Exciting Weekend ahead!!!

Its been difficult at work this week and I have felt tired and fed-up. I have not even turned the computer on since Sunday! Sadly the evening light does not allow time enough to go birding after work and from Monday it will be total darkness when leaving work - I will look forward to the spring!

Went to the optician's yesterday for an eye test and yes I need new lenses - more signs of aging!!! Mind you, I needed to replace the lenses anyway, after chucking the glasses out of the car a while back - remember?

BUT the good news is - its Saturday tomorrow and I WILL be out at dawn - hardcore birding until dusk - the bad news........ I am working all day on Sunday.

Pity the Pallid Swift seen at Beeston and Cley didn't hang around!

BIRDS IN NORFOLK TODAY INCLUDE:
Daurian Shrike at Horsey.
Pallas's Warblers at Holme NWT, Burnham Overy Staithe and Winterton (yesterday).
Probable Siberian Chiffchaff at Titchwell and Wells and also one seen at Blakeney Point.
Several Yellow-browed Warblers along the coast.
Sabine's Gull at Cley.
Black Tern at Waxham.
Balearic Shearwaters seen at Salthouse and Sheringham.
Little Auks seen off Cley, Kelling and Sheringham.
Large numbers of Little Gulls seen along the coast.
Red-necked Phalarope at Holkham.
Black Redstart at Salthouse.
Pomarine Skuas seen at Blakeney and Cley.
Cattle Egret at Blakeney.
Jack Snipe at Titchwell.
Rough-legged Buzzard at Holkham.

Yellow-browed Warblers - birds of the day

Beautiful sunny day!

Holme NWT Marsh Reserve – 9.50-10.50am
Watched the heron again in front of the first hide. We had spectacular views of a water rail. A sparrowhawk swooped low in front of the hide and landed in the big willow tree for a brief moment. Other birds seen here were: kestrel, fieldfare, chiffchaff and usual mallards and tufted ducks.

Titchwell RSPB
Yellow-browed Warbler along the Fen Trail - good views, but was flittng about in the tops of the trees and absolutely refused to be photographed - all I managed was a tail shot, which I promptly deleted! Heard a bullfinch here and a couple of cetti's warblers. Lots of red admirals around the ivy covered tree along the Fen Trail just before the hide - same as yesterday. Nothing from the hide. We got back to the carpark and had to walk all the way back again to the fresh marsh and we were told there was a Dotterel sitting amongst the golden plover. We scanned for ages with no joy and then we heard it had flown off earlier!

After lunch we left and went and had a look in Burnham Deepdale Churchyard for Pallas's Warblers and also along the track leading to the copse behind the church, but no birds of note apart from a goldcrest.

Warham - West Track or Garden Drove
Nothing along the track at all, but I did find the Yellow-browed Warbler (found by someone else earlier today) at the very bottom in the trees just beyond the gate. It almost looked Pallas's like for a moment, in the now dimming light! It behaved in the same manner as the one at Titchwell earlier and did not wish to be photographed - couldn't even get a tail shot of this one! When returned along the track, Eddie walked up the field side and I walked along the track - about half way along I could see someone flapping their arms up and down, attempting to represent a bird - on closer inspection, it was of course none other than John F.!!! All three of us then went to the next track to watch roosting hen harriers. Lots of little egrets flying east. I saw at least 2 ring tail hen harriers, 1 male hen harrier and 1 Short eared Owl. Eddie saw more than me as I went off to the 'Pit' with John in attempt to find something good, but it only turned up a blackbird, robin and a few chaffinches.

PICTURES TO BE ADDED

Heron is star of the day!!!

Grey Heron, Holme Marsh Reserve NWT.

Beautiful Sunny Day!

Yellow-browed Warbler in a private garden at Holme.

Holme Marsh Reserve NWT
I spent a long time watching and photographing a heron fishing from the first hide at Holme NWT Marsh Reserve. It caught a Rudd - and also caught and gobbled a pair of dragonflies in tandem!!!! This was so quick, that if you had blinked, you would have missed it! A water rail ran across the cut reeds and two marsh harriers were seen over the marsh. Other birds of note were: little grebes, teal, mallards, wren, blackbirds, a party of long tailed tits, goldcrest and flocks of pink footed geese over the marsh and a sparrowhawk over our heads by the third hide.

Grey Heron, Holme Marsh Reserve NWT.

On route to Titchwell we noticed Dave Holman going the opposite direction - my detective brain soon tuned in to something going on - looked at Eddie's borrowed pager (which doesn't bleep) and noticed a Glossy Ibis had been seen going west past Titchwell at 2.20pm - it was now around 2.40pm - my guess was that Dave was trying to catch up with the Ibis further west. We spun round and drove to Thornham Harbour, which is exactly what a few other birders had opted to do, in hope that the Glossy Ibis would cruise past. After about 5 minutes I phoned Sophie Barker, Warden at HBO to get any inside info - she had just heard the someone at Holme NWT reserve had seen the Glossy Ibis flying through west - so no point in standing at Thornaham any longer to look for it! So we headed back to Titchwell.

Titchwell RSPB
Along the Fen Trail, several red admirals were sunning themselves on the ivy covered tree just before the hide. Little else was seen around the trail though. Along the main path: Cettis Warbler singing, bearded tits 'pinging', flock of goldfinches came down to drink in the freshwater lagoon, a Redpoll flew over south west, a few linnets, several teal, wigeon and a little egret. On the sea were gannets and great crested grebes and along the shore were sanderlings, turnstones, grey plovers and loads of gulls. From Parrinder Hide: a Jack Snipe, one Spoonbill and more gulls etc. Male Hen Harrier towards dusk.

Ended the day with an indian takeaway!

PICTURES TO BE ADDED

Another Crap Day!

Walked to garage after work to collect car, which took an hour. They were still working on the car at 5.45pm and told me that the car was not safe to drive very far and that I either needed to leave it with them or bring it back tomorrow!!!!! Did the Tescos run on the way back home as the cupboards are bare!

Got home to find that I had a Speeding Fine!!!!! BOTHER, BOTHER, BOTHER!!!

Now don't feel very well. Anything else?

Crap Day!

A seriously crappy day at work followed by more crap later when I finished.

Drove into town after work, which takes around 25 minutes in the atrocious traffic at night. Just made it into M&S to return an item and then returned to car to notice an almost flat tyre! Now 5.30pm. Phoned my garage who close at 5.45pm. Just made it to them by 5.45pm after queueing in more traffic and they very kindly put the spare tyre on for me and then I needed to come back tomorrow to collect the mended, punctured tyre. After putting the spare on, they discovered that this was also flat!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!!! They also pointed out that at least two of my tyres needed changing anyway as they are close to being illegal. So had to leave the car at the garage and walk an hour and a quarter home, through the dodgy streets of King's Lynn. I consumed chocolate on the way home to drown my sorrows. Arrived home to listen to next door's new dog barking and howling all evening. Its a good job I don't drink - if I did, I think I would be an alcoholic! GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now in very low mood and going to bed. Long walk to work in the morning and another hour and quarter walk back to garage tomorrow night and a nice bill aswell. Going to have to go back to work on Sunday's again permanantly, which is very frustrating. I have tried to get away with not working Sundays since June and its being extremely enjoyable having whole weekends. I also bought a lottery ticket on the way home - you have to live in hope!

ONLY good news today is that my parents had a Turtle Dove in their garden.

Main Bird News in Norfolk today!

• Sabine's Gull at Sheringham this morning.
• Rough leg buzzards seen at Caister and Winterton.
• Great Grey Shrike remains at Dersingham Bog.
• Jack Snipe at Titchwell.
• 50 Little Gulls off Happisburgh

Looks good for seawatching tomorrow!!!
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=sheringham

Nature Notes - Lifestyle and Leisure News - Lynn News

My father always submits three pictures. Sometimes they use all three, usually two though and only ever publish one on line - saving space I suppose. Please note the picture in the following link is not his picture!

Nature Notes - Lifestyle and Leisure News - Lynn News

Autumnwatch star in Parrinder Hide, Titchwell - Lifestyle and Leisure News - Lynn News

Autumnwatch star in new hide - Lifestyle and Leisure News - Lynn News

Antlion larvae colony thriving at Holkham National Nature Reserve!!!

"Staff at Natural England’s Holkham National Nature Reserve have discovered what is thought to be only the second established breeding area in Britain for the mysterious yet savage antlion, an insect whose larvae excavate cone-like pits and lurk in wait for other insect prey. And its numbers on site appear to be increasing......."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-15334133
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2011/171011.aspx
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/no_place_like_norfolk_for_rare_insect_1_1092003

Rufous-tailed Robin - James McCallum's Account

Whilst chatting to James yesterday - he seemed very distressed and upset - he told me his account, which I suggested he email to LGRE to post on his blog/birdforum etc, somewhere high profile for birders to see HIS take on events that afternoon. Here it is:

http://uk400clubrarebirdalert.blogspot.com/2011/10/rufous-tailed-robin-at-warham-greens.html

Also read from page 10 - post 245 on: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....213714&page=10

The Last Day!

The last day of my holiday.

My plan was to arrive at Weybourne at first light to try and nail the Radde's Warbler. I was updating recent posts into the early hours of this morning, which resulted in getting up very late. I didn't even leave my house until after lunch!

On route to Wells I saw two Common Buzzards west of the B1105 near Barsham.

Warham Greens - West Track (Garden Drove)

Someone has posted a very helpful post on birdforum naming the four tracks at Warham: http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2265890&postcount=13502

Walked down the track in the blustery winds and it felt decidedly wintery today. No birds were seen at all in the hedgerows until I got to the little copse at the bottom where a skulky bird flew from bush to bush. I followed it and it kept eluding me - it eventually turned into a chaffinch!!! How exciting was that!!! In fact this summed the day up nicely. I continued walking east and climbed down into the 'Pit' and squeaked and 'pished' and made lots of attempts to see something!!! Only birds in here were a female blackcap, 1 great tit, 1 blue tit and 1 blackbird. Annoyingly I had left my scope in the car, which I now needed as I could see a buzzard sp. floating around the east end of East Hills, I couldn't magic it into a Rough leg with my 'bins'. I saw a ringtail Hen Harrier and also a stunning male Hen Harrier whilst chatting to James McCallum who was telling me what happened on the afternoon of the Rufous-tailed Robin - his account will be forthcoming soon.

Drove over to Thornham Boat house in an attempt to see the reported Pallid Harrier, but no joy.

Some good birds in Norfolk today including: a juv. Pallid Harrier seen at Brancaster and Thornham, the Radde's Warbler remains elusive at Weybourne, a Great White Egret was seen going west along the coast, Snow Bunting at Morston, Great Grey Shrike at Dersingham Bog (seems to be a regular spot now), Rough leg Buzzards seen at Waxham and Holme, a probable Blythes' Reed Warbler at Stiffkey, a few Yellow-browed Warblers and news of a Red-flanked Bluetail in a private garden at Blakeney!

Searching for rares!

I felt exhausted today from walking East Hills twice in three days, but it was worth it, as its such a magical place. At least you don't get 'shingle' hip ache from walking East Hills, unlike Blakeney Point!

Walsey Hills NOA
A brambling flew over. 3 Fieldfares landed in the tree in the corrner of the wood adjacent to the bottom willows. A couple of goldcrests flicking about along the bottom path and 2-3 Crossbills were heard calling overhead. Massive flock of golden plover over the NWT hides distantly. Little else was seen and seemed generally much quieter today.

Cley NWT Visitor Centre
Whilst Eddie and I were having our cup of tea, we watched a Peregrine at 10.50am scatter all the birds in front of Dauke's Hide along with a Sparrowhawk.

Holme Reserves
A young kestrel posed on the hide roof next to Holme Bird Observatory and was very obliging for the camera, flying down to the ground only feet away and on to fence posts to pose! Had a lovely chat with John Sheldrake who has known me longer than my age! - he reminded me today that he remembers my mother pregnant with me!!! John was Chairman of the NOA for many years and a good family friend. He was wearing his NOA enamel G.G. Shrike badge which are much sort after, as there as very few in existence now - his badge had turned green as they did when exposed to the light over a period of time. I am probably the only person to have this badge still in its original blue state, as I have always kept it out of the light.

Anyway, I also chatted to Sophie (Warden) who proudly showed me some fabulous pictures on her computer of the now 2nd Red-flanked Bluetail for Holme that was ringed yesterday (my picture of the first one last year, in the recently published NOA Report and also in the 'Norfolk Bird and Mammal Report' also just hot off the press - see previous post). Round the back of the obs. a Lapland Bunting flew over calling. At the end of the board walk by the seat on Thornham bank a Ring Ouzel was feasting on elderberries. Tons of people were walking past with tons of dogs and dogs off leads out of control - my temper was rising at the scenes and left promptly. Walked round the back of the obs and searched hard in the pines for something good, but only found a few goldcrests. Back at the NOA carpark we watched several Fieldfares fly over. Also back at the carpark was a very neatly placed, small, white plastic bag, knotted up and left for someone to pick up - you can guess what it was..... dog cr*p. Why the h*ll should anyone else have to pick this up and dispose of it - its a tiny bag...... place in car, take home and place in bin - simples!!!!! If people can't manage this - then don't have a dog in the first place and believe you me, I am writing this politely! Sorry to rant, but I see so many of these bags dumped, hidden in bushes (they can't even hide them properly) or adorning a tree like a christmas bauble - looks really pretty doesn't it!!!

Along the Firs Road on the way back we saw a male Stonechat sitting on a hawthorn. Stopped by the standing caravan opposite 'Sandy Ridge' and saw a few goldcrests in the large sycamore and a flock of long tailed tits, but nothing else more exciting.

Please note I have updated the previous few posts re: the Rufous-tailed Robin etc.

PICTURES TO BE ADDED

East Hills - err, no the Saltmarsh, no Garden Drove, no, no East Hills!!!!!!

Today's title is written by E.T.M. & approved by me!!!

I notice there is a massive debate going on about the releasing of news on the Rufous-tailed Robin on Birdforum. I have hardly read any of it, as don't have the time right now. I have heard several things, which if true are very sad indeed. BUT I am not going to say on here what, OR state my opinion for the reasons below.

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The last time I stated my opinion about a rare bird on my blog, (how dare I write my opinion on my own blog!!!) I got ripped apart on a 'private' discussion group (you know who you are) - not only ripped apart, but written about in such a sick way, it made me want to throw up. It was hugely distressing to read, and I was at a complete loss as to why people I had never met, had written such things (I've got a pretty good idea who lit the fire though). The sad thing is - those people don't even know me. They have never met me. What have I ever done to any of these people? Nothing, nothing at all. Remember - everything you write on the net is public, absolutely everything. Several people informed me of what was being written including a female I know, (was surprised she was on such a group, but each to their own). To those people - I was going to send you all a message/email personally to ask you why?, but as I know you all read my blog, it was less effort on my part, to write here for you all to read on mass. Oh and don't worry I won't ever name 'names' publicly - not my style. Just imagine for a moment, that those words had been written about YOUR wife, girlfriend, sister or daughter - how would you feel? Angry, yep - bit of a understatement, the word 'angry' don't you think?!!! Please feel free to apologise by email - lets see if any of you are man enough to do this. If you don't think you should apologise, then please seek help immediately.

UPDATE: I have received two emails on 17/10 so far.

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RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN TWITCH - Round 2
Parked up at Stiffkey Campsite carpark pre dawn and walked along the coastal footpath with torch!!! It was absolutely freezing and I decided I must be completely bonkers, walking in the pitch black alone, to attempt to see a first for Britain that more than probably wouldn't be there now anyway. It had been a clear night, which was good for the bird, but not good for anyone else! It killed me to get up so early on very little sleep, but I was determined to be there first thing this morning. I arrived at the end of Garden Drove (Eddie joined me later). A sensible organised search was carried out first, with two people walking down either side of the field and three people along the main path and then everyone searched, but alas no sign of the bird. Huge thanks to LGRE (just read his website) who organised the masses etc on site. It was nice to see "Big Jake" and his wife here! Exciting news came through of a Red-flanked Bluetail at Holme Bird Observatory and also a Bluethroat at Stiffkey Fen!!! We decided to give up seeing all these birds to find our own!

EAST HILLS
with Eddie, Simon C. and James G. - 12pm
2 Lapland Buntings on the way out. Few blackbirds, 3 male and 1 fem. Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, robins, linnets, goldfinches, wrens, goldcrests. Nowhere near as much action as our last visit. Highlight of the day was a Short-eared Owl just as we were leaving. James Mc. Had a YBW but we didn"t see it. It seemed to take forever to walk back - it's been a long day!!!

Also in Norfolk today was a Radde"s Warbler ringed at Weybourne, a Ring Ouzel and Black Redstart at Holme and several Richard Pipits along the coast.

PICTURES TO BE ADDED

RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN!!!!!!

MEGA!!!! OMG!!!!!!
RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN !!!!!!!!!!

Found by Rob Martin along with James McCallum - see account here

FIRST FOR MAINLAND BRITAIN

First one being on Fair Isle 23rd October 2004

Initial news was that the bird was on East Hills, but found out later that it was actually along the west track at Warham - very sadly too late for many local birders.

Eddie and I were at Holme where I had just found a stunning male Black Redstart in the NWT Forestry at 5pm - sorry Gary - only a few nano seconds over closing time! I was just attempting to photograph it, when Eddie shouted across 'we need to go Pen - there's a Rufous-tailed Robin at East Hills' - I could hardly take in what he was saying, 'a what?' I shouted back. I ran across to join him to read those words on the pager as if in disbelief! Yep there was the MEGA message clearly on the pager at 5.05pm - "MEGA Norfolk RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN north of Wells at East Hills this a'noon. Access details to follow" - OMG!!!! Our excitement quickly faded as we worked out that we could probably just about get out to East Hills, but most definately wouldn't be able to get back with the tide, so we dismissed any ideas about racing off. I sulked and said s*d it, we'll find something good here. I proceeded to attempt to photograph the Black Redstart. Eddie had walked off up another path. We had intended on going to the observatory after this (open to members to sunset) - who knows, we might, just might, have discovered the newly arrived Red-flanked Bluetail caught the following morning! Anyway at 5.22pm (2 minutes after the second pager message, which Eddie missed as his pager is borrowed from someone and its on silent mode and we can't get it to bleep!) a friend rang us to alert us to this second message and that it wasn't on East Hills and that it was somewhere on the west track!!!!!!!! I could not believe it!!!!!

We ran and ran - it half killed us to run from where we were to my car. Neither did it do my car any good, belting down the bumpy Firs Road. Flew along the coast road as fast as I could get away with and flew up the west track, right up to the concrete pad - got the last space. I don't actually know what time we got there, as didn't look at my watch. I ran down the field to stand with several other Norfolk birders - some looked pleased and some looked massively sad/p*ssed off. The third and correct location pager message came out at 5.31pm (26 minutes later than the first message). In the now diminishing light, several people said 'there it goes' as I watched a short tailed, small bird in silhouette fly from one tree to the other side of the track into another tree. Can't really tick a bird with those views, can you?! If only we had been able to get there earlier!!! I am not saying we would have seen it, but it would have certainly increased our chances!

It's going to be crazy in the morning!! !!!!!!!!!

Rare Moth in Norfolk!!!

My father Peter Clarke trapped a Hymenia Recurvalis - Pyralid Moth this morning at Holme-next-Sea!!!!! He was very excited and it really cheered him up. I was commissioned to take photos to put on my blog!!!!

This moth is a FIRST for Norfolk!

PICTURES TO BE ADDED AND FURTHER WRITE UP SOON!

Also photographed by Peter Tilley http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=14040&photoid=1318591329

50 Short-eared Owls in off the sea at Titchwell!!!

50 Short eared Owls!!!!!!!!!!! between 1.30-4.30pm.

This has got to be a record of some sorts surely!!!

See: http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2262930&postcount=13451

East Hills!!!

Treated myself to a new pair of 'Le Chameau' wellingtons from a large country walking shop at Hardwick Industrial Estate in King's Lynn. I hate wellingtons, they are horrible to walk in, but I needed to find a good fitting pair of wellies that didn't come off when i jump creeks and find myself in quick sand!! These new wellingtons are the rolls royce of wellies!

Drove to Warham to meet up with Eddie to walk East Hills at 11am.

Eddie had watched a Grey Grey Shrike fly in off the sea at Coastguards Cley this morning at around 9am and land on the beach momentarily and then flew across to the fence on the Eye Field. Wish I had seen this - what an amazing sight!

Anyway - the first bird found was a Yellow-browed Warbler at 11am in the oak tree next to the concrete pad (west track) Warham right next to our cars! Managed to get a photo, but a crap one as the light was awful and it was moving around continuously at the top of the oak tree.

With my new wellies on, we set out for East Hills. The walk out was exciting and we hoped to find a mega. 2 Lapland Buntings flew over on the way out. Greenshank calling overhead. My mother phoned me to say that whilst looking through her diaries last night that 'October 13th was a classic day for great grey shrikes' - how right she was - several turned up!!! Eddie found a dead barn owl which had been there a while looking at it. Several thrushes started appearing including blackbirds, song thrushes, redwings and fieldfares. The further we walked towards the east end, the more thrushes scattered from pines and brambles everywhere - there were tons! 4 Grey herons flew high west. A good selection of birds, certainly alot more than our last visit out here. We flushed a Woodcock, at the west end which was a nice surprise, 2 Bramblings, 2 Chiffchaffs, loads of Goldcrests, wrens, chaffinches, robins, meadow pipits. Whilst eating lunch we had close, but brief views of a ring tail Hen Harrier. After lunch we walked back and found several more fieldfares and again more thrushes feasting on blackberries. We looked in the sycamores again, but nothing exciting was found, not even a YBW out here! News of Red-flanked Bluetails in Suffolk and other counties spurred us to look harder! Met up with Stuart W. who gripped us off with two Short-eared Owls and also a Long eared Owl - so envious of the LEO! Meeting up with Stuart again a bit later, he had also seen a redstart. Stuart was approx 45 minutues after us - we should have gone out a bit later! I saw a Merlin flying on the seaward side of the dunes. Loads of goldcrests in the pines at the east end as we left.

We could not believe news coming out from Titchwell RSPB '19 Short-eared Owls in off sea' - it was almost unbelievable - news kept coming and the number of Short eared Owls being seen kept climbing, totalling 50 - yes 50 Short-eared Owls!!!!!!!!!!! between 1.30-4.30pm - this has got to be a record of some sorts surely!!!

1 Lapland Bunting on the way back, a few meadow pipits, but little else of note really.

Few Goldcrests in the oak tree by the concrete pad, but no sign of the yellow-browed warbler we had seen earlier.

Roll on tomorrow!!!


GENERAL BIRD NEWS IN NORFOLK
Main birds of the day were Yellow-browed warblers, Grey grey Shrikes and Short-eared Owls all over Norfolk! Too many places to mention!!! 2 long-eared owls, Richard's Pipit, a Firecrest, a Black Tern, grey phalarope, lapland buntings, ring ouzels, crossbills, bramblings, tree pipits, yellowhammers, water pipit and the list goes on! Good selection at Holme Bird Observatory today.

SUFFOLK HIGHLIGHTS included an ISABELLINE WHEATEAR at North Denes, Lowestoft see here, RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL at Minsmere. RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL and a LITTLE BUNTING at Orford Ness.

PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED

Weather for the next few days

http://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:00000.8.03487

Awesome Eagle Owl Video!!!

Found this on David Lindo's 'Wall' on FACEBOOK.

EAGLE OWL reported!!!

EAGLE OWL reported between Titchwell RSPB and Brancaster flew in off sea towards Titchwell Church at 12.45pm!!!! (RBA)

This would be FANTASTIC if it was - my cynical nature says it was probably a short-eared owl, but lets wait and see!

3.05pm - I just phoned Titchwell RSPB who did not know anything about it! I will await news "eagerly" whilst editing photos!!!!!

Discussion here: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2262334#post2262334