Showing posts with label Norfolk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norfolk. Show all posts

Sunday, 18 October 2020

Stiffkey, Holme and Thornham Harbour

 Mag and I were heading to Spurn for a week and took the chance to divert to north Norfolk to mop up on a few birds. Most pressing was the RUFOUS BUSH CHAT which showed nicely out on the saltmarsh at Stiffkey. For various reasons I've barely been able to go for any of the major rarities this autumn but this is the bird I cared most about, so I'm very glad I managed to sneak over there... Seven Red Kites over the saltmarsh was the highest number I've seen in Norfolk and a Kingfisher flew along a channel. We then popped in to Holme where we enjoyed good views of a Red-flanked Bluetail near the village car park (five Lesser Redpolls and 30 Redwings there too) and finally to Thornham Harbour, where the Pallas's Warbler fed in the low bushes without a care for the small crowd surrounding it.

Wednesday, 22 January 2020

Burnham Norton, Titchwell RSPB and Sculthorpe Moor NR

Before any proper birding could be done, a return visit to Burnham Norton was necessary to retrieve my tripod leg which fell off last night! Thankfully it was still by the path. Pink-feet and Dark-bellied Brents, Marsh Harriers and Cetti's Warbler brightened up the occasion.

Then it was on to Titchwell for the intended few hours' general birding before heading home. Highlights included two flighty Water Pipits, two showy Water Rails, a Spotted Redshank, a Long-tailed Duck, two Chiffchaffs, four Pintail, a Red-throated Diver, three drake Goldeneye, five Red-breasted Mergansers, Rock Pipit, Bearded Tits, a flock of 35 Knot, Cetti's Warbler, Avocets, and close views of Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers, and the like feeding on the beach.

Bar-tailed Godwit at Titchwell RSPB

Grey Plover at Titchwell RSPB

Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB

Long-tailed Duck at Titchwell RSPB

Water Rail at Titchwell RSPB

A pit stop at Sculthorpe Moor NR secured views of the Waxwing conveniently feeding and resting by the reserve car park.

Waxwing at Sculthorpe Moor NR

Tuesday, 21 January 2020

Sedgeford, Wells, Holkham, Thornham and Burnham Norton

Sedgeford first thing this morning produced fine views of the male EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL on the dung heap by the road. 60 Fieldfares, a Redwing, a Red Kite, a Marsh Harrier and a Yellowhammer were also logged.

male Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Sedgeford

Wells was the next stop, where the faithful juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard was successfully twitched, with two Golden Plovers in a nearby field and skeins of Pink-footed and Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying in (what was presumably the known Black Brant hybrid was clocked among the latter).

Rough-legged Buzzard at Wells

Holkham was rewarding, with nice views of four Shorelarks and 42 Snow Buntings in the roped-off area, while the sea produced four Long-tailed Ducks, several Velvet Scoters among vast rafts of Common Scoters, plus small numbers of Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver and Great Crested Grebe. Other birds included a field full of 75 Snipe, six Ruff, 12 Grey Partridges, 100 or so Golden Plovers, a White-fronted Goose with Pink-footed Geese, Dark-bellied Brent Geese and two Egyptian Geese and a Fieldfare.

Snow Buntings at Holkham

Shorelark at Holkham

Common Scoters off Holkham

Long-tailed Ducks off Holkham

Velvet Scoters in with Common Scoters off Holkham

Grey Partridges at Holkham

Ruff at Holkham

Snipe at Holkham

Thornham harbour offered the relic winter flock of 10 Twite, along with a Rock Pipit, a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and trip ticks such as Mediterranean Gull, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover.

Twite at Thornham harbour

Curlew at Thornham harbour

Today's dusk vigil was at Burnham Norton, where we had a Short-eared Owl, a Great White Egret, a Barn Owl, good numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese, three Cetti's Warblers, a Bearded Tit and four Egyptian Geese.

Monday, 20 January 2020

Lynford Arboretum, Billockby and Hickling Broad

A couple of nights away in Norfolk with Ian and Phil started with a short visit to Lynford Arboretum, enjoying nice views of two Hawfinches, four Bramblings, around 30 Siskins, a Yellowhammer, two roosting Tawny Owls and a few Marsh Tits among an array of common birds.

female Brambling at Lynford Arboretum

male Chaffinch at Lynford Arboretum

male Hawfinch at Lynford Arboretum

Long-tailed Tit at Lynford Arboretum

After a drive-by sighting of three Cranes in the famous field between Acle and Billockby, we finished the day at the Stubb Mill viewpoint at Hickling Broad. Along the approach was a flock of eight adult Bewick's Swans. We were greeted at the viewpoint by a vocal Siberian Chiffchaff in the adjacent ditch, before enjoying two Cranes, two Barn Owls, a Woodcock, eight Marsh Harriers and the sound of a Tawny Owl as darkness fell.


Bewick's Swans at Hickling Broad

Saturday, 24 February 2018

Santon Warren, Kelling, Euston, Happisburgh and Waveney Forest/Haddiscoe Island

Christian and I started the day at a tranquil Santon Warren, enjoying the array of common birds in the crisp winter air, a singing Reed Bunting and the drumming of Great Spotted Woodpeckers reminding us that spring is still trying to uncoil. A group of eight Bramblings sharing a tree with a Lesser Redpoll, a Siskin and other common birds was a real treat. We walked along the river, seeing three Marsh Tits and two Grey Wagtails before reaching our target area. After seeing a Goshawk fly over, we enjoyed listening to the female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling and drumming, managing flight views and a distant look as it fed in the trees. This is the first that I have seen in almost a year! Satisfied, we moved on, calling in briefly at some woodland in Euston, Suffolk, where we heard a Marsh Tit.

Next up was Kelling. We hadn't timed our visit particularly well as the farmer had started working his field, favoured by the redpoll flock, just before we arrived. We eventually tracked a small group of redpolls down though, including at least three Mealy Redpolls and four Lesser Redpolls but there was no suggestion of a Coues's Arctic. Still, it has been a while since I've seen a Mealy and it was a lifer for Christian so we were happy.

Mealy Redpoll at Kelling

At a breezy and cold Happisburgh, scanning the fields south of the lighthouse resulted in us locating the seven-strong flock of Shorelarks, the biggest flock I've ever seen, and we enjoyed distant views as they busily fed before returning to Waveney Forest for another go at locating the Rough-legged Buzzard on the adjacent Haddiscoe Island. This time we were successful. Another birder, Ian, had picked out the bird on the ground miles away and we patiently waited for it to fly to roost, which it duly did, passing quite close to us and allowing superb views. The Barn Owl from yesterday put in a brief appearance but I was even more pleased to pick out a Merlin sat on a gate out on the marsh - another bird I don't see often enough! A Water Rail squeeled from behind us. On the drive back from this wonderful trip we were tuned in to Radio Two as always and Christian was delighted when Liza Tarbuck read out his text detailing our success!

Shorelarks at Happisburgh
.
adult male Rough-legged Buzzard flying to its Waveney Forest roost

Friday, 23 February 2018

St. James's Park and Waveney Forest/Haddiscoe Island

I joined Bill H for a session of Coot-catching at St. James's Park in the morning - with a yield of 12 birds - before meeting up with Christian C to head to Norfolk. We had time just for an hour-and-a-half at Waveney Forest, overlooking Haddiscoe Island, before night fell. We failed to find the Rough-legged Buzzard but did note a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl, two Woodcocks, a handful of Marsh Harriers, six Pink-footed Geese and three Water Rails.

Tuesday, 28 November 2017

Norfolk, 27-28th November 2017

A fun couple of days away with Mag and Christian started productively with two Parrot Crossbills at Santon Warren, an adult Black Brant at Cley and four Lapland Buntings at Weybourne our haul on the first day. Cley also provided a first-winter Caspian Gull, a Great Skua and a few Golden Plovers, while Brents numbered around 500. The Tuesday didn't go quite so smoothly, much time being wasted looking in vain for a Shorelark at Holme, but we did get a few Snow Buntings there and a nice flock of 20 Twite at Thornham Harbour and a seawatch at Sheringham produced a couple of Great Skuas and a few Red-throated Divers.

♂ Parrot Crossbill at Santon Warren
adult Black Brant at Cley - my first of this taxa; interesting bird with an incomplete collar (and I think I'm looking too hard for grey tones on the upperparts?)
first-winter Caspian Gull at Cley


Twite at Thornham Harbour

Monday, 29 May 2017

Norfolk and Suffolk, 26-29th May 2017

A long weekend in Norfolk with my good pals Magnus A and Christian C was a fine way to sign May, and effectively the spring, off. Over June and July I'm going to take things a little easier, recharge ahead of the autumn and sort out a few things that have brushed aside over the last few weeks! Highlights of our trip included Marsh Warbler at Lakenheath, Savi's Warbler at Hickling, Wood Warbler at Brandon and a singing Quail of our own finding at Icklingham, along with marshland birds such as Cranes, Spoonbills, Bitterns and Grasshopper Warblers. Titchwell provided goodies such as Little Stint, Little Gull, male Ruff, a late Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a count of six Red-crested Pochards. Several Little Terns were seen and further wader action included two relatively late Greenshanks at Cley. Other moments to savour, and to reflect on, included encounters with Grey Partridge, Turtle Dove and Corn Bunting. On the way back, we finally tracked down Stone-curlews in the Brecks.

a purring Turtle Dove at Titchwell on Saturday
my first in far too long... a Grey Partridge near Stanhoe
loud Marsh Warbler keeping out of the limelight at Lakenheath on Friday
Avocet at Titchwell on Saturday
Red-crested Pochards at Titchwell on Saturday... where do they come from?
an endearing brood of Shoveler at Titchwell on Saturday
121 species were noted on the trip, as follows:

Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose (Dark-bellied), Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Scoter, Quail, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Fulmar, Cormorant, Bittern, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Spoonbill, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Crane, Stone-curlew, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Knot, Ruff, Sanderling, Dunlin, Little Stint, Greenshank, Redshank, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull, Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove (feral), Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Tawny Owl, Swift, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Hobby, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Bearded Tit, Woodlark, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Wood Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Savi's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Reed Warbler, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, (yarrellii), Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Siskin, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Monday, 27 October 2014

October 18th-26th 2014

October 26th 2014

Leith Hill

Pheasant Present
Red Kite 1
Buzzard 3
Herring Gull Present
Woodpigeon Present
Tawny Owl 1
Green Woodpecker 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker Present
Kestrel 2
Jay Present
Jackdaw Present
Carrion Crow Present
Goldcrest Present
Firecrest 1
Blue Tit Present
Great Tit Present
Coal Tit Present
House Martin 2
Long-tailed Tit Present
Treecreeper 1
Wren Present
Blackbird Present
Fieldfare 3
Song Thrush 3
Redwing 50
Mistle Thrush 2
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Pied/White Wagtail Present
Meadow Pipit 1
Chaffinch Present
Greenfinch Present
Linnet Present
Lesser Redpoll 2
[Redpoll (Common/Lesser)] 1
Goldfinch Present
Siskin Present
Reed Bunting 1
 
October 25th 2014

Banstead Woods 

Greylag Goose 2
Black-headed Gull Present
Herring Gull Present
Woodpigeon Present
Green Woodpecker 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Ring-necked Parakeet Present
Magpie Present
Jay Present
Jackdaw Present
Carrion Crow Present
Goldcrest 6
Blue Tit Present
Great Tit Present
Coal Tit 1
Skylark 5
Long-tailed Tit Present
Nuthatch 3
Treecreeper 1
Wren Present
Blackbird Present
Song Thrush 6
Redwing 40
Mistle Thrush 1
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Meadow Pipit 3
Chaffinch Present
Bullfinch 3
Greenfinch 3
Goldfinch 2
Siskin 1

Beddington Farm

Mute Swan Present
Canada Goose Present
Gadwall Present
Teal Present
Mallard Present
Shoveler Present
Pochard 4
Tufted Duck Present
Cormorant 1
Grey Heron Present
Little Grebe Present
Sparrowhawk 1
Water Rail 2
Moorhen Present
Coot Present
Lapwing 7
Black-headed Gull Present
Common Gull Present
Lesser Black-backed Gull Present
Herring Gull Present
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Feral Pigeon Present
Stock Dove 1
Kestrel 1
Magpie Present
Jay Present
Jackdaw Present
Carrion Crow Present
Blue Tit Present
Great Tit Present
Skylark 2
Long-tailed Tit Present
Chiffchaff 1
Wren Present
Starling Present
Blackbird Present
Song Thrush Present
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
House Sparrow Present
Pied/White Wagtail Present
Meadow Pipit 4
Chaffinch Present
Goldfinch Present

October 24th 2014

Porthgwarra

Pheasant Present
Herring Gull Present
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Kestrel 1
Magpie Present
Jackdaw Present
Carrion Crow Present
Raven 2
Chiffchaff 1
Wren Present
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Grey Wagtail 1
Pied/White Wagtail Present
Meadow Pipit Present
Goldfinch Present



Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Porthgwarra

October 23rd 2014

Leith Hill

Pheasant Present
Red Kite 1
Sparrowhawk 2
Moorhen 2
Herring Gull 28
Stock Dove Present
Woodpigeon Present
Tawny Owl 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Kestrel 3
Ring-necked Parakeet 2
Magpie Present
Jay Present
Jackdaw Present
Carrion Crow Present
Raven 2
Goldcrest Present
Blue Tit Present
Great Tit Present
Coal Tit Present
Marsh Tit 1
Swallow 1
Nuthatch Present
Wren Present
Blackbird Present
Song Thrush 5
Redwing 75
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Pied/White Wagtail 1
Meadow Pipit 18
Brambling 9
Chaffinch Present
Greenfinch Present
Goldfinch 39
Siskin 8
Yellowhammer 1
 
Beddington Farm

Mute Swan Present
Canada Goose Present
Gadwall Present
Teal Present
Mallard Present
Pochard 1
Tufted Duck Present
Little Egret 1
Grey Heron Present
Little Grebe Present
Sparrowhawk 1
Water Rail 2
Moorhen Present
Coot Present
Lapwing 1
Snipe 1
Black-headed Gull Present
Common Gull Present
Lesser Black-backed Gull Present
Herring Gull Present
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Feral Pigeon Present
Woodpigeon Present
Magpie Present
Jay Present
Jackdaw Present
Carrion Crow Present
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit Present
Great Tit Present
Long-tailed Tit Present
Wren Present
Blackbird Present
Song Thrush Present
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Pied/White Wagtail Present
Meadow Pipit Present
Chaffinch Present
Greenfinch Present
Linnet Present
Goldfinch Present
Reed Bunting 1

Sutton
Peregrine 1
 
October 22nd 2014

Sheepcote Valley

Sparrowhawk 1
Black-headed Gull Present
Herring Gull Present
Feral Pigeon Present
Stock Dove 1
Woodpigeon Present
Collared Dove 2
Green Woodpecker 1
Kestrel 1
Magpie Present
Jay Present
Jackdaw Present
Rook 3
Carrion Crow Present
Raven 1
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit Present
Great Tit Present
Skylark 20
House Martin 1
Long-tailed Tit 10
Chiffchaff 4
Wren Present
Starling Present
Ring Ouzel 3
Blackbird Present
Song Thrush 9
Robin Present
Stonechat 2
Dunnock Present
Pied/White Wagtail 2
Meadow Pipit 10
Brambling 1
Chaffinch Present
Greenfinch 10
Linnet 3
Goldfinch 75
Siskin 1
Yellowhammer 5
Reed Bunting 1
Corn Bunting 5
Ring Ouzel at Sheepcote Valley

Brambling at Sheepcote Valley

Yellowhammer at Sheepcote Valley

Raven at Sheepcote Valley
Leith Hill

Pheasant Present
Woodpigeon Present
Great Spotted Woodpecker Present
Magpie Present
Jay Present
Jackdaw Present
Carrion Crow Present
Goldcrest Present
Great Tit Present
Coal Tit Present
Long-tailed Tit Present
Nuthatch Present
Wren Present
Ring Ouzel 1
Redwing Present
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Chaffinch Present
Greenfinch Present
Goldfinch Present
Siskin Present


Beddington Farm

Mute Swan Present
Canada Goose Present
Egyptian Goose 1
Gadwall Present
Teal Present
Mallard Present
Garganey 1
Shoveler Present
Tufted Duck Present
Grey Heron Present
Little Grebe Present
Water Rail 2
Moorhen Present
Coot Present
Lapwing 5
Snipe 1
Black-headed Gull Present
Common Gull Present
Herring Gull Present
Stock Dove Present
Ring-necked Parakeet Present
Magpie Present
Jay Present
Jackdaw Present
Carrion Crow Present
Goldcrest 1
Blue Tit Present
Great Tit Present
Long-tailed Tit Present
Chiffchaff 1
Wren Present
Starling Present
Blackbird Present
Song Thrush Present
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Pied/White Wagtail Present
Linnet Present
Goldfinch Present
Reed Bunting 2
 
October 20th 2014

Sheepcote Valley

Black-headed Gull Present
Herring Gull Present
Feral Pigeon Present
Stock Dove 1
Woodpigeon Present
Kestrel 1
Magpie Present
Jackdaw Present
Carrion Crow Present
Great Tit Present
Skylark 2
Long-tailed Tit Present
Chiffchaff 2
Wren Present
Starling Present
Ring Ouzel 1
Blackbird Present
Song Thrush 8
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Pied/White Wagtail 4
Meadow Pipit 10
Greenfinch 2
Linnet 1
Goldfinch 5


October 18th 2014

Warham Greens

Pink-footed Goose 1
Brent Goose (Dark-bellied) Present
Shelduck 1
Wigeon 50
Mallard 1
Red-legged Partridge 1
Pheasant Present
Cormorant 2
Little Egret 11
Red Kite 1
Marsh Harrier 3
Sparrowhawk 1
Golden Plover 5
Lapwing 30
Curlew 3
Redshank Present
Black-headed Gull Present
Common Gull Present
Herring Gull Present
Feral Pigeon Present
Woodpigeon Present
Kestrel 1
Jay Present
Goldcrest 15
Blue Tit Present
Skylark Present
Long-tailed Tit 2
Chiffchaff 2
Blackcap 1
Wren Present
Starling Present
Blackbird Present
Song Thrush 1
Redwing 4
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Meadow Pipit Present
Rock Pipit 2
Brambling 1
Chaffinch Present
Greenfinch Present
Linnet Present
Goldfinch Present
Yellowhammer 10
Reed Bunting 4
Red Kite at Warham Greens
Holkham Pines

Pink-footed Goose Present
Cormorant Present
Little Grebe 3
Marsh Harrier 1
Buzzard 2
Lapwing 20
Curlew Present
Redshank Present
Black-headed Gull Present
Common Gull Present
Herring Gull Present
Woodpigeon Present
Kestrel Present
Jay Present
Jackdaw Present
Goldcrest Present
Firecrest 1
Blue Tit Present
Great Tit Present
Coal Tit Present
Skylark Present
Long-tailed Tit Present
Treecreeper Present
Wren Present
Redwing 1
Robin Present
Dunnock Present
Grey Wagtail 1
Meadow Pipit Present
Brambling 1
Chaffinch Present
Greenfinch Present
Linnet Present
Goldfinch Present
Siskin Present

Titchwell RSPB

Brent Goose Present
Shelduck Present
Wigeon Present
Teal Present
Mallard Present
Shoveler Present
Tufted Duck Present
Pheasant Present
Cormorant Present
Little Egret Present
Grey Heron Present
Marsh Harrier 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Moorhen Present
Avocet Present
Golden Plover Present
Lapwing Present
Curlew Present
Black-tailed Godwit Present
Bar-tailed Godwit 21
Knot 1
Ruff 102
Spotted Redshank Present
Redshank Present
Black-headed Gull Present
Common Gull Present
Lesser Black-backed Gull Present
Herring Gull Present
Yellow-legged Gull 1
Woodpigeon Present
Kestrel Present
Jay Present
Goldcrest Present
Blue Tit Present
Great Tit Present
Cetti's Warbler Present
Long-tailed Tit Present
Wren Present
Starling Present
Blackbird Present
Robin Present
Pied/White Wagtail Present
Meadow Pipit Present
Chaffinch Present
Goldfinch Present