Winds of 165 mph were recorded today in Scotland, only 8 mph off the UK record!!!
A wind turbine spins so fast that it catches fire!!! - see picture here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/8943507/Parts-of-Britain-are-battered-by-gale-force-winds-and-storms.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16079849
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/08/uk-britain-weather-scotland-idUKTRE7B71H920111208
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Monday, 5 December 2011
Eight Snowy Owls!!!
This stunning picture was highlighted on Birdforum: and see: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1122515
I would love to see a Snowy Owl – one of my dream birds to see – one day!
Also see: http://host.madison.com/news/local/environment/378fab8e-1c8c-11e1-9d46-001871e3ce6c.html
with news of 'A rare sight: More than 100 Snowy Owls seen across Wisconsin'
No birding on Sunday sadly as hard at work doing a double 11 hour shift. Keep falling asleep as I write this! Early night this evening I think! My house seemed chilly when I walked in the door tonight and the heating is on!
The WESTERN SANDPIPER remains in Cley today.
I would love to see a Snowy Owl – one of my dream birds to see – one day!
Also see: http://host.madison.com/news/local/environment/378fab8e-1c8c-11e1-9d46-001871e3ce6c.html
with news of 'A rare sight: More than 100 Snowy Owls seen across Wisconsin'
No birding on Sunday sadly as hard at work doing a double 11 hour shift. Keep falling asleep as I write this! Early night this evening I think! My house seemed chilly when I walked in the door tonight and the heating is on!
The WESTERN SANDPIPER remains in Cley today.
Saturday, 3 December 2011
WESTERN SANDPIPER - MEGA - My First!!!
1 Western Sandpiper, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Green-winged Teal, 40 Barnacle Geese and a Ginger & Pear Cake slice for me!!!
Wow – What a Day!!!
WESTERN SANDPIPER - CLEY NWT
There was an unusual amount of traffic on the road this morning as I made my way to Cley in the dark - arrived in the NWT carpark just after 8am. Good to see someone checking membership cards! I could have parked on the 'triangle' at the bottom of 'Old Woman's Lane' but changed my mind after phoning Eddie, who saw the bird fly from Dauke's Hide towards Bishop's Hide. Also the sun was about to come out, so Bishop's Hide most definately looked the best bet as the sun would be behind the bird. Power walked to Bishop's Hide and Eddie walked in the hide with G. Etherington shortly after me. Annoyingly the Western Sandpiper had flown back to 'Simmond's Scrape' - typical! As I sat in the hide I could see loads of birders in 'Teal', 'Dauke's' and 'Avocet' hide with scopes and bins all looking in the same direction, almost jostling for space - this scene reminded me of Steve Gantlett's picture (might have been Sue's actually?) of the all the birders packed into the hides like sardines in a can, when watching the Great Snipe in May this year!!! The Western Sandpiper was most definately somewhere on 'Simmond's Scrape', but I couldn't see it from Bishop's! A Water Rail was seen fairly close to the hide and also a Sparrowhawk flew across. Quite a few Avocets, loads of Golden Plover, a pair of Pintail, teal, wigeon etc. I stubbornly stayed in the hide, hoping the Western Sandpiper would return as there were only a few people here - I just didn't fancy being jam packed into a hide. But as time went on and Connor kindly informed me a couple of times, that it was still showing from Dauke's, I gave in and power walked round to Dauke's hide with Eddie! Had fabulous views through Eddie's scope of my first WESTERN SANDPIPER at 9.30am!!! Not long after this, the bird was flushed with dunlin by a marsh harrier and flew off to the other side of 'Teal Hide' on 'Pat's Pool'! It was rubbish for photography - I only ever saw the bird distantly - well, cracking views through the scope, but a smudgy dot through my 300mm lens and there was no point in even bothering putting the teleconverter on at that distance. Went back to 'Bishop's Hide' again and had fabulous views of the Green-winged Teal in the sunshine! Eddie left before me for his VC cup of tea! I waited for a while longer in case the sandpiper appeared - it didn't! A Cetti's Warbler burst into a few melodious notes as I left the hide and walked back along the path to the visitor centre. It was nice and warm in the visitor centre. I ate my cheese scone alone - it was scrumptious!
One of the most boring lunches ever - a cheese and cranberry roll and cup of semi hot soup standing outside my car.
Cley Coastguards
Not too bad a seawatch really - the best bird being a juv. Sandwich Tern which I photographed flying west, as I stood at the water's edge photographing a juv. gannet on the sea and a guillemot! Other birds seen: A Shag on the sea, 1 Little Gull going west, a few Goldeneyes flying west, a couple of Red-throated Divers, several Gannets, a few Guillemots and auk sp's, and several flocks of Common Scoter. Note: the Sandwich Tern was seen by several people over the course of the day.
Sandwich Tern, Coastguards, Cley.
Dauke's Hide NWT
Spent the rest of the afternoon here, in hope that I might actually got a half decent photo of the Western Sandpiper - no chance!!! Watched the Western Sandpiper on and off up to 3.45pm – it was nearly always distant, feeding along with dunlin. It tended to feed in a hurried manner and nearly always with beak down, probing for food as it moved. It moved around in a scampering fashion in half circles and was quite flighty at times. It was easy to pick out, as much smaller than the dunlins. It was quite fiesty too - almost butting a dunlin out of the way when it barged in too close! It tended to favour the far left hand corner of 'Simmond's Scrape'. I managed a very poor record shot only. A Merlin appeared on the island in front of 'North Hide' which looked beautiful in the orangy glow, as the sun started to set at 3.30pm. A Water Rail was seen and heard right in front of the hide along with all the usual waders on the scrape: teal, wigeon, shelduck, avocets, godwits, black headed gulls, huge numbers of golden plover etc etc. A fantastic surprise of 40 Barnacle Geese flew over 'Pat's Pool' and landed on 'North Scrape' at dusk!!! Fantastic end to the day. Stopped at the Picnic Fayre in Cley and bought a scrummy piece of Ginger and Pear Cake! Consumed lots of healthy food today!!!!!
Bought vege burger and chips from my favourite Holt fish 'n' chip shop, drove home and ate them watching the X-Factor Semi Final.
Note: Some of the best pictures I have seen so far of the Western Sandpiper are here
MORE PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Wow – What a Day!!!
WESTERN SANDPIPER - CLEY NWT
There was an unusual amount of traffic on the road this morning as I made my way to Cley in the dark - arrived in the NWT carpark just after 8am. Good to see someone checking membership cards! I could have parked on the 'triangle' at the bottom of 'Old Woman's Lane' but changed my mind after phoning Eddie, who saw the bird fly from Dauke's Hide towards Bishop's Hide. Also the sun was about to come out, so Bishop's Hide most definately looked the best bet as the sun would be behind the bird. Power walked to Bishop's Hide and Eddie walked in the hide with G. Etherington shortly after me. Annoyingly the Western Sandpiper had flown back to 'Simmond's Scrape' - typical! As I sat in the hide I could see loads of birders in 'Teal', 'Dauke's' and 'Avocet' hide with scopes and bins all looking in the same direction, almost jostling for space - this scene reminded me of Steve Gantlett's picture (might have been Sue's actually?) of the all the birders packed into the hides like sardines in a can, when watching the Great Snipe in May this year!!! The Western Sandpiper was most definately somewhere on 'Simmond's Scrape', but I couldn't see it from Bishop's! A Water Rail was seen fairly close to the hide and also a Sparrowhawk flew across. Quite a few Avocets, loads of Golden Plover, a pair of Pintail, teal, wigeon etc. I stubbornly stayed in the hide, hoping the Western Sandpiper would return as there were only a few people here - I just didn't fancy being jam packed into a hide. But as time went on and Connor kindly informed me a couple of times, that it was still showing from Dauke's, I gave in and power walked round to Dauke's hide with Eddie! Had fabulous views through Eddie's scope of my first WESTERN SANDPIPER at 9.30am!!! Not long after this, the bird was flushed with dunlin by a marsh harrier and flew off to the other side of 'Teal Hide' on 'Pat's Pool'! It was rubbish for photography - I only ever saw the bird distantly - well, cracking views through the scope, but a smudgy dot through my 300mm lens and there was no point in even bothering putting the teleconverter on at that distance. Went back to 'Bishop's Hide' again and had fabulous views of the Green-winged Teal in the sunshine! Eddie left before me for his VC cup of tea! I waited for a while longer in case the sandpiper appeared - it didn't! A Cetti's Warbler burst into a few melodious notes as I left the hide and walked back along the path to the visitor centre. It was nice and warm in the visitor centre. I ate my cheese scone alone - it was scrumptious!
One of the most boring lunches ever - a cheese and cranberry roll and cup of semi hot soup standing outside my car.
Cley Coastguards
Not too bad a seawatch really - the best bird being a juv. Sandwich Tern which I photographed flying west, as I stood at the water's edge photographing a juv. gannet on the sea and a guillemot! Other birds seen: A Shag on the sea, 1 Little Gull going west, a few Goldeneyes flying west, a couple of Red-throated Divers, several Gannets, a few Guillemots and auk sp's, and several flocks of Common Scoter. Note: the Sandwich Tern was seen by several people over the course of the day.
Sandwich Tern, Coastguards, Cley.Dauke's Hide NWT
Spent the rest of the afternoon here, in hope that I might actually got a half decent photo of the Western Sandpiper - no chance!!! Watched the Western Sandpiper on and off up to 3.45pm – it was nearly always distant, feeding along with dunlin. It tended to feed in a hurried manner and nearly always with beak down, probing for food as it moved. It moved around in a scampering fashion in half circles and was quite flighty at times. It was easy to pick out, as much smaller than the dunlins. It was quite fiesty too - almost butting a dunlin out of the way when it barged in too close! It tended to favour the far left hand corner of 'Simmond's Scrape'. I managed a very poor record shot only. A Merlin appeared on the island in front of 'North Hide' which looked beautiful in the orangy glow, as the sun started to set at 3.30pm. A Water Rail was seen and heard right in front of the hide along with all the usual waders on the scrape: teal, wigeon, shelduck, avocets, godwits, black headed gulls, huge numbers of golden plover etc etc. A fantastic surprise of 40 Barnacle Geese flew over 'Pat's Pool' and landed on 'North Scrape' at dusk!!! Fantastic end to the day. Stopped at the Picnic Fayre in Cley and bought a scrummy piece of Ginger and Pear Cake! Consumed lots of healthy food today!!!!!
Bought vege burger and chips from my favourite Holt fish 'n' chip shop, drove home and ate them watching the X-Factor Semi Final.
Note: Some of the best pictures I have seen so far of the Western Sandpiper are here
MORE PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Thursday, 1 December 2011
MEGA - WESTERN SANDPIPER!!!
The Semipalmated Sandpiper that was found in Cley on Monday has now been re-identified as a WESTERN SANDPIPER which is a first for Norfolk!!!
Lets hope it doesn't do a Friday night bunk, which is what has happened several times this year with rare birds! Although I am not really looking forward to cramming into a hide first thing Saturday morning! Lets also hope that permits will be issued to all people that are not NWT members.
See discussions and pictures here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348&page=572
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=217441
http://www.birdingworld.co.uk/Cley%202011.1.htm
Lets hope it doesn't do a Friday night bunk, which is what has happened several times this year with rare birds! Although I am not really looking forward to cramming into a hide first thing Saturday morning! Lets also hope that permits will be issued to all people that are not NWT members.
See discussions and pictures here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348&page=572
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=217441
http://www.birdingworld.co.uk/Cley%202011.1.htm
Monday, 28 November 2011
BIRDFORUM steals the Number One Spot!
Birdforum have stolen the Number One spot in the 'Fat Birder's Top 500 Ranking' - see here. Will I ever get there? Ha ha - maybe, possibly, well actually no, never. Does it matter anyway? No. Of course it matters!!!!!! Now, maybe if I posted something raunchy - hmmmm......... Being serious now, the highest I ever got in the 'rankings' was 20 something or other, when I was amongst the first to post pictures of James McCallum's Alder Flycatcher on Blakeney Point.
Birdforum was actually the reason I started my blog. I used to post my sightings on the Norfolk thread and had a habit of waffling on about other stuff - how dare I!!!!! A few members complained about me 'going off thread' and 'what had that got to do with the Norfolk thread' - fair enough, so I decided to start my own blog, so I could waffle as much as I liked, about anything I liked and when I liked and no one could stop me!!!! I soon realised what fun it was to have an on line diary. I still post on Birdforum - its a fabulous site and certainly the best place for reading all the latest up to the minute info on a rare bird - you need to join the site to see the rare birds thread though, but its free to join. The only real downside to keeping up a blog is the massive amount of time spent sorting, choosing, editing and adding pictures!!! I do wish I was paid though, that would be great! I spend a huge amount of time writing posts sometimes and then realise I actually should have been in bed hours ago! On that note, goodnight!
Birdforum was actually the reason I started my blog. I used to post my sightings on the Norfolk thread and had a habit of waffling on about other stuff - how dare I!!!!! A few members complained about me 'going off thread' and 'what had that got to do with the Norfolk thread' - fair enough, so I decided to start my own blog, so I could waffle as much as I liked, about anything I liked and when I liked and no one could stop me!!!! I soon realised what fun it was to have an on line diary. I still post on Birdforum - its a fabulous site and certainly the best place for reading all the latest up to the minute info on a rare bird - you need to join the site to see the rare birds thread though, but its free to join. The only real downside to keeping up a blog is the massive amount of time spent sorting, choosing, editing and adding pictures!!! I do wish I was paid though, that would be great! I spend a huge amount of time writing posts sometimes and then realise I actually should have been in bed hours ago! On that note, goodnight!
Semipalmated Sandpiper at Cley!!!
Congratulations to Mark Golley who found the SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER today at Cley!!
Update - see 1st December post, now ID'd as a WESTERN SANDPIPER.
Didn't even know about this until late this evening as I had my phone switched off all day and had to fly to Barclays at lunch time, when I normally look on the RBA website via my iphone. Its good to see another good bird turning up in Norfolk! Also a Hume's Yellow browed Warbler was caught and rung at Holme Bird Observatory today.
Whilst chatting to my parents this evening and telling them about Mark's find, father told me that he had found the first Semipalmated Sandpiper for Britain and Europe at Cley in July 1953 (19th-24th).
See pictures and discussion about being a possible Western Sandpiper here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=217239
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348&page=571
Update - see 1st December post, now ID'd as a WESTERN SANDPIPER.
Didn't even know about this until late this evening as I had my phone switched off all day and had to fly to Barclays at lunch time, when I normally look on the RBA website via my iphone. Its good to see another good bird turning up in Norfolk! Also a Hume's Yellow browed Warbler was caught and rung at Holme Bird Observatory today.
Whilst chatting to my parents this evening and telling them about Mark's find, father told me that he had found the first Semipalmated Sandpiper for Britain and Europe at Cley in July 1953 (19th-24th).
See pictures and discussion about being a possible Western Sandpiper here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=217239
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348&page=571
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Lazy Day!
After a stressful end on Friday to a manic week at work, I drove to Barclays through the typical Friday night traffic to pay some urgent bills. I had just made it in time, or so I thought. As the second hand on my watch was just ticking towards the closing time of 5pm, I sprinted across the Tuesday Market Place and rushed through the doors like a whirlwind - I was horrified to find loads of workmen in the store and no staff! I just stood there aghast - one of the workmen explained that the branch had closed and a new one in the high street would be opening on Monday - bl**dy great!
I decided not to get up early on Saturday morning. I had a very late breakfast and then went to Currys to look at ovens - my oven is so old, its probably older then me and its basically had it, yep that's me aswell! I looked and realised I couldn't afford to buy one anyway. The new store "The Range" on Hardwick Industrial Estate is creating massive traffic problems - it took me ages to get out of the estate.
I was going to stay at home today, to do loads of jobs and with my yearly appraisal coming up in two weeks, I really should be doing some case studies, but decided I couldn't possibly stay in, especially being as I am working tomorrow. So I escaped, like a rebellious teenager!
The car made its way along the A149 and I ended up at Cley - surprise, surprise! Silly really as I didn't get there until mid afternoon. Popped into the visitor centre and noticed that "The Birdwatcher's Yearbook 2012" has been published and I have been plugged!!!!! In the 'Blog' section, where only three blogs have been listed - an excerpt from this read '......the best blog I've seen written by a woman.......' - well, thank you very much!!!! Although, I certainly wouldn't describe my blog as that - my only criticism is that my name has been spelt wrong, but hey ho! It would be a whole lot better if I got round to sorting out all photographs taken since July and actual add them to the blog - IT WILL BE DONE!
Joined Eddie in Bishop's Hide to watch a distant Green-winged Teal asleep - awesome views - ha ha!!! A robin was hopping along the path to the hide and two mute swans were in the dyke. A few marsh harriers were cruising over the reedbeds, wavering in the increasing winds.
Got my sea fix at Coastguards, even though I saw very little. A few gannets, kittiwakes, a guillemot, a razorbill and a pied wagtail were the only birds I saw. There were a really weird bunch of people standing in the side of the shelter, all lighting tealights one by one and as each tealight was lit, someone shouted 'fire'. The amusing thing was that I heard a couple of them question what we were doing with our telescopes, 'they are watching wildlife I think', exclaimed one of them!!!! I saw our behaviour quite normal in comparison!!! There were loads of Brent Geese on the Eye Field close to Beach Road and later on they took off and flew towards Blakeney Point against pink and grey, moody skies.
Drove back to King's Lynn and spent some of my evening watching X-Factor - 'Misha B' IS the X-Factor, second choice 'Little Mix' and third choice 'Marcus'.
I decided not to get up early on Saturday morning. I had a very late breakfast and then went to Currys to look at ovens - my oven is so old, its probably older then me and its basically had it, yep that's me aswell! I looked and realised I couldn't afford to buy one anyway. The new store "The Range" on Hardwick Industrial Estate is creating massive traffic problems - it took me ages to get out of the estate.
I was going to stay at home today, to do loads of jobs and with my yearly appraisal coming up in two weeks, I really should be doing some case studies, but decided I couldn't possibly stay in, especially being as I am working tomorrow. So I escaped, like a rebellious teenager!
The car made its way along the A149 and I ended up at Cley - surprise, surprise! Silly really as I didn't get there until mid afternoon. Popped into the visitor centre and noticed that "The Birdwatcher's Yearbook 2012" has been published and I have been plugged!!!!! In the 'Blog' section, where only three blogs have been listed - an excerpt from this read '......the best blog I've seen written by a woman.......' - well, thank you very much!!!! Although, I certainly wouldn't describe my blog as that - my only criticism is that my name has been spelt wrong, but hey ho! It would be a whole lot better if I got round to sorting out all photographs taken since July and actual add them to the blog - IT WILL BE DONE!
Joined Eddie in Bishop's Hide to watch a distant Green-winged Teal asleep - awesome views - ha ha!!! A robin was hopping along the path to the hide and two mute swans were in the dyke. A few marsh harriers were cruising over the reedbeds, wavering in the increasing winds.
Got my sea fix at Coastguards, even though I saw very little. A few gannets, kittiwakes, a guillemot, a razorbill and a pied wagtail were the only birds I saw. There were a really weird bunch of people standing in the side of the shelter, all lighting tealights one by one and as each tealight was lit, someone shouted 'fire'. The amusing thing was that I heard a couple of them question what we were doing with our telescopes, 'they are watching wildlife I think', exclaimed one of them!!!! I saw our behaviour quite normal in comparison!!! There were loads of Brent Geese on the Eye Field close to Beach Road and later on they took off and flew towards Blakeney Point against pink and grey, moody skies.
Drove back to King's Lynn and spent some of my evening watching X-Factor - 'Misha B' IS the X-Factor, second choice 'Little Mix' and third choice 'Marcus'.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Nature Notes - Lifestyle and Leisure News - Lynn News
My father's monthly nature notes 'on line' picture is not represented by his recent 'First for Norfolk' Moth!
http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestyle-and-leisure-news/nature_notes_1_3262475
See: http://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/rare-moth-in-norfolk.html
http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestyle-and-leisure-news/nature_notes_1_3262475
See: http://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/rare-moth-in-norfolk.html
A Summer's Day!
This morning was beautiful, sunny and clear blue skies – common darters were seen, bees were buzzing, wasps were sitting on alexander heads, the sun was beaming down and its November!
Holme Marsh Reserve
From the first hide, there was little of note apart from a Pochard, a Heron sitting on the far bank and several Woodpigeons. Lots of blackbirds around this morning and a Song Thrush and Common Darter was seen. 4 Bullfinches were seen in the hawthorns just before the second hide and a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. From the second hide, 2 marsh harriers were seen and distant views of a Bittern flying over the marsh. Met two of my blog readers - nice to meet you both and thanks! Along the public footpath next to the carpark we saw and heard a Water Rail and another Cetti's Warbler.
Titchwell RSPB
Watched and photographed (badly!) the Yellow-browed Warbler in the picnic area as soon as we arrived. Walked around the Fen Trail via the main path. Had wonderful views of both male and female Siskins feeding on catkins at the beginning of the main path. Around the Fen Trail we saw a Cetti's Warbler which I managed to get a photo of (just!) before it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared and also a Common Darter sunning itself on a reed stem. Had a quick hot snack at the Feeding Station and then had to leave by 12.30pm to go to work and had to leave Eddie to carry on birding without me!!!! Torture!
I drove home via Choseley and saw a Marsh Harrier near the barns and about 15 Red-legged Partridges were close to the edge of the road in the field further along the road.
Please see: here and scroll to the bottom of post for 'Udate' on a confirmed Greenland White-fronted Goose that I saw and photographed.
See latest on the Eyebrowed Thrush including a street name now! https://twitter.com/#!/TillSmith and also discussion here on: BIRDFORUM
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
Holme Marsh Reserve
From the first hide, there was little of note apart from a Pochard, a Heron sitting on the far bank and several Woodpigeons. Lots of blackbirds around this morning and a Song Thrush and Common Darter was seen. 4 Bullfinches were seen in the hawthorns just before the second hide and a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. From the second hide, 2 marsh harriers were seen and distant views of a Bittern flying over the marsh. Met two of my blog readers - nice to meet you both and thanks! Along the public footpath next to the carpark we saw and heard a Water Rail and another Cetti's Warbler.
Titchwell RSPB
Watched and photographed (badly!) the Yellow-browed Warbler in the picnic area as soon as we arrived. Walked around the Fen Trail via the main path. Had wonderful views of both male and female Siskins feeding on catkins at the beginning of the main path. Around the Fen Trail we saw a Cetti's Warbler which I managed to get a photo of (just!) before it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared and also a Common Darter sunning itself on a reed stem. Had a quick hot snack at the Feeding Station and then had to leave by 12.30pm to go to work and had to leave Eddie to carry on birding without me!!!! Torture!
I drove home via Choseley and saw a Marsh Harrier near the barns and about 15 Red-legged Partridges were close to the edge of the road in the field further along the road.
Please see: here and scroll to the bottom of post for 'Udate' on a confirmed Greenland White-fronted Goose that I saw and photographed.
See latest on the Eyebrowed Thrush including a street name now! https://twitter.com/#!/TillSmith and also discussion here on: BIRDFORUM
PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE ADDED
Saturday, 19 November 2011
We couldn't raise the Eyebrow!!!
Hunstanton Cliffs
A beautiful sunny morning, but very cold. Arrived at St Edmunds Chapel by the lighthouse at Hunstanton and walked along the cliff top and the public footpath that runs past the 'Le Strange Arms Hotel' and through Old Hunstanton Golf course and almost to Holme. Very few birds in the lighthouse garden itself, the usual house sparrows and a blackbird on the wall. Walked past the lifeboat station and through to the wooden chalets on the sandy cliff and continued on through the beach huts and way beyond. Saw a distant Stonechat, a large flock of linnets and greenfinches, a few song thrushes and blackbirds and that was about it! Walked back along the beach and photographed an obliging turnstone. Also bumped into a couple who live locally and told us that they had had awesome views a couple of days ago of the escaped Red Bishop sitting on sea buckthorn and then flying past them, back over the beach huts towards Hunstanton! Back at the pine tree copse by the cliff carpark we had a Red Admiral and a Comma Butterfly which made it feel like a summer's day!
Stood at the lighthouse at 11.25am seawatching and saw the following: 2 Velvet Scoters, 2 Slavonian Grebes, loads of Red-breasted Mergansers (didn't count them today as they were dotted all over the sea!), 8 Eider, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Gannets and lots of Little Gulls and also the usual Fulmars.
Lunch stop and then went to the Ski Ramp at Hunstanton to look for Purple Sandpipers, but no luck. Loads of turnstones feeding on 'The Green' at Hunstanton by the Golden Lion Hotel.
Cruised round some of the roads around the lighthouse area looking for the Eyebrowed Thrush. We found out the Eagle Owl is still about in the area! On the pitch 'n' putt by the lighthouse I counted 56 Oystercatchers along with curlews and black-headed gulls which were all scattered by a Sparrowhawk that bolted through them and across the road.
Titchwell RSPB
Fantastic views of the Yellow-browed Warbler in the picnic area, but no photographs obtained, but a robin posed very cutely for pictures! Along the main trail a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were on the fresh lagoon along with thousands of Golden Plover and Eddie also noted one with a white head. A Stonechat sat distantly on a bush out on the marsh and 2 ring tailed Hen Harriers were seen along with 5 Marsh Harriers.
I am removing all twitter information from my posts about the Eyebrowed Thrush as its looks messy on my blog I have decided!!!!!
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
A beautiful sunny morning, but very cold. Arrived at St Edmunds Chapel by the lighthouse at Hunstanton and walked along the cliff top and the public footpath that runs past the 'Le Strange Arms Hotel' and through Old Hunstanton Golf course and almost to Holme. Very few birds in the lighthouse garden itself, the usual house sparrows and a blackbird on the wall. Walked past the lifeboat station and through to the wooden chalets on the sandy cliff and continued on through the beach huts and way beyond. Saw a distant Stonechat, a large flock of linnets and greenfinches, a few song thrushes and blackbirds and that was about it! Walked back along the beach and photographed an obliging turnstone. Also bumped into a couple who live locally and told us that they had had awesome views a couple of days ago of the escaped Red Bishop sitting on sea buckthorn and then flying past them, back over the beach huts towards Hunstanton! Back at the pine tree copse by the cliff carpark we had a Red Admiral and a Comma Butterfly which made it feel like a summer's day!
Stood at the lighthouse at 11.25am seawatching and saw the following: 2 Velvet Scoters, 2 Slavonian Grebes, loads of Red-breasted Mergansers (didn't count them today as they were dotted all over the sea!), 8 Eider, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Red-throated Divers, 3 Gannets and lots of Little Gulls and also the usual Fulmars.
Lunch stop and then went to the Ski Ramp at Hunstanton to look for Purple Sandpipers, but no luck. Loads of turnstones feeding on 'The Green' at Hunstanton by the Golden Lion Hotel.
Cruised round some of the roads around the lighthouse area looking for the Eyebrowed Thrush. We found out the Eagle Owl is still about in the area! On the pitch 'n' putt by the lighthouse I counted 56 Oystercatchers along with curlews and black-headed gulls which were all scattered by a Sparrowhawk that bolted through them and across the road.
Titchwell RSPB
Fantastic views of the Yellow-browed Warbler in the picnic area, but no photographs obtained, but a robin posed very cutely for pictures! Along the main trail a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were on the fresh lagoon along with thousands of Golden Plover and Eddie also noted one with a white head. A Stonechat sat distantly on a bush out on the marsh and 2 ring tailed Hen Harriers were seen along with 5 Marsh Harriers.
I am removing all twitter information from my posts about the Eyebrowed Thrush as its looks messy on my blog I have decided!!!!!
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Friday, 18 November 2011
Autumnwatch
Nice to see Bill Oddie on Autumnwatch this evening. Bring back Bill and remove Martin Hughes-Games!!!!
No Sign of Louise"s Mega!!!!
No exciting birds at the hospital this morning I"m afraid. Was there from first light with meal worms, seed and apples!!!!
No sign of the bird at all - had another look at lunchtime and Louise didn't see the bird again either. Very disappointing, another one that got away.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
No sign of the bird at all - had another look at lunchtime and Louise didn't see the bird again either. Very disappointing, another one that got away.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Eyebrowed Thrush in Hunstanton
According to TillSmith on Twitter the Eyebrowed Thrush is still being seen in the garden in Hunstanton today both at lunch time and in the afternoon!! I know where I am going to be on Saturday morning!!!!
If the bird is being seen most days then please ask the owners to take some pictures and post to us all – would love to see some more poses please? If they haven't got a good enough camera to improve on the last picture – I would be more than happy to come and take an nice sharp photo of it!!! I am available to take pictures on Saturday! Please email me via my blog!
https://twitter.com/#!/TillSmith
If the bird is being seen most days then please ask the owners to take some pictures and post to us all – would love to see some more poses please? If they haven't got a good enough camera to improve on the last picture – I would be more than happy to come and take an nice sharp photo of it!!! I am available to take pictures on Saturday! Please email me via my blog!
https://twitter.com/#!/TillSmith
MEGA in King's Lynn?
The one that got away?
Two of my work colleagues saw a VERY, VERY interesting bird this morning in King's Lynn - they described it as 'black, white and blue' - 'a very striking, pretty little bird' the 'steely blue grey colour was on the back of the bird' and the rest of the bird was black and white, but the black and white was 'more prominent on the sides on the bird'. They are not birdwatchers, but know enough to know that it wasn't any of the common birds that I listed/showed them pictures of. It was a small bird and was seen on the grass by the kerb and also momentarily on a small 2ft wall and also in some lower branches of an oak tree. They described it as around robin(ish) sized. I was naturally VERY excited and flew home lunchtime to get my bins and camera and whizzed back to search for it in my lunch slot, but I could not find the bird anywhere. The only bird that sprang to mind when I asked someone's else advice was a Black-throated Blue Warbler or maybe a Siberian Blue Robin!!!!! Any other more sensible ideas please? Louise (one of the two ladies that saw the bird) has recently bought an iphone 4 and was trying to work out how the zoom worked on the camera to take a picture, but was unable to find this out until later when she did not see the bird again! I am absolutely gutted. I pointed out to Louise that if she had managed to photograph it and it had turned out to be a black throated blue warbler, she and I would have been mega famous - she is now cursing not being able to work the zoom on the camera! I am also cursing her!!!!!!
I will get to the spot at dawn tomorrow which means I will only have about an hour to look before work. Will ring RBA immediately if I find it, if its something good, even though I would be in massive trouble because of where it is - but hey ho, life's too short!!!
Update - 7.15pm - Louise is trying to find the bird she saw on the net and is suggesting 'Black throated Gray Warbler. I have so far come up with Cerulean Warbler and others to match her description...... but she said she is 'sticking with 'Black-throated Gray Warbler'. So I will look VERY hard tomorrow morning!!!!!
I can't cook, rest or do any jobs this evening - this bird is REALLY bugging me massively!!!!!
Two of my work colleagues saw a VERY, VERY interesting bird this morning in King's Lynn - they described it as 'black, white and blue' - 'a very striking, pretty little bird' the 'steely blue grey colour was on the back of the bird' and the rest of the bird was black and white, but the black and white was 'more prominent on the sides on the bird'. They are not birdwatchers, but know enough to know that it wasn't any of the common birds that I listed/showed them pictures of. It was a small bird and was seen on the grass by the kerb and also momentarily on a small 2ft wall and also in some lower branches of an oak tree. They described it as around robin(ish) sized. I was naturally VERY excited and flew home lunchtime to get my bins and camera and whizzed back to search for it in my lunch slot, but I could not find the bird anywhere. The only bird that sprang to mind when I asked someone's else advice was a Black-throated Blue Warbler or maybe a Siberian Blue Robin!!!!! Any other more sensible ideas please? Louise (one of the two ladies that saw the bird) has recently bought an iphone 4 and was trying to work out how the zoom worked on the camera to take a picture, but was unable to find this out until later when she did not see the bird again! I am absolutely gutted. I pointed out to Louise that if she had managed to photograph it and it had turned out to be a black throated blue warbler, she and I would have been mega famous - she is now cursing not being able to work the zoom on the camera! I am also cursing her!!!!!!
I will get to the spot at dawn tomorrow which means I will only have about an hour to look before work. Will ring RBA immediately if I find it, if its something good, even though I would be in massive trouble because of where it is - but hey ho, life's too short!!!
Update - 7.15pm - Louise is trying to find the bird she saw on the net and is suggesting 'Black throated Gray Warbler. I have so far come up with Cerulean Warbler and others to match her description...... but she said she is 'sticking with 'Black-throated Gray Warbler'. So I will look VERY hard tomorrow morning!!!!!
I can't cook, rest or do any jobs this evening - this bird is REALLY bugging me massively!!!!!
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