a few miles away to Chevington NWT to have a look at the pools there. Arctic and Common Terns and also a Lesser Whitethroat and female Marsh Harrier were seen, but nothing else of note. It was incredibly hot now and there was no shade. We returned to Cresswell Pool and re-parked the car, back where we had started. We all had a nap in the car at different stages! 2 Ruddy Shelducks flew south over the pond, an adult Summer. plumage Med Gull flew over the dunes and a Little Grebe and Common Buzzard were added to the day list.
At 12.52am a message came through on the pager to say 'MEGA, Cleveland, Bridled Tern Ad Saltholme RSPB on island from visitor centre at 12.52pm'. We were off, with every other car in convoy! As Justin said, at least it was south and on our way back to Norfolk. We drove like the wind and I waved at a few people we knew, as Justin overtook them!!! Our hearts sank, as the traffic very suddenly came to a complete standstill. We didn't know what was going on, but we crawled along for what seemed like ages. Another pager message came through that the bird was still there at 1.45pm. A further message stated that the bird was still there at 2.07pm as we drove along the track to the carpark. All of us were excited and we felt like we were going to see this bird, we were there and so close. Abandoned the car in the carpark at 2.10pm as did other birders and I ran, as did others, along the path, through the visitor centre, left and onto a viewing platform that overlooked the island. Everything then seemed a blur and all the voices with those words 'its flown' 'was mobbed ferociously by the common terns' just seemed unreal, we slumped into disappointment and despair! How could we have missed it by so few minutes. It later turned out that the 2.07pm pager message was 'erroneous' and that the bird was last seen at 1.50pm and flew NE over the A178 towards Tees Estuary. So we had missed it by 20 minutes! We obviously hoped that the bird would return and we stood with approximately another 100+ birders to wait. We had fantastic views of an Adult Roseate Tern sitting on posts with Common Tern and Arctic Terns at 3.30pm. It turned out that the Roseate Tern WAS in fact bird of the day! Loads of Sand Martins here. Because of the rush from the car earlier, I had forgotten to bring my scarf with me and I really started to suffer with heat stroke, as did Andy and Justin. We were completely exposed to the sun where we stood and it was the hottest time of the day. All of us dared to leave this spot to go into the Visitor Centre to loos and the cafe. Justin returned with a scrumptious looking cheese scone with butter. It was too tempting and in the end I succumbed and off I went to the cafe, but I was moments too late, the last cheese scone had just been sold, so I had to make do with a cherry scone which although nice, was not quite the same. On my return Richard (Norfolk birder) declared with a smile, that he had bought the last cheese scone, great! Lots of birders here including Neil Glen, Rob Lambert again along with John Jennings etc. The longer we stood here the more we realised this bird was not coming back. We just had to face the fact that we had dipped, big time! On a separate note, I was very impressed with this reserve and the layout of the huge visitor centre with the cafe upstairs on another level and a viewing point/veranda adjacent to the cafe and all the staff seemed very helpful. Sheer exhaustion and heat got the better of us and we decided to leave and head back to Norfolk. As we walked back to the visitor centre I passed John Jennings, who said 'I know..... don't say anything' – his face said it all (see his account of the day HERE). Back in the carpark the car was so hot you could have cooked burgers in there! We set off at 5.20pm and Justin said if the bird returned in the next half an hour we would head back.
As we cruised home a message came on the pager that at 6.34pm the Bridled Tern was seen again, but not at Saltholme! It had flown back north to Chevington NWT where we had been this morning – arghhhhhhh!!!!!! Bl**dy bird, my god how frustrating was that!!! I expected it to turn up again somewhere this evening, it was always going to! We had wonderful views of a Red Kite alongside the car, north of Wetherby Race Course along the A1. We stopped at Burger King on route and had a healthy tea of more burgers and chips and then continued home. Justin and Andy dropped me off at just after 9pm. I stumbled into the house and sorted my gear. It felt heaven to get in the shower after the intense heat today. Goodness knows what time Justin got back to his holiday cottage in Suffolk!!! I wrote one sentence on my blog: 'heatstroke, shower, bed, work in morning, blog write up on Sunday.' Got into bed by 10.15pm.
Huge thanks to Justin for driving and for both Andy and Justin's excellent company as always. Our record of seeing all rares twitched together has been broken – I suppose it had to happen one day! Looking forward to the next twitch with them, although it won't be for the Bridled Tern again, I will wait until it arrives in Norfolk! I later heard that several people have been a second time and a third in attempt to see this magnificant tern and frustratingly dipped every time. We heard far worse stories than ours! The title of this post should really be changed to "THE BIG DIP"!!! So, I dipped on a Bridled Tern and a cheese scone, oh well!
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
Spoonbills x 5, Spotted Redshanks x 6, Little Gull at Cley NWT
Spoonbill, Crossbill, Spotted Redshanks x 15 at Titchwell RSPB
Black Tern at Horsey
Other News
Honey Buzzard at Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire
MEGA! BRIDLED TERN! again today, but at Saltholme Reserve RSPB, from Visitor Centre at 12.52pm for less than 18 minutes and then not seen again until 6.40pm where it was found having flown north to Chevington NWT and then again at 8.25pm briefly.
Spoonbills x 5, Spotted Redshanks x 6, Little Gull at Cley NWT
Spoonbill, Crossbill, Spotted Redshanks x 15 at Titchwell RSPB
Black Tern at Horsey
Other News
Honey Buzzard at Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire
MEGA! BRIDLED TERN! again today, but at Saltholme Reserve RSPB, from Visitor Centre at 12.52pm for less than 18 minutes and then not seen again until 6.40pm where it was found having flown north to Chevington NWT and then again at 8.25pm briefly.
Friday, 5 July 2013
Andy Murray wins Wimbledon Semi-Final!!!
A thrilling match, can't wait until Sunday for the final!!!
STOP PRESS!!! MEGA, 'FRIGGAN' MONSTER BIRD!!! ASCENSION FRIGATEBIRD!!!
ASCENSION FRIGATEBIRD Juv.
ISLAY at Bowmore on Pier, SCOTLAND OMG!!!Seen at 8.25am on the Pier wall, then in flight at 8.43am and last seen at 9am!
Latest pager message - 4pm Islay c2mls north of Bowmore flew over Carnain
ACCOUNT, PICTURE and finder HERE!!! Found by Jim Sim and his family from Renfrewshire – Congratulations!!! Wow!!!
Pictures HERE and HERE
http://blog.islayinfo.com/article.php/ascension-frigatebird-on-islay
The picture of the bird on the wall is so unbelievable, it looks like a giant stuffed toy!!! Second for UK, last one in 1953!!! Bl**dy H*ll!!!!!
Discussion HERE
No words can describe the birds that are turning up over the last two weeks - just jaw dropping!!!
STOP PRESS!!! MEGA!!! Unconfirmed Report of a GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL!!!
GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL at Titchwell RSPB
Unconfirmed report – seen from Island Hide, Titchwell last night at 7pm. Information HERE
Last sighting in UK according to RBA Previous Records was "May to Jun 1859 - Exmouth, Devon"
Unconfirmed report – seen from Island Hide, Titchwell last night at 7pm. Information HERE
Last sighting in UK according to RBA Previous Records was "May to Jun 1859 - Exmouth, Devon"
MEGA Norfolk Bird News!!!
Main Highlights – RBA
MEGA GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL!!! – unconfirmed report at Titchwell RSPB seen from Island Hide last night at 7pm. Information HERE (Birders searching this evening!)
Spotted Redshanks x 14, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Other News
MEGA!!! ASCENSION FRIGATEBIRD, ISLAY at Bowmore on pier, SCOTLAND OMG!!!
MEGA! BRIDLED TERN! again today, but now 3 miles south of Amble in Druridge Bay off Chevington Burn, then flew towards North Pool, East Chevington NWT.
I can't quite believe the MEGA birds being found over the last couple of weeks, absolutely spectacular!!!
MEGA GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL!!! – unconfirmed report at Titchwell RSPB seen from Island Hide last night at 7pm. Information HERE (Birders searching this evening!)
Spotted Redshanks x 14, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Other News
MEGA!!! ASCENSION FRIGATEBIRD, ISLAY at Bowmore on pier, SCOTLAND OMG!!!
MEGA! BRIDLED TERN! again today, but now 3 miles south of Amble in Druridge Bay off Chevington Burn, then flew towards North Pool, East Chevington NWT.
I can't quite believe the MEGA birds being found over the last couple of weeks, absolutely spectacular!!!
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Norfolk Bird News etc!
Main Highlights – RBA
Little Gull at Breydon Water
Mediterranean Gulls x 44 at Holkham Park
Arctic Tern, Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Hopton-on-Sea
Spoonbills x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Cley NWT
Spotted Redshanks x 7, Little Gulls x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Other News
Pectoral Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire
BRIDLED TERN at Inner Farne Islands still this morning, but not seen after 12.45pm. See fantastic video of this bird HERE
Local birders searched for the possible Grey-necked Bunting at Blakeney today with sadly no luck.
I had a real couch potato evening. Got home from work, collapsed on sofa and dozed. Such a beautiful evening, but I was exhausted from work. I don't do hot weather, can't bare being at work in this heat. Roll on the weekend. Annoyingly though, I have to start working on Sunday's again. I have not done any Sunday shifts for two whole months, just because I wanted to ensure I had May and June free for birding. I have got used to this normality of having an entire weekend and its going to be tough to work every Sunday again, but sadly I need to. But I am only doing a morning shift this Sunday, so will be free to escape in the afternoon if I wish.
HOT NEWS: Simon King's sister is now following me on Twitter – now maybe that will lead to Simon following me – I wish he would!!!
Little Gull at Breydon Water
Mediterranean Gulls x 44 at Holkham Park
Arctic Tern, Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Hopton-on-Sea
Spoonbills x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Cley NWT
Spotted Redshanks x 7, Little Gulls x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Other News
Pectoral Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire
BRIDLED TERN at Inner Farne Islands still this morning, but not seen after 12.45pm. See fantastic video of this bird HERE
Local birders searched for the possible Grey-necked Bunting at Blakeney today with sadly no luck.
I had a real couch potato evening. Got home from work, collapsed on sofa and dozed. Such a beautiful evening, but I was exhausted from work. I don't do hot weather, can't bare being at work in this heat. Roll on the weekend. Annoyingly though, I have to start working on Sunday's again. I have not done any Sunday shifts for two whole months, just because I wanted to ensure I had May and June free for birding. I have got used to this normality of having an entire weekend and its going to be tough to work every Sunday again, but sadly I need to. But I am only doing a morning shift this Sunday, so will be free to escape in the afternoon if I wish.
HOT NEWS: Simon King's sister is now following me on Twitter – now maybe that will lead to Simon following me – I wish he would!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EILEEN! x
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Andy Murray gets through to the Semi-finals!!!
Andy Murray recovered from two sets down to record a magnificent 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 win against Fernando Verdasco and now reaches the semi-final of Wimbledon!!!
This was such an exciting match – I was on the edge of my seat, congratulations Andy!
RBA Weekly Round-up 26th June to 2nd July
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyroundup2013no27.aspx?s_id=1484095
Fabulous write up from Mark Golley with accounts of MONSTER MEGA'S: White-throated Needletail, Bridled Tern and also the Norfolk 'Bunting' which has now turned out to be a 'possible' first for Britain!!!
Fabulous write up from Mark Golley with accounts of MONSTER MEGA'S: White-throated Needletail, Bridled Tern and also the Norfolk 'Bunting' which has now turned out to be a 'possible' first for Britain!!!
STOP PRESS!!! Possible GREY-NECKED BUNTING at Blakeney!!!
Just come up on the RBA pager, Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
The supposed Ortolan Bunting that was found at Blakeney Freshes which was seen at 5.30pm and phoned out late Monday evening, was possibly a Grey-necked Bunting! All correspondence about this bird from the finder went through BIRDGUIDES.
RBA Pager reads 'possible Grey-necked Bunting male reported on Monday Blakeney Freshmarsh NT near sluice along foopath north of Blakeney Manor Hotel at 5.30pm but no sign on Tuesday (probably not Ortolan Bunting)'
People need to get out there and search, it could still be there somewhere! Done my bit this week, arriving at 4.20am on Tuesday before work!!! (still recovering from that!)
LGRE tweeted last night "This is a pretty remarkable date for an Ortolan - could it be a Grey-necked or Cretzschmars? and then tweeted BirdingNorfolk and myself: "Top Lady - thx to Penny and DJH for checking this sighting out. We will NEVER know the answer but I fear we lost a major record here - perhaps it will relocate to Spurn, Holy Island or Fair Isle!"
I REALLY hope birders keeping looking for this bird, it could have simply re-located within a few hundred yards or a few miles away. Keep looking PLEASE!
I have just contacted BIRDGUIDES this evening to ask why the report has changed from Ortolan Bunting to 'possible' Grey-necked Bunting' – will post reply when I get one.
BIRDGUIDES replied and explained that they had tweeted this afternoon saying: "Finder of Norfolk 'Ortolan' has just told us he didn't consider Grey-necked at the time and has now said there was a strong possibility it was."
10.53pm – Josh Jones, Bird News Manager at BIRDGUIDES has just posted the following further update on Birdforum HERE
Just for interest/pictures etc there was a Grey-necked Bunting in Heligoland on 10th June this year and the account is HERE
Maybe James McCallum will find it on Blakeney Point for us!!!
The supposed Ortolan Bunting that was found at Blakeney Freshes which was seen at 5.30pm and phoned out late Monday evening, was possibly a Grey-necked Bunting! All correspondence about this bird from the finder went through BIRDGUIDES.
RBA Pager reads 'possible Grey-necked Bunting male reported on Monday Blakeney Freshmarsh NT near sluice along foopath north of Blakeney Manor Hotel at 5.30pm but no sign on Tuesday (probably not Ortolan Bunting)'
People need to get out there and search, it could still be there somewhere! Done my bit this week, arriving at 4.20am on Tuesday before work!!! (still recovering from that!)
LGRE tweeted last night "This is a pretty remarkable date for an Ortolan - could it be a Grey-necked or Cretzschmars? and then tweeted BirdingNorfolk and myself: "Top Lady - thx to Penny and DJH for checking this sighting out. We will NEVER know the answer but I fear we lost a major record here - perhaps it will relocate to Spurn, Holy Island or Fair Isle!"
I REALLY hope birders keeping looking for this bird, it could have simply re-located within a few hundred yards or a few miles away. Keep looking PLEASE!
I have just contacted BIRDGUIDES this evening to ask why the report has changed from Ortolan Bunting to 'possible' Grey-necked Bunting' – will post reply when I get one.
BIRDGUIDES replied and explained that they had tweeted this afternoon saying: "Finder of Norfolk 'Ortolan' has just told us he didn't consider Grey-necked at the time and has now said there was a strong possibility it was."
10.53pm – Josh Jones, Bird News Manager at BIRDGUIDES has just posted the following further update on Birdforum HERE
Just for interest/pictures etc there was a Grey-necked Bunting in Heligoland on 10th June this year and the account is HERE
Maybe James McCallum will find it on Blakeney Point for us!!!
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
Spoonbill x 3, Continental Black-tailed Godwits x 4, Spotted Redshanks x 4, Whimbrel at Cley NWT
Spotted Redshanks x 2, Whimbrel at Breydon Water
Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbill at Blakeney Chanel
GREY-NECKED BUNTING Male – possible reported on Monday Blakeney Freshmarsh NT near sluice along foopath north of Blakeney Manor Hotel at 5.30pm but no sign on Tuesday (probably not Ortolan Bunting)'
Other News
BRIDLED TERN remains on the Inner Farne Islands
Spoonbill x 3, Continental Black-tailed Godwits x 4, Spotted Redshanks x 4, Whimbrel at Cley NWT
Spotted Redshanks x 2, Whimbrel at Breydon Water
Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbill at Blakeney Chanel
GREY-NECKED BUNTING Male – possible reported on Monday Blakeney Freshmarsh NT near sluice along foopath north of Blakeney Manor Hotel at 5.30pm but no sign on Tuesday (probably not Ortolan Bunting)'
Other News
BRIDLED TERN remains on the Inner Farne Islands
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Ortolan Bunting OR First for Britain Twitch!!!
The Ortolan Bunting appeared on the pager late last night and was seen at 5.30pm. This sighting stirred several people up and there was talk amongst birders that it was an unusual time of year to see an Ortolan, but it was the right time of year to see a Grey-necked Bunting, which would have been a first for Britain!!! OMG!!! No one seemed to know who found last night's Ortolan Bunting at Blakeney Freshes. So no one knew if it flew off at 5.30pm or stayed around a bit longer etc.
The thought of being at work all day with a possible first for Britain at Blakeney, was too much to cope with, so I made the crazy decision to drive to Blakeney this morning before going to work! Total insanity I know! The last time I went on a twitch before work was for the Great Snipe at Cley. I painted the following picture in my mind – find bird, re-id as a Grey-necked Bunting (did loads of homework on GNB last night!), photograph bird, obtaining cracking shots. Drive back home with a big grin on my face, before the hoards turned up and be insanely happy at work all day. Wake up Penny! But it would have still been fabulous to have seen an Ortolan Bunting aswell! Anyway, the following is an account of what actually happened!
Arrived at Blakeney Freshes before sunrise at 4.20am! I can't quite believe I am typing this to be honest (crazy). Parked by the gate to Friary Hills. Started walking along the footpath opposite the Blakeney Manor Hotel. The light was so beautiful and as the sun started to rise, the sky filled with an orange glow, it really was magical indeed. At 4.35am three Spoonbills flew west overhead, which was a lovely start to my morning! I reached the sluice where the OB was seen last night – several Sedge Warblers were flicking about in the reeds, Reed Buntings singing, Meadow Pipits chilling out on posts, Goldfinches in bushes and several Redshanks were seen. Godwits, Oystercatchers, Mallards and Shelducks were zig zagging overhead and in a single tree not too far past the sluice, I watched Wrens, a juv. Great Tit, Linnets and Hedge Sparrows. I climbed up to join the coastal footpath and then followed the path opposite which peters out to mud flats. Standing at this point I can see Half Way House (BP) on my left. I photographed a Reed Bunting silhouetted against the orange light, before re-tracing my steps back. As I climbed over the bank to drop down onto the lower path, I bumped into Dave Holman who's greeting to me was "Good to see another loony here"!!! I smiled and said good morning. Dave said he also had been thinking about Grey-necked Bunting. We both covered the area with a fine tooth comb and Dave walked back via the top coastal path and I followed the bottom path. Got some nice pictures of a Meadow Pipit sitting on a post. Back at my car I could see Steve G. who also then searched the area. I walked around Friary Hills and saw Chiffchaffs, Greenfinches and Jackdaws. Back at the car I saw Dave again who took my mobile number in case he found the bird. I then drove to Walsey Hills to have a quick look along the bottom path. The path is becoming very overgrown with bracken – heard Chiffchaffs and Chaffinches, but that was about it apart from photographing a Speckled Wood. A Grey Heron was perched up and preening in the top of a pine tree at Snipe's Marsh and the sun was started to warm things up. I was going to Bishop's Hide, but I remember looking at my watch at 7.00am and deciding that there wouldn't be enough time to go there. I returned to Blakeney, just to make sure I hadn't missed anything and passed Steve G. on route who had had no joy. I left Blakeney at 7.22am and arrived at work at just after 8am! Sat in my car and had a coffee and ginger marmelade sandwich and walked into work on time!
I managed to get through the day very productively I felt and didn't really feel tired at all. Although when I got home, my eyes started to drop as I typed this post and I am now struggling to keep awake. A VERY early night is required I feel!
I have found out this evening that the finder of the Ortolan Bunting was an S. G. Nicholls, so Congratulations to you! Its just a pity it didn't hang around this morning, but that's the way it goes sometimes!
Good Night!
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
The thought of being at work all day with a possible first for Britain at Blakeney, was too much to cope with, so I made the crazy decision to drive to Blakeney this morning before going to work! Total insanity I know! The last time I went on a twitch before work was for the Great Snipe at Cley. I painted the following picture in my mind – find bird, re-id as a Grey-necked Bunting (did loads of homework on GNB last night!), photograph bird, obtaining cracking shots. Drive back home with a big grin on my face, before the hoards turned up and be insanely happy at work all day. Wake up Penny! But it would have still been fabulous to have seen an Ortolan Bunting aswell! Anyway, the following is an account of what actually happened!
Arrived at Blakeney Freshes before sunrise at 4.20am! I can't quite believe I am typing this to be honest (crazy). Parked by the gate to Friary Hills. Started walking along the footpath opposite the Blakeney Manor Hotel. The light was so beautiful and as the sun started to rise, the sky filled with an orange glow, it really was magical indeed. At 4.35am three Spoonbills flew west overhead, which was a lovely start to my morning! I reached the sluice where the OB was seen last night – several Sedge Warblers were flicking about in the reeds, Reed Buntings singing, Meadow Pipits chilling out on posts, Goldfinches in bushes and several Redshanks were seen. Godwits, Oystercatchers, Mallards and Shelducks were zig zagging overhead and in a single tree not too far past the sluice, I watched Wrens, a juv. Great Tit, Linnets and Hedge Sparrows. I climbed up to join the coastal footpath and then followed the path opposite which peters out to mud flats. Standing at this point I can see Half Way House (BP) on my left. I photographed a Reed Bunting silhouetted against the orange light, before re-tracing my steps back. As I climbed over the bank to drop down onto the lower path, I bumped into Dave Holman who's greeting to me was "Good to see another loony here"!!! I smiled and said good morning. Dave said he also had been thinking about Grey-necked Bunting. We both covered the area with a fine tooth comb and Dave walked back via the top coastal path and I followed the bottom path. Got some nice pictures of a Meadow Pipit sitting on a post. Back at my car I could see Steve G. who also then searched the area. I walked around Friary Hills and saw Chiffchaffs, Greenfinches and Jackdaws. Back at the car I saw Dave again who took my mobile number in case he found the bird. I then drove to Walsey Hills to have a quick look along the bottom path. The path is becoming very overgrown with bracken – heard Chiffchaffs and Chaffinches, but that was about it apart from photographing a Speckled Wood. A Grey Heron was perched up and preening in the top of a pine tree at Snipe's Marsh and the sun was started to warm things up. I was going to Bishop's Hide, but I remember looking at my watch at 7.00am and deciding that there wouldn't be enough time to go there. I returned to Blakeney, just to make sure I hadn't missed anything and passed Steve G. on route who had had no joy. I left Blakeney at 7.22am and arrived at work at just after 8am! Sat in my car and had a coffee and ginger marmelade sandwich and walked into work on time!
I managed to get through the day very productively I felt and didn't really feel tired at all. Although when I got home, my eyes started to drop as I typed this post and I am now struggling to keep awake. A VERY early night is required I feel!
I have found out this evening that the finder of the Ortolan Bunting was an S. G. Nicholls, so Congratulations to you! Its just a pity it didn't hang around this morning, but that's the way it goes sometimes!
Good Night!
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
Spoonbills x 3 flew west over Blakeney Freshes at 4.35am (P.A.C.)
Spoonbill, Spotted Redshanks x 15 at Titchwell RSPB
Osprey at Rockland Broad
Spoonbills x 2, Continental Black-tailed Godwits x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Cley NWT
No sign of Ortolan Bunting by 11am
Other News
BRIDLED TERN still on Inner Farne Islands
Cracking pictures HERE and HERE and HERE
Spoonbills x 3 flew west over Blakeney Freshes at 4.35am (P.A.C.)
Spoonbill, Spotted Redshanks x 15 at Titchwell RSPB
Osprey at Rockland Broad
Spoonbills x 2, Continental Black-tailed Godwits x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Cley NWT
No sign of Ortolan Bunting by 11am
Other News
BRIDLED TERN still on Inner Farne Islands
Cracking pictures HERE and HERE and HERE
Monday, 1 July 2013
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
Manx Shearwater east past Trimingham
Spoonbills x 4 at Wells
Continental Black-tailed Godwits x 7, Little Gulls x 6, Spotted Redshanks x 8, Red-crested Pochard x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Little Gull at Breydon Water
Spoonbills x 3 at Cley NWT
ORTOLAN BUNTING, Male at Blakeney Freshmarsh NT near sluice along footpath north of Blakeney Hotel at 5.30pm – found by S. G. Nicholls
Other News
Peregrines with three young at Lynn Docks (usual place)
Manx Shearwater east past Trimingham
Spoonbills x 4 at Wells
Continental Black-tailed Godwits x 7, Little Gulls x 6, Spotted Redshanks x 8, Red-crested Pochard x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Little Gull at Breydon Water
Spoonbills x 3 at Cley NWT
ORTOLAN BUNTING, Male at Blakeney Freshmarsh NT near sluice along footpath north of Blakeney Hotel at 5.30pm – found by S. G. Nicholls
Other News
Peregrines with three young at Lynn Docks (usual place)
MEGA!!! BRIDLED TERN, Farne Islands!
On Inner Farne, discussion HERE and pictures here:
http://farnephoto.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/bridled-tern-on-inner-farne.html?m=1
http://www.surfbirds.com/gallery/display.php?gallery=gallery9
What a beautiful tern!!!!
http://farnephoto.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/bridled-tern-on-inner-farne.html?m=1
http://www.surfbirds.com/gallery/display.php?gallery=gallery9
What a beautiful tern!!!!
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