Chilled Birding at Holme Reserves!

LESSER WHITETHROAT

(possibly of an eastern form)

 

 

I spent all day at Holme Reserves and didn't see a huge amount of birds. I sat in my car for quite some time, waiting for the presumed Eastern Lesser Whitethroat to appear in the NOA car park – luckily it did a few times, but too far away for mint pictures. Met a lovely lady called Liz, who follows my blog and two more blog followers – lovely to meet you all. Bumped into Robin Jolliffe, (who lives along the Firs Road) who recently had a Yellow-browed Warbler in his garden.

Other birds seen: one Swallow flying west, Cetti's Warbler heard, several Great Tits, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Robins, Willow Warbler, Stonechat, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwits, Greylag Geese, Redshanks and lots of ducks, Coots and Little Grebes on the Broadwater. Quite a lot of cars on both NOA and NWT car parks, but an increase in birders I noted – makes a nice change!

 LESSER WHITETHROAT

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Yellow-browed Warbler, Great White Egret flew over at Beeston Common, Sheringham

Curlew Sandpiper at Breydon Water

Hawfinches x 2 flew over Sidestrand

Baltic Gull juv. possible, (nominate form fuscus, unringed) this afternoon, Red-backed Shrike 1w on Thornham Marsh, Rose-coloured Starling juv. (possible) flew over early morning, Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Purple Sandpipers x 4, Snow Buntings x 2, Caspian Gulls x 2 at Titchwell RSPB

Yellow-browed Warbler along Gypsy Lane at Titchwell

Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzels x 2 flew over, Spoonbills x 11 on salt marsh at Stiffkey

Scaup juv. on pond near caravan park, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at Wells Woods

Great White Egrets x 2, Great Northern Diver flew past beach car park at Cley

Great White Egret, Lapland Buntings x 3, Short-eared Owl at Cley NWT

Blue-headed Wagtail at Dickleburgh Moor NR

Black Terns x 2 at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath

Yellow-browed Warbler at Garden Drove, Warham Greens

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Snow Buntings x 2 at Holme NOA

Yellow-browed Warbler in horse paddocks in village at Holme

Cattle Egrets x 2, Great White Egrets x 4 at Welney WWT

Lapland Buntings x 3, Woodlarks x 2 flew over Hunstanton

Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 at Winterton Dunes

Arctic Tern at Kelling Water Meadows

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Pied Flycatcher at Great Yarmouth Cemetery

Caspian Gull at Beach Road, Salthouse

Great Northern Diver flew past Weybourne

Yellow-browed Warbler at Weybourne Camp

Yellow-browed Warbler at Waxham

Great White Egret at Blakeney Freshmarsh

Lapland Buntings x 3, Great Northern Diver, Short-eared Owl at Scolt Head Island NNR

Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cromer

Cattle Egrets x 4 at Burnham Overy Marshes

Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA

Ring Ouzel west of harbour at Blakeney

Spoonbills x 7 at Brancaster Staithe

Lapland Bunting at Thornham Point

Cattle Egrets x 6 at Upper Street Marshes, Horning

Yellow-browed Warbler at Pigneys Wood, North Walsham

 

MEGA NEWS

TENNESSEE WARBLER

In garden at Burravoe, Yell, Shetland

TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER

Budle Point at Budle Bay, Northumberland

UPLAND SANDPIPER

Inishbofin, County Galway, Ireland

SIBERIAN THRUSH

ENE of Crail at Kilminning, Fife, Scotland

SWAINSON'S THRUSH

Birsay, Orkney

LANCEOLATED WARBLER

Probable, between Bigton and Ireland, Shetland

Raining Birds?

Not quite! 😞

Stiffkey Cliff Top Wood

 

 

Rained for most of the day, but the sun came out late afternoon. I decided to start my search at the cliff top wood at Stiffkey Campsite – there had been a Red-breasted Flycatcher found here yesterday and I was hoping it might still be here – it wasn't! A Green Woodpecker bounded past me, a Pied Wagtail was on the ploughed field and I saw a Blue Tit and a Robin. Found 4 Spoonbills north of the wood on the saltmarsh and that was it. Light rain and gloomy conditions. Memories came flooding back of a Red-flanked Bluetail that I twitched here after work on Tuesday 23rd October 2012 – crazy night, also in gloomy conditions due to fading light! Ambled back to my car and headed for Wells Woods.

Wells Woods

 

Very poor birding at Wells. Only a handful of Goldcrests amongst the dripping sycamore leaves, Chaffinches, a Jay and nothing else of note. Searched hard in The Dell for the recent Red-breasted Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Warblers, none found – I was glad I had my wellingtons on, as it was very flooded in this area. Headed to the drinking pool and the glade just west of there and sat in the wet grass to wait for something colourful and exciting to appear – best I found was a red toadstool!🤣 Bumped into Chris M. on the walk back, who had seen 2 Yellow-browed Warblers in The Dell, after I had been there, typical! Couldn't go back to look, as ticket was about to run out, ok it had run out!

 

Where to end my day? After the pager highlighted there was a Lesser Whitethroat, that was a probable 'eastern form' (love these) at Holme, I headed west. Driving along the Firs Road to the NOA car park produced several LBJ's diving in hawthorns and a Kestrel was perched on a bush. I saw and heard more birds this evening at Holme than I did all day, but to be fair, the sun coming out probably helped! Parked up on the NOA car park. With helpful directions from Gary E., I searched for the Lesser Whitethroat and luckily found it flitting around a hawthorn bush (with a Kestrel perched on top) on the west side of the car park, along the path to the NWT hides, so couldn't get any closer for any pictures, as NWT closes at 5pm – exasperating!

 

A Song Thrush was perched in the hawthorn on the east side of the boardwalk path to the car park hide and a Chiffchaff was flitting around too. I tried to turn the Song Thrush into something rarer, but it remained a Song Thrush! 4 Stonechats were also around the car park and a skein of Pink-footed Geese flew over. Little Grebe, Gadwalls, lots of Coots and Mallards were on the Broadwater. Now for the Blyth's Reed Warbler.......! Just as I left the car park area and walked past the NWT car park, I found a cracking Pied Flycatcher in the small sycamore, on the right hand side of the track, just before the Firs House – lifted my camera up to take a picture and it duly vanished!

Walked along the main bank to the observatory, where I saw several Robins, a Wren and heard a Cetti's Warbler. Bumped into Andy B. and wife, who were also looking for the Blyth's Reed Warbler – no luck with that at all. Tawny Owl called in the pines! Scanned the sycamore tree by the pond in front of observatory, but no Yellow-browed Warblers to be found. So glad to see this tree is getting a bit bigger, from when it had a dramatic trim a few years back! Ambled back to my car in the setting sun and saw a Marsh Harrier over the marsh and returned home.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Blyth's Reed Warbler, retrapped, Lesser Whitethroat (probably of an eastern form), Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Spotted Redshank at Holme NOA

Pied Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Great White Egret at Holme Dunes NWT

Greenish Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warblers x 5 at South Dunes, Great White Egret flew over North Dunes at Winterton

Red-backed Shrike 1w at Wells Woods

Great White Egret at North Point Pools, Wells

Pale-bellied Brent Goose off harbour at Wells

Spoonbills x 4 on salthmarsh at Stiffkey

Yellow-browed Warbler west of campsite car park at Stiffkey

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at Great Yarmouth Cemetery

Black Redstart at pier, Gorleston-on-Sea

Red-backed Shrike 1w, Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Buntings x 4, Spoonbills x 14, Great White Egret, Purple Sandpipers x 4, Snow Bunting at Titchwell RSPB

Yellow-browed Warbler, Hen Harrier flew over Walsey Hills NOA

Grey Phalarope, Little Gull flew past beach car park at Cley

Hen Harrier at Cley NWT

Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel at Waxham

Yellow-browed Warbler in cemetery at Caister-on-Sea

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at Warham Greens

Grey Phalaropes x 3 at Dickleburgh Moor NR

Curlew Sandpiper, Lapland Buntings x 3 at Snettisham RSPB

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Holkham Pines

Hen Harrier male, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Blakeney

Great White Egret at Welney WWT

 

MEGA NEWS

TENNESSEE WARBLER

In garden at Burravoe, Yell, Shetland

TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER

Budle Point at Budle Bay, Northumberland

BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS

Flew past Hurlstone Point, Somerset & Bristol

RBA Weekly Round-Up 22nd to 28th September!

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2020_40.aspx?s_id=365194847

MEGA!!! TENNESSEE WARBLER on Shetland!

Burravoe, Yell, Shetland – breaking news from Rare Bird Alert!!!

In sycamores in back garden of house at Burravoe.

Discussion here:

Best pictures so far: here, here, here, here and here

 

Massive congratulations to finder Dougie Preston!

 

Previous records:

• 1995 at St Kilda 20th September.
• 1982 Orkney 5th to 7th September.
• 1975 Fair Isle 24th September.
• 1975 Fair Isle 6th to 20th September.
  

Garden Drove, Warham Greens & East Hills, Wells!

 East Hills, Wells

 

Garden Drove, Warham Greens 

I had a few essential jobs to do this morning, so didn't get out until the afternoon. Headed east and parked up on the concrete pad at Garden Drove, Warham Greens. The hedge-lined track was alive with birds! Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, one of which I heard knocking on a dead tree stump, before I saw it,  Blue Tits, Great Tits, also Chaffinches, Goldfinches, several Goldcrests feeding amongst the sycamore leaves, a Chiffchaff, Blackbirds, several Robins, Hedge Sparrows x 2, Wren, Redwing, male Blackcap and the best bird I found was a Redstart along the fieldside of the hedge, just west of the end of Garden Drove (where the Brown Shrike was). Nothing of note in the copse at the north end though – no bluetails! Another birder kindly pointed out a Yellow-browed Warbler to me, approximately half way along the track, lovely views but sadly didn't get a photo.

East Hills, Wells

 

I was very excited when I realised I was the only birder out here. I later found out this evening, that A.S., N.P., A.B., and S.W. had all been out here before me (see RBA post for full list). I hadn't expected the sun out this afternoon and the skies were beautiful. Found a dead Guillemot on the beach. I worked hard to find some good birds. I found more spiders than birds! Lots of webs knitted across pine trees, each with a good sized spider in the middle – there must be some in my hair! Birds found: a few Robins, a Wren, Blackbird and several Goldcrests. 2 Peregrines flew west over the marsh at close range and a Common Buzzard also flew over, along with a Great White Egret and 2 Little Egrets. I was flabbergasted to find nothing at all in the sycamore glade, not a single bird! Back at the west end later, I found 2 Stonechats, a single Chiffchaff and at last a lovely Yellow-browed Warbler in the brambles! But, it would not play ball for my camera, you can see what it is, but rubbish pics! The setting sun over the harbour at Wells was simply breathtaking. Lots of Brent Geese, Redshanks, Oystercatchers and 3 Grey Plovers also seen. A wonderful afternoon, which wouldn't have happened, if I had gone racing off to twitch the Lammergeier, especially if I had dipped! Maybe tomorrow?!

My Yellow-browed Warbler – honest!

 

 

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Red-backed Shrike 1w, Yellow-browed Warbler, Grey Phalaropes x 7 offshore, Little Gull, Purple Sandpipers x 4, Great White Egret, Caspian Gulls x 2, Spoonbills x 17, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB

Yellow-browed Warbler at Gypsy Lane, Titchwell

Grey Phalarope, Little Gulls x 3 flew past Sheringham

Sabine's Gull, Grey Phalarope, Velvet Scoter, Snow Bunting, Little Stints x 2, Caspian Gull, Lapland Buntings x 4 at Cley NWT

Grey Phalaropes x 3 on sea, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter, Little Gulls x 4 at Cley

Red-necked Phalarope, Great White Egrets x 4 at Welney WWT

Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 10, Ring Ouzel, Lapland Buntings x 5 at Holkham Pines

Blyth's Reed Warbler, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 trapped & ringed at Holme NOA

Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Great White Egrets x 2, Spotted Redshank at Holme Dunes NWT

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, Redstart at Garden Drove, Warham Greens

Grey Phalaropes x 2 on sea, Little Gulls x 10 at Kelling Hard

Arctic Tern, Short-eared Owl at Kelling Water Meadows

Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter at Walcott

Pale-bellied Brent Goose in Wells Channel, Wells

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike at Wells Woods

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Lesser Whitethroat (probable of an eastern form), Lapland Bunting, Great White Egret at East Hills, Wells

Yellow-browed Warbler in St Nicholas' Churchyard, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher in Cemetery at Great Yarmouth

Greenish Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Ring Ouzel, Curlew Sandpiper at Winterton

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Brambling at South Dunes, Winterton

Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Buntings x 3 at Burnham Overy Dunes

Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Ring Ouzels x 2, Little Gulls x 2, Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Diver at Waxham

LAMMERGEIER 1s. in field west of A1067, south of Foxley

LAMMERGEIER 1s. 1 mile south of North Elmham

LAMMERGEIER 1s. flew SW over church at Worthing

LAMMERGEIER 1s. NW of Beetley

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, at Stiffkey Campsite Wood

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3, between Stiffkey Campsite & Warham Greens

Spoonbills x 5, Great White Egret on marsh at Stiffkey

Glossy Ibis, Little Gull, Short-eared Owl at Horsey

Grey Phalaropes x 6, Velvet Scoter, Little Gulls x 5, Purple Sandpipers x 3 offshore at Weybourne Camp

Ring Ouzel, Whinchats x 2 at Salthouse Heath

Little Gull east of Beach Road at Salthouse

Ring Ouzel, Whinchat at Paston Cliffs

Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum

Great White Egrets x 2 at Hockwold Washes

Velvet Scoters x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Purple Sandpiper at Mundesley

Grey Phalaropes x 3, Little Gulls x 5, Purple Sandpiper flew past Scolt Head Island NNR

 

MEGA NEWS

BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS

Flew past Lowestoft, Southwold, Sizewell & Thorpeness, Suffolk

AUTUMN HOLIDAY – THREE WEEKS IN NORFOLK!

I should have been on Shetland right now, but sadly cancelled before any of us had heard of Covid-19. I will really miss being on Shetland – I have fallen in love with the place big time, but on hindsight, it was a good job I did cancel.

 

So lets hope Norfolk produces some good birds this Autumn – its certainly kicked off well so far, with the Derbyshire 1s Lammergeier making an appearance in Norfolk today!!! This got the Norfolk listers moving this afternoon!

I can't believe that the Alder Flycatcher found on Blakeney Point was 10 years ago! Peter Allard highlighted this a couple of days ago on Twitter! Here is my blog post on the hardest slog up the point EVER and the most rewarding!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Sabine's Gull, Grey Phalaropes x 2, Little Gulls x 7, Arctic Tern flew past Weybourne

Grey Phalarope's x 3, Slavonian Grebe, Little Gulls x 10 flew past Weybourne Camp

Little Gulls x 2, Little Stint at North Point Pools, Wells

Little Gulls x 16 on flood between playing field and caravan park at Wells

Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 at East Hills, Wells

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Mealy Redpoll at Wells Woods

Little Gull north of Wymondham Abbey

Leach's Petrels x 2, Sooty Shearwater flew past Kelling

Grey Phalarope, Little Gulls x 30, Yellow-browed Warbler at Kelling Quags

Leach's Petrels x 2 flew past West Runton

Storm Petrel, Sabine's Gull, Yellow-browed Warbler, Grey Phalaropes x 5, Little Gulls x 2, Caspian Gull, Spoonbill, Great White Egret, Purple Sandpipers x 2, Snow Bunting at Titchwell RSPB

Leach's Petrels x 3, Sabine's Gull, Balearic Shearwaters x 2, Pomarine Skua, Grey Phalaropes x 3, Sooty Shearwaters x 11, Caspian Gull, Little Gulls x 8, Little Stint, Velvet Scoter, Black-throated Divers x 2, Scaup flew past Coastguards, Cley

Little Gulls x 3 in field near sewage works at Cley

Grey Phalarope, Little Stints x 3, Little Gulls x 2, Caspian Gulls x 5 at Cley NWT

Red-necked Phalarope, Cattle Egrets x 8, Great White Egret, Little Stint at Welney WWT

Grey Phalarope, Little Gull, Caspian Gulls x 3, Arctic Tern in fields east of Beach Road at Salthouse

Sabine's Gull, Sooty Shearwaters x 6, Puffins x 2, Little Gulls x 10 at Sheringham

Little Gull at Stiffkey Fen

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at Holkham Pines

Snow Bunting at Sea Palling

Grey Phalaropes x 2 flew past North Beach at Heacham

Ring Ouzels x 2 at Garden Drove, Warham Greens

Curlew Sandpiper at Snettisham RSPB

Storm Petrel, Arctic Terns x 5, Great White Egret, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Snow Bunting at Holme NOA

Lapland Buntings x 2 at Thornham Harbour

Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Buntings x 2, Long-tailed Skua at Blakeney Point

Grey Plover flew over Cantley Beet Factory

Sooty Shearwaters x 5, Little Gull, Puffin at Mundesley

Leach's Petrel, Scaup x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 6, Little Gulls x 4, Short-eared Owl, Purple Sandpiper, Puffin flew past Scolt Head Island NNR

Fulmar in garden, then flew off at Fakenham

Little Stints x 2 at Admiralty Point

Dotterel at Terrington Marsh

MEGA NEWS

PALLAS'S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER

Fair Isle, Shetland

LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE

Staveley YWT, Yorkshire

FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL

South of Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Sabine's Gull, Sooty Shearwater flew past Happisburgh

Pomarine Skuas x 6 Grey Phalaropes x 4, Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwaters x 68, Little Gulls x 26, Purple Sandpipers x 3 off beach car park at Cley

Red-necked Phalarope, Grey Phalaropes x 2, Little Gulls x 10, Little Stints x 6, Curlew Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Lapland Buntings x 2 at Cley NWT

Yellow-browed Warbler, Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Purple Sandpipers x 2, Snow Bunting, Little Stint, Little Gulls x 6, Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Arctic Terns x 3, Caspian Gulls x 2 at Titchwell RSPB

Grey Phalarope, Purple Sandpiper, Little Gulls x 6, Arctic Terns x 2, Caspian Gull at Salthouse

Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Scaup x 5 at Winterton

Cattle Egrets x 8, Great White Egrets x 8, Common Cranes x 48 at Welney WWT

Arctic Terns x 2 at Whitlingham Country Park

Leach's Petrel, Sabine's Gulls x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 35, Long-tailed Skuas x 6, Pomarine Skuas x 8, Velvet Scoters x 2, Arctic Terns x 2, Little Gulls x 33, Scaup x 3, Grey Phalarope at Sheringham

Great Skua flew over Syderstone Common

Grey Phalarope, Little Gulls x 29 at Kelling Water Meadows

Little Stints x 3 at Caister-on-Sea

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatcher at Wells Woods

Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB

Sooty Shearwaters x 2 flew past Weybourne Camp

Sabine's Gull, Grey Phalarope, Sooty Shearwater, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Terns x 4, Little Gulls x 2, Snow Bunting, Great White Egrets x 2 at Holme Dunes

Caspian Gull at Fisherfleet, King's Lynn

Little Gull at Rush Meadow, Dereham

Leach's Petrel, Scaup, Sooty Shearwaters x 3, Little Stint, Little Gulls x 3, Short-eared Owl at Mundesley

Blue-headed Wagtail, Spotted Redshank at Dickleburgh Moor NR

Little Gulls x 12 on flood between playing field and caravan park at Wells

Leach's Petrel, Sabine's Gull, Sooty Shearwaters x 8, Little Gulls x 11, Sooty Shearwaters x 29, Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 3 offshore at Scolt Head Island NNR

Little Gulls x 3 at Breydon Water

Leach's Petrel, Sabine's Gull, Sooty Shearwater, Grey Phalarope, Long-tailed Skuas x 2, Pomarine Skua flew past Hunstanton

MEGA NEWS

WHITE'S THRUSH

Fair Isle, Shetland

LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE

Staveley YWT, Yorkshire

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Leach's Petrels x 3, Sabine's Gulls x 2, Long-tailed Skuas x 3, Great Skuas x 146, Arctic Skuas x 68, Little Gulls x 24, Sooty Shearwater flew past Sheringham

Little Gulls x 6, Curlew Sandpiper, Arctic Tern, Purple Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB

Arctic Skuas x 219, Great Skuas x 28, Arctic Terns x 4 flew over Lynn Point, King's Lynn

Cattle Egrets x 8, Great White Egrets x 6, Common Cranes x 60 at Welney WWT

Scaup, Sooty Shearwater flew past Winterton

Pomarine Skuas x 2, Sooty Shearwater, Little Gulls x 5, Long-tailed Skuas x 4, Great Skuas x 122 flew past beach car park at Cley

Sabine's Gull flew over Eye Field, Cley NWT

Arctic Skuas x 2 flew over Cringleford

Arctic Skuas (probable) x 4, Skua sp. x 2 flew over Thetford

Little Gulls x 13 flew past Weybourne

Little Gull flew past Holme

Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB

Little Gull flew past Scratby

Long-tailed Skua flew past, Slavonian Grebe on sea at Weybourne Camp

Little Gulls x 3 flew past Mundesley

MEGA NEWS

BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS

Off Emmanel Head, Holy Ireland, Northumberland

Ban The Shooting Of Badgers Immediately

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/333693

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Wells Woods

Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA

Red-backed Shrike on Thornham Marsh, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting at Titchwell RSPB

Spoonbills x 5, Lapland Bunting, Great White Egret at Thornham Point

Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Winterton

Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Dickleburgh Moor NR

Common Cranes x 8 flew over Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT

Curlew Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB

Yellow-browed Warbler at St Nicholas' Churchyard, Great Yarmouth

Yellow-browed Warbler just east of churchyard at Blakeney

Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stints x 2 at Snettisham RSPB 

Cattle Egrets x 7, Great White Egrets x 4, Common Cranes x 55 at Welney WWT

Lapland Buntings x 5, Curlew Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl at Cley NWT

Great White Egrets x 3 at Holme Dunes

Garganey x 2, Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

Yellow-browed Warbler near Wymondham Abbey

Purple Sandpiper at Cromer

Short-eared Owl at California, Ravenstone

MEGA NEWS

BOBOLINK

Fanad Head, County Donegal, Ireland

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Lesser Yellowlegs at Runham Swim, Runham

Red-backed Shrike, Snow Bunting, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Great White Egret at Titchwell RSPB

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike at Wells Woods

Great White Egret, Lapland Buntings x 3 at Thornham Point

Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA

Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB

Spoonbill, Caspian Gulls x 2 at Breydon Water

Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Garganey, Common Cranes x 53 at Welney WWT

Common Cranes x 4 at St Benet's Abbey, Ludham

Grey Plover, Curlew Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB

Black Redstart at Waxham

Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Dickleburgh Moor NR

Great White Egret flew over East Ruston

Black-throated Diver at Cley NWT

Great White Egret flew over Cantley Beet Factory

Great White Egrets x 2, Spotted Redshank at Holme Dunes NWT

Caspian Gull at Cromer

MEGA NEWS

BOBOLINK

Fanad Head, County Donegal, Ireland

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER

Tiree, Argyll

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

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Lapland Buntings x 3, Snow Bunting, Spoonbills x 4 at Thornham Point

Great White Egrets x 3, Spoonbills x 20 at Titchwell RSPB

Hen Harrier, Lapland Bunting flew over at Burnham Overy Dunes

Lesser Yellowlegs at Runham Swim, Runham

Hen Harrier at Blakeney Freshmarsh

Lapland Buntings x 3 at Blakeney Point

Hen Harrier at Blakeney Harbour

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Pied Flycatcher, Lapland Bunting, Tree Pipit, Crossbills x 2 at Wells Woods

Spoonbill at North Point Pools, Wells

Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA

BROWN SHRIKE 1w (2nd for Norfolk) at Warham Greens

Pectoral Sandpiper, Ruddy Shelduck, Black-throated Diver at Cley NWT

Hawfinches x 4, Crossbills x 18 at Lynford Aboretum

Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egrets x 7, Great White Egrets x 8, Common Cranes x 40 at Welney WWT

Hen Harrier at Langham

Great White Egret, Whinchat at Horsey

Turtle Dove, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB

Osprey flew over Ken Hill Wood at Snettisham

Pectoral Sandpiper at Lynn Point, King's Lynn

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Spotted Redshank, Great White Egrets x 4, at Holme Dunes NWT

Lapland Buntings x 2 flew over Hemsby

Redstart male at Winterton Dunes

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Stiffkey Campsite Wood

Wryneck at Cathedral Meadows, North Elmham 

MEGA NEWS

BOBOLINK

Fanad Head, County Donegal, Ireland

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER

Tiree, Argyll

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

By Jon Dunn

https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyRoundup2020_39.aspx?s_id=200293803

Ornithological Auction at Keys, Aylsham, Norfolk!

THIS FRIDAY!

 https://bid.keysauctions.co.uk/auctions/7576/srkey10388

Includes RAR lithographic prints!

Rare Books Sell For Thousands As Auction Attracts Global Interest!

Including "The Ornithology of Francis Willoughby", the first bird book printed in English, sold for £1,300 at an auction led by Durrants and Swaffham-based auctioneer, Fabian Eagle.

https://www.edp24.co.uk/features/heritage/rare-book-auction-in-suffolk-attracts-global-interest-1-6850513?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social_Icon&utm_campaign=in_article_social_icons

Raise fixed penalty notices for littering the countryside and beaches to start at £1000.

Please sign this petition if you are sick of selfish people littering our countryside. Thank you.

http://chng.it/92GcxxL4nr

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-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Yellow-browed Warblers x 4, Tree Pipit, Lapland Bunting at Wells Woods

BROWN SHRIKE 1w (2nd for Norfolk) west of Garden Drove, ARCTIC WARBLER, Yellow-browed Warbler at Garden Drove, Great White Egrets x 5 (on saltmarsh), Lapland Bunting at Warham Greens

Lesser Yellowlegs at Runham Swim, Runham

Yellow-browed Warbler at Great Yarmouth Cemetery

Hawfinch flew over Beeston Common, Lapland Bunting at Spalls Gap, Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Sheringham

Turtle Dove, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB

Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA

Barred Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Burnham Overy Dunes

Great White Egrets x 4 flew past East Ruston

Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 3 in St Nicholas' Churchyard

Yellow-browed Warbler at North Dunes, Ring Ouzel at Low Road, Winterton

Great White Egrets x 4 flew over Kelling Water Meadows

Lapland Buntings x 2 at Thornham Point

Yellow-browed Warblers x 4, Pied Flycatchers x 2, Spotted Redshank at Holme Dunes NWT

Pectoral Sandpiper from car park hide at Holme NOA

Honey Buzzard, Lapland Buntings x 4, Caspian Gull, Great White Egrets x 3 at Titchwell RSPB

Cattle Egrets x 7, Great White Egret, Common Cranes x 45 at Welney WWT

Spoonbills x 3, Great White Egrets x 4 at North Point Pools, Wells

Pied Flycatchers x 3 in cemetery at Caister-on-Sea

Yellow-browed Warbler at Waxham

Yellow-browed Warblers x 6, Pied Flycatcher at Holkham Pines

Great White Egret, Garganey x 2, Nightingale at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

Spotted Redshank at Blakeney Harbour

Pied Flycatcher at Blakeney Freshmarsh

Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Dickleburgh Moor NR

Great White Egrets x 3 flew over South Beach, Heacham

Yellow-browed Warbler at Stiffkey Campsite Woods

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Foxley Wood

MEGA NEWS

BOBOLINK

Fanad Head, County Donegal, Ireland

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER

Tiree, Argyll

Hot Birding At Wells Woods & Holkham Pines!

 

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER

The Dell at Wells Woods

 

I got up very early and arrived at Wells Woods Beach Car Park at just before 7.30am. I had two Red Kites overhead as I drove into Wells. It was a beautiful morning and the east winds continue. The highest tide was this morning and I noticed the Environment Agency were stationed at Wells Quay. There was no more than a dozen cars in the car park when I arrived.

It took me ages to actually see the Red-breasted Flycatcher in The Dell, but eventually I did! Cracking little bird – I sat on a bank for ages and watched it flitting around in the branches. I also saw the Red-backed Shrike perched on a bramble next to a fence in the big field, just south of the The Dell. The most shocking scenes today of hundreds of dogs and people. All I could hear all morning was barking, yelping and owners calling their dogs, so much for listening to nature's sounds! No hope! It was very stressful to hear continuous barking and growling. I think I might purchase a set of headphones that cancels out noise!!! I also saw 2 Treecreepers, a Bullfinch, several Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tit, Coal Tits, male Blackcap, a Chiffchaff (along the caravan path/track). Walked to the drinking pool and west of here found Dawn and Pete Balmer and Bethany watching a Yellow-browed Warbler in a glade, just west of the pool (the one that Ashley Saunders found a RFB in). Lovely views of the YBW, but the sun was in the wrong direction, so walked to the opposite side of the glade to take some pictures, but I never saw it again! Lots of Goldcrests appeared and there were 6 together, just in one small birch tree and also saw Blue Tits and Robins here too.

Red-breasted Flycatcher in The Dell at Wells Woods

 

 Fungi in Wells Woods

 

Chiffchaff at Wells Woods

 

 

Mega news bleeped up on the pager of a probable White-chinned Petrel going west from Cley, so I headed for the beach (as Dawn and family did) and climbed onto the highest dune I could find and scanned the sea. The very high tide looked fantastic and the light was stunning, it was only spoilt by tons of people and more barking, running dogs and people shouting at them. Saw a good number of Gannets streaming by and a flock of 22 Brent Geese, but decided it was highly unlikely that I would see a White-chinned Petrel cruising by and returned to the glade by the drinking pool. Several other birders here now, but no sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler or anything else of particular note. I walked round trying to find my own birds and was very pleased to find a Redstart perched up on a small bush, just seaward side of the bench seat along the main path, that is west of The Dell and also watched a Red Kite soaring overhead. I returned to watch the Red-breasted Flycatcher, but too many people here now. It was nice to see a smart Pied Flycatcher here too, high up on the birch canopy. Met Nick Acheson briefly, whilst watching the flycatchers.

Wells Beach

 

Redstart near The Dell at Wells Woods

 

Pied Flycatcher in The Dell at Wells Woods

 

 

Returned to my car – the car park was bedlam! So many people here and so many dogs! Apparently, people had been queuing up along Beach Road to get into the car park! I decided to make the effort to search the fantastic are of sea-buckthorn and scrub by the lifeboat house. I walked past the cafe and up the steps and was confronted with a tall metal fence – behind this was bulldozers and digger and there was no access to the scrub and even worse, half the scrub had been dug up and stripped away – it was heartbreaking to see! I peered through the holes in the metal fence and there were Robins, a Hedge Sparrow and Blue Tits flitting around in the small area of scrub that has been left. On the mudflats towards East Hills I could see a huge flock of 60+ Oystercatchers and further towards the hills a big number of Brent Geese. Headed back to my car.

 

The remains of the sea-buckthorn and scrub by the lifeboat house😢

Near Meals House at Holkham NNR

 

 

Headed to Holkham and parked at Lady Anne's Drive. Walked west all the way to the glade on the south side of the path just after the cross tracks. Saw very little, but did see a Common Buzzard, Jays, Squirrels, Cormorants, heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker and saw all the Cormorants roosting and a Great White Egret flew across the marsh. Lots of Mallards and Little Grebes on the Salt Pool. It was too late in the day to see any tit flocks or warblers etc – I didn't see anything exciting in the pines. Re-traced my steps and sat by my car having a cup of tea and a sandwich, then drove home.

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  

BROWN SHRIKE 1w (2nd for Norfolk) west of Garden Drove at Warham Greens

Arctic Warbler, possible, heard only along coast path at 3rd field west of Garden Drove, Warham Greens

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatchers x 3, Red-backed Shrike, Yellow-browed Warbler at Wells Woods

Great Shearwater flew east, Leach's Petrel flew east past Sheringham

Short-eared Owl east of Lady Anne's Drive at Holkham

Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Ring Ouzel, Whinchat, Pied Flycatchers x 6, Cattle Egrets x 3, Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Pines

Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Buntings x 2, Little Stint flew over Burnham Overy Dunes

Lesser Yellowlegs at Runham Swim, Runham

Yellow-browed Warbler NNE of Mundford

WHITE-CHINNED PETREL flew west past beach car park at 8.45am and east at 12.50pm at Cley

Sabine's Gull flew east, Little Gulls x 3 flew east past beach car park at Cley

Pectoral Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Dickleburgh Moor NR

Pied Flycatcher at North Dunes, Winterton

Spoonbills x 8, Curlew Sandpiper, Great White Egret at Titchwell RSPB

Turtle Dove, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stints x 3, Spotted Redshanks x 6, Spoonbills x 8 at Snettisham RSPB

Cattle Egret, Common Crane at Welney WWT

Lapland Buntings x 2 at Thornham Point

Turtle Dove flew over Buckenham Marshes RSPB

Pied Flycatchers x 2, Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank, Great Northern Diver at Holme

Black-throated Diver, Little Gullsl x 3 flew past Weybourne

Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Halvergate

Little Gull flew past Scolt Head Island NNR

Common Cranes x 11 over Waxham

Yellow-browed Warbler at Muckleburgh Hill

Little Stints x 4 at Cantley Beet Factory

Lesser Yellowlegs at Potter Heigham Marshes

Lapland Bunting flew over Blakeney Point

 

MEGA NEWS

WHITE-CHINNED PETREL
Probable, flew west past beach car park at 8.45am and east at 12.50pm at Cley, Norfolk

BOBOLINK

Fanad Head, County Donegal, Ireland

GREAT SNIPE

Bryher, Isles of Scilly

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER

Tiree, Argyll

BROWN SHRIKE Twitch & Wells Woods!

 

BROWN SHRIKE
Warham Greens

 

I spent a wonderful afternoon watching the Brown Shrike at Warham Greens, which Alex Berryman found yesterday and congratulations to him, what a find! I saw the first for Norfolk at Weybourne Camp on 21st October 2018 and had only one short view, so wasn't very memorable. The Brown Shrike just west of the north end of Garden Drove at Warham Greens was stunning to watch, as it perched in the hedgerow and caught various bees and insects in the sunshine – it was truly magical to watch and was joined by a Redstart and a Robin. Nice to bump into some familiar faces including Dick Filby, Carl and Tania Chapman, Cat and her family, Mike E., Paul H., Keith T. and Jill W. amongst others. Just before I left for the mega news, there was only around half a dozen of us left, which increased our opportunity to get better pictures as the Brown Shrike started to come closer, but......

News broke on the pager of a YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING at Wells Woods, so most of us promptly left and marched back to our cars! I saw the first one for Norfolk at Holme Bird Observatory on 19th and 20th September 1992 (28 years ago to the day!) – it was a massive twitch and I remember my father being very angry with my mother, as she had been putting tons of bird seed down daily for weeks on end and my father was worried something big would turn up, which of course it did! My father was not a lover of Twitchers at all, as I'm sure some of you know and he was not a happy bunny that weekend!

BROWN SHRIKE at Warham Greens

 

Anyway, back to today's bird! I speed walked back along Garden Drove with retired dentist Mike E. who sympathized with my awful dental experience this week – we both jumped in our cars and headed to Wells beach car park. Arriving on site, long story short......there was news that it wasn't 100% and that it was only a 'possible' – bother!!! I popped an hour's worth of money in the machine and walked to The Dell to find lots of other birders – I didn't see the Red-breasted Flycatcher, even though it landed close by and Steve G. did see it and photographed it later on! Neither did I see any Yellow-browed Warblers or anything else that was on offer today, but did see a very smart Pied Flycatcher in the birches in The Dell area. I searched the area where the possible Yellow-breasted Bunting had been seen at dusk, but the light was fading fast and I made my way back to my car. I asked the ticket man what time the gates are open in the morning for the car park and he said they open at 5.45am. The daily parking costs are as follows: Up to 1 hour £2.00, Up to 2 hours £3.50, Up to 4 hours £6.50 and All Day £9.00. I'm hoping the car park will be packed out with birders in the morning, as then there won't be a dog in sight!!!