Norfolk birding (3 Viewers)

[postcardcv]

For non-pager viewers, have just left (1045) 45 Waxwings feeding in gardens in Taverham, Norwich in the area of Baldric Road/Fakenham road junction. There's a number of loaded berry bushes here so they may well stick around for today at least.

I went to look for these but despite spending two hours in the area only had two fly overs... On the way home I stumbled upon a flock of 32 in the Range car park at Longwater (2.15) unfortunately I only got to watch them for a couple of minutes before they flew off.

Here are a few photos of them, not the best shots to say the least but they are the first I've put camera on this winter. Having looked at the info on the photos it seems that I had the pleasure of watching them for a mere 69 seconds!

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell December 3rd

Today’s highlights

Short eared owl – 1 hunting over grazing meadow all day
Hen harrier – ringtail over saltmarsh
Waxwing – 2 on access road @ 08:30
Long tailed duck – 1 on fresh marsh
Snipe – 50 on fresh marsh

Paul

 

[willowgrouse]

The camera never lies... or does it?

I did, however, ‘find’ the photo below of the recent Waxwing at Norwich City’s ground.

At risk of encouraging you FTJ (like you need any of that!), I suspect that your picture is a fabrication. Those among us who are familiar with the 'Theatre of (broken) Dreams' that is Carrow Road, will have noted that your Bohemian friend appears to have not only eaten every berry in sight along the recently renamed 'Waxwing Way' (hence perhaps its extraordinary size), but it also appears to have grubbed out all of the berry-bearing bushes as well! Bombycilla garrulus has been recorded partaking in various berries and fruits, and of course also indluges in fly-catching, but never before, to my knowlede, has it been recorded undertaking habitat destruction. Perhaps its diet preference has now turned to footballs as a consequence of the above?

 

[northernloon]

I've been following reports of the Shags from afar. Thought you might be interested in this bird seen at Filey Brigg on Sunday. "Shag details - ringed as a chick on the Farne Islands in 2012, one previous sighting a couple of weeks ago - 06/11/12 - Cromer Pier, Norfolk."

Red ring 'LHT' if my eyesight is correct

 

[sacha]

Richardson's Goose

The bird that I first saw last month at Kelling has now moved to Cley and is generating a bit more interest.
This is the only bird I have seen in the UK (or anywhere in fact), so this is a desperate attempt at a potential tick (I won't hide the fact!)

So what are the chances it is wild?

I was surprised to be casually told by one of the Kelling regulars that there was a small Canada Goose with the flock of Canada Geese ... I quickly found it but I must admit I may have overlooked it as I don't normally check Canada Geese flocks.
It was with a Brent Goose and there were lots of Pink feet nearby.

Is there a case for this bird being wild?

At the same time there seems to have been an arrival of Canada Geese across the UK .... This was taken from recent Birdguides summary:
The party of Todd's Canada Geese in Northumberland were noted at Bothal Pond, Woodhorn Flash and Queen Elizabeth II Country Park throughout the week, while a Richardson's Canada Goose was found with Canada Geese at Kilchenzie (Argyll) on 22nd and was still there on 27th. Further hutchinsii involved lingering birds still at Loch Gruinart, Islay on 25th, Loaningfoot (Dumf & Gall) on 27th and two still in Sligo .....

I put the news on twitter and on my blog in an attempt to spark some debate.

Does this bird have better credentials than the wintering Ross's?

Who was the first person to find this bird at Kelling and will they be submitting a description?

Would be keen to know . Like I said before , it's for selfish listing reasons mainly! Would be nice to add this to my list of dodgy wildfowl like Bufflehead, Les White fronts, Snow and R B Geese

Sacha

 

[Daniel Martin]

Any of you seen the Ocean Sunfish washed up at Hunstanton?

 

[Robert S J Smith]

Any of you seen the Ocean Sunfish washed up at Hunstanton?

Yes, saw photos of it at the weekend. Should be a little report about it in the EDP.

Rob

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell December 4th

Today’s highlights

Waxwing – 2 on East Trail, 1 over west
Sanderling – a reserve record 1700 on beach
Spotted redshank – 4 on volunteer marsh
Hen harrier – 2 ringtails to roost
Marsh harrier – 15+ to roost

Paul

 

[QuentinDupriez]

Hi all,

This afternoon 4 Waxwings flying over the Cley marshes car park, while the Richardson's Goose was still behind Arnold's marsh.

Quentin

 

[pickledog]

The bird that I first saw last month at Kelling has now moved to Cley and is generating a bit more interest.
This is the only bird I have seen in the UK (or anywhere in fact), so this is a desperate attempt at a potential tick (I won't hide the fact!)

So what are the chances it is wild?

I was surprised to be casually told by one of the Kelling regulars that there was a small Canada Goose with the flock of Canada Geese ... I quickly found it but I must admit I may have overlooked it as I don't normally check Canada Geese flocks.
It was with a Brent Goose and there were lots of Pink feet nearby.

Is there a case for this bird being wild?

At the same time there seems to have been an arrival of Canada Geese across the UK .... This was taken from recent Birdguides summary:
The party of Todd's Canada Geese in Northumberland were noted at Bothal Pond, Woodhorn Flash and Queen Elizabeth II Country Park throughout the week, while a Richardson's Canada Goose was found with Canada Geese at Kilchenzie (Argyll) on 22nd and was still there on 27th. Further hutchinsii involved lingering birds still at Loch Gruinart, Islay on 25th, Loaningfoot (Dumf & Gall) on 27th and two still in Sligo .....

I put the news on twitter and on my blog in an attempt to spark some debate.

Does this bird have better credentials than the wintering Ross's?

Who was the first person to find this bird at Kelling and will they be submitting a description?

Would be keen to know . Like I said before , it's for selfish listing reasons mainly! Would be nice to add this to my list of dodgy wildfowl like Bufflehead, Les White fronts, Snow and R B Geese

Sacha

Unless this goose is known to have been in the area before the arrival of (other) wild geese, I cannot see any reason why it should not be considered genuine. Tick it !

 

[northernloon]

While the taxonomists have been busily splitting BOURC hasn't made any changes

 

[sacha]

Unless this goose is known to have been in the area before the arrival of (other) wild geese, I cannot see any reason why it should not be considered genuine. Tick it !

That's the kind of reply I like !

 

[sacha]

While the taxonomists have been busily splitting BOURC hasn't made any changes

It's on the cards ... As to which ones they do accept when the inevitable decision comes, that is another matter. If they accepted the Lesser White in Norfolk, then this mini Canada should make it!

When watching it I remembered, as a child, putting a crisp packet in the oven to make a mini version .... This 'shrunken' Canada is really small.

 

[firstreesjohn]

I remembered, as a child, putting a crisp packet in the oven to make a mini version .... This 'shrunken' Canada is really small.

I understand that geese can be put in ovens, too- provided they (the ovens) are large enough.

But, if this is a small goose, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Good luck, Sacha, with your ‘wildness’ quest.

I suspect that your picture is a fabrication.

Gross calumny !

 

[postcardcv]

went back to Longwater this morning and was pleased to find that there were still 30 waxwings around. They are a very mobile flock but did show well on occassions.

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell December 5th

Today’s highlights

Waxwing – 2 briefly in carpark mid morning
Woodcock – 2 in carpark
Spotted redshank – 3 on Volunteer Marsh
Chiffchaff – 1 on Meadow Trail

Paul

 

[ChrisBish]

A quick walk along the river Thet between the Nun's Bridges and the Bridge Pub during my lunch break today produced very little until a flock of 9 Whooper Swans flew over. A drake Teal was a nice surprise too.

Chris

 

[RyanI]

A quick blog post on all the Norfolk patches entered so far http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/norfolk-mini-league-in-making.html

Cheers for taking part everyone and anyone else interested get in touch.

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell December 6th

Today’s highlights

Velvet scoter – 11 offshore
Snow bunting – 12 west along beach
Merlin – 1 hunting on beach
Teal – 990 on fresh marsh
Hen harrier – pair at roost

Paul

 

[ChrisBish]

Black-bellied Dipper on the River Thet showed very well again today during my lunch break. It would often fly to the middle of the river and swim between dives, catching what appeared to be Caddisfly lava and then returning to the bank and hitting/scraping it on the bank to get to the lava! Very interesting to watch.
Also, heard a Waxwing over Kingsway at 11.10am.

Chris