Fatal US helicopter crash in Norfolk: Investigation starts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25649464

More here on ITV including 'our' Duncan MacDonald being interviewed!
http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2014-01-08/helicopter-crash-how-the-events-unfolded/ 

NOTE TO ALL VISITING BIRDERS: Please note that Cley NWT Reserve, Visitor Centre and Salthouse Beach Carpark area is closed until at least Monday.

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights - RBA
Snow Buntings x 40 at Old Hunstanton
Snow Buntings x 4, Spotted Redshank at Breydon Water
Golden Pheasant at Wolferton
Red-necked Grebe, Black-throated Diver, Snow Bunting at Holme
Rough-legged Buzzard at Chedgrave Marshes
Shorelarks x 2 at Great Yarmouth
Whooper Swans x 20, Bewick's Swans x 100 at Ludham
Velvet Scoter at Hopton-on-Sea
Snow Buntings x 40 at Caister-on-Sea
Green-winged Teal at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Snow Buntings x 130 at Winterton
Glaucous Gull in field by Edgefield Tip
MEGA!!! Wholly unconfirmed report of 3 CEDAR WAXWINGS yesterday, 3 miles ENE at Norwich at Thorpe St Andrew, briefly in morning.

Other News
MEGA! IVORY GULL at County Wexford, Ireland
MEGA! AMERICAN COOT remains at Loch Flemington, Highland, Scotland!

RBA Round-Up 24th December 2013 to 7th January 2014

By Jon Dunn
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyroundup2014no01.aspx?s_id=544590977

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Taiga Bean Geese x 15, Water Pipit at Buckingham Marshes RSPB
Richard's Pipit at Kelling
Velvet Scoter, Arctic Skua at Hopton-on-Sea
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl at Haddiscoe Island, viewable from Waveney Forest 
Little Gulls x 2 at Winterton
Glossy Ibis at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Red-necked Grebe, Velvet Scoters x 3, Twite at Titchwell RSPB
Red-necked Grebe at Holme

Other News
MEGA! SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER at North Ronaldsay, Orkney!
MEGA! AMERICAN COOT remains at Loch Flemington, Highland, Scotland! 

Tidal surge-hit Norfolk seal pup donations top £90,000!

Really good news that the RSPCA's wildlife centre in East Winch received so many donations!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25564036

RBA Scarce and Rare Bird Round-up Photograph of 2013

Massive thanks to Mark Golley, Brian Egan and the RBA Team for short-listing and featuring my Yellow-browed Warbler shot that I took at Blakeney Point in their Rarity Photo Round-up for 2013! Really chuffed – cheered me up no end!
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/RBA_Scarce_and_Rare_Bird_Round-up_Photography_of_2013.aspx?s_id=330763449

Also here is the picture on my blog on 19th October 2013

HELICOPTER CRASHES AT CLEY THIS EVENING!!!

Helicopter Crashes at Cley This Evening with Four Dead!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25646978

Shocking and Tragic News!!!

 From a friend on FB:
"An American US military Pave Hawk Helicopter crashed at 19.45 07-01-14 near the East Bank, Cley next the Sea, killing 4 crew on board. It allegedly has live ammo on board and can't be dealt with by UK Emergency Services. They have to wait until the Americans arrive before they can do anything!!"

More here on the Eastern Daily Press Website 

My thoughts are with the families of those that were killed – so terribly sad!

Several local people said that a helicopter flew very low over the village shortly before it crashed. There is talk on the web that it could have been a bird strike – could have been pink-footed geese on mass, especially if the helicopter was low, who knows..... won't know until at least first light tomorrow.

http://www.klfm967.co.uk/news/uk-news/1171448/helicopter-crashes-off-north-norfolk-coast/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/10557518/Norfolk-helicopter-crash-four-killed-on-US-military-training-mission-in-north-Norfolk.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2535501/BREAKING-NEWS-Four-people-believed-died-helicopter-crash-Norfolk.html

http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-01-07/helicopter-air-crash-cley-north-norfolk/

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/north-norfolk-helicopter-crash-live-2999236

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/07/norfolk-helicopter-crash-cley-next-sea

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/national/news/10920126.Four_killed_in_helicopter_crash/

http://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/four_people_dead_following_helicopter_crash_in_the_cley_area_north_norfolk_1_3182375

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Common Cranes x 12 at Ludham
Common Cranes x 3, Hen Harrier at Stubb Mill, Hickling Broad NWT
Richard's Pipit at Kelling
Snow Buntings x 100 at Winterton
Green-winged Teal at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island, viewable from Waveney Forest
Common Cranes x 4 at Acle
Lapland Bunting, Snow Buntings x 4, Twite x 9, Shags x 2, Velvet Scoters x 5, Red-necked Grebe at Thornham Point
Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Black-throated Divers x 2 at Holme
Great White Egret at Nar Valley Fisheries, Narborough
Velvet Scoters x 2 at Hopton-on-Sea
Hen Harrier at Choseley
Great White Egret, Black Brant, Dark-bellied Brent Geese x 1250, River Ouse, King's Lynn
Black Brant at Cley NWT
Taiga Bean Geese x 10, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 6 at Buckingham Marshes RSPB
Bittern at Felbrigg Lake

Other News
MEGA! AMERICAN COOT remains at Loch Flemington, Highland, Scotland

Holiday: Birds, Bikini & Beach!

I have not had a holiday away since 2010 and I have decided that I'm going away this year to sunnier climates. I don't care if my bank balance approves or not! I need to escape! Therefore I also need to shed some pounds! The diet begins (again) tomorrow! Anyone that sees me queuing up for a cheese scone at the Cley Visitor Centre or the Cley Deli for a piece of pear & ginger cake, please stop me! I havn't decided where or when I'm going yet, but I AM going!

MEGA! AMERICAN COOT, Highland, Scotland!

2.5 SE of Ardersier at east end of Loch Flemington
(east of Inverness), Highland, Scotland.
Found by Simon Eaves.
Discussion here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=274029
Picture on Twitter HERE

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Snow Buntings x 125 at Winterton
Taiga Bean Geese x 15 at Buckingham Marshes RSPB
Common Cranes x 2 at Acle
Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebes x 2, Black-throated Divers x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 4, Velvet Scoter, Snow Buntings x 70, Lapland Bunting, Short-eared Owl at Holme
Rough-legged Buzzards x 2, Hen Harrier at Haddiscoe Island, viewable from Waveney Forest
Green-winged Teal at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Snow Buntings x 30 at Caister-on-Sea
Whooper Swans x 20, Bewick's Swans x 79 at Ludham
Richard's Pipit at Kelling
Shorelark at Great Yarmouth
Velvet Scoters x 2 at Hopton-on-Sea
TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL Male, Crossbills x 6 at Lynford Aboretum
Crossbills x 2 at Cringleford
Mealy Redpoll at feeders, UEA, Norwich
Hen Harriers x 3 at Stiffkey
Snow Buntings x 4 at Breydon Water

Other News
MEGA! AMERICAN COOT 2.5 SE of Ardersier at east end of Loch Flemington, Highland, Scotland

Rubbish Weather, Rubbish Day!

I didn't get up until 1.30pm and dossed around for the rest of the day. Rubbish weather anyway. Very low mood because of stuff going on, so no bird news from me this weekend, sorry. Work tomorrow, which I don't feel capable of to be honest, but will try and drag myself in.

Pete S. phoned me to say that the Beach Road at Salthouse is completely flooded again, almost up to the main road! Also Beach Road, Cley is also still closed. Until something is done about the massive breach at Salthouse, this is now going to happen on a regular basis!

Roll on next weekend!

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Common Cranes x 2 at Acle
Great Skua at Hemsby
Velvet Scoters x 3, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Black Brant, Great Northern Diver at Cley NWT
Snow Bunting at Caister-on-Sea
Firecrests x 2 at Burgh Castle
Velvet Scoter at Hopton-on-Sea
Snow Buntings x 88 at Winterton
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island, viewable from Waveney Forest
Hen Harriers x 4 at Stiffkey
Taiga Bean Geese x 3 at Buckingham Marshes RSPB

Cley Marshes New Year Update!

http://norfolkwildlifetrust.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/cley-marshes-new-year-update.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Little Gull at Gorleston
Green-winged Teal at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT
Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 3 at Holme
Velvet Scoters x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 2 at Acle
Whooper Swans x 20, Bewick's Swans x 80 at Ludham
Hen Harrier at Cley NWT
Rough-legged Buzzard at Haddiscoe Island, viewable from Waveney Forest
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Glaucous Gull in field near Edgefield Tip

Glorious Weather & A New Beginning!

How unfair that yesterday, when so many birders were doing their New Year's Day list, did we have to endure howling wind and rain in such atrocious conditions. Today in comparison, was almost like a summer's day when I had time to glance out of the window at work, hardly a leaf fluttering in the breeze and full sunshine all bl**dy day! If only today had been yesterday, it would have been so much nicer and there would have been much bigger lists at the end of the day!

Oh well, that's my listing finished for the year. Not doing a year list, I didn't last year either. Too expensive and stressful to keep that up for an entire year! I had massive fun when I did my 2009 year list, but it was costly and time consuming.

Several things need to change this year – watch this space! Roll on February – by that time my birthday will be out of the way with and I will be looking forward to Spring!

Well, we now all begin another year of ' Hot Birding and Life ' – bring it on!

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Rough-legged Buzzards x 2 at Haddiscoe Island, viewable from Waveney Forest
Waxwings x 12 and 20 at Norwich
Richard's Pipit remains at Kelling
Velvet Scoters x 4 at Hopton-on-Sea
Water Pipit at Thornham
Velvet Scoters x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Snow Buntings x 90 at Winterton
Glaucous Gull in field near Edgefield Tip
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 10 at Holt
Red-necked Grebes x 2, Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 4 at Holme
Taiga Bean Geese x 32, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 30, Water Pipit at Buckingham Marshes RSPB
Whooper Swans x 20, Bewick's Swans x 99, Hen Harrier at Ludham
Firecrest at Great Yarmouth
Bewick's Swans x 7, Scaup, Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshanks x 3 at Breydon Water
Taiga Bean Geese x 14, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 34 at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Short-eared Owl at Thorpe Marshes, Haddiscoe
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Green-winged Teal at Rush Hill Scrape, Hickling Broad NWT

Other News
MEGA! AMERICAN KESTREL Male (yesterday) NE of Bridge of Allan, Forth, Scotland – no sign today though

New Year's Day Bird Race!

 Dawn – Sandringham.

• King's Lynn • Wolverton • Sandringham • Snettisham RSPB 
• Hunstanton • Old Hunstanton • Ringstead • Choseley
• Titchwell RSPB • Choseley • Holme

Team: Penny Clarke
Weather: Atrocious!

First bird heard was Robin singing in the garden at 6.15am and then when I left home saw Blackbird, Starling, Hedgesparrow. Heron flying over the A149 just before Wolverton. Wolverton Triangle, no sign of Golden Pheasant!

Sandringham bird table was a massive disappointment, but did see Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw and Rook here and heard Nuthatch!

Then onto Snettisham RSPB to tick the Black-necked Grebe – ha ha, not! A lovely watery, muddy, cold walk to find that the Black-necked Grebe was not on show for NYD! But did tick off a Mistlethrush on a wire (Beach Road) and No. 12 to No. 36 (see list). It was wickedly cold here! The Fieldfares and Redwings were seen in the hedge next to the telegraph wire, where I saw the mistle thrush on the way down, good scoop!

Along a road that veers off from Beach Road at Snettisham I found a fantastic field with lots of leaf mould litter, a watery ditch and a few mature trees. In one oak tree I had all the tit family and couldn't believe my luck when a Marsh Tit appeared aswell! I didn't manage to get long-tailed tit though.

Tip off from a local birder (thanks!) gave me a flock of brambling in Hunstanton and also No. 41-No.48.

At Hunstanton Cliffs I saw No. 49 to No. 67. An excellent selection of birds found here and also Mark Bradbury pointed out the Shag distantly to me, sitting on a post at the eastern most end of the cliffs. I didn't see the reported snow buntings here, but that sighting was early on and there were now tons of dog walkers around.

Old Hunstanton Church by the duck pond gave me a Sparrowhawk swooping through. Along Waterworks Road I saw a Gadwall in the pond at the end of the road. I was hoping for grey wag or kingfisher here, but no luck.

Had a massive flock of Linnets between Ringstead and Choseley. Pager bleeped up with Taiga Bean Goose and Barnacle Goose betweeen Docking and Choseley, so off I went to search for these. Found a massive flock of Pink-footed Geese, probably a few thousand, but even with lots of searching (and with other birders) we couldn't find either of these! No corn buntings or yellowhammers were found at Choseley.

At Titchwell RSPB I ticked off Greenfinch on the feeders and Water Rail in the usual ditch. Tufted Duck and Teal were on Patsy's Pool and a Jay appeared by the farm gate near the pool. The rest: No. 75 to No. 82 were seen from Island Hide and along the main path. The weather was dire now, howling wind and rain were battering me! On the sea I had Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Goldeneye and a Red-throated Diver west. I could hardly walk because of the wind on the way back. Ticked 3 Little Grebes on the way back in the first pool. Back at the Fen Trail I got lucky and flushed a Woodcock from the undergrowth. Although there were a few Marsh Harriers here, I did not see Hen Harrier or Barn Owl, which was disappointing.

Went off searching for Owls. Drove back up the Choseley Road and had a Little Owl flying in front of the car and then veered off in the field east of me!!! I drove everywhere trying to find a Barn Owl or/and Tawny Owl, but just couldn't find either. I even went down the Firs Road at Holme to a really good spot for Tawny, but nothing! Went home and fell asleep!

I didn't expect to beat last year's 101 count with the atrocious weather we had today, but was quite pleased when I added up my total, not too bad at all really.
 
89 birds seen – listed in the order I saw them:

1. Robin
2. Blackbird
3. Starling
4. Hedgesparrow
5. Heron
6. Collared Dove
7. Woodpigeon
8. Black-headed Gull
9. Jackdaw
10. Rook
11. Nuthatch
12. Mistlethrush
13. Pheasant
14. Red-legged Partridge
15. Pink-footed Goose
16. Magpie
17. Herring Gull
18. Moorhen
19. Greylag Goose
20. Egyptian Goose
21. Canada Goose
22. Goldfinches
23. Mallard
24. Mute Swan
25. Pochard
26. Knot
27. Wigeon
28. Curlew
29. Coot
30. Marsh Harrier
31. Shelduck
32. Lapwing
33. Fieldfare
34. Redwing
35. Chaffinch
36. Common Buzzard
37. Blue Tit
38. Great Tit
39. Coal Tit
40. Marsh Tit
41. Pied Wagtail
42. Grey Partridge
43. Carrion Crow
44. Brambling
45. Great Black-backed Gull
46. Kestrel
47. House Sparrow
48. Common Gull
49. Turnstone
50. Rock Dove
51. Fulmar
52. Oystercatcher
53. Bar-tailed Godwit
54. Black-tailed Godwit
55. Eider
56. Great Crested Grebe
57. Redshank
58. Grey Plover
59. Lesser Black-backed Gull
60. Cormorant
61. Shag
62. Red-breasted Merganser
63. Red-necked Grebe
64. Slavonian Grebe
65. Dunlin
66. Sanderling
67. Brent Goose
68. Sparrowhawk
69. Gadwall
70. Linnet
71. Greenfinch
72. Tufted Duck
73. Teal
74. Jay
75. Little Egret
76. Shoveler
77. Water Rail
78. Golden Plover
79. Avocet
80. Snipe
81. Ruff
82. Pintail
83. Goldeneye
84. Velvet Scoter
85. Common Scoter
86. Red-throated Diver
87. Little Grebe
88. Woodcock
89. Little Owl

Norfolk Bird News!

Main Highlights – RBA
Twite x 2, Hen Harrier, Smew, Velvet Scoters x 3 at Titchwell RSPB
Black-throated Diver at Hemsby
Snow Buntings x 50 at Hunstanton
Common Cranes x 5, Mealy Redpoll, Hen Harrier at Horsey Mere
Slavonian Grebe, Harbour Porpoise at Weybourne
Hen Harrier at Morston
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 8 and Crossbills x 5 at Edgefield
Hawfinch at Nunnery Lakes NR, Thetford
Rough-legged Buzzard, Crossbills x 12 at Haddiscoe Island, viewable from Waveney Forest
Taiga Bean Geese x 2, Eurasian White-fronted Geese x 26 at Buckingham Marshes RSPB
Glaucous Gull at Edgefield Tip
Tundra Bean Goose, Barnacle Goose with Pink-footed Geese between Docking and Choseley
Velvet Scoters x 2, Common Scoters x 50 at Gorleston
Great White Egret, Caspian Gull at Nar Valley Fisheries Lakes, Narborough
White-fronted Geese x 3 at Martham
Common Cranes x 3 at Heigham Holmes
Snow Buntings x 50, Little Gull at Winterton
Whooper Swans x 12, Bewick's Swans x 83 at Ludham
Snow Buntings x 50 at Gore Point, Holme

Other News
No sign of the BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT at Portland Harbour today!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing Everyone A Spectacular Year for
MEGA HOT BIRDS!
Good Health, Love, Friendship and Happiness!