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Friday 30 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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THURSDAY 29th SEPTEMBER
 
Black Redstarts x 3 at Norwich Cathedral
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Yellow-browed Warblers x 4 still at Holkham Pines
Turtle Doves x 2, Snow Bunting, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshanks x 7, Spoonbills x 14 at Snettisham RSPB
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Hen Harrier, Little Stints x 3, Black-throated Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Snow Bunting at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Yellow-browed Warbler at Holme NOA
Red-breasted Flycatcher at Holme Dunes NWT
Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler at South Dunes Winterton
Yellow-browed Warbler at Stiffkey Campsite Wood
Richard's Pipit (possible) flew over, Spoonbills x 13 at Stiffkey Fen
Cattle Egrets x 12 at Welney WWT
Long-tailed Skua flew past Sheringham
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Wells Woods
Icterine Warbler still, Snow Bunting at Blakeney Point
Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Osprey flew past Lenwade
Yellow-browed Warbler at Great Yarmouth Cemetery
 
MEGA NEWS
Fair Isle, Shetland
In garden at West Yell, Shetland
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
Probable, flew over Nanjizal Valley, Cornwall

Wednesday 28 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Red-backed Shrike 1w., Yellow-browed Warblers x 3 still at Holkham Pines
Little Stint at North Point Pools, Wells
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm. flew west, Yellow-browed Warbler, Little Stints x 3, Curlew Sandpiper, Snow Buntings x 5 at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egrets x 5, Short-eared Owls x 2, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Bittern at Welney WWT
Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA
Spoonbills x 12 at Snettisham RSPB
Black-throated Diver at Weybourne
Yellow-browed Warbler at Weybourne Camp
Yellow-browed Warbler at South Dunes, Winterton
Spoonbills x 7 at Cley NWT
Lapland Bunting at Burnham Overy Dunes
Common Crane at Thurlton Marshes
Cattle Egrets x 3 at Potter Heigham
Snow Bunting at Sheringham
Slavonian Grebe at Holme Dunes NWT
Short-eared Owl at Holme NOA
 
MEGA NEWS
Fair Isle, Shetland
Trapped & ringed, Barra, Western Isles
FORSTER'S TERN
Soldier's Point, County Louth, Ireland

Tuesday 27 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Red-footed Falcon at Hickling Broad NWT
Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 still at Holkham Pines
Cattle Egrets x 4 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Yellow-browed Warbler, Snow Buntings x 5, Little Stints x 3, Curlew Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm. flew east over village, Titchwell
Yellow-browed Warbler in trees opposite Pitch 'n' Putt, Old Hunstanton
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2 at Weybourne Camp
Snow Buntings x 2, Spoonbills x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 13, Spotted Redshanks x 5 at Snettisham RSPB
Hooded Crow at Warham Greens
Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Burnham Overy Marshes
Yellow-browed Warbler at Wells Woods
Yellow-browed Warbler near lighthouse at Cromer
Spoonbills x 7, Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT
Red-breasted Flycatcher in garden at dusk, Winterton
Yellow-browed Warbler at South Dunes, Winterton
Pectoral Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpipers x 5 at Wissington Beet Factory, Downham Market
 
MEGA NEWS
Fair Isle, Shetland
North Ronaldsay, Orkney
Found dead, Papa Westray, Orkney 

Walsey Hills NOA, Gramborough Hill & Cley!


Coastguards, Cley


A busy day, but didn't include much birding. The day started with a hairdressing appointment, where I bumped into Katie Potter who I used to go to school with in Hunstanton! Then another long appointment in east Norfolk. Ended up late afternoon at Walsey Hills and got very lucky, with fairly good views of the Yellow-browed Warbler, constantly on the move, feeding amidst the willows, half way along the bottom path on the right handside – with four other local birders. But, we were looking into the sun, so there was no point in even lifting the camera up.

Went to Gramborough Hill, nobody here, what a treat! Too cold I expect! A couple of Redshank were on the pool just west of the hill. Not a single bird in the scrub, very disappointing. My only consolation was a large Parasol Mushroom! Beautiful skies as I walked back to my car.

Parasol Mushroom at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
 
Walking back from Gramborough Hill, Salthouse

Coastguards, Cley
 

Spent some time at Coastguards, Cley. Mini sea watch, but nothing of particular note. Chilly with the NW wind, but refreshing and how I prefer the weather! Fabulous watching the waves rolling in and crashing on the shingle, as always. Stunning sunset ended the day.

My house is freezing cold, in fact I think its warmer outside! But, I refuse to put the heating on yet, I might give in on the 1st October!

RBA Weekly Round-up 20th to 26th September!

By Jon Dunn

Monday 26 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Yellow-browed Warbler at Walsey Hills NOA
Yellow-browed Warbler, Snow Buntings x 5, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stints x 5 at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbills x 2, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Sooty Shearwaters x 2, Balearic Shearwater, Purple Sandpiper flew past beach car park at Cley
Spoonbill at Stiffkey
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Yellow-browed Warbler still at Holkham Pines
Yellow-browed Warbler at Wells Woods
Cory's Shearwater, Long-tailed Skua, Little Gull flew past Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 2 at Waxham
Cattle Egret, Bittern at Welney WWT
Scaup x 2 flew past Holme Dunes
Red-footed Falcon at Hickling Broad NWT
Yellow-browed Warbler at Weybourne Camp
 
MEGA NEWS
On fence in garden at Wantage, Oxfordshire

Sunday 25 September 2022

Titchwell RSPB

A late evening walk produced a huge count of 65 Little Egrets, along with one Great White Egret on Patsy's Pool at Titchwell RSPB. 2 Swallows also flew over as I was leaving. #shortestpostever

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Woodlark flew over Ken Hill at Snettisham
Spoonbills x 21 at Snettisham RSPB
Yellow-browed Warbler at North Denes, Black Redstarts x 3 at South Denes, Great Yarmouth
Yellow-browed Warblers x 2, Snow Buntings x 5, Water Pipits x 2, Little Stints x 3, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Hooded Crow at Warham Greens
Yellow-browed Warbler, Grey Phalaropes x 2 (possible) flew past Weybourne Camp
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE circling over Dersingham Bog NNR
Cattle Egrets x 5 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Red-backed Shrike 1w., Yellow-browed Warbler at Holkham Pines
Icterine Warbler at Blakeney Point
Little Stints x 4, Spoonbills x 2 at Cley NWT
Yellow-browed Warbler east of beach car park at Cley
Little Stint, Cattle Egret at Welney WWT
Little Gull NW of Attleborough
Black Redstarts x 4 at Norwich Cathedral
Red-footed Falcons x 2 at Hickling Broad NWT
Sooty Shearwater flew past Sheringham
 
MEGA NEWS
None

Saturday 24 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Sabine's Gull (probable) flew past Happisburgh
Yellow-browed Warbler at Wells Woods
Red-necked Grebe, Caspian Gull at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stints x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Osprey at Breydon Water
Short-eared Owl, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Spoonbills x 24, Curlew Sandpipers x 21 at Snettisham RSPB
Little Stint, Cattle Egret at Welney WWT
Icterine Warbler, Mealy Redpoll at Blakeney Point
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Hooded Crow at Warham Greens
Sooty Shearwaters x 2 at Waxham
Snow Bunting flew over Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Cranes x 15 NNW of Clippesby
Short-eared Owl at Walsey Hills NOA
 
MEGA NEWS
None

Weekend Update, A Lovely Surprise & Ninja Grill Review!

I finally returned to work this week and it was really lovely to see all my colleagues again. I'm on phase return for the first two weeks, before returning to my normal hours. Loads better than I was, after the long rest! My MRi results came back with the expected results and nothing deadly serious thank goodness. My physio who I also saw again last week, prescribed me with new exercises, relevant to the results of my MRi, for shoulder and lower back and these are already making a difference, so onwards and upwards as they say.

On my first day back I was given a letter that had arrived in the post for me, it had already been opened, which is normal procedure, as we are not allowed to receive personal letters at work. Anyway, inside was a piece of history! An East Anglian Magazine, published in June 1966 which cost 2s 6d (two shillings and sixpence). I would have been 1½ years old when this was produced! As soon as I saw it, I declared that this must be from a blog reader, who has sent me something with an article in about my parents – I was correct! I flicked through to find an article that was written by my late mother with photos by my father – I have never seen this before, so it was really lovely to see and read. I don't recall seeing a copy of this magazine when Vivien and I cleared the house, so I will treasure this. I have never seen this particular picture of my father, but instantly recognised the Wryneck, Jack Snipe, Waxwing and Long-eared Owl photos. The entire magazine was fascinating to read and to see all the old style adverts, typography and photographs! Huge thanks to D. Seamons, who very kindly sent me this, much appreciated!

 
I sold our childhood desk at Keys Auctioneers on 12th September for £30 (I was told I would get between £20 and £40) and after commission received £22.20, on hindsight I would have been better trying to sell it privately first, but its gone now and the beginning of the big clear out from my house!

Very sadly, I won't be going to Shetland this Autumn, as its costs a serious amount of money to go for three weeks (not worth going for less than that) and in any case need to save my pennies for bricks and mortar in the future. But, I have annual leave booked (as usual) in the middle two weeks of October for birding here in Norfolk – fingers crossed for some exciting rarities and news being put out by all for others asap, especially on nature reserves – there is nothing breeding now!

Its freezing cold in my house, but I'm not putting the heating on (gas radiators) until I get my next bill on 6th October, which will be just for electric and the standard charge for gas – I will know then if I can afford to put the heating on. Being serious, I will have to put the heating on then, otherwise lots of things will potentially be ruined, such as paintings, books, slides/photos etc, but I will certainly be reducing the thermostat to a much lower degree than I normally have it on!

After a recent chat with a work colleague, who has a Ninja grill and who told me they are loads cheaper to run than an oven, I decided to invest in one. Ninja must be making a fortune right now and I know several people who have just bought one of these to save themselves some money on bills. I often begrudge turning the oven on, just to grill one nut cutlet for me and why I rarely cook jacket potatoes – its obviously worth it if you are cooking for several people, but not worth turning the oven on just for one person for certain foods. So, on the 5th September I purchased a Ninja Foodi MAX Pro Health Grill, Flat Plate & Air Fryer AG651UK – it was advertised on the Ninja website for £299 plus £50 off, also when I scrolled down to the bottom of their website and clicked on 'Discounts' I got a further 10% off for an NHS worker. There is also a discount of 10% if you are over the age of 55. I'm glad I bought this when I did as it is now back to full price of £299. I also purchased the Ninja oven gloves too.

If none of you have a Ninja grill, you are more than probably thinking this a serious amount of money, yes it is, but my goodness its worth it alone for the quality of food it produces and in amazingly quick time! It preheats in around a couple of minutes! "More than a grill with 7 cooking functions – Grill, Flat Plate, Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Reheat and Dehydrate. Transform into an air fryer to cook fried favourites using little to no oil." So far I have cooked the best jacket potatoes I have ever had, cheese on toast, chips (which is dangerous as I don't normally cook chips!), fried eggs, grilled vegetables, veggie burgers and baked a bread & butter pudding! Its aimed at meat eaters and the recipe booklet talks a lot about how to cook your steaks and meat etc – you can roast a chicken etc and a magnetic temperature probe is included, but I won't need to use this obviously. Basically it does everything an oven would normally do, apart from boil food eg potatoes/veg. I nearly bought one of their multi cookers instead, but changed my mind and glad I did. You can bake all your normal foods in here too! This is a very exciting addition to my kitchen!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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FRIDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER
 
Spotted Redshank at Burgh Castle
Osprey, Curlew Sandpiper at Breydon Water
Turtle Dove, Spoonbills x 10, Curlew Sandpipers x 14 at Snettisham RSPB
Spoonbills x 15, Spotted Redshank at Burnham Norton
Yellow-browed Warbler at Wells Woods
Cattle Egret at Welney WWT
Little Stints x 6, Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbills x 3 at Cley NWT
Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stints x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Osprey at Belton Marshes
Hooded Crow at Warham Greens
Pomarine Skua flew past Sheringham
Cattle Egrets x 4 at Potter Heigham
 
MEGA NEWS
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
Doon Lough, County Leitrim, Ireland

Thursday 22 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Grey Phalarope at Salthouse & Cley NWT
Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stints x 5, Spotted Redshank at Cley NWT
Curlew Sandpipers x 9, Little Stints x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Spotted Redshank, Spoonbills x 2 at Burnham Norton
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm., Curlew Sandpiper at Burnham Overy Staithe
Ospreys x 4, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water
Curlew Sandpipers x 22 at Snettisham RSPB
Snow Bunting at Morston Quay
Little Gulls x 9 flew past Sheringham
Lapland Bunting at Thornham Point
 
MEGA NEWS
None

Wednesday 21 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Grey Phalarope at Salthouse
Spoonbills x 3 at Burnham Norton
Curlew Sandpipers x 13, Spoonbills x 15 at Snettisham RSPB
Curlew Sandpipers x 4, Little Stints x 2, Great Northern Diver at Titchwell RSPB
*Clifden Nonpareil moth on show, Cattle Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Jack Snipe, Little Stints x 5, Curlew Sandpipers x 4, Wood Sandpiper at Cley NWT
Great Northern Diver off Coastguards, Cley
Hen Harrier at North Point Pools, Wells
Spoonbills x 5 at Thornham Harbour
Hooded Crow at Warham Greens
Curlew Sandpipers x 9, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water
Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Garganey at Hardwick Flood Lagoon, King's Lynn
Spoonbills x 13 at Stiffkey Fen
 
MEGA NEWS
GREAT SNIPE
Fair Isle, Shetland

RBA Weekly Round-up 13th to 19th September!

By Jon Dunn

Tuesday 20 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Grey Plovers x 2 flew over Lakenham, Norwich
Curlew Sandpipers x 12 at Snettisham RSPB
Snow Bunting, Curlew Sandpipers x 4, Little Stints x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Hooded Crow at Warham Greens
Sooty Shearwater from beach car park at Cley
Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Little Stints x 2 at Cley NWT
Yellow-browed Warbler at Caister Road Cemetery, Great Yarmouth
Cattle Egrets x 2 at Welney WWT
Red-flanked Bluetail at Trimingham
Grey Phalarope at Salthouse
Cattle Egrets x 5, Spotted Redshank at Burnham Norton
Spoonbills x 2 at East Hills, Wells
Caspian Gull from pelagic at Wells
Snow Bunting at Morston Quay

MEGA NEWS
GREAT SNIPE
Fair Isle, Shetland

Monday 19 September 2022

Queen Elizabeth II Funeral: Nation Pays Final Farewell


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62952004

Lucy spent the day with me watching the Queen's Funeral. What a send off for our great Queen! Spectacular, powerful, intense, sad....... so many emotions. So many thousands of people lining the streets to pay their respects, flowers thrown at the passing hearse, reminded me of Princess Diana's funeral. The pageantry was on another level. So many tear jerking moments, the Royal Navy pulling the coffin on the state gun carriage, the Corgis, the Queen's horse, the lone piper.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George did an amazing job for such young children – I just hope it was their choice and they were not made to attend. "It was the first state funeral since Sir Winston Churchill's in 1965 and the biggest ceremonial event since World War Two."

One of the most emotional moments for me, was listening to the lone piper 😢 "The inclusion of Pipe Major Paul Burns – who had served since 2021 – was a personal request of the Queen, Buckingham Palace said. He played the traditional lament "sleep, dearie, sleep" – the sound of which appeared to fade as he turned and walked down the internal steps of Westminster Abbey. He is the 17th Piper to the Sovereign - the role was created by Queen Victoria in 1843 after she grew fond of the sound of bagpipes on a visit to the Highlands with Prince Albert." 

 

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
 
Rest in peace
 
🕊

The Queue

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Long-tailed Skua, Sooty Shearwaters x 5, Pomarine Skua at Sheringham
Short-eared Owl at Beeston Regis
Red-footed Falcon at Hickling Broad NWT
Scaup, Short-eared Owl, Sooty Shearwaters x 8, Little Gulls x 30 at Winterton
Red-necked Grebe, Pomarine Skuas x 3 at Cley
Little Stints x 4, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Little Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT
Turtle Dove, Spoonbills x 19 at Snettisham RSPB
Snow Bunting, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Spoonbills x 2, Long-tailed Skuas x 6 at Titchwell RSPB
Spoonbills x 9 at Thornham Harbour
Osprey reported near Lyng
Honey Buzzard pale morph, Curlew Sandpipers x 5, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water
Yellow-browed Warbler at Holkham Pines
Pied Flycatchers x 2 at Wells Woods
Long-tailed Skua at Caister-on-Sea
Common Cranes x 2, Caspian Gull (probable), briefly at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Common Cranes x 3 at Rockland Broad
Nightjar at Wheatfen Broad, Surlingham

MEGA NEWS
None

Sunday 18 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Snow Bunting, Velvet Scoter, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Little Stints x 2, Spoonbills x 8 at Titchwell RSPB
Red-necked Grebe flew past Weybourne Camp
Little Stints x 4, Curlew Sandpiper at Cley NWT
Red-necked Grebes x 2, Caspian Gull offshore at Cley
Cattle Egret, Spoonbills x 2 at Welney WWT
Pallid Harrier (possible) again at Holkham Freshmarsh
Twite at Holkham Gap
Long-tailed Skua flew past Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm., Red-footed Falcon juv. at Hickling Broad NWT
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE imm., Pomarine Skua, Little Gull at Waxham
Spoonbills x 3 at North Point Pools, Wells
Pomarine Skuas x 2, Spoonbills x 6 at Holme
Turtle Doves x 2, Spoonbill at Snettisham Coastal Park
Sooty Shearwaters x 23 flew past Winterton
Red-necked Grebe at Mundesley
Sooty Shearwaters x 10 flew past Sheringham
Caspian Gull at Blakeney Point

MEGA NEWS
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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SATURDAY 17th SEPTEMBER 
 
Cory's Shearwater (probable), Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skua, Black Tern, Little Gulls x 14, Sooty Shearwater at Sheringham
Black Guillemot at Cromer
Little Gulls x 2, Caspian Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egret, Common Cranes x 2 at Welney WWT
Little Stints x 3, Curlew Sandpipers x 3, Spotted Redshank, Little Gulls x 2, Caspian Gulls x 4 at Cley NWT
Sooty Shearwater, Pale-bellied Brent Goose x 2, Jack Snipe x 2, Caspian Gull flew past beach car park at Cley
Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwaters x 20, Little Gull at Winterton
Little Gulls x 2 at Kelling Water Meadows
Storm Petrel at Lynn Point, King's Lynn
Richard's Pipit (possible), Grey Phalarope, Black Terns x 3, Sooty Shearwater, Long-tailed Skua, Little Gulls x 8, Caspian Gulls x 2 from Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Long-tailed Skua, Little Stints x 3 at Walcott
Curlew Sandpipers x 7, Spoonbills x 22 at Snettisham RSPB
Long-tailed Skua, Caspian Gull at Weybourne
Long-tailed Skua at East Runton
Common Rosefinch at Blakeney Point
Red-necked Grebe, Spoonbills x 4 at Holme Dunes NWT
Pomarine Skuas x 2, Slavonian Grebe at Hunstanton

MEGA NEWS
GREAT SNIPE x 3 
Fair Isle, Shetland
EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER
Howth Head, County Dublin, Ireland

Friday 16 September 2022

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT" 
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Pomarine Skua, Balearic Shearwater, Grey Phalarope, Long-tailed Skuas x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 13, Scaup, Black Tern, Little Gulls x 12, Red-necked Grebe, Purple Sandpiper past beach car park at Cley
Black Guillemot, Black Terns x 3, Pomarine Skuas x 3, Long-tailed Skuas x 2, Sooty Shearwaters x 6, Little Gulls x 210 past Sheringham
Cory's Shearwater, Sooty Shearwaters x 30, Little Gulls x 14, Short-eared Owl past Winterton
Sabine's Gull, Pomarine Skua, Long-tailed Skua, Sooty Shearwaters x 4, Black Tern, Red-necked Grebe, Little Gull at Titchwell RSPB
Hawfinches x 3 at Lynford Aboretum
Cattle Egret at Welney WWT
Sooty Shearwaters x 3, Little Gulls x 3 past Weybourne Camp
Rough-legged Buzzard (possible) reported at Attleborough
Pomarine Skua, Long-tailed Skua, Little Gull flew past Holme Dunes
Black Guillemot at Cromer

MEGA NEWS
EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER
Howth Head, County Dublin, Ireland

Thursday 15 September 2022

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

PALLID HARRIER juv. male, Hen Harrier reported at Holkham Freshmarsh
Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skuas x 2, Balearic Shearwaters x 2 flew past beach car park at Cley
Little Stints x 3, Curlew Sandpipers x 2 at Cley NWT
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Spoonbills x 3 at Breydon Water
Turtle Dove, Spoonbills x 25 at Snettisham RSPB
Long-tailed Skua at Winterton
Cattle Egret at Welney WWT
Long-tailed Skua flew past Weybourne Camp

MEGA NEWS
EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER
Howth Head, County Dublin, Ireland
GREAT SNIPE
Fair Isle, Shetland
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
Doon Lough, County Leitrim, Ireland

Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, Visit Sandringham to View Tributes to The Queen

The Princess of Wales
 
 
Kate and Wiliam greet the crowds at Sandringham this afternoon
 
The Press Team!
I sneaked in and kneeled on the ground – I had one small gap to photograph from!
 
 
 
I was going to Sandringham this morning anyway, as I knew there would be far more flowers to photograph since my last visit. I was just reading the news headlines at home, when I read that William and Kate were coming to Sandringham today!!! No clarification of time, obviously for security reasons, so I got my skates on and headed to Sandringham! The news had obviously leaked out quickly, as all cars were diverted to a very large field on the estate, as all the normal car parks were already full by the time I arrived.
 
I walked up to the Norwich Gates where the flowers are on display – William and Kate arrived about 5 minutes after that! I was very lucky I didn't miss them, but I couldn't see a thing! Thousands of people were packed in and no hope of getting anywhere near the barriers! To get my first pictures (above), I had to hold the phone camera high above my head and hope! I then realised that if I was cheeky enough I could join the Press team! I sneaked in and kneeled on the ground between two photographers. I had one small gap and some of my pictures included a photographer's jacket on the left hand side, better than nothing though! A very moving day! Kate is so beautiful, a real lady. Far too many yapping dogs here, probably as many dogs as there were people, if not more!

Kate and William stayed for around 45 minutes in all, which was really lovely for everyone. After they left, the crowds dispersed. I took lots of pictures of the flowers and and tributes and then returned to my car. I photographed a BOC shot of the picture at the top of my blog and tweeted it out – "The Wales Family" retweeted it and so far its had 823 likes and 81 retweets – I think that's a record on my Twitter account! I took nearly 600 pictures on my Canon R5 with the 100-500mm lens and around 130 pictures on my iphone. They have taken all evening to select and edit!!! Good night!


William and Kate leaving
 
 
All pictures below taken after William and Kate left



 

 
Sandringham House