Isabelline Shrike

Back at work after 2 weeks off i sat down at lunch time to read the following text 'Isabelline Shrike, well tasty, at Horsey and has now vanished' thank you Gary. Well the bird reappeared and teased me for the whole week while i was at work. Come Friday, the bird surprisingly still remained and Laura and i had the day off. But we first had to visit the travel agents to book our honeymoon. Finally at 2pm we arrived at Horsey to get excellent views of a very confiding bird. A one stage the bird was only a few metres away. We watched the bird for about 45minutes, as it flitted about catching wasps. Luckily i took my camera and managed a few reasonable photos of a new 'life tick' for me. A short sea watch from the end of the Nelson Track failed to give up one of the Grey Phalorpe of previous days, but 4 Red-throated Diver and 2 Little Gull are worth a mention.

Scarlet Tanager?

Okay we went to North Norfolk not Cornwall, but it was a very close call. Gary and I had a plan to leave at 4am and hover around the M25 awaiting news on the Scarlet Tanager, but decided late in the evening that maybe we had travelled enough in the last week and settled for Blakeney and Salthouse instead, hmmm.......

After a positive lie in Gary picked me up at 8am and we headed to Friary Hills in Blakeney to look for the Cattle Egret. Stuart White informed us the bird was in a tree between Blakeney and Cley. Walking to the end of the Hills, 3 Crossbill flew over but there was no sign of the egret. We then drove around to the sluice at Cley to look from a different angle, only for Gary to spot the bird flying back into a cattle field towards Blakeney once again. I suggested trying the Wiveton Farm Shop/Cafe, as it backs onto Friary Hills. Here we found the Cattle Egret in a cattle field opposite the cafe, in fact we watched the bird while enjoying a cup of tea and slice of cake.

We next stopped at Salthouse for a spot of sea watching. Despite the unfavorable winds a Puffin flew west, and quite a few Guillemot and Razorbill sat on the sea as well as 2+ Red-throated Diver. From her we walked west along the shingle ridge and down the track to the Dun Cow, seeing nothing of note. Even from our favourite 'Birding Pub' we saw very little as we had lunch. We did however see a large thrush arrive with some Redwing. We spent the next hour walking the nearby hedgerows trying to locate the bird, with thoughts of Siberian Thrush from what little we had seen of the bird flying in. We had no luck re-finding the bird, which could have been something special, or just a rough looking Fieldfare or scruffy Blackbird. Walking back along the Iron Road and shingle a few Redpoll and Siskin passed over and a late Swallow headed east.

Stopping at Cley, for once there was plenty to see on Simmond's Scrape. With a good size Golden Plover flock, 5+ Snipe and a pair of Pintail close in, as well as the more common expected waders.

Now that's Scilly

Dipping the Rufous-tailed Robin, Autumn was lacking in birds so Gary and I planned a trip out west to catch up with some good birds this Autumn. We decided on visiting the Scilly Isles but only for a few days not our normal week, this trip would be more of a twitch than a birding holiday. We booked it on Saturday and left at midnight on Monday.

Gary, Philip and myself drove down to Penzance overnight and caught a Helicopter to Tresco at 9.45 on Tuesday. The Least Sandpiper we hoped to see had left the Abbey Pool so we jump on the shuttle bus (Tractor & Trailer) and just managed to catch the boat to St Mary's, via Bryer and Sampson. From the boat we spotted a Spoonbill on Green Isle before booking into our B&B in Hugh Town.

The first of out target birds was the Wilson's Snipe on Lower Moors, after a short wait the bird showed very well with 2 of its common cousins. c10 Swallow lingered over the area before they finally fly south and a Chiffchaff was also in the area. With time on the island at a premium we headed off towards Maypole to look for the Upland Sandpiper. Cutting along the Sunnyside Farm Trail the small bulb fields were alive with birds including 2+ Blackcap, Brambling, Goldcrest, Siskin, and various other small birds. The Upland Sandpiper had not been recently seen, but news of 2 Olive-backed Pipit had us scurrying around the corner to Watermill Lane. The birds showed very well feeding between the furrows, but a heavy shower had me sheltering under a hedge. Back at Borough Farm the Upland Sandpiper was still elusive, but then it appeared c10feet from me, it was probably sheltering against the back in front of me before i disturbed it. It walked further down the field and showed for a while flitting between the rows of bulbs. It was time for lunch, but arriving at the Longstones cafe it was closed, but in the nearby Carreg Dha Gardens we watched Firecrest at close quarters. 10 minutes later we were rushing back to Longstones to view a Red-throated Pipit in the nearby cow field, with Meadow Pipit also present it took a while to be sure we had the right bird, but a 4th 'life tick' of the day. We walked back towards town at a slower pace, picking up Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Firecrest and Goldcrest near Lower Moors. After finding the 'dump clump' we waited for 2hours+, watching a small muddy pool, hoping for the Northern Waterthrush, present for a few weeks to appear. We got rather cold and only saw a Grey Wagtail, so headed to the Atlantic Inn for much deserved food.

We rose early on Wednesday and were at the 'dump clump' for first light after 45 minutes or so we started to think about heading back to the B&B for breakfast, but then the Waterthrush appeared. Initially the bird was near the back of the pool, but then came much closer, oblivious to the c20 people watching it, after about 10 minutes the bird disappeared and so did we. After breakfast we backed our bags and headed out towards the airport via the coastal footpath and Upper Moors. A Black Redstart was on Porth Mellon beach, and Philip fond a Yellow-browed Warbler by 'Nowhere'. Atleast one other Black Redstart was in Old Town Bay and 2 Wheatear were near the Windsock. A reported Wryneck could not be found near Giant's Castle, but we got good views of a 1st winter Bluethroat by Porth Hellick, my 1st 'red spot' individual. 7 Greenshank on Higher Moors was our last trip tick before catching the 12.45 plane back to Land's End Airport.

A Great 'Grey' Day

Gary's first day off from work and we started off at Lowestoft to look at the juv. Woodchat Shrike. The bird was very obliging showing to a few feet not far from Link's Road car park. While watching the Shrike Gary flushed a 'crake' like bird, the bird few a second time, an unexpected Quail. With no sign of the Isabelline Wheatear reported the night before we soon headed of to Corton. By the church we soon found a Yellow-browed Warbler but the 2 Great Grey Shrike from the previous day had moved off. with the weather looking good for more migrants we decided to look for our own birds in Norfolk.

Walking along the track at Horsey we found a Goldcrest and Chiffchaff with a tit flock but no 'mega'. Walking the back of the dunes, Siskin and Redpoll passed over head in large numbers along with Redwing and Fieldfare. Gary then found a very distant Great Grey Shrike closer to Waxham(we later got better views from the road). We then chatted to so ringers who had great success with ringing loads of Meadow Pipits and Redpoll. Walking back along the dunes we had a Short-eared Owl in-off and then a small bird land on the beach. Closer inspection and we found i tired looking Snow Bunting on the tide line.

A stop for lunch was retired so we paused at The Poachers Pocket in Walcott for cheesey chips and a pint. While there we added 2 new 'pub birds' in Short-eared Owl in-off and 4 Common Scoter. Other birds included a summer plumage Red-throated Diver, Gannet, Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal.

Final stop of the day was Trimingham cliff top wood. The wood itself only held a few Goldcrest, but on the cliff top we found our 3rd Short-eared Owl of the day and a Green Woodpecker. Here we met Conner and 2 friends, we the searched a nearby stretch of woodland, but only found more Redwing, Fieldfare and a Brambling.

On Saturday we rose early and headed to Warham Green to look for the Rufous Tailed Robin, but along with the the 700 or so fellow birders returned home without seeing the bird. The clear, cold night either killed the bird or hopefully allowed it to continue on its migration. After a full fried breakfast, Gary and i set about arranging our next little trip.

Autumn Finally Arrives

The strong westerlies have finally subsided and been replaced by east winds, although not that strong. I met dad at North Walsham Station and we headed to Cart Gap. With a few birds out to sea we started with a sea watch for about an hour. Redwing came in off all the time along with Goldfinch and a few other small birds. A single Sooty Shearwater was at mid-distance and 2 Pomarine Skua passed north and a few Arctic Skua were at distance. Brent Geese streamed through along with large numbers of Wigeon, but also Tufted Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Shoveler, Shelduck, Common Scoter and ~Pink-footed Goose. For no apparent reason we then decided to walk the clifftop near Paston rather than the dunes towards Sea Palling. This proved to be a good choice. Walking the stubble fields we first came across a group of 100+ Skylark and a couple of large groups of Meadow Pipit. I then noticed a Short-eared Owl come in off before it was mobbed by crows and moved back out to sea. In the scrub we found lots of Winter Thrushes, Redwing, Fieldfare and Blackbird no doubt new arrivals and 2 Song Thrush came off the sea. Single Wheatear, Whinchat and Firecrest were also probable new arrival, joined by the local Linnet, Dunnock and Wren. Probably the same Short-eared Owl was then flushed from the cliff, but with c50 arriving at Titchwell and groups of 3/4 elsewhere it could have been a second bird. A Golden Plover was frantically drinking from a pool on the 'carpark' and could easily be approached, another tired new arrival. We then clambered down to the beach where dad trawled for shrimp in the shallows before we headed home, content with out haul, of birds and shrimps.

Whitlingham - Winter Returns

During the first of my 2 weeks off, i was planning to stay in Norfolk looking for migrants but with continued westerly winds it looks like i won't see many migrants until next week, when Gary is also off and we may head out west.

With little about i headed to Whitlingham and was pleasantly surprised. Walking across Trowse water meadows small groups of Redwing regularly passed overhead with a few Fieldfare for good measure. Peeking over into the back gardens of the houses backing onto the Little Broad there were lots of birds in the hedge and around the feeders. Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Great Tit were all in the melay along with a lonely male Brambling, the winter birds have started to return. The Great Broad was quite as the wind whipped up a swell, i found most waterfowl sheltering behind the island. Tufted Duck numbers have increased and other new arrivals include, 3 Wigeon, 7+ Pochard and 4 Shoveler, but goose numbers seem much lower. From the screen i also located 2 Snipe on the island edge and a group of Siskin settled in the Alder above the screen, amongst them 2 Redpoll. Looking across the 'new coach park' a male Sparrowhawk sat in a fence post close by but flew off as i got out my camera, a Kestrel also flew low over Little Broad car park. Looking into the gardens again i added Coal Tit to the days list and saw the Brambling again. I walked back along the River Yare to Lakenham, seeing 4 Green Woodpecker and also finding a Hornets nest, which i watch for a few minutes.

Mega Northern Twitch

On Saturday Gary and i embarked on a twitch that was mega in more than one way. Firstly it was to see a 'Mega' in the Sandhill Crane, secondly it was in Aberdeenshire and thirdly i was working both Friday and Sunday. After work on Friday i got an early night and Gary picked me up at 3am. We drove north with only a brief breakfast stop at Scotch Corner and a petrol stop somewhere in Scotland. We made good time until we reached Aberdeen where and accident delayed us 45minutes and after hunting for the Strathbeg RSPB reserve we arrived about 1pm. Luckily enough the Sandhill Crane was viewable from the information center so we didn't have to walk far. Although a little distance, the openness of the site meant, with a scope you could get clear, detailed views without too much effort. We hung around about 45 minutes, also noting 2 juv. Pectoral Sandpiper and 4+ Barnacle Geese amongst 1000's of Pinkfoot Geese, as well the more common birds.
From Loch of Strathbeg RSPB we decided to call in a Blackdog a village we had passed on the way and with news that the Black Scoter that's been present for a few months had been seen it was worth a stop, 2 Surf Scoter were also reported in the area. Arriving we were greeted by a sea covered with a birds. Large numbers of Eider, Common Scoter and Guillemot, with Red-thraoted Diver and Razorbill mixed in. With some drake Common Scoter being well marked on the bill locating the Black Scoter wasn't easy. Gary eventually located the bird, but after a few minutes we lost it once again as it dived and moved on the tide. I had a single Puffin fly through, along with 2 Red-breasted Merganser, but we struggled to locate the Surf Scoter. Conscious of the time at 4pm we though we should start heading home. After a KFC stop at Gretna we arrived home at 1am,
22 hours, 1135 miles and 2 'Megas' after setting out.

Whitlingham Counts

I didn't feel like rising at 4am in order to get to Sheringham for a sea watch, but in retrospect maybe i should have, with a Fea's Petrel past and good numbers of shearwater also. Instead i went for an overdue walk around Whitlingham and decided to conduct a full count of the bird life in the area. I walked the water meadows at Trowse then the Great Broad loop, but plans to walk Whitlingham Marsh and the woods were cut short by a heavy thunderstorm, most of which luckily i sheltered from in the Flint Barn. I was rather surprised by the low numbers of small birds around, maybe it was just they were quiet or i simply couldn't see them through the still quite dense foliage. The wildfowl proved much easier to count, with Mute Swan, Mallard and Tufted Duck numbers starting to build. A singing Chiffchaff, Common Buzzard and 3 Kingfisher proved the only real highlights.

Cormorant x30, Grey Heron x2, Lesser Black-backed Gull x24, Black-headed Gull x38, Herring Gull x13, Common Gull x3, Buzzard x1, Carrion Crow x9, Magpie x6, Jackdaw x15, Jay x3, Mallard x103, Tufted Duck x47, Gadwall x31, Egyptian Goose x33, Coot x31, Moorhen x11, Great Crested Grebe x14, Black Swan x1, Mute Swan x98, Canada Goose x13, Greylag Goose x63, Feral/hybrid Goose x18, Wood Pigeon x97, Stock Dove x23, Collared Dove x3, Kingfisher x3, Green Woodpecker x2, Blackbird x8, Song Thrush x1, Robin x3, Dunnock x3, Wren x2, Chaffinch x8, Goldfinch x11, Great Tit x16, Blue Tit x22, Long-tailed Tit x7, Coal Tit x1, Cetti's Warbler x1,Blackcap x1, Chiffchaff x1, Whitethroat x1, Goldcrest x1.

Little Bittern @ Titchwell

I missed the previous Little Bittern at Titchwell so Laura and i planned to an earlish start, which was delayed by a leaking fish tank and heavy rain shower as we went to load the car. Even so we had arrived at Titchwell by 9.30. We soon found the pool the Little Bittern was frequenting and joined the growing crowd. After only 15 minutes the bird was relocated, luckily enough we were near the front and got views using another birder's scope, although not the best views we moved off as it was becoming a bit of a scrum. We walked up to the 'new' hide and despite the sun being in an awkward position picked up 7 Curlew Sandpiper, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit, but no sign of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Looking back towards the information centre we could see a flock of Golden Plover and Cattle Egret briefly in flight pointed out by a warden. We decided not to walk out to the beach instead having a second look for the Little Bittern. Again we only waited a matter of minutes and found ourselves in the right place at the right time. The Little Bittern walked across the front of the reeds in clear view, we couldn't have asked for better views, we could see it streaked brown colouring and yellow beak clearly using only binocular. Driving back via Chosley we saw the regular Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer, before stopping off at North Creake Abbey so Laura could have a look at a vintage fair.

I'd had also better breiefly mention last Mondays jaunt around Maston Marsh and Keswick with James. Marston Marsh has had a lot of word done on it this summer, the paths have been leveled and resurfaced, and 2 'fish refuge' pools and a wader scrape created. A wet winter however will surely see the paths flooded and possibly washed away, as they have not been raised. The wader scrape is also in a position that can not be viewed, so we many never know if it attracts anything. Mini-rant over there wasn't many birds about, with only Kestrel and Great Spotted Woodpecker of note on the Marshes. In the paddocks by Eaton Common we watched a Green Woodpecker and heard an unlocateable Kingfisher. Keswick Mill Pool was also quiet but a sun trap nearby gave us Comma, Holly Blue, Peacock and White butterflies. We wandered back along the main Ipswich Road stopping to photograph the Sandy Stilt Puffballs that grow on the roadside nature reserve. On Saturday i also saw my first winter thrushes of the autumn with 2 Fieldfare flying over Grove Road while walking home from work.

Sheringham Sea Watch

Suitable sea watching days have been very limited so far this so with an all be it moderate northerly wind forecast and a day off i rose early and headed to Sheringham, meeting James at Norwich station and Gary in Sheringham. The sea was surprisingly choppy when we arrived at 6.15am, and more surprisingly the shelter was empty of birders. Around 8am the tide turned the sea became quite calm and the birds also slowed up. During the 2 hours or so we watched Skua numbers were quite good but Shearwater and Auk were disappointingly almost non-existent. The Arctic Skua included a nice mix of light and dark morph birds with a couple of full plumage adult birds complete with full tail feathers. Sandwich Tern flew through in large numbers which i gave up trying to count quite quickly. A few waders flew through and a Razorbill was the lone auk, which flew through just off the breakers.


Great Skua 5(e) 5(w) Arctic Skua 12(e) 4(w) Sandwich Tern c250(e) c30(w) Gannet 54(e) 18(w)Oystercatcher 2(e) 9(w) Red-throated Diver 2(e) Dunlin c10(w) Razorbill 1(e) Turnstone 3(w) Fulmer 1(w) Common Scoter 3(e) Canada Goose 12(e) Skua sp. 2(e) Shearwater sp. 3(e).


By 8.15am the sea was quiet so we walked up and over Beeston Bump, the scrubby land beyond the hill gave up a few small birds. A Lesser Whitethroat was probably the pick of the bunch before we walked back and waited for the train.

Warblers in Brief

James called me on Friday to tell me he was going to look for the Greenish Warbler at Cromer, but with rain chucking down and other things to do i decided to try on Saturday. Again on a tight schedule me and Laura arrived at Warren Wood but could only stay about an hour. The Greenish and W Bonelli's both had been heard but only briefly seen. 3 Chiffchaff flitted about in the bushes bordering Happy Valley along with a family of Chaffinch, 2 Blackcap and a lone Whitethroat, while 5 Swifts and a few Sand Martins flew overhead. Just before we had to leave the tit flock came through the area we were watching, complete with the Bonelli's Warbler it tow. I only got brief views before the bird was chased off by the male Blackcap but this was enough for me to see it's very pale underside and yellow tinge to the wing. After physio i returned mid-afternoon with Gary, and it didn't take long for us to hear the Greenish Warbler call in the Holm Oak on the hilltop, the same place Gary saw the bird in pouring rain on Friday. Gary found the bird but no sooner had he located it a Chiffchaff arrived and chased it up higher into the canopy. Despite waiting around another hour and half we only heard the Greenish Warbler once more and probably heard the Bonelli's Warbler also. As another storm threatened we headed back to North Walsham. Brief views of both birds, but many people will struggle to even see them in the leafly sycamore, and hopefully if this mini influx of Greenish continues and i'll catch up with another bird.

Around Holt

Last Sunday Laura and I decided to have a look around Holt and get a bite to eat. James' recent trip to Baconsthorpe inspired me to visit while nearby. The Ruins of Baconsthorpe Castle are down a long track and we had the site to ourselves. The nearby farmyard and Castle mere provided us with a selection of avian delights. We watched a family of 6 Little Grebe fed on the mere along with Coot, Moorhen and Mallard. 3 Grey Heron flew over as we walked back towards the car and a small group of Stock Dove were in the area. Back at the car i noticed a large group of small bird son the nearby wires, and getting out the scope i was delighted to ID them as c30 Corn Bunting. We had our wander around Holt before calling into Cley NWT for a cup of tea and cake. We didn't wander to far but still scanned over the scrapes and marshes, noting Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Sandwich Tern and 2 Spoonbill, as well as the more common waders.

Upper Yare Valley

The coast is still quite a trek on public transport, so even with the prospect of a few early migrant on the coast i decided to stay local and walk the River Yare between Eaton and Bowthorpe. By Cringleford Mill i spent awhile looking at the Dragonflies and Damselflies in the area, mulling over the identification of a few. Banded and Emerald Damoiselles, Ruddy Darter, Migrant and Brown Hawker were all in the area along with a few butterflies enjoying the sun's early warmth. Not far along the riverside path and i had the best bird of the day a Honey Buzzard flew low over the meadows, before drifted south out of sight. Although the best bird of the day had shown up early there was plenty more to see. Before reaching the UEA i had seen 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Sedge Warbler amongst other common birds. The UEA Broad was quiet with a lone family of Great Crested Grebe and a few Mallard. The playing fields offered more with a large group of Starling on the pylons, c30 Goldfinch, 2 Stock Dove and female Kestrel. Pied Wagtails often gather here in winter and i was surprised to count 41 on the cricket pitch nearest the hospital. A lone Common Tern and Swallow passed over head as i approached Earlham Park, where a Kingfisher perched up and then whizzed past me. On Bowthorpe Marshes a helicopter flushed a family of Red-legged Partridge and almost everything else. Walking the grazing marshes and riverbank i found a further 6 Green Woodpecker and 2 more Great Spotted Woodpecker, a large group of Long-tailed Tit, 2 family groups of Linnet and a lone Bullfinch. At Bowthorpe as the sun once again emerged from the clouds dragonflies zoomed about, a mixture of Ruddy and Common Darter, Migrant Hawker and singles of Brown Hawker and Emperor Dragonfly. As well as more Banded Demoiselle and Common Blue Damselfly. I also saw 2 Mink on the river near the ponds, with Jim seeing them at Surlingham does this mean they are increasing in number once again? On the subject of 'pests' i counted over 30 Magpie at Bowthorpe! The final bird of the walk was a Sparrowhawk which flew across Earlham Park as i started to walk home along Earlham Road. 44 species of bird, 8 species of dragonfly/damselfly and 9 species of Butterfly was much more than i had hoped for when setting out.

Waders at Thorpe

From experience I've learnt not to be at Cley when rain in forecast, the only sure thing is you'll get soaked. So despite my initial intention to look for the Pectoral Sandpiper, Spoonbill and Little Stints, i decided to keep nearer home and went down to Thorpe Station Marsh. Approaching the footbridge over the railway i noticed a family of Linnet and a Whitethroat on the rough ground. From the cattle pen the mashes and scrape were deserted so i walked along the river bank to view the spit and shingle. I soon found the Lapwing that recently have been gathering on the scrape area, I counted 46, but also 5 Greenshank, 4 Oystercatcher and 2 Green Sandpiper. The most waders I've seen on site at once. Walking the rest of the circuit I flushed c30 Stock Doves from the grazing marsh, but saw little else, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Wren and a few Carrion Crow. though I did think i heard a Yellow Wagtail overhead.

Pub Birding in Thorpe St Andrews

With Laura settling into her new job I found myself with a day off while she was at work. So on Tuesday I met up with James to have a look around Thorpe Station Marshes. In short the marshes were deserted except for a growing flock of c65 Lapwing and the small resident Stock Dove flock. We stopped at the Town House for a carvery lunch and dispite the drizzle we decided to sit in the garden. The next hour was the most fruitful of the day, as the drizzle soon eased i picked up 2 'pub ticks' in Whitethroat and Garden Warbler, while James also added Kingfisher to his publist. Other beer related birds included, Coal Tit, Blackcap, a family of recently fledged Goldcrest and a Bullfinch we could hear but not sadly see. Walking back through Carey's Meadow we only added a juv. Chiffchaff to the days list and saw more Blackcap.

Out of Norfolk!

It's been a month since my last post, put simply i haven't been out, and on the odd occasion i have I've been looking at orchids, butterflies and dragonflies. With Laura starting a new job next week and me having this week off work i booked a few days away in Derbyshire, as well be working slightly different shifts patterns from now on.
Driving up to Chesterfield on Monday, we made Rutland Water our midway stop off. This gave me a chance to pick up a life tick with a stonking adult Spotted Sandpiper, we also watched c15 Common Sandpiper and and maybe 1o Green Sandpiper from the Lyndon Reserve. It as always nice to see the Osprey with 3 fledglings starting to fly. A family of Kestrel were still just small enough to huddle in their nest box to avoid a shower but the Tree Sparrow were notable by their absence.
The Western Bonelli's Warbler still remained on territory, so with unsettled weather forecast for the next few days we headed out first thing on Tuesday. Shortly after arriving at the site i heard a call i would not have recognised until a few nights before when i had been researching. That said i could not see the bird in question, a Willow Warbler then a Chiffchaff briefly exciting me before the heavens opened. After the shower passed the Bonelli's called again this time much closer. I got brief flight views twice as it flitted across the path and finally a clear in brief view perched. A second heavy shower seemed then to lay the bird low. After 30minutes of waiting we decided to leave but not after watching fledgling families of Meadow Pipit, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Song Thrush, not to mention Swallow and House Martin skimming the meadows. As we walked back to the car the Bonelli's Warbler again called, but i contented myself with close views of a male Bullfinch, before changing out of my wet clothes in the car.
Wednesday and Thursday the weather remained overcast but still pleasant enough. We didn't really go looking for any other birds, but the large numbers of Swallow nesting in the ruins of Old Hardwick Hall kept us amused as we visited the NT property and we also had an Osprey fly over the car as we drove home some where in Lincolnshire. Two life ticks rounded off a nice short break.

Insects and Nightjar

With a long weekend off i finally managed to get down to Horsey on Friday to look for the 1st-summer Red-footed Falcon. After picking up mum and dad we headed off, near Hickling we saw what turned out to be the best bird of the day with a female Montagu's Harrier crossing the road and quartering the field. With that been the best bird you would have guessed that the Red-footed Falcon had gone. We took a slow pace down the track as this was the first time mum has walked any distance since her knee replacement, but this gave us time to admire the many butterflies and insects amongst the nearby flowers. 6-spot Burnet Moth were on every thistle, but also Small Tortoiseshell, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, a lone Gatekeeper and best of all 4 Dark-green Fritillary by the dunes. Back in North Walsham a short walk on Spa Common gave up a Great Spotted Woodpecker and my first Ringlet butterflies of the year, before we enjoyed a lovely meal a Skyton Goat Inn.

On Saturday Laura and i had a Chinese with Gary and Claire before heading out to see if we could locate Nightjar for Laura. Going to our normal site for around 9pm we expected a longish wait as it was rather light, and a nearby party was pumping out music. The music stopped shortly after we arrived and after only 5/10 minutes a Nightjar started to churr. Then from behind us a second bird flew over our heads and perched up. The bird flew a few circuits around us between perching in a Silver birch. The good light meant we could see all the features of the bird clearly. I counted atleat 4 birds in flight across the site before we left, with it still being light enough to see a late flying Hawker Sp. dragonfly.

A Green Surprise!

Since the Waxwing left my walk to work has been rather quiet, but yesterday i got a surprise. Cutting across Jenny Lind park close to where James and i used to live i over heard a couple "...oh they've got parakeets here like at home" they pointed at something and carried on walking. Well I've been to Titchwell recently and I've heard some bizarre ID calls by people with spotless Swarovski scopes and a pristine Collin's Guide. This said i had to look, without my bins i couldn't see a thing in the tree they pointed at, but as i was about to go sure enough a Ring-necked Parakeet flew over my head into a different tree. Whether the bird is genuine or an escape I'll probably never know, unless i spot a 'Lost Parakeet' poster on Monday morning, none the less a nice little surprise before work.

With today being Father's Day we took Laura's dad for a walk around Strumpshaw Fen. The cool breeze and occasional drizzle killed on the chance of seeing many dragonflies or butterflies, i only saw a unidentifiable hawker buzz past and single Blue-tailed Damselfly all the way around. Bird life was much more promising with many young fledglings in the reed beds and bushes seemed alive with warblers. Cetti's, Grasshopper, Reed, Willow, Sedge, Blackcap, Whitethroat, and Chiffchaff were all seen. The ducks all looked rather drab in ellipse plumage, not good when trying to give Laura's dad a lesson in Bird ID. At least 4 Marsh Harrier hunted over the reserve with a pair of Hobby zooming around amongst the hindrines. A Cuckoo was heard but couldn't be found and of the other small birds 2 Marsh Tit by the river proved the highlight. Kingfisher and Otter had been seen from Reception Hide but after 20min or so we decided to head home for lunch.

Supper: Roller, Breakfast:Swallowtail, Lunch:Osprey followed by cake!

I finally have had two days off work that have given up birds worthy of having their own blog, rather than a belated catchup thingy! Monday i was planning a day out to look for dragonflies and butterflies, but with the morning over cast Laura and i just pottered round the house. This changed when i checked Birdguides over lunch, 'Roller at Upper Hollesley Common', i need a lift as Laura was going to her mum's. A quick chat with Gary and a plan was drawn up, but the 3 hours i had to wait while he finished at work dragged on. Driving down was quite tense with Gary, Philip and myself all desperate to see the bird, and a quiet pager didn't help. We needn't have worried as arriving just before 6pm we watched the bird for about an hour, giving good views at mid-distance. A bird i will remember along time, sadly i couldn't get a photo.

On Tuesday Laura and i decided a stroll on the Broads was in order and headed to Ranworth. While driving over the Postwick Viaduct we had a Marsh Harrier flying level with us over Whitlingham Marshes, a new patch tick. At Ranworth, from the Maltsters pub i could see Common Tern, Great Crested Grebe, Egyptian Goose , Chiffchaff and Marsh Harrier to name a few. Walking the nature trail we were surrounded by warblers calling, mainly Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Willow Warbler but also Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler, all probably with young. A hobby also screamed past chasing dragonflies. Quite a few Black-tailed Skimmer zipped about and Laura picked out a Swallowtail not far from the path. From the info centre a located the long staying Osprey, before we went on a guided boat trip of the broad. It was very relaxing giving close views of the Common Tern, Marsh Harrier, Great Crested Grebe and the Osprey perched up, before catching a fish close by. c400 Greylag Geese are roosting on the broad while they moult and where joined by 2 escaped Bar-headed Geese. We got the ferry back into Ranworth village where a second Swallowtail of the day powered past as we sat enjoying a nice slice of Victoria sponge. All in all a very enjoyable 2days off.

A Quiet Month for Me

I haven't posted for nearly a month because well i haven't seen much, i had no luck with the Great Snipe, found few migrants, should have gone to look for the Broad-billed Sandpiper, Rosefinch and Bonaparte's Gull but didn't and yesterday i should have gone to see the White-throated Robin, but again work got in the way. I have managed to drag myself a few times but single trips to Cley, Salthouse and Whitlingham has been the limit of my birding adventures. A trip to Cley on the 13th May was probably the month's highlight. Although the Great Snipe was not showing i still saw the Lesser Yellow-legs, Temminck Stint, Wood Sandpiper on the pools, before finding a male Ring Ouzel along the back roads. A trip to Salthouse with Gary was rather windswept on the 15th. We walked the shingle and then the middle track before endulging in some 'Pub Bird Watching' A male Whinchat was probably the highlight on the track with a few Wheatear on the shingle and Whimbrel over from the pub. My net trip out wasn't then until the 5th June to Whitlingham. Being the end of half-term it was rather busy with boats and canoes every where. I soon found a pair of Spotted Flycatcher not far from were James had advised me to look but failed to connect with either of the two Cuckoo he had seen the previous day. A Garden warbler at the east end of the Great Broad was the only other bird of note, but Damselflies were everywhere along with a few dragonflies darting about. Walking down Magdalen Street it was nice to see a male Peregrine bombing over a rooftop level, if still a bit unexpected.