NEW BOOK: "The Bees Of Norfolk"

By Nick Owens

The first book to cover all of Norfolk's 197 bee species, including bumblebees, honeybees and solitary bees. Each species has its own page with images and distribution maps with notes on flight period, habitat, flowers visited, nesting and parasites. It includes up-to-date information on bee species which have been lost and new species coming in to the county.

Accompanying chapters cover Norfolk's bee recorders, the state of Norfolk's bee populations, Norfolk bee habitats and their historical origins, conservation, nesting and life cycle, parasites and predators, bees and flowers, identifying bees, photographing bees and attracting bees to your garden.
Illustrations: 400+ full colour photos.

This book will appeal to those unfamiliar with bees as well as those with more specialist knowledge. 224 pages. Hardback £28.95, £18.95 until 15th May 2017.

PURCHASE FROM "WILD SOUNDS & BOOKS"

RBA Weekly Round-Up 3rd to 9th May!

By Mark Golley
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/weeklyRoundup2017-19.aspx?s_id=347836294
Thanks to the RBA team for including my Red-breasted Flycatcher in their Round-up!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services   
Dotterel x 5 off Chalkpit Road at Choseley
Wood Sandpipers x 2 at Bintree Mill
Black-winged Stilts x 2, Bufflehead fem. esc., White Stork esc., Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpipers x 5, Spoonbills x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Savi's Warbler at Heigham Corner, Hickling Broad NWT
Black-winged Stilts x 2, then flew east, Spoonbill at Burnham Norton Marshes
Waxwing on Beccles Road, Gorleston-on-Sea
Black Terns x 2 at Filby Broad
Osprey flew north over Swanton Morley Gravel Pits
Velvet Scoters x 12 at Titchwell RSPB
Wryneck at Wiveton Hall
Ring Ouzel north of station at Buckenham
Ring Ouzels x 5 at Horsey
Spoonbill at Wells
Short-eared Owl at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Turtle Doves x 3, Ring Ouzels x 4, Whinchat at Snettisham Coastal Park
Ring Ouzel at Burnham Overy Dunes
Ring Ouzel at Holme NOA
Ring Ouzel at Gapton Marshes

MEGA NEWS
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Female 
North Ronaldsay, Orkney

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services   
Temminck's Stint in area of no general access at King's Lynn
Waxwing on Beccles Road, Gorleston-on-Sea
Black-winged Stilts x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Little Stint, Wood Sandpipers x 4, Spoonbills x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Dotterel x 4 off Chalkpit Road at Choseley
Wood Warbler still at Walsey Hills NOA
Shorelarks x 2 on beach at Holkham Gap
Hawfinches x 2 behind Washington Hide at Holkham
Osprey at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Black Redstart Male at Hunstanton
Spoonbill flew over A47 at Great Yarmouth
Black Terns x 2 at Sparham Pools, Lyng
Wood Sandpiper at Bintree Mill

MEGA NEWS
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Female
North Ronaldsay, Orkney
SPECTACLED WARBLER
Isle of Portland, Dorset
SLATE-COLOURED JUNCO
Skomer Island,Pembrokeshire 

Last Day of My Holiday!

I started the day with the completion of the end of week 2 of Couch To 5k. Saw a few birds on my running route this morning, including several Blackbirds in a field, a Willow Warbler, Blackcap and a LBJ!

I spent the rest of the day at Holme again and enjoyed more views of the Red-breasted Flycatcher – however, I didn't dedicate any serious time photographing this bird today. Had a jacket potato lunch, sitting outside the cafe at Holme NWT and went to say hello to Sophie at the observatory, but she wasn't there – had a brief chat with Steve Newman and then searched the pines by the beach, but didn't find anything of note.

Headed west to the Forestry to search for birds. I skulked around the entire area and found 1 male Stonechat, some Linnets, Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap. A few Swifts were gracing the skies and a Marsh Harrier was over the marshes. I watched a lovely female Redstart, pointed out to me by Fiona (NWT staff), which was feeding in the long sandy gully, adjacent to the coastal footpath. Apparently there were two Redstarts by the paddock next to the path to the NWT hides this morning too. I walked back along the road and had brief views of a Lesser Whitethroat. A cracking Ruff was in the pools/marsh on the corner of the road. At the paddocks I saw at least 3 Wheatears and another Stonechat, but no sign of any Redstarts or Whinchat whilst there.

I spent the rest of the afternoon watching the Red-breasted Flycatcher, which had become more elusive and was missing for a good period of time. Lots of banter and laughter when Andy W. and Justin L arrived, along with Jack G. and Drew L. Everyone got to see the RBFly before they left. It was seriously chilly this evening – I was shivering it was that cold!

I left and went to the village car park to watch for any migrants in the scrub – a favourite little spot of mine and was horrified to discover a massive pile of dumped rubbish – consisting of garden rubbish, old bits of hardboard, chip board, material things etc – what a mess! It was pushed and shoved into the base of a large willow, which is a particularly good tree to watch birds in – couldn't see the tree any more! This part of the village has been ruined over the last year – with the cutting down of the huge willow on the edge of the road near the toilet block and the hacking of the huge hedge next to the car parking spaces, I really don't know what is going on!!! This hedge is now visually a line of dead sticks – they might as well have taken it out completely, it looks a very sad sight indeed. Also this very tall hedge (that was) provided alot of shade to cars parked here – they will be roasting hot now in the summer months.

I went to search for the Wryneck in Holme village and missed it by 10 minutes or so, when apparently it was seen in a gravel driveway next to the road!!! Spent a while looking for it, but failed miserably. I drove along Beach Road and backed my car into a pull-in next to a horse field to scan the field (another favoured spot of mine). As I got out of the car, I could see some cycles by the hedge – I was thinking that children had left them there and gone for a walk, but they had been dumped!!! Four cycles dumped by the hedge along with big canvas chair. What is going on in this village?!!!

I returned to the stubble field between Ringstead and Thornham, to find in better light, that it was actually an asparagus field! There was no sign of any Hoopoe, but there were a huge number of birds here! At least 50+ Pied Wagtails were feeding in the field, along with a surprise of three Wheatears, Goldfinches, Grey and Red-legged Partridges and a couple of Blackbirds! It was very interesting indeed, as the surrounding fields were devoid of birds.

Holme Village
Two things that have made me pretty angry – a wonderful hedge, which was at least 12 foot high, if not more and has been there for many many years (obviously good for birds) has been hacked to pieces and looks a complete mess – just past the toilet block and now there is a wonderful view (not) of the fence/barrier to the golf course.

I was also horrified to discover today, a mammoth pile of rubbish dumped into the willow scrub in the village car park – right where I normally sit in the car and watch birds feeding, such as whitethroats etc – who has dumped this? Who and when will it be removed? I hope very much its not going to remain there!

Andy Brown feels the same:
http://northwestnorfolknaturalists.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/holmes-latest-tourist-attraction-is.html

http://northwestnorfolknaturalists.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/holme-residents-celebrate-latest-work.html

Also see Andy's post re his sighting of a GREAT HORNED OWL on 27th April, presumably escaped, but was it?!!!:
http://northwestnorfolknaturalists.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/an-eagle-owl-in-hunstanton.html

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services   
Red-breasted Flycatcher male in the car park area, Whinchat, Spoonbill at Holme NWT
Wryneck in gardens around Westgate at Holme
Black-winged Stilts x 2, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Wood Sandpipers x 11, Spotted Redshank, Garganey x 3, Spoonbills x 5 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Savi's Warbler singing at Heigham Corner, Spoonbill at Hickling Broad NWT
Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher still at Walsey Hills NOA
Arctic Terns x 28 flew NE, Hen Harrier male over Felbrigg
Ring Ouzels x 5 at Horsey
Glossy Ibis, Black Tern at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath Fen RSPB
Ring Ouzel flew west over marsh at Salthouse
Cattle Egret at Reedham
White Stork esc. at Sparham
Spoonbills x 2 flew west over Titchwell RSPB
Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint at Breydon Water
Pied Flycatcher at Trimingham
Ring Ouzel, Hen Harrier at Burnham Overy Dunes
Osprey yesterday at Blakeney Point
Wood Sandpiper at Bintree
Sanderling at Thorpe Marshes, Thorpe St Andrews
Temminck's Stint at Sea Palling

MEGA NEWS
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Female
North Ronaldsay, Orkney

Hot Birding at Holme NWT!

Red-breasted Flycatcher Male

Sycamore in the car park at Holme Dunes NWT

I jumped out of bed like a bullet out of a gun, when I realised I had slept through the alarms and I still managed to get to Holme by 8am (ish). This bitterly cold weather is getting rather tedious now, its ok if you are walking around, but standing in these conditions is not funny at all. The BBC weather for Norfolk tomorrow, reads the following: "Feeling cooler and breezier towards the coast." HOW CAN IT POSSIBLY BE ANY BL**DY COLDER THAN TODAY!!!

I seemed to have spent the entire day watching and photographing the cracking Red-breasted Flycatcher at Holme NWT! Well, almost! I have met several people today, who introduced themselves as readers of my blog – lovely to meet you all. One elderly gentleman stated that he was 87 years old – I'm glad I help to entertain your day! Nice to meet a young birder called Henry and his (presumably) girlfriend, who I was chatting with at the end of the day – they got very lucky and managed to see and photograph the RBFly in poor light. Thank you especially to those who kindly spoke of their sadness at my father's recent death – all your words of kindness are much appreciated.

I parked up on the NOA car park and walked across the path to dunes, then turned right to stand to watch the large sycamore tree on the edge of the NWT car park. This is now the only mature and largest sycamore between both reserves, so this will be a huge magnet for rarities in future months to come. There is also a very small sycamore close by the large one and this is where I obtained all my pictures of the Red-breasted Flycatcher today. For those of you wondering why sycamores are a magnet for birds – the leaves are sticky on the underside and attractive to aphids and therefore a variety of predators, such as hoverflies and birds. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars and are obviously another food source for birds. The flowers produce pollen and nectar to bees and other insects, and the seeds are are also eaten by birds. So basically, a sycamore is food heaven to certain birds and especially a newly arrived migrant, such as a Red-breasted Flycatcher! Several species of warbler love to forage in sycamores, notably Pallas's Warblers, Wood Warblers, Yellow-browed Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Garden Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers and so on!

Red-breasted Flycatcher male

I stayed in the same spot, sitting and standing until about 2.30pm! I have a lot of patience for photography (about the only thing I do have patience for!) and had to wait for sometimes an hour, before the Red-breasted Flycatcher landed in the small sycamore in front of me and even then it was sometimes obscured by branches and leaves. I managed to get a few pleasing shots, but nothing that I was over excited about. A Turtle Dove was purring in the middle of the sea buckthorn close by. I was frozen to the bone by the afternoon and headed back to my car for a very late lunch and flask of coffee. I added more clothing layers and put my waterproof over trousers on to keep warm. Saw three Swifts hurtle overhead and a flock of Golden Plover flew south over the marshes. I had lovely views of the stunning male Redstart, along with at least 4 Wheatears in the horse paddock, viewed a short way along the path to the NWT hides.

I walked around to the Bird Observatory and heard Sedge Warblers singing and a few Swallows gracing the skies, but not much else. Walked to the pines behind the observatory and found a smart male Blackcap, a Hedgesparrow and a couple of Robins in the pines by the beach. I returned to the small sycamore tree and stayed there until just after 7pm.

As I drove back along the Firs Road, I managed to see a Whinchat perched on a fence wire, that several other birders saw earlier in the day – so this was an added bonus. I feel a bit guilty today, as I didn't even go round to say hello to Sophie before she left the obs. and neither did I pop into to see my mother! I felt so tired and cold when I left – it was so nice to put the heating on to the max in my car! I had a quick detour around fields between Ringstead and Thornham, in case yesterday's Hoopoe happened to be around still  – no luck there and then headed home to King's Lynn.

The last day of my holiday often brings a good bird, so lets hope that trend continues! I can't be out too early tomorrow as I have to go running first, to complete my second week of Couch To 5k. (I should have gone today). The third week starts Monday morning, so can't get out of it! Sorry, but far too exhausted to go through pictures tonight.

A condolence book for my father is now at Holme Bird Observatory for anyone that would like to sign it, add a few words or an amusing story and will remain there over the summer months for those that were not able to attend the funeral/wake. I have left a picture frame with a few words of thanks etc and a picture next to the book.

A FEW MORE PICTURES TO BE ADDED ON MONDAY

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services   
Savi's Warbler singing, Spoonbill at Heigham Corner, Kentish Plover fem. on Swim Coots at Hickling Broad NWT
Ring Ouzels x 8 at Burnham Overy Dunes
Black Terns x 2 yesterday at Rockland Broad
Black-winged Stilts x 3, Garganey at Welney WWT
Black-winged Stilts x 2, Curlew Sandpipers x 2, Wood Sandpipers x 3, Little Stints x 2, Garganey x 3, Spoonbills x 3, Arctic Terns x 3 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stints x 4, Spoonbill at Breydon Water
Wryneck at Waxham Sands Caravan Park
Wood Warbler (ETM), Pied Flycatcher, Osprey at Walsey Hills NOA
Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath Fen RSPB
Red-breasted Flycatcher male in the car park area, Turtle Dove, Redstarts x 2, Whinchat at Holme NWT
Osprey flew north past Happisburgh
Pied Flycatchers x 5, Redstart, Ring Ouzel at East Hills, Wells
Black Kite (probable) over railway at Mulbarton
Pied Flycatcher in The Dell, Wells Woods
Wood Sandpiper at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Turtle Doves x 2 on Jacks Lane, Syderstone
Pied Flycatcher male at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Dotterel x 6 flew west, Osprey flew west, Ring Ouzel, Redstart at Sheringham
Ring Ouzel at Lady Ann's Drive, Holkham

MEGA NEWS
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Female 
For 8th day – potentially a First for Britain!
North Ronaldsay, Orkney 

A Very Strange Day!!!

I didn't get up very early, I knew I wouldn't be after last night. Really fed up with these bitterly cold North East Winds in my week off and not producing any good birds – come on! Sunday and Monday is forecast to be straight north winds – time to do those jobs you've been putting off for so long! Tuesday switches to north/north east and than AT LAST on Wednesday the winds switch to south west, Thursday east, Friday east south east, Saturday west south west and on Sunday 13th it changes to south east (I'm working that day!), but the good news is, that I also have that week off (aside from working the Sunday). So if the south east wind continues, I might, just might have a lucky week!

I decided to head east today and started off at the beautiful Glandford Ford, where I sat on the seat and had an early lunch and a cup of coffee. It was fairly sheltered here and I had lovely views of a male Grey Wagtail flitting around on the stones in the sunshine. A lone Black-headed Gull was fly-catching and a Blackcap was singing. I could see a heron standing on the daisy covered grass, by the mill house and for a minute I thought it was a statue, until the head turned and feathers wavered in the breeze! It then flew off, so that rather confirmed that it wasn't plastic or concrete! I got talking to a really lovely birding couple called Margaret and Eric, who come from Weybourne – Margaret was telling me that Red Millet is very much favoured by Turtle Doves and also Yellowhammers and that she buys it from Vine House Farm. She said 'its not cheap', but worth it, as birds love it – she said it smells a bit like aniseed and Turtle Doves are especially drawn to it – she said, its not the same in the mixed seed bags. Margaret said she knew Eddie and was worried she hadn't seen him lately – I assured her that he was fine and that I had seen him on Tuesday. We talked about so many different things, it was like I had known them for years – it was really nice to meet them.

Left here and went to visit the staff at CleySpy, which is just a minute away, if that from the ford. It was nice to see Suzanne, I hadn't seen her for ages, such a lovely lady. We chatted about the Swarovski BTX Scope, life and all that jazz. They had a gigantic pair of star gazing binoculars on display, but Tim also pointed out the "Kowa High Lander Prominar 32x82 observation binocular" which I was told a few birders have purchased and are using instead of a scope – reading the review by Steve Harris, it sounds like they are the bees knees, but the downside is that I could hardly pick them up and they obviously cost some serious dosh! If you have the pennies, they only have one pair left in stock currently.

I need some new 'work'/'car' bins. The little pair of non-waterproof 8x25 Nikons I have had for many years are pretty useless now, fogged etc and I really should just throw them in the bin. It was my own fault, as I left them in the car. I was looking at the compact sized, 2nd hand binoculars they had for sale at CleySpy with assistance from Phil, but none of them floated my boat UNTIL I looked through a new pair of Opticron Traveller BGA MG 8x32's – it was love at first look😉!!! Tiny, compact and weighing only 380g, I didn't even realise I was holding them, the image was crystal clear and with a minimum focus distance of 1.5m and quick to focus wheel – I couldn't find fault and I'm fussy with binoculars! These are now on my 'to buy' list! They are too good to risk leaving in the car though, but would fit very nicely in my work bag when out in the community for my tea and lunch breaks!

I headed to Gramborough Hill at Salthouse and was just about to walk to the hill and find something good (yeah right) when John Furse rings me to ask 'have I seen the pager?' (which I have on vibrate only and can't hear in the wind) and see that I am clearly at the wrong end of the coast, with a MALE Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Wryneck, a Pied Flycatcher and male Redstart – ALL at Holme!!! BOTHER! Stubbornly I continue walking to Gramborough Hill to find my own birds. All I found was 2 Wheatears and a few Linnets. I return to my car and decide to search in one of my favourite places: Garden Drove at Warham. I have not been here since 2016! Firstly though, I had a quick search in Walsey Hills, but only found John F.!!! plus a Blackcap or two, a Cetti's Warbler and an interesting insect that John pointed out, that I can't recall what the name was now.

So, off to Warham I go. I parked up on the concrete pad, which had no farm machinery parked up at all (this can change daily though). I have seen Red-breasted Flycatchers along this track several times before and it seems to be a really good place to find one/see one. I headed along the very overgrown track (not seen it like this before) and all I found was a Cuckoo, 3 Chaffinches and a Blackcap. I was very disappointed at not finding anything more. The copse at the end was overgrown and devoid of birds. I returned by walking along the edge of the sheltered field side of the hedge, hoping for something sunning itself on a branch, but nothing, nothing at all. I gave up and headed west to Holme.

It was very late in the day and I felt sure that I would not see any of the birds at Holme. It was a pity the RBFly didn't turn up in the morning instead of mid afternoon, it would have saved me heading east in the first place – saving time, petrol etc! I parked up on the NOA car park and walked across to where four people were standing. I was very lucky indeed, I only had to wait about 15/20 minutes when 'Dave' saved my day and said 'there it is'. I only had a couple of fairly brief views, but was very pleased to see this cracking male Red-breasted Flycatcher, before it retired for the night. I only got a smudgy blob on the camera though. Please note that the NWT reserve does not open until 10am for members/visitors and the NOA is only open to members from sunrise – expect to be checked for your NOA membership cards if you turn up early. Late news also came up on the pager this evening of a Hoopoe between Thornham and Ringstead this morning! If the Hoopoe is still around, I predict it will be found on the back of the playing field, behind Thornham Deli (there was one there before a few years back).

I headed home via Hunstanton and was horrified to watch a car driving towards me, deliberately run over a Mallard, along the 30mph main road, just before the police station. I can assure you that they had time to stop, but didn't even bother. I sounded my car horn for a long time in anger. The Mallard was still alive after it was run over and I was so upset and angry. I put my car on hazard and got out to assess the situation. Miraculously, the Mallard struggled, stood up (which I could not believe) and then waddled off and sat on the grass verge and looked ok!!! I swore it looked half flat after they had driven over it – cruel, sick people and one very lucky duck! It was a white car, but didn't get the model, let alone the reg number of the car. People who can kill animals and birds are capable of murdering anything in my opinion – makes me shudder, thinking about what I saw.

Now, the really strange thing is, that whilst my father was sat in the funeral directors in Hunstanton waiting to be 'scattered'/buried' – there has been all kinds of mishaps in the family and annoying things happening. It only just dawned on me this evening. I would have been unhappy, if I had been left in a plastic container in an unfamiliar place! Within hours of placing father in his favoured resting place, a mini fall of good birds turns up at Holme and seemingly nowhere else on the coast!!! I hadn't thought about this at all, until I was talking with mother on the phone this evening – she said 'Father has brought the birds'!!! Maybe he has and also he hated twitching and maybe this was his way of teaching me a lesson for heading so far east, when I should have stayed with him!!! I wonder what he will deliver to Holme tomorrow?!!! Maybe I need to be around to find out!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services   
Black-winged Stilts x 2, White Stork, Curlew Sandpiper, Garganey x 3, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Little Stints x 2, Spoonbills x 2, Wryneck (along Weavers Way) at Potter Heigham Marshes
Velvet Scoters x 16, Wood Sandpiper, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Ring Ouzels x 8 at Burnham Overy Dunes
Wood Sandpiper at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Red-breasted Flycatcher male, Wryneck, Redstart male, Pied Flycatcher, Turtle Dove at Holme NWT
Garganey x 2 at Holkham Park
Turtle Dove, Spoonbill, Ring Ouzel at Snettisham Coastal Park
Black-winged Stilts x 2 on Lady Fen at Welney WWT
Kentish Plover fem. on Swim Coots, Hickling Broad NWT
Wryneck, Ring Ouzels x 4 at Horsey
Glossy Ibis, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2, Bar-tailed Godwits x 2 at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath Fen RSPB
Woodlark flew west at Wells
Garganey x 2 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Sandwich Tern at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Cattle Egret at Halvergate
Great White Egret flew north over Elmham
Hoopoe between Ringstead and Thornham
Ring Ouzel at Narborough Fisheries

MEGA NEWS
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Female
For 7th day – potentially a First for Britain!
North Ronaldsay, Orkney

Father Now At Rest!

PETER ROBERT CLARKE

Now at peace – 4th May 2017

The Lark Ascending

(Romance for Violin and Orchestra)

Ralph Vaughan Williams

This evening, my mother, Lucy, Vivien and I had a little service for father and buried his ashes in a special place. We had planned on doing this on Saturday, but for a number of reasons, we brought this forward. We decided not to scatter the ashes, it didn't seem quite right somehow. It took a long time to dig the hole in our chosen 'special' place. We lined the hole with something he loved and then on top of the ashes, we placed 4 white and 4 red carnations (stems cut in half) to represent peace and love from us all. We then placed large stones on top and then filled the hole back in.

We played 'The Lark Ascending' (played at his funeral) on my iphone, as we carried out our little family service – very tearful, but now he can finally be at rest – until we meet again. It won't be a date we forget obviously, but 4th May was Richard Richardson's birthday, father's closest friend – so this has added meaning to the date. Such a difficult thing to do, but we made the right decision in the end. I miss him so much and think about him every day and those thoughts will never leave me. So many happy memories of a wonderful father.

Rest in Peace

💔💔💔💔

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services   
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE and Osprey still at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE at Cantley Marshes RSPB
Ring Ouzels x 14 at Burnham Overy Dunes
Cattle Egret at Halvergate
PALLID HARRIERS x 2 (both juvs) on Tuesday at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Velvet Scoters x 24, Arctic Terns x 10, Spoonbill at Titchwell RSPB
Black-winged Stilts x 3 on Lady Fen at Welney WWT
Wryneck in garden at Roughton, 4 miles south of Cromer
Little Stint, Garganey x 3, Wood Sandpipers x 4, Spoonbills x 4 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Savi's Warbler singing at Heigham Corner at Hickling Broad NWT
Turtle Dove at Snettisham Coastal Park
Red-breasted Flycatcher male reported in morning, but no sign this afternoon at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse

MEGA NEWS
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Female 
For 6th day – potentially a First for Britain!
North Ronaldsay, Orkney

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services   
Savi's Warbler singing at Heigham Corner, Spoonbills x 4 at Rush Hill Scrape at Hickling Broad NWT
Black-winged Stilts x 2 on Lady Fen, Great White Egret, Grey Plover, Garganey at Welney WWT
Black Redstart at Staden Park, Trimingham
Cattle Egret, still on grazing marsh on Monday at Halvergate
Spoonbill at Cley NWT
Little Stints x 2, Garganey x 3, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Spoonbill at Potter Heigham Marshes
Red-rumped Swallow briefly, Montagu's Harrier, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank yesterday at Sea Palling
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, Osprey, Wood Sandpipers x 2, Bar-tailed Godwit at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE yesterday at Cockshoot Broad, south of Horning
Turtle Doves x 2 at Choseley Drying Barns
Great White Egrets x 2, Spoonbills x 3 at Holkham

MEGA NEWS
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Female
For 5th day – potentially a First for Britain!
North Ronaldsay, Orkney

RBA Weekly Round-Up 26th April to 2nd May!

By Mark Golley
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-18.aspx?s_id=182947584

BLAKENEY POINT, East Bank & Walsey Hills NOA!

WILLOW WARBLER

In the Tamarisk near The Plantation, Blakeney Point

With light North East Winds and cloudy conditions, a walk out to Blakeney Point seemed like a good idea! There had to be something exciting out there? So with a spring in my step – yeah right😂, off I went.

Birds seen on route: Linnets, Reed Buntings, Hedge Sparrows, a single Chiffchaff, Northern Wheatear x 2 (one at Half Way House) and a Marsh Harrier. It was nice to sit at the picnic table to have my lunch at Half Way House – usually there are people staying here, but not today. Linnets and a Wheatear were feeding on the ground next to the house. It started to spit with rain and I imagined all sorts of birds dropping in!

At the Tamarisk, there was a Willow Warbler flitting around amongst the vivid pink flowers – it was lovely to watch this and it lifted my spirits no end. In the Plantation there were another three Willow Warblers and one Chiffchaff and also a few Linnets passing through, but nothing else. Two Grey Partridges were seen in the dunes. I met two of the new staff at the Lifeboat House, but I can't remember their names now, sorry!

Willow Warbler in The Plantation, Blakeney Point

Chiffchaff in The Plantation, Blakeney Point

There were more Linnets in the Lupins by the lifeboat house, but nothing else. Headed back to the big Tamarisk and spent a while trying to photograph the Willow Warbler amongst the pink flowers, but didn't get the shot I wanted, never mind.

Willow Warbler in The Tamarisk, Blakeney Point

I headed back to the beach, stuck my headphones in and trudged all the way back to Coastguards along the beach. It was considerably colder now than earlier in the day and I had to put my gloves on and hood up. I walked back in one hour and ten minutes – much quicker with fast music!

Back at Coastguards, I left and headed to Walsey Hills, but was put off walking in there by someone parked in the car park (won't go into it). I then spotted Eddie half way along the East Bank, so relocated my car and started walking along the East Bank. As I got nearer to him, I could see he was with Mark Golley, Andy Johnson and another birder. Eddie sent me a text to say there was a Pied Flycatcher in the cut reeds/ditch on the west side of the East Bank and it was now somewhere opposite where I was! How lucky was I! I just managed to see it before it flew off – it was flitting around on the cut reeds for a few moments only – it was a cracking Male Pied Flycatcher and was really striking (7.45pm). Bird of the day! I lifted the camera to take a picture and it was gone. Mark Golley found this on the way back and said it must have just come in, as it wasn't there when he went out along the East Bank.

Eddie and I had a quick look in Walsey Hills NOA, but didn't find any more flycatchers! Now, if I had had a crystal ball, I wouldn't have bothered walking Blakeney Point!! All those miles of shingle for 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs and a couple of Wheatears or a couple of hundred yards walk for a stunning male Pied Flycatcher! Was that cracking Pied Fly a sign of bigger things tomorrow? Hopefully!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services   
Caspian Gull by pool at end of Beach Road, Salthouse
Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath RSPB
PALLID HARRIER juv. flew east over Blakeney Freshmarsh, east over Cley NWT, then flew west and lost to view (MAG)
Wood Sandpiper yesterday at Breydon Water
Black-winged Stilts x 4, Garganey on Lady Fen at Welney WWT
Turtle Dove at Titchwell RSPB
Common Cranes x 3 flew east over Brancaster
Savi's Warbler singing at Heigham Corner, Purple Heron, Spoonbills x 2 at Rush Hill Scrape, Ring Ouzel at Hickling Broad NWT
Little Stints x 2, Garganey, Spoonbills x 2 at Potter Heigham Marshes
Short-eared Owl at Breydon Water
Shorelarks x 2 on beach, Ring Ouzels x 3 at Burnham Overy Dunes
Common Cranes x 2 at Upton Fen
White Stork yesterday, flew over Horsford
Osprey SE of Downham Market
Ring Ouzels x 5 at Weybourne Camp
Wood Sandpipers x 3 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Common Crane flew east over Thorpe Marshes, Norwich
Ring Ouzels x 3 at Horsey/Winterton
Black Tern at Whitlingham Country Park
Spoonbill on beach at Wells
Pied Flycatcher male by East Bank, Cley NWT

MEGA NEWS
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Female
For 4th day – potentially a First for Britain!
North Ronaldsay, Orkney

Holkham, Wells and Choseley!

 Along the coast path between Holkham and Wells

I started the day with my first run of the second week for COUCH TO 5K and managed it pretty well with no problems, although I am getting bored of my running route – once I start running further, I am going to find a more scenic place to run.

May 1st kicks off with a Red-footed Falcon at Choseley Drying Barns and another seen at Kelling – I didn't see either though. I decided to walk somewhere different for a change and headed to Holkham.

Along the coast path between Holkham and Wells

I parked at Lady Anne's Drive at Holkham and paid £3.00 for 2 hours parking – its £7.00 for the entire day. It was a cold north east wind and gloomy skies – I headed east to Wells. I saw very little, in fact it was almost birdless! I had one Chiffchaff and one Blackcap calling for the entire walk! At the drinking pool at Wells, there were nothing to see at all. I sat by the pool and had a coffee and then returned. There were more dogs than birds – very sad state of affairs. Bird of the day was a Cuckoo bounding over the path and across the marsh, calling. Back at my car a Mistle Thrush was collecting food on the marsh and there were Greylag and Egyptian Geese. Very poor birding today.

Along the coast path between Holkham and Wells

I headed to Choseley Drying Barns were I saw Yellowhammers, Goldfinches, Pied Wagtail, Grey and Red-legged Partridges, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, a Marsh Harrier and Swallows. See my previous post with advice at Choseley Drying Barns. Beautiful sunset this evening.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT"
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services   
Arctic Terns x 4, Spoonbill, Spotted Redshanks x 4 at Breydon Water
Common Cranes x 2 flew SE over Thornham
Common Cranes x 2 flew east over Hunstanton and Holme
Common Crane in field south of entrance, Spoonbill, Ring Ouzels x 4, Turtle Dove at Holme NWT
Turtle Dove, Garganey, Spoonbill, Velvet Scoters x 29 at Titchwell RSPB
Savi's Warbler singing at Heigham Corner, Black Terns x 2, Spoonbills x 2, Little Stint at Rush Hill Scrape, Black Terns x 6 from Weavers' Way, Black Terns x 13, Common Cranes x 3 from observation hut, Ring Ouzel at Hickling Broad NWT
Turtle Dove at Snettisham Coastal Park
Curlew Sandpipers x 3 at Snettisham RSPB
Glossy Ibis, Bar-tailed Godwits x 5 at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath RSPB
RED-FOOTED FALCON 1s Female on wires, Common Cranes x 2 flew west over Choseley Drying Barns
Ring Ouzels x 3 flew over Golf Course at Sheringham
Wood Sandpiper on freshmarsh at Blakeney
Shorelark at Halfway House, Blakeney Point
Black Terns x 5, Little Gull yesterday at Thorpe Marshes
Osprey flew east over Sparham Pools, Lyng
Ring Ouzels x 3 at Waxham
Ring Ouzels x 4 at North Dunes, Winterton
Spoonbills x 3, Little Stints x 4, Spotted Redshank, Garganey, Wood Sandpiper at Potter Heigham Marshes
RED-FOOTED FALCON Male flew south over Kelling Heath & Kelling Quags
Great White Egrets x 3 flew over Kelling Water Meadows
Osprey flew west over Kelling
Black-winged Stilts x 3 (2 males) on Lady Fen, Great White Egret, Garganey at Welney WWT
Pallid Harrier ringtail, probable flew east over Glandford
Ring Ouzels x 4 at Horsey Gap
Common Crane flew south over North Elmham
Temminck's Stint on Simmonds' Scrape from Daukes' Hide, Great White Egrets x 3 flew east at Cley NWT
Ring Ouzels x 5, Great White Egret, Spoonbills x 3 at Burnham Overy Dunes
Common Cranes x 2 flew over Brancaster
Montagu's Harrier or Pallid Harrier flew SE over Incleborough Hill, West Runton
Wood Sandpiper, Arctic Terns x 4, Bar-tailed Godwits x 7 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Arctic Terns x 6 at Whitlingham Country Park
PALLID HARRIER probable, at Blunt's Corner, New Holkham
RED-FOOTED FALCON flew east over Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Ring Ouzel at Weybourne Camp
Osprey flew south over Muckleburgh Hill
White Stork flew over Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park
White Stork flew east over Horstead
Black Tern at Colney Gravel Pits

MEGA NEWS
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Female 
For 3rd day – potentially a First for Britain!
North Ronaldsay, Orkney
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
Probable, in Nordy Wood, Cape Clear Island, County Cork, Ireland

Choseley Drying Barns Advice!

I have seen several people standing by the metal barrier next to the concrete area of Choseley Barns and wondering why they are not seeing Turtle Doves. I witnessed this early this evening and have done so many times before. Of course, you can stand by the metal barrier and also walk beyond this, along the public footpath along the outer edge of the concrete, but if you want to see Turtle Doves here and have the best views of the Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings feeding, you are best off sitting in your car to watch or at least from the opposite side of the road. This allows the birds to feed in their favoured spots and is also courteous to your fellow birders.

There were three people standing by the barrier again this evening – the favoured area to feed for the Yellowhammers etc and the Turtle Doves is the area of soil just to the left of the barrier. There is no way any of those birds are going to fly down there to feed, with people standing only a few yards away. The same thing happened on Saturday – see my post here, people were standing by the barrier and no sign of the Turtle Doves. Just after they left, the Turtle Doves returned to feed just to the left of the barrier! Good fieldcraft is a very useful tool for both you and the birds.

Visitors Ignore Warnings To Keep Clear of Crumbling Cliffs On North Norfolk Coast!

When will people learn!!! Adults with toddlers in some of these pictures, unbelievable stupidity!

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/is-this-the-height-of-stupidity-visitors-ignore-warnings-to-keep-clear-of-crumbling-cliffs-on-north-norfolk-coast-1-4997448