. . . and a Waxwing in a Pear Tree!

Firstly i hope everyone reading this has had a good Christmas day and will have a bird filled New Year.

As with previous posts I've not really been out much, but in the last week have seen a few nice birds from the comfort of the house. A week or so ago Gary and i heard i Firecrest calling further down Unthank Road, and since then I've been listening out to see if it came my way. On Monday (19th) getting back home from the last of the Christmas shopping and heard a bird in the trees opposite as i was unlocking. It didn't take to long to find the Firecrest in the bare trees before it flew of with some Blue Tits. Staring out into the back garden the same day a second 'garden tick' appeared, in the form of 2 Lapwing flying over, unusual for the city.

Putting the old wrapping paper out into the bins on Christmas morning i disturbed 3 birds from the fruit trees in our garden, i had earlier seem 7 Collarded Dove, lots of Blackbird and the usual fair of Tits and Finches but little else. 2 of the birds few out of site but one briefly returned to the top of the Pear tree, a Waxwing, not a new garden bird but a welcome little Christmas present.

Writing this on Boxing Day still in bed, from the bedroom window i have already seen Coal Tit, Grest Tit, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Goldfinch, Greenfinch,Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Starling and Blackbird. No sign of a Christmas Robin but 8 Redwing are currently perched in the neighbours silver birch. Maybe a New Years resolution should be to spend more time watching the garden?

Not Much Birding

The lead up to Christmas is always a bad time for birding as my rota gets shot to pieces and what free time i do have is spent shopping or similar, this year we also had a wedding to attend thrown in for good measure. The wedding was in Oxford, and i briefly considered spending the Sunday after the wedding down at Chew Valley, but with the weather uncertain we decided to spend the day in Oxford. This looked turned out to be a good choice as the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper by all accounts was elusive and eventually moved to a nearby site, and it was 60 miles further from home.

The trip was not however birdless from the Wedding Reception venue 'The Dog House' near Abingdon, i did manage to add a new bird to my 'pub list' in the shape of a Red Kite perched in a tree in the rear garden and then later 3 circling with a Buzzard from the Lounge window.

Semi-palmated Sandpiper for Lunch

About 10am this morning Gary text me to find our when i was next free, which translates as there's a rare bird about we need to go look for. Well the reply text was 'I'm free now' and at 11.15 Gary was on my door-step in full suit and tie. Having driven over from Great Yarmouth this was his extended Lunch hour. Parking off Old Womans Lane at Cley we where soon in the main hides looking through waders. It didn't take long to locate the Semi-palmated Sandpiper in with the Dunlin. A life tick or both Gary and myself, and in Norfolk to boot. In recent years this bird has been on our radar for a twitch but has always been just a bit to far or at the wrong time. Having not removed his tie Gary was back at work by 2pm and i was back at home.

Disappointing UEA

A stinking cold had me stuck in the house yesterday, so feeling a little better i decided to get some fresh air and walk down to the UEA, Whitlingham was a bit to far. Walking across Eaton Park very little was about, but near the 'new' Greenhouses just off Bluebell Road i soon found loads of small birds. Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Blackbird flew across the path. I then noticed a feeder near the growing beds that I've not noticed before. A Nuthatch flitted about in the tree tops and a loose group of Siskin flew over. The rest of my walk was very disappointing, the Broad had 2 Great Crested Grebe, a single Mallard and a few Black-headed Gull. Approaching the Rabbit enclosure i was expecting good things but found nothing! All the feeders that used to be here have been taken down, these feeders used to attract so many birds including Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and on one occasion i had Hawfinch here so i hope they return soon. Walking the river towards Eaton i only had a few Blue Tit and Moorhen, more disappointment. Then a Kingfisher flew past and perching very close, spirits raised i got out my camera. The little excitement soon became anger as i realised the shutter button had broken. I walked home via Waitrose, wondering if i should have stayed indoors!

Wagtail Roost

Popping out on my break before working through until 8pm on Thursday, I was greeted by Pied Wagtail flitting and calling in the fading light and glow of the street lights. c10 birds tried to roost in one of the 'palms' on the traffic islands outside John Lewis and looking up 50+ Pied Wagtail sat on the safety rail that runs around the rooftop of the shop. Most winters a large group of Pied Wagtail move into the city to take advantage of the extra warmth from the buildings. Whether they continue to roost at John Lewis or move to their regular trees/buildings near Gentleman's Walk I'll have to wait and see.

Waxwings Return

The late fall of migrants in the week typically occurred just after I'd had a few days off, and equally as typical had all moved off by the time my next day off, Sunday had rolled around. I would have like to catch up with the Hume's Leaf Warbler and Melodious Warbler particularly, but a Palla's or Yellow-browed would have also been welcomed. On Sunday however i did catch up with my first Waxwing of this winter, with c12 birds just off Hall Road in Norwich. I'll try to return in the week to photograph them if they stay.


Walking to work this morning (Monday), was much more enjoyable now i have the prospect of Waxwing on route, last winter a flock was around the Jenny Lind Park area for a few weeks and most days brightened an often cold damp walk into work. No Waxwing yet in the Park but a Peregrine diving low across the ground after chasing some pigeons from the Old Hospital site, was even more exciting. Not to be out done 3 Waxwing then flew overhead and settled in some trees near the Bignold School, a very pleasant start to the week.

SEO@Thorpe Station Marsh

I've had quite a bit of holiday to use up recently but yesterday was my last holiday day of the year, and i decided to give Surlingham a bash. I was planning to cycle around Whitlingham then take the cycle route to Surlingham, but a slow puncture made me change my plan.

I cycled around the Great Broad and stopped a few times, it was rather quiet but a Little Gull was with the other gulls in the conservation area and Tufted Duck numbers are starting to build. Scanning Thorpe Broad i could see a few Pochard and lots of BH Gull but again it looked quite. As i was on the bike i gave Whitlingham Marsh a quick look, a Grey Wagtail by the viaduct was my first on the patch this year and a Chinese Water Deer was also something new. Near the Sewage works i noticed my tyre was rather flat so headed over the Postwick Viaduct and dumped the bike at Laura's work on Thorpe Road. After lunch with Laura in the Coach and Horses i decided to walk the areas of my patch north of the river.

I started off in the Roseary Cemetery, as with the days trend it was rather quiet and close up Green Woodpecker, was one of the few bird i saw. Lions Wood was awash with Grey Squirrels, Blackbird and Wood Pigeon, but a Nuthatch broke the monotony. Carey's Meadow was also very quiet, bar a Bullfinch i could hear but not locate. I had planned to get to Station Marsh about 3.30 then hang around for the Short-eared Owl seen the last few nights, but as it was only just after 2.30 so i first walked the whole site. A Great Black-backed Gull was a patch year tick and i found a few Cetti's Warbler calling. Waiting by the cattle pen gulls streamed over along with corvids. A few other birders appeared then at 4.15 the Short-eared Owl appeared. It rise up from the edge of Thorpe Broad and then started to quarter the meadows, and times coming very close and circling over the broad. Sadly the light was to poor to get a photo of my newest patch bird.

North East Norfolk

Sorry about the slightly late update on 29th Oct James, Gay and myself after a bit of furniture moving at Gary's headed to Trimmingham for a final bash at finding some late migrants. Getting out of the car Gary noticed a Buzzard sp. finding a gap in the treeline we were able to confirm Gary's initial thought Rough-legged Buzzard. News of a Red-rumped Swallow flying north through Sea Palling with 2 Swallow had us move to the clifftop hoping they would continue north. While waiting we scanned the sea, eventually picking up several groups of Little Gull and Kittiwake and a few Wigeon. Red-throated Diver appeared then disappeared on the sea and a lone Snow Bunting appeared to come in-off. At about 12.30 i located 3 Swallow heading north, but as the passed overhead they became silhouetted so we tried to ID them over the stubble, 2 where clearly Swallow, the third we could not clearly see however no obvious rump. We had to conclude as unlike as it may be there was 2 groups of 3 Swallow heading north at the end of October in NE Norfolk.

As it was lunch time we headed to the Poachers Pocket at Walcott, ordered our cheesy chips and sat outside to scan the sea. We picked up many similar sea birds as at Trimingham, with Little Gull, Black Tern and Kittiwake being Pub Ticks. A few Guillemots lingered off shore and a Common Scoter flew through. 2 Red-breasted Mergansers west, a flyover Redpoll and a Great Northern Diver were a further 3 Pub Ticks. The best bird though was a Black Guillemot, a Pub Tick, a Norfolk Tick, a rare bird for Norfolk, it flew in and eventually gave good enough views to clinch an ID. We then located a flock of Pink-footed Geese we could hear from the pub, only a couple of fields over. We couldn't find any rare geese mixed in but a neck collared bird (pale blue CCI) has since been reported back to us as a bird ringed in 202 in Aberdeenshire and been seen in Norfolk most years since.

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.