North West Norfolk

On Wednesday, Dad and I took the long drive up to Titchwell area. We arrived at Titchwell, and went straight out onto the beach. We soon found the masses of Common Scoters, about 5,500 birds in total with about 15 Velvet Scoters.

The long line of scoters

Female Velvet

Young Male Velvet

Near Adult Male Velvet

We then went to look on the Freshmarsh, Saltmarsh and Volunteer Marsh. Here's what we saw...

A very theatrical Dog on the beach - very funny to watch

Brent Geese

Both Godwits

Distant Goldeneye offshore

Distant Goldeneye offshore 

Grey Plover

Knot

Ruff

Saltmarsh

Shoveler

Teal

Titchwell Beach

Mixed Birds 

We then went to Choseley Barns, to see if we could get any Corn Buntings. No sign of any as their favourite hedge has been taken out. There were though however c. 30 Yellowhammers and a Buzzard...

Buzzard

Wren

Yellowhammer

Final stop of the day was at Burnham Overy Dunes. We got a Merlin from the layby...

Other stuff we got were...

Burnham Beach

Gulls on Burnham Beach

Dusk Curlew

Golden Plover

Mixed Geese

Distant Marsh Harrier

Brents and Pink foots with a Curlew

Pink Foots

Reed Bunting

We then got a very pale Buzzard. When it flew, it didn't show the white barring on the tail for it to be the resident Rough-legged Buzzard.

We then got a great Short-eared Owl and a Barn Owl, but too brief to photograph.

On the way back to the car, I tried to climb over a gate, which I was successful on the way to the marshes, but I fell over it on the way back and landed on my right side. Very painful. Not hurt much, and the optics weren't damaged! When we got back to the car, people were still in the layby and it was almost dusk, but they had the actual Rough-legged Buzzard sitting on top of Gun Hill. They saw it fly in with the white barring on the tail, but I wouldn't of told you it was a Rough-legged Buzzard if I'd of just seen it in the tree!

Happy Birding!

Brecks

On Tuesday, Dad and I visited the Brecks before my dentist appointment in Bury St. Edmunds. We started off at an undisclosed site where we got brief view of a Goshawk (what we came for), but it was distant and all of about 30 seconds. We also got Nuthatch here, but not much else. We then went to Lynford Arboretum. We didn't get any Hawfinches, but we got Crossbill, common passerines and more Nuthatches.

Happy Birding!

Minsmere and Westleton

As its half term, I have been able to do lots of birding. On Monday, Dad and I went to Minsmere. We started off at North Hide. We got the usual ducks, but no Pintails. We also got Dunlin, Cetti's Warbler, Oystercatcher, Marsh Harriers and common passerines. We then spotted one of the Redhead Smews. It wasn't distant, but the light was poor, as a result of this poor picture.

We then went out to look onto the sea, and got around 30 Red-throated Divers, and a Guillemot which was a welcome fly-past. Public Hide produced another Redhead Smew and a Goldeneye showing well, but this pic was taken with my little camera, so it looks distant in the photo, but it was only about 60 yards away....

We then went back to the visitor center to have lunch, and I had Prawn Mayonnaise Jacket. Absolutely gorgeous. We then headed out to Bittern Hide. Not much in there, apart from a distant Kingfisher and another Marsh Harrier. We then went on to Island Mere, and got Snipe, Otter and a flypast Bittern.

Final stop was at Westleton Heath, where we got a brief Dartford Warbler on the top of the heather before it flew off. Not a bad day. Better than going to school hey!

Happy Birding!

Wednesdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Iceland Gull, Black Redstart at Sizewell

Spotted Redshank at Dunwich Shore Pools

Glossy Ibis x 2 at Oulton Marshes, Lowestoft

Common Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl at Minsmere

Short-eared Owl x 2 at Shingle Street

Black-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver at Stutton Mill

Black-throated Diver, Snow Bunting x 5 at Landguard
PARROT CROSSBILL X 8 in Waveney Forest
Tree Sparrow x c.80 in Ampton

Other News!

**MEGA** FORSTER'S TERN still at The Mullet, Co. Mayo

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Tuesdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Whooper Swan x 2 at Dingle Marshes
Firecrest x 2 at Bawdsey
Greenland White-fronted Goose x 2 still at North Warren
Spotted Redshank at Levington Lagoon
Great Northern Diver at Stutton Mill
Snow Bunting x 7 at Landguard
Smew x 2 at Minsmere
Rough-legged Buzzard again at Crag Farm, Sudbourne
Waxwing x 8 still on Lattice Avenue, Ipswich

Other News!
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Mondays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Smew x 2 still at Minsmere

Snow Bunting x 7, Bonxie, Black Redstart, Common Sandpiper still at Landguard

Waxwing x 8 still on Lattice Avenue, Ipswich

Glossy Ibis still at Oulton Marshes

Spotted Redshank, Greenshank still at Levington Lagoon

Eurasian White-fronted Goose at Kirton

Hen Harrier at Wantisdean

Other News!

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington

Bird Quiz - Week 2

Last weeks mystery bird was a female Garganey which was 1 of 4 birds present on Island Mere, Minsmere RSPB last summer.

Garganeys

A big well done to Rob Stokes, Ellis Lucas and Mark Lewis for getting the correct answer. They were the only 3 guesses I got, so there were no incorrect guesses by anyone else. Here's this weeks mystery bird.....

??????????

Just leave your guesses in the comments of this post, and I will reveal the correct answer next Sunday. 

P.S. Please could I have more than 3 guesses this week :)

Good Luck

Sundays Bird Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
PARROT CROSSBILL, Goshawk, Woodlark, Red Kite at Mayday Farm
Waxwing x 8 on Lattice Avenue
GLOSSY IBIS, Hen Harrier at Oulton Marshes
Water Pipit at Carlton Marshes
Snow Bunting x 7, Bonxie x 2 at Landguard
Greenland White-fronted Goose x 2 at North Warren
Spotted Redshank, Greenshank at Levington Lagoon
Firecrest at Kessingland
Waxwing at Southwold
Short-eared Owl x 2 at Shingle Street
Firecrest x 3 at Bawdsey

Other News!
**MEGA** FORSTER'S TERN still at Nimmo's Pier, Co. Galway
**MEGA** MYRTLE WARBLER still at Shincliffe, Co. Durham
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Saturdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT at Leiston 2.30 only

Greenland White-fronted Goose x 2 still at North Warren

Waxwing x 5 still on Lattice Avenue, Ipswich

Other News!

**MEGA** MYRTLE WARBLER still at Shincliffe, Co. Durham

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

**MEGA** FORSTER'STERN still Co. Mayo at The Mullet

**MEGA** FORSTER'S TERN again at Co. Galway at Nimmo's Pier

Happy Birthday MUM!

Mum's birthday today, so lets wish her a very Happy Birthday. We've got most of the family round this afternoon to celebrate, so we shall have a houseful.

I'm on a Half Term break period now, so will have a week off school. HOOOOORRRRRRRAAAAAYYYY!!!! Hopefully shall be going birding a few times.

Remember the answer to the quiz is revealed tomorrow, so scroll down to the quiz post and put your answer in the comments. I've only had 2 answers so far, so it would make me very happy even if you haven't got a clue, just have a go!

Happy Birding!

Fridays Sightings!

Sorry, but skipped Wednesday's and Thursday's suffolk bird sightings posts due to having to do lots of homework.

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
reported SPOTTED SANDPIPER for 12 days at Felixstowe Docks has finally been identified as a Common Sandpiper
Black-throated Diver, Snow Bunting x 7 at Landguard
Black-throated Diver at Thorpeness
Waxwing x 8 still on Lattice Avenue, Ipswich

Other News!
**MEGA** SNOWY OWL at Exnaboe, Shetland
**MEGA** MYRTLE WARBLER still at Shincliffe, Co. Durham
**MEGA** FORSTER'S TERN still at The Mullet, Co. Mayo
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland
Red-flanked Bluetail still at Marshside, Gloucestershire/Wiltshire border

Tuesdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
prob. SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Snow Bunting x 5, Bonxie at Landguard

Other News!
**MEGA** MYRTLE WARBLER still at Shincliffe, Co. Durham
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Mondays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Common Crane x 4 at Lakenheath Fen

Greenland White-fronted Goose x 2 still at North Warren

Black Redstart at Sizewell

Iceland Gull, Black-throated Diver at Minsmere

Other News!

**MEGA** MYRTLE WARBLER still at Shincliffe, Co. Durham

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Sundays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Caspian Gull at Great Livermere
Hen Harrier x 6, Slavonian Grebe at Lakenheath Fen
prob. SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Black-throated Diver, Bonxie still at Landguard
Black Brant at Kirton
Firecrest at Kessingland
Black Redstart at Sizewell
Pale Bellied Brent Goose at Trimley
Glossy Ibis still at Oulton Marshes
Great Skua, Kittiwake x 3075, Red-throated Diver x 1459, Shag past Thorpeness
Greenland White-fronted Goose x 2, Whimbrel at North Warren
Smew x 2 at Minsmere
Bewick's Swan x 3 at Gillingham Marshes
Little Gull x 2 at Lowestoft
Waxwing x 3 at Lattice Avenue, Ipswich

Other News!
**MEGA** MYRTLE WARBLER still at Shincliffe, Co. Durham
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland
**MEGA** SLATY-BACKED GULL at Waterside, Co. Galway

Landguard

Dad and I got blown away at Landguard yesterday with 30 mph winds, as we went there to look for the probable Spotted Sandpiper, Snow Bunting and sea birds. We didn't see much of them, apart from 4 Kittiwakes and 6 Mediterranean Gulls.

Got a Mistle Thrush this morning too outside the house.

Bird Quiz - Week 1

Thought that other peoples ideas of doing a weekly quiz was a good idea, so I thought it would be good if I did one every week.

You can leave your answers at the bottom of this post by commenting on this blog post. I will reveal the answer the following weekend, and announce the correct entries. Good Luck!

Here's this weeks Mystery Bird....

???????

Happy Birding

Myrtle Warbler in Co. Durham

Messages from Rare Bird Alert from Today

Waxwings!!!!!!!!

Visited my Grandmother with Mum this afternoon in Ipswich, so I managed to persuade Mum to take a detour to see the Waxwings that have taken up residence on the way back. We started at Derby Road, where they were reported, but didn't see anything. We then continued on to Lattice Avenue. Didn't see any there either. We then went to Heath Road, and again we didn't see anything. We thought our luck was out. We continued on to Bixley Road and I spotted 8 birds sitting in the trees. They were Waxwings. We pulled up, and I crossed the busy road, and walked right underneath the birds, so I could get pictures. Incredibly tame and great birds....

Happy Birding!

Saturdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

probable SPOTTED SANDPIPER still viewable from Dock Point, Landguard though distant

Waxwing x 8 at Bixley Road, Ipswich (BCM)

Waxwing x 3 at Derby Road, Ipswich

Bewick's Swan x 3 still at Gillingham Marshes

Great Northern Diver, Little Gull x 2 at Ness Point

Great Skua x 3, Blue Fulmar, Snow Bunting x 6 at Landguard

Rough-legged Buzzard over Sudbourne

Greenland White-fronted Goose x 2 still at North Warren
Purple Sandpiper x 12 still at Ness Point
Smew x 2 still at Minsmere

Other News!

**MEGA** MYRTLE WARBLER again at undisclosed site, Co. Durham
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Fridays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

poss. SPOTTED SANDPIPER again viewable from Dock Point, Landguard though distant

Waxwing x 3 at Derby Road, Ipswich

Waxwing x 2 at Heath Road, Ipswich

Greenland White-fronted Goose x 2, Eurasian White-fronted Goose x 50 at North Warren RSPB

Pale-bellied Brent Goose x 2 at Stutton Ness, River Stour

Slavonian Grebe x 8 at Holbrook Bay, River Stour

Short-eared Owl at Shingle Street

Other News!

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

**MEGA** FORSTER'S TERN still at The Mullet, Co. Mayo

Thursdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Great Northern Diver still at Alton Water
Waxwing x 8 again at Lattice Avenue, Ipswich
Smew x 2 still at Minsmere
no sign of Poss. SPOTTED SANDPIPER at Dock Point, Landguard
Slavonian Grebe still at Hockwold Washes

Other News!
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland
Red-flanked Bluetail still at Marshside, Gloucestershire/Wiltshire border

Wednesdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

poss. SPOTTED SANDPIPER at Port of Felixstowe, viewable from Dock Point,  Landguard NR (for 3rd day)

Slavonian Grebe at Hockwold Washes still

Great Skua x 2 flew past Undercliffe, Felixstowe

Snow Bunting x 6 at Landguard still

Other News!

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Red-flanked Bluetail still Marshfield, Gloucestershire/Wiltshire border

Tuesdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Snow Bunting x 6, Common Sandpiper at Landguard

Snow Bunting at Aldeburgh

Waxwing x 8 still at Lattice Avenue, Ipswich

Atlantic Canada Goose still at North Warren

Common Crane at Hockwold Washes

Glossy Ibis still at Oulton Marshes

Smew x 2 at Minsmere still

Iceland Gull still at Sizewell

Other News!

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

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!

Mondays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Atlantic Canada Goose, Eurasian White-fronted Goose x 50 still at North Warren RSPB

Great Northern Diver still at Alton Water

Firecrest x 2 at Corton Woods

Waxwing x 5 at 32. Lattice Avenue, Ipswich

Short-eared Owl x 2 at Shingle Street

Slavonian Grebe at Hockwold Washes still (formerly Lakenheath Fen)

Slavonian Grebe, Snow Bunting x 6 at Landguard

Red-necked Grebe past Thorpeness

Bearded Tit x 2 at King's Fleet

Glossy Ibis still at Oulton Marshes

Smew still at Minsmere

Other News!

**MEGA** SORA still at St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

Sundays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!

Slavonian Grebe, Common Crane x 4, Mealy Redpoll at Lakenheath Fen RSPB

Great Northern Diver still at Alton Water

Slavonian Grebe x 9 at Holbrook Bay

Smew x 2 at Minsmere

Iceland Gull, Black Redstart x 2 at Sizewell still

Purple Sandpiper x 11 still at Ness Point

Atlantic Canada Goose still at North Warren RSPB

Waxwing at Martlesham Heath

Other News!

**MEGA** SORA on St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly

**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland

**MEGA** dead AMERICAN PURPLE GALLINULE found at The Mullet, Co. Mayo

Saturdays Sightings!

Suffolk Bird Sightings!
Great Northern Diver still at Alton Water
Iceland Gull, Black Redstart x 2 at Sizewell
Smew x 2 at Minsmere
Velvet Scoter x 4 at Thorpeness
Atlantic Canada Goose at North Warren
Twite x 2, Jack Snipe x 2 at Hemley
Short-eared Owl at Shingle Street
Snow Bunting x 13 at Pakefield
Firecrest x 2 at Kessingland
Snow Bunting x 8, Slav. Grebe at Landguard
Hooded Crow at Risby
Bewick's Swan x 3 at Gillingham Marshes

Other News!
**MEGA** AMERICAN COOT still at Loch Flemington, Highland