Sounds like thumbs down on the new version of the Parrinder hide,Having read the comments of Riggers and Mike!
I recall sometime ago being asked to vote and comment on various new windows
being trialled in Titchwell's Fen hide. If I remember correctly mine were:
'Noisy, Stiff and break easily'

I'm not against big hides per se, as I do not like the inverted bath tubs at WWT Welney. However we will get a Bolton perspective on Parrinder in March as 6 of us visit for 4 days!

Glad you got the Northern Harrier but I need to know where the Holly bush is as I have dipped twice on the Golden Pheasant!

-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 30th of January 2011 10:58:48 AM

Glad to hear it Mr. P

At least you were spared the sight of a double reflection of Riggers

Excellent summing up Mike! shame we had to leave Sunday morning due to illness! Both Mrs P and Mini P are getting better!

Saturday was excellent as was the company, beer and banter!

Looking forward to the next one! Cant belive we have been going for 15 years ish!! (thats a lot of beer!)

keith mills wrote:

---

The main work on the Titchwell redevelopment is now complete and the replacement for the Parrinder Hide will be open in the next 2 to 3 weeks. The volunteers who have
been inside the 'twin' hides are very impressed.

---

Having witnessed the said monstrosity for myself-I for one am not very impressed!

It has fixed seating in front of most windows, which makes it impossible to sit down in the hide and 'scope' at the same time and also limits the number of people with a grand stand seat (no more moving along the bench to get a small one in!).

You need a degree in engineering to 'operate' the windows-some of which don't work already!and if you are unfortunate enough to be sat in the wrong seat, you have to look through 2 panes of glass to scan the whole marsh and get a poor view of the birds plus your own reflection twice!

As Mr.Chorley has pointed out-it looks like the RAC control centre building on the M6 and looks more like a modern art gallery than a bird hide!

Not impressed from Oldham (this is only a personal view of course!)

Jan 21st -24th

Friday morning saw myself, Riggers and 'Bart' Rayner at Thornham, looking to link up with Iain Johnson. Once we'd worked out which 'muddy track' lead to him, we began the traditional pursuit of standing on a bank staring into the sunrise hoping to see a bird. The Northern Harrier duly obliged with a flypast against the light before sweeping around past Holme and across the saltmarsh to give us the same good views Iain had enjoyed a little earlier.

We moved on to Titchwell, where the North Norfolk RAC Traffic Centre appears to have collided with the recently rebuilt North Bank The new Parrinder hides are spacious, but, as we know, size isn't everything! This thread isn't the place to discuss the many things wrong with this 'monstrous carbunckle', so let's get to the birds. Several Water Pipits, Rock Pipit, Twite and a single Snow Bunting (Iain J) were the highlights, as well as Water Rail under the feeders and a rare glimpse of Cetti's Warbler, with 20+ species of waterfowl and waders on the reserve and another dozen on/off the shore, including several Velvet's in the large flock of Common Scoter.

We then headed to Sculthorpe Moor to meet the rest of the Oldham Birders group, notching up the first of the weekend's 10 Barn Owls. The male Golden Pheasant was in his usual spot (under a holly bush) while the nearby woodland produced Marsh tit and Goldcrest. More Water Rail and several fine male Brambling showed at Fen Hide and we had several sightings for the Wildlife Forum.

On Saturday we headed for Cantley and managed to locate the Lesser White-front in with the mixed flock of Bean Geese and Eurasian White-Fronts. On to Gt. Yarmouth for the usual Med Gull fest, followed by Iceland Gull, Purple Sandpiper and some bad stuntwork on my part at Lowestoft, before our usual roundabout route to Stubbs Mill. A family party of 3 Common Cranes gave us a nice fly past (with another distant trio) with 2 ring-tailed Hen Harriers, Merlin, Hooded Crow and a single Tundra Bean Goose enlivening the Marsh Harrier Roost


Sunday was another North Norfolk Coast day. At least 8 rather elusive Lapland Buntings at Weybourne failed to match up to the more showy 40+ Snowbuntings at Salthouse. The drake American Wigeon at Cley made up for the lack of bacon butties at the visitor centre We had no difficulty finding the 2 red-headed Smew at Wells but took two goes to find the 2 Black Brants at the harbour. There was no sign of the Ross's Goose at Lady Anne's Drive but a lunch-time stop just along the road produced 2 Rough-legged Buzzards over the dunes, 8 Waxwings at Burnham Harbour crossroads and a magnificent body swerve from Riggers to avoid Iain J's lethal reversing!We finished the day back at Titchwell, where the rest of the group got to see both the Northern Harrier and the Horrible Hide ( and that's not just our opinion of it) before bidding Mr. Johnson farewell.

We finished the trip today with 10 Shorelarks on the shingle at Cley, as well as 2 Red-throated Divers, Fulmar, Gannet and more Common Scoter. Having failed again to find any unusual geese at Holkham, Messers Rigby, Rayner and myself headed north to dip the Ring-bill at Mirfield while the others made a more leisurly return home. An enjoyable weekend, with plenty of good birding (127 species) and the usual laughs, good food/drink and pleasant company

A visit to Norfolk today started off well with a nice Ring-tail Hen Harrier en-route to Cantley for our target bird the reported Lesser White-Fronted Goose.

After several attempts at scanning the 300 or so Eurasian White-Fronted Geese and 40 or so Taiga Bean Geese, the bird was finally located (thanks to my friend).

It is quite possible that the bird was there all the time but was very difficult to locate as it was feeding in long grass and only "popping its head up" occasionally.

It was only when it came out into the shorter stuff that those present could take a good look and confirm it's ID.

For those who are thinking of going, it does tend to mix with the Beans and not the White Fronts apparently and that certainly was the case today.

Also present, Green Woodpecker, a dozen or so Barnacle Geese, Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier and hundreds of Wigeon.

Next stop was Weybourne where 4 Lapland Buntings were seen together with a flock of Skylark and Linnets.

A quick scan of the football field at Wells produced 200 or so Dark-Bellied Brent Geese with a nice Black Brant amongst them.

Finally a quick stop at Holkham where the Ross's Goose was showing well amongst the thousands and thousands of Pink-Feet. Quite a spectacle!!

Another 2 Barn Owls were seen on the country lanes on our way home.

A fabulous day out and a real Goose-fest today!!

Stayed three nights in the Titchwell area, 16/17 /18th this week.
Usual long list of species but among the most noteworthy were:

5 Marsh Harriers (juveniles) close together at Holme marsh( hides near church)
Male Marsh Harrier... shooters marsh, Titchwell
2 Ringtail , shooters marsh
One of these Ring tail was very dark above, but quite russet below. It is being
considered as a possible Northern ( American) variant, or less likely as a Pallid Harrier.
(So I may yet get an Armchair tick)
Great White Egret .. shooters marsh
Spotted Redshank...shooters marsh
Brackish marsh Titchwell: (On seed) 12 Skylark with Meadow Pipits. 10 Twite.
A Bramling... on feeders
2 Avocets,Pintails, Blacktail Godwits. Titchwell Fresh marsh,
5 Little grebe Salt marsh
Bar tails..... Many along shoreline, with Common Scoter ,GC Grebes ,Goldeneye and Red beasted Mergansers at sea.
Chinese Water deer .. one on shooters marsh.
The main work on the Titchwell redevelopment is now complete and the replacement for the Parrinder Hide will be open in the next 2 to 3 weeks. The volunteers who have
been inside the 'twin' hides are very impressed.


-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 20th of November 2010 01:39:58 PM

Three nights in Norfolk for Sue and I, in what was a quiet week last week. Weather a bit miserable and we were staying at the wrong side of the county really (Acle). We did get some decent birds though in a rather "bad" total of 109 species.

Highlights were:

A fantastic "white spot" Bluethroat at Welney - rather illusive on a dull wet day, on the way to Norfolk. It showed briefly several times but didn't sit around. But, a first for us of a brilliant bird. We followed this with our first ever Red-footed Falcon at Ouse Fen. A distant view of the bird at first thought to be a Kestrel as it was seen hovering in the sky. Once it flew down so that it could be seen catching and eating dragon flies, with trees behind it we could see that it was a first summer male RF Falcon. Another first! And singing Corn Buntings as well.

Day two saw us doing Salthouse where there was little of note apart from nesting Avocets everywhere. After that we went for a quick stop off to see a male Montagu's Harrier before moving on to Titchwell where highlights were a Bittern in one of the small pools by the path near the visitors centre, 1000+ Knot flying around, Little Gull (we could only find 1) and Bearded Tits eating grit about 6 feet in front of the hide!

Day three had us going on a mini twitch for a Marsh Warbler in a hedgerow near a disused factory at Long Melford in Suffolk. On arrival three birders already had it located and reasonable views of a rather "dull" bird were had. Luckily it was singing a fair bit which enabled us to confirm it's identity (thanks to MP3s and mobile phones!) - this was our third and final lifer of the trip. After that we went to Lakenheath to try for Golden Oriole. Despite standing around and scanning for two hours, we had no sightings although one bird was heard calling. Apparently there are only 3 individuals there this year, so it was never going to be easy. Nevermind, we were treated to a real Cuckoo fest - five seen together flying around us and in trees nearby. Best views we have ever had of Cuckoos by a long way. We also stopped off for good views of two Stone Curlew - saved us having to go to Weeting.

Day four - last day. We started out at Sculthorpe Moor - a great little place for a pleasant walk around. Had their one and only male Golden Pheasant in exactly the same place as we saw it last year. Good views of hunting Barn Owl (at 11am!) Then we watched a food pass from male Marsh Harrier to his mate, followed by her dropping down to the nest where she disappeared from view but appeared on the TV monitor in the hide so we could see her feeding the five chicks she had. With our short break coming to an end we finished off back at Titchwell where we picked up Red-created Pochard, three Little Gulls, Greenshank, Turnstone, 1000+ Kont again, several hundred Godwits (Black and Bar Tailed), Little Terns, Barn Owl and the Bearded Tits again in front of the hide.

A not too bad a trip considering the weather wasn't great. Disappointed not to have picked up the Orioles or Nightingales. We didn't manage a single Turtle Dove either which is disturbing. But, that Bluethroat...

-- Edited by Paul Wilson on Saturday 12th of June 2010 02:43:31 PM

Hi this is my first post.

I was in Norfolk last week and got 132 species, highlights were Dartford Warbler two cock birds representing 66% of Norfolks population, Stone Curlew several birds in Breckland. Firecrest Lynford Arboretum, Garden Warblers several pairs at Santon Downham, Red Necked Grebe Gpsys Lane close to Titchwell, Turtle Doves at Kelling, Lakenheath and Holme NWT. Cuckoos fling freely at both Laken Heath and Holme, lots of Hobbies at Lakenheath, 3 bitterns at Lakenheath, Tree Pipit at Roydon no Woodlarks unfortunately. A good few Lesser Whitethroats. and Temninks Stint at Cley NWT I had a tour one day with a guy called Carl Chapman he was superb. Would recomend him 12 hours worth of birding including food and all transport significant distances driven for £45. More and more dissapointed with Titchwell fast becoming the Butlins of Birding!! Only Little Gull of note here.

Returned this evening from a truly brilliant weekend in Norfolk/Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, highlights amongst over 120 species being:

Friday 21st May

Great Reed Warbler - Ilkeston (en-route)

Little Paxton - Evening 4.45pm- 9.00pm

3 Red-Crested Pochards (2 Males, 1 Female on Lake nearest Car Park)

Several Nightingales (calling but remaining very elusive, a return trip in the morning was soon agreed to avoid the crowds)

1 Turtle Dove (good views in dead tree close to 1st Hide)



Saturday 22nd May

Little Paxton - 5.45am - 7.00am

Nightingale (singing everywhere and great views of an individual in a bare tree)

1 Cetti's Warbler showing really well and calling away in a bush beind the visitors centre.

Weeting Heath

3 Stone Curlew (Great views through the 'scope from the hides)

RSPB Lakenheath

Lots of Golden Oriole calls but no sightings for us and the 200 or so people on the reserve.

However, on our way back to the car park, myself and my friends decided to take a short break from the heat under a tree on the opposite side of the poplar plantation and almost immediately we were treated to a sighting of a male Golden Oriole chasing a Cuckoo away through the trees!! unbelievable luck!!

Also, great views of Garganey, Marsh Harrier, 2 Bearded Tits, 30+ Hobbies in the air together (1 very close catching a dragonfly right in front of us) and a booming Bittern. Also 1 Mole seen on the path (never actually seen one before!!)

After refreshing ourselves and a nice meal was Dersingham Bog at 9.00pm where 2 Nightjars and 6 Woodcock were seen from the boardwark (this is definatley the best place to be there!!) 1 Muntjac Deer also seen. Don't know what I would have done though if I wasn't kindly given some insect repellant off another birder, those midges were absolutely unbearable!!!


Sunday 23rd May.

2 Woodlark giving really close-up views on the fields at Roydon Common early morning.

1 Montagu's Harrier (Male) Really good views (over 10 minutes) from an undisclosed site.

A trip to Great Ryburgh for Honey Buzzards was unsuccessful but this was due to their non-arrival at the site.

Finally on the way home, we decided to stop off at RSPB Frampton where 10 Little Gulls gave great views close to the hide amongst others.

A totally unforgetable weekend in the hot sunshine and special thanks to Phil Hampson and Simon Warford for all their help!!!

What a time we had!!










-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 24th of May 2010 01:36:15 AM

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 24th of May 2010 01:39:58 AM

Norfolk 14th & 15th Feb,

Participants - Simon Johnson, Melanie Beckford, Alan Warford & Myself.

Sites visited - Dersingham Bog, Hunstanton, Sculthorpe Moor NR(Excellent reserve), Cley, Matlaske, Horsey, Strumpshaw Fen, Buckenham Marshes, Great Yarmouth, Holkham & Titchwell.

Highlights- Great grey Shrike, 2 Woodlark, Red Necked Grebe, 40+ Bramblings, Marsh and Willow Tits Sculthorpe, 5+ Barn Owls including 2 at Sculthorpe, Glaucous Gull, 4 Black Throated Divers, 30 Avocets, Bearded Tits, Cettis' Wblr Cley, Cattle Egret nearby. 6 Common Crane Stubbs mill roost plus Hen and 20+ Marsh Harrier, Merlin, 15 Bewicks swans, Tawny Owl and another 2 Barn Owls. Bittern, 4 Water Pipits, Strumpshaw, Med Gulls galore at Great Yarmouth coming to bread, 20+. White Fronts at Holkham, although now seem more difficult than ever at this site. Peregrine Titchwell plus Med Gull, 4 Spotshanks, 20 Ruff plus all the usual ducks and waders.

All in all a decent weekend notching up 118 species(including feral pigeon)

-- Edited by Simon Warford at 22:16, 2009-02-15

Or just follow wife , whilst once telling a good friend what she had in the garden

" got a pair of Great Tits, today"

Waaay haaaay

Steve

Too rude Mr. Wilson
What about
"Get your rocks off at Elton-with a Shag
Schoolboy humour at it's worse
Cheers Ian

No offence taken Cliffy!

I have been going to Norfolk for the last 3 winters also, but have had 3-6 days there previously reaching 120 species and above including the cranes, yank sparrow, black eared kite etc etc. Only had two days this time though, so was very pleased with the 105 total, especially considering the poor weather on Sunday.

I must admit though, I went to some of the less visited sites this trip (Sculthorpe Hawk & Owl reserve, Brancaster Marsh and had a seawatch from West Runton), which all proved quite productive.

Salthouse was pretty dire on Sunday morning in the wind and rain though, looking in my notebook I was there about 9:30 myself, but having got the snow buntings there on Saturday with GN Diver off the coast I only ran up the shingle and had a quick scan, then ran back to my car to get out of the gales/rain!?

As for the badge idea, like I said over Christmas drinks with other Manc Birders I think somebody should get that going, I'll order a few. Was it you Paul Cliff?

How unkind Mr. Cliff Unless you know something we don't

Given the number of Manc birders at last years' Parkgate High Tides all standing within yards of each other without knowing, perhaps we could have a badge. Moorhens Rampant? Peregrines Proper Passant En Regardant? Crossed Telesopes over a Chinese Warbler? But you can't have an Owl on (in) a beer glass. That's Oldham Birders badge and has been for the last decade

If I remember your timetable Sean, I think you were probably ahead of us as we stayed near Norwich so didn't get to Salthouse until about 9.30. I must have another look through your list as we've been trying to reckon up Winter and Summer lists for Norfolk based on previous trips. We had 16 species this year that we didn't have last time and missed 8 from last year. (9 if you count the Yank sparrow, which isn't a likely bird for most years)

As for our book-end birds, Mr. Potter, serves you right for going to live in Wales

Sean Sweeney wrote:

---

I imagine I must have passed you lot in my car at several of the sites I visited and maybe even passed you on a path here or there!! But if you were wrapped up like I was to keep the rain off it's hard to see who's who!??

---

unless they spotted you first mate!

I imagine I must have passed you lot in my car at several of the sites I visited and maybe even passed you on a path here or there!! But if you were wrapped up like I was to keep the rain off it's hard to see who's who!??

It sure was an excellent trip and well summed up Mr Chorley!

I dont like the list of birds you had either side of our arrival and departure!

We will get those pesky Snow Buntings somewhere!! The little sods!! haha!

It was great to catch up with you all! And Charly is even more hooked than before thanks to your wealth of knowledge!

Ta!

Matt and Charly!

Oldham Birders & associates Jan 23rd - 26th. A soggy early start for myself, Riggers & John Rayner at Little Paxton Gravel Pits. No Smew but a good selection of woodland and water birds. On to Welney (via Pymoor for a distant, rain-lashed Great White Egret) where we were lucky to catch the Tundra Bean Geese before they headed south. Only saw Whoopers on the reserve, but a flock of several hundred Bewicks was a bonus en route to Lakenheath for the sheltering Great Grey Shrike and a Water Pipit. No Golden Pheasants at the group rendezvous at Weyland Wood, which isn't surprising now the thicker cover has gone.

Saturday started at Cantley with the usual mix of Taiga Bean, Pink-footed and White-fronted Geese, before calling at Great Yarmouth for the annual Med Gull fest. Various i.d's were noted including those of two trendy birds sporting thigh rings. After a detour to Lowestoft for Purple Sandpiper on the groynes (ouch!) and the first of several Snow Bunting dips (at Caistor) we headed for Stubbs Mill the pretty way, ticking Barn Owl and a very visible group of 11 Common Cranes. The roost produced the usual high nos of Marsh Harrier, 2 more Barn Owls, 2 cracking male Hen Harriers , Merlin, Sparrowhawk, 3 more Cranes, and , for some of us, a Woodcock

A rather wet Sunday started with another Snow Bunting dip at Salthouse (and no Glacous Gull either) so we retreated to the new hide at Cley to scan the marshes, dry out a bit and consult our local sources,who were telling us how they'd failed to locate the Black-bellied Dipper that morning, at around the same time it was being posted on Birdguides. After a 2nd dip at Salthouse we headed for Burnham Overy Staithe and bagged the Ross's Goose along with 2 Barnacle Geese with rather better credentials than the pair seen at Little Paxton. On to Titchwell via Chosely Barns bird-free zone for a 2nd Water Pipit, Peregrine, a selection of sea and shore birds and 2's of the following: RT diver, Black Brant, Bittern & Water Rail, together with another Woodcock for those who'd missed out the night before.

Better luck & weather today, with Snow Bunting at Salthouse (sorry Charley) as well as Dunlin coming to bread, the Glaucous Gull at Cley, Bearded Tits from the East Bank, Fulmar, Eider and several hundred Common Scoter from Hunstanton. However, today's highlight, at least for me, was watching the aerial display from a pair of Marsh Harriers over Cley, as the male stooped and the female flipped over with extended talons to ward him off with great precision.

Total for the trip is currently 118 seen plus Tawny Owl heard, with the possibility of more to come from those who stayed into this afternoon. A good weekend and a pleasure to catch up with friends old and ,especially, new. Great to discover the joy of birding anew through you, Charley

Tuesday edit: the remaining trio added Nuthatch to the list so the total now stands at 118 WITHOUT the dreaded Feral Pigeon
-- Edited by Mike Chorley at 00:13, 2009-01-27

-- Edited by Mike Chorley at 23:26, 2009-01-27

2nd Oldham birders trip of the year. Despite the later than usual date, and the elusiveness of some species, a good 4 days of birding. Mr. Rigbys' new driving resolutions meant that speeds of under 70 miles per hr. were observed (sometimes) and all parking areas entered bonnet-first.

Early Friday start for Riggers & self at Little Paxton GP. Turtle Dove overhead and Nightingales in every bush. Also Lesser Whitethroat & Kingfisher among the 44 species seen before breakfast. Rain stopped play at Mayday farm so on to meet the others at Weeting. Stone Curlew, Wodlark and the regular Spotted Flys. A very soggy Titchwell had only Little Gull and drake Garganey at about 30ft but the evening improved enough for the 1st of three great nights 'jaring with 2 males & a female showing well.

Saturday. To Dunwich and then Minsmere for Cetti's, 2 Kittiwakes, Marsh Harriers, Hobby, booming Bittern, Sandwich & Little Terns. Then back to Dunwich where Mr. Rigby had an exciting encounter behind the toilet block! He says it was a Sprosser that put a smile on his face: the rest of us couldn't possibly comment. North Repps for a cracking fog-bound bee-eater doing all it's tricks, Spoonbills at Cley, then even better views of the nightjars despite(?) the mist-including the singing branch trick

Sunday.To Great Ryburgh for the usual raptors including Honey Buzzard and Red Kite, Montys at the usual site, then Golden Oriole & Common Crane at Lakenheath. We failed to locate the Stiffkey Buff-breast (thanks for the info Warfy) but were consoled with the best ever evening's nightjaring; seeing details and habits none of us had ever seen before

Back today via High Kelling for Wood Warbler ( a good local tick) and the Maxey's buff-breast-relocated out in the open by a Mr. M. Rigby while all the locals were debating which bit of the reedbed it was in! 122 species in all on a not too frantic trip

This weekend was the first of Oldham birders' regular bi-annual visits to the Three Swallows. A good weekend with about 110 species between the five of us (self, Riggers and 3 other,non-computer -owning, survivors of Oldham RSPB). Highlights included Riggers emergency stop on the A149 for a mixed Bewick/Whooper flock, good views of THAT sparrow Fri.,Sat.,& Sun-the last due to Simon Johnsons' sharp eyes and ears-, a cracking male Hen Harrier at Warham Greens, the Lesser Snow goose (visible from the car without bins, twitching made easy or what!) the confiding Titchwell woodcock, a total of 11 Cranes at Stubbs Mill, Saturdays' unexpected shag on Holkham Lake, snow & lapland buntings at Salthouse and a displaying(!) woodlark at Roydon en route to the Great Grey Shrike. Not our best trip numerically but good views and all target birds achieved. Nice to meet the Warfords and Simon.

Incidentally, if anyone else is thinking of going for the yank sparrow word is that feding is going to be scaled down so the bird may be more wide-ranging. However, according to Mr. Millington it hangs around with the local sparrow flock, so it may just spend more time in the hedge by the bus stop.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 12th of June 2010 06:47:23 PM