Main Highlights in Norfolk – RBA
Black-bellied Dipper, Waxwings x 28 at Thetford
Red-crested Pochards at Methwold
Twite x 31 at Titchwell RSPB
Snow Bunting x 25, Purple Sandpiper at Cley
Snow Bunting x 36 at Caister-on-Sea
American Wigeon at Marlingford
Smew x 2 at Ormesby St Margaret
Scaup, Bittern at Barton Broad
Hawfinch x 8 at Lynford Aboretum
HEAVY SNOW FORECAST FOR THIS WEEKEND AND FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS!!!
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Bird News!
Main Highlights in Norfolk – RBA
Little Auk at Hemsby
Rough-legged Buzzard at Hemsby
Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Buckingham Marshes
Lapland Bunting x 2, Snow Bunting x 20, Great Skua, Water Pipit x 3 at Cley
Snow Bunting x 30 at Caister-on-Sea
Snow Bunting x 80, Twite x 30, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier x 2, Bittern at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Smew x 2 at Ormesby St Margaret
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Halvergate Marshes
Hawfinches x 3 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 30 at Salthouse
Snow Buntings x 60 at Holme
Ross's Goose (escape) at Bayfield Hall Lake
Purple Sandpiper between Cley and Salthouse
Little Auk at Hemsby
Rough-legged Buzzard at Hemsby
Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Buckingham Marshes
Lapland Bunting x 2, Snow Bunting x 20, Great Skua, Water Pipit x 3 at Cley
Snow Bunting x 30 at Caister-on-Sea
Snow Bunting x 80, Twite x 30, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier x 2, Bittern at Titchwell RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Smew x 2 at Ormesby St Margaret
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Halvergate Marshes
Hawfinches x 3 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 30 at Salthouse
Snow Buntings x 60 at Holme
Ross's Goose (escape) at Bayfield Hall Lake
Purple Sandpiper between Cley and Salthouse
WEIGHTWATCHERS
WEEK NINE
Lost 2lbs today. Total loss so far 10lbs
With Christmas out of the way, there is no stopping me now!
Lost 2lbs today. Total loss so far 10lbs
With Christmas out of the way, there is no stopping me now!
Time for a change?
It has been so stressful with big changes at work this week, I seriously think its time to look for another job. I didn't turn my computer on after Sunday until late Tuesday night, which is very unusual for me. I've hardly slept at all since Saturday evening and feel massively stressed, exhausted and fed-up. I only wish I could earn the money that I do, working in a residential home or similar which I feel would be very fulfilling. I enjoy tremendously caring for elderly people and trying to make them feel cared for and happy, but the pay is generally diabolical in private care homes. Plan B is to apply for an NHS Band 3 desk job!
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Bird News!
Main Highlights in Norfolk – RBA
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Smew x 2 at Ormesby St Margaret
Hawfinch x 7 at Lynford Aboretum
Ross's Goose, Snow Bunting x 20, Purple Sandpiper x 2 at Cley
Slavonian Grebe, Twite x 27 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Hickling
Rough-legged Buzzard, Snow Bunting x 25, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 3 at Holkham
Lapland Bunting at Holme
Main Highlights in Norfolk for Monday – RBA
Taiga Bean Geese x 100 at Buckingham Marshes
Taiga Bean Geese x 37, Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit at Cantley Marshes
Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Bewick's Swans x 5, Twite x 32, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck x 2, Water Pipit x 2, Red-crested Pochard at Titchwell RSPB
Waxwings x 6 at Norwich
Snow Buntings x 19 at Salthouse
Purple Sandpiper at Cley
Scaup x 9 at Heacham
Hawfinches x 3 at Lynford Aboretum
Common Cranes x 9, Hen Harriers x 2 at Hickling
Waxwing at Holme
Bittern at Felbrigg Hall
Great White Egret at Buckingham Marshes
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Smew x 2 at Ormesby St Margaret
Hawfinch x 7 at Lynford Aboretum
Ross's Goose, Snow Bunting x 20, Purple Sandpiper x 2 at Cley
Slavonian Grebe, Twite x 27 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Hickling
Rough-legged Buzzard, Snow Bunting x 25, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 3 at Holkham
Lapland Bunting at Holme
Main Highlights in Norfolk for Monday – RBA
Taiga Bean Geese x 100 at Buckingham Marshes
Taiga Bean Geese x 37, Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit at Cantley Marshes
Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Bewick's Swans x 5, Twite x 32, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck x 2, Water Pipit x 2, Red-crested Pochard at Titchwell RSPB
Waxwings x 6 at Norwich
Snow Buntings x 19 at Salthouse
Purple Sandpiper at Cley
Scaup x 9 at Heacham
Hawfinches x 3 at Lynford Aboretum
Common Cranes x 9, Hen Harriers x 2 at Hickling
Waxwing at Holme
Bittern at Felbrigg Hall
Great White Egret at Buckingham Marshes
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Bird News!
Main Highlights in Norfolk – RBA
Black-bellied Dipper, Waxwings x 26 at Thetford
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Bunting x 20, Purple Sandpiper, Velvet Scoter x 2 at Cley
Snow Bunting x 5 at Salthouse
Waxwings x 14 at St Olaves
Twite x 20 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret, Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Velvet Scoter at West Runton
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Buckingham Marshes
Bewick's Swans x 12 at Geldeston
Bewick's Swans x 14 at Horsey
Purple Sandpiper at Sea Palling
Scaup at Barton Broad
Snow Buntings x 40 at Holme
Waxwings x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Black-bellied Dipper, Waxwings x 26 at Thetford
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Bunting x 20, Purple Sandpiper, Velvet Scoter x 2 at Cley
Snow Bunting x 5 at Salthouse
Waxwings x 14 at St Olaves
Twite x 20 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret, Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island
Velvet Scoter at West Runton
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Buckingham Marshes
Bewick's Swans x 12 at Geldeston
Bewick's Swans x 14 at Horsey
Purple Sandpiper at Sea Palling
Scaup at Barton Broad
Snow Buntings x 40 at Holme
Waxwings x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Bird News!
Main Highlights in Norfolk – RBA
Black-bellied Dipper, Waxwings x 24 at Thetford
Waxwings x 11 at Wymondham
Glaucous Gull (Pat's Pool), Hen Harrier, Snow Bunting x 10, Black Brant at Cley
Snow Bunting x 40 at Caister-on-Sea
Waxwing x 5 at Brancaster
Twite x 30 at Thornham Point
Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Red-crested Pochard at Titchwell RSPB
Short-eared Owl at Winterton
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl x 2 at Haddiscoe Island
Scaup at Barton Broad
Purple Sandpiper x 2, Snow Bunting x 20 at Salthouse
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Common Crane, Hen Harrier at Waxham
Eurasian White-fronted Goose x 153, Snow Bunting x 50 at Holkham
Short-eared Owl at Morston
Hen Harrier at Blakeney
Hen Harriers x 6 at Warham Greens
Main Highlights in Norfolk for Friday– RBA
Black-bellied Dipper, Waxwings x 5 at Thetford
Waxwings x 12 at Wymondham
Snow Bunting x 35 at Holme
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Purple Sandpipers x 2, Snow Buntings x 9 at Cley
Twite x 19 at Thornham Point
Slavonian Grebe x 2, Water Pipit, Bittern at Titchwell RSPB
Black Brant, Dark-bellied Brent Goose x 35 at Stiffkey
Waxwing at Morston
Hawfinch x 2 at Lynford
Snow Buntings x 40, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 17 at Holkham
Short-eared Owls x 4 at Claxton
Siberian Chiffchaff at Hickling Broad on Wednesday
Black-bellied Dipper, Waxwings x 24 at Thetford
Waxwings x 11 at Wymondham
Glaucous Gull (Pat's Pool), Hen Harrier, Snow Bunting x 10, Black Brant at Cley
Snow Bunting x 40 at Caister-on-Sea
Waxwing x 5 at Brancaster
Twite x 30 at Thornham Point
Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Red-crested Pochard at Titchwell RSPB
Short-eared Owl at Winterton
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl x 2 at Haddiscoe Island
Scaup at Barton Broad
Purple Sandpiper x 2, Snow Bunting x 20 at Salthouse
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Common Crane, Hen Harrier at Waxham
Eurasian White-fronted Goose x 153, Snow Bunting x 50 at Holkham
Short-eared Owl at Morston
Hen Harrier at Blakeney
Hen Harriers x 6 at Warham Greens
Main Highlights in Norfolk for Friday– RBA
Black-bellied Dipper, Waxwings x 5 at Thetford
Waxwings x 12 at Wymondham
Snow Bunting x 35 at Holme
Rough-legged Buzzard, Great White Egret, Short-eared Owls x 3 at Haddiscoe Island
Purple Sandpipers x 2, Snow Buntings x 9 at Cley
Twite x 19 at Thornham Point
Slavonian Grebe x 2, Water Pipit, Bittern at Titchwell RSPB
Black Brant, Dark-bellied Brent Goose x 35 at Stiffkey
Waxwing at Morston
Hawfinch x 2 at Lynford
Snow Buntings x 40, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 17 at Holkham
Short-eared Owls x 4 at Claxton
Siberian Chiffchaff at Hickling Broad on Wednesday
Busy, Busy Bee!
I have had a very, very busy day. First of all Eddie arrived at my house to very kindly assess my fencing situation and advise/price up stuff for me. We then went to Wickes to make a list of what I needed to buy etc. Then we had a scrumptious lunch at a cafe in King's Lynn – cheese omelette, chips and peas followed by ginger pudding, ginger sauce and ice-cream!!! I bought myself a very funky Jean Pierre watch for work, as my nurses watch has just broken and wanted something a bit different (typical me).
We then went to Titchwell RSPB. Watched a massive 1000+ flock of Lapwings along with a few thousand golden plover, 7 Marsh Harriers, 1 Barn Owl and 16 Magpies roosting! Popped into my parents for a very quick cup of tea and then Eddie went on the bus back to Cley. I then drove back to Lynn and dropped my birding gear back at home.
I then went straight out again to work at 7pm and stayed until 10pm moving stuff around. We are very crowded in our gym at work with acute team, community team, speech and language team and all the filing cabinets and patients having therapy in the same area. We have at last been allocated a big room next to ours, which was used as a day type ward for patients. The team in that room moved out on Saturday morning. On Friday afternoon we we warned that there was rumours that another team were planning to hijack our space at the weekend, before we moved in! I decided that, that was NOT going to happen! We were told not to leave the room empty, otherwise someone else would use it. So I went to work and moved all the tables, chairs and a few other bits and pieces and revamped our gym at the same time. It all looks fabulous now and I hope the rest of my team like what I have done – if they don't they will just have to move it. Still lots of filing cabinets and bookcases to move on Monday with the porters though.
Double shift tomorrow – another busy day
Operation Update
I had an appointment with my consultant yesterday, who informed me that he was not prepared to carry out my operation as it was too risky. Too many complications eg: carotid artery (major artery of the head and neck) is next to the bone that needs to be cut etc etc. The diagnosis that I was given recently (see my previous posts about this) of 'Eagles Syndrome' is so rare, that my consultant has never performed the operation and even though a specialty doctor under him has performed this op., it would be the consultant's head that would be on the block if it went wrong! He told me that he would research more about this condition and get back to me with alternative treatments etc. So I will have to put up with the pain for the time being! He also told me that it 'would be the last operation that I would want to have myself'
We then went to Titchwell RSPB. Watched a massive 1000+ flock of Lapwings along with a few thousand golden plover, 7 Marsh Harriers, 1 Barn Owl and 16 Magpies roosting! Popped into my parents for a very quick cup of tea and then Eddie went on the bus back to Cley. I then drove back to Lynn and dropped my birding gear back at home.
I then went straight out again to work at 7pm and stayed until 10pm moving stuff around. We are very crowded in our gym at work with acute team, community team, speech and language team and all the filing cabinets and patients having therapy in the same area. We have at last been allocated a big room next to ours, which was used as a day type ward for patients. The team in that room moved out on Saturday morning. On Friday afternoon we we warned that there was rumours that another team were planning to hijack our space at the weekend, before we moved in! I decided that, that was NOT going to happen! We were told not to leave the room empty, otherwise someone else would use it. So I went to work and moved all the tables, chairs and a few other bits and pieces and revamped our gym at the same time. It all looks fabulous now and I hope the rest of my team like what I have done – if they don't they will just have to move it. Still lots of filing cabinets and bookcases to move on Monday with the porters though.
Double shift tomorrow – another busy day
Operation Update
I had an appointment with my consultant yesterday, who informed me that he was not prepared to carry out my operation as it was too risky. Too many complications eg: carotid artery (major artery of the head and neck) is next to the bone that needs to be cut etc etc. The diagnosis that I was given recently (see my previous posts about this) of 'Eagles Syndrome' is so rare, that my consultant has never performed the operation and even though a specialty doctor under him has performed this op., it would be the consultant's head that would be on the block if it went wrong! He told me that he would research more about this condition and get back to me with alternative treatments etc. So I will have to put up with the pain for the time being! He also told me that it 'would be the last operation that I would want to have myself'
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Bird News!
Main Highlights in Norfolk – RBA
Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford!
Bittern, Whooper Swan at Felbrigg Lake
Taiga Bean Geese x 20 at Buckingham Marshes
Snow Bunting x 50, Short-eared Owl at Holme
Twite x 23, Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 4 at Heigham Holmes
Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl at Haddiscoe Island
Waxwings x 20 at Thetford
Goosanders x 8 at Lyng
Purple Sandpiper at Salthouse
Scaup at Barton Broad
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Shags x 13 at Hunstanton Cliffs
Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford!
Bittern, Whooper Swan at Felbrigg Lake
Taiga Bean Geese x 20 at Buckingham Marshes
Snow Bunting x 50, Short-eared Owl at Holme
Twite x 23, Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 4 at Heigham Holmes
Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl at Haddiscoe Island
Waxwings x 20 at Thetford
Goosanders x 8 at Lyng
Purple Sandpiper at Salthouse
Scaup at Barton Broad
Hawfinch at Lynford Aboretum
Shags x 13 at Hunstanton Cliffs
Africa, Part One: Kalahari – David Attenborough
"David Attenborough explores two deserts in Africa's south west, where he
sees meerkats, black rhinos partying, giant insects and the greatest
giraffe battle ever filmed."
I watched the first episode of this new six part series on BBC iplayer this evening – absolutely fascinating. So if you missed it last night, watch it now: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p010jc6r/Africa_Kalahari/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/gallery/2013/jan/02/africa-david-attenborough-bbc1-series-pictures
I watched the first episode of this new six part series on BBC iplayer this evening – absolutely fascinating. So if you missed it last night, watch it now: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p010jc6r/Africa_Kalahari/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/gallery/2013/jan/02/africa-david-attenborough-bbc1-series-pictures
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
WEIGHTWATCHERS
WEEK EIGHT
Gained 1.5 lbs today. Total loss so far 8lbs
There haven't been any WW group meetings for the last two weeks. I went to a group meeting this evening and considering it was the christmas period I didn't do too badly really!!! I wasn't happy that I had gained obviously, but felt better when another lady said she had gained 7lbs over the last two weeks.
Gained 1.5 lbs today. Total loss so far 8lbs
There haven't been any WW group meetings for the last two weeks. I went to a group meeting this evening and considering it was the christmas period I didn't do too badly really!!! I wasn't happy that I had gained obviously, but felt better when another lady said she had gained 7lbs over the last two weeks.
Bird News
Main Highlights in Norfolk – RBA
Bewick's Swans x 80 at Repps
Dark-bellied Brent Geese x 70 at Holkham
Waxwings x 10 at Bintree
Scaup x 3 at Barton Broad
Hen Harrier at Hardley Staithe
Bittern at Thorpe Marshes
Twite x 25 at Titchwell RSPB
Common Crane at Stiffkey
Waxwing at Snettisham RSPB
Bewick's Swans x 80 at Repps
Dark-bellied Brent Geese x 70 at Holkham
Waxwings x 10 at Bintree
Scaup x 3 at Barton Broad
Hen Harrier at Hardley Staithe
Bittern at Thorpe Marshes
Twite x 25 at Titchwell RSPB
Common Crane at Stiffkey
Waxwing at Snettisham RSPB
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
My New Year's Day Norfolk Bird Race!
Team: Penny
It was a glorious sunny day, which bought the crowds out in their droves and the traffic was worse than an August Bank Holiday, especially mid/late afternoon and this affected my birding later on.
High tide was 8.36am, so I knew to get the maximum numbers of birds, I needed to be seawatching around that time, so I didn't start off at my usual spots of Wolverton for Golden Pheasant, Sandringham Bird Table etc. I am not going to list every bird seen at every stop, as the full list is below, but will mention some of the highlights. Had a few birds seen and heard from my garden before I left and started the day with a robin.
I decided to start at Titchwell RSPB, but diverted quickly to Flitcham Abbey Farm Bird Hide on route to attempt to tick Little Owl. On route I saw two barn owls. At Flitcham I got a dodgy Barnacle goose here, so couldn't count that. Got a good selection of birds here including tree sparrow, yellowhammer, reed bunting etc. A stoat ran across the fields. Another birder joined me in the hide and we both very pleased when the little owl made an appearance – the light was still not good and the light is against you anyway at this time of the morning at Abbey Farm (best viewed pm). One of the little owls favoured spots is to sit in the roots at the base of the oak tree to the left side of the main trunk. So there it was, sitting in a hole in the base and typically motionless. BUT when I looked a few moments later, it moved and hilariously it was in fact a rabbit!!! I could not believe what I was seeing. It just shows how light and shape can fool you! I could not believe that a rabbit had just mimicked a little owl, it was seriously funny!
Next Stop was Choseley which produced nothing at all.
Titchwell RSPB – Arrived just before 9am and the carparks were filling up quickly already. It was nice to see Sue B. briefly, who was working at Titchwell, but she understood that I hadn't got time to chat! Also saw a few familiar faces and some new blog readers – nice to see you all. Anyway, highlights here were redpoll, siskins, a cracking male brambling, a cettis's warbler seen skulking off the main path and a red kite! Unbelievably there were no long-tailed ducks to be seen, no one seemed to find a ringed plover and Ray Kimber (volunteer) told me there hadn't been any for weeks and that he had heard they were 'all at Heacham', so why that is I have no idea! Also didn't get treecreeper which is usually seen on the willow tree at the start of the main path. I didn't see water rail on the way down and I declared to others that I wouldn't be leaving until I had seen it, which luckily I did eventually. Frustratingly I didn't see a snipe either or tawny owl or woodcock later on. I walked into the visitor centre only to view the sightings book in case I had missed anything. Pauline who works in the shop kindly asked how I was doing and I replied with '96 so far I think' as I was speedily walking out of the shop. When I got back to the carpark it was a crazy scene of cars queuing to get out and cars queuing to get in!
Thornham Harbour – stopped here briefly where there were other birders too, looking for greenshank which had been here yesterday, but it wasn't now!
Holme Marsh Reserve NWT– was hoping for bullfinch etc, but no luck.
Redwell Marsh NOA – nothing here but teal and a barn owl.
Old Hunstanton Church and duck pond – this can be good for grey wagtail and nuthatch, but no luck with those, but did see great spotted woodpecker and a small flock of linnets.
Hunstanton Cliffs – Fulmar and Rock Dove ticked here. Scanned the beach for ringed plover etc but there were very few birds to be seen at all, as everything had been flushed by the massive numbers of walkers and bounding dogs on the beach. In fact it was the biggest number of people I have ever seen walking below the cliffs today!
My next stop was going to be Snettisham Coastal park to go and look at some waxwings in the carpark that someone had told me they saw. But as I joined the A149 coast road at Hunstanton I was horrified to see traffic at a standstill and queuing in the King's Lynn direction. My heart sunk, this would waste valuable light and time. After sitting in the queue for a while I had to change my plans and turned left at Heacham lavender, nipped inland via Sedgeford and through Dersingham to go to the Sandringham bird table. At least this got me away from the traffic queue! The bird table was very productive and gave me a beautiful nuthatch who was coming down to feed on the table and at least 8 coal tits. I waited here for a good while, hoping for marsh tit, which I have seen here before, but not today! Very unusually I didn't see treecreeper here either. There were the usual blue, great and long-tailed tits here, but I had seen those already earlier in the day.
Because of the traffic, I had to re-plan and I realised that if I re-joined the queuing traffic on the A149, it wouldn't be too bad, if I nipped straight across it to Wolverton in the vague hope of ticking golden pheasant. This turned out to be a very good move. As I drove slowly along the triangle at Wolverton I couldn't believe my luck – bang in the middle of the road was one of the best views of golden pheasant I have seen, a stunning male bird just ambling along! I decided I needed a picture of this as no one would believe I had seen this and especially at this time of the day. I opened the car door very carefully to go and get the camera from the boot of the car, but obviously not carefully enough. I had been clocked and the golden pheasant's amble turned into a full scale olympic sprint as it dived into the cover of the rhododendrons! Oh well!
The light was fading fast now. The traffic was still crawling along to King's Lynn, but it was fine in the opposite direction, so I got to Snettisham Coastal Park quite quickly. Obviously there were no waxwings here now that I could see, but I did tick knot and dunlin which was an added bonus. Doing a bird race is fun but equally stressful and as the light starts to fade you have to make very quick decisions about where to go next.
Snettisham RSPB – I have not been here for quite a while and the light was not sufficient enough to be able to walk to the main reserve, but I remembered that there is often a good number of different geese in the first lake by the fishing ponds. I had not yet ticked canada goose today. I parked the car up and I could see that several people were looking at me as if to say what an earth is she doing, walking to the reserve in semi darkness! There were only greylags on the lake and a few other ducks. I was just about to give up, but walked up the steps at the end of the footpath to gain some height. As I scanned the fields on the other side of the lake a single canada goose came into view! It was now 4.25pm!
Hunstanton Cliffs – yes I know it was almost completely dark, but I was determined to see very bird that I could! Parked my car by the cafe/bowling green and ran to the seats/viewing area at the top of the cliffs. I tried to focus my bins on the outline of the end of the cliffs where the shags roost, but however hard I tried, I could not see any shags! There was just enough light to be able to see any that might fly in, but sadly they were now all roosted for the night! Well you can't say I didn't try!
I drove around Chapel Bank at Old Hunstanton as this can be a really good spot for woodcock, but not this evening! I tried several other places for tawny owl, but no luck there either.
Spent the evening with my parents, which was a really nice way to spend the rest of New Year's Day. I didn't leave Holme until 9pm. The earlier heavy traffic had dispersed thank goodness.
On my return home it took ages to sort my list. I thought I had seen 105 species, but I soon discovered I had written a few things down twice, as you do! Also I had missed two birds out. Quite weird and rather nice to find that I had seen exactly 100 birds at the end of my day. Although it was fun to do, I just couldn't do this all year round, its much too stressful! Although as some of you may remember I did year list as a one off in 2009.
100 Species seen
It was a glorious sunny day, which bought the crowds out in their droves and the traffic was worse than an August Bank Holiday, especially mid/late afternoon and this affected my birding later on.
High tide was 8.36am, so I knew to get the maximum numbers of birds, I needed to be seawatching around that time, so I didn't start off at my usual spots of Wolverton for Golden Pheasant, Sandringham Bird Table etc. I am not going to list every bird seen at every stop, as the full list is below, but will mention some of the highlights. Had a few birds seen and heard from my garden before I left and started the day with a robin.
I decided to start at Titchwell RSPB, but diverted quickly to Flitcham Abbey Farm Bird Hide on route to attempt to tick Little Owl. On route I saw two barn owls. At Flitcham I got a dodgy Barnacle goose here, so couldn't count that. Got a good selection of birds here including tree sparrow, yellowhammer, reed bunting etc. A stoat ran across the fields. Another birder joined me in the hide and we both very pleased when the little owl made an appearance – the light was still not good and the light is against you anyway at this time of the morning at Abbey Farm (best viewed pm). One of the little owls favoured spots is to sit in the roots at the base of the oak tree to the left side of the main trunk. So there it was, sitting in a hole in the base and typically motionless. BUT when I looked a few moments later, it moved and hilariously it was in fact a rabbit!!! I could not believe what I was seeing. It just shows how light and shape can fool you! I could not believe that a rabbit had just mimicked a little owl, it was seriously funny!
Next Stop was Choseley which produced nothing at all.
Titchwell RSPB – Arrived just before 9am and the carparks were filling up quickly already. It was nice to see Sue B. briefly, who was working at Titchwell, but she understood that I hadn't got time to chat! Also saw a few familiar faces and some new blog readers – nice to see you all. Anyway, highlights here were redpoll, siskins, a cracking male brambling, a cettis's warbler seen skulking off the main path and a red kite! Unbelievably there were no long-tailed ducks to be seen, no one seemed to find a ringed plover and Ray Kimber (volunteer) told me there hadn't been any for weeks and that he had heard they were 'all at Heacham', so why that is I have no idea! Also didn't get treecreeper which is usually seen on the willow tree at the start of the main path. I didn't see water rail on the way down and I declared to others that I wouldn't be leaving until I had seen it, which luckily I did eventually. Frustratingly I didn't see a snipe either or tawny owl or woodcock later on. I walked into the visitor centre only to view the sightings book in case I had missed anything. Pauline who works in the shop kindly asked how I was doing and I replied with '96 so far I think' as I was speedily walking out of the shop. When I got back to the carpark it was a crazy scene of cars queuing to get out and cars queuing to get in!
Thornham Harbour – stopped here briefly where there were other birders too, looking for greenshank which had been here yesterday, but it wasn't now!
Holme Marsh Reserve NWT– was hoping for bullfinch etc, but no luck.
Redwell Marsh NOA – nothing here but teal and a barn owl.
Old Hunstanton Church and duck pond – this can be good for grey wagtail and nuthatch, but no luck with those, but did see great spotted woodpecker and a small flock of linnets.
Hunstanton Cliffs – Fulmar and Rock Dove ticked here. Scanned the beach for ringed plover etc but there were very few birds to be seen at all, as everything had been flushed by the massive numbers of walkers and bounding dogs on the beach. In fact it was the biggest number of people I have ever seen walking below the cliffs today!
My next stop was going to be Snettisham Coastal park to go and look at some waxwings in the carpark that someone had told me they saw. But as I joined the A149 coast road at Hunstanton I was horrified to see traffic at a standstill and queuing in the King's Lynn direction. My heart sunk, this would waste valuable light and time. After sitting in the queue for a while I had to change my plans and turned left at Heacham lavender, nipped inland via Sedgeford and through Dersingham to go to the Sandringham bird table. At least this got me away from the traffic queue! The bird table was very productive and gave me a beautiful nuthatch who was coming down to feed on the table and at least 8 coal tits. I waited here for a good while, hoping for marsh tit, which I have seen here before, but not today! Very unusually I didn't see treecreeper here either. There were the usual blue, great and long-tailed tits here, but I had seen those already earlier in the day.
Because of the traffic, I had to re-plan and I realised that if I re-joined the queuing traffic on the A149, it wouldn't be too bad, if I nipped straight across it to Wolverton in the vague hope of ticking golden pheasant. This turned out to be a very good move. As I drove slowly along the triangle at Wolverton I couldn't believe my luck – bang in the middle of the road was one of the best views of golden pheasant I have seen, a stunning male bird just ambling along! I decided I needed a picture of this as no one would believe I had seen this and especially at this time of the day. I opened the car door very carefully to go and get the camera from the boot of the car, but obviously not carefully enough. I had been clocked and the golden pheasant's amble turned into a full scale olympic sprint as it dived into the cover of the rhododendrons! Oh well!
The light was fading fast now. The traffic was still crawling along to King's Lynn, but it was fine in the opposite direction, so I got to Snettisham Coastal Park quite quickly. Obviously there were no waxwings here now that I could see, but I did tick knot and dunlin which was an added bonus. Doing a bird race is fun but equally stressful and as the light starts to fade you have to make very quick decisions about where to go next.
Snettisham RSPB – I have not been here for quite a while and the light was not sufficient enough to be able to walk to the main reserve, but I remembered that there is often a good number of different geese in the first lake by the fishing ponds. I had not yet ticked canada goose today. I parked the car up and I could see that several people were looking at me as if to say what an earth is she doing, walking to the reserve in semi darkness! There were only greylags on the lake and a few other ducks. I was just about to give up, but walked up the steps at the end of the footpath to gain some height. As I scanned the fields on the other side of the lake a single canada goose came into view! It was now 4.25pm!
Hunstanton Cliffs – yes I know it was almost completely dark, but I was determined to see very bird that I could! Parked my car by the cafe/bowling green and ran to the seats/viewing area at the top of the cliffs. I tried to focus my bins on the outline of the end of the cliffs where the shags roost, but however hard I tried, I could not see any shags! There was just enough light to be able to see any that might fly in, but sadly they were now all roosted for the night! Well you can't say I didn't try!
I drove around Chapel Bank at Old Hunstanton as this can be a really good spot for woodcock, but not this evening! I tried several other places for tawny owl, but no luck there either.
Spent the evening with my parents, which was a really nice way to spend the rest of New Year's Day. I didn't leave Holme until 9pm. The earlier heavy traffic had dispersed thank goodness.
On my return home it took ages to sort my list. I thought I had seen 105 species, but I soon discovered I had written a few things down twice, as you do! Also I had missed two birds out. Quite weird and rather nice to find that I had seen exactly 100 birds at the end of my day. Although it was fun to do, I just couldn't do this all year round, its much too stressful! Although as some of you may remember I did year list as a one off in 2009.
100 Species seen
- Robin
- Blackbird
- Song Thrush
- Carrion Crow
- Hedgesparrow
- Goldcrest
- Jackdaw
- Rook
- Barn Owl
- Collared Dove
- Common Pheasant
- Blue Tit
- Pink-footed Goose
- Grey-lagged Goose
- Coot
- Moorhen
- Mallard
- Stock Dove
- Woodpigeon
- Little Grebe
- Teal
- Lapwing
- Gadwall
- Common Gull
- Jay
- Kestrel
- Red-legged Partridge
- Starling
- Curlew
- Kingfisher
- Chaffinch
- Tree Sparrow
- Yellowhammer
- Reed Bunting
- Egyptian Goose
- Great Tit
- Mistle Thrush
- House Sparrow
- Mute Swan
- Grey Partridge
- Common Buzzard
- Goldfinch
- Greenfinch
- Redwing
- Sparrowhawk
- Black-headed Gull
- Magpie
- Cetti's Warbler
- Little Egret
- Shelduck
- Brent Goose
- Golden Plover
- Shoveler
- Pochard
- Tufted Duck
- Wigeon
- Pintail
- Avocet
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Meadow Pipit
- Skylark
- Pied Wagtail
- Spotted Redshank
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Redshank
- Grey Heron
- Herring Gull
- Sanderling
- Oystercatcher
- Eider
- Turnstone
- Dunlin
- Knot
- Great Crested Grebe
- Common Scoter
- Red-throated Diver
- Cormorant
- Guillemot
- Golden Eye
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Grey Plover
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Red Kite
- Marsh Harrier
- Ruff
- Long-tailed Tit
- Siskin
- Red-crested Pochard
- Common Redpoll
- Brambling
- Wren
- Water Rail
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Linnet
- Rock Dove
- Fulmar
- Coal Tit
- Nuthatch
- Golden Pheasant
- Canada Goose
- Barnacle Goose (dodgy one)
New Year's Day Bird News!
Main Highlights in Norfolk – RBA
Richardson's Canada Goose, Sacred Ibis, Snow Buntings x 15 at Cley
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Halvergate Marshes
Sooty Shearwater at Cley (seen by ETM)
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owls x 3, Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Island
Taiga Bean Geese x 40, Short-eared Owl at Buckingham Marshes
Sooty Shearwater, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver at Sheringham
Waxwings x 9 at Sharrington
Waxwings x 20 at Stiffkey Fen
Waxwings x 10 at Wells
Bewick's Swans x 19 at Repps
Waxwings x 10 at Burnham Norton
Waxwings x 11 at Bintree
Snow Buntings x 30 at Caister-on-Sea
Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl x 2 at Rockland Broad
Lapland Bunting and Long-tailed Duck at Overstrand
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Halvergate Marshes
Waxwings x 20, Great Northern Diver, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Holme
Hen Harrier at Winterton
Short-eared Owls x 5 at Hilborough
Waxwings x 7 at Gillingham
Richardson's Canada Goose, Sacred Ibis, Snow Buntings x 15 at Cley
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Halvergate Marshes
Sooty Shearwater at Cley (seen by ETM)
Great White Egret, Short-eared Owls x 3, Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Island
Taiga Bean Geese x 40, Short-eared Owl at Buckingham Marshes
Sooty Shearwater, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver at Sheringham
Waxwings x 9 at Sharrington
Waxwings x 20 at Stiffkey Fen
Waxwings x 10 at Wells
Bewick's Swans x 19 at Repps
Waxwings x 10 at Burnham Norton
Waxwings x 11 at Bintree
Snow Buntings x 30 at Caister-on-Sea
Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl x 2 at Rockland Broad
Lapland Bunting and Long-tailed Duck at Overstrand
Short-eared Owls x 2 at Halvergate Marshes
Waxwings x 20, Great Northern Diver, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Holme
Hen Harrier at Winterton
Short-eared Owls x 5 at Hilborough
Waxwings x 7 at Gillingham
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