I haven't really ventured onto the patch much, but with a few migrants starting to pass through Paston Cliffs seemed a good place to visit after waking early on Thursday (23rd).
Arriving at 6.15am the site was very quiet, just a few Dunnock and the resident Linnet viable on exiting the car. I had walked only a few yards and a large spot of rain landed on my head. I had a quick scan of the scrub by the car and spent a few minutes rooting out a juv. Whitethroat before the shower forced me back into the car. I re positioned the car had 10 minutes sea watching while the shower quickly blew through, my reward a single distant Gannet and unidentified small wader.
Walking towards the Gas Terminal everything was rather subdued, with the highlight being a very smart Greenfinch unusual for the site. A few Swallow drifted east seemingly with purpose, and a Kestrel hoovered over the cliff edge. Back near the car a female Sparrowhawk cut along the hedge boardering the path coming within a few feet, and near the holiday chalets a male was also perched up (the reason for a lack of bird life?). A secretive warbler could not be teased out of the Blackthorn and I soon found myself back at the car, minus any early migrants. A further 15 minutes of sea watching gave up my first Manx Shearwater of the year, two Auks both almost certainly Guillemot and few distant Tern, a mixture of Sandwich and probably Common. With little passing within reasonable distance of the shore I headed home.
Monday, 27 August 2018
Wednesday, 15 August 2018
A Summer Update
Since my last update I haven't been out birding much with only a few local walks between the blistering sun, a family wedding in Wales and fitting a new kitchen.
During June a Cuckoo seen at Coltishall on the way to work on 5th has been my only Cuckoo sighting of the year until a Juv. bird at Potter Heigham on 7th August. Also in June I stumbled across a Honey Buzzard near Stalham on the 10th. While in Wales I caught up with a Wood Warbler (15th June) after missing the Mousehold Heath bird earlier in the year.
July was written off with the blistering heat, although a boat trip on Malthouse Broad did allow Agnes so close views of Terns and young Great Crested Grebe she really enjoyed. Most days while going to work I have seen Black Redstart in Norwich city center with at least two broods appearing to have fledged.
August brought a bit of a rest bite from the blistering heat, but also a delivery van containing a new kitchen on the 1st. Installing the kitchen is almost complete, but a family bereavement has also left me with little time. Being stuck at home did have one highlight a Spotted Flycatcher briefly in the garden on the 5th. I have also noted more butterflies and dragonflies in the garden than previous years, with Banded Damoselle and Red-eyed Damselfly new for the garden list. The moth trap hasn't had many outing after getting boxed at the back of the garage behind boxes of kitchen parts. In the last few days I have found Elephant Hawk Moth and Lime Hawk Moth caterpillars in the garden.
The allotment has been parched so I haven't been there as often as I would like, abandoning many of my crops due to the lack of water on site. The Badgers are still very active in the area with young seen on the trail cam, Hornets have started nesting in the old shed, Lesser Whitethroat have bred and I have seen Slow Worm and Grass Snake.
On the 7th August I put the kitchen aside for a few hours and arrived at Potter Heigham at 7am before any heat haze. Walking the river bank I kind birder directed my further along with directions to the Spotted Crake, I soon found both birds present. 5+ Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper and 7+ Ruff were the wader highlights. Juvenile birds seemed to be flitting everywhere among the reeds, with Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warbler all seen. A Sedge Warbler was also seen feeding a fully grown juv. Cuckoo. Also worth note were the 20+ Little Grebes and 5+ Gargany on site.
During June a Cuckoo seen at Coltishall on the way to work on 5th has been my only Cuckoo sighting of the year until a Juv. bird at Potter Heigham on 7th August. Also in June I stumbled across a Honey Buzzard near Stalham on the 10th. While in Wales I caught up with a Wood Warbler (15th June) after missing the Mousehold Heath bird earlier in the year.
July was written off with the blistering heat, although a boat trip on Malthouse Broad did allow Agnes so close views of Terns and young Great Crested Grebe she really enjoyed. Most days while going to work I have seen Black Redstart in Norwich city center with at least two broods appearing to have fledged.
August brought a bit of a rest bite from the blistering heat, but also a delivery van containing a new kitchen on the 1st. Installing the kitchen is almost complete, but a family bereavement has also left me with little time. Being stuck at home did have one highlight a Spotted Flycatcher briefly in the garden on the 5th. I have also noted more butterflies and dragonflies in the garden than previous years, with Banded Damoselle and Red-eyed Damselfly new for the garden list. The moth trap hasn't had many outing after getting boxed at the back of the garage behind boxes of kitchen parts. In the last few days I have found Elephant Hawk Moth and Lime Hawk Moth caterpillars in the garden.
The allotment has been parched so I haven't been there as often as I would like, abandoning many of my crops due to the lack of water on site. The Badgers are still very active in the area with young seen on the trail cam, Hornets have started nesting in the old shed, Lesser Whitethroat have bred and I have seen Slow Worm and Grass Snake.
On the 7th August I put the kitchen aside for a few hours and arrived at Potter Heigham at 7am before any heat haze. Walking the river bank I kind birder directed my further along with directions to the Spotted Crake, I soon found both birds present. 5+ Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper and 7+ Ruff were the wader highlights. Juvenile birds seemed to be flitting everywhere among the reeds, with Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warbler all seen. A Sedge Warbler was also seen feeding a fully grown juv. Cuckoo. Also worth note were the 20+ Little Grebes and 5+ Gargany on site.
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