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Saturday, 10 April 2021
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
Friday, 9 April 2021
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Dies!
"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
Further announcements will be made in due course.
1921–2021
Rest In Peace
Thursday, 8 April 2021
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
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Wednesday, 7 April 2021
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
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Tuesday, 6 April 2021
Gull Festival, Glaucous Gull & Stunning Light At Titchwell RSPB!
I didn't feel too good again today and also had a mini accident! I fell down the last few steps of the stairs this morning and in order to save myself, further injured my painful left shoulder, for which I'm on a waiting list for an ultrasound scan!!! Great!
It was wickedly cold today with strong NW winds, but very sunny here in King's Lynn. Mid afternoon was weird to say the least – snow begin to fall, whilst the sun was still shining in blue skies with white fluffy clouds! Never seen that before! It didn't last long and the sunny weather continued. I needed to go for a long walk, plus I need to keep up my exercise routine, to speed up my weight loss. I felt so tired, but late this afternoon, I forced myself out of the house and didn't regret it!
As I left King's Lynn, the skies changed to a blanket of grey with a heavy snow storm! I nearly turned back. I arrived at Titchwell RSPB at just before 5.30pm – still snowing lightly. I had to put far more layers on than I expected, down hat, hood up, serious gloves etc, what a contrast to my last trip out on Sunday! The snow storm didn't last long and the rest of the evening, although bitterly cold and windy, was stunning. The sun and light was incredible and so were the birds!
I made my way around the Fen Trail to see if I could see the Black Redstarts in the horse paddocks, but no luck with that. The snow stopped and the sun came out for the rest of the evening with dramatic skies. A female Blackcap emerged from the willows. On Patsy's pool, there were a few Shoveler, Mute Swans, Teal and Mallard and a couple of Marsh Harriers were over the reedbeds. I retraced my steps and walked along the main path towards the beach. There was no one else here..... but I was wrong, a solitary figure was crouched down looking through their scope intently at the mass of gulls – it was Ashley Saunders! Plus he had just found a Glaucous Gull – lucky me!!! I'm no gull expert I confess, but this chunky gull certainly stood out from the rest! The Glaucous Gull had a ring and Ashley told me it was from a Norwegian scheme. The light was crystal – pure white gulls against dark blue water made for excellent viewing and photos. A Spoonbill flew over north. I sat here for a while watching the gulls and trying to get a half decent picture of the Glaucous Gull, which was too far away for my lens really.
Further along the path I was amazed to see at least 20+ Kittiwakes flying across the path and then out towards the sea! The strong winds had obviously knocked them off course a bit! I saw 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a few Black-tailed Godwits hunkered down, Avocets, Redshanks, lots of Teal, Shovelers, Shelducks and a Little Egret. I also watched a Cormorant struggling to swallow a huge eel! There were several gulls hovering above the cormorant, presumably in case the eel escaped! Unluckily for the gulls, the Cormorant managed to gulp it down!
At the beach it was a entirely different level of coldness! The sun was still shining and the light still stunning. The scene before me of thousands, yes thousands of gulls, feeding frantically on the shoreline was something I have not seen for a long time and I was the only person to witness it! Tons of Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls in a feeding frenzie and squabbling over their finds. Also Curlews, Oystercatchers, Turnstones, Sanderling and Ringed Plovers x 2. Over the troughs I saw a Little Gull and lots of Kittiwakes. After taking lots of pictures, I made my way back along the main path to my car. I was frozen, but really happy I had made the effort to get out! It was 7.55pm when I left!
LOTS OF PICTURES TO BE ADDED
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
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Monday, 5 April 2021
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
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Bank Holiday Monday
I was expecting to have a day at home, with the forecast snow and 50mph winds, but when I woke up it was another glorious sunny day! Yes, it was windy and it was much colder, but no snow here! Although other parts of Norfolk did have a few flurries I heard. Rebbeca Nason (photographer) posted an awesome picture of her little girl with an Easter bunny 'snowman' today, in snow covered Shetland via Twitter!
After getting up this morning, I felt exhausted and completely shattered, I can only presume this is STILL my ongoing long Covid fatigue. I spent the rest of the day asleep on the sofa. This is so not like me, especially when it was such a lovely day, but I couldn't keep awake. It seems that my body can only cope with one day of exercise and then I need a day to recover! Such a wicked waste of time, but nothing I can do about it. I can only hope that it will improve at some point. I'm planning to spend my last day off tomorrow birding somewhere, whatever the weather is doing!
Sunday, 4 April 2021
Fabulous Day At Salthouse, Kelling & Cley!
Easter Sunday 🐥
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
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Saturday, 3 April 2021
Snettisham Coastal Park & The Manure Heap At Sedgeford!
Bitterly cold NE winds today and almost no migrants on offer at all. Snettisham Coastal Park produced one Chiffchaff, Chaffinches x 2, Wood Pigeons, Mallard, Moorhen and a flock of Linnets. I had to listen to a couple shouting loudly and continuously for their large white dog, which ran off from them on the far high bank/path (Ken Hill side) – if they had read the 'keep your dogs on a lead sign', it wouldn't have happened. Goodness knows what the dog got up and what it disturbed or ate, while it was off out of control. All dogs I could see distantly were not on leads, not one.
I decided to go to the manure heap at Sedgeford, where last year's fabulous "Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail" was watched by many. Nobody else here but me, surprise, surprise! No birds of note either, apart from a Great Tit in the small copse next the manure heap, a female Pheasant and a flock of Linnets.
Tomorrow is the only sunny, warmish day with SW winds over the Easter period – on Bank Holiday Monday and Tuesday, 50mph winds and snow showers are forecast!!!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
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Friday, 2 April 2021
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
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Thursday, 1 April 2021
Easter Weekend!
🐣 🐣 🐥 🐇
What a contrast?! Yesterday was another hot day, but today is NE, windy and chilly, as are the following days. Oh well, it might stop the hordes of people descending on the beaches! Strong winds and snow/sleet are forecast for this Bank Holiday Monday and no, that's not a late April Fool's joke!!! Don't get your shorts out yet!!! Hat, gloves, scarf, winter coat and double socks will be required this weekend!
Poor Vivien is quite shaken up this evening. Can't go into too much detail, but she was the first person on the scene to save a lady, who had fallen into the water at the Marina in Ely, late this afternoon! The lady is fine now, but Vivien's very worried that she might have done her bad back in, being as she was holding on to the lady and then assisted to pull her out with someone else. Hope she's ok in the morning. What a star! That must have been so scary! It was very lucky that Vivien was in the right place at the right time!
I joined the 'digital' WW package last week, so will be weighing myself every Wednesday evening. On my first weigh-in last night, I lost 5lbs! I'm a long way off my goal though, but I will reach it!
Update: Big News! I have a hairdressing appointment! Sadly, a long time away..... 4th May!
HAPPY EASTER & HAPPY BIRDING!
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!
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NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD & WALRUS TWITCH!
I am MEGA excited! Today's HUGE twitch and annual leave has been organised for a little while now, but had to keep quiet for various reasons. Obviously it depended on the Mockingbird still being around, which was likely, given the time it has already been there. We also had to wait to assess the lockdown situation – obviously, as soon as the 'stay at home' rule changed, our trip was on!!!
We are also now doing a big detour to go and see the fabulous Walrus in Pembrokeshire afterwards! To be honest, I'm far more excited about seeing this than the Mockingbird!
Quick post as leaving shortly! I'm very kindly being picked up by some Norfolk birders (who I know extremely well 😉) – all travelling in one car, as we have all had the vaccine, so should be ok – will be keeping the windows open too. With just over 5 hours journey (give and take) to the Mockingbird and then another 3.5 hours (ish) to the Walrus, we might be home a little late!!! What a week!!! So excited, oh my goodness!
Full update and pictures either very late Thursday evening or Friday morning........
UPDATE
APRIL FOOL!!!
I have been at work all day! 🤣 🤣 🤣
So, I did catch a few people out and received some concerned and expected stern type messages via Twitter, Facebook and email! Only took about 10 minutes after I posted this!!!😂 Yes, I know its illegal to travel to Wales right now, and that I'm not allowed to share a car with anyone else and wouldn't do any of the above anyway! 😂
Obviously some people were still half asleep early this morning and hadn't quite noticed the 1st April date at the top of my post!!! So, I managed to "Fool" at least five people this morning, if not more! I won't embarrass them and say who they were! As the morning progressed, those who were more awake, had realised it was the 1st April! Sorry!!!😂