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Thursday 31 January 2019

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  
Mealy Redpolls x 3 at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Great Grey Shrike north of Santon Downham at Santon Warren
Glaucous Gull east of north end of East Bank at Cley NWT
Snow Bunting on beach, Spoonbill near West Bank at Cley
Snow Buntings x 3 at North Dunes, Winterton
Short-eared Owl, Great White Egret, Bittern at Burnham Norton
Cattle Egrets x 3, Great White Egrets x 2, Tundra Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Welney WWT
Turtle Dove 1w on Tuesday in Blakeney
Hen Harrier at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Common Cranes x 5 at Horsey
Great White Egret in relief channel at Downham Market
Long-tailed Duck, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard at Ringstead
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 south of Sea Palling
Long-tailed Ducks x 7 at Holme
Twite x 14 at Thornham Harbour
Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Water Pipits x 4 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Hen Harriers x 4, Great White Egret at Warham Greens
Caspian Gull at Nunnery Lakes, Thetford

MEGA NEWS
None

Wednesday 30 January 2019

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Glaucous Gull east of north end of East Bank at Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 76 on beach at Cley
Twite x 10, Spotted Redshank at Thornham Harbour
Short-eared Owls x 3 at Upton Marshes NWT
Shorelarks x 15 at Holkham Gap
Glaucous Gull flew over beach huts at Wells
Mealy Redpoll, Water Pipit at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl, Russian White-fronted Goose at Welney WWT
Hen Harriers x 2, Short-eared Owl at Warham Greens
Short-eared Owl at Burnham Norton
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 4 at Haddiscoe Island
Short-eared Owl, White-fronted Geese x 4 at Burgh Castle

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 23rd to 29th January!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyRoundup2019_05.aspx?s_id=162820438

Tuesday 29 January 2019

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  
Rough-legged Buzzard SW of Choseley Drying Barns
Dartford Warbler, Shorelarks x 27, Snow Buntings x 60, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Velvet Scoter at Holkham Gap
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Great White Egrets x 2, Black Brant at Holkham Freshmarsh
Long-tailed Ducks x 9, Water Pipits x 2, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egrets x 2, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Glaucous Gull at end of East Bank, Snow Buntings x 45 east of beach car park, Water Pipit at Cley NWT
Mealy Redpolls x 2 at Nunnery Lakes Nature Reserve, Thetford
Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Great White Egret on marsh at Blakeney Quay
Twite x 16 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Twite x 13 at Thornham Harbour
Purple Sandpipers x 3 at Sheringham
Black Brant just east of Wells
Hen Harriers x 5, Great White Egret, Velvet Scoter (on sea) at Warham Greens
Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl at Haddiscoe Island

MEGA NEWS
None

Monday 28 January 2019

Grouse Petition Now Has over Over 10,000 Signatures!

Thank you to everyone who signed Les Wallace's petition via my blog! This evening, the petition reached the 10,000 target and is still going!

https://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.com/2019/01/an-independent-study-to-find-if-driven.html

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  
Great White Egrets x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 143, Barnacle Geese x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 15, Snow Buntings x 30 at Holkham Gap
Glaucous Gull at end of East Bank, Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cley NWT
BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER on River Bure, SE of Aylsham
Rough-legged Buzzard SW of Choseley Drying Barns
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Black Brant, hybrid  +1+ Black Brant x Dark-bellied Brent Goose at old pitch+putt at Wells
Water Pipit, Long-tailed Duck, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Cattle Egrets x 2, Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 10 at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Hickling Broad NWT
Great White Egrets x 2, Short-eared Owl at Breydon Water
Hawfinches x 5 at Lynford Aboretum
Hen Harriers x 7, Short-eared Owl at Warham Greens

MEGA NEWS
None

Sunday 27 January 2019

My Birthday!

Penny, Lucy and Vivien
Windswept – taken in my car at the bottom of Hunstanton Cliffs


Lucy and Vivien arrived at my house at 9.30am. I made us all porridge and a cup of tea for breakfast and we proceeded to do the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch (see separate post for results). Opened my presents and cards from my sisters and Ray (Vivien's partner) and then headed out into the wonderful weather!!! The sun was out for a short spell this morning, but the weather decreased rapidly into appalling conditions, with 55mph north westerlies and rain by mid afternoon – it was FREEZING! What I would give for a Summer birthday!

We went to Titchwell RSPB for lunch in the cafe and then headed out for a walk along the main path. Lucy refused to walk even part way to Island Hide, as she had a newly developed sore throat and didn't feel too good, so she returned to the visitor centre to sit in the warm cafe. Vivien and I continued to Island Hide, but it was so wickedly cold with sleet now hitting us like cold knives, that we turned back too! Whimps? Yep!

Spent some pennies in the shop and then returned to my car. Left and went to Hunstanton so Lucy could buy sore throat supplies from Sainsbury's! Then went to sit below Hunstanton Cliffs in the car, to watch the raging seas. I got out of the car to scan the rock pools and the car door nearly flew off! Got back in quickly and we then headed to Sandringham. Stopped at the bird tables and watched Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Robins, Blackbirds and Dunnocks feeding in the fading light.

Arrived at the Unique Castle Rising Tea rooms at just after 4pm for our booked 'Luxury Afternoon Cream Tea' at 4.30pm. The setting here is really beautiful, but the food was not as good as I have been told it is. For £7.95 you choose one variety of sandwich (I had brie & grapes and Lucy and Vivien choose Egg mayo), a fruit scone with fresh cream and Tiptree jam with either a pot of tea or coffee. The sandwiches were pretty good – we all choose brown bread and this was very tasty indeed, more so than the fillings. Sadly the scone was extremely dry and we had a job to cut through them in order to spread the jam and cream. The cream tasted a bit sickly and oversweet.

Returned to King's Lynn, dropped Lucy back at home as she felt too ill to come back to mine again. Vivien and I spent the evening devising another email to estate agents and discussing the sale of the house. The winds are extremely strong this evening. Vivien got back to Ely safely and I am now getting ready for work! Huge thanks to my sisters and Ray for their generous presents.

Thank you to Vivien & Ray, Lucy, Pete S., Malcolm & Eileen and my work colleagues for my lovely birthday cards and to John F. for his emailed card and brilliant poem! Also thanks to all my wonderful messages via Facebook and email today! Another year gone!

RSPB 40th Big Garden Birdwatch Results!

A very poor number of birds observed by my sisters and I this morning between 9.50am and 10.50am. Where were the usual Wood Pigeons when you wanted them?!!! Other birds I have seen in the garden this past week have been: Wood Pigeons, Goldcrest, Wren, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Coal Tit, Song thrush (but first I have seen for ages).

I almost felt embarrassed submitting the list onto the RSPB website, but did so and obviously they will conclude that most of our garden birds have declined massively. When I first moved to King's Lynn, I regularly had Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Song Thrushes in the garden – sadly not any more.

  1. Blackbirds x 3
  2. Robins x 2
  3. Great Tit x 1
  4. Blue Tit x 1
  5. Dunnocks x 2
  6. Starling x 1
  7. Collared Dove x 2

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  
Shorelarks x 22, Snow Buntings x 60 at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 21, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Pomarine Skua flew past Holme
Smew redhead, Scaup at Snettisham RSPB
Jack Snipe x 2, Mealy Redpoll at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLLS x 2, Mealy Redpolls x 30, Lesser Redpoll x 1 at The Dell, Wells Woods
Glaucous Gull at east end of East Bank at Cley NWT
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipits x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 14, Water Pipit at Thornham Harbour
Great White Egret at Stiffkey
Night Heron 1w at Ormesby Little Broad at Ormesby St Margaret
Red-necked Grebe at Filby Broad
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Cattle Egrets x 3, Great White Egrets x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Welney WWT
Rough-legged Buzzard SW of Choseley Drying Barns
Black-necked Grebe at Barton Broad
Great Grey Shrike north of Santon Downham at Santon Warren
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Great White Egret at Belton Marshes

MEGA NEWS
None

Family Antiques – the Sale Begins!

The first of our family antiques is being sold with Keys Auctioneers next week! Three vintage leather suitcases (that belonged to my father) in their Country Sale on Monday at 10.30am: Lot 179. On Tuesday at 10.30am, in their Antiques and Interiors including pictures, two vintage Silk handbags: one blue and one black – both belonged to my Great Aunty Ile: Lot 163. I particularly loved that little black silk bag – it has a brass hinged opening and it is so beautifully made. We simply couldn't keep everything and there are no children to pass anything on to. Here are some much better pictures I took of the bags:

Titchwell RSPB!

Saturday 26th January

I counted 42 Marsh Harriers coming into roost at Titchwell RSPB this evening!

I don't know if any of you have realised, but when you log on to do the Big Garden Birdwatch, you are given a code to get 20% off + free delivery with purchases from the RSPB on-line shop and also in their reserve shops (some products are not included and they are listed when you log on). Today I got 20% off some bird food and a window feeder from Titchwell RSPB!

I have been pretty down in the dumps over the last few days and that is putting it mildly. Some of you have probably been wondering why I have hardly been out birding in my two weeks off. The reasons are because I had been revising for a job interview for a higher post within my current team – the interview was on Wednesday at 9am and sadly I wasn't successful. The same day the toaster packed up and I had a bereavement counselling appointment at 4pm. So, it was a particularly crap day and on Thursday I just spiralled to the bottom. January is a particularly difficult time for a lot of people that suffer with low mood and depression and when its your birthday too (tomorrow) and you're another year older, it makes it even worse! I'll be fine after my birthday – or will I? It would have been my mother's 79th birthday on 9th February – the first birthday I won't be giving her a card and her favourite Black Magic chocolates. Lucy's birthday is on the 10th February – difficult times.

Vivien and I have also been in turmoil over the sale of our parent's house. We have been told so many conflicting things from professionals and this makes everything even more stressful than it already is. I went to check the house this afternoon and collect my mother's toaster for me to use! The bird seed and fat block I had left on the bird table last week, had been stripped bare – I filled the table with more seed again and left as quickly as I could – quickly, because the longer I linger and sit in the living room and think about my parent's, the sadder I become and the tears start rolling. I don't think I will ever get over their deaths. Part of me never wants to sell the family home, but the sensible me knows that the sooner the house is sold the better, for my sisters and I. Each time I visit the house, it becomes more difficult. We can't even begin to start our lives again until our family home is sold.

We were originally going somewhere 'posh' for my birthday lunch, but I'm not in the mood for getting dressed up, so we have a very casual plan for tomorrow! The day is starting with my sisters and I doing the Big Garden Birdwatch from my garden at 9.45am! Then to Titchwell RSPB for birthday lunch (hopefully), then a walk round the reserve, by which time the heavy rain and 55mph winds will have kicked in big time. Back home to my house and then to a booked cream tea locally, to end the day! Doesn't sound too bad at all really!

Saturday 26 January 2019

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  
Great Grey Shrike north of Santon Downham & west of Santon Warren
Mealy Redpoll at Santon Warren
Rough-legged Buzzard, Mealy Redpoll at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 12, Scaup, Water Pipits x 2, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard south of Choseley Drying Barns
Purple Sandpiper at Hunstanton
Little Auk reported, Black-throated Divers x 2 at Cley
Glaucous Gull at North Scrape, Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT
Dartford Warbler, Shorelarks x 12, Snow Buntings x 60, Great Northern Diver at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Holkham Freshmarsh
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLLS x 2, Mealy Redpolls x 35 at The Dell, Wells Woods
Smew redhead, Hen Harrier at Snettisham RSPB
Waxwings x 2 in car park at Drove Orchard, Thornham
Twite x 15 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Snow Buntings x 30 at North Dunes, Winterton
Red-necked Grebe at Filby Broad
Red-necked Grebe at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Scaup at Barton Broad
Black Brant at Burnham Overy Dunes
Cattle Egrets x 3, Great White Egret, Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Welney WWT
Hawfinches x 12 at Lynford Aboretum
Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Great White Egrets x 3 at Nar Valley Fisheries
Great White Egret at Belton Marshes
Bewick's Swans x 5 at Berney Marshes RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 200 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island

MEGA NEWS
None

Friday 25 January 2019

RSPB 40th BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH!

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/everything-you-need-to-know-about-big-garden-birdwatch/

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  
Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 13, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard south west of Choseley
Shorelarks x 15, Snow Buntings x 60, Velvet Scoter at Holkham Bay
Hen Harrier at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great Grey Shrike at Grime's Graves
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLLS x 3, Mealy Redpolls x 50 at Wells Woods
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Red-necked Grebe at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Smew redheads x 2 at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Great Grey Shrike NW of Santon Downham & west of Santon Warren
Rough-legged Buzzard at Berney Marshes RSPB
Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Hawfinches x 10 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 30 at beach car park, Cley

MEGA NEWS
None

Birding Insights Vlog – Part 2, Costa Rica January 2019

Thursday 24 January 2019

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  
Snow Buntings x 41 at North Dunes, Winterton
Waxwings x 4 at Drove Orchards, Thornham
Rough-legged Buzzard south west of Choseley
Glaucous Gull, Black-throated Diver at north end of East Bank at Cley NWT
Black-necked Grebes x 2, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 14, Great Northern Diver, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Hen Harriers x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Hen Harrier at Roydon Common Nature Reserve
Red-necked Grebe, Smew redheads x 2, Bittern on Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Great Grey Shrike NW of Santon Downham & west of Santon Warren
Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Bittern, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Welney WWT
Bean Geese sp. x 2 at Horsey Corner
Great White Egret at Horsey Gap
Great White Egret flew over Beeston Common, Sheringham
Smew redhead, Short-eared Owl, Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Waxwing just north of Snettisham
Black Redstarts x 2 at South Denes, Great Yarmouth
Bewick's Swans x 31 at Ludham
Hawfinches x 6 at Lynford Aboretum
Dartford Warbler still at Holkham Gap
Twite x 16 at Blakeney Freshmarsh

MEGA NEWS
None

An independent study to find if driven grouse shooting is of economic benefit

Please vote and share, thank you.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/226109

Phoenix Bird of Prey Rescue, URGENTLY looking for Land To Rent!


Registered UK Charity No: 1168819
 
Open this link for their contact details:

Wild Shetland – Scotland's Viking Frontier!

"Ewan McGregor narrates a captivating portrait of wild Shetland – the remote islands at the northerly limits of Britain – and traces the course of a breeding season from the depths of winter to high summer as the animals on the islands battle for survival. In never-before-seen footage, an orca pod hunts seals along the rocky coasts while a mother otter struggles to protect her twin cubs from marauding male otters and spring storms. We also meet some comical puffins, spectacular diving gannets and mysterious storm petrels nesting in an ancient Pictish tower. The programme also features stunning scenes of human life, from crofting and boat building to the jaw-dropping Up Helly Aa fire festival with its Viking hordes."

Available on BBC iPlayer for the next 29 days. A stunning film and one you need to make time to watch – I might even watch it a second time!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0c0xbp3/wild-shetland-scotlands-viking-frontier

Wednesday 23 January 2019

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Red-necked Grebe, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPBSmew redhead, Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Great Grey Shrike NW of Santon Downham & west of Santon Warren
Glaucous Gull east of Gramborough Hill
Glaucous Gull at Salthouse
Twite x 14 at Thornham Harbour
Rough-legged Buzzard south of Choseley
Snow Buntings x 5 on beach at Cley
Glaucous Gull at Cley NWT
Red-necked Grebe, Smew redheads x 2 on Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Holkham Marsh
Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Goose + 2 hybrids east of Lady Ann's Drive, Holkham
Mealy Redpoll at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Cattle Egret, Great White Egrets x 2, Water Pipit, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 4, Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Island
Glaucous Gull, Snow Buntings x 42 at Hemsby

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Weekly Update 16th to 22nd January!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyRoundup2019-04.aspx?s_id=1071713937

Tuesday 22 January 2019

David Attenborough warns Davos summit "'the Garden of Eden is no more'

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  
Red-necked Grebe, Smew redheads x 2 on Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 10, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Glaucous Gull, Snow Buntings x 15 at beach car park at Cley
Hen Harrier at Cley NWT
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Hen Harrier at Gramborough Hill
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Dartford Warbler, Shorelarks x 28, Snow Buntings x 90 at Holkham Bay
Bewick's Swans x 50, Whooper Swans x 50 at Ludham Airfield
Great White Egret, Hen Harriers x 2 at Warham Greens
Rough-legged Buzzard SW of Choseley
Great Grey Shrike in hedge between Oxborough & Foulden
Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Marshes
Common Cranes x 6 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Smew redhead, Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Mealy Redpoll at Sculthorpe Moore Nature Reserve
Hen Harrier at Blakeney Saltmarsh

MEGA NEWS
None

Monday 21 January 2019

Dersingham Bog and The Sandringham Bird Table!

I had a short walk at Dersingham Bog today. Parked up at the Scissor Cross Car park and after going through the gate, I turned right and followed the trail up into the woods and then down into the bog area and back round to the car park. It was a beautiful day and a lovely walk, but I was shocked not to see or hear a single bird. I couldn't quite believe it, but there was nothing at all! I noted that a press photographer was positioned at the car crash site, with camera on tripod ready to catch Prince Philip out along the main road!

Before returning home to do lots of important jobs, I diverted to the Sandringham Bird Tables. I have been here many times and the feeders are often empty I have found, but today was the opposite. A lovely man and his wife were in the middle of topping up all the feeders and said they come here weekly to do this – it must cost them a fortune. It looks like loads of feeders have been added too since I last visited. There were also two water drinking vessels nailed to the birch tree, coconuts and every bird food you could imagine including apples cut up etc! As soon as the man returned to his car to sit and watch with his wife, the birds appeared from all directions. This more than made up for the lack of birds at Dersingham Bog! Birds seen here: at least 6 Robins all feeding together, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Nuthatch, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Marsh Tits, Goldcrest, a Black-headed Gull also landed on one of the bird tables! 2 Squirrels and loads of Wood Pigeons. There was so much flitting around from all species, I had a job to photograph anything well. I spent an hour and a half sitting here in my car. It was wonderful entertainment! Huge thanks to the lovely couple for all their work in topping up the feeders.

Went to WW this evening and lost another 2lbs – total loss 8.5lbs in two weeks and got my first half stone award, which was a keyring with my first charm! You get a new charm for every half stone you lose – better than the certificates you used to get!

Over the last few weeks, several Twitter followers have highlighted that the automatic links from my blog posts to Twitter are not working and when you click on the link it says the following: "Dynamic Link not found" and it then says "If you are the developer of this app, ensure that your Dynamic Links domain is correctly configured and that the path component of this URL is valid." Obviously this is extremely annoying to say the least! The links then started to work again and now they are not!!! I have googled to find out what the problem is and it seems that Google are discontinuing the 'shortened' links in Feedburner – many bloggers are fuming and no answers are being given. So to rectify this I will simply type the title of every post and copy the link directly to Twitter – sorted!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Smew redheads x 2 at Rollesby Broad
Velvet Scoters x 2 at Weybourne
Great White Egret at Breydon Water
Dartford Warbler (east of Holkham Gap), Shorelarks x 27, Snow Buntings x 58 at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 80, Black Brant (or hybrid) at Holkham Freshmarsh
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Red-necked Grebe, Smew redhead on Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Kumlien's Gull 2w (not Iceland Gull, re-identified from photos) on Saturday (no sign today), at Burrell Way, Thetford
Caspian Gull at Nunnery Lakes, Thetford
Ring-necked Duck, Cattle Egret, Great White Egrets x 2, Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Welney WWT
Twite x 16, Spoonbills x 2 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 4, Velvet Scoter, Water Pipit, Spotted Redshank, Hen Harriers x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Glaucous Gull, Snow Buntings x 30 on beach at Cley
Glaucous Gull east of Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Smew redhead, Scaup, Spoonbill, Little Stint, Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Short-eared Owl at Haddiscoe Marshes
Rough-legged Buzzard in tree by road at Thornham
Twite x 14 at Thornham Harbour
Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Holme
Great White Egret, Hen Harriers x 3 at Stiffkey
Russian White-fronted Goose, Taiga Bean Geese x 2 on Saturday at Waxham

MEGA NEWS
None

Sunday 20 January 2019

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  
Glaucous Gull on beach at Cley
Red-necked Grebe on Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Ring-necked Duck, Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2, Cattle Egrets x 2, Great White Egrets x 3, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 21 at Clippesby
Twite x 16, Lapland Bunting, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Dartford Warbler (east of Holkham Gap), Shorelarks x 30, Snow Buntings x 35, Red-necked Grebe, Scaup at Holkham Bay
Water Pipits x 2 at Holkham
Rough-legged Buzzard at Sculthorpe Moore Nature Reserve
Hen Harriers x 2, Short-eared Owl at Warham Greens
Great White Egret, Little Stint, Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Bewick's Swans x 50 at Ludham Airfield
Hen Harrier at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Twite x 13, Spotted Redshank at Thornham Harbour
Mealy Redpoll at Beeston Common, Sheringham
Hawfinches x 7 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Bunting on beach at Winterton
Water Pipits x 4, Bittern, Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Common Cranes x 31 at Stubb Mill Roost, Hickling Broad NWT
Rough-legged Buzzard south of Choseley Drying Barns
Snow Buntings x 5 flew over Horsey
Russian White-fronted Goose, Common Cranes x 4 at Upton Fen
Slavonian Grebe off Salthouse

MEGA NEWS
None

Green Fireball Shetland Sumburgh Airport cam 18th January 2018

NORFOLK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA!

Lucy playing in First Violins, second from far left!
NORFOLK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Corn Exchange, King's Lynn


Aspects of England

Vaughan Williams – Symphony No 5 in D
Elgar – Sea Pictures Op 37
Arnold – English Dances (Sets 1 & 2)


Soloist – Monika-Evelin Liiv Mezzo-Soprano
Musical Director – Philip Hesketh
Leader – Phillipa Barton


"Our vision of England has many faces and this music seeks to express them. In this programme we play quintessentially English music by three composers, each from a different generation: Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Malcolm Arnold.

In Elgar’s song cycle Sea Pictures, he sets words by five different poets. The music basks in the late-romantic glow of the Edwardian Era and expresses his deep feelings about the Sea and our relationship to it.

His younger colleague, Ralph Vaughan Williams, like many contemporaries such as Bartok and Villa-Lobos, was determined to use the tunes and harmonies of folk song as a basis for a new musical language. After the terrifying violence of his fourth symphony, his fifth comes like a healing balm, more reminiscent of the Fantasy on a Theme of Thomas Tallis. Full of peace and quietude, it contains some of his most radiantly beautiful music.

Post War England is represented by Malcolm Arnold, a composer often better known for his lighter music. The two sets of English Dances contain a wide and richly diverse variety of styles from the hauntingly melancholy to the hilarious and will bring the concert to a riotous close.

Majestic, brooding, cheeky and achingly beautiful….."
Went to watch Lucy play in the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra this afternoon at 3.30pm – brings tears to my eyes every time I watch her play – mother would have been so proud that she has carried on and not given up – the only genius in the family! Mother supported Lucy with her classical music so much and Lucy misses that hugely. I sat next to a very nice elderly lady who had booked at the last moment – we chatted before the concert started and I discovered she knew my father! She recalled a lovely little story about father digging a new pond at HBO and some out of control dogs arrived on the scene and jumped into the new pond liner – he wasn't happy at all, she said!

The music was very beautiful and the singer's voice was so powerful, she nearly brought the roof down! It was almost a full house, I couldn't see many empty seats. Also bumped into two people I know at the hospital and another lady I used to work with at the Lynn News! Bought Lucy and I a drink in the foyer at the end of the concert and got my programmed signed by the singer, conductor, leader and Lucy!

Saturday 19 January 2019

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  
Glaucous Gull on beach, Velvet Scoters x 6, Snow Buntings x 60, Twite x 10 at Cley
Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Great White Egret, Hen Harrier at Morston
Mealy Redpoll at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Common Cranes x 19 at Clippesby
Iceland Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Twite x 16 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Dartford Warbler (east of Holkham Gap), Shorelarks x 35, Snow Buntings x 43 at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 22, Black Brant (or hybrid) at Holkham Freshmarsh
Bewick's Swans x 5 at Ludham
Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Brancaster
Twite x 14 at Thornham Harbour
Great White Egret in freshmarsh at Burnham Overy Staithe
Mealy Redpoll in The Dell, Wells Woods
Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier south of Choseley Drying Barns
Great White Egrets x 2, Cattle Egrets x 3 at Welney WWT
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Hawfinches x 20 at Lynford Aboretum
Russian White-fronted Geese x 4 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebes x 2 at Blakeney Point
Great White Egrets x 2 at Breydon Water
Water Pipit at Claxton Marshes
Hen Harriers x 7 at Warham Greens

MEGA NEWS
None

Friday 18 January 2019

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  
Whooper Swan at Cley NWT
Glaucous Gull on beach at Coastguards, Cley
Dartford Warbler (east of Holkham Gap), Shorelarks x 27, Snow Buntings x 21, Red-necked Grebe, Lapland Bunting at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 35, Black Brant (or hybrid) at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Ring-necked Duck, Cattle Egrets x 4, Great White Egret, Water Pipit, Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Common Cranes x 13 near Thurne
Hen Harrier, Water Pipit, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Slavonian Grebe at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 13, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Thornham Harbour
Red-necked Grebe at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Iceland Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Russian White-fronted Geese x 90 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Water Pipit at Cantley Beet Factory
Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Great White Egret on marsh at Stiffkey
Great White Egret, Hen Harriers x 3 at Warham Greens
Smew redhead, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Water Pipits x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Great Northern Diver, Bewick's Swans x 16 at Hemsby
Hawfinches x 4 at Lynford Aboretum

MEGA NEWS
None

Thursday 17 January 2019

Holme & Titchwell RSPB!

I returned to the family home today to read the electric metre and have a general check around the house. It was a beautiful sunny day and the garden looked lovely. I had bought some bird seed with me and a square berry fat block and placed this on the bird table – I was startled when the resident Robin dived onto the bird table, whilst I was spreading the seed around! This little Robin made me feel so guilty – it looked up at me with its twinkly little eye, as if to say 'where have you been, I'm starving'. We had stopped feeding the birds as neither Vivien or I can just pop over to top the feeders and table up, but with forecast of colder weather and snow, I felt I had to leave something for the birds today. The bird drinking pools were dirty and filled with leaves – I managed to clean them out and top up a few of them from my water container in the house (the water is turned off). I'm glad I did all this, it cheered me up a bit – I hate neglecting the birds here, its awful when every time I arrive, there are virtually no birds to be seen at all – it seems so cruel to stop feeding them, after they have been fed daily for the last fifty years. Normally, when you walk round the corner of the house, you scatter Pheasants, Robins, Wood Pigeons, House Sparrows, Hedgesparrows, Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Blackbirds and so on and now there is nothing, nothing at all. I wonder where the Pheasants have gone? There was one particular cock Pheasant who strutted around like a Cockerel and was not shy at all – all part of the history now.

Arrived at Titchwell RSPB for an afternoon's brisk and chilly walk out to the beach. I had so many clothes on, I could hardly see any birds! Lots of gulls on the freshmarsh, Pochard, Wigeon, Teal, Shelducks, Redshanks, Teal, Shovelers, Little Egrets, Brent Geese, Heron and Reed Bunting and a Wren along the path. On the shoreline there were large numbers of waders feeding – I counted 78 Oystercatchers feeding with several Turnstones and Sanderlings sprinting along the beach. The sea was ferocious and the wind was gusting the sands over the beach. I was very excited to find a Painted Top Shell (Calliostoma zizyphinum) along the tide line – this immediately brought back childhood memories of shell collecting with my sisters – we were always on the look out for Cowrie shells I recall – happy memories. On the way back I counted and re-counted several times, a huge count of 24 Marsh Harriers coming into roost! Saw a Robin and a Wren before returning to my car and then headed back to King's Lynn.

Lots of jobs to do tomorrow. I was very surprised that Prince Philip was driving himself, when he rolled his vehicle – the question is, should someone aged 97 be driving a car? You simply do not have the same reaction time at that age!

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  
Glaucous Gull, Snow Buntings x 30 east of beach car park at Cley
Glaucous Gull, Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Shorelarks x 20, Snow Buntings x 30, Lapland Bunting at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Spoonbill at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Smew redhead, Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Water Pipit, Little Gull, Caspian Gull, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Hen Harrier at Thornham
Red-necked Grebe at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Common Cranes x 15 east of Thurne
Hen Harrier at Roydon Common NNR
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Great White Egret, Tundra Bean Geese x 2, Cattle Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Welney WWT
Twite x 14 at Thornham Harbour
Taiga Bean Geese x 7 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Scaup at Barton Broad

MEGA NEWS
None

Wednesday 16 January 2019

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  
Hen Harrier, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Waxwing between Thornham & Titchwell
Glaucous Gull, Snow Buntings x 70 east of beach car park at Cley
Twite x 14 at Thornham Harbour
Taiga Bean Geese x 5 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Red-necked Grebe at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Common Cranes x 13 at Clippesby
Great White Egrets x 4, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 120, hybrid Black Brant x Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Bean Goose sp. x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 2, Snow Buntings x 20, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver at Holkham Bay
Common Cranes x 15 south of Repps
Blue Fulmar at Sheringham
Smew redhead, Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Long-tailed Duck at Holme
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Great White Egret, Scaup at Welney WWT

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Annual Rarity Roundup 2018 Part 2!

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/RBA_Annual_Rarity_Roundup_2018_Part_2.aspx?s_id=906815275

If you missed it, Part 1 is here

RBA Weekly Round-Up 9th to 15th January!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2019-03.aspx?s_id=906815275

Tuesday 15 January 2019

Cley NWT!

I am on holiday for two weeks! I don't normally have holiday at this time of the year, but when I was off sick with bereavement/depression, this was over the period when I had lots of holiday booked. So, I have 5 weeks holiday to take before the end of March, otherwise I'll lose it. I have another week in February and another 2 weeks at the end of March. Normally I only have a day or two left!!!

I have been very busy doing jobs over the last few days. There are so many things to do, I don't know which way to turn to be honest. Our parent's house is not going on the market as soon as we wanted it to, for various reasons and this is stressing Vivien and I out to the limit! I'll let you all know when its going up for sale. I needed to escape today and it was a good day to be out with lots of sunshine, blue skies and no rain!

I headed to Cley for the first time this year and headed straight to the NWT Visitor Centre for one of their scrumptious hot cheese scones – I can't remember the last time I had one! It was very peaceful sitting here, looking out over the marshes and the sea beyond – it was good to be back and good for the soul. It was nice to meet a concerned blog follower in the VC, just as I was leaving.

East Bank – I ambled along here with scope, bins and camera and reminisced – my parents met on this famous bank. I think about them both daily, they are constantly in my thoughts – their faces etched in my mind. It was such a beautiful day, it felt like there should be some Spring migrants! I didn't do too badly for a short winter's day though – on 'The Serpentine' there were good numbers of Teal, Pochard, Lapwings, a Gadwall I noted, several Curlew, Shelduck, Starlings, Carrion Crows, Jackdaw, Heron, Little Egret, Redshanks, Mute Swans and two Marsh Harriers were flying over the reedbeds. I spent a while watching the sea and it felt good to be out. Cley is my favourite place for watching the waves cascade and crash onto the shingle. But, aside from a few gulls, there were no birds on the sea or flying past of interest. There were large numbers of whelk egg cases on the shingle I noted. I walked east between the shingle ridge and Arnold's Marsh and found a beautiful pair of Stonechats (unringed) perched on vegetation high on the ridge. They vanished before I could obtain any decent pictures. I headed back to my car and then headed to Salthouse.

Met up with John Furse in Beach Road! We walked out to Gramborough Hill, where I saw another pair of Stonechats which was nice and a Skylark was seen. Three Snow Buntings were sunning themselves on the shingle ridge, just east of the 'hill' and I managed to get a few record shots. A Redshank was in the pool just west of the hill, as we walked back our cars and a couple of Pied Wagtails flew overhead in Beach Road. Nothing else of note, but then I didn't expect to see too much today. I wanted to go to Coastguards and add the Glaucous Gull to my mini day list, but I had to go to Bakers and Larners in Holt, so left around 3.40pm. Said hello to Andy W. when I was in Holt for a few minutes (he works in the town).

I enjoyed my day out, but looking forward to Spring and lighter evenings! I lost 6.5lbs in my first weigh-in with WW on Monday and yes I have counted the 'points' for the cheese scone today! The weather is getting colder by the end of the week with possible snow forecast. My birthday is on the last day of my holiday – there always seems to be snow on my birthday!

Some readers have highlighted that my posts are not linking properly to Twitter. It was such a long time ago that I linked my posts automatically, that I can't even find out how I did that when I investigated this evening! But, until I find the solution, I will simply link all my posts to Twitter manually, which only takes a second to do anyway.

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  
Shorelarks x 4, Snow Buntings x 25 at Holkham Bay
Red-necked Grebe at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Glaucous Gull, Snow Buntings x 40 east of beach car park at Cley
Common Cranes x 11 at Clippesby
Tundra Bean Goose at Runham
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Haddiscoe Island
Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egrets x 2, Great White Egrets x 2, Tundra Bean Geese x 4, Russian White-fronted Geese x 4, Scaup, Common Cranes x 4 at Welney WWT
Twite x 12 at Thornham Harbour
Taiga Bean Goose at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Little Gull offshore at Holme

MEGA NEWS
None

Monday 14 January 2019

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  
Hawfinches x 6 at Lynford Aboretum
Glaucous Gull flew over Beach Road at Wells
Sandwich Tern, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Little Gulls x 3, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzards x 2, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Purple Sandpiper at Hunstanton
Ring-necked Duck, Cattle Egrets x 2, Great White Egrets x 2, Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 8, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Welney WWT
Glaucous Gull, Snow Buntings x 3 at Cley NWT
Black-throated Diver, Velvet Scoters x 11 on sea at Cley
Red-necked Grebe at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL, Mealy/Lesser Redpolls x c40 at The Dell, Wells Woods
Russian White-fronted Geese x 96 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Black-necked Grebes x 2 at Blakeney Harbour
Smew redhead, Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Mealy Redpoll at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Shorelarks x 23, Snow Buntings x 24 at Holkham Bay
Tundra Bean Geese x 7 at Runham
Common Cranes x 8 at Clippesby
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford

MEGA NEWS
None

Sunday 13 January 2019

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Smew redhead, Spoonbills x 3 at Snettisham RSPB
Little Gulls x 2, Slavonian Grebe, Black-throated Diver at Thornham Point
Ring-necked Duck, Cattle Egrets x 2, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Red-necked Grebe at Rollesby Broad
Tundra Bean Geese x 7 at Runham
Snow Buntings x 50, Great Northern Diver off beach car park at Cley
Long-tailed Duck at Weybourne
Hawfinches x 5 at Lynford Aboretum
Twite x 15 at Thornham Harbour
Hen Harriers x 7 at Warham Greens
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Bewick's Swans x 80 at Ludham
Russian White-fronted Geese x 131, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh

MEGA NEWS
None

Birding Insights Vlog - Part 1 - Jan 2019

Saturday 12 January 2019

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  
Glaucous Gull, Snow Buntings x 6, Velvet Scoters x 16 off beach car park at Cley
Great White Egret at Cley NWT
Caspian Gull off Burrell Way, Thetford
Hen Harrier at Morston Quay
Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Little Gulls x 5, Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Ring-necked Duck, Cattle Egrets x 2, Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Welney WWT
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Taiga Bean Geese x 8 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Snow Buntings x 40, Lapland Bunting, Black-throated Diver at North Dunes, Winterton
Lapland Buntings x 2 at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Rough-legged Buzzard at Choseley Drying Barns
Shorelarks x 27, Snow Buntings x 22, Glaucous Gull, Red-necked Grebe at Holkham Bay
Common Cranes x 9 near Clippesby
Slavonian Grebes x 3, Red-necked Grebes x 4, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Short-eared Owl, Little Gulls x 3 at Holme
Red-necked Grebe at Rollesby Broad
Tundra Bean Geese x 7, Bewick's Swans x 4 west of Runham
Rough-legged Buzzards x 2 at Haddiscoe Island
Twite x 3 at Thornham Harbour
Hen Harrier at Ringstead
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad

MEGA NEWS
None

Friday 11 January 2019

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Glaucous Gull, Velvet Scoters x 18 off beach car park at Cley
Jack Snipe at Cley NWT
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Common Cranes x 4 near Clippesby
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 near Thrigby
Shorelarks x 25, Snow Buntings x 32, Glaucous Gull, Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Velvet Scoters x 4 at Holkham Bay
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup at Barton Broad
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl at Toft Monks Mill
Red-necked Grebe at Rollesby Broad
Cattle Egrets x 2, Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Welney WWT
Water Pipit, Little Gulls x 4, Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshank, Black-throated Diver, Black Brant at Titchwell RSPB
Hen Harriers x 3, Short-eared Owl at Warham Greens
Caspian Gull off Burrell Way, Thetford
Twite x 6 at Thornham Harbour
Long-tailed Ducks x 21, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe at Holme Dunes
Snow Bunting near lifeboat station at Sea Palling
Hawfinches x 18, Crossbills x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Mealy Redpoll at Wells Woods
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Snow Buntings x 25 at North Dunes, Winterton

MEGA NEWS
None

Thursday 10 January 2019

Giant Bird Book Gets Rare Public Outing!

"One of the world's rarest books by the 19th Century US artist and ornithologist John James Audubon has gone on display at Liverpool Central Library.

Birds of America features ornate hand-painted watercolours. A similar one sold for more than $5m (more than £7m) in 2010."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/must_see/46820378/rare-audubon-bird-book-displayed-at-liverpool-library

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  
Bewick's Swans x 5 at Nunnery Lakes, Thetford
Smew redhead at Snettisham RSPB
Long-tailed Ducks x 6 at Thornham Point
Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPBTaiga Bean Geese x 6, Russian White-fronted Geese x 120 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 near Thrigby Hall
Tundra Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Goose at Welney WWT
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Glaucous Gull at Wells Harbour
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Quarles Marsh, Wells
Black Brant on pitch+putt at Wells
Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Short-eared Owls x 3, Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Island
Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebes x 2 at Holme Dunes
Twite x 13, Spotted Redshank at Thornham Harbour
Common Cranes x 10 at Billockby
Shorelarks x 23, Snow Buntings x 23, Black-throated Diver at Holkham Bay
Great White Egret, Russian White-fronted Geese x 120 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Long-tailed Ducks x 3 at Blakeney Point
Water Pipits x 9 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Great White Egret at Horsey Corner
Bewick's Swans x 52 near airfield at Ludham
Common Cranes x 13 near Clippesby

MEGA NEWS
None

Wednesday 9 January 2019

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-throated Diver, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 near Thrigby Hall
Shorelarks x 25, Snow Buntings x 30 at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 150, Lapland Bunting flew over at Holkham
Glaucous Gull flew over Cley
Taiga Bean Geese x 14, Russian White-fronted Geese x 10 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Ring-necked Duck, Great White Egret, Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Welney WWT
Great Northern Diver, Blue Fulmar at Sheringham
Hawfinches x 6 at Lynford Aboretum
Common Cranes x 3 between Thurne and Clippesby
Iceland Gull, Velvet Scoter, Snow Buntings x 54 at Hemsby

MEGA NEWS
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 2nd to 8th January!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2019-02.aspx?s_id=741905941

Tuesday 8 January 2019

Water Floods Over Sea Walls At High Tide, As Strong Winds Batter Norfolk Coastline

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/high-tide-in-walcott-which-is-braced-for-flooding-1-5843229

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  
Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 4, Great Northern Diver, Little Gull, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 2, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Velvet Scoters x 5, Scaup x 2 off beach car park at Cley
Rough-legged Buzzard at Choseley Drying Barns
Ring-necked Duck, Russian White-fronted Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, White Stork at Welney WWT
Snow Buntings x 25 at North Dunes, Winterton
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 near Thrigby Hall
Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Twite x 15 at Thornham Harbour
Shorelarks x 7, Snow Buntings x 25, Twite x 20 at Holkham Bay
Taiga Bean Geese x 2 at Happisburgh
Common Cranes x 5 between Thurne and Clippesby
Glaucous Gull at Wells Harbour
Hen Harriers x 3 at Warham Greens

MEGA NEWS
LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
East of Burgh-by-Sands, Cumbria
FORSTER'S TERN
Kinvarra, County Galway, Ireland

Monday 7 January 2019

New Year's Resolution Number One!

There are several New year's Resolutions this year – the first one commenced today. I have been comfort eating on a massive scale over the last two years, far more than I ever have and now its time to stop. Yesterday I cooked a New Year's Day lunch for my sisters and I, which included veggie roast dinner and home-made Tiramisu for dessert – this was my last big luxury food day until I hit goal weight – its going to be a long road, but I will get there.

I had so many jobs to do at the weekend, that I didn't get time to go birding, but I have TWO weeks off next weekend, so looking forward to getting out into the field. I also have to spend time helping Vivien sort out stuff/sale etc of our parent's house and also need to start clearing and sorting things in my own house in preparation for my house sale. Its going to be a busy, busy year!

Disappointingly, the Israel trip with Oriole Birding is not going ahead as not enough people booked, but I still have Fair Isle in October to look forward to!

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  
Ring-necked Duck, Russian White-fronted Goose, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Spotted Redshank at Thornham Marsh
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Great Northern Diver, Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoters x 4, Scaup off Coastguards at Cley
Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 near Thrigby Hall
Velvet Scoters x 5 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Taiga Bean Geese x 14 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL (form exilipes), Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Dartford Warbler at Horsey
Spoonbill alt Snettisham RSPB
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Twite x 10 at Thornham Harbour
Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 15, Great Northern Divers x 4, Black-throated Divers x 2, Little Gull, Shag x 4 off Holme Dunes
Rough-legged Buzzard north of Halvergate
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Hooded Crow at Winterton
Shorelarks x 26, Great Northern Divers x 2, Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe at Holkham Bay
Black Brant x Dark-bellied Brent Goose x 2 hybrids at Lady Anne's Drive, Holkham
Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham
Tundra Bean Geese x 6, Pink-footed Geese x 600 at Happisburgh
Glaucous Gull at Wells Harbour

MEGA NEWS
None

Sunday 6 January 2019

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  
Dartford Warbler, Hen Harriers x 2, Great White Egret, Common Cranes x 29 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Northern Treecreeper possible (form nominate), Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Slavonian Grebe, Velvet Scoters x 7, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Caspian Gull, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL (form exilipes), Glaucous Gull flew over Wells Woods
Glaucous Gull, Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier at Wells Harbour
Shorelarks x 25, Snow Buntings x 20, Lapland Bunting flew over, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Little Gull, Velvet Scoters x 8 at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Cattle Egrets x 2, Short-eared Owl, Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Welney WWT
Velvet Scoters x 5 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Common Cranes x 7 between Clippesby and Thurne
Russian White-fronted Geese x 200, Taiga Bean Geese x 16 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 34 south of Catfield
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 12 at off Holme Dunes
Hawfinches x 4 at Lynford Aboretum
Great White Egret west of New Cut at Blakeney
Black-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 2 at Barton Broad
Great White Egret at Breydon Water
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Yellow-browed Warbler trapped and ringed, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Burgh Castle
Twite x 7 at Morston Quay
Hooded Crow (probable), Snow Buntings x 40 at Winterton
Spoonbill, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Cley NWT
Smew redhead, Spoonbill, Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Waxwings x 4 at Horning

MEGA NEWS
None

Saturday 5 January 2019

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  
Northern Treecreeper possible (form nominate) in picnic area, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Slavonian Grebe, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Water Pipit, Hen Harriers x 4, Spotted Redshank, Little Gull, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Glaucous Gull at Wells Harbour
Ring-necked Duck, Russian White-fronted Geese x 7, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier at Welney WWT
Smew redhead at Ormesby Little Broad, Ormesby St Margaret
Spoonbill, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Black-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Scaup x 3 at Barton Broad
COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL (form exilipes), Lesser Redpolls x 60, Mealy Redpoll at Wells Woods
Shorelarks x 36, Snow Buntings x 50, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Great Northern Diver at Holkham Bay
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Smew redhead, Common Crane, Russian White-fronted Geese x 5 at Snettisham RSPB
Twite x 12 at Thornham Harbour
Great White Egret at Gapton Marshes
Rough-legged Buzzard near Choseley Farm
Waxwing x 12 at Broadland Business Park, Thorpe St Andrew
Short-eared Owl at Haddiscoe Island
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 SW of Thrigby Wildlife Gardens
Bewick's Swans x 55 near Ludham Airfield
Black Redstart (on Wednesday) at Bulmer Lane, Great Yarmouth
Common Cranes x 3 at Thurne
Hen Harriers x 3 at Warham Greens
Hawfinches x 6 at Lynford Aboretum
Hen Harriers x 5 at Stiffkey
White-fronted Goose at Burgh Castle Marshes

MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Kinvarra, Newtownlynch, County Galway, Ireland