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]

Monday 30 November 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 7 at Horsey
Iceland Gulls x 2, Russian White-fronted Goose, Snow Buntings x 11 at North Beach, Winterton
Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 9 flew over Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Caspian Gull at Burrell Way, Thetford
Lesser Yellowlegs still at Wiveton
Bewick's Swans x 42, White-fronted Goose, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Great Northern Diver flew, Hen Harrier over Cley NWT
Russian White-fronted Geese x 25 at California, Ravenstone 
Common Cranes x 12, Tundra Bean Geese x 3 at Billockby
Cattle Egret ESE of Claxton
Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret at Welney WWT
Great White Egret flew over Wolferton
Snow Buntings x 3 at South Denes, Great Yarmouth
Bewick's Swans x 35 at Boughton Fen
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe flew past Mundesley
Snow Bunting, Whooper Swans x 18, Bewick's Swans x 10 flew past Sheringham
 
MEGA NEWS
SOCIABLE LAPWING
NNE of St Buryan, Cornwall
CRAG MARTIN
Kingsdown & then at Samphire Hoe Country Park, Kent

Titchwell RSPB and Holme!

Saturday 28th November 

After having a rest from work, I eventually decided to get out for a much needed walk and fresh air. I arrived at Titchwell RSPB around mid afternoon. My mission was to find something exciting at Thornham Point on the east wind that had been blowing all day! So I didn't focus too much on waders etc on the freshmarsh, but did see a single Bewick's Swan (reported earlier on RBA) in the middle of The Freshmarsh. I speed walked along the main path to the beach and headed west to Thornham Point. A Pied Wagtail was on the beach amongst the usual Turnstones, Oystercatchers and gulls.

Just as I was about to cross over to the buckthorn scrub, I was very pleased to find a Black Redstart feeding on the beach at the edge of the dunes. It was 3.30pm and the light was very poor and I knew my camera wouldn't focus enough to even take a record shot and in any case, the Black Redstart promptly flew off over the dunes! I saw it enough to know it was one – overall slate grey/dark and flash of rusty red tail as it flew off, but I needed to see it in better light, just in case it was an Eastern Black Redstart! I found a few Blackbirds in the buckthorn scrub and then made my way back in the gloom along the beach. It was almost dark, by the time I got back to my car! I decided to return in the morning, to fully check out my Black Redstart.

 

Sunday 29th November

Annoyingly I had a bad night of restless leg syndrome, so hardly slept at all. Left early morning and arrived at Titchwell RSPB at around 7.45am. It was a grey and murky day, with no sign of any sun appearing and it started spitting with rain later in the morning too.

Along the main path I heard a Cettis's Warbler singing, lots of waders and gulls on the freshmarsh: Little Egrets, Grey Heron, Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings, Knot, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shelducks, Shoveler, Curlews and lots of gulls. At the beach, the tide line was busy with feeding Turnstones, Oystercatchers, Grey Plovers with Redshanks further out towards the sea and small flocks of Brent Geese flew past.

I returned to the area where I had seen the Black Redstart, in hope that it may still be around, but no luck with that after much searching! Set up my new lightweight fold-up stool and sat on the south side of the buckthorn scrub to wait for something to appear, whilst enjoying a marmalade sandwich. Apart from a few Blackbirds and a Stonechat, I didn't see anything else of note. Ambled back along the beach and took arty farty pictures of shells – found some lovely pink/mother of pearl Top shells, Sea Urchins, Piddocks, tons of Razors and also Mussels amongst others. My sisters and I would spend many happy hours searching for shells when we were children and I remember us being especially excited when we found a Cowrie shell – not a shell I have found on Norfolk beaches for years! We also used to search hard for pieces of Amber, but never found any – my father had found three pieces over the 33 years he was warden at Holme.

Crows were feeding on the tide line, which reminded me of Shetland last year. Back along the main path, the Bewick's swan was showing again on the freshmarsh. A Siberian Chiffchaff that had been seen south of Island Hide at Titchwell, bleeped up on the pager, when I was only a matter of yards from the location! There were no other birders around, so this must have been seen earlier in the morning. I spent a while trying to track it down, but with no luck.

Walked along the Fen trail and along the 'tank road' I watched Chaffinches and a single smart Brambling feeding, along with three Blackbirds. Other birds seen in this area: 2 Reed Buntings, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Marsh Harrier, Gadwall and Little Grebe.

Back at my car, I had some lunch and then headed to Holme village car park for a late ramble. Just as I pulled up in the car park 15 Bewick's Swans flew over my head!!! Wow, what a sight! I walked across the grassy car park and across the little bridge that leads up to the coastal footpath – here I watched another 22 Bewick's Swans fly over 'The Saltings' calling!!! Magical! Aside from a few Blackbirds, nothing else was seen. Returned to my car and headed home.

Fell asleep on the sofa and later on watched the results of 'Strictly'........ Bill Bailey got through and will dance with Oti in next week's quarter finals! Go Bill!!!

Sunday 29 November 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 near Abbey at Wymondham
Caspian Gull, Iceland Gulls x 2, Snow Buntings x 5 at North Beach, Whooper or Bewick's Swans x 26 flew over Winterton
Velvet Scoter off Spalla Gap, Weybourne
Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Siberian Chiffchaff, Bewick's Swan at Titchwell RSPB
Lesser Yellowlegs still at Wiveton
Snow Buntings x 16 at North Gap, Eccles-on-Sea
Lapland Buntings x 4, Snow Buntings x 20 south of lighthouse at Happisburgh
Snow Buntings x 45 at Holkham Gap
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 3, Scaup x 5 at Holkham Bay
Cattle Egrets x 19 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Bewick's Swans x 2, Whooper Swans x 24 at Ingham
Black Redstart at The Quay, Cley
Bewick's Swans x 10 flew over Cley
Tundra Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Geese x 80, Whooper Swans x 26 at Horsey
Hen Harrier at Breydon Water
Great White Egret SE of Billockby
Bewick's Swans x 15 flew over Norwich
Cattle Egret at Welney WWT
Cattle Egrets x 14 at Burnham Overy Marshes
Common Cranes x 35, Short-eared Owl at Hickling Broad NWT
Bewick's Swans x 15 flew over village car park, Bewick's Swans x 22 flew over The Saltings at Holme
Russian White-fronted Geese x 36, Scaup x 84, Little Gulls x 46 at California, Ravenstone
Hen Harrier at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Little Gulls x 72, Short-eared Owl flew past Mundesley
Bewick's Swans x 11 at Hanworth
Hen Harriers x 3 at Warham Greens
 
MEGA NEWS
SOCIABLE LAPWING
NNE of St Buryan, Cornwall
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
On 4th November at Goonhavern, Cornwall
CRAG MARTIN
Kingsdown & then at Samphire Hoe Country Park, Kent

Saturday 28 November 2020

Plant Last Seen In Norfolk 100 Years Ago Rediscovered!

 https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/plant-last-seen-in-norfolk-100-years-ago-6568462

Holkham National Nature Reserve Dog Consultation – Please Complete The Survey!

The following is taken from above link:

"The beaches at Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham form part of a unique landscape, rich in wildlife and one which we need your help to protect. The area is popular with dog walkers throughout the year and we would like to remind all owners that it is your responsibility to keep your dog under close supervision and control and that you MUST clean up after your dog and use the dog waste bins provided.

TAKE THE LEAD
Dog Zoning Proposal

Holkham National Nature Reserve is an internationally important site for its wildlife and valuable habitats. It is popular with many different visitors including dog walkers, day trippers, wildlife enthusiasts, horse riders and locals. In order to protect this precious environment for future generations to enjoy, we need to work together to ensure all our visitors and wildlife can coexist.

We are therefore proposing a zoning approach to the beach and foreshore for dogs, in order to protect internationally rare shore-nesting birds such as Little Terns. These birds are extremely sensitive to disturbance from humans and dogs. and also often nest in the start of embryo dunes or along the upper shoreline where they are very vulnerable.

A simple traffic light system will show the zones as ‘No dogs’, ‘Dogs on leads all year round’, ‘Dogs on leads April to July’, and ‘Dogs off leads’ where dogs will be able to run off the lead under control by the owner.

We would like to hear your views on our proposals by completing our survey. Our consultation period will run until 28th February 2021 with a view to implementing zoning from April onwards ready for the 2021 bird nesting season."

"Over a million visitors and 300,000 dogs visit Holkham and Wells beaches each year, and numbers are continuing to increase.  As part of the Holkham National Nature Reserve, the beaches and areas around them are home to an incredible amount of wildlife. The increase in visitors and, in particular, dogs has started to have a noticeable, detrimental effect on some of the fragile, precious plants, birds and animals which should thrive here. We know just how much our visitors and their dogs enjoy this special place and therefore we are proposing a zoning of areas to ensure that dogs and their owners can have an enjoyable visit, the internationally rare wildlife is protected, and our beaches are spaces which everyone can enjoy."
 
 

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    

Iceland Gull at Winterton
Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Great White Egret at Wymondham
Black Redstart flew in off sea at beach car park, Short-eared Owl at Cley
Snow Buntings x 40 at Cley NWT
Ravens x 2 at South Beach, Caspian Gull, Iceland Gull at North Beach, Slavonian Grebe, Snow Bunting at Winterton
Pallas's Warbler at Wells Woods
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Little Broad
Snow Buntings x 13, Velvet Scoter at Weybourne Camp
Red-breasted Merganser at St Andrew's Broad, Thorpe Marshes
Waxwing at Holme NOA
Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Island
Scaup, Russian White-fronted Goose, Swallows x 3 at Ranworth Broad NWT
Cattle Egrets x 10, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Little Gulls x 13 flew past Mundesley
Short-eared Owl at Aylmerton
Lapland Buntings x 7, Snow Buntings x 45, Little Gulls x 3, Russian White-fronted Goose at Happisburgh
Common Scoter at Earsham Gravel Pits
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE juv. (released) in tree at Wolferton
Bewick's Swan at Titchwell RSPB
Black Redstart on beach at Thornham Point
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 6 at Holkham Bay
Snow Bunting flew over Holkham Gap
 
MEGA NEWS
SOCIABLE LAPWING
NNE of St Buryan, Cornwall
CRAG MARTIN
Kingsdown & then at Samphire Hoe Country Park, Kent
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
Eden Estuary, Guardbridge, Fife, Scotland
BELTED KINGFISHER
Castletown Bearhaven, County Cork, Ireland
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
Ballylongford, County Kerry, Ireland

Friday 27 November 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    

Iceland Gull at Winterton
Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Great White Egret at Brancaster Staithe
Iceland Gull at Horsey
Lesser Yellowlegs at Wiveton
Velvet Scoter, Jack Snipe off beach car park, Short-eared Owl at Cley
Waxwing in farmyard SE of Cley
Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water
Bewick's Swans x 6 at Sea Palling
Russian White-fronted Geese x 30 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Velvet Scoters x 2, Lapland Bunting at Weybourne Camp
Bewick's Swan on marsh at Holme NOA
Velvet Scoters x 2 offshore at Holme
Great White Egret at Horsey Corner
Black Redstart in garden at Salthouse
Hen Harrier at Upton Marshes NWT
Short-eared Owl at Wells
Hen Harrier at Morston
Cattle Egrets x 10 at Welney WWT
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebes x 2 at Holkham Bay 
Red-flanked Bluetail at an undisclosed nature reserve, mid morning
Scaup, Little Gulls x 5 at Mundesley
Bewick's Swan at Titchwell RSPB
Water Pipit at Breydon Water
Water Pipit at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Hen Harriers x 3, Great White Egret at Stiffkey
 
MEGA NEWS
SOCIABLE LAPWING
NNE of St Buryan, Cornwall
CRAG MARTIN
Kingsdown, Kent
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
Eden Estuary, Guardbridge, Fife, Scotland
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Musselburgh, Lothian, Scotland

Thursday 26 November 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    

Snow Buntings x 4 at Old Hunstanton
Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Black-throated Divers x 4, Great Northern Divers x 3, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Red-necked Grebe, Velvet Scoter at Holkham Bay
Swallows x 3, Scaup x 3 at Ranworth Broad NWT
Cattle Egrets x 10, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Great White Egrets x 2 at Burnham Norton
Short-eared Owl at Dersingham Bog
Iceland Gull at Winterton
Black-throated Thrush fem. yesterday in garden briefly, but no sign today at Weybourne
Long-tailed Duck at Ormesby Little Broad
Lesser Yellowlegs at Wiveton
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Snow Bunting at Holme Dunes
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Twite x 29 at Blakeney Harbour
Hen Harrier over Blakeney
Hen Harrier at Upton Broad
Snow Buntings x 58 at Cley NWT
Great White Egret at California, Ravenstone
Cattle Egret, Great White Egret at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Water Pipit, Russian White-fronted Geese x 107 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
 
MEGA NEWS
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
Still at undisclosed site, County Kerry, Ireland
CRAG MARTIN
Kingsdown, Kent
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
Eden Estuary, Guardbridge, Fife, Scotland
BELTED KINGFISHER
SSW of Castletown Bearhaven, County Cork, Ireland
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
Ballylongford, County Kerry, Ireland

Wednesday 25 November 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    

Lesser Yellowlegs at Wiveton
Siberian Chiffchaff, Russian White-fronted Geese x 3 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Russian White-fronted Geese x 18, Water Pipits x 2, Great White Egret at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Snow Buntings x 40, Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 2 at Cley NWT
Little Stint at Snettisham RSPB
Siberian Chiffchaff by River Yare at Hassingham
Common Cranes x 17 flew over Hickling Broad NWT
Bewick's Swans x 4 in field at Sea Palling
Bittern, Water Pipit at South Beach, Heacham
Cattle Egrets x 10, Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Iceland Gull at Winterton
Short-eared Owl at Weybourne Camp
Great White Egret between Stokesby & Billockby
Great White Egret flew over Bawsey
 
MEGA NEWS
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
At undisclosed site, County Kerry, Ireland
BELTED KINGFISHER
SSW of Castletown Bearhaven, County Cork, Ireland
CRAG MARTIN
Kingsdown, Kent
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
Eden Estuary, Guardbridge, Fife, Scotland