Norfolk birding (83 Viewers)

[jimbob]

A superb hour or so birding at Sheringham today.
Such a small flock of Common Scoter, easily missed. And to pick out a Surf Scoter, that is cracking birding, I am indebted to the finder! I thought that the Surf was often the bird 'loosely' associating with the tiny raft, often a metre or two away from the Commons.
Great views of the Richard's Pipit both in flight and on the deck, plus a Red-necked Grebe at sea.
Cheers,
Jim.

 

[Penny Clarke]

Surf Scoter seen this afternoon with common scoter and also a Richard's Pipit bounded from the path over the cliff top edge at about 3.30pm!:t: Sadly though, time ran out to bag the Rose-coloured Starling aswell.

Full update on blog.

Penny:girl:

 

[firstreesjohn]

Polly pecks- the zenith of my birding day

Such a glorious day: it’s just a shame there were few birds to enjoy in the bright sunshine. Casting about desperately, I eventually lunched at Wells.

A flock of c10 Redpolls was viewable at the east end of the Dell, on and off. I venture no greater precision than that.

I managed to miss approximately 21 Waxwings, on my drive home. Make that c27 ! I'll have to find a different route home that doesn't go through Weybourne: I might be more lucky.

 

[O.Reville1989]

3 Snow Bunting found on the beach/lower cliffs between West Runton and Beeston Bump this afternoon.

 

[ben_lewis]

Strumpshaw Fen MEGA - At 15.45 a Juv Gannet flew over the ridge to the North of the fen. It headed strongly towards Norwich, look out Whitlingham birders!
Cant be that many records in the Mid Yare/ Norwich area??

If there had been a strong Westerly and squally showers I'd understand the record but a Gannet cruising over a ridge this far inland on a beautifully calm blue sky afternoon is slightly perplexing.

 

[James Emerson]

Strumpshaw Fen MEGA - At 15.45 a Juv Gannet flew over the ridge to the North of the fen. It headed strongly towards Norwich, look out Whitlingham birders!
Cant be that many records in the Mid Yare/ Norwich area??

If there had been a strong Westerly and squally showers I'd understand the record but a Gannet cruising over a ridge this far inland on a beautifully calm blue sky afternoon is slightly perplexing.

Wow. Unfortunately it's now dark before and after work, so I can't check Whitlingham tomorrow. I've never heard of a Gannet in the Norwich area (Fulmar, Arctic Skua and Kittiwake have all been claimed though - I don't know any details about them).

A quick look on Birdtrack suggests that two Gannets were seen at Buckenham in 2010, but still a very rare bird inland.

 

[Stratton Birder]

Good to see lots of handy advice on this thread regading finding birds, staying focused and just plain keeping your chin up when things get tough :t:

When the days are are short, although I occasionally do it, resist the temptation to go to a coffee shop. You could lose a good hour or more of your day and the only birds you're likely to see in the shop will be the pet parrot or stuffed birds in glass cases.

Some disgcraceful flouting of my own advice today saw me and Jo in a coffee shop in West Runton (recommend their American style pancakes - scrumptious!) for the best part of an hour in the morning and another 45 minutes in the Dun Cow at Salthouse in the afternoon :eek!: but it was so awfully quiet today.
However - against all the odds - we still finished the day on a high when we came across a single Waxwing in a hedge over the back, off the beach road at Weybourne. One became four, became 10, became 16, became 20 before finally reaching a grand total of 26 birds - and they were kind enough to hang around till dusk and gave the day a perfect finish. Love it....

 

[Stratton Birder]

Wow. Unfortunately it's now dark before and after work, so I can't check Whitlingham tomorrow. I've never heard of a Gannet in the Norwich area (Fulmar, Arctic Skua and Kittiwake have all been claimed though - I don't know any details about them).

A quick look on Birdtrack suggests that two Gannets were seen at Buckenham in 2010, but still a very rare bird inland.

I had a Fulmar flying and shearing its way low east over Bowman Road, South Harford on 2nd July 1999 when I was a postman in that area. It was one of the most completely off the chart records that I've ever had.

 

[eco]

Great white egret and 20 cranes at Hickling tonight just before dusk

 

[kittykat23uk]

Good to see lots of handy advice on this thread regading finding birds, staying focused and just plain keeping your chin up when things get tough :t:

When the days are are short, although I occasionally do it, resist the temptation to go to a coffee shop. You could lose a good hour or more of your day and the only birds you're likely to see in the shop will be the pet parrot or stuffed birds in glass cases.

Some disgcraceful flouting of my own advice today saw me and Jo in a coffee shop in West Runton (recommend their American style pancakes - scrumptious!) for the best part of an hour in the morning and another 45 minutes in the Dun Cow at Salthouse in the afternoon :eek!: but it was so awfully quiet today.
However - against all the odds - we still finished the day on a high when we came across a single Waxwing in a hedge over the back, off the beach road at Weybourne. One became four, became 10, became 16, became 20 before finally reaching a grand total of 26 birds - and they were kind enough to hang around till dusk and gave the day a perfect finish. Love it....

Indeed, so nice to end with the waxwings after such a quiet day! :t:

 

[Andy in Norfolk]

60 Shags in the Hunstanton Cliffs roost tonight

 

[ben_lewis]

I had a Fulmar flying and shearing its way low east over Bowman Road, South Harford on 2nd July 1999 when I was a postman in that area. It was one of the most completely off the chart records that I've ever had.

That must have been a pretty strange sight!
I had heard that there were a couple of gannet records for Buckenham but to see one heading inland so purposefully was certainly odd, especially considering it was following the high land rather than the River.

 

[jimbob]

No Gannets, but a splendid day in The Broads.
Began early doors and worked the Langley-Claxton-Rockland-Surlingham circuit. Loads of stuff moving, including at least 5 Bullfinch, small groups of Redpoll and Siskin, Green Sandpiper and large Tit flocks with both Marsh and Coal. There was a male Peregrine over the river at Buckenham and a flock of 90 Lapwing at Wood's End, my highest patch count. A Brambling wheezed in the churchyard at Surlingham, my first this year surprisingly.
After a superb roast dinner at the Marsham Arms, my better half accompanied me on a roost watch. 3 Cranes passed overhead, and a more distant flock of around 16 headed away from us to roost. Nice work with the GWE, Eco.
Conditions were almost too good, I imagine Owls will hunt all night emerging late. We did have one Barn Owl and a Shortie in near darkness as we drove home.
Bloody love The Broads, so much life out there today.
Cheers,
Jim.

 

[Penny Clarke]

60 Shags in the Hunstanton Cliffs roost tonight

15 at Cromer Pier this evening

 

[Penny Clarke]

Started the day with a Waxwing near King's Lynn along with 2 bramblings. At Weybourne I found a Slavonian Grebe, 5 Snow Buntings and 2 coloured-ringed Stonechats etc.

Full update on blog.

Penny:girl:

 

[GYBirder23]

Brilliant Morning at Great Yarmouth Cemetary. Still Magpies in double numbers (11) a nice roving long tailed tit flock which was thoroughly checked and produced a Goldcrest. new for the month was a single Goldfinch, actually having a sing. A few Continental Blackbirds whizzing out of the bushes and a jay or three, These Birds now get the skirrels Monkey nuts and hide them in the grass. Did not make the denes today as was awaiting a fungi expert to sort out by unidentified wax caps. A Sparrowhawk was notable chasing Starlings over the Sainsbury's Car park.

 

[NoSpringChicken]

We arrived at Strumpshaw mid morning yesterday (I know!) and were surprised to find both car parks and the roadside parking jammed full. I don't know if there was a special event taking place or if it was a result of the increasing popularity of the reserve and a beautiful day. In the end we gave up trying to park there and went to Hickling instead. We spent a very pleasant day there but didn't see anything of interest to readers of this thread.

Ron

 

[GYBirder23]

Nice view of a Rough legged Buzzard this afternoon seen from the Road Bridge at Haddiscoe Marshes

 

[MICK SAUNT]

Wow. Unfortunately it's now dark before and after work, so I can't check Whitlingham tomorrow. I've never heard of a Gannet in the Norwich area (Fulmar, Arctic Skua and Kittiwake have all been claimed though - I don't know any details about them).

A quick look on Birdtrack suggests that two Gannets were seen at Buckenham in 2010, but still a very rare bird inland.

A long time ago (September 1988) but had juv Arctic Skua south over Sprowston on outskirts of Norwich so could have conceivably ended up over Norwich. Of interest(!?) saw the bird while waiting in a non-birders garden for a 'Desert Sparrow' seen earlier. No great surprise when a leucistic House Sparrow popped up on the fence......
Mick

 

[James Emerson]

Thanks for the information. Has anyone else had seabirds around the city?

I had a Fulmar flying and shearing its way low east over Bowman Road, South Harford on 2nd July 1999 when I was a postman in that area. It was one of the most completely off the chart records that I've ever had.

A long time ago (September 1988) but had juv Arctic Skua south over Sprowston on outskirts of Norwich so could have conceivably ended up over Norwich. Of interest(!?) saw the bird while waiting in a non-birders garden for a 'Desert Sparrow' seen earlier. No great surprise when a leucistic House Sparrow popped up on the fence......
Mick