Friday 29 November 2013

Friday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Glaucous Gull, Twite x 50 at Dunwich
Velvet Scoter x 5, Snow Bunting x 2 at Minsmere
Great Northern Diver at Harkstead, Stour Est.
Slavonian Grebe at Alton Water

Other News!
Two-barred Crossbill still at Lynford Arboretum

Thursday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Snow Bunting x 100 at Pakefield
Hen Harrier still at Westhorpe
Velvet Scoter x 7, Snow Bunting x 20 at Minsmere

Other News!
No sign of Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler at Holkham Today

Wednesday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Hen Harrier at Westhorpe
Twite x 60 at Dunwich
Rough-legged Buzzard, Long-tailed Duck at Orford
Black Redstart at Lowestoft

Other News!
**MEGA** unconfirmed NUTCRACKER yesterday at Pegwell, Kent but no sign today
HUME'S YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER at Holkham Pines, Norfolk this afternoon

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Tuesday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Snow Bunting x 50 at Pakefield
Twite x 100, Snow Bunting x 8 at Dunwich
PARROT CROSSBILL X 8 still at Tuntstall Forest
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford Ness
Snow Bunting x 21 at Landguard
Snow Bunting at Kessingland
Short-eared Owl x 2 at Shingle Street

Other News!
Two-barred Crossbill at Lynford Arboretum

I saw on norfolkornithologistsassociation.pbworks.com that the Two-barred Crossbill at Lynford is a Common Crossbill with wing bars???????? If you guys know anything, please let me know.

Cheers and Happy Birding as always!

Monday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
PARROT CROSSBILL X 16 still at Tunstall Forest
Snow Bunting x 24 at Landguard
Slavonian Grebe x 6 on Stour Estuary
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford Ness

Other News!
**MEGA** SNOWY OWL yesterday St. Kilda, Western Isles
**MEGA** PACIFIC DIVER still off Pendower Beach, Cornwall

Sunday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Glaucous Gull, Short-eared Owl still at Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft
Snow Bunting x 31 at Landguard
Velvet Scoter x 2 off Slaughden
PARROT CROSSBILL X 10 still at Tunstall Forest
Lapland Bunting x 2 still at Corton
Pomarine Skua, Great Skua, Velvet Scoter off Thorpeness
Hen Harrier at Shottisham
Snow Bunting x 10 at Pakefield
Velvet Scoter x 2 off Ness Point, Lowestoft

Other News!
**MEGA** SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER still at North Ronaldsay, Orkney
**MEGA** WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER still at Marloes, Pembrokeshire
**MEGA** PACIFIC DIVER still off Pendower Beach, Cornwall
**MEGA** FORSTER'S TERN at Nimmo's Pier, Co. Galway

Saturday 23 November 2013

Saturdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Parrot Crossbill x 10 at Tunstall Forest (for 8th day)
Snow Bunting x 4, Dartford Warbler, Velvet Scoter x 2 at Gunton
Firecrest x 2, Lapland Bunting at Corton
Hen Harrier at Lakenheath Fen
Glaucous Gull still at Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft
Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter, Bonxie past Thorpeness
Bewick's Swan x 9, Snow Bunting x 3, Ring Ouzel, Yellow-legged Gull at Minsmere
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford Ness
Snow Bunting x 16, Short-eared Owl at Landguard
Velvet Scoter, Bonxie x 2, Snow Bunting at Southwold

Other News!
Short-billed Dowitcher still at North Ronaldsay, Orkney
Western Orphean Warbler still at St. Brides, Pembrokeshire

Friday 22 November 2013

Friday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Glaucous Gull still at Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft
Snow Bunting x 50 at Lowestoft
Snow Bunting x 19, Bonxie at Landguard
Black-throated Diver, Velvet Scoter x 3, Bonxie x 2 past Thorpeness
Purple Sandpiper at Slaughden
Pomarine Skua, Bonxie past Southwold
16 Bewick's Swan, 3 White-fronted Geese, Twite x 5 at Minsmere

Other News!
**MEGA** SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER still on North Ronaldsay, Orkney
**MEGA** WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER still at St. Brides, Pembrokeshire
**MEGA** PACIFIC DIVER still off Pendower Beach, Cornwall
Two-barred Crossbill still at Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk

Sorry about the lack of updates. Just so much homework it's unreal. Hopefully I haven't disappointed anyone without doing Wednesday's or Thursday's Sightings.

Happy Birding!

Tuesday 19 November 2013

What A Birthday Treat!

For my Birthday, Mum and Dad decided to take me out birding on Sunday. We were initially going to go to Cley, and Holkham, but the weather forecast wasn't brilliant, so we decided to go to Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. As we were all going out, that meant that I had the little camera, so I could take videos. Yipeeeeeeeeeee! I left Mum and Dad to do the pictures, and me to do the videos. Splendid.

We started at Great Yarmouth, looking for the Shorelarks. We parked about 1/2 mile north of the pier, and then walked south. There was one birder, who we met, and asked if he had seen them. He said that the Shorelarks couldn't be towards the pier because the amount of dog walkers and fisherman down there was unreal. He was right, but we still went down there to have a look. On the walk, we saw 2 Med Gulls flying around.


I then had a scan around on the beach about 300 yards north of the pier, and blow me down I could see 4 Shorelarks flitting and feeding around the shingle. AAARRRGGGHHH! We got down there, and we got within 15 feet of some these birds. It was an incredible Lifer that I have tried for humpteen times, but we finally connected.







We then met 3 birders. A man, a woman and their daughter Lucy who was a late teenager, and she was a person who was looking for young people who are interested in birds, like me. She is part of the BTO. We enjoyed the birds together, and then left them to it. 

We then went to Links Hill Beach, in search of any Snow Buntings. Once again, there were plenty of fisherman, so no chance in them, but we did get 2 self found Purple Sandpiper on the rocks with Turnstone. Also, there were 4 Med Gull in the car park.




We then decided to go and try for the Glaucous Gull at Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft. This again would be a lifer. When we got there, there were about 13 birders, but we went away from them, and closer to the gull, which was one of the easiest lifers I'll ever get. It was soooo close. 




Then we ambitiously thought to go to Winterton to get the massive flock of Snow Buntings. We got there, and the 3 people we met at Great Yarmouth were there. We were at the North Dunes at this point, and we had seen nothing. We asked them if they had seen anything, but they had seen nilch too. They had just been to Sea Palling, to see the Humpback Whale, but they had seen nothing. However, I just had a message in the Whale was seen 5 minutes ago. I told them, and they couldn't believe it. They ran back to the car park. We thought about doing that too, so we started to follow them. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a view of some small birds with white wings. I shouted to Mum and Dad "Snow Buntings," and we went back and got pics. There was about 40 birds present. The light was poor though.



We then started to head back to the car park, to go to Sea Palling. As we started to walk back, a further 60 flew over our heads really low. It was incredible. No picture though :( 

We then got to Sea Palling, and got to the crowd of people on the dunes. The viz was poor, and you could hardly tell the sky from the sea. We didn't see the whale, so we headed back and had a great lunch at The Countryman. The food was great. What a birthday treat.

Happy Birding!

Tuesday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
**MEGA** SNOWY OWL REPORTED FELIXSTOWE GOLF COURSE BUT NO SIGN BY 4PM
Glaucous Gull again at Hamilton Dock
Long-tailed Duck, Water Pipit, Yellow-legged Gull at Minsmere
Snow Bunting x 10 at Sizewell
Snow Bunting x 9 at Benacre
Snow Bunting x 4, Short-eared Owl at Easton Broad
Caspian Gull at Hollesly Marsh
Lapland Bunting x 3 at Corton

Other News!
**MEGA** PACIFIC DIVER still off Pendower Beach, Cornwall
**MEGA** no sign of YELLOW BREASTED BUNTING at Blakeney Point, Norfolk
**MEGA** SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER again on North Ronaldsay, Orkney
**MEGA** WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER still at St. Brides, Pembrokeshire

Monday 18 November 2013

Monday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Firecrest x 4 at Gunton
Scaup at Benacre Broad
Snow Buntings x 14 at Covehithe Broad
White-fronted Goose x 2, Bewick's Swan x 7, Snow Bunting x 5 at Minsmere
Snow Bunting x 17, Arctic Skua, Great Skua x 2, Bewick's Swan x 2 at Landguard

Other News!
**MEGA** YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING AT BLAKENEY POINT, NORFOLK!!!!!
**MEGA** PACIFIC DIVER still off Pendower, Cornwall

Sunday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Glaucous Gull, Caspian Gull (briefly) still at Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft
Pomarine Skua, Great Skua x 5 at Thorpeness
Dartford Warbler at Gunton Warren
Firecrest at Gunton Church
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl x 3 at Orford Ness
Purple Sandpiper x 8 at Ness Point, Lowestoft
Purple Sandpiper x 2 at Links Hill, Lowestoft (found by BCM)
Snow Buntings x 4 at Falkenham
Raven at Ramsholt
Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull x 3 at Minsmere

Other News!
**MEGA** SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER on North Ronaldsay, Orkney
**MEGA** DUSKY THRUSH at Paignton, Devon - till 2nd November
**MEGA** WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER still at St. Brides, Pembrokeshire
Two-barred Crossbill still at Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk

Saturday 16 November 2013

Saturday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Rough-legged Buzzard at Orford Ness
Raven over Felixstowe
Great-White Egret, Hen Harrier at Lakenheath
Glaucous Gull, Snow Bunting x 59, Purple Sandpiper x 5 at Lowestoft
Scaup x 2 at Bawdsey
Dartford Warbler at Gunton Warren

Other News!
**MEGA** WESTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER at Orlandon Kilns, Pembrokeshire
**MEGA** PACIFIC DIVER off Pendower Beach, Cornwall
Two-barred Crossbill at Lynford Arboretum

Thursday 14 November 2013

Thursday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford
Shorelark x 2 at Southwold
Shorelark x 2 at Benacre
Hen Harrier at Lakenheath Fen

Other News!
THAYER'S GULL still at Cley NWT, Norfolk until mid afternoon
GLOSSY IBIS at Cley, then Salthouse, Norfolk
Parrot Crossbill x 3 at Holt Country Park
HUMPBACK WHALE still off Sea Palling, Norfolk

Wednesday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
GREAT SNIPE (PROB) FLUSHED, Shorelark x 2 at Benarcre
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford
GLOSSY IBIS south over Minsmere
Twite x 40 at Dunwich
Bewick's Swan x 32 at Westleton Heath
Bewick's Swan x 10, Twite x 2 at Slaughden
Velvet Scoter x 2 off Hopton
Bewick's Swan x 6 at Hollesly Marsh RSPB
Short-eared Owl at Shingle Street
Snow Bunting at Landguard
Great White Egret, Common Crane x 3, Mealy Redpoll x 13 at Lakenheath Fen

Other News!
THAYER'S GULL at Cley NWT, Norfolk
GLOSSY IBIS at Welney, Norfolk
HUMPBACK WHALE again off Sea Palling, Norfolk
Parrot Crossbill x 12 at Holt Country Park, Norfolk

Tuesday 12 November 2013

My Birthday Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Shorelark x 2, Snow Bunting x 6, Great Northern Diver, Bonxie x 3, Firecrest at Southwold
Rough-legged Buzzard at Orford
Snow Bunting x 13, Goosander, Yellow-l Gull at Minsmere
Red-necked Grebe x 2 at Landguard

Other News!
No other news.

Monday 11 November 2013

Monday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford
Little Auk, Red-necked Grebe off Thorpeness
Bewick's Swan x 8 at Minsmere
Scaup at Stour Est.
P-B-B Goose x 2, Long-tailed Duck of Landguard
Black Brant, Grey Phalarope, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting x 5, Pomarine, Arctic and Great Skua's x 1, Manx Shearwater at Southwold.

Other News!
No other news today.

Sunday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Glaucous Gull off Ness Point this afternoon? also 9 Purple Sandpipers
Black Brant, Velvet Scoter x 3 past Hopton
Snow Bunting x 9 at Links Hill, Lowestoft
Shorelark x 2, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting x 8 at Southwold
Twite x 42, Arctic Tern at Dunwich
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford Ness
Snow Bunting x 2 at Landguard
Yellow-legged Gull, Peregrine at Great Livermere

Other News!
Pied Wheatear still at Collingham Pits, Nottinghamshire
HUMPBACK WHALE still of Sea Palling

Saturday 9 November 2013

Saturday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
GLOSSY IBIS still at Hollesly Marsh RSPB
Great White Egret still at Minsmere
Great Grey Shrike at Snottisham
Snow Bunting at North Warren RSPB
Hen Harrier, Snow Bunting at Landguard
Arctic Tern past Southwold
Firecrest at Gunton Woods
Snow Bunting x 2 at Links Hill, Lowestoft
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford

Other News!
Pied Wheatear at Collingham Pits, Nottinghamshire
HUMPBACK WHALE again past Sea Palling and Waxham, Norfolk

Friday 8 November 2013

Friday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
GLOSSY IBIS still at Hollesly Marsh RSPB
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford Ness
Shorelark x 3, Great Northern Diver x 2 at Landguard
Great Grey Shrike at West Stow
Short-eared Owl at Bawdsey

Other News!
Two-barred Crossbill still at Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk

Thursday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
GLOSSY IBIS X 2 south over Minsmere RSPB
GLOSSY IBIS still at Hollesly Marsh RSPB
Shorelark x 2 at Pakefield
Hooded Crow, Black Redstart at Benacre
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford
Short-eared Owl at Shingle Street
Great Northern Diver off Landguard, then up the River Stour
Snow Buntings x 3 at Felixstowe Ferry
Bonxie x 3, Arctic Skua x 2 off Dunwich

Other News!
No other News

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Wednesday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Pomarine Skua off Thorpeness
GLOSSY IBIS still at Hollesly Marsh RSPB
Shorelark x 2 at Pakefield
Snow Bunting x 30 at Southwold
Bonxie, Firecrest, Merlin at Landguard

Other News!
Two-barred Crossbill at Lynford Arboretum
Glossy Ibis at Welney NWT

Tuesday 5 November 2013

There Ticking Up!

The title is basically suggesting that my year list and life list are ticking up, with 214 this year, and 240 for my life. This is a fantastic year if you compare it, because I am only 26 species off my life list this year. That's incredible. My highest ever year count was last years 205, well, I have thrashed that this year, and were still in November!!!

Anyway, Dad and I went to Norfolk for a bit of birding on Friday. We started of at northern section of Yarmouth Cemetery. Our ambition was to track down the Yellow-browed warbler that was seen on Thursday, and to do this, we presumably had to find a tit flock. It wasn't long before my ears picked up the call of Long-tailed Tit's, and sure enough we found th flock. Of course, there were several Long-tailed Tits


And also 3 Chiffchaffs

Not great!

The, we spotted a tiny bird flitting about low in the ivy. Our hopes went up, but then down a little way, as it turned out to be a Firecrest. Still a cracking bird to see, as I haven't had good views of these birds for ages. The best I got was this shot...


We the headed to Caister to get the Rose-coloured Starling, a lifer for Dad and I.






It then cleared off onto the distant roof tops...


We then left for Winterton. Passing through the fields around the road, we saw thousands of Pink-footed Geese. It was incredible. The shots were taken while driving, so that's why they are so bad....




We didn't get much at Winterton Dunes, apart from some Gannets and Common Scoters. We didn't know where the Snow Buntings or Lapland Bunting were when we got there, and there were so many people here, so we didn't see them.

If you've got good eyes, you can see the scoters. Very distant.

Pretty Poor

We then finished off at the raptor roost at Stubb Mill, and got several Marsh Harriers, Pink-foots and 2 Crane. Not a bad day, but could have been better.

Happy Birding!

Tuesday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
GLOSSY IBIS still at Hollesly Marsh RSPB
Little Auk in off (?) at Dunwich
Shorelark,  Snow Bunting x 6, Yellow-legged Gull x 2 at Minsmere
Glaucous Gull, WAXWING x 2, Sooty Shearwater x 3, Velvet Scoter, Snow Bunting x 5 at Landguard
Snow Bunting x 10 at Lowestoft
Snow Bunting x 12 at Southwold
Bonxie x 3 at Benarce
Black Redstart x 2 at Sizewell
Velvet Scoter x 2, Great Northern Diver on River Stour Est.

Other News!
No other news around today.

Monday 4 November 2013

Monday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
HUMPBACK WHALE off Dunwich and Minsmere RSPB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GLOSSY IBIS back at Hollesly Marsh RSPB though elusive
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford Ness, around the BBC outlet
Pomarine Skua x 5 off Thorpeness
Firecrest at Landguard
Short-eared Owl at Felixstowe Ferry
Velvet Scoter at Stutton Mill, River Stour
Snow Bunting x 12 at Links Hill, Lowestoft
Purple Sandpiper x 3 at Ness Point, Lowestoft

Other News!
**MEGA** FORSTER'S TERN at Nimmo's Pier, Co. Galway
**MEGA** poss. BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS off Baggy Point, Devon
Two-barred Crossbill still at Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk

Sunday 3 November 2013

Sundays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford Ness
Shorelark x 3 at Lowestoft
Arctic Tern, Firecrest at Landguard
Hen Harrier at Felixstowe Ferry

Other News!
**MEGA** MOURNING DOVE sill on Isle of Rhum, Highland
Glossy Ibis still at Welney, Norfolk
Two-barred Crossbill still at Lynford Arboretum

Saturday 2 November 2013

Saturday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Rough-legged Buzzard still at Orford
Shag at Lake Lothing
Caspian Gull at Lowestoft
Dartford Warbler, Firecrest at Landguard
Dartford Warbler at Gunton
Snow Bunting x 13 at Kessingland
Snow Bunting x 8 at Southwold
Firecrest x 3 at Gunton
Velvet Scoter x 2, Great Northern Diver on River Stour

Other News!
**MEGA** MOURNING DOVE still on Isle of Rhum, Highland
**MEGA** BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS of Bass Point, Cornwall
**MEGA** CAPE MAY WARBLER still on Baltasound, Shetland
**MEGA** FEA'S PETREL off Ballycotton, Co. Cork

Friday's Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
GLOSSY IBIS flew south over Minsmere
GLOSSY IBIS present on Hollesly Marsh, probably the same bird from Minsmere.
Rough-legged Buzzard, Short-eared Owl x 2 at Orford
Lapland Bunting at Pakefield
Velvet Scoter x 2, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver on River Stour

Other News!
**MEGA** CAPE MAY WARBLER still at Baltasound, Shetland
**MEGA** HERMIT THRUSH still at Porthgwarra, Cornwall
**MEGA** MOURNING DOVE still on Isle of Rhum, Highland
**MEGA** WHITE'S THRUSH still on St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly
Northern Harrier still at Ouse Washes RSPB, Cambridgeshire