‘Overwhelming’ response to Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s £1m Cley Marshes appeal - Environment - Eastern Daily Press
HAD to go back to the dentist today. Pain relief was administered and then a deeper medicated dressing was applied. Don't what kind of pain relief the dentist injected, but I could bl**dy well feel it, thank you very much! Went back to work and managed to scrape through the rest of the afternoon.
I have since found out from my good friends Christina and Frank that a dentist called Ian Smith at The Grange Dental Surgery at Snettisham is very good, so will be book in here next time!
Friday, 7 September 2012
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Norfolk - Main Highlights Today!
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER and Pectoral Sandpiper - Cley NWT
Common Redstart at Titchwell RSPB's NEW East & Autumn Trails -
(see my review, updated today)
Barred Warbler (still) Burnham Overy Dunes
Barred Warbler at Holme NWT
Common Redstart at Titchwell RSPB's NEW East & Autumn Trails -
(see my review, updated today)
Barred Warbler (still) Burnham Overy Dunes
Barred Warbler at Holme NWT
Can't take much more!
I feel so selfish going on about one pathetic tooth, which isn't even there anymore!!! BUT This bl**dy tooth is beyond boring now. Anti-biotics not working and painkillers, not working. Sat downstairs watching TV this morning at 3am as couldn't sleep with the increasing pain. It seems worse when I am lying flat. How the hell I am supposed to operate efficiently at work I really don't know. I seem to have winged it at work so far this week though. I phoned a friend this evening to get the name of their recommended dentist. I really don't want to go back to the dentist who extracted my tooth when a girl at work informed me that the same dentist whom she had seen, extracted the wrong tooth when she went for an appointment awhile back!!!!
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Norfolk Bird News - Main Highlights
With north in the wind this morning a few good seabirds were seen today including:
9 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Manx Shearwaters and 3 great skuas at Cley
Sabine's Gull, 2 Pom Skuas, 20 Arctic Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 5 Manx Shearwaters at Holme
Barred Warbler still at Gun Hill (there yesterday too)
9 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Manx Shearwaters and 3 great skuas at Cley
Sabine's Gull, 2 Pom Skuas, 20 Arctic Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 5 Manx Shearwaters at Holme
Barred Warbler still at Gun Hill (there yesterday too)
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Twitter sorted and tooth being sorted!
Finally deleted all weird messages in my DM box in twitter and logged out. I have a bad habit of not logging out of forums such as twitter, facebook, birdforum etc etc - I will ensure I do so in future! This may help with hackers – possibly! I feel desperately sorry for people that hack into people's accounts and create virus's etc, they must lead a very shallow and boring life indeed.
I don't actually understand the meaning of the word 'bored' - I don't have time to do a quarter of the things I would like to do in life. Besides work, birding, photography and blogging – IF I had the time, I would go back to painting, drawing, dressmaking, embroidery, reading more – and that's just for starters. Oh and I would do freelance typesetting, advert design, book design etc etc – the list goes on. How can anyone say they are bored!!!! Life is far too short to be bored!
This is a long shot, BUT, if anyone knows the whereabouts of at least four paintings I did of the Black-winged Stilts that bred at Holme and sold for £10 each at the time – it would be great to know where they are now please?
Tooth pain not too bad this morning, BUT turned evil later in the afternoon, so have now given in to the course of anti-biotics for 7 days.
I don't actually understand the meaning of the word 'bored' - I don't have time to do a quarter of the things I would like to do in life. Besides work, birding, photography and blogging – IF I had the time, I would go back to painting, drawing, dressmaking, embroidery, reading more – and that's just for starters. Oh and I would do freelance typesetting, advert design, book design etc etc – the list goes on. How can anyone say they are bored!!!! Life is far too short to be bored!
This is a long shot, BUT, if anyone knows the whereabouts of at least four paintings I did of the Black-winged Stilts that bred at Holme and sold for £10 each at the time – it would be great to know where they are now please?
Tooth pain not too bad this morning, BUT turned evil later in the afternoon, so have now given in to the course of anti-biotics for 7 days.
Monday, 3 September 2012
Twitter Hacked!!!
It was highlighted to me from some of my Twitter Followers that my account had been hacked into and I was apparently sending strange direct messages to people. Several people have been hacked into including myself already. There are some pretty sad people out there that need to get a life!!!! Apologies to anyone that received these messages and hope your accounts have not been affected. If you have been affected, carry out the following: change your password, log out of your account, log back in and then delete all odd direct messages. Apparently your direct message box is an outbox aswell, as I thought loads of people were sending me these odd messages, when in fact it was a list of messages that I had sent to other people!!!
I GIVE UP - JUST LOGGED BACK INTO TWITTER AND I HAVE LOADS MORE ODD MESSAGES - IF ITS STILL THERE TOMORROW, I WILL DELETE THE WHOLE ACCOUNT, THAT WILL SOLVE IT!!!!!!
No time to update my post from yesterday now, will have to do this on Wednesday.
Dentist again this morning as chronic pain all last night with tooth. Medicated dressing applied and was like a zombie at work all day and have anti-biotics to take - oh joy!
I GIVE UP - JUST LOGGED BACK INTO TWITTER AND I HAVE LOADS MORE ODD MESSAGES - IF ITS STILL THERE TOMORROW, I WILL DELETE THE WHOLE ACCOUNT, THAT WILL SOLVE IT!!!!!!
No time to update my post from yesterday now, will have to do this on Wednesday.
Dentist again this morning as chronic pain all last night with tooth. Medicated dressing applied and was like a zombie at work all day and have anti-biotics to take - oh joy!
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Review of the New Titchwell RSPB Trails!
As I ambled along the Fen Trail towards Fen Hide, I passed a couple of birders I knew who said it was a pity it was not a circular walk, as you have to return the same way. Maybe, eventually the walk will be a circular trail. The new trails start from the Fen Hide. It was a beautiful evening. I congratulate the RSPB on opening up a new part of the reserve - it was so exciting to be walking here. Spectacular new photographic opportunities - I later photographed mute swans in the orange reflection of the setting sun on the pool. I can't praise these new trails enough and I can see some good birds being seen here in the autumn with lots of trees and bushes to be searched – a whole new world! Lots of nice seats on route. Paths veer off from the main path to viewing points over the pool. At each viewing point there is a slatted wooden screen with tiered viewing slots for different height viewing. However, these viewing slots won't suit all, depending on your height, neither will they prove popular if there too many people of the same height trying to view from the same gap with a 2ft wide camera lens (you know what I mean!) My guess is though, that this a temporary measure until eventually when funds allow, the RSPB will build hides here. You need to allow at least an hour from the Fen Hide to enjoy these new trails. Other plus points - no dogs! I had lovely views of a Red-crested Pochard from the first viewing point. The furthest viewing point looks over the main freshwater pool/marsh at Titchwell and it was fascinating being the other side of this and looking across towards Parrinder Hide!
A board by the Fen Hide reads the following:
Titchwell Marsh
As you've never seen it before
Believe it or not, the area in front of you was once a meadow, grazed by sheep. But, as part of the Titchwell Coastal Change Project, we transformed the pool you see today.
To protect Titchwell's freshwater habitat and wildlife from coastal erosion and flooding, we had to strengthen our existing sea defences and build new ones, using thousands of tonnes of earth. By digging this earth from the reserve itself, we created a great big hole, just perfect for a new reedbed.
As you walk down the East trail, you will pass the end result – Patsy's reedbed. In the next few years, the pool will fill with reeds providing vital homes for rare bitterns, bearded tits and water voles.
Another board reads:
As part of our work here, we've created two brand new trails giving you unprecendented access to areas of this reserve that have never been open to the public before.
East Trail
East trail starts here and snakes past Patsy's reedbed, up to Willow Wood. Look out for pretty orange tip butterflies flitting over the reeds in summer, migrating warblers in autumn and striking teal in winter. By spring, the banks of this 400m path will be awash with colourful flowers.
Autumn Trail
Where the East Trail ends, the Autumn trail begins. This 400m trail is open from 1 August to 31 October and gets you close to all kinds of wading and migrating birds at the peak of autumn migration. Visit in the morning and you'll be treated to fantastic views over the freshwater marsh with the sun rising behind you.
My only criticisms are the following:
There definately needs to be a screen to the right of Fen Hide, as everyone walking past here will disturb birds being watched from the hide (I'm sure the RSPB already have this in hand).
More importantly I am wondering how much impact we will all have on the roosting cormorants and little egrets. I sat on a seat near the dead trees where they normally roost and watched cormorants flying in – they definately seemed uneasy about my prescence and circled round initially as if to leave, but then opted for the trees furthest from where I sat. The marsh harriers didn't seem too bothered though. Only after I got up and walked further away (on my way back) did they start to fly in and settle on all of the dead trees. Now there was only me here, there could have been several people and people chatting etc. Hopefully they will get used to people being here, but I'm not so sure.
Lastly, its going to be a long march if a rare bird is seen on a different part of the reserve!!!
I am really looking forward to returning again at the weekend in morning light.
UPDATE – 6 September
Paul Eele, Warden at Titchwell kindly informed me that the Fen Hide will be screened with willow scrub, when they start coppicing next month which is good news. Also he will be monitoring the dead trees roost over the next few weeks to see if there is any impact from the trails. Also re: the circular walk - the RSPB did look into creating this, but the cost involved would have been massive, along with the amount of screening required along the East Bank and and Parrinder Bank etc.
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
A board by the Fen Hide reads the following:
Titchwell Marsh
As you've never seen it before
Believe it or not, the area in front of you was once a meadow, grazed by sheep. But, as part of the Titchwell Coastal Change Project, we transformed the pool you see today.
To protect Titchwell's freshwater habitat and wildlife from coastal erosion and flooding, we had to strengthen our existing sea defences and build new ones, using thousands of tonnes of earth. By digging this earth from the reserve itself, we created a great big hole, just perfect for a new reedbed.
As you walk down the East trail, you will pass the end result – Patsy's reedbed. In the next few years, the pool will fill with reeds providing vital homes for rare bitterns, bearded tits and water voles.
Another board reads:
As part of our work here, we've created two brand new trails giving you unprecendented access to areas of this reserve that have never been open to the public before.
East Trail
East trail starts here and snakes past Patsy's reedbed, up to Willow Wood. Look out for pretty orange tip butterflies flitting over the reeds in summer, migrating warblers in autumn and striking teal in winter. By spring, the banks of this 400m path will be awash with colourful flowers.
Autumn Trail
Where the East Trail ends, the Autumn trail begins. This 400m trail is open from 1 August to 31 October and gets you close to all kinds of wading and migrating birds at the peak of autumn migration. Visit in the morning and you'll be treated to fantastic views over the freshwater marsh with the sun rising behind you.
My only criticisms are the following:
There definately needs to be a screen to the right of Fen Hide, as everyone walking past here will disturb birds being watched from the hide (I'm sure the RSPB already have this in hand).
More importantly I am wondering how much impact we will all have on the roosting cormorants and little egrets. I sat on a seat near the dead trees where they normally roost and watched cormorants flying in – they definately seemed uneasy about my prescence and circled round initially as if to leave, but then opted for the trees furthest from where I sat. The marsh harriers didn't seem too bothered though. Only after I got up and walked further away (on my way back) did they start to fly in and settle on all of the dead trees. Now there was only me here, there could have been several people and people chatting etc. Hopefully they will get used to people being here, but I'm not so sure.
Lastly, its going to be a long march if a rare bird is seen on a different part of the reserve!!!
I am really looking forward to returning again at the weekend in morning light.
UPDATE – 6 September
Paul Eele, Warden at Titchwell kindly informed me that the Fen Hide will be screened with willow scrub, when they start coppicing next month which is good news. Also he will be monitoring the dead trees roost over the next few weeks to see if there is any impact from the trails. Also re: the circular walk - the RSPB did look into creating this, but the cost involved would have been massive, along with the amount of screening required along the East Bank and and Parrinder Bank etc.
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
The Tooth, and Slide Show by Sophie Barker!
Isn't it incredible how one tooth can cause so much pain and change the whole weekend!
I went to bed early last night and slept on and off throughout the pain, but was woken up properly at about 2.30am by serious pain. Took ibuprofen and paracetemol and eventually got back to sleep, although I didn't get up until nearly lunchtime. I felt so weak and exhausted, had more pain killers and decided there was no way I could do a bank shift this afternoon, so phoned and cancelled. My face was so sore I could barely touch it. Gurgled warm, salty water for ages. Then I sat at computer and updated my blog from yesterday. Cooked lunch, had shower and had a doze.
I decided later on to go to Sophie Barker's slide show talk "The History of Holme Bird Observatory" at 4.30pm. I didn't make the AGM at 3pm though. Dropped in some shopping to parents on route. The talk was held in Holme Village Hall, which I have not been into for many years. The hall was where I did gymnastics and country dancing, as a pupil at Holme Primary School a few yards away. My father also held Nature Exhibitions in this hall, which I used to man and sell tickets for - that's going back some years! The village hall has recently been refurbished and now has a huge kitchen and another room out the back - looked very impressive to what it used to look like. I had timed it perfectly when I arrived, the AGM had finished and people were eating and chatting. There was a fantastic spread of food along with teas and coffees, pity really that after all the effort that had been made, that there weren't many people there!
Sophie conducted a brilliant talk which she made very interesting and entertaining. Wonderful to see some of the old pictures again.
I went to bed early last night and slept on and off throughout the pain, but was woken up properly at about 2.30am by serious pain. Took ibuprofen and paracetemol and eventually got back to sleep, although I didn't get up until nearly lunchtime. I felt so weak and exhausted, had more pain killers and decided there was no way I could do a bank shift this afternoon, so phoned and cancelled. My face was so sore I could barely touch it. Gurgled warm, salty water for ages. Then I sat at computer and updated my blog from yesterday. Cooked lunch, had shower and had a doze.
I decided later on to go to Sophie Barker's slide show talk "The History of Holme Bird Observatory" at 4.30pm. I didn't make the AGM at 3pm though. Dropped in some shopping to parents on route. The talk was held in Holme Village Hall, which I have not been into for many years. The hall was where I did gymnastics and country dancing, as a pupil at Holme Primary School a few yards away. My father also held Nature Exhibitions in this hall, which I used to man and sell tickets for - that's going back some years! The village hall has recently been refurbished and now has a huge kitchen and another room out the back - looked very impressive to what it used to look like. I had timed it perfectly when I arrived, the AGM had finished and people were eating and chatting. There was a fantastic spread of food along with teas and coffees, pity really that after all the effort that had been made, that there weren't many people there!
Sophie conducted a brilliant talk which she made very interesting and entertaining. Wonderful to see some of the old pictures again.
Titchwell RSPB - New Trails Now Open!!!
'East' and 'Autumn' Trails were opened on Saturday 1st September!!!
John Furse just highlighted this on Birdforum. I phoned Paul Roney, Centre Manager at Titchwell RSPB who said these trails are perfect for the light in the morning. This will possibly entice people to stay the whole day at Titchwell now, as many of us only visit in the afternoon because of the light! I am really looking forward to seeing these new trails!
Write up on the Eastern Daily Press Website
Guided tours for the new trails here:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-322630
John Furse just highlighted this on Birdforum. I phoned Paul Roney, Centre Manager at Titchwell RSPB who said these trails are perfect for the light in the morning. This will possibly entice people to stay the whole day at Titchwell now, as many of us only visit in the afternoon because of the light! I am really looking forward to seeing these new trails!
Write up on the Eastern Daily Press Website
Guided tours for the new trails here:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-322630
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Holme Bird Observatory 50 Year Celebration!
I arrived at my parent's house early and tried to entice my father to come with me to H.B.O, but for a start he didn't look very well when I first arrived and seemed confused. I haven't really said on my blog, why father was taken ill back in April, but I now feel that maybe I should say, as I don't want people thinking that he should have been there today, without understanding the situation. My father suffered a Stroke on 13th April and very, very sadly it affected his cognition, his way of thinking, doing, speech, eyesight, well everything really. Also as is typical with stroke when someone is aphasic, he finds it difficult to name things. You see the object, you know what it is, but you can't say the name – as we call it at work 'word finding difficulties'. He wasn't your typical 85 year old at all pre stroke – he kept himself very active, busy doing things, writing, photographing etc, but can't do those things now. He was very determined initially and stubbonly went to the town on the bus with his one stick, when he should have been using a more stable walking aid, which the Stroke Community Team advised him to use. His speech has improved alot to how it was, but finds it difficult to hold a conversation. Recently his eye sight has decreased to the point where he knows that he is not safe to go out on his own now. I know I don't need to justify why my father didn't attend the 50 year celebration, but he simply isn't well enough to cope with lots of people in that situation. From my work on a stroke unit I find that stroke patients cannot tolerate more than a few people, when they are trying to speak or mobilise, depending on what type of stroke they have had. I really tried hard to get father to come with me, which really I shouldn't have, but I very selfishly wanted him to be there.
Anyway, mother decided she definately wanted to attend, but insisted on cycling down to the HBO seperately. Incidentally, anyone that doesn't know my mother, she is fiercely independent! My mother was almost as important a figure as my father when he was at the observatory. In fact thinking about it, she was as important, she was part of the team. Part of a team that dedicated their lives to H.B.O. She led a tough life bringing up three daughters, with a husband that worked 7 days a week and no car! I can remember clearly her walking with the silver-cross pram, with my youngest sister Vivien in the pram, Lucy sitting on the front edge of the pram and me walking alongside to Hunstanton to do grocery shopping on a regularly basis! When she considered me older enough to look after my little sisters, she cycled to the town several times a week to get groceries, which she still does today! She was and still is an excellent birder - she wasn't just the wife of a warden! She spent all the time that she could at the observatory, as we did as children. She had her first nature article published in 'The Times' at age 18, long before she met my father! I found her article via 'The Times' in a library once - don't know if I would be able to find it on the net, I will have to investigate this and link here if I can. I also worked as Assistant Warden along side my father in my teens which I am sure some of you will remember – I had a 'C' ringing permit up until I left home! Anyway I am waffling now!
Arrived at the NOA carpark at about 8.30am. It was drizzling with rain - that isn't what they forecast! I walked up to the observatory in the rain with a tin of Roses chocolates, a small contribution for Sophie et al. Sophie and team had done an excellent job of erecting marquees and all kind of things. There was a display board with old newspaper cuttings from the past. Hot and cold drinks were on offer and nibbles etc. Raffle and second-hand books for sale. I was fascinated looking through the books as there were lots of old NOA reports here and also old Norfolk Bird & Mammal Reports. I found an 1976 NOA Report with a picture of me in - aged 11, I am sitting on a seat by the obs. wearing a furry hooded coat feeding 'Fred' the mallard as I affectionally called him - he came daily for bread! I have this report already (got the whole set), but bought it again along with several old Norfolk Bird & Mammal Reports which I don't have including one from 1962! Ray Roche and his wife were displaying/selling some of their son David's artworks who has developed into a brilliant artist (watercolour and pencil). The moth traps were opened at 11am but I missed the main start of this as I was birding round the back of the obs. I spent a long time round the pine trees behind obs as I discovered that after the rain stopped (just after 9ish) the place was dripping with goldcrests - I estimated there were at least 50+ along with at least 4 chiffchaffs, a common whitethroat, a few robins, 2 great tits, 2 blue tits, a coal tit (ringed), hedge sparrow, a party of 9 long tailed tits. It was buzzing - I felt quite excited, there had got to be something good here! I kept looking and felt very positive I was going to find a good bird to add to the celebrations! I didn't! I reported back to Connor about all the goldcrests etc. Anyway I crossed over to the NOA carpark seeing a green woodpecker on route. 13 Snipe flew west over the carpark. I walked a short way along the path to the NWT hides as this is a good spot for Barred Warbler, but none appeared! Went back to my car and spent ages trying to eat a banana (sore tooth). Bumped into a few people in the carpark. Rob Gordon was on carparking duties along with someone else. Walked back to the observatory and shortly after this my mother appeared with a pile of books she had donated to be sold along with biscuits etc. Connor kindly took a rare picture of mother and I together. 5 Greenshanks flew over west. My mother excitedly found a Volucella Zonaria (Hoverfly) on the plants around the pond – she sees this hoverfly regularly in her garden, but they were extremely rare in Norfolk until fairly recently. I think my mother would have liked to have stayed longer, but she was worried about leaving father too long. I left the same time as mother to go home to see if I could persuade father again. I had my lunch with them - well I had soup and mashed potato, couldn't tolerate anything else. Father quite simply didn't feel able to go. The telephone rang, it was Connor 'they have caught a BARRED WARBLER and they are releasing it in 10 minutes' - BOTHER! I knew there was something good there today, fabulous for the whole day and I am really pleased they caught that Barred Warbler, but incredibly annoying that I missed it!
I returned to the observatory to join several people standing looking for the Barred Warbler, but I didn't see it. A few people did catch a glimpse of it though I heard. I took a picture of Sophie and Gary (Warden and Assistant Warden). Later on I walked to the NWT Forestry to find nothing more than a couple of whitethroats on route. The pines that had held all the goldcrests earlier were now motionless. I passed Dave Holeman and his wife late afternoon, who also had been searching for the Barred Warbler in vain.
I spent the rest of my time alone at the observatory and I had the most wonderful evening. The sunset was stunning and the most magical spectacle occurred. Hundreds and hundreds of hirundines filled the air, all hurtling through the skies west - swallows, house martins and sand martins. Some settled on the bramble bushes on the Thornham Bank (now known as the East Bank) momentarily before continuing their journey west. There were so many it was though they were jostling for space to fly through - seriously! A wonderful sight indeed.
As I drove along the Firs Road I had a lovely surprise of a Tawny Owl, who was sitting on a post next to the River Hun, by Sandy Ridge (house) - it then relocated to the copse of trees adjacent to the house.
A wonderful day and congratulations to everyone that organised the event.
Note: Eddie found a Pectoral Sandpiper at Stiffkey Fen today - his second good bird found this week - what will the third be?
Also an Osprey flew west over Choseley Barns and the Suffolk SPANISH SPARROW has been seen again at Languard!!!! So it never left!
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Anyway, mother decided she definately wanted to attend, but insisted on cycling down to the HBO seperately. Incidentally, anyone that doesn't know my mother, she is fiercely independent! My mother was almost as important a figure as my father when he was at the observatory. In fact thinking about it, she was as important, she was part of the team. Part of a team that dedicated their lives to H.B.O. She led a tough life bringing up three daughters, with a husband that worked 7 days a week and no car! I can remember clearly her walking with the silver-cross pram, with my youngest sister Vivien in the pram, Lucy sitting on the front edge of the pram and me walking alongside to Hunstanton to do grocery shopping on a regularly basis! When she considered me older enough to look after my little sisters, she cycled to the town several times a week to get groceries, which she still does today! She was and still is an excellent birder - she wasn't just the wife of a warden! She spent all the time that she could at the observatory, as we did as children. She had her first nature article published in 'The Times' at age 18, long before she met my father! I found her article via 'The Times' in a library once - don't know if I would be able to find it on the net, I will have to investigate this and link here if I can. I also worked as Assistant Warden along side my father in my teens which I am sure some of you will remember – I had a 'C' ringing permit up until I left home! Anyway I am waffling now!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Arrived at the NOA carpark at about 8.30am. It was drizzling with rain - that isn't what they forecast! I walked up to the observatory in the rain with a tin of Roses chocolates, a small contribution for Sophie et al. Sophie and team had done an excellent job of erecting marquees and all kind of things. There was a display board with old newspaper cuttings from the past. Hot and cold drinks were on offer and nibbles etc. Raffle and second-hand books for sale. I was fascinated looking through the books as there were lots of old NOA reports here and also old Norfolk Bird & Mammal Reports. I found an 1976 NOA Report with a picture of me in - aged 11, I am sitting on a seat by the obs. wearing a furry hooded coat feeding 'Fred' the mallard as I affectionally called him - he came daily for bread! I have this report already (got the whole set), but bought it again along with several old Norfolk Bird & Mammal Reports which I don't have including one from 1962! Ray Roche and his wife were displaying/selling some of their son David's artworks who has developed into a brilliant artist (watercolour and pencil). The moth traps were opened at 11am but I missed the main start of this as I was birding round the back of the obs. I spent a long time round the pine trees behind obs as I discovered that after the rain stopped (just after 9ish) the place was dripping with goldcrests - I estimated there were at least 50+ along with at least 4 chiffchaffs, a common whitethroat, a few robins, 2 great tits, 2 blue tits, a coal tit (ringed), hedge sparrow, a party of 9 long tailed tits. It was buzzing - I felt quite excited, there had got to be something good here! I kept looking and felt very positive I was going to find a good bird to add to the celebrations! I didn't! I reported back to Connor about all the goldcrests etc. Anyway I crossed over to the NOA carpark seeing a green woodpecker on route. 13 Snipe flew west over the carpark. I walked a short way along the path to the NWT hides as this is a good spot for Barred Warbler, but none appeared! Went back to my car and spent ages trying to eat a banana (sore tooth). Bumped into a few people in the carpark. Rob Gordon was on carparking duties along with someone else. Walked back to the observatory and shortly after this my mother appeared with a pile of books she had donated to be sold along with biscuits etc. Connor kindly took a rare picture of mother and I together. 5 Greenshanks flew over west. My mother excitedly found a Volucella Zonaria (Hoverfly) on the plants around the pond – she sees this hoverfly regularly in her garden, but they were extremely rare in Norfolk until fairly recently. I think my mother would have liked to have stayed longer, but she was worried about leaving father too long. I left the same time as mother to go home to see if I could persuade father again. I had my lunch with them - well I had soup and mashed potato, couldn't tolerate anything else. Father quite simply didn't feel able to go. The telephone rang, it was Connor 'they have caught a BARRED WARBLER and they are releasing it in 10 minutes' - BOTHER! I knew there was something good there today, fabulous for the whole day and I am really pleased they caught that Barred Warbler, but incredibly annoying that I missed it!
I returned to the observatory to join several people standing looking for the Barred Warbler, but I didn't see it. A few people did catch a glimpse of it though I heard. I took a picture of Sophie and Gary (Warden and Assistant Warden). Later on I walked to the NWT Forestry to find nothing more than a couple of whitethroats on route. The pines that had held all the goldcrests earlier were now motionless. I passed Dave Holeman and his wife late afternoon, who also had been searching for the Barred Warbler in vain.
I spent the rest of my time alone at the observatory and I had the most wonderful evening. The sunset was stunning and the most magical spectacle occurred. Hundreds and hundreds of hirundines filled the air, all hurtling through the skies west - swallows, house martins and sand martins. Some settled on the bramble bushes on the Thornham Bank (now known as the East Bank) momentarily before continuing their journey west. There were so many it was though they were jostling for space to fly through - seriously! A wonderful sight indeed.
As I drove along the Firs Road I had a lovely surprise of a Tawny Owl, who was sitting on a post next to the River Hun, by Sandy Ridge (house) - it then relocated to the copse of trees adjacent to the house.
A wonderful day and congratulations to everyone that organised the event.
Note: Eddie found a Pectoral Sandpiper at Stiffkey Fen today - his second good bird found this week - what will the third be?
Also an Osprey flew west over Choseley Barns and the Suffolk SPANISH SPARROW has been seen again at Languard!!!! So it never left!
PICTURES TO BE ADDED
Friday, 31 August 2012
Bird News in Norfolk Today!
Few birds trickling through I see!
RBA
Barred Warbler at Blakeney Point
Red-backed Shrike at Salthouse
Whinchat at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Black Redstart at Northrepps
Turtle Dove at Kelling
5 Long-tailed Skuas, 2 Poms at Blakeney Point
Long-tailed Skua at Holme
5 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Manx Shearwater, 24 Arctic Skua,
16 Great Skua and 10 Arctic Tern at Sheringham.
RBA
Barred Warbler at Blakeney Point
Red-backed Shrike at Salthouse
Whinchat at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse
Black Redstart at Northrepps
Turtle Dove at Kelling
5 Long-tailed Skuas, 2 Poms at Blakeney Point
Long-tailed Skua at Holme
5 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Manx Shearwater, 24 Arctic Skua,
16 Great Skua and 10 Arctic Tern at Sheringham.
An expensive Date!!!!
I'm feeling very sorry for myself and also very cross with myself. I will never, never again eat a stoned in date without removing the stone first! Last night I did what I do regularly, eat a date and remove the stone whilst eating (you know what I mean). I crunched on the stone and the second I did this I knew I had done some serious damage to my tooth. Looked in the mirror quickly to discover to my horror that I had split a bottom tooth (which already had a filling in) completely in half and it was loose! I hardly slept all night, worrying that I would swallow a bit of filling or that the tooth would catch and cause me chronic pain. Went to work this morning - phoned dentist and luckily got an emergency appointment - sit and wait at 10am. I was so pleased when I walked in to see a different dentist and the nurse working with him said 'I am sorry this is not your usual dentist, this is an emergency appt.' I replied 'that's ok' - it was more than ok, it was a massive relief that I was not seeing my usual lady dentist who is crap! I was injected with pain relief. The dentist sadly informed that the split was too deep to save the tooth - proceeded to remove tooth, excruciating pain - more pain relief and sat outside in corridor waiting for total numbness. Felt like death and the waiting was pants. Went back in and went through the awful procedure of that feeling of your head being pulled off. Left dentist with compact dressing to stop bleeding. Walked back to my car in a daze and went back to work. Bumped into friends in corridor on the way back to my ward – nice to see you M. and E. - sorry I couldn't talk! Bleeding continued, but no pain as still dosed up. Later in afternoon, pain started to kick in, but managed to control it with double dose of ibuprofen and paracetemol. Sitting at home, feeling rubbish and can only eat soft food! Boo hoo!!!
That DATE cost me £48.00 and am now toothless – can't laugh too much either!!!
PICTURES WILL NOT BE ADDED!!!
That DATE cost me £48.00 and am now toothless – can't laugh too much either!!!
PICTURES WILL NOT BE ADDED!!!
Holme Bird Observatory Open Day to Everyone!!!
This year HOLME BIRD OBSERVATORY is 50 years old!!!
Open Day on Saturday 1st September
from 9am-5pm
Tea coffee and soft drinks will be available.
Open Day on Saturday 1st September
from 9am-5pm
Tea coffee and soft drinks will be available.
"FREE ENTRY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
AND A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE INCLUDING:
RINGING DEMONSTRATIONS, A GUIDED WALK (2.30pm),
MOTHS (traps emptied 11am), KIDS BIRD HUNT,
AND A SECOND HAND BIRD BOOK AND REPORT SALE.
COME AND SEE US BETWEEN 9AM AND 5PM."
"Celebration Time, Come On"!!!
with Sophie B. & Crew!
AND A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE INCLUDING:
RINGING DEMONSTRATIONS, A GUIDED WALK (2.30pm),
MOTHS (traps emptied 11am), KIDS BIRD HUNT,
AND A SECOND HAND BIRD BOOK AND REPORT SALE.
COME AND SEE US BETWEEN 9AM AND 5PM."
"Celebration Time, Come On"!!!
with Sophie B. & Crew!
http://www.noa.org.uk/
Can't believe its fifty years since my father founded and started HBO!!!
Hoping very much to spend the day there with my parents, although father probably won't be up to it sadly, we'll see.
High Tide on Saturday is 7.29am and is a 7.8 metre tide (that's high!)
Hopefully it will be a massive celebration of rarities aswell!
I am also VERY excited as I felt very honoured to be asked by Sophie Barker (Warden) if my Desert Wheatear could be used for the NOA Front Cover for the 2011 Annual Report. I also have the back cover too! Report will be out in the autumn - not sure when though.
High Tide on Saturday is 7.29am and is a 7.8 metre tide (that's high!)
Hopefully it will be a massive celebration of rarities aswell!
I am also VERY excited as I felt very honoured to be asked by Sophie Barker (Warden) if my Desert Wheatear could be used for the NOA Front Cover for the 2011 Annual Report. I also have the back cover too! Report will be out in the autumn - not sure when though.
MEGA!!! - BLACK SKIMMER!!!!!
"Flew past The Mullet, Co Mayo at 10.00am!!!"
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=238841
"This represents the first Western Palearctic Record of this American Species."
What a bird - my goodness, I can hardly believe it!!!!!!!
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=238841
"This represents the first Western Palearctic Record of this American Species."
What a bird - my goodness, I can hardly believe it!!!!!!!
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Cley and Sheringham after Work!!!!!
Cley – Coastguards
Seawatching was going to be awesome today I decided - why does work get in the way!!! With North West winds all day and gales of up to 50mph this afternoon, I couldn't wait to finish work. I shot out of the door dead on time and bombed home to pick up birding gear. I was out of the house 15 minutes later and munched on toast and vegemite on route to Cley. I arrived just after 6pm! Lots of cars in the carpark on my arrival and a good number of people seawatching. I was rewarded immediately with 2 Arctic Skuas flying across the beach and over the Eye Field even before I got out of the car! I opened my door and it felt like it was going be ripped off the hinges, the wind was that strong and the same when I opened the boot. I was nearly blown over (that's a laugh!) anybody lighter would have been for sure! I struggled just to get things out of the car! To my annoyance, even though I had had the sense to dress for a serious winter's day, with all thermals and water proofs on etc I had forgotten something very important - my step!!!! Yep, I had forgotten my brilliant wrought iron seawatching step – so as I stood there, I could only see a few inches of sea in my view. It was far to windy to stand up on the shingle. Saw a few arctic skuas and bonxies going by and just caught a glimpse of one of the Manx Shearwater's that Eddie had picked up, but most of the passage had tailed off by the time I got there. R.M. had seen a long-tailed skua earlier I heard. News of Sheringham's seawatch came across the pager and I decided to relocate. At least I would have a better view I decided. So off I went.
Sheringham - The Leas
Parked up and battled my way down to the shelters. It was exhilarating. I just love this place! Massive rolls of surf were crashing down onto the shingle and I almost hesitated about walking down there to be honest. But I couldn't resist! I wouldn't say the shelters were quite full, but my goodness anyone going down there in the morning will have to get there mega early to get a seat!!! As I walked into the shelters Stuart W. informed me with a smile that I had just missed a Leach's Petrel 'by 5 minutes' - story of my life that, missing Leach's Petrels!!! But it did make me feel slightly better when he then added that it had only been seen by one observer. I saw very little whilst here - too late now and the light ws going, did see some fulmars, a guillemot close in, a few arctic skuas and bonxies, but nothing else. I also discovered that my new 'Orange' phone doesn't have a signal here either! So no 'Vodaphone' or 'Orange' - what the hell does work in these shelters?!!! The sunset was stunning and the waves were awesome and even though I didn't see much I was really glad I came - I especially love Sheringham and even more so when there is a chance of something special. I stayed until around 7.40pm (I think) then flew back to Cley to try and see a Red-necked Phalarope that had appeared on the pager. Rang Eddie on route to see if it was still there and luckily it was.
Cley NWT
Parked the car in the semi-darkness and ran across the road and along the board walk in pouring rain and winds. As I ran I asked myself what the hell I was doing, running in the rain in what was almost dark now, to see the silhouette of a bird!!!!! Complete madness!!! Anyway, I dived into the hide, puffing and panting like an old lady, to see Eddie - or at least I presumed it was - yep it was and he had the scope on the bird for me - I was lucky enough to see the Red-necked Phalarope at 8.04pm!!! Very lucky indeed. Heard a Common Sandpiper. There were also two Spoonbills very closer to the hide. Tons of gulls and other waders, but they were all just images now!
Cruised home and then found out about some incredible bird news - see next post!
Bird News in Norfolk today (RBA):
Havn't got time to list all birds seen today on sea passage but briefly:
94 Great Skuas, 138 Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Skua, Leach's Petrel at Sheringham.
4 Pom. Skuas, 50 Great Skuas, 78 Arctic skua at Blakeney Point.
6 Sooty Shearwaters, 60 Arctic Skuas, 15 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Terns, 16 Skua sp. at Holme.
Also see Norfolk thread on Birdforum here.
Osprey seen at Holkham, Blakeney and Cley.
Red-necked Phalarope found by ETM at Cley NWT.
Common Rosefinch reported at Holme NWT.
PICTURES and VIDEO TO BE ADDED
Seawatching was going to be awesome today I decided - why does work get in the way!!! With North West winds all day and gales of up to 50mph this afternoon, I couldn't wait to finish work. I shot out of the door dead on time and bombed home to pick up birding gear. I was out of the house 15 minutes later and munched on toast and vegemite on route to Cley. I arrived just after 6pm! Lots of cars in the carpark on my arrival and a good number of people seawatching. I was rewarded immediately with 2 Arctic Skuas flying across the beach and over the Eye Field even before I got out of the car! I opened my door and it felt like it was going be ripped off the hinges, the wind was that strong and the same when I opened the boot. I was nearly blown over (that's a laugh!) anybody lighter would have been for sure! I struggled just to get things out of the car! To my annoyance, even though I had had the sense to dress for a serious winter's day, with all thermals and water proofs on etc I had forgotten something very important - my step!!!! Yep, I had forgotten my brilliant wrought iron seawatching step – so as I stood there, I could only see a few inches of sea in my view. It was far to windy to stand up on the shingle. Saw a few arctic skuas and bonxies going by and just caught a glimpse of one of the Manx Shearwater's that Eddie had picked up, but most of the passage had tailed off by the time I got there. R.M. had seen a long-tailed skua earlier I heard. News of Sheringham's seawatch came across the pager and I decided to relocate. At least I would have a better view I decided. So off I went.
Sheringham - The Leas
Parked up and battled my way down to the shelters. It was exhilarating. I just love this place! Massive rolls of surf were crashing down onto the shingle and I almost hesitated about walking down there to be honest. But I couldn't resist! I wouldn't say the shelters were quite full, but my goodness anyone going down there in the morning will have to get there mega early to get a seat!!! As I walked into the shelters Stuart W. informed me with a smile that I had just missed a Leach's Petrel 'by 5 minutes' - story of my life that, missing Leach's Petrels!!! But it did make me feel slightly better when he then added that it had only been seen by one observer. I saw very little whilst here - too late now and the light ws going, did see some fulmars, a guillemot close in, a few arctic skuas and bonxies, but nothing else. I also discovered that my new 'Orange' phone doesn't have a signal here either! So no 'Vodaphone' or 'Orange' - what the hell does work in these shelters?!!! The sunset was stunning and the waves were awesome and even though I didn't see much I was really glad I came - I especially love Sheringham and even more so when there is a chance of something special. I stayed until around 7.40pm (I think) then flew back to Cley to try and see a Red-necked Phalarope that had appeared on the pager. Rang Eddie on route to see if it was still there and luckily it was.
Cley NWT
Parked the car in the semi-darkness and ran across the road and along the board walk in pouring rain and winds. As I ran I asked myself what the hell I was doing, running in the rain in what was almost dark now, to see the silhouette of a bird!!!!! Complete madness!!! Anyway, I dived into the hide, puffing and panting like an old lady, to see Eddie - or at least I presumed it was - yep it was and he had the scope on the bird for me - I was lucky enough to see the Red-necked Phalarope at 8.04pm!!! Very lucky indeed. Heard a Common Sandpiper. There were also two Spoonbills very closer to the hide. Tons of gulls and other waders, but they were all just images now!
Cruised home and then found out about some incredible bird news - see next post!
Bird News in Norfolk today (RBA):
Havn't got time to list all birds seen today on sea passage but briefly:
94 Great Skuas, 138 Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Skua, Leach's Petrel at Sheringham.
4 Pom. Skuas, 50 Great Skuas, 78 Arctic skua at Blakeney Point.
6 Sooty Shearwaters, 60 Arctic Skuas, 15 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Terns, 16 Skua sp. at Holme.
Also see Norfolk thread on Birdforum here.
Osprey seen at Holkham, Blakeney and Cley.
Red-necked Phalarope found by ETM at Cley NWT.
Common Rosefinch reported at Holme NWT.
PICTURES and VIDEO TO BE ADDED
A Favour Please?
To all my blog readers and friends
Please vote for my Sedge Warbler picture in the WWT Competition if you like it - only one day to go before the competition ends. Thank you so much! http://tinyurl.com/cd55q22
Please vote for my Sedge Warbler picture in the WWT Competition if you like it - only one day to go before the competition ends. Thank you so much! http://tinyurl.com/cd55q22
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