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]

Tuesday 31 August 2021

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   

Balearic Shearwater, Long-tailed Skuas x 3, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Terns x 3, Velvet Scoter flew past coastguards, Cley
Little Stints x 2, Arctic Tern at Cley NWT
Little Stints x 10, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 9, Spoonbill at Snettisham RSPB
Common Cranes x 11, Little Stint at Welney WWT
Sabine's Gull, Little Gull, Little Stints x 14 at Titchwell RSPB
Sabine's Gull ad., Sooty Shearwater flew past Mundesley
Long-billed Dowitcher, Little Stint, Cattle Egret at Potter Heigham Marshes
Spoonbills x 7 at Breydon Water
Red-breasted Flycatcher fem/1w. male in churchyard at Trimingham
Pied Flycatcher at Thornham Point
Pied Flycatcher at Winterton Dunes
Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Garganey x 3 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Long-tailed Skuas x 9, Sooty Shearwaters x 4, Puffin, Velvet Scoter flew past Sheringham
 
MEGA NEWS
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
ELEGANT TERN
Knott End-on-Sea, Lancashire and North Merseyside
FORSTER'S TERN
Gormanstown, County Meath, Ireland

RBA Weekly Round-Up 24th to 30th August!

By Jon Dunn

Strengthen Laws Protecting Seals!

Haylea on Twitter linked the petition below, after I tweeted the following:
 
I've only just seen this! FFS!!! Pure Evil!!!
Shock footage as man harasses pregnant seal at Horsey
 
Please take a minute to sign this petition, thank you!

Monday 30 August 2021

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   

Sabine's Gull, Long-tailed Skuas x 2, Sooty Shearwater flew past beach car park at Cley
Little Stint at Cley NWT
Sabine's Gull ad. flew past Scolt Head Island NNR
Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Sabine's Gull ad. flew past Holme
Little Stint at North Point Pools, Wells
Turtle Doves x 2, Little Stints x 8 at Snettisham RSPB
Long-tailed Skua flew past Sheringham
Sabine's Gull, Long-tailed Skua flew past Weybourne
Little Stint at Welney WWT
Little Stints x 14 at Titchwell RSPB
Pied Flycatcher at Thornham Point
Long-tailed Skuas x 6, Sooty Shearwater, Little Stint, Little Gulls x 3 flew past Sheringham
Wood Sandpiper at Hockwold Washes
Long-billed Dowitcher, Garganey x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Black Terns x 3 flew past Waxham
Little Stint at Dickleburgh Moor NR
Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Little Stints x 7, Curlew Sandpiper at Burnham Norton
Spoonbills x 7 at Breydon Water
Pied Flycatcher at the Whirligig, Warham Greens
Night Heron at Bure Marshes, Ranworth
 
MEGA NEWS
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Flew past Hartlepool, Cleveland 
Whitburn, County Durnham 
Fife Ness, Fife 
Usan, Angus 
Girdleness, then Donmouth, Aberdeenshire
FORSTER'S TERN
ENE of Dundalk, Soldiers Point, County Louth, Ireland

RAR: Richard Richardson Watercolour Painting Assistance Please?!

The above original painting by Richard Richardson, titled incorrectly 'Garden Birds', was sold at Keys Auctioneers in Aylsham on 6th September 2013.

This is a rubbish crop of a photo, of how it probably looked when purchased, but may have been remounted.
 
 
I am trying to locate the owner of this painting. If you own this painting or know who does, could you kindly email me on pennyclarke@talktalk.net – I will then further explain why I'm enquiring about this picture. Thank you very much!

My sisters and I have inherited the above original painting from our parents. Richard painted the two artworks as a pair.

Sad News!

I heard news yesterday, that Norfolk birder Keith Dye, has very sadly passed away.
 
My most sincere condolences to all his family and friends.
 
Rest in Peace Keith
 
🕊

Sunday 29 August 2021

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   

Wood Sandpiper at Hockwold Washes
Spotted Redshank at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Sabine's Gull flew along beach at Cley
Little Stints x 3 at Cley NWT
Little Stints x 20, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Wood Warbler trapped & ringed at Walsey Hills NOA
Wood Sandpiper at North Point Pools, Wells
Turtle Doves x 3, Little Stints x 7 at Snettisham RSPB
Long-tailed Skua flew past, Caspain Gulls x 3 at Cromer
Little Stint at Welney WWT
Long-tailed Skua flew past Sheringham
Sooty Shearwater flew past Salthouse
Long-tailed Skuas x 2 flew past Weybourne
Whinchat, Spoonbills x 8 at Breydon Water
Spoonbills x 50 at Stiffkey Fen
Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Garganey x 2 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
 
MEGA NEWS
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
FORSTER'S TERN
ENE of Dundalk, Soldiers Point, County Louth, Ireland

Health Update & Tooth Pain!

Its taken until today, for me to even start to feel 'normal' again, but now on the mend! My Covid test came back negative as I expected it to – thank goodness. I've lost a few pounds since Thursday, which all helps the diet! Had my first meal this evening.

However, last night was such fun, not, as had toothache for hours on end – the horrible lower Premolar tooth that caused me severe pain, when being root-filled at the dentist last year – its never been right since it was done last October (didn't realise it was that long ago until I looked up the date) – it has always hurt to touch or prod, so its probably at the point where it needs to be extracted, as I really don't want that playing up and ruining my Shetland trip! If I get this taken out, I will have to smile very carefully!

Saturday 28 August 2021

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   

Cory's Shearwater flew past, Caspian Gull at Cromer
Sooty Shearwater, Long-tailed Skua flew past, Little Stints x 13, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Sabine's Gull, Sooty Shearwater flew past beach car park at Cley
Caspian Gulls x 3 at Cley NWT
Black Tern at Filby Broad
Common Crane, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at North Point Pools, Wells
Sabine's Gull ad., Black Guillemot, Long-tailed Skuas x 9, Sooty Shearwater, Little Gulls x 2 at Sheringham
Spoonbills x 7 at Breydon Water
Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stints x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Sabine's Gull flew past Holme
Sooty Shearwater flew past Weybourne
Long-tailed Skua flew past Weybourne Camp
Wryneck near campsite car park at Stiffkey
Red-backed Shrike juv. still at Blakeney Point
Whinchat at Gramborough Hill, Sooty Shearwater flew past Salthouse
Velvet Scoters x 18 flew past Winterton
Wood Sandpiper at Welney WWT
White Stork at Hockwold Washes
Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Pied Flycatcher at Trimingham
Long-tailed Skua, Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwaters x 2 flew past Mundesley
Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwater flew past Sidestrand
Pied Flycatcher at Dersingham Bog
 
MEGA NEWS
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire

Friday 27 August 2021

Possible Food Poisoning!

Yesterday at work at around 2.30pm, I started to feel nauseous, faint and generally rough. I felt like I was going to collapse and had to do some sitting down jobs. Scott kindly took my BP which was more or less perfect 119/80, so I told myself to man up and carry on....... but I couldn't. So did some sitting down jobs like writing notes etc. When I finished work at 4.30pm, I saw a text from Lucy saying she had been up all night (Wednesday night) and during Thursday with sickness and the other end! She had a temperature and generally felt crap. As soon as I read that, I didn't eat anything at all for fear of being sick. I found it very odd that we were both ill at more or less the same time. Our lunch at Marriott's Warehouse on Tuesday wasn't exactly brilliant and the only thing that Lucy and I had the same was a Summer Pudding, which didn't taste perfect to be honest, but we ate it anyway. Vivien didn't have any dessert at all. Had we got food poisoning?

As the evening progressed my temperature rose to 38C and I felt shivery/hot, stomach pains and generally not very well – I felt sick, but wasn't sick as Lucy had been. I phoned Marriott's Warehouse to discuss this, in case anyone else had phoned in and I was told the chef would ring me after work on Friday (I presumed I would be at work) to discuss this. I felt like I couldn't keep my eyes open, so went to bed the earliest I have ever gone at 7.45pm! I slept for around an hour maybe and then the most severe acid reflux took hold, which meant I could not lay down and spent most of the night sitting on the sofa wrecked. The acid reflux was so bad, it was even painful sitting upright. Now, I am on Lansoprazole anyway, but took an extra tablet, but this made no difference whatsever!

I started to worry, I suppose you do on your own, so I phoned 111 just to get some reassurance really and a nice doctor phoned me back and after discussing all my symptoms and talking about Lucy's too, he concluded that I could have food poisoning and labelled it as "Viral Gastroenteritis". He recommended that I get a prescription from my GP for Ranitidine, which he said I could take alongside my Lansoprazole, to reduce the acid reflux – he specifically said not to take Gaviscon. I let work know, that I wouldn't be in today.

I sent the usual form that you have to fill in on line to my GP to request the Ranitidine, a lady doctor rang me back in the middle of the afternoon to ask all about my symptoms and said Ranitidine is not now available and to take some Gaviscon or 'ride it out'!! Other doctor had told me not to take that?! She wanted me to bring a 'sample' in, but because it was late in the day, I found out later that this could not be done until next Tuesday! (Bank holiday etc), because of my temperature, which had gone up slightly to 38.1C, she suggested I may have Covid and asked me to arrange a test!!! She also said I should phone Public Health to let them know, which I did and they said it is the doctor's job to do this, as they have to fill out a special form etc!

I didn't have a thing to eat from yesterday at work at 12.30pm until 4pm today, when I had one thin slice of bread with margarine and than later at 6pm, one round of toast with half a small tin of baked beans. I did a lateral flow test at home, which said I was negative, but I phoned and booked a PCR test at a centre in King's Lynn, which I had at 7.30pm this evening and have to wait up to 48 hours to get the results. I think that is highly unlikely personally. Did the chef ring me back? NO!

The acid reflux has now mostly subsided, but still have a temperature, feel hot and rough! When looking at the reviews on Trip Advisor for Marriott's Ware House, they are particularly bad for August, if I had known this, I would not have gone and won't be rushing back. It might not be food poisoning, but I will find that out over the next few days/week.

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 Crane, Little Stint at North Point Pools, Wells
Common Crane flew over seafront at Wells
Sabine's Gull juv., Sooty Shearwaters x 3, Spoonbill, Little Stints x 2, Purple Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB
Sabine's Guls juvs. x 2 flew past coastguards at Cley
Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stints x 7 at Cley NWT
Spotted Redshank at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Spoonbills x 7 at Breydon Water
Sabine's Gull juv. flew past Cromer
Red-backed Shrike 1w. still at Blakeney Point
Curlew Sandpipers x 4 at Snettisham RSPB
Black Tern at Filby Broad
Whinchats x 2 at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Turtle Dove at Salthouse Heath
Sabine's Gull juv., Long-tailed Skuas x 2, Sooty Shearwater, Little Gull flew past Sheringham
Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stints x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Pied Flycatcher, Red-necked Grebe at Weybourne Camp
Ospreys x 2 flew over Terrington St Clement
Night Heron (probable) flew over Heigham Grove (heard only) at Norwich

MEGA NEWS
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
ELEGANT TERN
Hodbarrow RSPB, Cumbria
FEA'S OR DESERTAS PETREL
Cowbar Nab, Cleveland, Whitburn, Count Durham, Tynemouth, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Craster, Northumberland
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, ENE of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

Thursday 26 August 2021

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   

Cory's Shearwater, Pomarine Skua, Long-tailed Skuas x 3, Black Guillemot, Sooty Shearwaters x 8, Black Tern, Purple Sandpipers x 3, Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 23, Arctic Skuas x 95, Great Skuas x 85, Arctic Terns x 3 at Sheringham
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS flew past (1.45pm) east at Sheringham
Cory's Shearwaters x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 3, Long-tailed Skuas x 2, Balearic Shearwater, Black Guillemot, Black Tern, Purple Sandpipers x 3, Arctic Skuas x 32, Great Skuas x 47 flew past beach car park at Cley
Garganey, Little Stints x 3, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Crane, Garganey, Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 18 at Cley NWT
Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill at North Point Pools, Wells
Spoonbills x 7 at Breydon Water
Storm Petrel flew past Cromer
Sabine's Gull, Sooty Shearwater, Black Tern, Curlew Sandpiper flew past Holme Dunes
Cory's Shearwater (possible), Sooty Shearwater, Long-tailed Skuas x 2 flew past Salthouse
Black Guillemot flew past Scolt Head Island NNR
Common Cranes x 22 at Welney WWT
Black Tern at Ormesby Little Broad
Little Stints x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 8 at Weybourne Camp
Black Tern at Filby Broad
Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Little Stints x 5 at Titchwell RSPB
Arctic Tern at Rockland Broad
Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 20 at Mundesley
Long-tailed Skua, Sooty Shearwater flew past Winterton

MEGA NEWS
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Flew east past Sheringham, Norfolk
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, ENE of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

Wednesday 25 August 2021

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   

Spotted Redshank on marsh at Stiffkey
Spoonbills x 33 at Stiffkey Fen
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Whinchat at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Wryneck, Spoonbills x 4 at Blakeney Point
Common Crane, Spoonbill at North Point Pools, Wells
Spoonbills x 7, Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Garganey, Spotted Redshank, Arctic Tern, Whinchat at Breydon Water
Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher at Wells Woods
Pied Flycatchers x 2 in cemetery at Great Yarmouth
Long-billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper at Hickling Broad NWT
Turtle Doves x 7, Little Stints x 3, Spoonbills x 3 at Snettisham RSPB
Common Cranes x 20, Spoonbills x 3, Great White Egrets x 3 at Welney WWT
Little Stints x 3, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshank, Little Gull at Cley NWT
Spotted Redshank at Dickleburgh Moor NR
Garganey flew past Holme Dunes
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Barred Warbler at Green Lane, Thornham
Pied Flycatcher at Winterton

MEGA NEWS
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
On 1st August  (ID'd from sound recording), flew over Lissagriffin, County Cork, Ireland

The Birds of Holme Bird Observatory 1962-2020!

HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!

A new publication from the Norfolk Ornithologists' Association

Early bird introductory offer ends on
31st August 2021!

 
Link HERE for all information and how to purchase

Early Bird offer of £15.00 ends on 31st August

From 1st September the price will be £18.00


This book is dedicated to the memory of

Peter and Margaret Clarke

who made all of this possible


This a fabulous publication, illustrated throughout, with stunning illustrations by artist Dave Nurney. The book has an iconic photographic section, including the above picture and others I have provided. The book has a brief history of Holme Bird Observatory – the main body of the book are status accounts of each species recorded at Holme, supplemented with Dave's exquisite drawings. This book is published on good quality paper, which always makes a difference to the end finish! Printed by Witley Press Ltd in Hunstanton. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NOA for dedicating this book to my parents.

Tuesday 24 August 2021

Lunch With My Sisters and Car Stuff!

The Skoda was in for its annual car service and MOT at 8.30am. Also had to have the key starter ignition switch replaced, as this had cracked and new expensive back tyres – the tyres didn't need changing yet, but I wanted full tread tyres, not ones that are half worn for the long trip north. Complimentary car wash was done too. The garage needed the car all day, so I had to kill time in King's Lynn, as too far to walk home and come back. The MOT passed, with only one warning – that the rear brake discs and pads would need changing at some point – obviously because of my forthcoming trip, I've booked to have them done in September, at the first available appointment before I go.

I had my spare binoculars with me (not my expensive Swaros) and from the Skoda garage walked to Harding Pits. I really don't know why I bothered, no birds whatsover, which was a surprise, but worse still was the littering! Full carrier bags of wine bottles, beer cans, chips boxes and other litter at every seat – it looked dreadful. If I had had a dustbin bag on me, I would have cleared it all up – I know that this place is known for the alcoholics to consume their beverages, but it frustrates me that they can bring the bottles and cans from home, but they can't take their empties back! Left this miserable looking place and headed into town.

Purchased a few essential items and then met Lucy and Vivien in the market place, where we then walked to Marriott's Warehouse on the quayside and sat outside for lunch. The food was ok, but wasn't awesome to be honest, so won't be rushing back. The best thing was the ginger beer and seeing my sisters. We haven't spent any time together for several weeks, because of Vivien and Ray bringing their new narrowboat back to Ely, so it was nice to catch up. After lunch, Lucy wanted to do some shopping, which she is allowed to do now, but its still compulsory for her to wear a mask. We all left and I walked back to the Skoda garage at 3.30pm to collect my car.

After paying a humongous, but expected bill – I was quite shocked to see lots of tree resin on my car, which the garage had not been able to remove, as this is not part of the washing service. I hadn't realised that the pine trees where I park my car under at work (my favourite parking spot) had been leaking over my car! I will have to move my car to a sap free place tomorrow and try and remove these rock hard sap spots – another job to add to the list!

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   

Montagu's Harrier flew over Warham Greens
Purple Sandpiper flew past Holme Dunes
Spoonbills x 8 at Breydon Water
Spoonbills x 2 at Stiffkey
Pied Flycatcher at Bure Park, Great Yarmouth
Red-backed Shrike 1w. at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Barred Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Spoonbills x 2, Wood Sandpiper at Blakeney Point
Spoonbills x 5, Common Cranes x 30, Osprey at Welney WWT
Grey Phalarope reported, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Little Stints x 2, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbill, Little Gull, Spotted Redshank at Cley NWT
Common Crane, Spoonbill at North Point Pools, Wells
Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Pied Flycatcher between Horsey & Winterton
GREENISH WARBLER, Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Horsey
Little Stints x 3 at Hockwold Washes
Lesser White-fronted Goose esc., Garganey x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Puffin, Curlew Sandpiper flew past Sheringham

MEGA NEWS
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
LEAST TERN
Portrane, County Dublin, Ireland

RBA Weekly Round-Up 17th to 23rd August!

By Jon Dunn

Burnham Overy Dunes, Garden Drove, Stiffkey Campsite & Gramborough Hill!

MONDAY 23rd AUGUST

I arrived at the layby for Burnham Overy Dunes at around 8.30am. It was overcast and I was hoping to see some good birds. I  had been thinking about walking Blakeney Point, but my hunch was that yesterday's birds would have all departed – sadly, I discovered during the rest of the day, that I was totally wrong! In any case I didn't feel like shingle trudging today. Also, I woke up a couple of days ago with severe Achilles tendon pain, in my long term dodgy left ankle (sprained it when I was 9 and pulled ligaments no end of times) – I have no idea what triggered it, must be old age I expect! Its certainly not being overweight, as the diet is going pretty well. Lost 4lbs last week and 3lbs the week before.

I had a wonderful time at Burnham Overy Dunes, but sadly didn't see too much at all. I worked hard to find some good birds and failed. Bird of the day was a cracking Willow Warbler that I eventually eked out of a hawthorn in the main scrub, at the end of the boardwalk and got some very pleasing pictures. Far too many people and loose dogs around for a bog standard Monday – goodness knows what it was like at the weekend! Headed west to Gun Hill, where a family of Stonechats were lovely to watch. Big flock of Linnets on the move, Goldfinches seen and lots of Swallows skimming west over the harbour. Managed to find a Whitethroat, but little else. Sadly no sign of Ashley Saunders' Greenish Warbler he found yesterday, which I expected – it probably ended up on Scolt Head Island. Walked to the most westerly point to the beach, but nothing else of note. Pager messages kept popping up for goodies on Blakeney Point! Sat and had an egg sandwich and coffee on my fold up stool, overlooking the main scrub, nothing else seen.

Retraced my steps and walked back to the end of the boardwalk and then east through the dunes. Had a brief view of a Redstart flying into a bush, that a few other birders had been watching, in the big hollow area of the dunes. I was told a Pied Flycatcher was showing well a bit further along – no it wasn't, not for me anyhow! Spent ages walking round the scrub where the Pied Flycatcher had been seen – gone! More Stonechats seen, a Whitethroat, but nothing more. I did see a Common Lizard scurrying through the mass of wild sweet pea, which was nice and good numbers of Wall butterflies, Common Blues, a Brimstone and Small Coppers seen. Walked back to my car. Hordes of people walking along the sea wall – dogs off leads, and lots of cyclists – I didn't think people were allowed to cycle along the sea wall because of erosion, but I may be wrong. It was boiling hot now. Returned to my car.

Headed east and parked up at the concrete pad to walk Garden Drove at Warham Greens. This is normally a wonderful peaceful spot to get away from the crowds, but the pigs have been relocated, immediately north of the parking area and the noise of grunting, squealing and jostling deafened the usual peace! It was also very smelly, whilst trying to enjoy a very late lunch! Walked along the hedge lined track and found absolutely nothing, apart from a Sparrowhawk overhead. No sign of the Pied Flycatcher in the copse that was reported earlier. Returned to my car and left.

Parked up at Stiffkey Campsite car park to walk west along the path to the Whirligig to see the Wrynecks that were reported this morning. There had been no further reports, so I presumed they maybe still there. I then found out that people had searched for them two or three hours earlier, with no joy, but nobody had put that update out. I continued to walk along the path anyway to have a look. Walked beyond the Whirligig and sneaked about to try and find the Wrynecks, but they had obviously long gone. Didn't see anything else of note. Returned to my car.

Stopped briefly at the House on The Hill at Blakeney, only Wood Pigeons here. Continued east to Gramborough Hill at Salthouse. A Red-backed Shrike had been found here earlier. Did I see it? No, I didn't! Very elusive, or vacated! To be fair, it could have retired for the night, it was 8pm when I retraced my steps back to the car! Several campervans parked up for the night, as is usual nowadays. Beautiful sunset as always here. Drove home and was too tired to write the blog up.

PICTURES TO BE ADDED

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 23rd AUGUST
Black Guillemot, Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Long-tailed Skua ad. flew past Coastguards at Cley
Little Stints x 5, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Spoonbills x 2, Bittern, Gargeney x 2 at Cley NWT
Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Redshanks x 3, Spoonbills x 6 at Breydon Water
Pied Flycatcher at Horsey
GREENISH WARBLER, Red-backed Shrike ad. male, Red-backed Shrike, Icterine Warbler, Barred Warbler, Wrynecks x 2, Pied Flycatcher, Spoonbills x 5 at Blakeney Point
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Walsey Hills NOA
Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater flew past Sheringham
Pied Flycatcher, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Wells Woods
Common Cranes x 30, Spoonbills x 5 at Welney WWT
Wrynecks x 2 near Whirligig, Pied Flycatcher at Garden Drove, Warham Greens
Wryneck flushed from dunes at Holkham
Balearic Shearwater flew past Sidestrand
Pied Flycatcher at Weybourne Camp
Red-backed Shrike at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Little Stint at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Common Crane at North Point Pools, Wells
Barred Warbler, Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Burnham Overy Dunes
Wryneck for second day, Pied Flycatcher at North Dunes, Winterton
Garganey x 3 at Strumphsaw Fen RSPB
Spoonbills x 40 at Stiffkey Fen
Little Stints x 3, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Spoonbills x 2 at Snettisham RSPB

MEGA NEWS
EASTERN RUFOUS BUSH CHAT
SSW of Coverack, Cornwall
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
ELEGANT TERN
Ainsdale, Lancashire and North Merseyside

Sunday 22 August 2021

Wex, CleySpy, Gramborough & Cley Birding!

Pied Flycatcher at Gramborough Hill

 

It was obvious it was going to be a good day for the first sprinkling of Autumn migrants, but I couldn't get out first thing. Cloudy and dull in King's Lynn this morning, but lashing down with rain as I headed east. Rain and easterly winds – always exciting at this time of the year!

Cruised to Wex in Norwich and returned the second Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens, which was refunded straight away by Nathan, who had to put up with me for so long the other day! I assured him I wouldn't be so long in the shop today! Whilst I was there, I checked my list of items on order (see yesterday's post). Nathan said it was likely I would get the camera body before I left to Shetland, but the lens was unlikely, as there was way over a hundred people on the waiting list for this!!! Left Norwich and headed to the coast. The sun was now out and it was an beautiful afternoon.

Next stop, CleySpy! I tested out the new Swarovski NL Pure 8x42 for the first time – I then looked through the 8x32's for about 5 seconds and handed them back to Andrew! The 8x42's were far superior with a wider field of view and brighter. This is what I currently have, but mine are loads heavier! I LOVE my Swarovski binoculars and they are optically awesome, in fact there was very little difference between them and the new NL's to be honest, ok so the NL's were a bit brighter yes, but not by much in my opinion. The huge plus point for me, was the smaller and beautifully shaped barrels, that felt perfect to hold, seemed smaller and were considerably lighter than mine! I was sold....... I'm next on the waiting list! Frustratingly though, the next batch have an estimated arrival date of 27th September! Just, before I leave for Shetland, so unless I'm extremely lucky, I may not get them before I go! I will of course be selling my current binoculars 😭 then, which I will advertise on here.

So many migrants dropping in all over the UK today. Bird of the day was an incredible find by Douglas Wright and his wife in Cornwall – an Eastern Rufous Bushchat! Lots of migrants in Norfolk today as you can see from the list below. I wish I had had time to walk to Blakeney Point, but it was fairly late in the day. I headed to Gramborough Hill at Salthouse, which was a more chilled option!

Little Stint and Dunlin just west of Gramborough Hill


Parked my car up along Beach Road and ambled to along the path to the hill. I realised how much I had missed not going birding for so long, it felt absolutely magical to be out and saw some fabulous birds here! Jim L. pointed out a Whimbrel that was flying overhead, just as I got out of the car. A Little Stint was feeding with several Dunlin on the pool, just west of the hill and bumped into several Norfolk birders here including Ian, Paul and of course John F.! In the scrub it was just brilliant! At least two Pied Flycatchers here, 2 Redstarts (seen at the same time), Garden Warbler gobbling a elderberry briefly, Whitethroat and lots of Goldfinches. When Eddie joined me and also Jim L., 2 Hobbies flew towards us, over the hill heading west and a Greenshank called. Wasp Spiders seen as well! I spent what must have been a couple of hours here, just enjoying the scene – I love Pied Flycatchers, such cracking birds. Also bumped into a lovely couple I sometimes see and I always forget their names, which is dreadful, my memory for names is shocking at times! Also saw Pete from Norwich, but can't remember his surname! On route back to my car, there were no sign of any Dunlin or Little Stint.

Pied Flycatcher at Gramborough Hill

 

Redstart at Gramborough Hill
 
Wasp Spider at Gramborough Hill

 

Sat by car and had an extremely late lunch and a cup of tea. Headed to Walsey Hills NOA, where surprisingly I saw nothing at all! Then went to Coastguards, walked across the shingle to look at the sea, far too many people here. I was absolutely flabbergasted to see a huge open fronted marquee set up right next to the Blakeney Point sign, with people socialising with tables, chairs, drinks etc! I bet they didn't erect that when any NWT staff were around! #notallowed

Ended the day in the central NWT hides! Not been here since before the word Covid existed! Daukes' Hide is still closed because of nesting birds, but both Teal and Avocet hides are open. Eddie and another local birder were in Avocet hide, but no one else here. It was fabulous to be back and the light is always so beautiful here in the evenings. Little Stint here, along with Dunlins, Black-tailed Godwits, Little Egrets, Heron, Gulls, Mute Swan etc. Eddie was on an amusing roll – putting the world to rights and I agreed with everything he said – can't repeat the stuff he was saying on here though😂, but it was hugely entertaining!

Late this afternoon my car was making the most hideous scraping noises when I turned right only, like something was scraping on the road. After inspection, I found nothing visible at all, don't knows what is going on, but I'm sure the garage will find out the problem at the MOT and annual service this Tuesday!🤞Drove home far later than I had intended. Out birding ALL day tomorrow!!!

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   

Pied Flycatcher, Redstart in cemetery at Wymondham
GREENISH WARBLER, Pied Flycatchers x 8 at Burnham Overy Dunes
Common Crane, Spotted Redshank at North Point Pools, Wells   
Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 3, Little Stint at Titchwell RSPB
Pied Flycatchers x 2, Purple Sandpiper at Thornham Point
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Sea Palling
Glossy Ibis at Snettisham RSPB
Glossy Ibis at Ken Hill Marsh, Snettisham Coastal Park
Purple Heron at Barton Broad
Common Cranes x 31, Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Long-tailed Skua flew over Beeston Bump, Sheringham
Black Terns x 3, Gargeney at Sheringham
Icterine Warbler, Wrynecks x 3, Pied Flycatchers x 4 at Blakeney Point
Spotted Redshank at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Turtle Dove (probable) in flight at New Buckenham Common
Little Gull offshore at Weybourne
Pied Flycatcher at Weybourne Camp
Long-tailed Skua juv. flew over beach car park at Cley
Garganey x 3 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB 
Osprey at Wroxham Broad
Pied Flycatchers x 3, Little Stint at Gramborough Hill
Pied Flycatchers x 5 at Wells Woods
Wryneck south of lighthouse at Happisburgh
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Black Tern juv. flew past Holme Dunes
Wood Sandpiper at Cantley Beet Factory
Spotted Redshanks x 5, Spoonbills x 2 at Breydon Water
Pied Flycatchers x 7 between Stiffkey Fen & Morston
 
MEGA NEWS
EASTERN RUFOUS BUSH CHAT
SSW of Coverack, Cornwall
BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Bempton Cliffs RSPB, Yorkshire
ELEGANT TERN
Ainsdale, Lancashire and North Merseyside
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, ENE of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
LEAST TERN
Rogerstown Estuary, County Dublin, Ireland