A Breydon Water local patch

[Karl J]

Comparing my original 'a Norfolk patch' to the other local patch posts it seems my definition of 'local' is not quite the same as others. So I thought I'd put a bit more detailed bit up about my 'most local area' - Breydon Water, and the walk along the river from Berney back to Yarmouth, which we do on a fairly regular basis. ( Was also a good way of putting my new camera to some practice use )


On the map below I've detailed the area - the dashed line being the Weavers Way footpath, and I've put in some of the more interesting features.


I think many UK birders know the area pretty well, but for those that don't ....... here goes.

Getting off one of the few trains to stop at Berney train station (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6517)-- A -- on the map, the station platform provides a good place to look out over the surrounding countryside (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8455). This area is all part of the Berney Marshes RSPB reserve ( no visitor centre or anything though ) where lots of winter waterfowl come to see out the colder months.

A short walk across the marsh takes you to Berney mill (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7795)-- E -- where the path meets the river (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8456) ( and goes past the pub ). This is all a bit of a glimpse into the past; in the mid 1800's this was a busy little area. The mill was been built in about 1860 for the then local cement works, which is now demolished along with some of the other old buildings but there's rubble still laying about in some places. The pub ( still standing - good sense prevailed !! ) was put up for the cement workers, wildfowlers and various other river trades. Later the mill was turned into a marsh drainage pump and now it's just a tourist attraction for the boating holidays / walkers etc. It's had the sails removed for renovation work which is a bit slow but is making obvious progress.

Just past the pub is a small area of reedbed which homes some of the small reedbed birds from time to time. And across the river is Burgh Castle and the old Roman ruins - there's often a Marsh Harrier or 2, and Kestrel around here. This is really the last sight of civilization for a few miles as the path has the river on one side and open countryside on the other.

A couple of miles away -- B--, there is a drainage pump (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8191) which in itself is pretty featureless but I've seen some good sightings here : a party of Wheatear were about earlier in the year and my only sighting of Buzzard circling high was from here. Yellow Wagtail flock around here as well. A few hundred yards and you come to the abandoned Lockgate mill (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8190) --- C -- . Built as another marsh drainage pump, the sails blew down years ago and it now stands as bit of a lonely thing out in the middle of nowhere. There is at least a protective cap on top of it but whether or not that means it's in line for renovation I don;t know - but it could do with it !

The bits labelled D on the map are perhaps the main feature of Breydon, the mudflats (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7794) Up to about a half mile wide & 2 - 3 miles long at low tide ( and completely flooded at high tide ) they're a good place for the waders, gulls & ducks.

In the fields along the way are a couple of pools (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8457) in the fields -- P -- which are often roosting places for Cormorant, Shelduck, sometimes Little Egret and other ducks, gulls etc.

The old railway yard is sometimes worth a look at, there are bushes & trees between it and the main road. Sometimes something worth looking at, sometimes not.

At the eastern end of the mudflats in summer some large areas of the saltmarsh foreshore turn into a blanket of blue with the Sea Lavender (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8189) which grows there, hiding many of the muddy pools quite well when it's in full flower. This is probably my favourite area of the whole place, also in the late summer / autumn when it goes to seed there's loads of Goldfinch & Linnet come to feed on the seeds.


And thats it, under the road bridge and you;re in Asda.




And for the technically minded -

Distance ~ 5 miles ( one way )

Habitats - tidal estuary & mudflat, open countryside of marsh / light grazing land, slow river, reedbed, abandoned / waste land

Height of land ~ sea level

[digi-birder]

Carlos,

Excellent report - you're making me all nostalgic. It's the same when I read ColinJ's posts about the Lowestoft area, I can picture exactly where you are, having lived in the area for 9 years, prior to coming back to 'home' about 5 years ago.

We were just a little way down the road in St Olaves, and we often had a little walk along Breydon Water from Asda. Never made it to Berney Mill, though. We mostly stayed on the Burgh Castle side.

[Karl J]

Yes, Burgh Castle is another nice place, with a good view across the marshes. The southern shore footpath, (Angles Way, which I haven't marked ) goes along the river to Burgh Castle and is good for cycling along.




*** Edited this post to include the list of birds seen, as of 20.09.03

Avocet
Black-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Curlew
Curlew Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Dunlin
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Knot
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Greenshank
Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Turnstone
Lapwing

Canada Geese
Egyptian Geese
Greylag Goose
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Kingfisher
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Spoonbill
Mute Swan
Mallard
Shelduck
Shoveler
Wigeon
Tufted Duck
Teal
Moorhen
Coot

Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Great Tit
Longtailed Tit
Blue Tit
House Sparrow
Robin
Starling
Blackbird
Jackdaw
Rook
Crow
Magpie
Linnet
Meadow Pipit
Skylark
Pied Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Wren
Wheatear
Collared Dove
Town pigeon,( Feral pigeon .... or whatever you want to call it. )
Woodpigeon
Jay
Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Kestrel
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Hobby
Merlin

Swallow
House Martin
Swift
Reed Bunting
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Cettis Warbler - by call
Whitethroat
Willow Warbler

Black-headed gull
Common gull
Greater-blackbacked gull
Herring gull
Lesser-blackbacked gull
Little Tern
Black Tern x 1
Common Tern
Sandwich Tern
Cormorant
Arctic Skua x 1



Which should make 88, maybe not too spectacular and I'm sure an experienced birder would have more than that, but I'm pleased with it. All within walking distance of home.

[Andrew]

That is a brilliant run down of your local patch and it shows many good spots like those pools.

The walk you had this eveing is better than watching the Bond movie!

[cjay]

I like Carlos reports as, although we are only about 8 miles apart our local patches are so different.

Colin.

[Nina P]

Very smart Carlos, sounds very different to my patch, the closest we have here is the riverside walk in Wimborne, and I cannot walk very far, and there isn't much of a path for me to use, so I end up too close to the road to have much to expound in that way, and around the back of my place there is only a cluster of fishing lakes, not too bad for birding but none of the terns and plovers, what is a godwit? never seen one, that says it all really.
Carlos, you have some great birds in your area, and I have different great birds in my area, and some of your birds will be so common to you that you find yourself saying " Oh and we have pintails " so common they become an after thought, in the same way as we have buzzards ten a penny here, and green woodpeckers often don't get a mention as they have always been here. Nina.

[Karl J]

Hi there Nina, you're right about the difference in what's common ... Buzzard is quite rare round here, ( other parts of Norfolk not quite as rare I think but still not 'common' ). Here on the east coast they're only usually seen on migration from what I gather. I've only seen them once. But waders and winter geese / ducks ... quite different. Marsh Harrier is another 'common' sight.

As for the Black-tailed Godwits, they're waders not too dissimilar to Whimbrel, Curlew etc. but with a long straight bill. In summertime some ( not too sure which ones - think it's the males ) have a quite striking red colour to the chest & head. This is the RSPB page about them - http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/blacktailedgodwit/index.asp?ComponentID=17756&SourcePageID=23376#1

[Andrew]

Carlos,

I just received the WeBS book for 2000-01 as a reward for my efforts and there is a good report on Breydon Water & Berney Marshes and I have to say I am inmpressed by the birdlife you get in winter! If you can read a copy do so, £30 for the book!

[Karl J]

Hi Andrew, don;t know if I've read that particular one but have had several from the library, I will look out for it though.

But at times the numbers of ducks & geese is quite staggering, fields full of absolutely 1000's of them. If you're ever up this way in wintertime take a look

[Andrew]

Considering what I read, I certainly will if I ever get lost over there.

[Charles Harper]

Thanks Carlos, very well-presented. Almost like being there.

[Nina P]

Hey Carlos, you get the curlew callin in your neck of the woods, Jammy so-and -so, I haven't heard the sound of a curlew for years, I have a bit of a soft spot for them, It's the call that I sorely miss, as they seem to have dissappeared from here, Give them a cuurrllew from me please as the sound is so reminiscent of my childhood. Nina.

[Karl J]

Yes Nina we have Curlew about. Not too many about right now, Don't know about their call though - hmmm ? - will have to listen out for that. Possibly heard it and not realised what it was.

[Nina P]

It was named from it's call Carlos, it's a sort of fairly high pitched cuurrrlew sound, if you are musical, it would start about a above middle c and end at about c above middle c, but you'd need to be a musician to know what I'm talking about, so if not "sorry" Nina.

[Karl J]

Out & about on a wet and windy Breydon Water ( eastern end )early this morning, didn't have time to wait for the high tide though.

Little Egret x 4
Grey Heron x 1
Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Black-tail Godwit ~ 350
Avocet ~ 500
Whimbrel ~ 70
Redshank ... a few
Golden Plover ~ 40
Dunlin ~ 200
Common Sandpiper x 1
Curlew Sandpiper x 1
Greenshank x 1
Knot x 6
Cormorant ~ 20
Starling
Shelduck
Woodpigeon
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Black-headed Gull
Common Tern ~ 200
Sandwich Tern ~200
Little Tern ~ 10 ( saw ~ 60 on 28.07.03 )

.... alas, no Curlew to listen to !!!

[Nina P]

My late brother was the one who really could imitate the call of the curlew, and he used to stand out in the field and call, then listen for the reply that he always got, shame he is no longer with us as he did it better than Percy Edwards, and that did take some beating... Nina.

[Karl J]

Didn;t see too much about today, not in any way a serious birdwatching trip. 5 minutes on the train to Berney - wandered as far as the mill & river, took a few photo's and got the train back a few hours later.

Sunny, blue skies & hot. A few high clouds & a little breeze


Dragonflies :

Brown Hawker
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Southern Hawker ..... ( edited from Emporer Dragonfly )
Ruddy Darter



Butterflies :

Painted Lady - quite numerous
Small Tortoiseshell
Wall Brown
? Skipper ... not sure which species
Gatekeeper
Clouded Yellow .... was really happy with this, the first time I've seen one. A migrant I believe. Feeding on the clovers of Berney meadow


Birdlife :

Mute Swan
Lapwing
Marsh Harrier x 1 ...female
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Egyptian Geese
Little Egret x 1
Starling
Coot
Kestrel x 1
Swift
Woodpigeon
Goldfinch, quite numerous.

[cjay]

Well done on the clouded Yellow.

A good butterfly to get in Norfolk.

CJ

[Karl J]

Cheers Colin, don't stay still for long do they. A few mad dashes across the field !

Looking back at my list that Emporer I've edited to Southern Hawker. I wrote both down on my list (as I didn't have my book) to check when I got in & crossed off the wrong one.


Later on there were several Goldfinch & Linnet along with the Starling & gulls on the bushes down by the new power station as well. Not exactly on 'the patch' I guess, but still in Yarmouth

[Nina P]

I am lucky to have frequent visits from the emperor but the cats dont go too much on them, they buzz like a Lysander airoplane when they come up close to your ear, and my own kids hate them as they are too much like wasps for them, but I personally love the cheeky little noisemongers, along with the four spot libellula, we do have the common damselflies, both blue and red, but they lead a charmed life with the Marsh frog, common frog and the toad, all using my pond as their home. Nina.

[Karl J]

While I parked for lunch at Burgh Castle and went for a wander round. From the cover of the trees I had an absolutely cracking view of a male Sparrowhawk circling over the fields adj. the roman ruins which brought the total to 84 for this area since March - when the list started ( .... oddly enough thats also when I signed up to BF ! ).



Right now, the past few weeks, there seems to be something new to add almost every time I go out.

[Karl J]

A really good day today. Total of 50 species recorded.

The best ones :

1 x Marsh Harrier (female over Berney marshes)
1 x Red-necked Grebe (on the river near Berney pub)
3 x Wheatear (along the footpath)
7 x Little Egret (various places)
2 x Wood Sandpiper (Breydon eastern end)
4 x Greenshank ( Breydon eastern end)
1 x Kingfisher (Breydon eastern end)

Masses of waders about now.

[Nina P]

I now know some of those birds now, having been to Bowling Green marsh last monday where there were a lot of the birds you mention, including the curlew, who has changed its call to my ears now ( what they refer to aging process) but knew I should know the call. The Avocets were very flighty, and only two settled for a brief encounter. Keep the sightings up to date, even if just for me, Nina.

[Karl J]

Yes ok then Nina - just for you !

Aren't the Avocets a good looking bird ? We've got a whole flock of them, I counted about 500 one day not long back, really elegant. It was really nice sitting by the water in the late afternoon /early evening sunshine, watching as they fly upriver in small groups of 10 or 20 birds at a time. Really peaceful & relaxing, time just becomes so irrelevant.

And ... I heard the call of a Curlew the other day for the first time so now I know what you mean as well ! Little Egret call as well, never heard that before.

[Nina P]

Not heard the little egret call, but you wait till spring for the haunting curlew call, just the thought of it sends little shivvers down my spine!
500+ avocets, 'cor what a crowd, sounds really great, and have total understanding of time standing still when out in the field, just watching, and listening, truely wonderful. Nina.

[Geraldine]

My grandson and I were practicing speaking in curlew last summer, when to my grandson's great delight the curlew started answering back. We tried it on a number of subsequent occasions, and very often the curlews replied. I am now learning blackbird! :hi:

[Nina P]

Geraldine, Blackbird is easy, just roll your tongue into the roof of your mouth and pull it down sharply, makes a kind of tchuck sound and that makes all my local blackies reply, and calls them to the feeding stations.
Well it works for me!! Nina.

[Karl J]

Never tried talking to the birds, I'll have to give it a go sometime. ........ when no-ones around !!

Nina I dont really know to describe a Little Egret call ... A Pterodactyl springs to mind, sort of harsh dinosaur-ish sort of sound

[Nina P]

So a bit like KYEEAAHH then eh Carlos? Meant to answre your avocets dancing habit, my grandaughter has a habit of constantly whirling and drifting across the floor in her own kind of ballet, I suppose that would aptly describe the movement of the avocet's in flight.
I was talking to what I think was a young spotted flycatcher recently and my other half had crept up on me and was quietly taking the (Michael) out of me, when I turned round and caught him, Don't know who felt the most stupid!! Ha ha, but I admit to doing daft things all the time, he doesn't.
I often imitate different birds, sometimes to great effect, but all too often with no results whatsoever. Nina.

[Karl J]

Originally posted by Nina P
So a bit like KYEEAAHH then eh Carlos?

Well .... Yes sort of ... must be a few R's in there as well ... KRRAAAHH ... if that makes any sense at all.

Out again today but didn't have the time to really take too much stock of what was about although it was noticeably several degrees colder along the river, so autumn's certainly kicked in now. One thing I did noticed is the Swallows, they seem to have moved from their nesting areas a couple of miles up to this eastern end now. I've seen it a couple of times over the past few of weeks so it must be a definite movement as opposed to a one-off ''looking elsewhere for food''. Guess that means they'll be off soon and be replaced with all those ducks & geese .... Oh dear

[Nina P]

Thanks Carlos, I'll remember to listen out for that sound when in Wimborne town centre, as they are there most of the time, well just out the center, on the Poole road over the bridge. The swallows here were acting funny yesterday, but then we had some terriffic thunder and lightening storms here, which knocked out our power supply, right on lunch time!! as ever, always happens here, so now the storms are about there may be days when I'll have dificulty posting, Ho Hum!! Nina.

[Karl J]

Out & about today for a few hours between Yarmouth and Burgh Castle.

Nothing major but a really nice day, sunny & warm.

More Shelduck than recently, about 80 of these as opposed to 10 - 20 previously, and 6 Pochard ( least I think thats what they were) they were a long way off, and on the other side of the river. Only 1 Tern (Sandwich). Quite a few Goldfinch, Linnet & Pied Wagtail along the river.

The waders - 1 Grey Plover, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 4 Little Egret amongst the massed flocks but I didn't see nearly as many Ringed Plover as the last couple of weeks.

34 Great Crested Grebe on the river but didn't see the Red-necked Grebe thats been around a couple of weeks

1 Marsh Harrier, male, over on Halvergate marshes

[Nina P]

Now that sounds a perfect birding day to me, Goldfinches and linnets, positively wonderful, dont see many of them hearabouts, just an occasional cluster of goldies, and along the roadside over the moorland for Linnets, at intevals during the year. special birds really, as they are infrequent sights here. We have a Henharrier nearby, 2miles away, so I don't see that over my garden local patch, hence it doesn't get mentioned as only seen once a year, if I'm lucky. Nina.

[Karl J]

A spot of cycle / birding today in the sunshine by the river, between Yarmouth & Burgh Castle which turned out another really good few hours birding with 41 definite species without trying too hard.

These were the best ones.



Marsh Harrier x 1 - a tatty looking female, with visible feather wear or damage
Merlin x 1
Kestrel x 1

Jay x 1
Wheatear x 3. at least 3 seperate birds, may have been more
Greater Spotted Woodpecker x 2

Little Egret x 3
Grey Heron x 1
Spoonbill x 3 ...... WOW !!!

Little Grebe x 1
Great Crested Grebe x 5
a flock of House Martin

Greenshank x 1
Knot x 1

a few of each of these ( on the southern mudflats ):
Avocet
Black-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Lapwing
Dunlin
.... and a bit of a puzzle over maybe a Little Stint or a Sanderling, I'm fairly sure it was a Sanderling but a bird scarer proved it works before I'd properly got chance to id it !



The Spoonbill were the real treat so I had to take a better look at these. After cycling round to the northern shore near the Tern platforms, the view was slightly closer although all 3 were together right in the middle of the estuary so they weren't that much closer, but still was a good view of them wading in deep-ish water actively feeding, heads swinging from side to side & occasionally lifting up out of the water.
2 of them had rings on both legs ( green or light blue ??? , maybe green & light blue ???? ) but because of the distance & heat haze etc I'm not certain of the colour.

At this point I probably could have got a few more species if I'd picked through the waders from here, but being someone who's happy to quit while he's ahead, I decided that was time to go home.

[Grousemore]

Nice report Carlos and well done on the Spoonbill;they seem to favour East Anglia for some reason.

[Karl J]

Yes thanks Grousemore, I think they breed in Holland, so this is probably the closest part of the UK.

Birdguides.com shows East Anglia as being part of their winter range but eurobirding.co.uk says they are passage migrant ........ so ....... I really don't know !

Was a nice surprise to see them though, whatever they are

[Andrew]

I wish my cycling environment was as illustrating as yours!

[Nina P]

REally great birds are Spoonbils, but I never saw them sweeping the water in this country, even though I saw one at BGM and one on Tamar, neither were feeding. Nina.

[Karl J]

Hi Andrew - If you're ever up this way & want to cycle along Breydon you'd be best going along the southern path (to Burgh Castle) as opposed to the northern path ( to Berney) because it has gates instead of stiles..... so much easier !!!

[Nina P]

Where are you going this weekend Carlos? as I am so eager to hear what your latest spottins are, Nina.

[Karl J]

Thanks for the interest Nina, unfortunately I can't really post much this weekend. I have been to various places but ..... B+Q ... Focus DIY ... up the ladders .... local tip .... garden shed ..... :stuck:




Mind you it's raining and miserable today so probably picked a good weekend for a spot of Disaster It Yourself

Roll on next weekend !


About the only thing I've noticed are the very high spring tides this weekend. This is a very low-lying area, not much above sea level so this time of year we always have one eye on what the wind, tide and barometer are up to.

Oh, and I did see a Cormorant flying over my house yesterday. A common bird round here but can't say I've ever seen one actually flying over. And a Wheatear in the overgrown waste ground next to Tesco

[Nina P]

Is it my imagination, or do wheatears usually inhabit rough scrubland? 'cos if that is so, why don't they appear in the scrubby field directly behind my home?
Good idea to disaster yourself on wet and miserable weekends, and I really should be doing the garden but decided to play with my new toy, and the results are now on my local thread.
Had a good session on photography and computer imaging, and realised I needed a better camera, I really have had fun doing everything today, but have only put up a few, and I actually got birds in one of those, as the other one was a total disaster!!
Oh well some you win, others are a disaster! Nina.

[Karl J]

No idea Nina, When I've seen them they've always been near to plentiful supply of worms etc, several near the marsh pumping station (on the map in the opening post) and on the other side of the river recently near a farmyard spoil heap.

Now off to look at your local patch !!

[Nina P]

Are you still after disabling yourself this weekend or will you sieze the opportunity of watching for the winter birds as the weather forecast is winter weather on the way, so if you are wrap up warm and remember to take plenty of hot water and rugs, as the wind will be coming off the water. That should be good for unusual birds then, so hope you get the chance and see some of the less common birds, as I'm following your thread closely. Nina.

[Karl J]

Disabling myself .... strewth I hope not !!!

Went out this morning but as it was quite misty across the river and marshes looking for the waders was never going to work. Instead it was going to be a cycle ride along to Burgh Castle and back again, this time paying a little more attention than I have been doing to the fields, ditches and reeds along the way.

And it turned out well ..... Good sights and a few questions.

Just a few minutes out of town and suddenly civilazation is a whole world away. The almost total calm of low tide slack water & no wind meant the river was at an almost complete standstill, the only break to the silence coming from across the misty mudflats when an occasional Curlew or Redshank would call out.

Cycling a bit further it wasn't long before a Wheatear startled up & fluttered away ahead with it's white rump plain to see, and through the bins I saw it perched on the wall before flying off toward the farm nearby. A group of 4 Swallow came by shortly after this which really surprised me - afterwards my first thought was a mis-id for House Martin but thinking about it, no, they were definitely Swallow, and after checking in the library it seems they are sometimes around until November in small numbers.

Moving on and rounding a bend I pulled up as a bird in the middle of the path was suddenly startling away from the oncoming me, a few wing beats followed by a dumpy odd looking walk ( as if its legs weren't long enough) which I've gone into a bit more detail in another thread, but from a bit of research down the library and online including this website : http://birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/snow-bunting.htm I'm as sure as I can be that it was a Snow Bunting, something completely new to me. Excellent. It then flew off into the undergrowth before re-emerging and flying off across the river, with an unusual rolling / trilling call.

Some little way beyond that picking away at the dead seed heads were a group of birds which I put down as Reed Bunting but something seemed different about them, checking through a few websites & books in the library I think (possibly ) at least one of these was a Lapland Bunting ...I'm not sure though but it's food for thought next time.

By the time the half way point came it was time for coffee break, it was now after 10 and I hadn't seen one person along here yet. Sitting on the low wall with scope set up and bins at the ready I saw some activity in a reed lined ditch which made me curious, every now and again a couple of Reed Bunting would chase each other and disappear deep in the reeds, flocks of Goldfinch & a few Meadow Pipit would occasionally flash about, but there was more than just them in there I was sure. Eventually my patience paid up when I caught sight of a couple of small birds occasionally clinging to the upright stems then shooting back into the undergrowth, their orangey, immaculate plumage almost as if it's been newly painted on, with triangular black beards set onto the grey head and an orange bill - 4 Bearded Tit - at least 2 male & 1 female. These were the highlight as they've long been on my 'wish list' and for them to turn up almost on my doorstep is pretty darned good.

The main vantage point over the valley from Burgh Castle didn't prove too good with the mist clinging around the trees and across the marshes so I didn't stay long though I did get 2 un-id'd thrushes high up in a tree at the church. On heading back I came across 2 really good views - firstly a Kingfisher fishing in a ditch from an overhanging stem, plunging into the ditch and back up again, I noted it had an extremely dark cap, and how much more brilliant a blue the central strip up its back is compared to the blue of the wings. Then nearly back to Yarmouth my first and only raptor of the day - a male Sparrowhawk perched on a gatepost.

Species count of about 30, not that that's at all important in my view.

A top- notch morning out.

[Nina P]

Delightful Carlos,
Don't the lapland Buntings stand out, I last saw them in February sitting on the telephone wire at my parents farm, but the bearded tit, Wow, one on my wish list too. You seem to have a good number of Buntings on your sector. They are none to common here, and the only time I'd seen the laplanders I drew their markings and it took several weeks before I got the ID. You have been very busy and had a delightful session, Keep the thread going, asI am enjoying hearing your reports, Nina.

[Grousemore]

Great report again,Carlos,the solitude there was the most impressive thing for me on my August visit to your patch.

Hope the Snow Bunting ID is confirmed and now a Lapland,brilliant...!

[Karl J]

Thanks Nina, the laplands do winter round here apparently with the first ones being seen mid-Sept (got that from Birds Of Norfolk, by Seago & Allard), so it's possible that's what they were but it wasn't the best view ever.

Looked somewhat like (but also somewhat unlike !!) a female Reed Bunting which is pretty common. I'll maybe try again early Sunday.

[Andrew]

I need a Beared Tit, congrats on getting them and hope you come to a conclusion on the Buntings soon.

[Karl J]

Tried again this morning along a wet, windy & cold south shore for the buntings ..... but not the faintest sighting of even a Reed Bunting this time. Never mind eh, next time !

Unfortunately there isn't a lot of cover anywhere, so the wind was a big problem, and when it came the rain also didn't help matters. But a few notings were -

1x Grey Plover amongst the more numerous Goldens, Dunlin, Redshank etc
1x Sparrowhawk
1x Snow Bunting ( definite this time)
Curlew, lots - many of them in the adjacent fields
1 x Kingfisher
1x Avocet - only 1, I've seen no sign of the recent large flock for the past week or so.

[Nina P]

Georgeous Carlos, Curlews.....Ahhhhh. I'm really envious of you,
a, you can ride a bike all over the place.
b, those wonderful birds.
c, I don't envy you the wet windy weather!! But I did warn you it was on its way!! Nina.