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Tuesday 30 November 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 

Stejneger's Scoter (probable) with Velvet Scoters x 4, Shorelarks x 5, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Holkham Bay
Great Grey Shrike at Waxham
Snow Buntings x 6, Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE at lake, Holkham Park
Russian White-fronted Geese x 14, Cattle Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh 
Snow Buntings x 26 at Snettisham Coastal Park
Glaucous Gull, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Snow Buntings x 40 at Cley NWT
Siberian Chiffchaff at Wells Woods
Russian White-fronted Geese x 50 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Cattle Egret at Horsey
Bewick's Swans x 7 at Hempstead Marshes
Hawfinches x 25 at Lynford Aboretum
Glaucous Gull at Salthouse
Snow Buntings x 5 at Gramborough Hill
Caspian Gull at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Gulls x 4, Short-eared Owl at Sheringham
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm. at Sculthorpe Moor NR
 
MEGA NEWS
BELTED KINGFISHER
Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside
STEJNEGER'S SCOTER 
Probable, at Holkham Bay, Norfolk
ISABELLINE SHRIKE sp.
Marloes, Pembrokeshire

Monday 29 November 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 

Little Auk at Winterton
White-winged Scoter or Stejneger's Scoter (possible) with Velvet Scoters x 5, flew past Holkham Gap
Shorelarks x 5 at Holkham Bay
Dusky Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff at Holkham Pines
Russian White-fronted Geese x 23 at Holkham Freshmarsh
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE at lake, Holkham Park
Siberian Chiffchaff, Lapland Bunting at East Hills, Wells
Little Auk at Trimingham
Cattle Egrets x 5 at Horsey
Siberian Chiffchaff, Great Grey Shrike at Waxham
Little Stints x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Siberian Chiffchaff at Titchwell RSPB
Glaucous Gull, Hen Harrier at Thornham Point
Iceland Gull, Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 2, Little Gull at Salthouse
Bewick's Swans x 6 at Sea Palling
Cattle Egrets x 7 at Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park
Brunnich's Guillemot (possible) flew past Coastguards, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Short-eared Owl at Cley
Glaucous Gulls x 2, Grey Phalarope, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Snow Buntings x 35 at Blakeney Point
Hawfinches x 3 at Lynford Aboretum
Siberian Chiffchaff at Beeston Common, Black Redstart at Beeston Regis, Sheringham
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Gulls x 4 at Sheringham
 
MEGA NEWS
BELTED KINGFISHER
Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 
Probable, flew past Inverbervie, Aberdeenshire
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 
Flew past Collieston, Aberdeenshire
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 
Torness Point, Lothian
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Fisherrow, Lothian
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT
Flew past Whitburn Coastal Park, County Durham

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 
Flew past Cullercoats, Northumberland
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 
Probable, flew past Seahouses, Northumberland
ISABELLINE SHRIKE sp.
Marloes, Pembrokeshire
FORSTER'S TERN
Mutton Island, County Galway, Ireland
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

Sunday 28 November 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 

White-winged Scoter or Stejneger's Scoter (possible) photographed, flew west past Cley
Glaucous Gull, Little Auk, Black Guillemot, Red-necked Grebes x 6, Velvet Scoters x 4, Black-throated Divers x 2, Great Northern Divers x 5, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Little Gull, Snow Buntings x 50 from beach car park, Black Brant, Caspian Gull at Cley
Storm Petrel, Little Auk, Puffins x 3, Velvet Scoters x 2, Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpipers x 3 at Sheringham
Kittiwake flew over Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Little Auk, Grey Phalarope, Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Diver at Winterton
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Great Northern Diver at Trimingham
Glaucous Gull, Great Northern Divers x 3 at Holme
Little Auk at Blakeney Point
Little Auk at Reepham, taken into care and released at Wells
Puffin in harbour, then killed by Great Black-backed Gull at Wells
Hen Harrier at Cawston
Glaucous Gull, Little Auk (eaten by Great Black-backed Gull), Purple Sandpipers x 8 at Waxham
Russian White-fronted Geese x 22, Cattle Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE at lake, Holkham Park
Shorelarks x 6 at Holkham Bay
Hen Harrier male at Burnham Overy Staithe
Russian White-fronted Geese x 100 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Little Auks x 2 at Gorleston-on-Sea
Hawfinches x 4 at Lynford Aboretum
Great Northern Divers x 3, Purple Sandpiper, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Sidestrand
Little Auks x 2, Puffins x 5, Great Northern Divers x 2, Little Gulls x 2, Velvet Scoter, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Great Skua at Mundesley
 
MEGA NEWS
BELTED KINGFISHER
Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 
Flew past Hartlepool, Cleveland
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 
Flew past Whitby, Yorkshire
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOTS x 3
Flew past Whitburn Coastal Park & Hendon on Sea, County Durham
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 
Flew past Tynemouth, St Mary's Island, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Snab Point, Cullercoats, Low Hauxley, Northumberland
ISABELLINE SHRIKE sp.
Marloes, Pembrokeshire

Saturday 27 November 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 

Glaucous Gulls x 2, Little Auks x 2, Black Guillemots x 2, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Little Gulls x 10, Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Divers x 6, Black-throated Divers x 3, Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Red-necked Grebe flew past beach car park, Snow Buntings x 25, Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Cley
Glaucous Gull, Slavonian Grebe, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Little Auk, Black Guillemot, Little Gulls x 5, Pomarine Skua (probable), Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 3, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Sooty Shearwater, Short-eared Owl at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 100 at South Denes, Great Yarmouth
Siberian Chiffchaff at Waxham
Russian White-fronted Geese x 12, Cattle Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Hawfinches x 5 at Lynford Aboretum
Long-tailed Duck, Snow Buntings x 20 at Walcott
Little Gull at Fisher Fleet, Pomerine Skuas x 2 at Lynn Point, King's Lynn
Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2 at Holme
Great Northern Divers x 2 at Happisburgh
 
MEGA NEWS
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
Fisherrow, Lothian
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
Crookhaven, County Cork, Ireland

Best Pillows EVER & Weekend Update!

I have always had good quality feather pillows to sleep on, but I decided to try something different and after lots of research, purchased a Levitex pillow – these are £70 on the Levitex website: https://www.levitex.co.uk/pillow/ where you can do a quiz, to determine which is the correct pillow height to buy. I bought two of these pillows in the Black Friday sale for £45 from "Dreams" on the Hardwick Industrial Estate in King's Lynn: https://www.dreams.co.uk/levitex-gravity-defying-mid-pillow/p/719-00277 

You only use one pillow (I normally have two) – I purchased two to alternate and lengthen the lifespan of the pillows. As soon as you lay your head on the pillow its perfect! No bunching up the pillow to get comfy as you have to with feather ones, its extremely supportive and I wish I had bought one years ago. Recommended by physiotherapists and sports professionals for neck and spine alignment etc.

* * * * *

I few years ago I would have been sitting in the Sheringham shelters for a sea watch with others today, but I felt so exhausted after work yesterday, that I couldn't face going out in "Storm Arwen". Severe winds and rain here, but no snow yet. It felt dangerous, just going outside to top the bird feeders up! I did pop into town quickly though, to get a fur covered hot water bottle for Lucy because she said she was cold and some chocolate for her. Bought my usual WHSmith photo calendar for 2022 – I really should sort out doing a Penny's Hot Birding Calendar to sell! New neighbours moved into the house opposite me today, what awful weather conditions they had!

A very sad individual decided to leave a suspect "package" outside the front of the hospital yesterday, which caused utter chaos! I hope very much the CCTV catches who it was – the NHS is under enough pressure as it is! Since being at work this week I seem to have stirred up my thumb injury again, its extremely painful this evening. Watched An Audience with Adele this evening, WOW! I have not worked a Sunday for a long time, but I'm scheduled to work tomorrow. I have a hearing consultation at the hospital on Monday! Oh dear, its all downhill now!

Boris announced in his press conference this evening that we all need to wear masks again in shops and on public transport from next week, which won't make any difference to me as I never stopped wearing them. It should never have stopped – its not much to ask really is it?! We have to wear them for 7.5+ hours every day, so wearing them in a shop etc should not be an issue for anyone.

Friday 26 November 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 

Black Guillemot on sea, Puffin flew past, Glaucous Gull juv., Little Gull, Velvet Scoter at Cley
Black Brant, Snow Buntings x 6 at Cley NWT
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Velvet Scoter on sea (for 2nd day) at Weybourne Camp
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT at Holkham Bay, then Wells Harbour
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Buntings x 5 at Holkham Bay
Cattle Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Spotted Redshank, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Black-throated Diver at Wells
Glaucous Gull over Boal Quay, King's Lynn
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm. at Holkham Park
Hawfinches x 21 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 30 at Snettisham Coastal Park
Little Stints x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Ferruginous Duck at Ormesby Broad
Scaup at Rollesby Broad
Hen Harrier at Horsey
 
MEGA NEWS
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT
On beach at Wells and later sadly died, Norfolk
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT 
St Agnes, Cornwall
BELTED KINGFISHER
Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside

Thursday 25 November 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 

Black Guillemot, Grey Phalarope, Pomarine Skua, Little Gulls x 5, Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpipers x 4, Velvet Scoters x 2 off Coastguards, Black Redstart in churchyard at Cley
Snow Buntings x 80, Black Brant at Cley NWT
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm., Shorelarks x 5, Red-necked Grebes x 2 at Holkham Bay
Russian White-fronted Geese x  17, Cattle Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm. at Holme, Titchwell RSPB & Snettisham RSPB
Little Auk at Titchwell RSPB
Hawfinch x 16 at Lynford Aboretum
Pomarine Skuas x 2, Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpiper, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Sheringham
Short-eared Owl SW of Fring
Black-throated Diver at Wells Harbour
Sooty Shearwater, Red-necked Grebe, Black-throated Diver off Holme Dunes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 60 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Ring Ouzel at Congham, north of Grimston
 
MEGA NEWS
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
BELTED KINGFISHER
Brockholes Wetlands LWT, Lancashire and North Merseyside
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
Crookhaven, County Cork, Ireland

Wednesday 24 November 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 

Snow Buntings x 30, Cattle Egret at Snettisham RSPB
Water Pipits x 6, Cattle Egret at Ken Hill Marsh, Snettisham Coastal Park
ISABELLINE WHEATEAR fem., Black Guillemot, Black Brant, Snow Buntings x 75 at Cley NWT
Siberian Chiffchaff at North Foreland Wood, Black Redstart in churchyard at Cley
Siberian Chiffchaff at Walsey Hills NOA
Little Auks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Shorelarks x 5, Grey Phalaropes x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 6, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Velvet Scoters x 3, Great Northern Divers x 2, Black-throated Diver at Holkham Bay
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm., Russian White-fronted Geese x 11 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Scaup x 2 at Breydon Water
Todd's Canada Goose with Pink-footed Geese x 1,000+ at Bircham Newton
Black-throated Diver at Wells Harbour
Velvet Scoters x 5 at Mundesley
Hen Harrier at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Snow Buntings x 7 at Caister-on-Sea
 
MEGA NEWS
LONG-TOED STINT
Rockcliffe Marsh, Cumbria
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
Musselburgh, Lothian
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire

Tuesday 23 November 2021

Isabelline Wheatear at Cley Marshes NWT!

ISABELLINE WHEATEAR 
Cley Marshes NWT
 
 
Late this afternoon I managed to see what was originally ID'd as a Desert Wheatear earlier today and has now been re-identified as an Isabelline Wheatear. This just goes to show that you should question everything you see. After news of this new ID came out this evening, I sat studying my Collins bird book and I can see now that it is indeed an Isabelline Wheatear, even from my picture with the black alula contrasting with the wing and looking at the markings around eye! Also someone else had a brilliant set of photos to confirm its identity here.

I arrived a bit too late really, but managed to get this distant record shot (the other pics are dreadful and out of focus). This bird was in the exact same spot as the last one in November 2019 – see my pictures of the first Isabelline Wheatear for Cley here. Lovely walk along the East Bank and saw a big flock of Snow Buntings on the shingle ridge, a Meadow Pipit and a Stonechat perched up. On the way back a Woodcock flew over and I watched thousands of Pink-footed Geese flying through beautiful orange skies.

Pink-footed Geese 
From East Bank at Cley Marshes NWT

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 

Hawfinches x 30 at Lynford Aboretum
Purple Sandpipers x 2 at Sheringham
Black Guillemot, Little Auk, Grey Phalaropes x 2, Little Gull, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe off beach car park, Black Redstart in churchyard at Cley
ISABELLINE WHEATEAR fem., Little Auks x 2, Snow Buntings x 100 off East Bank, Water Pipits x 2 at Cley NWT
Little Auk, Short-eared Owl at Salthouse
Dusky Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff at Holkham Pines
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE on west side of lake in trees at Holkham Park
Siberian Chiffchaff at Wells Woods
Pallid or Montagu's Harrier ringtail flew over, Lapland Buntings x 2 at Happisburgh
Black Redstart on Esplanade at Sheringham
Red-flanked Bluetail still and probable Dusky Warbler at Blakeney Point
House Martin flew over, Snow Buntings x 20 at Caister-on-Sea
Little Auk on roof of gold club house at Brancaster
Siberian Chiffchaff, Water Pipit, Common Cranes x 20 at Stubb Mill Roost, Hickling Broad NWT
Lapland Bunting at Holme Dunes
Short-eared Owl at Welney WWT
Black Redstart at South Denes, Great Yarmouth
Hen Harrier at Roydon Common NNR
 
MEGA NEWS
LONG-TOED STINT
At undisclosed location, Cumbria
KILLDEER
Balevullin, Tiree, Argyll & Bute
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
Fisherrow, Lothian
NORTHERN HARRIER
Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland
FORSTER'S TERN 
Nimmo's Pier, County Galway, Ireland

Birdfair – ‘Glastonbury of birdwatching’ – Cancelled After 30 Years!!!

 
 
 
Very, very sad to hear this news!😢

RBA Weekly Round-Up 16th to 22nd November!

By Jon Dunn

Monday 22 November 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 

Siberian Chiffchaff, Little Auk, Grey Phalaropes x 2, Black Guillemot, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Snow Bunting, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 6 at East Wretham Heath
Little Auks x 4, Long-eared Owl, Pomarine Skua, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 5, Red-necked Grebe, Scaup x 8, Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter at Sheringham
Hawfinches x 35 at Lynford Aboretum
Sabine's Gull 1w, Little Auks x 2, Long-tailed Duck at Winterton
Shorelarks x 5, Red-necked Grebe, Velvet Scoters x 3 at Holkham Bay
Dusky Warbler at Holkham Pines
Bittern at Whitlingham Country Park
Little Auk at Trimingham
Black Guillemot, Little Auk, Pomarine Skua, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 2, Red-necked Grebes x 3 from beach car park, Short-eared Owl at Cley
Snow Buntings x 23 at Cley NWT
Barred Warbler, Great Grey Shrike, Little Auk, Black-throated Diver at Waxham
Richard's Pipit flew over, Velvet Scoter at South Beach, Heacham
Little Auks x 3, Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Black Redstart, Long-tailed Duck flew past Weybourne
Little Stints x 2, Snow Buntings x 20 at Snettisham RSPB
Great Northern Diver, Snow Bunting at Holme Dunes
Whooper Swans x 30 at Hempstead Marshes
Snow Buntings x 13 at North Denes, Black Redstarts x 2 at South Denes, Great Yarmouth
Lapland Buntings x 6, Snow Bunting at Happisburgh
Little Auk, Great Northern Diver at Sidestrand
Short-eared Owl at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Red-flanked Bluetail at Blakeney Point
Hen Harrier male west of North Point Pools at Wells
Water Pipit, Russian White-fronted Geese x 30 flew over, Common Cranes x 39, Hen Harrier male at Stubb Mill Roost, Hickling Broad NWT
Little Auk at Mundesley
Hen Harriers x 3, Short-eared Owls x 2 at Stiffkey
Russian White-fronted Geese x 8, Common Cranes x 5 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
 
MEGA NEWS
KILLDEER
Sandaig, Argyll & Bute
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
Fisherrow, Lothian
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
Crookhaven, County Cork, Ireland

Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1L IS USM Lens!!!

I ordered this lens at Wex on 13th September and I have been in a very long queue. I was told that I probably wouldn't get this lens before Christmas, but on Friday I had a phone call to say that a large batch had arrived at Wex and my Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1L IS USM lens was ready to collect! So on Sunday afternoon I nipped over to Wex and collected my lens. This will be the last of my big spending spree on camera gear for many years!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services 

SUNDAY 21st NOVEMBER
Hawfinches x 35 at Lynford Aboretum
Leach's Petrel, Grey Phalaropes x 3, Little Auks x 2, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Manx Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Puffin, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Little Gulls x 17, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 5, Velvet Scoters x 3, Snow Buntings x 2 offshore, Black Redstart in churchyard at Cley
Leach's Petrel, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Puffins x 7, Sooty Shearwaters x 4, Manx Shearwaters x 7, Arctic Skua, Great Northern Divers x 8, Velvet Scoter, Red-necked Grebes x 3, Little Gulls x 72, Purple Sandpipers x 2, Short-eared Owl at Sheringham
Grey Phalarope, Black-throated Diver, Jack Snipe, Water Pipit, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, Pomarine Skua, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Great Grey Shrike, Sooty Shearwaters x 2 at Waxham
Whooper Swans x 11 at Sea Palling
Cattle Egrets x 3, Spoonbills x 10, Common Cranes x 27 at Hickling Broad NWT
Little Auk at Gorleston-on-Sea
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Bunting at Holkham Bay
Pomarine Skua, Short-eared Owl, Great Northern Diver, Snow Buntings x 35 at Weybourne
Great Northern Diver, Snow Buntings x 7 at Winterton
Grey Phalarope at Blakeney Point
Russian White-fronted Goose, Cattle Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Little Gulls x 7 at Happisburgh
Grey Phalarope, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Little Gull, Manx Shearwaters x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Velvet Scoter at West Runton
Caspian Gull, Snow Bunting at East Wretham Heath
Pomarine Skuas x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Little Gulls x 2, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater at Holme
Black-throated Diver, Velvet Scoter at Trimingham
Great Northern Divers x 3, Velvet Scoter at Mundesley
 
MEGA NEWS
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
FORSTER'S TERN
Kinvarra, County Galway, Ireland
NORTHERN HARRIER
Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
Fisherrow, Lothian

Saturday 20 November 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 

Black Guillemot, Great Northern Diver off beach car park, Short-eared Owl at Cley
Grey Phalarope, House Martin, Snow Buntings x 100, Caspian Gull, Russian White-fronted Goose, Slavonian Grebe at Cley NWT
Water Pipit, Black-throated Diver, Hen Harriers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Snow Buntings x 52 at Gramborough Hill, Grey Phalarope, Russian White-fronted Goose at Salthouse
Great Grey Shrike at Waxham
Hawfinches x 6 at Lynford Aboretum
Shorelarks x 5, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Holkham Bay
Water Pipits x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Lapland Bunting at Happisburgh
Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Divers x 6, Little Gulls x 5 at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 40 at Caister-on-Sea
Short-eared Owl at Cromer
Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Common Cranes x 40 at Stubb Mill Roost, Hickling Broad NWT
Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting flew over Wells Harbour
Snow Buntings x 40 at Blakeney Point
 
MEGA NEWS
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
Crook Haven County Cork, Ireland
NORTHERN HARRIER
Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland

Friday 19 November 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 

Hawfinches x 25 at Lynford Aboretum
Great Grey Shrike at Waxham
Siberian Chiffchaff at Beeston Common, Beeston Regis
Black Guillemot, Snow Bunting, Little Gull at Weybourne
Lapland Bunting, Snow Buntings x 18 at Gramborough Hill
Bean Goose sp., Russian White-fronted Goose at Salthouse
Slavonian Grebe, Snow Buntings x 20 at Titchwell RSPB
Shorelarks x 3 at Holkham Bay
Lapland Bunting at Happisburgh
Black Guillemot on sea at Kelling
Hen Harrier at Roydon Common
Tundra Bean Goose at Choseley
Little Auks x 2, Short-eared Owl, Snow Buntings x 100 at Cley NWT
Lesser White-fronted Goose (presumed escape) between Ringstead & Sedgeford
Long-tailed Duck at Holme
Black Guillemot at Sheringham
 
MEGA NEWS
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
Fisherrow, Lothian
NORTHERN HARRIER
Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland
AMERICAN COOT
Tacumshin, County Wexford, Ireland
LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 
Presumed escape, between Ringstead & Sedgeford
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT
Probable, between Stornoway & Ullapool, Highland and Caithness

Thursday 18 November 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 

Great Grey Shrike, Purple Sandpiper at Waxham
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE released at Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park
Hawfinches x 10 at Lynford Aboretum
Lapland Bunting at Cley NWT
Black Guillemot on sea at Weybourne
Hen Harrier flew over South Beach, Heacham
Russian White-fronted Goose at Salthouse
Shorelarks x 4 at Holkham Bay
Snow Bunting at Winterton
Whooper Swans x 10 at Sea Palling
Snow Bunting, Manx Shearwater at Cley NWT
Lesser White-fronted Goose (presumed escape), Russian White-fronted Geese x 2 between Ringstead & Sedgeford
Little Stints x 2 at Snettisham RSPB
Caspian Gull at Whitlingham Country Park
Common Cranes x 4 at Welney WWT
Hen Harriers x 2 at Stiffkey
Snow Buntings x 15 at Caister-on-Sea
Bewick's Swans x 11 at Thorpe Marshes, Haddicoe
Hen Harrier at Thornham Harbour
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Common Cranes x 3 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Common Cranes x 11 at Ludham
Little Gulls x 8 at Sheringham
Russian White-fronted Goose at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Hawfinch flew over, Serins x 2 (for 2nd day) SSW of Horsford
Common Cranes x 3 at Horsey
 
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN COOT
Tacumshin, County Wexford, Ireland
NORTHERN HARRIER
Lough Boora Parklands, County Offaly, Ireland
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
Crook Haven County Cork, Ireland
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
Fisherrow, Lothian
LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 
Presumed escape, between Ringstead & Sedgeford

Wednesday 17 November 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 

Hawfinches x 22 at Lynford Aboretum
Great Grey Shrike, Lapland Bunting flew over Waxham
Common Cranes x 12 north of Clippesby
Shorelarks x 5 at Holkham Bay
Yellow-browed Warbler reported at Titchwell RSPB
Little Auk on sea at Salthouse
Black Guillemot at Weybourne
Hen Harrier male at Snettisham RSPB
Snow Buntings x 7, Manx Shearwater at Kelling
Snow Buntings x 10 on beach at Winterton
Black-throated Diver at Holme
Great Northern Diver, Puffin, Little Gulls x 6 at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 60 at Happisburgh
Common Cranes x 12 at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Snow Buntings x 34 at Cley NWT
 
MEGA NEWS
AMERICAN COOT
Tacumshin, County Wexford, Ireland
WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
Blacktoft Sands RSPB, Yorkshire
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
Joppa, Lothian

Tuesday 16 November 2021

Holme Reserves and Titchwell RSPB!

Snettisham Coastal Park

Monday 14th October
 
I had intended on going out birding all day yesterday, but felt incredibly fatigued. I did go out for a short while in the end, to Snettisham Coastal Park, just before dark, where I saw a few Blackbirds and Redwings. As the sun was setting, I had spectacular views of thousands upon thousands of Pink-footed Geese flying over in massive skeins over The Wash.

 

Holme Reserves
I searched hard to try and find my own birds today – a Pallas's Warbler would have been fabulous, but that wasn't to be. I started at Holme and searched all the scrub around the village car park and behind the back of the bungalows along the coastal footpath – shockingly, it was completely devoid of any birds.

Continued my search and on route to the NWT Forestry I found a Stonechat perched in the sueda and a Little Egret flew over. In the Forestry itself, I saw a Robin, 1 Blackbird, 1 Redwing and a Pheasant. Golden Plover and Starlings flew over and a few Curlew were on the marshes. Returned to my car and drove along the Firs Road and parked up in the NWT car park, next to the large sycamore tree. No birds seen here at all. I noticed the NOA has replaced the seat in the corner of the car park, which looks very nice. Walked along the path via the Firs House to the coastal footpath through the pines and found 1 Blue Tit only!

Walked through the gate to Holme Bird Observatory, where there were tons of duck on the Broadwater, mostly Wigeon and Teal, but also good numbers of Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and 2 Little Grebes. Chatted with Keith briefly (who was doing some maintenance work at NOA) and later on Gary Elton (A.W.). Paused to spend a few moments where my parent's ashes lie and then headed back to my car. Spent a few minutes in the hide at Redwell Marsh, but only saw a handful of Wigeon, Teal and a single Redshank – there were a couple of Mallards in the River Hun.

Titchwell RSPB
It was mid afternoon by the time I arrived and on hindsight, I wish I had come here this morning, as there were far more birds to see here, as is usually the case when Autumn migration has finished, which may well be now! Its quite shocking when you realise how quickly the months have disappeared – I didn't have time to go birding in Norfolk on the run up to Shetland and I have not been to Titchwell, since they have done their improvements to the reserve. I was very impressed to find they have new toilets and sink etc! They look absolutely fantastic and there are hooks on the back of the doors to hang you gear on, at last! My only criticism is having only one hand dryer and it doesn't dry your hands really at all, as another lady and I discussed! The best (and of course most expensive) public hand dryers are the Dyson ones, which are very quick indeed.

Said hello to Sue B. and also to Trever G. and bumped into several familiar faces, including some new blog readers – nice to meet you all. Had a lovely walk round the Meadow and Fen Trail – it was late in the day, so didn't see very much in this area, but plenty of duck on Patsy's Pool.

Along the main path, there were several Marsh Harriers over the reedbeds and a Great White Egret was in a new channel. New islands have been created on the freshwater marsh, which were all full of birds and look absolutely brilliant. Loads of Golden Plover, Lapwings, Starlings, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Black-headed Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, 5 Avocets, a few Black-tailed Godwit and lots of Dunlin feeding right in front of Island Hide! I also saw a Jack Snipe sitting motionless at the edge of the reeds. After walking out of the hide, I immediately picked up a ringtail Hen Harrier over the west side of the path over Thornham Point, much to the joy of another birder who had wanted to see one on his trip here – nice to meet you and glad you saw the Hen Harrier. A Cetti's Warbler burst into song briefly and the Great White Egret was at the very far end of the new channel. Also bumped into Chris M. with a tour party and followed behind them in the failing light to the car park. Sadly I didn't have time to walk any further, so I don't know what other changes have been made further along. I will have to return next weekend. Drove home via Ringstead.

I have felt very tired for months now and I'm not sure if its Long Covid or what is going on. Requested a GP telephone call today and after discussion, I'm being sent for a a full blood test this week. The last time I had a blood test, I was very low in Vitamin D and was prescribed some high dosage tablets and then continued on a general Vitamin D tablet (as recommended from GP) daily from the chemist, which I'm still doing, so I don't think its that.