North Norfolk Coast - 21st September 2014

On Sunday 21st September Dad took me up to North Norfolk as I was eager to connect with the Olive-backed Pipit at Wells Woods and the several Red-breasted Flycatchers at Burnham Overy Dunes. We arrived at Wells Woods, and as I was getting my ticket, I noticed that Penny Clarke (see her fantastic blog here) was standing right behind me. We had a chat about her twitch to see the Masked Shrike in Spurn, and then made our way up to the Dell

We found the birders standing on the bank, and had great views of the cracking Olive-backed Pipit. The light was pretty poor however, so we done well to get the pictures we did. There is a video too, but the bird was on the move, so try and keep with it!

It then flew off so we left. We then went to Garden Drove, Warham with Penny and Eddie M. Found absolutely nothing apart from a few Robins. The strong wind had blown nearly all the migrants away, so all the Red-breasted Flys were gone which I was gutted about.

We then went to Salthouse, to see the Barred and Yellow-browed Warbler. Several people we watching the Barred Warbler at close range. We managed to get some pretty good shots of this and another video.

We then went to see if the Yellow-browed Warbler was showing. It hadn't been seen for an hour, so our hopes weren't up. We got there and no other birders in this area of bushes and it was feeding on the bushes! Incredible! It was only there briefly so I could only get a record shot on the little camera...

We then went to do a bit of sea-watching for the last part of the day at Cley Coastguards. Quite a few people were in there, so eyes were always on the lookout. I managed to see my first ever Sooty Shearwater (2), with several Manx Shearwaters and Gannets, 2 Arctic Skuas and 1 Bonxie. The chap next to me (Pete Snook I think his name was) spotted a "large Shearwater"flying east. We never really got good views of it, but we think it was a Cory's, but we weren't definite so I couldn't tick it as a lifer.

Still though another great days birding!

Happy Birding!

North Norfolk - 2 Great Lifers!

Dad and I headed up to North Norfolk yesterday to try and bring the year list up to about 115, hopefully getting a couple of good birds too. We started off at Edgefield, to look for the Parrot Crossbills (104). It wasn't long before got amongst the throng of birders and enjoyed good views of them in the pines, even if the photos weren't great....

They then flew off because of a Buzzard...

and landed right near to where we parked the car, where we had better light for photo's...

We then moved on up to Wiveton, and after driving around the village, we found a couple of birders. We asked them had they seen the Glossy Ibis. They said no, so we tried from the sluice. Several Curlew (106) in the field though. They got there before us, and pulled us over to say that it was in a flooded field. We pulled up, and what great views...

Glossy Ibis (107)

We also got a Water Rail (108) calling from a ditch in Wiveton.

Got great views before we moved up to Cley NWT. Got 4 Brent Goose (109) on the side of the road before we went to Bishop's Hide - only hide open - and got Avocet (110) onto the yearlist. We then went to Cley Coastguards. We looked to the sea, and got plenty of Red-throated Diver (111), and a distant white wader flying which could of been a Grey Phalarope but was very distant and impossible to tell. We then looked at the amazing numbers of Brent Geese. I reckon there were about 400 birds in the Eye field. I took some snaps...

It was only until tonight that I was looking through my photos of the Geese, and 1 individual caught my eye. I couldn't believe it, but it was a BLACK BRANT!

The fact I had actually known that I had seen this bird, but then I found through the photos I took was quite incredible. When sitting in the van eating lunch, a brief Kittiwake (112) flew into the Eye field, but soon flew off again. Also got Turnstones (113) on the beach.

We then moved on to Salthouse. The devastation of the beach car park is terrible. In fact, there isn't a car park. I forgot to take any pictures of the car park, but I was so shocked it was touching. Got a Redshank feeding on the tidal pools though...

Anyway, we went to Gramborough Hill to look for the Richard's Pipit. We'd missed it by 20 minutes. Dad went to look at the RT Divers on the sea, while I chatted to a couple that had turned up. Within about 5 minutes they were on the bird (114), and dad missed it!!!!!!!!!! Ha Ha Ha! I got great views for about 5 seconds before it flew off into the hill. We then went searching while I called over Dad. I flushed it again from the side of the hill before we lost it for good back into the original field. Boy was he an elusive bird.

Final stop of the day was at Blakeney Harbour. We met a couple of chaps, one who does Norfolk bird tours. They lead us up to the NE end of Stiffkey Fen - getting Pintail (115) on they way. The Harbour was a long way away. The guys picked up 1 Great-Northern Diver (116), 2 Black-throated Diver, 4 Long-tailed Duck (117) and 1 Guillemot (118), all of which we saw. We also got Grey Plover (119) and Bar-tailed Godwit (120).

On the way back, got a massive flock of probably about 2,000 Brent Geese flying over the fen, and 50 Black-tailed Godwits (121) on the fen...

And finally, flushed a Little Owl from the side of the road nearer to home, which brings the yearlist total to 122.

What a great day!

Happy Birding!

North Norfolk Coast

Yesterday Dad and I went onto the North Norfolk Coast to try and get some sea birds and winter passerines onto the year list. We started off at Salthouse, trying to see the Shorelark and the Snow Buntings. These both would have been lifers, but sadly the Shorelark was not present. I was fairly certain we weren't going to see that anyway, but at that time there weren't even any Snow Buntings about. So we walked down towards the Little Eye, to a bit of sea watching. We first spotted a Guillemot not to far out, and then a Black-throated Diver. We then got a few Red-throated Divers flying past, and another Guillemot. Then, I just happened to turn around, and there were about 30+ Snow Buntings!

Delightful little things. They were communicating between the car park, and the Little Eye. We found out that the Snow Buntings had been at Cley first thing, that's why we didn't see them first thing. We then got a Redshank, Stock Dove and the regular Turnstones....

We then got a large flock of Pink-foots over...

We then moved onto Cley, to go and see the Purple Sandpiper. We followed the directions that were given, and found the bird. 

We then moved onto Holkham, to see the Spoonbills, and maybe a Black Brant. First we drove to Burnham Overy, to see if the Rough-legged Buzzard was still about. We saw 2 Common Buzzards, but not Rough-legged. We skipped this challenge and went back to Holkham. We saw that there was a big Brent Goose flock by Lady Annes Drive. We searched through and found a Black Brant.

We then moved onto the Tower Hide, as we heard that that's where the Spoonbills were. On the way we saw Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Coal Tit. We then came across a large pond which held 4 Little Grebes, a Tufted Duck, and more surprisingly, a pair of Goldeneye!

With a Jay for company

We then had great views of a Barn Owl as the light started to fade...

We got to the hide, and could see the 2 Spoonbills on the scrape

They were joined by about 60 White-fronted Geese, to distant for a photo. 

Happy Birding!

A Summary of 2012

With this being my first year having a blog, it has been something that I should've started earlier. If it wasn't for Jim, I wouldn't have had this blog, so thank you! And also, a big thank you to you readers, I mean, for all your comments, it has given me confidence to think that my blog is a worthy website!

I will just mention that we spent a day at Landguard in Felixstowe yesterday (30th) with some friends, and we went for a walk round Landguard Nature Reserve. It was the first time I'd ever been round this place, and considering we weren't birding, just keeping an eye out while we walked our friends dogs - Peter, Brian and Benny - we saw a good number of Mediterranean Gulls....

Mediterranean Gulls at Landguard

Well, we started off the year with a Ring-necked Duck at Ranworth Broad in January, this being a lifer. Then Cranes, White-fronted Geese and a Merlin at Stubb Mill. Moving on to February, a Black-necked Grebe at Minsmere, with 7 Smew, a Goosander and a Greater Flamingo skating on ice. Very amusing. Late February was a trip to Lynford Arboretum showing good numbers of Hawfinch...

Hawfinch at Lynford Arboretum

I then had my French Trip with the school, which turned out to be a great Birding Vacation! Black Redstart, White Wagtail, Black Kite, Short-toed Eagle, Cirl Bunting, Great-Grey Shrike, Serin, Short-toed Treecreeper and Osprey were the hightlights...

Serin

We then went to Thetford Area on the 13th April, and we were surprised  to see a Cuckoo so early in the year, the earliest ever for me! Also a pair of Mandarin flew up river and into trees which was nice. Then, another Minsmere visit on the 7th May produced Wryneck, a pair of Black-winged Stilt and a Ring Ouzel...

Wryneck

And Ring Ouzel

I managed to pick out a Roseate Tern on the scrape on the 18th at Minsmere, before departing back out to sea. That was also a lifer! Then, Lakenheath Fen. Golden Oriole, a pair of Garganey with a Grasshopper Warbler. Bliss. Then, the Isle of Mull. Eagles, Auks, Passerines and Otters. Puffin, Manx Shearwaters, a Corncrake and a Dipper being the lifers of the trip. 

Puffins on the Treshnish Isles

Late June provided a 10pm start for Nightjars with a Stone-Curlew chucked in with it!

Nightjar

In mid July, Cley produced a Curlew Sandpiper plus the regular Spoonbills, the Sandpiper being a lifer. I was also pleased to see that there were 2 families of Little-ringed Plover with chicks on the reserve. Moving on to August, and Minsmere provided us with 2 lifers, Ferruginous Duck and a Pectoral Sandpiper...

Ferruginous Duck

And Pectoral Sandpiper

In September we had our Norfolk trip - 3 day stay at Sea Palling - seeing Common Scoter, Grey Plover, Purple Sandpiper, Arctic Skua and Yellow-legged Gull all new for the year. 

Purple Sandpiper at Titchwell

Then in October, we had Little Auk and White-rumped Sandpiper between Cley and Salthouse, both lifers.

Pathetic picture I know, it's the Sandpiper for gods sake!

Then, the 1st December provided a Richardson's Canada Goose at Salthouse with several other Geese. That was a day to remember, because obviously it was a lifer, but it was just because it was raining and we got wet, that was the good thing about it! (I don't know why really it's just an excuse). Then the Waxwings came into Stowmarket....

Waxwing in Stowmarket

That leads me into the next part because on Boxing Day, we saw another flock of probably the same birds with just a few more a bit further down the road towards Tesco...

Waxwings

Well, another year gone, and an incredible total of 205 birds seen in Britain this year, with 216 including the French Sightings. I wish you a Happy New year, with a bird filled 2013. Tomorrow we are hopefully going to North Warren to get some of them wild geese, and maybe a visit to Minsmere to see the Smew? Happy New Year.