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


Ring RARE BIRD ALERT with your sightings to: 01603 456789 or Hotline: 0207 0382820 or Text: 07520 634324
All Bird News & Megas via The Rare Bird Alert Website – Subscribe To RBA For Detailed News & Much More!

OVER TEN MILLION VIEWS! If you would like to advertise here, please contact me at [pennyclarke@talktalk.net]

Friday 31 January 2020

BREXIT

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, Long-tailed Duck, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Hawfinches x 23 at Lynford Aboretum
Common Cranes x 5 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Waxwing near church at Salthouse
Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male again, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Twite x 10, Black Redstart at Thornham Harbour
Scaup x 2 at Hickling Broad NWT
Russian White-fronted Geese x 132, Tundra Bean Geese x 7, Bewick's Swans x 18 at Breydon Water
Slavonian Grebe at Wroxham Broad
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Shorelarks x 2, Snow Buntings x 60, Velvet Scoters x 3, Long-tailed Duck at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 280, Great White Egrets x 3, Black Brant at Holkham Freshmarsh
Ravens x 2 over pines, Pale-bellied Brent Goose near Lady Anne's Drive, Holkham
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Water Pipit at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Raven, Hooded Crow at Winterton
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Broad
Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 at Weybourne Camp
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Iceland Gull SSE of Runham
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Slavonian Grebe reported at Wells
Tundra Bean Goose at Burnham Deepdale
Great White Egret at Holme
Bewick's Swans x 30 at Ludham Airfield
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Haddiscoe Island
Cattle Egrets x 8 at Burnham Overy Staithe

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian, Scotland
VEGA GULL
Possible, yesterday at Studholme Street, Sandhills, Liverpool

Thursday 30 January 2020

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  
Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male again, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Waxwing near church at Salthouse
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Hawfinches x 7 at Lynford Aboretum
Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Buntings x 90, Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoters x 5 at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 30, Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Holkham Freshmarsh
Raven, Hooded Crow, Common Cranes x 2, Russian White-fronted Goose at Horsey
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Iceland Gull, Caspian Gull at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Russian White-fronted Geese x19 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Hooded Crow hybrid, Scaup x 2 at Hickling Broad NWT
Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Red-necked Grebe, Snow Buntings x 18, Water Pipit at Holme
Great Northern Diver flew east past Cley
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Hen Harrier at Winterton
Great White Egret at Burnham Norton
Snow Bunting at Breydon Water
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey

MEGA NEWS 
None

Wednesday 29 January 2020

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 at Wroxham Broad
Black-throated Diver on sea by beach car park at Cley
Caspian Gulls x 4 at Cley NWT
Tundra Bean Goose, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Hen Harrier at Marshland St James
Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male again, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Ferruginous Duck (or hybrid) ad. fem. at Ranworth Broad
Long-tailed Ducks x 5, Red-necked Grebe, Snow Bunting, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Hawfinches x 15 at Lynford Aboretum
Twite x 2, Snow Buntings x 34 at Thornham Harbour
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Raven, Hooded Crow north of North Dunes, Winterton
Purple Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl at Horsey
Common Cranes x 3, Bewick's Swans x 4 at Horsey Corner
Great White Egret at Burnham Overy Staithe
Russian White-fronted Geese x 72, Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 6, Snow Buntings x 30, Velvet Scoters x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 3 at Holkham Bay
Water Pipit at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Iceland Gull at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Haddiscoe Island
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Waxwing near church at Salthouse
Russian White-fronted Geese x 70 at Breydon Water

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Musselburgh Lagoons, Scotland

Woman Discovers Two Million Year Old Mammoth Bone On Beach!

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/woolly-mammoth-pelvis-found-in-north-norfolk-1-6486656

RBA Weekly Round-Up 22nd to 27th January!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2020_05.aspx?s_id=147091390

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  
TUESDAY 28th JANUARY
Hawfinches x 17 at Lynford Aboretum
Russian White-fronted Geese x 100 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Shorelarks x 4, Snow Buntings x 56 at Holkham Bay
Black Brant at north end of Lady Anne's Drive at Holkham
Bewick's Swans x 26 at Ludham Airfield
Twite x 10, Snow Buntings x 10 at Thornham Harbour
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Long-tailed Ducks x 4, Snow Bunting, Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Curlew Sandpiper, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 10, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Holme
Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male again, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Hooded Crow, Snow Buntings x 20 at North Dunes, Winterton
Russian White-fronted Geese x 50 SE of Cantley
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Great White Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
Cattle Egrets x 2 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Common Cranes x 9 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Waxwing near church at Salthouse

MEGA NEWS 
None

Monday 27 January 2020

MY BIRTHDAY! With Lucy & Vivien at Titchwell RSPB & Castle Rising Tea Rooms!

South of Thornham looking over to Holme Church and Reserves
Portrait mode, Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max


I woke up to pouring rain and dull skies, which didn't inspire me to get out of bed, but decided I better make the effort on my birthday! The forecast last night was sunshine with rain in the afternoon. By the time I had made my birthday breakfast of fried eggs on toast, with baked beans and a cup of tea, the sun had come out! Good number of birds on my bird table and feeders this morning, including a new flock of Starlings – I wondered why every fat ball/blocks and seed containers were completely empty at the weekend, from when I last filled them up! House Sparrows regularly visit my feeding station, along with Great Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Hedge Sparrows, Robins, Blackbirds and Collared Doves and also a Squirrel now visits!
St Mary's Church – Holme-next-the-Sea
 
 The Firs House at Holme Dunes NWT & Holme Bird Observatory NOA

South of Thornham

Trying to make myself look cool with my green Skoda 😂😎!


I had arranged to meet Lucy and Vivien in the The Feeding Station (cafe) at Titchwell RSPB for 11.30am, for an early lunch. I knew Lucy wouldn't walk as far the sea and I needed a sea fix, so I headed off along the main path to the beach. As my regular readers know, my sisters are not serious birders at all, but have a general interest in nature, so I knew we wouldn't be racing round the county today. The skies were beautiful at Titchwell RSPB and I was lucky with the weather, as its usually snowing around my birthday. I didn't see half as many birds as my last trip here, no Chiffchaffs, Reed Buntings or Water Rail today. Lots of birds on the Freshmarsh including a big flock of Golden Plover, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Wigeon, Little Grebes, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Coot, Brent Geese, Greylag Geese and Black-headed Gulls. Further along at the tidal marsh were around 10 Avocets, 2 Pintail, 1 Dunlin and more Mallards, Teal and Little Grebes.

Walked out across the beach to the water's edge and saw a Golden Eye flying west, Red-throated Diver west, a Slavonian Grebe on the sea close in (which dived and didn't resurface when I got the camera out of the bag), Turnstone, Sanderling and Cormorant all flew past west, Common Scoters on the sea distantly. Took some arty farty pictures of sea, beach and shells and walked back across the beach. Bumped into Barry Woodhouse here and also Rob and Ann Gordon. Made my way back along the main path and Les Bunyan very kindly pointed out a Bittern just east of the main path, mostly obscured by reeds when I saw it, but a fabulous birthday bird!
Penny, Lucy and Vivien at Titchwell RSPB


Met up with Lucy and Vivien in the cafe and birthday lunch was enjoyed by all. I managed to get Lucy to go for a walk and bribed her with a possible sighting of a Bittern. We all walked as far as Island Hide with no sightings of the elusive Bittern at all. Sat in the hide for ages – the light was very poor now and we made our way back via the Fen Trail. Said hello to Trevor in the shop and then headed back to the car park via the Snowdrop bonanza in the wood. Light rain added to the gloomy skies, the best of the day had faded.
Island Hide, Fresh Marsh, Titchwell RSPB
 
Early Snowdrops at Titchwell RSPB
 
Vivien and Lucy along the Fen Trail at Titchwell RSPB


Left Titchwell and stopped briefly at Norfolk Lavender, so Lucy could look in the shop and then headed to Castle Rising Tea Rooms for a 'Luxury Cream Tea' at our favourite table. The brie and grape sandwiches were scrumptious, but the scones were very dry. Back to the diet tomorrow. Vivien took Lucy home and we all departed by 6pm – Vivien has a job interview tomorrow morning, so had to get back to do all the usual stuff you have to do in preparation.

I had a card from my work colleagues, one from Pete S., one from Lucy and one from Vivien. So sad not to receive any of my mother's eccentric birthday cards any more – she would buy a card and then cut and stick bits of other old cards on the one she had purchased and stick on photos she had taken and all kinds – they were unique! My lovely work colleague Cilla bought me a 3-in-1 Fruit & Vegetable Cutter after she saw how excited I was about Lily's apple cutter at work – how sweet was that! Lucy and Vivien/Ray very kindly gave me cash towards (my request) a Panasonic SD-ZB2502BXC Stainless Steel Bread Maker, which I had already purchased this week. Lucy and Vivien also gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and Lucy also gave me three classical CD's: Tchaikovsky Ballet Music – Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Chausson Poeme – Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade Borodin Polovtsian Dances and a book 'Voices in Summer' by Rosamunde Pilcher, who is the best selling author of 'The Shell Seekers' and 'Coming Home' (both of which I have read).

My birthday flowers from Lucy and Vivien


The bread maker I purchased is fabulous! I have always wanted one of these. I cooked a wholemeal seeded loaf yesterday, but the process took five hours! There is a choice of a small, medium or large loaf, in fact there are loads of choices and lots of bread recipes and the instruction booklet looks extremely complicated until you get your head around it. Although it will be fabulous to make all my own bread, it does mean I will have to weigh every slice to be accurate with my points for my WW diet, but worth it to have home made bread.

I spent my birthday evening dozing on the sofa! All in all a lovely birthday and not too bad a day for January weather! But, snow is forecast tomorrow! My mother's birthday would have been on the 9th February and Lucy's is on the 10th (Vivien's on 11th November) – all Winter babies!

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  
Waxwing near church at Salthouse
Waxwing at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Great Northern Divers x 2 flew past beach car park at Cley
Snow Buntings x 42, Water Pipit, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Slavonian Grebe at Wroxham Broad
Common Cranes x 10, Great White Egret between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Sheringham
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Great White Egret at North Point Pools, Wells
Caspian Gull at Sidestrand
Twite x 10, Snow Buntings x 62 at Thornham Harbour
Cattle Egrets x 7, Tundra Bean Goose, Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl at Burnham Overy Marshes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 14, hybrid  Black Brant x Dark-bellied Brent Goose x 2, Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoters x 10 at Holkham Bay
Common Cranes x 2 at Welney WWT
Raven, Hooded Crow, Hen Harrier north of North Dunes, Snow Buntings x 40 on beach at Winterton
Snow Buntings x 62 at Holme
Tundra Bean Goose at Holme Dunes NWT
Hawfinches x 10 at Lynford Aboretum
Tundra Bean Goose at Somerton Holmes
Bewick's Swans x 20 at Ludham Airfield
Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Hardley Staithe, NE of Chedgrave
Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male – NO SIGN OF TODAY, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford

MEGA NEWS 
None

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  
SUNDAY 26th JANUARY
Waxwing at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Slavonian Grebe at Wroxham Broad
Black Brant west of Lady Anne's Drive at Holkham
Russian White-fronted Geese x 20, Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Snow Buntings x 32, Long-tailed Ducks x 5 at Holkham Bay
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 flew past Weybourne
Bewick's Swans x 8 at Horsey Corner
Waxwing near church at Salthouse
Great White Egret, Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Snow Buntings x 41, Common Cranes x 2 at Winterton
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe at Filby Broad
White-fronted Goose north of Beach Road at Snettisham
Hawfinches x 10 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 25 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Common Cranes x 11, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Water Pipit, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 7, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret, Common Cranes x 2 at Welney WWT
Great White Egrets x 2 at Brancaster Staithe
Bewick's Swans x 2 at Halvergate
Common Cranes x 3 at Broad Drove, ENE of Southery
Water Pipit at Holme NWT
Short-eared Owls x 3, Great White Egret at Haddiscoe Island
Russian White-fronted Geese x 5 near Bayfield Lake
Scaup x 2 at Hickling Broad NWT
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Snow Buntings x 28 at Cley NWT
Cattle Egret at Burnham Overy Marshes

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Musselburgh Lagoons, Lothian, Scotland

Saturday 25 January 2020

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  
Waxwing at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Long-tailed Ducks x 9, Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting at Titchwell RSPB
Waxwing near church at Salthouse
Black Redstart on lifeboat shed at Old Hunstanton
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Caspian Gull, Purple Sandpipers x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 13 flew past at Sheringham
Waxwings x 2 reported at Old Woman's Lane, Slavonian Grebe on sea at Cley
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 50, Velvet Scoters x 11, Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Holkham Bay
Great White Egret east of Stiffkey
Bewick's Swans x 43, Whooper Swans x 47 at Ludham Airfield
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Twite x 3 at Thornham Harbour
Cattle Egrets x 8 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Snow Buntings x 32 at Winterton
Ferruginous Duck ad. fem. hybrid still at Ranworth Broad NWT
Common Cranes x 8 at Welney WWT
Hawfinches x 3 at Lynford Aboretum
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7, Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Snow Bunting at Holme
Red-necked Grebe at Filby Broad
Slavonian Grebe at Wroxham Broad
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Broad
Waxwing at Weybourne
Tundra Bean Geese x 14, Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Somerton Holmes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 15 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Water Pipits x 4 at Cantley Beet Factory
Russian White-fronted Geese x 5 near Bayfield Lake
Short-eared Owl at Belton Marshes
Tundra Bean Geese x 4, Common Cranes x 9, Great White Egret along Acle Straight

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
WNW of Musselburgh at Joppa, Lothian, Scotland
STELLER'S EIDER
Papa Westray, Orkney

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  
FRIDAY 24th JANUARY
Hawfinches x 7 at Lynford Aboretum
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl NW of Wells
Waxwing at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Twite x 10 at Thornham Harbour
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Burnham Norton
Cattle Egrets x 7, Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Snow Buntings x 10 at South Beach, Heacham
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Waxwing near church at Salthouse
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Short-eared Owl at Upton Marshes NWT
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshank, Great White Egret at Titchwell RSPB
Snow Buntings x 79, Velvet Scoters x 10, Long-tailed Ducks x 4 at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 110, Great White Egrets x 4 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Mealy Redpoll at Holt/Letheringsett

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
WNW of Musselburgh at Joppa, Lothian, Scotland
STELLER'S EIDER
Papa Westray, Orkney

Thursday 23 January 2020

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  
Russian White-fronted Geese x 19, Snow Buntings x 19 at Cley NWT
Waxwing along Old Woman's Lane at Cley
Hen Harrier, Great White Egret, Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipit, Spotted Redshank, Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter at Titchwell RSPB
Waxwing at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Great White Egret flew over Beach Road, Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Great White Egret on grazing marsh at Holme
Great White Egrets x 7 at Welney WWT
Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 flew over Kelling Water Meadows
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Short-eared Owl at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Snow Buntings x 20, Short-eared Owl at Winterton
Cattle Egrets x 8, Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Great White Egrets x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 at Burnham Norton
Long-tailed Ducks x 3 at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 102 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Tundra Bean Geese x 14 at Somerton Holmes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 40 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Bewick's Swans  x 70 at Ludham Airfield
Twite x 10 at Thornham Harbour

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian, Scotland

Interesting Article – "Making the move to Shetland"

https://www.shetland.org/60n/blogs/posts/why-i-moved-to-shetland?fbclid=IwAR1v8our9bWzFTjeLUS8HIAmDpVoiQUn_6AnW2o8mueV0fuaHLvUwk8bL1g

RSPB BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH!

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/?source=BWLITH0332&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=linkclickad&utm_content=graphic_take_part&utm_campaign=birdwatch2020

2020 Goals!

This year I have several goals that I will be completing. The first one is to lose my extra weight gained through all the sad and unhappy times I have been through and I will be slim by the end of the year. I started WW again at the beginning of January and have so far lost 7.5lbs – it will be a long road, but this time I WILL do it – I feel very focused about this for the first time in ages.

My other major goal is to sort all the tons of crap out in my house, including unpacking boxes that have not been unpacked since my marriage break-up in 2000. I have a million things to sort in my house, including my late father's huge slide collection, which really needs digitising – I may well need to take some time out in my life to sort this and many other things, including attempting to get my father's autobiography published, which will be a huge undertaking – it would be wrong and disloyal to let this remain in the big plastic box that father stored it in – he typed up the entire book on his manual typewriter, so I need to type this up on my Mac – this will also take a long time to do – he choose and has a batch of photos to illustrate the book, which will help me somewhat. Since we sold the house, there are still things left to sort through and sell – my living room looks like a huge boot sale!

After clearing and sorting through everything in my house, I will put the house up for sale and I then hope to move this year. Where exactly I'm not sure yet – it will either be here in my birth county of Norfolk or I may well relocate a long way north, which I am seriously considering and have been for a long time now. I have fallen in love with Shetland in a big way and yes I have thought about all the negatives and positives to living there – I constantly think about it. Generally, property is cheaper in Shetland and I quite fancy a loch view! The birding is excellent and the people are wonderful. I certainly wouldn't be able to buy a property in Norfolk with a nice view! Our lives are so incredibly short, why not I ask myself?! Very sadly Norfolk is not what it was once upon a time – it has become over run with second home owners with huge loss of habitat through humongous houses being built – the majority of these houses stand empty in the winter months and many villages have become almost devoid of life, with only a handful of elderly local residents left, as the average wage earner could not possibly afford to buy in any of the villages or inland for that matter – resulting in only being able to purchase houses in estates/towns – very sad indeed. Greedy estate agents are also to blame for the colossal house prices. The traffic on Norfolk roads has increased hugely, even in the last ten years of me being here – its quite shocking to be honest. Even on a Winter's day, the cars queue from the Knights Hill roundabout in King's Lynn, heading back south from day/weekend trips. Scenes of cars queueing like this, only ever used to happen on a Bank Holiday weekend, but it is now a regular occurrence.

In a lot of aspects, Shetland seems to be as Norfolk was. Regular and strong community get togethers, lots of lovely friendly people, working sheep dogs and not anywhere near as many dogs kept as pets like they are here! I will never forgot spending time on the beaches in Shetland and noting that I didn't ever see more than a single dog on each beach at a time – can you imagine that here! I did not see dogs chasing birds or wildlife in Shetland at all, as they do in Norfolk on a regular basis. Everyone who visits Norfolk says how fantastic the beaches are – yes I agree, but not when they are jam packed with people and dogs, unless you like that sort of thing – I don't. I yearn for an empty beach – fat chance of that happening. The beaches on Shetland are on another level – stunning doesn't even come close. Shetland has very short and dark days in Winter and big waves – I love big waves with a passion, one of the reasons I love Cley so much, but Shetland waves in Winter dwarf the breakers at Cley! The short days would not bother me as I would need to work (at least part time anyway) and I have tons of indoor hobbies that I currently don't get time to do, including getting back to my art. I attended Great Yarmouth Art College of Art & Design when I was 16 years old and would dearly love to get back into painting and drawing again and maybe sell some work via the blog! With 4,000 views on average daily, hopefully someone would want to buy my work! This would allow me to work part-time instead of full time. The skies in Shetland are breathtaking, the scenery, the air, the birds, the people, the way of life – I'm in love big time!

On the 27th January I will be 55 years old – I don't like writing that at all, but there's no getting away from it, I'm not 18 anymore (although I still like to think so at every work's Christmas Party!). Life is so incredibly short and you don't think or understand how very short it actually is when you are young. When you are in your twenties, aged 40 seems light years away, 50's is middle aged and 60's and 70's seem such a long way into the future..... but they are not at all, they are only just around the corner and suddenly you find yourself there and asking yourself, where did that last ten years go? What have I achieved? What have I done? What should I do next? We are only all here for a tiny moment in time – time which is so precious – you only start to realise this, when you get that much older and then panic sets in....  what else do I want to do in my life before its too late?

Watch this space!

Wednesday 22 January 2020

Shocking Global Warming Map Shows Swathes Of East Anglia Under Water By 2050

https://www.edp24.co.uk/business/farming/climate-central-interactive-coastaldem-map-show-impact-of-coastal-flooding-by-2050-1-6478282

If I make it to aged 85, my house will be gone! Time to get out of Norfolk!!!

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 NW of Wells
Black Redstart near chandlery shop at Wells
Twite x 10, Snow Bunting at Thornham Harbour
Waxwing at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Buntings x 85, Velvet Scoters x 16 at Holkham Bay
Cattle Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Lapland Buntings x 2 flew over Blakeney Pit
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Water Pipits x 2, Spotted Redshank, Long-tailed Ducks x 2  at Titchwell RSPB
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Great White Egrets x 7 at Burnham Overy Marshes
Common Cranes x 5 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Caspian Gull, Pale-bellied Brent Geese hybrid x 3 at Cley NWT
Bewick's Swans  x 35 at Ludham Airfield
Hawfinches x 17 at Lynford Aboretum

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian, Scotland

RBA Weekly Round-Up 15th to 21st January!

By Stuart Piner
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2020_04.aspx?s_id=1055944898

Tuesday 21 January 2020

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  
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Caspian Gull, Red-necked Grebe at Sheringham
Black Redstart at St Margaret's Church, Cley
Snow Buntings x 53, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, Lapland Bunting flew over at Holkham Bay
Black-necked Grebe at Holkham Park Lake
Twite x 10 at Thornham Harbour
Black-necked Grebe, Purple Sandpiper, Water Pipit, Long-tailed Duck, Snow Buntings x 35, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Earlham Marsh
Russian White-fronted Geese x 37 at Breydon Water
Great White Egret east of Reedham
Short-eared Owls x 4 at Haddiscoe Island
Russian White-fronted Geese x 74, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Short-eared Owl, Cattle Egret at Burnham Overy Staithe
Waxwing at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Short-eared Owl at Halvergate Marshes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 15 at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham
Common Cranes x 3 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Short-eared Owl, Great White Egret at Burnham Norton

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian, Scotland

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  
MONDAY 20th JANUARY
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Buntings x 40, Velvet Scoters x 27 at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x 100, Cattle Egrets x 3, Great White Egrets x 6 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Black-necked Grebe at Holkham Park Lake
Tundra Bean Goose NE of Weybourne
Purple Sandpiper at Waxham
Shorelark at Waxham Sands Holiday Park
Black Redstart at St Margaret's Church, Cley
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Caspian Gull, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoters x 3 at Sheringham
Twite x 10, Snow Buntings x 12 at Thornham Harbour
Water Pipit at Cantley Beet Factory
Bewick's Swans x 25 at Ludham Airfield
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Scaup x 2 flew past Holme
Hen Harrier at Roydon Common NWT
Short-eared Owls x 5 at Haddiscoe Island
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male on Freshmarsh late afternoon, then flew to reedbed, Hen Harrier, Water Pipit, Great Northern Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 3 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Siberian Chiffchaff, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3, Common Cranes x 2 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Hawfinches x 7 at Lynford Aboretum 
Short-eared Owl, Cattle Egret at Upton Marshes NWT
Cattle Egret at Halvergate Marshes

MEGA NEWS 
None

Sunday 19 January 2020

Sedgeford & Titchwell RSPB!

BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL
Sedgeford


I was first on site this morning to try and get better views and pictures of the Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail, which was found on Christmas Eve, but disappointingly I couldn't find it. It was a frosty and gloriously sunny day. 30+ Fieldfares were on the stubble field, along with a few Meadow Pipits. Around the dung heaps were Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Robin, Wren and Hedge Sparrows.
Fieldfare at Sedgefield

A handful of birders turned up and later on some of them left to walk back to the road where we have all been parking our cars. Only one birder (the last one) kindly told me that it had been found by the field by the cars and the single dung heap. Early bird does not always catch the worm! It had obviously not paid off getting up early this morning! I meandered back along the muddy track and watched the bird feeding on the single dung heap next to the road, rubbish for a 300mm lens.
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL


The wagtail then flew to the stubble field on the corner of the road and again was too far away for my camera. Later on I tried to photograph it through gaps in the hedge along the road and I then realised I was the only one left. The bird appeared to have flown back to the corner of the field near to my car, so I walked back to find it and discovered the wagtail just behind my car in the field! Seconds after this a couple turned up and this was their first sighting of this stunning wagtail – they were very lucky indeed to have such close views. More people now turned up. I am surprised at the amount of people still coming to see this bird. The wagtail flew into a hedge later on and Roy McDonald (nice to meet you) who was standing next to me, got a cracking picture of it – sadly I wasn't quick enough before it flew – his picture is probably the best photograph I've seen – here is the LINK.
East of Ringstead on route to Titchwell

Left here and headed for Titchwell RSPB. At Ringstead, I headed off east along the back roads (avoiding Holme village as upsetting to be anywhere near what was our family home) and had a lovely sighting of a cracking male Bullfinch on route. Had a lovely lunch sitting in the Feeding Station at Titchwell RSPB and then walked along the Fen Trail. I had my second Bullfinch (fem.) of the day sitting in the hedge by the horse field, by the start of the East Trail which was nice. Sat by Patsy's Pool and counted 7 Snipe feeding in the cut reed area on the right hand side of the pool. Lots of Mallards and Teal here. Marsh Harriers flying over the reedbeds.
Chiffchaff at Titchwell RSPB
Water Rail at Titchwell RSPB

Reed Bunting at Titchwell RSPB

Reeds – golden in the sun at Titchwell RSPB

Bullfinch at Titchwell RSPB

Scarlet Elf Cup Mushrooms at Titchwell RSPB


Back at the start of the main trail, I spent a long time trying to photograph 3 Chiffchaffs, who were fly catching above a Water Rail in the ditch. Scarlet Elf Cup mushrooms were also very photographic in the ditch opposite. I sat in Island Hide for a while and found 3 Pintail amongst the many ducks here, including Teal, Pochard, Wigeon, Mallards, Shelducks and also Brent Geese, Greylag Geese, Lapwings, Little Grebes and gulls. Probably one of the best moments of the day was watching a female Reed Bunting feeding on a reed head for ages in the golden afternoon light. Took some arty farty pictures of the golden reeds swaying and headed back to the car park.
Drove home via Ringstead, Sedgeford and Snettisham and took some pictures of silhouetted oak trees with the glow of the setting sun behind them – a lovely day all round. Lucy played in another concert today, but I didn't go as can't afford to go to them all, hopefully will go to the next one.

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 Duck at Ormesby Broad
Hawfinches x 8 at Lynford Aboretum 
Twite x 10, Spotted Redshank at Thornham Harbour
Water Pipit at Holme Dunes NWT
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Tundra Bean Geese x 4, Pink-footed Geese, Cattle Egrets x 3, Great White Egrets x 2, Lapland Bunting, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Shorelarks x 5, Velvet Scoter at Holkham Bay
Black-necked Grebe, Great White Egret at Holkham Park Lake
Russian White-fronted Geese x 100, Cattle Egret, Great White Egrets x 6 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Hunstanton
Ferruginous Duck ad. fem. (or hybrid) at Ranworth Broad
Short-eared Owl flew west, Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Snow Buntings x 20, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Short-eared Owls x 7, Great White Egret at Haddiscoe Marshes
Tundra Bean Geese x 2 between Somerton & Horsey
Short-eared Owls x 5 at Burnham Norton
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Slavonian Grebes x 2 at Sheringham
Hen Harriers x 3 at Stiffkey
Great White Egret, Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Short-eared Owl at Upton Marshes NWT
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Hardley Staithe, NE of Chedgrave
Tundra Bean Geese x 21, Russian White-fronted Geese x 24 at Somerton Holmes

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian, Scotland

Saturday 18 January 2020

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  
Common Cranes x 2 flew over, Hawfinches x 4 at Lynford Aboretum
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Broad
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Russian White-fronted Geese x 30 at Haddiscoe Island
Tundra Bean Geese x 4 at Burnham Overy Staithe
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Snow Buntings x 25 at Weybourne Camp
Cattle Egret at Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 10 at Winterton
Tundra Bean Geese x 27, Russian White-fronted Geese x 110 between Winterton & Somerton
Shorelark at Waxham Sands Holiday Park
Twite x 10 at Thornham Harbour
Shorelark, Snow Buntings x 61 at Holkham Bay
Black-necked Grebe, Great White Egret at Holkham Park Lake
Purple Sandpiper at Waxham
Water Pipit at Holme Dunes NWT
Snow Buntings x 10, Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Russian White-fronted Geese x 96 flew over Cantley Beet Factory
Great White Egret at Whitlingham Country Park
Black-throated Divers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian, Scotland

Friday 17 January 2020

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 Egret east of Lyng
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Buntings x 40, Long-tailed Ducks x 4 at Holkham Bay
Black-necked Grebe at Holkham Park Lake
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Russian White-fronted Geese x 6 at Weybourne
Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 3 at Ludham Airfield
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Cattle Egret, Russian White-fronted Goose at Halvergate Marshes
Common Cranes x 15 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Great Northern Diver, Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 2, Short-eared Owl at Snettisham RSPB
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Broad
Russian White-fronted Geese x 52 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Grey-bellied Brant (possible) 1/2 mile west of Walpole St Andrew
Great White Egret, Common Cranes x 2 at Welney WWT
Cattle Egret at Burnham Overy Staithe
Russian White-fronted Geese x 200 by A47 east of Acle
Twite x 3, Hen Harrier by Peter Scott walk at Admiralty Point
Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cley NWT
Water Pipits x 2 at Holme Dunes NWT
Hawfinches x 6 at Lynford Aboretum

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian, Scotland

Thursday 16 January 2020

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 at Horsey
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret NW of Wells
Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Tundra Bean Geese x 2, Russian White-fronted Goose at Saxlingham
Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cley NWT
Ferruginous Duck ad. fem. at Ranworth Broad
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Buntings x 40, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Holkham Bay
Black-necked Grebe at Holkham Park Lake
Great White Egret at private fishing lakes, Tottenhill
Purple Sandpipers x 2 at Sheringham
Water Pipits x 2 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 3 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Common Cranes x 28 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Russian White-fronted Geese x 300, Tundra Bean Geese x 26 by A47 east of Acle
Cattle Egret at Halvergate Marshes
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Broad
Bewick's Swans x 70 at Ludham Airfield
Twite x 6 at Thornham Harbour
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Great White Egret at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Great White Egret east of Lyng
Black-throated Diver on sea at Walcott
Hen Harriers x 2 at Roydon Common NWT
Grey-bellied Brant (possible), Tundra Bean Geese x 2 by Marsh Road, 1/2 mile west of Walpole St Andrew
Cattle Egrets x 3 at Burnham Overy Staithe
Russian White-fronted Geese x 87 at Burnham Norton
Tunda Bean Geese x 4, Pink-footed Geese x 6,000, Russian White-fronted Goose at Langham
Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Weybourne

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian, Scotland

Sir David Attenborough Warns Of Climate 'Crisis Moment'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/science-environment-51123638

Sculthorpe Moor Reserve's 'Worst Flooding In 19 Years'

Blimey, look at the state of the reserve – how awful!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-51137369?SThisFB&fbclid=IwAR0_r_1i8z5sZM2KPjjfWhJudD9IxmdRbBOYJ9iXPZga4jEJ2DTIXEmWqTg#

Wednesday 15 January 2020

First Stranded Orca In 20 Years Found Off Norfolk Coast!

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/killer-whale-found-in-the-wash-1-6466423

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 6, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egret, Short-eared Owl at Halvergate Marshes
Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl NW of Wells
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 10 at Ludham Airfield
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Hen Harrier at Roydon Common NWT
Common Cranes x 3 at Welney WWT
Cattle Egrets x 7, Great White Egret at Burnham Overy Marshes
Great White Egret at Bowthorpe
Common Cranes x 16, Short-eared Owl between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Common Cranes x 2, Short-eared Owl near North Dunes, Winterton
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Buntings x 80, Short-eared Owl at Holkham Bay
Black-necked Grebe at Holkham Park Lake
Velvet Scoters x 4 off South Beach, Heacham
Caspian Gulls x 4 at Bayfield Estate near Glandford
Hawfinches x 6 at Lynford Aboretum

MEGA NEWS 
None

RBA Weekly Round-Up 8th-14th January!

By Stuart Piner
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2020_03.aspx?s_id=891080768

Tuesday 14 January 2020

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  
Water Pipit, Spotted Redshank, Woodcock at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egrets x 2, Short-eared Owl, Common Cranes x 29 at Welney WWT
Waxwing flew over west bank at Cley
Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cley NWT
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham
Tundra Bean Geese x 5, Great White Egrets x 4 at Nar Valley Fisheries
Common Cranes x 20 between Acle Bridge & Billockby
Bewick's Swans x 10, Whooper Swans x 42 at Ludham Airfield
Caspian Gull at Earlham Marsh
Great White Egret at Bowthorpe Southern Park
Long-tailed Duck at Rollesby Broad
Russian White-fronted Geese x 315 at Runham Swim
Snow Buntings x 40, Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Holkham Bay
Rough-legged Buzzard NW of Wells
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Tundra Bean Geese x 19 at East Somerton
Russian White-fronted Geese x 9 between Attlebridge & Lenwade

MEGA NEWS 
None

Monday 13 January 2020

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 NW of Wells
Black-throated Diver offshore at Cley
Snow Buntings x 34, Caspian Gulls x 3, Water Pipit at Cley NWT
BLUE-HEADED EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (nominate form tschutschensis) 1w male at dung heap, west of Ringstead Road, north of Sedgeford
Tundra Bean Geese x 2, Pink-footed Geese x 8,000 north of Sedgeford
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8 at Snettisham RSPB
Long-tailed Duck at Rollesby Broad
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Buntings x 60 at Holkham Bay
Black-necked Grebe at Holkham Park Lake
Short-eared Owl at Holkham Dunes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 flew over Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Tundra Bean Geese x 6 at East Somerton
Ferruginous Duck ad. fem. at Ranworth Broad
Water Pipits x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 35 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Great White Egret at Lynn Point, King's Lynn
Great White Egrets x 3 SSE of Southery
Caspian Gull at Longwater Retail Park at Costessey
Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Pomarine Skua, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Snow Bunting at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egret at Halvergate Marshes
Hen Harrier at Billockby
Tundra Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 10 north of Saxlingham

MEGA NEWS 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian, Scotland