Lost Geordie Birding

More Owls, Woodcocks & Thrushes

2012-02-11T17:41:00.000Z

Little Owl, West Newton, Norfolk...

...being mobbed by Blackbirds

Woodcock, Titchwell / Choseley, Norfolk

Woodcock, West Newton, Norfolk

Short-eared Owl, Thornham, Norfolk

Redwing, Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk

Mistle Thrush, Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk

Buntings, Shorelarks & Owls

2012-02-05T15:05:00.000Z

Corn Buntings, Choseley Barns, Norfolk

Yellowhammer, male, Choseley Barns, Norfolk

Shorelark, Holkham Gap, Norfolk

Little Owl, Abbey Farm, Flitcham, Norfolk

Shorelarks & Spoonbill

2012-01-28T15:56:00.000Z

Shorelarks, Holkham Gap, Norfolk

Eurasian Spoonbill, juvenile, Titchwell, Norfolk

Waxwings

2012-01-23T20:53:00.000Z

Waxwing, Norwich, Norfolk

Little Egret, Titchwell, Norfolk

Little Grebe, Titchwell, Norfolk

Spanish Sparrow & Dark-Eyed Junco :-)

2012-01-14T20:47:00.000Z

Spanish Sparrow, male, Calshot, Hampshire

Dark-eyed Junco, male, Hawkshill, Beaulieu, Hampshire

Common Crossbills, Hawkshill, Beaulieu, Hampshire

Mediterranean Gull, Gosport, Hampshire

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-02T20:59:00.000Z

Desert Wheatear, 1st winter male, Beacon Point, Newbiggin, Northumberland

Lesser Scaup, female, Marden Quarry, Whitley Bay, Northumberland

Ring-necked Duck, male, Cowpen Bewley Country Park, Cleveland

Great Grey Shrike, Fakenham, Norfolk

Western Sandpiper

2011-12-28T13:58:00.000Z

Western Sandpiper, Cley, Norfolk

Green-winged Teal & Coue's Arctic Redpoll

2011-12-27T12:49:00.000Z

Green-winged Teal, drake, Cley, Norfolk

Coue's Arctic Redpoll, Titchwell, Norfolk

Golden Plover, Titchwell, Norfolk

Desert Wheatear & Hume's Leaf Warbler

2011-11-19T12:46:00.000Z

Hume's Leaf Warbler, Lowestoft, Suffolk

Desert Wheatear, male, Holme Beach, Norfolk

Daurian Shrike

2011-10-27T15:42:00.000+01:00

Daurian Shrike, Horsey / Nelsons Head Track, Norfolk

Shrike & Crossbills

2011-10-17T17:38:00.000+01:00

Great Grey Shrike, Dersingham Bog, 17 Oct 2011

Some of the 50+ Common Crossbills at Dersingham Bog, 17 Oct 1011

Another Yellow-browed plus Goshawk

2011-10-16T16:36:00.000+01:00

Yellow-browed Warbler, Campsite Wood, Stiffkey, 16 Oct 2011

Goshawk, male, high over Stiffkey campsite. 16 Oct 2011

Yellow-browed Warbler et al.

2011-10-14T16:35:00.000+01:00

Yellow-browed Warbler, Wells, 14/10/11

Gannet, juvenile, Titchwell, 14/10/11

Marsh Harrier, Titchwell, 14/10/11

Dunnock bathing, Wells, 14/10/11

Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Warham Greens, 14/10/11

Woodchat Shrike

2011-10-10T18:49:00.000+01:00

Woodchat Shrike, juv, Lowestoft. Amazingly tolerant.

Purple Sandpiper & Sandhill Crane

2011-10-08T16:48:00.000+01:00

Purple Sandpiper, Salthouse / Gramborough Hill, 8/10/11

Sandhill Crane, Boyton Marshes

Long-billed Dowitcher etc.

2011-10-01T18:03:00.000+01:00

Long-billed Dowitcher, Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincs. 1st Oct 2011

Pectoral Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincs. 1st Oct 2011

High Tide. Knot, Dunlin & Redshank. Freiston Shore RSPB Lincs

Dunlin bathing, Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincs

Knot etc. Freiston Shore RSPB, Lincs

Common Snipe, Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincs.

2011-09-24T15:04:00.000+01:00

Sabine's Gull, Adult, Grafham Water, Cambs

Grey Phalarope, Grafham Water, Cambs

Yellow Wagtail, juv, Grafham Water, Cambs

Bearded Tit, male, Titchwell RSPB

Red Kite, Titchwell RSPB 10 Sept 11

Pied Flycatchers, Blakeney Point, 3 Sept 11

Whinchat, Blakeney Point, 3 Sept 11

Stonechat, Blakeney Point, 4 Sept 11

2011-08-30T17:35:00.000+01:00

Ruff, juvenile, Titchwell

Curlew Sandpiper, Titchwell

Green Sandpiper, Titchwell

Little Stint, Titchwell

Goldfinch, Titchwell

Common Whitethroat, Warham Greens

2011-08-17T22:32:00.000+01:00

Stunning views of Knot, Snettisham RSPB, 17/8/11

There is a bird. Honest!

Curelw Sandpiper (moult), Snettisham RSPB 14/8/11

Whimbrel, Salthouse

2011-07-25T16:43:00.000+01:00

Escaped Bengal Eagle Owl, still giving the tourists an evil eye and scaring the local pheasants stupid!. Hunstanton / Heacham 24/7/11

2011-07-23T15:27:00.000+01:00

NO! NO! Your Other Left!...Collision Course Swallows. Titchwell 23/7/11

Swallow, Titchwell 23/7/11

Goldfinches on thistles, Titchwell, 23/7/11

Pied Wagtail, juv, Titchwell, 23/7/11

Curlew, Arnolds Marsh, Cley, 23/7/11

2011-06-25T14:57:00.000+01:00

Reed Warbler, Titchwell, 25/6/11

Reed Warbler, fledgling, Titchwell, 25/6/11

2 Little Gulls, Titchwell, 25/6/11

Shelduck pair...

...and duckling, Titchwell, 25/6/11

Bar-tailed Godwit, Titchwell, 25/6/11

Sedge Warbler, Titchwell, 25/6/11

2011-06-18T14:56:00.000+01:00

Caspian Tern, Titchwell, Norfolk. species 266 for 2011

Eurasian Cuckoo, Titchwell

Avocet, Thornham Harbour

Black-tailed Godwit, breeding plumage, Titchwell

Reed Bunting, male, Titchwell

Shoveler, eclipse drake, Titchwell

2011-06-12T15:46:00.002+01:00

Dipped again...no White-throated Robin! C'est la vie. That's what you get for working.

Still we came back through the North Yorkshire moors and picked up 3 Honey Buzzards and 2 Goshawks as compensation.

Crossbill's, males & female, Wykeham Forest Watchpoint, North Yorks.

Grey Wagtails, female & fledgling, Graisdale, North Yorks

Marsh Tit, fledgling, Strumpshaw RSPB

Great Spotted Woodpecker, fledgling, Strumpshaw RSPB

2011-06-04T16:28:00.000+01:00

Marsh Warbler, 4th June 2011

2011-05-25T21:33:00.000+01:00

Slavonian Grebe, RSPB Loch Ruthven, Highland

Wheatear, female, Sligachan, Isle of Skye

Shag, Loch nam Madadh - Uig crossing

Arctic Terns, Loch nam Madadh - Uig crossing

Guillemot, Loch nam Madadh (Lochmaddy) - Uig crossing

Fulmar, Loch nam Madadh - Uig crossing

Manx Shearwaters, Loch nam Madadh (Lochmaddy)-Uig crossing

Gannet, adult, Loch nam Madadh - Uig crossing

Great Northern Diver, Stinky Bay, Baile nan Cailleach, Beinn na Faoghla (Benbecula)

Drake Eider, Cill Amhlaidh, Uibhist a Deas (South Uist)

Oystercatchers, Baile Gharbhaidh, Uibhist a Deas

Pale morph Pomarine Skuas, Aird a Mhachair, Uibhist a Deas (Ardivachar, South Uist)

Raven, Aird a Mhachair, Uibhist a Deas

Drake Wigeon, just sat there watching the Corncrake in the pond, Clachan, Uibhist a Deas

Should've gone to specsavers! Corncrake in the water!? It dropped in there to avoid the Peregrine and, as you can see, was unharmed and flew to cover. Clachan, Uibhist a Deas.

Peregrine, male, none too chuffed at missing the Corncrake! Clachan, Uibhist a Deas

Female Red-necked Phalarope, Griminis, Beinn na Faoghla

Pure Rock Doves, Lionacleit, Beinn na Faoghla

Greylag Goose (not feral) Beinn na Faoghla

Light morph Arctic Skua, Greinetobht, Uibhist a Tuath (North Uist)

Meadow Pipit, Committee Road, Uibhist a Tuath

Short-eared Owl, Griminis, Uibhist a Tuath

Short-eared Owl, Claddach Knockline, Uibhist a Tuath

Some of the 60+ Pilot Whales that were in trouble in Loch Càrnan, Uibhist a Deas. Last seen heading out to sea.

Lapwing chick, Lionacleit, Beinn na Faoghla

Dunlin, Teanna Mhachair, Baile Sear

Curlew, Teanna Mhachair, Baile Sear

Ringed Plover & Dunlin, Stinky Bay, Beinn na Faoghla

Common Tern, Stinky Bay, Beinn na Faoghla

Razorbills, Uig - Loch nam Madadh crossing

Kittiwakes, adult & 1st CY, Uig - Loch nam Madadh crossing

Atlantic Grey Seal, Uig Harbour, Isle of Skye

Black Guillemot, Uig Harbour, Isle of Skye

Black Grouse, male, Ardochy Forest, Glen Garry

2011-05-14T18:58:00.001+01:00

Stone Curlew, Weeting Heath NWT, Norfolk, 14/5/11

Eurasian Cuckoo, Lakenheath RSPB, Suffolk, 14/5/11

Lesser Yellowlegs, Cley NWT, Norfolk, 13/5/11

2011-05-10T17:29:00.001+01:00

No rings or jesses, this rather imposing Owl looked quite comfy on a roof in Austin Street, Hunstanton, Norfolk. However, the paleness of the bird, the short eartufts and the black facial disc border show it to be possibly Pharoah Eagle Owl or even one of the more eastern races.

2011-05-08T21:55:00.000+01:00

Another "Lifer" bites the dust. The immaculate male Collared Flycatcher, Holme, Norfolk, 8/5/11

Confiding Temminck's Stints, Titchwell. Norfolk, 8/5/11

Common Sandpiper, Titchwell, Norfolk, 8/5/11

2011-05-02T08:50:00.000+01:00

Grasshopper Warbler. St Mary's Island, Northumberland, May 1st 2011

Purple Sandpipers, Stag Rock, Bamburgh, Northumberland, 30 April 2011

Sandwich Tern, Stag Rock, Bamburgh, Northumberland, 30 April 2011

2011-04-25T15:57:00.000+01:00

1 of 3 Wood Sandpipers, Redwell Marsh NOA, Norfolk, 25th April 2011

Ruff, coming into "display plumage", Redwell Marsh, NOA, Norfolk, 25th April 2011

Black Tern, Titchwell, Norfolk, 22nd April 2011

Common Tern, Titchwell, Norfolk, 22nd April 2011

Wren, Titchwell, Norfolk, 22nd April 2011

2011-04-17T17:39:00.000+01:00

2 Views of the adult drake Blue-winged Teal, Welches Dam RSPB, Cambs, 17th April 2011

"Lifers" don't come along everyday, get them while you can. Adult drake Black Scoter, Stag Rock, Bamburgh, Northumberland, 16th April 2011

A young White-tailed Eagle. The bird left the Farnes and flew toward Goswick / Ross where it was lost from sight. The eagle had a green wing tag which means it is part of the Scottish reintroduction scheme. It could well be the eagle which hung around the Farnes last winter.

2011-04-14T17:26:00.000+01:00

3 views of the Male Iberian Chiffchaff, Titchwell, Norfolk, April 14th 2011

Little Ringed Plover, Titchwell, Norfolk April 14th 2011

2011-04-13T22:20:00.000+01:00

Iberian Chiffchaff, Titchwell, Norfolk. 13th April 2011

2011-04-10T21:05:00.000+01:00

Little Gull, adult, Titchwell, 10 April 2011

Teal, drake, Titchwell, 10th April 2011

Long-tailed Duck, drake, Titchwell beach, 10th April 2011

Bullfinch, male, Titchwell, 10th April 2011

2011-04-09T18:24:00.000+01:00

White-spotted Bluethroat, male, Welney WWT, Norfolk. 9th April 2011

Firecrest, male, Landguard, Suffolk, April 2011

Greenfinch, Titchwell, April 9th 2011

2011-04-03T23:48:00.000+01:00

4 Garganey- 2 drakes & 2 ducks, Titchwell, Norfolk, 3rd April 2011

White Wagtail, male, Titchwell, 3rd April 2011

Pied Wagtail, Titchwell, 3rd April 2011

Chiffchaff, Titchwell, April 2011

Great Tit taking caterpillars from inside Reed Mace stems, Titchwell, April 2011

2011-04-02T23:11:00.000+01:00

Black Redstart, female, Landguard Bird Observatory, Suffolk, April 2011

(Winter) Wren, Titchwell, March 2011

2011-03-28T17:23:00.000+01:00

Waxwing, 1 of 32 birds at Cockshoot Broad, Norfolk, this morning.

Marsh Harrier, male, Cockshoot Broad, March 28th 2011

2011-03-23T18:38:00.000Z

Sparrowhawk, female, King's Lynn, 23 March 2011

2 Common Cranes, Titchwell, March 2011

2011-03-22T14:32:00.000Z

Lapland Bunting, male, West Runton, Norfolk, 22 March 2011

Lapland Bunting, West Runton, Norfolk, 22 March 2011

2011-03-20T13:59:00.000Z

Water Pipit, moulting into summer plumage. Titchwell, Norfolk, March 2011

Avocet, Titchwell, Norfolk, March 2011

Siskin, male, Titchwell, March 2011

2011-03-19T17:25:00.000Z

Lapwing, 1st winter, Titchwell, Norfolk, March 2011

Ruff, male, Titchwell, Norfolk , March 2011

2011-03-13T10:33:00.000Z

Hoopoe ! Portland Bill, Dorset, March 2011

Hoopoe, Portland Bill, Dorset, March 2011

Cirl Bunting, male, Prawle Point, Devon, March 2011

Grey Heron, Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset, March 2011

Kingfisher, Santon Downham, Suffolk/Norfolk border, March 2011

2011-03-06T20:17:00.000Z

Red Grouse, Allendale, Northumberland, March 2011

Mediterranean Gull, Adult -transitioning to summer plumage- Newbiggin, Northumberland March 2011

Mediterranean Gull, 2w, Newbiggin, Northumberland, March 2011

Mediterranean Gull, 1st winter, Newbiggin, Northumberland, March 2011

Possible Coue's Arctic Redpoll, Rainton Meadows, Durham, March 2011.

Mealy Redpoll and the worlds most aggressive Goldfinch, Rainton Meadows, Durham, March 2011

Yellowhammer, female, Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Cleveland, March 2011

2011-03-04T17:13:00.001Z

Long-eared Owl, Thornham, Norfolk, Feb 2011

Pintail (female), Titchwell, Feb 2011

Pintail (male), Titchwell, Feb 2011

Great White Egret, Marlingford, Norfolk, March 2011

2011-03-03T17:43:00.000Z

Snow Bunting, Male, Salthouse, Norfolk. Feb 2011

Purple Sandpiper, Heacham, Norfolk, Feb 2011

Sanderling, Heacham, Norfolk, Feb 2011

Dunlin, Heacham, Norfolk, Feb 2011

An abysmal photograph of Rufous Turtle Dove, Chipping Norton, Oxon, Feb 18 2011

2011-02-23T19:52:00.000Z

Barn Owl, Wells, Norfolk - Feb 2011

2011-02-23T19:48:00.003Z

Spotted Redshank, Titchwell, Norfolk - Feb 2011

2011-02-23T19:42:00.000Z

3 Common Cranes at Horsey, Norfolk - February 1st 2011

2011-02-23T08:20:00.000Z

American Wigeon, male at Cley, Norfolk on Jan 4th 2011

2011 - A new start.

2011-02-23T08:06:00.000Z

Due to an outbreak of extreme laziness, this blog stopped in June last year. This year I plan to use it more of a photo diary rather than tell how I dipped on this and that. I hope visitors give the photographs a look.

April 2010

2010-06-14T13:30:00.002+01:00

April turned out to be a great month. The migrants came in thick and fast including a few goodies.

The first Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers showed early in the month alongside a miriad of mixed hirundines. A pair of Black Necked Grebes at Welney on the 9th were very nice. A weekend in Northumberland produced Garganey, Sandwich Terns and several Purple Sandpipers. A visit to Saltholme Pools gave distant views of the long staying Hooded Merganser.

The second half of April gave some fine birds, the 29th being particularly noteworthy. A trip to Winterton for the Woodchat Shrike was worthwhile and a female, wing tagged Montagu's Harrier did several flypasts at Waxham. News of an Iberian Chiffchaff led me to Titchwell that evening where the bird showed well. A fine bonus bird was discovered over the visitor centre in the form of a stunning Bee-eater.

Welney gave up it's territorial White Spotted Bluethroat on the 24th.

Garganey - St. Mary's Island

White Spotted Bluethroat - Welney WWT

Woodchat Shrike - Winterton

Iberian Chiffchaff - Titchwell

2nd April

2010-04-03T19:45:00.000+01:00

A day out at Minsmere today. Charlie Dobbs, Robert Williamson and myself were hoping that the Lesser Kestrel would reappear. Our first stop, however, was the Pallid Swift, it came so low we probably could have caught it with a butterfly net. It was very obliging. Also seen was a male Blackcap singing and we also heard a Sedge Warbler.
The only news on the Lesser Kestrel was negative. We walked around Westleton and Dunwich Heaths and saw a few Stonechats and Dartford Warblers, a Goldcrest also showed itself, not too many of these about at the moment.
On Minsmere reserve there were a lot of birds including Black Tailed Godwit, Avocet and 21 Mediterranean Gulls. Migrants were few and far between. We did see Red Fox in the reed beds. Marsh Harrier count was 17 for the day. The only Kestrel we saw was a fine male Eurasian.

Pallid Swift - Kessingland

Dartford Warbler - Dunwich Heath

Little Egret - Minsmere

Kestrel - Minsmere

31st March

2010-04-03T19:21:00.000+01:00

A catch up day chasing the Pallid Swift. The exotic location was Kessingland sewerage works in the rain. The weather kept the bird hidden for a while but finally showed well and then another Alpine Swift appeared taking my total to 5 for this year, previously I have only seen 2 in the UK! The works held 15 White Wagtails and a very early female Redstart. A Swallow flew past. No pics today.

30th March

2010-04-03T19:11:00.000+01:00

It's a no brainer today. Left very early for work so I could visit Westleton Heath. What a fantastic hour well spent. Star bird was obviously the male Lesser Kestrel, only the 16th recorded in the British Isles. Also on view was a Great Grey Shrike and a Stone Curlew. I had all 3 in the view finder at the same time. There were also a few Dartford Warblers and Woodlark close by.
On my way north to Great Yarmouth I passed through Lowestoft and saw 2 Alpine Swifts along the sea front. Unfortunately I missed the Pallid Swift which came on the pager later in the day.

March 28th Titchwell

2010-03-31T16:57:00.003+01:00

A couple of hours at Titchwell today. Sunny but breezy but some nice birds. A pair of Bullfinches were in the car park, always a lovely bird to watch. The Water Rails were in their usual place by the footpath to the beach and Cettis Warbler seemed to call everywhere.
The current work being carried out on the reserve always makes me wish I was elsewhere! The new glass in the Fen Hide makes it impossible to focus on anything without seeing double and it seems impossible to drain the Freshwater marsh to make it suitable for anything but wildfowl and the hardiest waders. OK moan over.
The small drier areas of the Freshwater marsh gave 27 Avocet and 70 Black Tailed Godwits. 2 Bearded Tits were in the reeds. 5 Marsh Harriers displayed overhead and a male Peregrine upset everything.
The Brackish Marsh held very few birds. There were 2 Greenland Wheatear by the board walk. The sea was much better with several Red Breasted Mergansers and Goldeneye. Also there were 3000 Common Scoter, when they flew there were 21 Velvet Scoter with them. A summer plumaged Red Necked Grebe was a very pleasant surprise.

Red Necked Grebe

"Greenland" Wheatear

24th March 2010 - Alpine Swift Day !

2010-03-24T23:00:00.000Z

With Alpine Swift appearing all over the UK it was inevitable that one would show up in Norfolk. Now it seems there were at least 3 yesterday with twitchable birds at Cromer and Hunstanton. Having failed to connect with the Hunstanton bird last night I was there again this morning. No swift while I was there but it turned up again while I travelled to Great Yarmouth. However I did see 12 Crossbills in bushes by Hunstanton Lighthouse along with a few Tree Sparrows. A Sand Martin flew past and Chiff Chaff were calling frequently.
So...having left the Hunstanton swift I went to work in Great Yarmouth; Lo & Behold! I park the car and an Alpine Swift flew around the carpark at Tesco and stayed for 2 minutes before flying toward Gorleston. I spent an hour in Tesco and when I came back at 11am the Swift reappeared over B&Q, again only staying a minute or 2 before flying toward Belton. End of story?? ... not likely.
The Alpine Swift reappeared at Hunstanton and stayed all afternoon. I got there at about 3:30 and there was this amazing bird shaped like a cigar with 2 sickles sticking out the side. It continued to show until it went to roost on the cliffs. Photographs and video galore.

Alpine Swift - Hunstanton

Chiff Chaff - Hunstanton

Kestrel - Hunstanton

March 22nd

2010-03-24T22:32:00.000Z

I was working along the Suffolk coast today so obviously I had to try for the Penduline Tits at Minsmere only to "dip" for the first time this year. There was some consolation in the form of 2 Jack Snipe and Cetti's Warbler singing from every bush.
Decided then to spend a little time at Dunwich Heath, I found my 1st moth of the year, a nice Yellow Horned and then a lovely Firecrest next to the toilet block. Walked over the Heath and came across 30 Red Deer just lounging about, seemingly unconcerned with me. Looking up there were 4 Mediterranean Gulls overhead. There were also several pairs of Stonechats on the heather but the star birds had to be the beautiful Dartford Warblers, I counted 11, it's amazing how they survived the winter.

Yellow Horned - Dunwich Heath

Red Deer - Dunwich Heath

Firecrest - Dunwich Heath

19th March 2010

2010-03-19T16:39:00.001Z

Headed back to the Lion's Mouth this morning to try for pics of the Firecrest (see below). Again the 2 birds showed very well. The Tawny's were calling again but out of sight. There were plenty of Crossbills today with over 30 seen in the tops of the pines. There were also 3 Redpolls, 1 of which was definately Mealy Redpoll, the other 2 may also have been.

Firecrest, Lions Mouth, Felbrigg Hall.

18th March 2010

2010-03-18T17:50:00.001Z

Today I spent an hour before work at the Lion's Head carpark at Felbrigg Hall. My target was the Firecrests which had been reported recently. Imagine how pleased I was when one of these gems perched in a fir in front of me as I parked the car. For the next hour there were at least 3 Firecrests chasing each other around this tiny car park. Also on view was a Jay with a fair sized lizard in its beak, a Great Spotted woodpecker and a few Common Crossbills overhead. Out of view but quite vocal were 2 Tawny Owls duetting and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming.

March 15th

2010-03-15T17:28:00.001Z

Not a lot happening today. Stopped for lunch at the RAF memorial between Wolferton & Snettisham Pumping station. Lots of commoner species about but a glimpse of Goshawk above the cliff was nice. Two other, less expected, raptors also made an appearance. Two Red Kites appeared from nowhere. 1 flew over the fields east of the southern part of Snettisham RSPB while the other came from the direction of Dersingham Bog and glided over Wolferton for about 15 minutes before moving North. Both Kites were showing marked moulting of the flight feathers.

Plastic Ducks!

2010-03-14T23:59:00.002Z

March 13th 2010
Off to Dorset today with a special duck in mind.
A 1:30 am start saw us (myself, Robert Williamson & Charlie Dobbs) at the Moonfleet Manor hotel, west of Weymouth by first light. Not much to see on the journey down except a Tawny Owl nearly took the paint off the car roof.
From the hotel car park we walked west for a few minutes and there it was... a fantastic drake Bufflehead. The bird swam and fed happily on the south side of The Fleet allowing some poor photographs and video. Also present were roughly 40 Red Breasted Mergansers but I didn't think I should tick the 7 Black Swans.
We then travelled to Radipole Lake where the Hooded Merganser put on a great show. We also had the surreal experience of watching Cetti's Warbler singing from bushes in Curry's and McDonalds car park!
Well, it all went to pot after that. We decided to travel to the New Forest to see the Great Grey Shrike, or rather, NOT see the afore mentioned shrike. Lots of Common Buzzards and a few Sparrowhawks but no shrike; until we left, that is.
The drive back gave us so many Buzzards that I lost count. The journey also gave us 17 Red Kites, 7 between Newbury and Oxford and 10 between Thrapston and Peterborough.
We stopped at Eldernel briefly, there were small numbers of both Bewicks and Whooper Swans present alongside huge numbers of other wildfowl.
Just a word on a new garden tick before I finish. A drake Mandarin took up temporary residence for an hour or so. Great bird for the centre of King's Lynn.

A week of ticks.

2010-03-11T18:16:00.001Z

Sunday March 7th.
Took myself off to Snettisham for a walk in the morning. Nice day but I was feeling too lazy to walk to the hides. Fortunately the two Shorelarks were very obliging as were 4 Twite about 200 yds south of the chalets. Out on the flats the mud seemed to be covered with a myriad of waders and wildfowl. A new year tick flew past in the form of 4 Whimbrel.

Monday 8th March
Spent the day working around Norwich and Loddon so I took full advantage. Norwich gave me 5 Waxwings at Earlham fire station, one of my favourite birds. Later, while waiting for my Loddon appointment, I spent an hour looking over Thorpe Marshes. My luck held as raptors appeared to be everywhere. The Rough Legged Buzzard proved difficult but I saw it eventually. Also on view were 5 Marsh Harriers, 3 Hen Harriers, Peregrine, Merlin, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and to cap it all a lovely Red Kite. Raptor Heaven!

Thursday 11th March

Up in Sheringham and Cromer today. Had to spend an hour on the promenade at Sheringham and it was worth while. The Glaucous Gull was very kind and shared the beach with an adult Yellow Legged Gull and a Purple Sandpiper.

A Red Necked Grebe was on the sea, amazingly, a summer plumaged Black Guillemot sped past at the same moment...a Norfolk tick.

G is for Goshawk!

2010-03-03T23:12:00.006Z

Lunch time around Lynn & Sandringham again. Went to the Fisher Fleet for a few moments where 1 adult and 2 1st winter Yellow Legged Gulls squabbled with the Herring Gulls. The female Peregrine was perched atop the Porvair tower while the male scared the local pigeons witless just by it's mere presence overhead.
At Sandringham the local Tits and Nuthatches chased each other amongst the feeders. A flurry of strange calls made me look up to see Crossbills in the Pines above me. I counted 27 of which 11 were males. As I was packing up there was an exodus of birds in all directions, pigeons, Jays, Wrens... everything flew off at max speed. Looking up there seemed to be a large dark raptor just gliding past. At first I thought it was a Buzzard but it soon proved to be a female Goshawk. This thing was plain HUGE but it was gone toward the A149 too quickly to appreciate it fully. Great bird.

Golden Delight

2010-02-24T20:52:00.006Z

With my job taking all across Norfolk each day, I get a choice of where I want to have lunch. Today it was Sandringham.

I started with a slow drive along the West Newton Road where a pair of Bullfinches played Hide & Seek in the bushes. Just beyond the old Water Mill were a half dozen Lesser Redpolls in the Silver Birches and a mixed bag of Fieldfares and Redwings were by the barns.

I decided on a slow drive around Wolferton Triangle. 7 Common Crossbill were feeding in the conifers there. While watching them a male Golden Pheasant walked past a gap in the Rhododendrons...and posed. It stayed for about 5 minutes allowing several photographs which turned out well, despite shutter speeds of 1/5 sec. All 3 males showed themselves eventually.

Later at the feeders there were the usual mixed tits then a grey and orange blur. A male Sparrowhawk took a Great Tit straight off the bird table, dropped it in a bramble and dived right in after it, got it and flew away, all within 10 seconds.

Saturday 20th Feb 2010

2010-02-21T14:41:00.007Z

Well this is a first! my first ever blog.

I spent the day birding with Robert Williamson. It started poorly with a wasted effort for Caspian Gull at the Great Massingham pig fields and the Grey Wagtails near Walsingham.
We had better luck at Wells boating lake where 4 Scaup showed well. There were no Brents on the Pitch n Putt so we went to Lady Annes Drive. 200 Eurasian White Fronted Geese were a good start but they soon went. A trek out to Holkham Gap failed to produce Shorelark but we had fine views of Rock Pipit. Seawatching produced Great Northern and Red Throated Diver, Red Breasted Merganser but only a few Common Scoter and Eider. Robert found a single Snow Bunting just a few yards from where we stood. Back to the car and there were at least 4 Barn Owls flying but most of the Wildfowl were distant though the weird looking leucistic Pink Footed Goose was obliging.
A return to Wells gave us at least 1 of the Black Brants despite the "would be golfers".
We had a brief look at the Snow Goose south of Titchwell Village and finished with Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer at Choseley Barns.
Not a bad day but could have been better.