Despite the unfavorable weather forecast and recent coastal flooding we had a pretty good day out along the North Norfolk Coast today. We called in at Ludham for a more prolonged look at the swans and confirmed Whoopers as well as the Bewick's we'd seen yesterday. The Black Redstart at Sherringham proved elusive (unsurprisingly) and the coast road from Kelling to Cley was closed but there was access from the heath to Salthouse so we popped down to see how things were and were rewarded with 3 Bearded Tits in what is normally the roadside vegetation. A flock of about 100 Dark-bellied Brent Geese were here as well swimming on the fields opposite the pub.

After a quick look at the state of things at Cley we headed to Brancaster. En route Riggers nearly acquired a new radiator badge as we almost ran over an adult Glaucous Gull feeding on a Pheasant carcass on the road just beyond Stiffkey Fen by the pools in the large bend of the road. It really didn't want to give up its' prize and only took wing at the last possible moment! Our luck continued at Holkham when the decision to scope the marsh from safe vantage points along the road added Great White Egret to the list without having to trek to the hide and back. At Brancaster we failed to locate the flock of Shorelark there, as did other birders. Greenshank, Little Grebe and a selection of commoner waders were added to the trip list before we headed on to Thornham where 30 Twite were a 'from the car' tick. The Ferruginous Duck at Holme was asleep on the far bank of Broad Water, but raised its' head from time to time for a quick preen. 23 Red- legged Partridge were almost the only birds present at Chosely Barns with the smaller stuff mostly out of sight in the set-aside, so after a quick lunch we headed on to Titchwell. A Brambling was under the feeders on the reserve side of reception, with a Water Rail showing briefly but well in the ditch beyond, as did a Chiffchaff. A large but compact flock of Scoter well out from the beach would have been a tricky scoping job in the prevailing conditions but luckily a couple of Common Scoter and one of their Velvet cousins were close in shore along with Goldeneye and 6 Long-tailed Duck. The water levels were high on both marshes, leading to quite low numbers of birds being present, but we found Black-tailed Godwit, Knot and 3 pairs of Pintail. A second Chiffchaff foraging on reed matting was much greyer than the first bird we saw but couldn't be satisfactorily assigned to the tristis sub-species. Fortified by hot beverages and cakes we headed to Fen Hide to watch the harriers coming in to roost. No Bittern this trip but very good prolonged views of a Cetti's Warbler working along the base of the reeds was a reasonable finish to the day

A bright if cold morning, so we made another visit to Cantley/Buckenham but unfortunately the few geese out on the marshes were distant and against the sun so we headed on to Great Yarmouth.
Three Mediterranean Gulls were enticed by the usual bread-chucking ritual, along with larger numbers of Black-headed Gulls, several Herring gulls and at least one Common Gull. It was noticeable that the Black-headed Gulls were by far the boldest, with the larger gulls reluctant to come in at first.

After a foray into Suffolk we headed back to Filby Broad, where the assortment of waterfowl included a distant red-head Smew. A Kingfisher made a couple of appearances and we were joined briefly by Mike Passant and his friends from the North-East. En route we had a tickable fly-over ring-tail Hen Harrier and a collection of untickable Storks, Cranes Egrets and geese, as there's a small Wildlife Centre to the South-East of the village! Mike P and co gave us directions to a nearby Hooded Crow at a pig farm, after which we popped back to Acle Bridge in the hope of seeing the 2 Common Cranes reported there. No luck with that so we paid a quick visit to the rather scattered herd of wintering Swans at Ludham before heading on to Stubb Mill. We were lucky with the weather, as a heavy winter shower passed to the north of us over Horsey Mill, but the conditions seem to have reduced activity there today, with lower numbers and variety of raptors than usual, although we saw more male Marsh Harriers than in recent years. A pair of Cranes danced in the usual area and two Barn Owls were hunting and scrapping in the area as well. The bonus bird for this year was a distant fly past from a Spoonbill! A Tawny Owl was calling as we left, with Venus and Mars showing in a clear winter sky.

Riggers, John R, Karen and I managed to time our arrival at Lynford Arboretum with that of the eastward-moving snow so our annual East Anglian winter weekend got off to a low key start with a handful common species.

A swift retreat to Thetford got us good views of the 1st winter Iceland Gull in the local industrial estate, along with juvenile and adult Yellow-legged Gulls, but no signs of the Glaucous Gull reported earlier in the morning.

After lunch we headed down to Cantley, where the weather proved too inclement for a sustained scan of the marshes. Five White-fronted Geese and two of the Egyptian variety were the only medium-sized wildfowl venturing out of the ditches. There were many more geese at Buckenham, with two white birds among the many Pink-feet, c.25 more White-fronts and some distant Canadas. Plenty of Wigeon and Lapwing, several Dunlin, Golden Plover, Ruff and a Redshank made up the wader count with several thousand Rook and Jackdaws in a pre-roost gathering providing an impressive end to the day.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Friday 13th of January 2017 09:47:54 PM

found some more birds to add to my previous list I turned over two pages of my notebook
Brent Goose (both races)
Sparrowhawk
Common Sandpiper
Great Skua

just returned from a fortnights holiday on the North Norfolk coast. Based at East Runton my wife and I walked the coastal path
from Titchwell to Cromer approx. 40 miles. This was done in stages by courtesy of the Coasthopper bus and our bus passes.
Birding is not always expensive Rob .These are the better birds of the 99 seen The rest are just the usuals.
Common Buzzard
Marsh Harrier
Great WhiteEgret
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
GreyPlover
Gannet
Turnstone
Arctic Skua
Little Egret
Curlew
RedKite
Kestrel
Greenshank
Shelduck
Spotted Redshank
Pink Footed Goose
Bearded Reedling
Teal
BarTailed Godwit
Common Gull
Common Snipe
Balearic Shearwater (lifer)
Red Throated Diver
Shoveler
Cettis Warbler
Nuthatch
Pectoral Sandpiper
Black Tailed Godwit
White Fronted Goose
Egyptian Goose
GreyPartridge
Dunlin
Spoonbill
Barnacle Goose
Gargany
Wigeon
Rook
Pomarine Skua
Sooty Shearwater
Peregrine Falcon
Common Scoter
Wheatear
Corn Bunting
Ruff
Sanderling
Little Stint
Yellow Browed Warbler

Late post for Sunday 19th June.

Spurn looked a no show for anything of interest so I decided that 3 and half hours to RSPB Titchwell from Strines Moor was just too tempting seeing as though the Great Knot had turned up again.

- Great Knot 1 (Lifer)
What a cracking Wader this was, almost Turnstone like in this plumage, stood out from the masses of Red Knot, and a Turnstone actually turned up and was feeding next to it momentarily. Showed well from Fresh Marsh and the beach albeit a bit distant but a brilliant bird.
- Red Knot few 1000, some in ad sum plum
- Spotted Redshank 4, 2 sum plum
- Redshank
- Bar-tailed Godwit 20+ incl sum plum
- Black-tailed Godwits
- Avocet
- Oystercatcher
- Lapwing
- Ruff 2 cracking breeding plum on Fresh Marsh
- Sanderling 2 on beach
- Spoonbill 1
- Little Egret
- Mediterranean Gull 8 (more reported)
- Little Gull 4 showing well
- Common Gull
- Little Tern 15+ fishing just off the beach, 2 over the marsh
- Common Tern
- Sandwich Tern 1
- Marsh Harrier 1 put everything up
- Cetti's Warbler 1 possibly 2, seen on and off, singing all day
- Whitethroat 1
- Reed Warbler seen up close showing well
- Stonechat 1
- Reed Bunting
- Yellowhammer
- Bullfinch
- Shoveler, Gadwall and lots of Wildfowl around
- Swifts and Hirundines about
- Lots of usuals around so just listed birds of note, and picked the best of the shots of the stand out species. My 1st time here and certainly not my last, what a great place, so much so I ended up staying until gone 7pm and it was worth getting home at 11pm.





-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 22nd of June 2016 08:12:00 PM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 23rd of June 2016 08:45:32 AM

May 16-19th.

Highlights included 1 Pectoral Sandpiper at Titchwell and a male Snow Bunting near Choseley Drying barns.

I decided to leave my last report until this morning because of an interesting experience at titchwell and I wanted to synchronise my experience with flickr.

. But first, on the 4th Wednesday, we went to kelling where we found Dartford warbler and a nightingale in the area. It was a much quieter day then previously. Now on Thursday, at titchwell marsh we had 5 cranes that were found flying high up, Shortly after, near the meadow trail, a Cettis warbler perched out in full view and started to enjoy sitting in the sunshine for a whole 2 minutes, giving me an opportunity to get reasonable pictures of it from which I'm most proud of. Sea watching produced (worthy to note) sandwich tern, little tern, 4 common scoter, grey plover, bar tailed godwit, whimbrel and knot. 60 species were clocked on that day.

The whole holiday has been fantastic. 131 species in just 10 days. My top 10 moments are as follows.......

1. Wryneck at Cley on Apr 26th
2. Woodlark at Dersingham on Apr 27th
3. Whinchat at Cley on May 1st
4. Sanderling at titchwell on Apr 29th
5. Turtle dove at Holme on May 3rd
6. Ring ouzel at Holme on May 2nd
7. Black headed wagtail at titchwell on May 2nd
8. Cettis warbler at titchwell on May 5th
9. Ruff at Cley on May 1st
10. Red crested pochard at titchwell on Apr 29th

My favourite trip has to had gone to Titchwell marsh on Apr 29th, I had forgotten to write in Artic tern, which brings the total species to 74 for that trip.

Many thanks for reading. ....

An interesting 48 hours with much happening. .

Yesterday, we had fantastic views of 2 ring ouzels at Holme Dunes, with 1 male yellow wagtail that flew past. Then, we headed up towards Titchwell for the dotterels within the area, where we also got corn bunting and yellowhammer. The dotterels were very distant, nothing of the likes that ive experienced in Lancashire a few years ago where they passed within a few feet of me. The major highlight was at titchwell marsh with the Black headed wagtail! A real mega! We had wonderful views of him from the left side of the Parrinder hide on the fresh marsh. We only managed to see this with a special thanks to a group of birders from America and Canada in a minibus that we met. They very kindly dropped us of at the reserve! This is a green (public transport ) holiday and to reach 125 birds so far is fantastic.

Today has been more of a casual day, though with more then usual walking around Heacham. We finished the day with a short ride to Holme, where I managed a turtle dove and grasshopper warbler. My last report will be on Thursday....

An afternoon visit to Cley marshes. My favourite moment was 3 whinchats (2 male and 1 female) giving excellent views, spoonbill, Spotted redshanks, summer plumaged ruffs was fantastic to see, a greenshank, and still hanging around was a large flock of Brent geese with a few barnacle geese in with them. For only 2 1/2 hours I clocked 45 species.

A very fruitfull visit to Titchwell marsh with, dispite a very strong cold wind (and not a drop of rain till we got on the bus), gave us 73 species of birds!

Highlights for the day included (apart from 2 sticky toffee puddings with custard) A stunning male white wagtail, a female cuckoo, siskins, little stint, grey plover in full summer plumage, 2 common sandpiper, a hobby flew over, red kite, Cetti's Warbler, red crested pochard, 50 Brent geese (dark bellied) and a flock of around 20 sanderlings.

I was amazed on the beach, how wonderful it was to be surrounded by sanderlings. I sat down not far from where they were feeding and i allowed the tide to push them in a little as they passed. However, I didn't expect them to stay put and hang around me as they then decided to walk back and forth. I loved watching them feed for ages and got to enjoy their entertaining antics at close quarters. I had to leave them when my camera card got full and my legs got numb.

Must visit here again soon, out of every visit ive had in the past, even at 1 day apart, no two days are alike .....

A visit to the area of Dersingham proved fruitfull. Highlights including 3 buzzards, about 5 siskins, a brief close encounter of a green woodpecker was a nice surprise. A few treecreepers were seen close through the woods too. But, the biggest highlight was a woodlark that first flew overhead and then landed in a nearby tree, giving fantastic views dispite a bitter wind. Even though it feels unseasonably cold, its a nice warm feeling when one can get great experiences out in the field.

A most interesting day with a Mediterranean Gull been the 1St highlight when it flew over calling at Wells-next-to-the-sea, but, unfortunately I'm now forced to admit that wrynecks really do exist. At Cley, it was biting cold in the strong wind when one wryneck showed very well, he landed first on the left of the garden before moving right, when a 2nd bird popped out on the left, at first I thought he had moved but both were briefly clear in my view at the same time (but not together) from where I was stood. I'm now over the moon with this.

Today at Holme
NOA:
Black Redstart and male
Ring Ouzel in field next to NOA car park.
Birds were close to each other; Black
Redstart on post.
Seen from access track this pm
Also 52 Curlews.

Currently, two Firecrest and and a Willow Warbler
In bramble thicket at base of Gramborough Hill
I accessed from Beach road, Salthouse

-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 5th of April 2016 04:16:39 PM

A couple of weeks ago I visited Norfolk to boost the year list. Golden Pheasant finally seen at Wolferton after many many visits. Twite at Thornham were nice to see too.
I managed to take a visit to Abbey Farm, Flitcham for the Pallid Harrier that has been around for some time. I had a little wait before it showed itself. Rising up from the stubble field before disappearing again. Then it proceeded to put on a great show as it took to the air for a good 15 minutes before being lost to view.

The day, like the weather, improved as it wore on. The rain had cleared, as forecast, by the time we reached Flitcham at about 8.10 a.m. but the morning remained overcast. There were plenty of raptors present, with Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, 2 Common Buzzard and ring-tailed Hen Harrier all making appearances, but no sign of the Pallid Harrier while we were there (it showed twice in the afternoon). We moved on to a very windy and almost bird less Chosely Barns before finally making a decent connection with the local bird life at Thornham Harbour, with another Barn Owl, 26 Twite and 3 Rock Pipits.

After lunch we headed to Titchwell where, among the regulars, there were both species of Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Grey, Golden and Ringed Plover, Pintail, Knot and 2 Twite on the reserve. A flock of about 25 Common Scoter and several Red-breasted Merganser where off the beach and 2 Water Pipits were with several Rock Pipits on the drained pool west of the Public Footpath. No sign of any Bittern from the Fen Hide, but there were 2 Cetti's Warblers singing, and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier in the roost with at least 8 Marsh Harriers. Highlights from here were yet another Barn Owl and a female Kingfisher, both of which came within a few feet of the hide. The Kingfisher worked the pool very well, with one fish being about a third of her body length. A very pleasant end to the day, which ended for Mr. Potter with views of male Golden Pheasant at Wolferton down to 15 feet.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 24th of January 2016 09:31:55 PM

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 24th of January 2016 09:44:52 PM

Joined last night by Matt Potter, for a day of better weather, which began and ended well, but dipped a bit in the middle.

A total of seven Mediterranean Gulls were found along the seafront at Great Yarmouth, with a surprise appearance of a Woodcock, which flew down one of the paths to the beach before turning back and heading off inland. No sign of yesterday's Snow Buntings though.
After visiting Lowestoft for Purple Sandpiper we headed back to Great Yarmouth but failed to find the Glaucous Gull reported at the north end of the town.
Luddon Airfield had it's usual flock of Bewick and Whooper Swans, c110 of the former and c40 of the latter. From here we headed to Stubbs Mill and arrived it time for a nice fly past from the Common Cranes as 17 flew east to west in parties of 3 and 4. A pair were also in a regular spot to the east of the viewing platform and remained more or less in view until dusk, feeding, occasionally calling and displaying briefly. A ring-tailed Hen Harrier gave good views as it hunted west to east, but was the only sighting of the afternoon until we left, C45 Marsh Harriers came in to roost while we were there, a Merlin was seen briefly, and a very pale Short-eared Owl gave good views as it quartered the area. At least two Barn Owls were seen, with a bird hunting close to the viewing platform appearing darker mantled than the birds hunting further away. Woodcock over the car park and another Barn Owl in the hedge as we drove home completed the day.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Saturday 23rd of January 2016 08:58:35 PM

Our usual early start for Riggers, Karen F and myself, was rewarded with great views of the male Golden Pheasant at Wolferton Triangle. A morning of wet mounds and verge-crawling got rather swamped as the day progressed, so we settled for a ring-tailed Hen Harrier at Flitcham, along with a courting pair of Buzzards, resolving to return later in the weekend when the weather should be better.
Things were even soggier at Downham Market but the arrival of three more birders encouraged us to have another go at finding a 'Denis Atherton' in a fairly large area of wet scrub. A combination of Karen and Riggers located the Serin, which proceeded to give cracking views as it crept through the vegetation on the side of the railway line.
As the day got even wetter we gave up at Tottenhill and opted to seek sanctuary in the churchyard at Colney, where the Great White Egret was visible through the trees, before heading for the Travelodge.

Originally posted today by Dave Ousey:

A juvenile Pallid Harrier had been found near Flitcham in Norfolk in early December. What with bad weather, work etc in the way, a trip to see it was not possible until the Christmas break. We planned to go on the 27th, the day after the floods in Rochdale, but coupled with the heavy rain forecast for Norfolk, we cancelled. The bird was not seen on that day, so, a wise choice. Tuesday 29th dawned and four A Team members left Newhey with a promise of good weather and a number of species being lifers for a couple of us. A 5 o`clock departure meant we got to Norfolk by 8-25am in Steve K`s car. We entered the packed hide just as a Barn Owl and then a Woodcock flew by, then minutes later the Pallid Harrier was seen about 200 yards away eating the remains of a pigeon! A lifer for 2 of our crew, we had good views of the bird out of the hide and along the road as it hunted a large field. The weather at this point was truly good, with a blue sky and temperatures well into the teens, very unseasonal. We watched the bird for about 30 minutes on and off and decided to head along the coast to see other species. In the Choseley Barns area the hoped for Rough legged Buzzard was not seen. After watching another Barn Owl in a roadside field, news that a Rough legged Buzzard had been located at Choseley, we made our way back and were rewarded with distant, but good clinching views, were there 2 birds in the sky at once as we arrived? No news was forthcoming regarding a Red rumped Swallow in the Holkham area, so we pushed on towards Cley, where a Black Brant was in with a flock of Brent Geese. The goose was soon located, which resulted in another lifer for a team member. We admired the bird for 30 minutes or so, but could not find any other of the rarer goose species at Cley. We were well entertained by around 3 Marsh Harriers that kept putting up all the smaller birds on the marsh. We called in at Holkham on the off chance that the Red rumped Swallow had been found but alas it was not (The bird returned the day after though). A Bittern was a nice find as it flew around and again 2 Marsh Harriers lifting all the birds up in the bright sunshine. A call in at Holme Dunes to see the Shore Larks was our next stop. We were told that the birds were a mile walk away and we gave up as time and daylight were against us. We had all really enjoyed the day and headed for home around 3-30pm. The amount of birds of prey and large numbers of Pink footed Geese were really impressive. An accident on the bypass near to Sleaford, meant a half an hour`s diversion through the town centre, not ideal, but we enjoyed all the pubs and quaint buildings in this never before visited town. We reached Newhey by 7-30pm, a long but memorable day. Well done to Steve K for all his efforts behind the wheel.

Dave Ousey

First visit for me today to Norfolk. We headed to Beeston, finding the Isabelline Shrike had gone. Next up was Wells Woods. The two scarcities I got were both new lifers - red flanked bluetail and olive backed pipit, although the later wasn't easy and views brief. Any rare warblers were missed by me! Pallas's by mere inches. We picked up red kite and marsh harrier at Stiffkey, as well as a flock of Brent geese. What great birding!

-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 20th of October 2015 09:33:57 PM

A memorable visit to Norfolk yesterday from 7am until 7pm. 1 Barn Owl (en-route to Holkham) Wells Woods 1 Blyth's Reed Warbler 1 Red-flanked Bluetail 1 Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler 100's of Goldcrests to search through (never seen so many in one place, they were everywhere!) 1 Firecrest ( I had to find one eventually!) 2 Pallas's Warbler Also present 1 Ring Ouzel 2 Egyptian Geese in the fields c 500 Pink-footed Geese over 2 Lesser Redpoll 1 Siskin Musselburgh 1 Olive-backed Pipit which showed really well giving fabulous views Beeston 1 Isabelline Shrike showing ridiculously well down to 10 metres. I stayed from 4pm to 6pm when it finally decided to roost after taking a frog. Cracking bird! 1 Long-eared Owl roosting nearby.

Beeston Common Sheringham,

Not a birding trip as such but whilst in the area visiting some friends I couldn't resist the opportunity of seeing an Isabelline Shrike that had been at Beeston Common for a week or so, And I wasn't disappointed, a very showy bird offering close views perched out in the open for long periods and taking the odd short fllight hunting Insects on the wing, just a shame I'd didn't have time to visit nearby Holkham/Wells woods

An excellent break from the rush of Manchester. With 108 species seen with still a few others that typically stayed elusive. Me and my freind spent half of our break around titchwell marsh, which involved 3 full days and two half day visits (which also included a sticky toffee pudding for each visit, yum! Now my new tradition for any future visits). Highlights including 23rd; two Hobbies in a tree, Grey plover close outside the Parrinder hide, Black tailed godwits and greenshank close to the path (closest ive ever been anyway) and a male White wagtail was also found.

On the 25th visit, i had Cettis warbler briefly within 2ft from me, a Peregrine flew over very low and later almost caught a Teal right outside the Parrinder North hide. Near dusk, a Yellow legged gull was found amonst the 1000s of gulls on the island from the same hide.

On the 29th visit, i found the first Yellow browed warbler of the season on the reserve which was a real thrill (my 1st ever one was 2 days prior near Salthouse along with a near-by Barred warbler, another 1st for me). Also to note was Red throated diver, common scoter (both fairly near out on the sea). And another 1st was a brief visit of a Temminck's stint that i almost missed due to not looking properly at the "dunlins" on my way back to the bus stop, so many thanks to the guy who told me about it.

Other highlights included A yellowhammer close near Titchwell village, At Holme Dunes was about 11 Brent geese, 8 close sandwich terns, a couple of dozen knots nearby and a common redpoll that was ringed. An evening spectacle with thousands of waders, mostly of knots and oystercatchers at Snettisham rspb along with a single tatty female Eider. This also came with an unusually very red sunset and that even caused the moon to look very red too (pictures on Flickr). At Hunstanton was very large numbers of red legged partridge (50 was counted in one field alone), much smaller numbers of grey partridge were also seen. Sadly all good things must come to an end but i guess Greater Manchester needs my eyes to find birds there. But what a wonderful visit to north Norfolk!

Originally posted by Dave Ousey

Norfolk trip, Saturday 6th June:


We did our annual trip into Norfolk a little bit later than usual this year, but we still saw around 100 bird species. I left home at 10-30pm Friday and got home at 10-35pm Saturday night, a full 24 hours job, it was well worth it. My turn to drive and with nearly a full "A Team," we left Newhey around 11-15pm. On the way a diversion on the A1 around Clumber Forest saw us see a couple of Barn Owl`s really close to the road, good start. We arrived at our first stop at Dersingham Bog around 2-10am and waited for Martin Q to join us from Rutland. The night was fairly still as we all descended into the bog at 2-30am and as we passed John Denver`s seat, a Nightjar and a Woodcock were heard. On the boardwalks another Nightjar was seen in our torchlight as we stumbled around, it was a male, what a splendid bird. More Woodcock along with a Grasshopper Warbler at the side of the path and then as the first vestiges of dawn appeared a singing Stonechat was heard, it had us stumped for a while did that bird! As we got back on the boardwalk a Nightjar was churring as it sat on top of a tree in full view of us all. We were all then listening to a Tawny Owl, when a Nightjar flew past us and we were treated to an amazing display by the bird as it hunted about 30yards from us for 5 minutes, great! The Golden Pheasant did not put in an appearance, though that is not unusual at the triangle. We headed off towards the Brecks and as we arrived the wind had gained in strength rendering a search for a special species quite useless. Next stop Lakenheath and at 5am as we arrived, around a dozen cars were already present. A male Little Bittern had been present for a while calling / singing trying to attract a female. After the long walk down the river, passing the wood that used to have the Golden Orioles in it, we reached the reed bed were the Little Bittern was still calling / singing. What an unusual sound, its likened to a distant barking dog. A Hobby passed over and a couple of Marsh Harriers were seen. Bearded Tit and Bittern were also seen. What a great reserve this place is. Back up towards the coast we headed for Kelling Heath, now after last year`s resounding success, surely we could not see all target species again, or could we? No, was the answer, it was sunny but very windy so no Woodlark or Turtle Dove anywhere. Now we all like to ask people if they have seen anything of interest and as luck had it, a couple told us where to look for some Dartford Warbler`s. We struggled, but we all managed to see these great little birds, eventually. A Spoonbill had been seen from the Iron Road at Salthouse, but it had gone when we got there and so had the car park that was buried under many ton`s of shingle as a result of the winter storms. We watched the sea and got a few passing terns and we would have all fallen asleep if had been allowed to! Along the East Bank at Cley some amazing plumaged Black Tailed Godwit`s were seen along with the regular breeding birds on Arnold`s Marsh. We called in at Chosely Drying Barn`s but still no Turtle Dove`s. At Titchwell we soon located 10 or so Red Crested Pochard, on a "new" lagoon to us all, but the Garganey that were present tested our skill`s. We saw what we thought was a moulting Garganey and this was later confirmed by photograph, well done Steve B. Then 2 Spoonbill flew over the lagoon, great birds to watch in flight! We said goodbye to Martin Q at Titchwell, it was nice to see him again and enjoy his birding skills. We headed towards home calling at Whisby nature reserve just west of Lincoln. It was a little late in the season for Nightingale but after about an hour one bird burst into song, got to be the nicest British songbird. We headed of home all very tired but a really good day was had with between 10 and 22 year ticks having been seen between us.
Dave O.

May 15-22 in an apartment overlooking the harbour and marsh at Wells-next-the-Sea.
Birds seen included:

Red Kite
Yellow-legged Gull
Little Egret
Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Common Tern
Little Tern
Bar-tailed Godwit
Sandwich Tern
Ringed Plover
Spoonbill
Cormorant
Buzzard
Whimbrel
Oystercatcher
Herring/Black-headed Gull
Redshank
etc.

Visits to Titchwell and Cley produced:

Red-necked Phalarope
Little Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Mediterranean Gull
Avocet
Cetti's Warbler
Red-crested Pochard
Ruff
Little Gull
Yellow Wagtail
Turnstone
Marsh Harrier
Common Gull
Dunlin
Spoonbill
Grey Plover
Black-tailed Godwit
Wigeon
Pochard
Gadwall
Shoveler
Ringed Plover
etc.

Mustn't forget 12+ Dotterel at Choseley and 3 of each Stone Curlew and Woodlark at Weeting en route.

It`s a cinch with a Citril Finch. 10/5/2015
A quiet weekend doing household chores had been carefully planned, after the birding excesses of recent times. A good lie in on Sunday morning until 9am and then even before I had chance to check out the bird news a phone call from Mark K, who was birding near Sutton Bank,Thirsk. His pager broadcast the news of a male Citril Finch near Holkham Pines in Norfolk, PANIC ! Only a second for Britain. Quickly asking for time off from my understanding wife and ringing a couple of the A Team members, who could not get away, I arranged to meet the York team in Fairburn village with Nige, Paz and Mark K making up the team. We headed off to Norfolk with Nige at the helm at around 10-15am and after a few negative messages on the pager, the bird seemed to settle into a routine and was showing well as we parked on Lady Ann`s Drive at Holkham around 1-20pm. What followed was a 1 1/2 mile slog (like the walk to the Pacific Swift, though not as far) through the pines with lots of smiling birders heading in the opposite direction, all saying It`s still there. By the time we reached the sand dunes my legs were seizing up and I felt like a boil in the bag (ta Mark) after donning my big coat in good, sunny conditions! As we reached the birds chosen feeding area, the birders had it almost surrounded, with some high on the dunes and some within 25 yards of the bird.The bird was pointed out to me and our panic was over, what a cracking bird! Scope views were even better once you could get into the scrum. We all admired the second for Britain (the first had been on Fair Isle a few years ago) for a good 50 minutes and the bird suddenly flew back into the pine tree area calling as it went. Time for a social with fellow birders from near & far, all part of the scene. The bird came back about 30 minutes after we left and it was nice to see Lee Evans heading (running) towards the bird as we had a much more sedate walk back to the car, now we could smile at birders still arriving! A few Egyptian Geese were seen, along with a real Barnacle Goose at Holkham. We called in at Chosely Drying Barns to see the distant Dotterels that had gathered there and counted up to 12 or 20 depending on were you were stood! Our last stop was Titchwell RSPB Reserve, always a good place to stop at and we saw Little Stint, 3 Barnacle Geese (dark bellied form) but missed Scaup & Red Crested Pochard. Marsh Harriers doing a food pass and a booming Bittern made up for that though. Time for home after a cracking day out and all of us seeing a new bird, what could be better! Thanks to Nige for driving and the good company of the York lads. Reached my home by 10pm.
Dave O.

After early morning reports of the bird and much pondering over whether to go straight away or wait, enough was enough and I decided to risk the opportunity of seeing the Citril Finch at Holkham Pines, Norfolk In what would be a mainland first and only a second for the UK. Arriving on site around 6pm, there was just the small matter of a 30 minute walk (it seemed 30 hours under the circumstances!). Eventually we found the area and the assembled crowd of twitchers present who's scopes were pointing towards a clearing under the pines where the bird was feeding. A fellow birder put me onto the bird through his 'scope to get the "much needed" initial view to my relief then we were treated to excellent views as the bird continued to feed in the sand and scrub at the base of a pine. We watched the bird for around half an hour with it's partial grey face and underparts contrasting with The yellow green plumage, the double wing bar and long tail being a feature of this bird which those present were saying was almost like a cross between a Siskin and a Greenfinch! Eventually around 7.15 pm, the bird flew up into a nearby tree before taking flight over the pines and lost to view. Arriving back at 2am was certainly worthwhile after seeing such an incredible sighting and many thanks to the finder!

Jan 16th - 19th.

Riggers, Karen F, John R and I met up with Matt Potter at about 9 a.m. on Friday 16th at Roydon Common for the start of our usual January long weekend. An extensive search failed to find the Great Grey Shrike, but we did connect with a single Woodlark. Plenty of Fieldfares, looking very smart on a bright winter's morning, together with Red-legged Partridge, Redwing, Stonechat and Green Woodpecker were the highlights among the common species seen here. From here we headed to Chosely Barns where root vegetables were being dispatched for cattle fodder, so not much avian activity here. A quick scan of the hedges produced a single Yellowhammer and Song Thrush, then, as we headed back to the cars the 10,000 strong flock of Pinkfeet we'd seen and scanned en route relocated to fields just to the east of the barns. A quick circuit brought us a good viewpoint to scan the flock and eventually Riggers located a juvenile Tundra Bean Goose within the flock. As we all attempted to lock on to the bird the possibility of a second juvenile was discussed, but we were never able to confirm its' presence. The flock made a spectacular departure, with the Bean Goose obvious among the first group to leave, so we headed on to Titchwell. Here we had good views of a Water Rail and 3 Bearded Tits on the drained Thornham Marsh, but just missed a Jack Snipe. A small flock of Twite were located on one of the islands in the fresh marsh, along with the more usual collection of Greylag and Brent Geese (no Black Brant ), assorted waders, gulls and seven species of ducks including a single Wigeon and some smart-looking Pintail. A watch from the Fen Hide produced 4 Marsh Harriers, a ring-tailed Hen Harrier and a Merlin but no Bittern, with 3 Woodcock emerging at the usual spot as we headed home .

Jan 17th started at Cantley on a very frozen marsh, where another large flock of Pinkfeet conveniently debunked to pastures new, leaving us with good if distant views of 32 Taiga Bean Geese on yet another crisp, sunny morning. We headed on to Great Yarmouth to continue the tradition of hurling cheap supermarket bread about the beach and attracted a mixed flock of gulls with at least 3 Adult and 3 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls among them. Our visit to Corton failed to find any Firecrests this year, so we continued to Lowestoft in the only snow we saw all weekend to add Rock Pipit and at least 5 Purple Sandpipers to the trip list. Heading on to Ludham Airfield we found a mixed herd of Bewick's and Whooper Swans, passing a flock of 25 Egyptian Geese on the way. (There was some discussion of the exact composition of the swan flock, but of there were at least 6 adult Whoopers among the 46 birds). We took the roundabout route to Stubbs Mill, to see if any Cranes were visible in the fields surrounding Hickling Broad but apart from completing our set of swans with a small herd of Mute Swans and finding a huge flock of feeding Golden Plover, we drew a blank. A Crane had just disappeared from sight when we arrived at the viewing platform, but there were plenty of Marsh Harriers kept our interest up as we waited for the bird to do more than bugle from behind a screen of reeds. Mr Potter spotted a cracking male Hen Harrier, a Kingfisher shot by in front of the viewing platform and 2 Merlins perched up in front of the harrier roosting area. Finally two juvenile Cranes appeared, indulging in rudimentary display, dancing and throwing clumps of grass before heading out of view. Three adult Cranes flew over before we left, and we had good views of Venus and Mercury as we headed back to the car park on a beautiful winter evening.

Jan 18th. We started Sunday morning with a Blackcap in full song in the bushes next to our hotel in Acle. Halvergate Marshes were fairly misty, but we were able to pick up a possible Rough-legged Buzzard upon our arrival. Visibility varied but viewing from the bridge over the railway line finally gave us good enough views to confirm the i.d. We had no luck finding the reported Twite flock at Salthouse (only a flock of 40 Linnet) and Cley seemed very quiet, so we headed on to Lady Anne's Drive. 59 White-fronted Geese were visible from the Jordan hide, feeding in two groups close to the edge of the marsh; both parties became alert when a Barn Owl appeared giving good, if mainly back-lit views, before a spectacular arrival of wave upon wave of Pinkfeet dropping into the marsh all around the 180 degree view from the hide. As we left Riggers was the only one to get a good view of a Firecrest in a large mixed flock of 3 Treecreepers, Blue, Great Coal and Long-tailed Tits and the largest number of Goldcrests most of us could remember seeing outside of an autumn "fall". We moved to a favourite viewpoint further west with views towards Burnham Dunes, where we had a good view of a Rough-legged Buzzard trying to steal prey from a Barn Owl. Several Marsh Harriers, a Merlin, a Sparrowhawk and at least 1 Common Buzzard were also in this area. Matt Potter headed off home to Aberystwyth and we set off back to Acle, seeing another Barn Owl near Fakenham.

Jan 19th. The Blackcap was singing from the bushes again this morning as we set off. "Gandalf" Rayner's weather spells were more effective this morning and visibility at Halvergate Marshes was much better. The Rough-legged Buzzard was in almost exactly the same area when we arrived, before going to perch in its' favourite tree. It hunted low along one of the fences before heading further out onto the marshes, hunting and hovering regularly in silhouette as the sun rose. Just as we began to lose the bird against the light it conveniently flew west across the road, giving good views of wing and tail patterns, then even better ones as it flew further away and hovered almost directly tail on to us. From here we headed back to a very frosty Roydon Common. It looked as if it was going to be another fruitless search for us but as we were heading back to the car park Karen looked back and spotted something perched near to what we'd been told was the bird's favourite tree. Scope views confirmed the i.d. (sorry Matt) so we went back for a slightly closer view, before heading home via Pugney's Country Park at the end of a good weekend.

Other wildlife seen: Hare, Muntjac, Brown Rat, Rabbit, Chinese Water Deer (Stubbs Mill), Grey Squirrel, Roe Deer (3, Roydon Common), Red Fox.

Holme Bird Observatory. Today.
Juvenile Peregrine on kill, on beach.It then harassed Curlews and gulls for 40 minutes
unsuccessfully. It was sat on beach as I left.
12 Gannets east, c850 Common Scoter west.
Flocks of Lapwing, Starlings and Shelduck over sea. 20 Cormorant.
On beach were Curlews, Redshanks, Bar-tailed
Godwits, Turnstones ,Oystercatchers.many Common Gull.
34 Twite near the old coal shed, also 40 Goldfinch.
2 Kestrel
4 Fieldfare
2 Little Egret
4 Mistle Thrush
Lots of migrant Blackbirds
Earlier this week here:
Male Marsh Harrier , very close.
Little Grebe...6
Geese down:c600 Pink- footed,
200 Brent, 180 Greylag.
Big number Wigeon and Teal. Also many Gadwall and Shoveler.
6 Grey Plover and a few Sanderling on beach
8 Grey Partridge
9 Red-legged Partridge.

-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 7th of November 2014 10:03:48 AM

Just spent two weeks on the north Norfolk coast based at east Runton walked the coastal path from Burnham ovary staiths to cromer birds seen as follows
Buzzard lesser whitethroat snipe woodcock wheatear jay sandwich tern whitethroat little egret pink footed goose oystercatcher sanderling common tern hobby little ringed plover turnstone redshank common sandpiper curlew black tailed godwit icterine warbler spotted flycatcher pied flycatcher redbreasted flycatcher linnet Egyptian goose marsh harrier ringed plover curlew sandpiper greenshank shelduck dunlin marsh tit grey plover garden warbller barred warbler whinchat redstart bearded reedling olive backed pipit yellow browed warbler gre. skua red throated diver gannet Brent goose common gull cettis warbler long tailed skua spotted redshank little stint red crested pochard ruff eider plus all the usuals five lifers in a fortnight quite a. Brilliant fortnight altogether

A long weekend break with some great weather and great birds. Based in Snettisham but travelled all over.
Highlights were:
Red-backed Shrike (Blakeney fresh marsh)

Holme:
4 Spoonbill over
12 Eider ducks off the beach
1 Arctic Skua
50 Sandwich Terns
3 Gannets
1 Fulmar
6 Wigeon
12 Common Scoter
10 Grey Plover
Lots of the usual waders during high tide

Titchwell:
3 Curlew Sandpipers
3 Marsh Harriers
Ruff everywhere
Nothing out of the ordinary on a couple of visits

Cley:
1 Redstart on the walk to the hides
1 Whinchat
1 Little Stint
3 Curlew Sandpipers
1 Wheatear
1 Marsh Harrier

A smashing weekend which took in Cley, Titchwell, Holkham pines, and Holme.

Highlights were a Turtle Dove at Holme this morning along with a Cuckoo.
Yesterday, Titchwell graced me with a Spoonbill, Cetti's Warbler (and yes I had great views), Marsh Harriers, Little and Common Terns, Grey Plover, single Turnstone, Red Crested Pochard, Grasshopper Warbler and more Cuckoos.
Nothing out of the ordinary at Cley, but the beach held 5 Little Terns. I missed a Curlew Sandpiper that was reported earlier.

May 16th:
After a profitable morning in Lincolnshire Riggers, Karen F and I headed down to Weeting to meet up with Mike Ausberger, by way of Narborough Nature Reserve. Plenty of common woodland birds here, together with yet more Cuckoos, but the highlight of this reserve is chiefly its' lepidoptera. Among 8 species of butterfly and 6 of moth we had Dingy & Grizzled Skippers, Mother Shipton, 2 forms of Latticed Heath, Small Yellow Underwing and the similar micro moth Pyraustra aurata. Also a Common Lizard confident enough of its' camoflage to remain still for long enough for mr Rigby to take its' photo

The Spotted Flycatchers at Weeting proved more elusive than the Stone Curlew on this visit, with at least 6 of the latter present around the reserve. Also a pair of Turtle Doves and Tree Pipit in the area.

May 17th:
Apart from a stubbornly invisible Garden Warbler, Roydon Common was unusually quiet, so we headed up to the north coast. A Red Kite being mobbed by a Common Buzzard on the outskirts of Burnham Market was the highlight of the trip. Initially, only a single Corn Bunting was at Chosely Drying Barns, but, following local advice when we returned in the late afternoon there were a couple more, several Yellowhammers, 2 Yellow Wagtails and almost a full set of UK Columbiformes, with 3 Wood Pigeons, 9 Stock Doves, 1 Collared Dove and 1 Turtle Dove all perched along the same telegraph wire. No sign of the Dotterel at the concrete pads but 3 male and 1 female Wheatear here. In between, we visited Titchwell and added Red-crested Pochard, Bearded Tit, Cetti's Warbler and the elusive Golden Oriole to our trip list, among others. Visits to Holme and Thornham Harbour added Greenshank, Brent and Egyptian Goose, while Hunstanton was as usual excellent for fly-past Fulmars. We finished the evening with cracking views of Nightjar, several roding Woodcock and Round-leaved Sundew at a regular North Norfolk site.


May 18th.
Spent the morning and early afternoon in the Minsmere area (see that thread) then headed up to Horsey for the 2 Dotterel in the ploughed (and sprouting!) field between The Nelson's Head and Horsey Gap. After a pleasant pub dinner had a walk around Hickling Broad NWT reserve (great view of Chinese Water Deer and yet more Cuckoos)and headed down to Stubbs Mill where 3 Common Cranes were visible. Only Riggers was lucky enough to spot a Barn Owl as we headed home, but we all saw the Tawny Owl as it flew across in front of the car.

May 19th. Our planned retun home via North Cave fell foul of "an incident" on the A11, so we stopped off at Lakenheath instead, but only managed to add Kingfisher, Southern Hawker and Common Blue Damselfly to our trip list. Oh and a swarm of Honey Bees on the edge of Third Plantation. Our Total of 126 birds seen and 5 heard is one of our better ones in recent years

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Friday 23rd of May 2014 08:27:55 PM

A few of my ''Bits and Bobs'' during last week's holiday in North Norfolk.

Sunday 27/4...... 3 Red Kite up, near Little Walsingham.
...... At least 4 coveys of Red-Legged Partridge seen by the roadside while driving ( Walsingham area)
Wednesday 30/4.
....Spoonbill stood, just out on the mudflats, at Snettisham RSPB
.....Barn Owl hunting, mid morning, near the A149 at Burnham Overy Staithe
......A full on view of a Fox, as it paused in the grass verge of this same road at Thornham.


-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 5th of May 2014 06:10:48 PM

Visit to RSPB Titchwell Reserve on 29/4/14
A full day in good weather. 58 Species seen.
Highlights:
Bearded Tit...2(a pair) my best ever close views. Seen several times carrying food.
Sedge and Reed Warbler...good views.
Red-crested Pochard...5 ( drakes 4) ; they have been breeding here for 4 years (9 on the Reserve currently)
Cetti's Warbler...1
Marsh Harrier...5 up at once.
Kestrel...1
Brent(dark bellied) Goose...40
Bar-tailed Godwit...80 plus more on the shore
Black-tailed Godwit...1
Spotted Redshank....1 nearly full breeding plumage.
Ringed Plover...2
Linnet...2
Little Egret...3
Little Tern...2 arrived on the reserve plus 2 flying just off shore.
Grey Plover...15...on the shore
Sanderling...shore
Dunlin....12 on reserve + more on the shore.
Ruff...1 female.
Common Tern...1
Skylarks ...several





-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 4th of May 2014 10:10:43 PM

Visit to Cley NWT Reserve on Monday 28th. April.

Since my last visit, just after the storm surge, much restoration has been undertaken. The East and West banks have been repaired, and a new fence against the shingle has been pushed out to help ground nesting birds. The broadwalks have been returned to position and the hides (except north Hide, which has gone) are now fit for purpose.
Sightings:
Yellow Wagtail...1
White Wagtail...2
Pied Wagtail...2
Meadow Pipit...4
Reed Bunting...1
Sedge Warblers....regularly seen.
Wheatear...4
Skylark....7
Little Ringed Plover...2
Black-tailed Godwit...1
Ruff...4.... one very dark
Whimbrel...1
Redshank...12
AVOCETS.. widespread ( hundreds in the areas)
Teal...6
Wigeon...2
Gadwall..2
Snipe...3
Pochard...pair
Little Egret....3
Shoveler...3
Swallows...12
Marsh Harrier...2
Grey Heron ...several.
Oystercatcher....c30
Shelduck... everywhere in good numbers on the reserve and the area (several hundred)
Greylag Goose.... everywhere as well! c1000 with broods up to 14.
Canada Goose 12
Brent Goose...4 on the reserve, but several hundred found later in the evening on Stiffkey Mash.
Mute Swans
Lapwing in good number.
Common Whitethroat.
Pheasant/ Chaffinch/Goldfinches
Herring Gull...2
Brown Hare across Arnold's marsh.






-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 3rd of May 2014 10:28:21 PM

Gramborough Hill, Salthouse.

Spent some time last Thursday and Friday, on this coastal hill, in an attempt for the Richard's Pipit which is around.
No luck for me, or the other birders who were on the same errand.

Sightings:
Whinchat...1 A superb male showing regularly, both days
Greenshank...1 seen both days.
Wheatear... 30+... often 4 in the scope at once. At least 3 Greenland Race, with 2 of them climbing the hill, before me on the footpath and one near the car park at 15 yards.
Meadow Pipits.....10
Linnet...10
Reed Bunting...7
Skylark....8
Common Whitethroat...1
Common Tern...1
Sand Martins...c35 around the top of Gramborough
Little Egret...2
House Sparrow...2
Oystercatcher....5
Avocet....5
Gadwall...2
Shelduck....4
Golden Plover...2
Grey Partridge...2
Great Black-backed Gull...6
Herring Gull...1
Goldfinch...4
A Black Swan, albeit with pale fringes, has recently taken up residence at Salthouse pool.
Brown Hares ...4 ...behaving like mad March ones.
N. B. the car park is still under several feet of shingle. A BT engineer attempted to dig for the emergency phone but gave up!




-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 3rd of May 2014 08:12:41 PM

Late post for Monday 14th April.
Missed a Golden Oriole by just a couple of hours that had been singing at Sculthorpe Moor before I arrived. I'm counting that as one that got away
Nice Marsh Harriers over the marsh. Marsh Tit pair and all the usuals from the hides.

Sunday 13th April

Titchwell Highlights

2 Red crested Pochard
1 Spotted Redshank
1 Cetti's Warbler
1 Velvet Scoter in with about 20 Common Scoter out at sea but close to shore.
A few Swallows throughout the day. My first of the year.

Lots of activity all over the place and always nice to watch the Marsh Harriers

Saturday 12th April 2014

Lynford Arboretum Highlights
1 Hawfinch
1 Two-barred Crossbill
24 Common Crossbill

Sculthorpe Moor
Alive with Blackcaps
2 Marsh Tits
4 Brambling
1 Reed Warbler heard

In addition to the Stubbs Mill harrier roost, although technically just over the border into Suffolk, this winter at Lakenheath RSPB Reserve there has been an impressive roost of 20+ Marsh and at least 7 (including a few cracking males) Hen Harriers and a couple of Cranes, plus there has been Peregrine, Merlin, Bittern, up to 5 Barn Owls and an amazing Jackdaw and Rook roost. It's from the Joist Fen Viewpoint which is a bit of a walk in the current muddy conditions but on a nice evening it's well worth the effort!

Just got back from an afternoon at Hinckley Broad finishing off at the Stubb Mill Raptor Roost. An amazing sight of Marsh Harriers converging from different directions. Numbers got to 40+ until the mist spoilt the view. Unfortunately no Hen Harriers or Cranes, however 2 were seen earlier crossing the reeds nearby. The raptor roost is a must for anyone visiting Norfolk at this time of year.

Visit to Holt Country Park, Edgefield Heath and Woods, and Edgefield Tip on Tuesday 10th. December.
All these sites are close together, just south of Holt.

Red Kites....7 up at once over the tip! and 1 flying north over the heath.
Glaucous Gull...1... 1st Winter...by the Tip
Fieldfare....c60
Redwing...4
Great Spotted Woodpecker...1 or 2
Song Thrush...1
Good numbers of Common Tits
Marsh Tit...2
Chaffinch...4
Goldcrest...1
Kestrel...1...perched on the heath.

The Parrot Crossbills were present but elusive.
They showed on the south edge of Edfefield wood while I was down at the tip.
This is an excellent area for birders. Pity I dipped the Parrot Crossbills after several tries.

-- Edited by keith mills on Monday 16th of December 2013 05:12:10 PM

As usual on any Norfolk holiday: the mandatory visit to Titchwell RSPB reserve on the 12th December.

The guy who calculated the heights for the new sea walls in last year's makeover, used his slide rule well!
Both on the bank along the public footpath to the beach, and the bank at the new Parrinder Hide the
tidal surge was contained by a few inches! Debris covered the front top edge only of the footpath bank.
The main damage is to the wooden walkway to the beach which is wrecked and the beach viewing platform
which has gone.
The sand dunes at the beach have also been greatly reduced and sadly the seal colony at the sea entrance
is not there now.

Off shore close in :
Long-tailed Duck...3 ... including 1 drake
Goldeneye...16
Great Crested Grebe...2
On the beach:
Bar-tailed Godwit...30
Knot.... 12
Grey Plover....2
On the reserve:
Golden Plover...90
Rock Pipit...3
Water Pipit...1
Pied Wagtail...3
Brent Geese...c250 coming and going
Shovelers...6+
Shelduck...c50
Black-tailed Godwit....6
Bar-tailed Godwit...1
Oystercatcher...c40
Redshank...c12
Avocets...c12
Curlew...1
Teal ...widespead
Wigeon...few only.
Pintail Duck...4
Gadwall...pair
Ruff....32 numbers increased to this by a flock landing as I watched.
Grey Heron...1
Marsh Harrier....1
Little Egret...1

Tuesday 11th. December. Visit to Buckenham Marshes (RSPB)

My plan; to walk through to Cantley Marshes was thwarted as after crossing the major dyke, where Cantley
Marshes start, the River bank with its supporting steel piles had collapsed, and the footpath had gone with it and
was roped off.
However, parking at the old Buckenham railway station and walking along by the side of River Yare to this point was
over 2 miles each way, and my afternoon spent at Buckenham under clear blue skies was very enjoyable.

Wigeon....c 2500 they were everywhere in numbers, and during the walk their whistling could always be heard.
Teal....7 surprisingly few.
Peregrine......2 perched on different gate posts.
Redwing... flock of c25 over low.
Canada Geese...c50
White-fronted Geese.....12+.... my first viewing of the ssp. albifrons.
Pink-footed Geese...c250
Lapwing... good size flocks
Mallards and Mute Swans.
Linnets ...20
Chinese Water Deer...6+

As I returned from the river path, birders that I met up with, suggested that I stopped for the famous Corvid roost.
Before 4pm Rooks and Jackdaws started to cross the river and head over us, to beyond the church.
Flocks were 50, 100, 500 or so, in size.
At dusk, I was told to go up to the T junction and look back at the wood between the church and the Marsh.
As I arrived there the ''congregation'' was already streaming into the woods from beyond the church In a very orderly
straight stream. An absolutely amazing sight of thousand upon thousand, densely packed Corvids in a stream
a few hundred birds deep, which just went on and on coming, for a good 15 minutes. Their noise was impressive!
Estimates of the numbers varied between birders but their highest figure was 40000.
Personally I think that the number was much higher and, at the least, was in six figures.






-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 15th of December 2013 06:16:11 PM

Visit to Cantley Marshes by the River Yare (RSPB) on the 13th December.

My first visit to this site.

Taiga Bean Goose....60+
Canada Geese...250
Egyptian Geese....38+
Greylag Goose....1
Wigeon...c250
Lapwing...c150
Pied Wagtail....20
Meadow Pipits...2
Grey Heron....1
Cormorants....3
Kestrel...1
Marsh Harrier...1
Mute Swans...20+
Moorhen...4
Mallards.

Visit to Cley NWT Reserve on Monday, 9th December....Post the Tidal Surge.

Council workers with diggers, bulldozers, and trucks,were busy clearing the coast road near Walsey Hills.
There was no way through to the Reserve so I sat in my vehicle. The work went on at a feverish pace and after
40 minutes we were waived through.
While I was waiting, 2 Red Kites were picking up carrion off the marsh just to my side, down to 30 yards.
The Warden from Cley drove up behind me, and these were his first birds on the day board..
The debris here was reed ''compost''. A mixture of Reeds and root soil. Piles of this stuff, up to 12 feet high ,
were on the road.
Even when numerous truck loads had been taken away, we had to drive between chicanes of ''compost'' piles.

With regard to the effect of the tide surge on the reserve:
The entire reserve was flooded so that only the roofs of the hide could be seen. Most of the thatch has gone.The surge stopped just before the visitor centre.
The North shingle bank has been totally flattened and pushed into the reserve.
The North Hide has gone completely!! Parts of it have been found at Kelling from where the hide plaques have been recovered.
West bank: totally breached in several places.
Reeds and their root balls piled up on East bank.
A substantial wooden walkway and bridge has been swept over the road.

Mammals and invertebrates drowned or killed by the salt in reed bed.

With another warden, I walked down East Bank and round the north and west sides. Later in the day, the East bank was closed as is the whole reserve, for safety concerns.

Plenty birds still there and the visitors centre open.

As I left for my walk round, the first clearing party was setting off to clear the reserve paths. Somewhat of an admirable Dad's army with Pitch forks and shovels. One wit enquired was my dog trained as a ''sniffer'' as they have not got to the hides yet.!

Red Kite ...2
Marsh Harrier...2
Stonechat
Rock Pipits...3
Pintail Duck...12
Wigeon... widespread.
Gadwall...3
Mallards... widespead
Rooks.... widespread
Lapwing .. widespread
Teal ...few
Shovelers...few
Shelduck...1
Grey Heron...1
Pink-footed Geese....c500 circled the reserve but dropped into fields behind.
Redshank...c30
Peregrine...1 on post
Brent Geese... everywhere with small flocks coming and going.
Common Gulls ...20
Greater Black-backed Gull...1
Little Egret...1
Curlew...1
Reed Buntings....3
Jackdaw...few.
Mute Swan...2
Golden Plover....c1000( similar estimate by the Cley Spy man)










-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 15th of December 2013 08:40:35 AM

Sunday 19th May 2013:

After an overnight stay and a bit of a lie-in following the Dusky Thrush twitch, myself and Alex Jones headed over to Norfolk for the afternoon.

Weeting Heath and surrounding area

1 Stone Curlew
2 Red-legged Partridges
1 Kestrel
1 Woodlark
1 Tree Pipit


RSPB Lakenheath

1 male Red-footed Falcon (showing superbly well through the binoculars over New Fen)
2 Marsh Harriers
2 Hobbies (one over New Fen , another perched up on the poplar plantation and showing well)
2 Golden Orioles (heard only)
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Cuckoos

Wicken Fen

1 Cetti's Warbler

A great few hours birding and nice to see some decent weather for a change.


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 20th of May 2013 07:36:54 PM

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 20th of May 2013 08:29:47 PM