I can't believe what I have seen today!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sunday, 16 June 2013
PACIFIC SWIFT ON MY LIST!!!!
Wahooooooo!!!!!!! Just seen PACIFIC SWIFT at 7.52 distantly!!!!!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Norfolk Bird News!
ROLLER at Edgefield, near Holt
Other News
GOLDEN ORIOLE at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk
Other News
GOLDEN ORIOLE at Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk
Saturday, 15 June 2013
Swifts Galore!!!
My family and I had Father's Day today, which I couldn't really get
out of, so sadly unable to twitch the Pacific Swift in Suffolk.
I did manage to get out early evening for an hour or so to photograph loads of Swifts over the path at Titchwell RSPB in beautiful light and dramatic skies. I searched hard for white-rumps!
NOW the big question is will the Pacific Swift still be at Trimley in the morning or will it move on elsewhere? Should I go, should I wait on news or not twitch it all and go and birdwatch. Dangerous game this twitching lark! Hmmm........ decisions, decisions.
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
I did manage to get out early evening for an hour or so to photograph loads of Swifts over the path at Titchwell RSPB in beautiful light and dramatic skies. I searched hard for white-rumps!
NOW the big question is will the Pacific Swift still be at Trimley in the morning or will it move on elsewhere? Should I go, should I wait on news or not twitch it all and go and birdwatch. Dangerous game this twitching lark! Hmmm........ decisions, decisions.
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
Great White Egret (flew east), Spoonbills x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 6, Little Gull at Cley
Little Gull x 5, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Not alot else because most birders have gone to Suffolk!
Other News
MEGA – PACIFIC SWIFT at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk
Golden Oriole at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire
Great White Egret (flew east), Spoonbills x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 6, Little Gull at Cley
Little Gull x 5, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Not alot else because most birders have gone to Suffolk!
Other News
MEGA – PACIFIC SWIFT at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk
Golden Oriole at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire
Friday, 14 June 2013
Bee-eater & Norfolk Tour!
News of a Bee-eater at Winterton South Dunes got me racing over there to find only one birder, who have travelled all the way from Hertfordshire for this bird! He had been searching for two hours by the time I got there and found nothing. Someone had kindly put the news out, but had no one seen the bird fly off? If they did see if fly off, it would have been great if they had phoned RBA. To be honest I didn't expect to see it and remained in a positive mood. Birds seen here: pair of Stonechats, pair of Yellowhammers, Linnets, Hedgesparrows, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Blackbirds and Jackdaws. It was a beautiful, sunny day and I walked the whole length of the dunes as far as another cafe and then back to the beach cafe at Winterton where my car was parked. I decided to treat myself to egg and chips. The last time I had egg and chips here, was when there was a Pallid Harrier in the area (can't remember the year now). I walked in the cafe and was very disappointed to hear 'sorry we don't do egg and chips anymore'. I walked out and back to my car – that saved some weightwatchers points anyway!
I cruised around the Norfolk coast and stopped at Happisburgh to photograph the lighthouse which looked beautiful next to the yellow rape field. Stopped at Walcott to watch the gulls. Went to Sheringham Cemetery and found only House Sparrows. Was going to walk Beeston bump, but changed my mind and carried on to Walsey Hills NOA. Even though no news had come out today about the Marsh Warbler I still had a gut feeling it was still there.
On arrival at Walsey Hills, the heavens opened with a torrential downpour. I put the seat back and had a snooze whilst this was going on! When the rain finished the sun came blazing out. I could not hear or see the Marsh Warbler at all. Willow Warbler singing in here and a couple of Chiffchaffs. Spent quite a bit of time photographing cute juv. Long-tailed Tits who were drying out from the downpour. Went up to the top of Walsey to photograph swifts again, but there weren't any here. Found Eddie birding here also – we walked along the bottom path, but still no sight or sound from the marsh warbler. In the carpark Eddie left to go to the East Bank. I stood here alone and suddenly heard the Marsh Warbler singing deep in the scrub by the Walsey Hills sign were I had seen it yesterday. No signal on my phone, so waved like hell at Eddie who had started walking along the bank, he saw me and walked back. Now the rest of the evening was really annoying and frustrating to say the least. Eddie came back and said that it was a Reed Warbler singing – yes it was when he came back, but the bird I heard WAS the Marsh Warbler. Andy Johnson then joined us and Eddie agreed with me that he could then hear the Marsh Warbler. Then Stuart White and party turned up. Basically we ended up seeing three Acros skulking about in here and none of us were 100% if one of them was the marsh warbler or not. The general feeling was that they were all Reed Warblers, but that Marsh Warbler was definately singing in there too! I took tons of pictures and intend putting them on a DVD to give to RM to analyse. Drove home late again!
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
I cruised around the Norfolk coast and stopped at Happisburgh to photograph the lighthouse which looked beautiful next to the yellow rape field. Stopped at Walcott to watch the gulls. Went to Sheringham Cemetery and found only House Sparrows. Was going to walk Beeston bump, but changed my mind and carried on to Walsey Hills NOA. Even though no news had come out today about the Marsh Warbler I still had a gut feeling it was still there.
On arrival at Walsey Hills, the heavens opened with a torrential downpour. I put the seat back and had a snooze whilst this was going on! When the rain finished the sun came blazing out. I could not hear or see the Marsh Warbler at all. Willow Warbler singing in here and a couple of Chiffchaffs. Spent quite a bit of time photographing cute juv. Long-tailed Tits who were drying out from the downpour. Went up to the top of Walsey to photograph swifts again, but there weren't any here. Found Eddie birding here also – we walked along the bottom path, but still no sight or sound from the marsh warbler. In the carpark Eddie left to go to the East Bank. I stood here alone and suddenly heard the Marsh Warbler singing deep in the scrub by the Walsey Hills sign were I had seen it yesterday. No signal on my phone, so waved like hell at Eddie who had started walking along the bank, he saw me and walked back. Now the rest of the evening was really annoying and frustrating to say the least. Eddie came back and said that it was a Reed Warbler singing – yes it was when he came back, but the bird I heard WAS the Marsh Warbler. Andy Johnson then joined us and Eddie agreed with me that he could then hear the Marsh Warbler. Then Stuart White and party turned up. Basically we ended up seeing three Acros skulking about in here and none of us were 100% if one of them was the marsh warbler or not. The general feeling was that they were all Reed Warblers, but that Marsh Warbler was definately singing in there too! I took tons of pictures and intend putting them on a DVD to give to RM to analyse. Drove home late again!
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
BEE-EATER at Winterton North and then South Dunes
Pectoral Sandpiper x 2, Spoonbill x 2, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank at Cley NWT
Velvet Scoter with Common Scoters between Halfway House and Beach Carpark, Cley
Osprey at Rockland Broad
Little Gull x 7, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Other News
Red-necked Phalarope at Minsmere RSPB
BEE-EATER at Winterton North and then South Dunes
Pectoral Sandpiper x 2, Spoonbill x 2, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank at Cley NWT
Velvet Scoter with Common Scoters between Halfway House and Beach Carpark, Cley
Osprey at Rockland Broad
Little Gull x 7, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Other News
Red-necked Phalarope at Minsmere RSPB
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Hot Birding at Cley!
MARSH WARBLER
Walsey Hills NOA – which I re-located this morning
Now, the 13th is not a lucky day for me, (today would have been my wedding anniversary), father had his stroke last year on the 13th and so on..... BUT today was a pretty good day for the 13th!
Parked up in the East Bank carpark and went to look for the Marsh Warbler that was found yesterday. Last night it was seen in the first hawthorn on the right hand side of the path west of the carpark. No luck with that today! There was no news on the pager this morning about this bird either.
Carried on walking to Bishop's Hide NWT. Over the pools there were hundreds and hundreds of swifts in the air!!! It really was a spectacle! I tried to search amongst them for something different! I met a really nice couple (photographers) who were here on holiday from Durham – together with others we watched (and photographed) a Marsh Harrier stealthily gliding high in the sky and then descending quickly onto an unsuspecting Avocet chick! The marsh harrier was heavily mobbed by every Avocet in the area, along with other birds. It was a dramatic scene and when I look back at my photos this evening, it almost brings tears to my eyes seeing the chick grabbed by the leg and the alarm on the other chick's faces!!! I know its nature and all that, but.....!!! I was told by a local birder that I had just missed seeing a Little Stint in front of the hide when I first walked in there! I counted at least 35 Avocet Chicks, but there were probably alot more than that, or maybe there wasn't! I sat in this hide for at least a couple of hours if not more. Walked back to the carpark.
Within seconds of walking along the bottom path at Walsey Hills I heard the Marsh Warbler singing just after the entrance gate to NOA in the bracken, almost touching distance away. I could see the bracken moving, it was so close, but I couldn't see the bird! I was the only person here and I was very pleased at re-finding this bird – it made my day! I was cursing about the 6ft+ bracken towering above me, when the Marsh Warbler appeared on a long dead stem in a perfect pose and it would have been the perfect shot! I tried to stand on tiptoe to clear the high bracken, but it was no good, I was gutted when I realised that special photo was taken from me! The memory of this will be etched in my mind permanently! The bird then shot into the thick bracken again. Later on it appeared to fly towards the end of the scrub by the carpark and that is exactly where it was – I could see it skulking just inches above the blue Walsey Hills sign and very luckily managed to get an out of focus record shot! I had no vodafone signal (which is normal here) and when I looked at my 'Orange' phone there was no battery left! Walked up the top of Walsey Hills (plucking my new coat on route!) to get a signal and phoned out the news to RBA. This bird tantilised me and others for the rest of the day! It sang on and off all afternoon, flying through the bracken and giving you the tiniest glimpse, but not once did it pose for a photo. Cetti's Warbler, male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Bullfinches, Long-tailed tits, Greenfinch, Goldfinches, Wren, Dunnocks and Chaffinches seen here also.
Walked along the East Bank and saw both the Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, lots of Black-tailed Godwits, several Sandwich Terns, Avocets, Shelducks with young etc. Also lots of Swifts around. Looked for the White-spotted Bluethroat in vain.
Went back to the Marsh Warbler and it continued to tease for the rest of the day. Whilst standing with Sue and Paul – the whole sky turned seriously black and we realised we needed to dive for cover quickly. I knew I wouldn't make it to my car in the East bank carpark. Paul ran to his car and Sue and I ran up the steps and I unlocked the NOA hide to shelter in – we made it just in time before the torrential rain came down!!! Sue and I were musing how fabulous it would be to see the Pacific Swift from this hide whilst we sheltered – that would have been a story!
Apart from going back to my car for my tea, I spent the rest of the evening in sunshine, hoping to see and photograph the Marsh Warbler again. Andy J., Eddie, Steve G. and another birder also there. I gave up at 9pm!!!
MORE PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Parked up in the East Bank carpark and went to look for the Marsh Warbler that was found yesterday. Last night it was seen in the first hawthorn on the right hand side of the path west of the carpark. No luck with that today! There was no news on the pager this morning about this bird either.
Carried on walking to Bishop's Hide NWT. Over the pools there were hundreds and hundreds of swifts in the air!!! It really was a spectacle! I tried to search amongst them for something different! I met a really nice couple (photographers) who were here on holiday from Durham – together with others we watched (and photographed) a Marsh Harrier stealthily gliding high in the sky and then descending quickly onto an unsuspecting Avocet chick! The marsh harrier was heavily mobbed by every Avocet in the area, along with other birds. It was a dramatic scene and when I look back at my photos this evening, it almost brings tears to my eyes seeing the chick grabbed by the leg and the alarm on the other chick's faces!!! I know its nature and all that, but.....!!! I was told by a local birder that I had just missed seeing a Little Stint in front of the hide when I first walked in there! I counted at least 35 Avocet Chicks, but there were probably alot more than that, or maybe there wasn't! I sat in this hide for at least a couple of hours if not more. Walked back to the carpark.
Within seconds of walking along the bottom path at Walsey Hills I heard the Marsh Warbler singing just after the entrance gate to NOA in the bracken, almost touching distance away. I could see the bracken moving, it was so close, but I couldn't see the bird! I was the only person here and I was very pleased at re-finding this bird – it made my day! I was cursing about the 6ft+ bracken towering above me, when the Marsh Warbler appeared on a long dead stem in a perfect pose and it would have been the perfect shot! I tried to stand on tiptoe to clear the high bracken, but it was no good, I was gutted when I realised that special photo was taken from me! The memory of this will be etched in my mind permanently! The bird then shot into the thick bracken again. Later on it appeared to fly towards the end of the scrub by the carpark and that is exactly where it was – I could see it skulking just inches above the blue Walsey Hills sign and very luckily managed to get an out of focus record shot! I had no vodafone signal (which is normal here) and when I looked at my 'Orange' phone there was no battery left! Walked up the top of Walsey Hills (plucking my new coat on route!) to get a signal and phoned out the news to RBA. This bird tantilised me and others for the rest of the day! It sang on and off all afternoon, flying through the bracken and giving you the tiniest glimpse, but not once did it pose for a photo. Cetti's Warbler, male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Bullfinches, Long-tailed tits, Greenfinch, Goldfinches, Wren, Dunnocks and Chaffinches seen here also.
Walked along the East Bank and saw both the Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, lots of Black-tailed Godwits, several Sandwich Terns, Avocets, Shelducks with young etc. Also lots of Swifts around. Looked for the White-spotted Bluethroat in vain.
Went back to the Marsh Warbler and it continued to tease for the rest of the day. Whilst standing with Sue and Paul – the whole sky turned seriously black and we realised we needed to dive for cover quickly. I knew I wouldn't make it to my car in the East bank carpark. Paul ran to his car and Sue and I ran up the steps and I unlocked the NOA hide to shelter in – we made it just in time before the torrential rain came down!!! Sue and I were musing how fabulous it would be to see the Pacific Swift from this hide whilst we sheltered – that would have been a story!
Apart from going back to my car for my tea, I spent the rest of the evening in sunshine, hoping to see and photograph the Marsh Warbler again. Andy J., Eddie, Steve G. and another birder also there. I gave up at 9pm!!!
MORE PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
MARSH WARBLER at Walsey Hills NOA
Pectoral Sandpiper x 2, Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Cley NWT
Spoonbills x 2 at Cromer
Short list today!
MARSH WARBLER at Walsey Hills NOA
Pectoral Sandpiper x 2, Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Cley NWT
Spoonbills x 2 at Cromer
Short list today!
Otter catching a Puffin!!!
This picture is absolutely incredible!!!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=559352694117280&set=a.218068428245710.58280.100001276633592&type=1
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=559352694117280&set=a.218068428245710.58280.100001276633592&type=1
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
MARSH WARBLER west of East Bank at Cley NWT
Pectoral Sandpiper x 2, Spoonbill, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Little Gulls x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Other News
BLACK KITE at Guyhirn, Cambridgeshire
MEGA – PACIFIC SWIFT at Spurn, Yorkshire and Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire, making its way south!!!
MARSH WARBLER west of East Bank at Cley NWT
Pectoral Sandpiper x 2, Spoonbill, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Little Gulls x 7 at Titchwell RSPB
Other News
BLACK KITE at Guyhirn, Cambridgeshire
MEGA – PACIFIC SWIFT at Spurn, Yorkshire and Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire, making its way south!!!
MEGA!!! PACIFIC SWIFT AT SPURN!!!
Flew South of The Triangle at 8.45am and then later (presume same bird) seen 1 mile SSE of Saltfleetby + just NE of A1031/B1200 junction at Sea View Farm at 3.30pm but no further sign by 4.25pm.
Pictures HERE! and write up HERE!
Where will it be seen tomorrow I wonder? Hunstanton Cliffs maybe or......., who knows!!!! Eyes to the Skies!!! Mine will be, as I am on holiday again as from tomorrow!!!
Pictures HERE! and write up HERE!
Where will it be seen tomorrow I wonder? Hunstanton Cliffs maybe or......., who knows!!!! Eyes to the Skies!!! Mine will be, as I am on holiday again as from tomorrow!!!
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
Norfok Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT remains, Ruddy Shelduck, Spoonbill x 3,
Pectoral Sandpipers x 2 at Cley NWT
Black Tern, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB
Osprey at Mulbarton
Pectoral Sandpipers x 2 at Cley NWT
Black Tern, Garganey at Titchwell RSPB
Osprey at Mulbarton
Other News
MARSH WARBLER at Southwold, Suffolk
Monday, 10 June 2013
Norfolk Bird News etc!
Main Highlights – RBA
White-spotted Bluethroat remains west of the East Bank at Cley
Hen Harrier at West Somerton
GULL-BILLED TERN briefly 7.55pm at Kelling Water Meadows then flew west
Other News
RED-FOOTED FALCON fem. remains at Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire
MARSH WARBLER at Southwold, Suffolk
The last three days of white cloud and no sun has been so depressing and is definately affecting people's mood including mine. Took Lucy to visit our parents this evening. The first part of the evening was spent trying to persuade father to see an opthamologist at the QEH (he cancelled his last appt), but he absolutely refused and said he would never set foot in another hospital again. Although he did agree for me to take him to the local opticians, so I suppose that's something! I think father enjoyed seeing us – he certainly enjoyed the chocolate truffles Lucy had bought him! We all sat and watched Springwatch together, although father could only listen to it, he can't see the TV at all now. After dropping Lucy off, I continued onto my house and watched a muntjac deer running alongside my car in the street!!!
White-spotted Bluethroat remains west of the East Bank at Cley
Hen Harrier at West Somerton
GULL-BILLED TERN briefly 7.55pm at Kelling Water Meadows then flew west
Other News
RED-FOOTED FALCON fem. remains at Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire
MARSH WARBLER at Southwold, Suffolk
The last three days of white cloud and no sun has been so depressing and is definately affecting people's mood including mine. Took Lucy to visit our parents this evening. The first part of the evening was spent trying to persuade father to see an opthamologist at the QEH (he cancelled his last appt), but he absolutely refused and said he would never set foot in another hospital again. Although he did agree for me to take him to the local opticians, so I suppose that's something! I think father enjoyed seeing us – he certainly enjoyed the chocolate truffles Lucy had bought him! We all sat and watched Springwatch together, although father could only listen to it, he can't see the TV at all now. After dropping Lucy off, I continued onto my house and watched a muntjac deer running alongside my car in the street!!!
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Norfolk Bird News!
Main Highlights – RBA
WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT remains west of East Bank, Cley
Little Stint on North Scrape, Cley NWT
Little Gulls x 11, Black Tern at Titchwell RSPB
Honey Buzzard at Great Ryburgh
Red-backed Shrike at Winterton
Other News
RED-FOOTED FALCON fem. remains at Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire
MARSH WARBLER at Southwold, Suffolk
SAVI'S WARBLER at Minsmere RSPB
Female Pied Flycatcher at 'The Plantation, Blakeney Point – see HERE
WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT remains west of East Bank, Cley
Little Stint on North Scrape, Cley NWT
Little Gulls x 11, Black Tern at Titchwell RSPB
Honey Buzzard at Great Ryburgh
Red-backed Shrike at Winterton
Other News
RED-FOOTED FALCON fem. remains at Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire
MARSH WARBLER at Southwold, Suffolk
SAVI'S WARBLER at Minsmere RSPB
Female Pied Flycatcher at 'The Plantation, Blakeney Point – see HERE
White-spotted Bluethroat at Cley!
The alarm went off much too early, but I really wanted a chance of
seeing and photographing the White-spotted Bluethroat closer to the path along the East
Bank, which mean't getting out of the door very early. I arrived at Cley
at about 5.50am. It must have been my imagination, but when I opened the
car I could have sworn I heard the bluethroat singing close by. Anyway I
walked along the bank and saw the bird almost immediately at 6.20am and
texted it to RBA etc. The light was dire,
as yesterday and it was freezing cold. I had every thermal layer on and
rain trousers for warmth and I was still cold. It was truly like a winter's day! To add to that it was spitting with rain on and off! I had very close views of a Barn Owl hunting along the dyke. I spent several hours here enjoying this striking little bird who sang and showed for long periods early on, but it remained in the central hawthorns which are still a long way out! There was a also a Grasshopper Warbler reeling distantly.
After warming up in the Cley Visitor Centre I went to North Scrape where I counted 89 'Tundra' Ringed Plover, 1 Little Stint, several Dunlin etc. At Walsey Hills there were 3 Chiffchaffs and that was about it.
I spent the rest of the day being lazy and seeing not very much at all. Although I did go and watch the Grey Wagtails at Glandford for a short time. I spent nearly three hours dozing at Coastguards, Cley before driving along the coast to visit my parents this evening.
Mother had caught a Lime Hawkmoth in the moth trap this morning and I got some lovely photographs of this with the macro lens, late evening settled on a plant in the garden. It really upset me to see my dear father, who's eyes are deteriorating badly – this was upsetting him and I got upset with him, not a good evening at all. I can't begin to imagine what is must be like to lose your sight to that extent. Drove home feeling really sad about father and other stuff. Crap end to the day, sorry but it was!
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
After warming up in the Cley Visitor Centre I went to North Scrape where I counted 89 'Tundra' Ringed Plover, 1 Little Stint, several Dunlin etc. At Walsey Hills there were 3 Chiffchaffs and that was about it.
I spent the rest of the day being lazy and seeing not very much at all. Although I did go and watch the Grey Wagtails at Glandford for a short time. I spent nearly three hours dozing at Coastguards, Cley before driving along the coast to visit my parents this evening.
Mother had caught a Lime Hawkmoth in the moth trap this morning and I got some lovely photographs of this with the macro lens, late evening settled on a plant in the garden. It really upset me to see my dear father, who's eyes are deteriorating badly – this was upsetting him and I got upset with him, not a good evening at all. I can't begin to imagine what is must be like to lose your sight to that extent. Drove home feeling really sad about father and other stuff. Crap end to the day, sorry but it was!
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
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