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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. firstreesjohn

    Spring 2020 at Gramborough

    The strangest of Springs. Not the strangest birds, sadly: a predictable list of species that I saw at the Hill. This included Pied & Spotted Flycatchers, Ring Ouzels and Whinchats - although a skulky Grasshopper Warbler (only the 3rd I’ve seen here in over two decades - and apparently the first...
  2. firstreesjohn

    Breaking news: Gramborough delivers the Mega Mega . . . . . . . . . . (almost)

    12 June: Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler (foy; in brief song). ♂ Wheatear (scarce in June: records on the fingers of one hand) and possible Black Redstart (seen very badly and even scarcer in June) in a’noon. A “bright” Phyllosc was glimpsed by an ultra-experienced world birder - obviously...
  3. firstreesjohn

    March 2020 at Gramborough

    It was not to be: I’d had hopes, yet again, of a February Wheatear. The weather charts were potentially favourable – and one did turn up in Essex. Although flowers started to come into bloom impossibly early, and insects began to multiply, it took until St Patrick’s Day for the first avian...
  4. firstreesjohn

    February 2020 at Gramborough

    29: 4♂♂, 2♀♀ Stonechats. 28: only 1♂ Stonechat visible today. (CBC: 3 Woodcocks.) 27: 5♂♂, 2♀♀ Stonechats. 26: 4♂♂, 1♀ Stonechats, in a’noon. 25: Meadow Pipit in 1st of year parachute song-flight. 17: Ringed Plovers (pair) seemingly occupying territory (Brackish Pool). Extra ♂ trying to get in...
  5. firstreesjohn

    January 2020 at Gramborough

    22: Barn Owl. 21: Hen Harrier (ringtail). 17: Dunnock. 16: 1+ Dunnocks. 15: Dunnock. [11: Red-necked Grebe (on sea - RBA).] 4: 2 Snow Buntings (Yay !).
  6. firstreesjohn

    Highlights of 2019 at Gramborough

    There was little excitement until April; then, a goodly selection of migrants made for interest most days. All were regular and expected, save for a certain Cuckoo (see attachments). Although anyone can see that the BBRC has hundreds of submissions to sort through each year, I wonder if there...
  7. firstreesjohn

    December 2019 at Gramborough

    The 2 Wrens persist. The pair of Stonechats appears sporadically. Will 2020 witness more breeding of this charismatic species ? 2019’s ‘Beast’ ensured their failure. With notable (?) sightings on only 5 days, this still may’ve been less excruciatingly soul-destroying than the same month a year...
  8. firstreesjohn

    November 2019 at Gramborough

    Apart from a small, raptorous flurry on 6th, the month was distinguished by being undistinguished - with no stand out species. I have made an executive decision: the pairs of Stonechats, Dunnocks and Wrens will now not be included in the daily ‘log’, unless there is a change in their status. It...
  9. firstreesjohn

    Norfolnk Bird Report 2018

    “I saw this, & started to mutter; Then, got inna bittuva flutter ! No-one could pronounce What this do announce: Its title, you just cannot utter ! This last year’s bad-typo’d Report Has not made Our County more short: We’re one letter longer – Tho’, doubtless, not stronger – To say it, your...
  10. firstreesjohn

    October 2019 at Gramborough

    The almost relentless south-westerlies continued, tossing the Sycamores about and yielding no Yellow-broweds for the second year running. A miscellany of thrushes was just about the only benefit of a brief switch to the north-east. The last Wasp Spider was seen early on 5th, before 6 hours of...
  11. firstreesjohn

    Camera lens hood lost at East Hills

    I lost this small piece from my Sony this week, probably towards the western end of the Hills. Please DM me, in the unlikely event of its being found. Many thanks.
  12. firstreesjohn

    September 2019 at Gramborough

    30: 2 Blue Tits, Wheatear, Wren. 29: Lapland Bunting, ♂♀ Stonechats, Wheatear, Wren. 28: Wheatear. 27: Wheatear, Wren. 26: Lapland Bunting, Song Thrush (in/off, then ↑S; foa), ♂ Blackcap, Wren. (Snow Bunting in a’noon - highly-experienced observer.) 25: Lapland Bunting, Wren. (2 Swifts...
  13. firstreesjohn

    August 2019 at Gramborough

    In the same month last year [https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=366562], that list mainly consisted of the commoner warblers and chats - leavened with 5 Pied Fly days. This month was roughly similar, though fortunately with many fewer ‘non-notable’ days. It was enlivened by single Pied...
  14. firstreesjohn

    July 2019 (the REAL one) at Gramborough

    The last Cuckoo was seen on 27 June. On 3rd, I had brief flight views of only my third GSWoodpecker for the site (in over 20 years). I was unsure whether it had flown in/off, or was just having a fly-around from nearby. An ‘interesting’ looking heron on 4th immediately disappeared - as then did...
  15. firstreesjohn

    June 2019 at Gramborough

    This month was much more varied than June 2018 - could hardly be less. The Cuckoo(s) continued to be a pleasant and occasional surprise; as was the absence of young Cuckoos, considering all the breeding Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings in the vicinity. By the end of the month, the larvae had...
  16. firstreesjohn

    May 2019 at Gramborough

    Usually 4 Wheatears were present from the start to the middle of the month; then 2; then none. I couldn’t be bothered to count them every day, as far too onerous. May 2018 witnessed five species of warbler, apart from Whitethroat; this month, one. This Spring has seen little variety at the site...
  17. firstreesjohn

    April 2019 at Gramborough

    The East wind did blow . . . and blow . . . and blow . . . and we did (fleetingly) have snow ! Then, it (eventually) became ‘unseasonably warm’, with record-breaking temperatures. The pair of Dunnocks persists; the male persists in singing. Good birds turned up very close (Pied Fly) - but, not...
  18. firstreesjohn

    March 2019 at Gramborough

    After the dreariest and most uneventful winter imaginable (sometimes - many times - I couldn’t even be bothered to drag myself out for a visit), the first month of Spring began to see more varied activity. 31: 2♂♂ Wheatears. 30: Blackcap ♂, 2 Dunnocks. 28: Dunnock. 27: Dunnock. 26: Dunnock. 25...
  19. firstreesjohn

    February 2019 at Gramborough

    The pair of Stonechats vanished (eloped ?) after Valentine’s Day ! There was another mini purple patch (again, involving no Calidrids) just before. 13: Hen Harrier ringtail ↑E; Peregrine, then ↑E. 12: Glaucous Gull (probably the ‘2nd one’) on Sea off Beach Rd; 2 Snow Buntings, 2 (adult ♂♀)...
  20. firstreesjohn

    January 2019 at Gramborough

    The month was similar to the preceding one: the pair of Stonechats occasionally flitted around and up to about 20 Snow Buntings flew over, briefly putting down. The Hill also became smaller: losing more than 3 feet in places from its seaward face, as a result of the big storm.
  21. firstreesjohn

    December 2018 at Gramborough

    This month didn’t occur. I suppose I'll just keep beetling on.
  22. firstreesjohn

    November 2018 at Gramborough

    Here endeth the worst autumn since Time began. It was so bad, even ‘fake news’ mostly dried up and any suppression was largely suppressed. Bring on 2019 - or, even 2020. Will we have sorted out Brexit, by then ? 30: 02♪. 27: 02♪. 25: Shorelark. Whooper Swan ↑W. 24: Shorelark on shingle, then...
  23. firstreesjohn

    October 2018 at Gramborough

    And I thought September was bad: most of the month featured only common birds ! How can this have been October ? ONE WARBLER ALL MONTH. Yellow-broweds all around, but The Hill shunned. No Redstarts (only one this year), no Pied Flies, no shrikes (4 years, now). 31: 02♪. 30: 02♪. 29: 2...
  24. firstreesjohn

    September 2018 at Gramborough

    This must’ve been the worst September for birds at this site in the history of ever ! After recent events and, as an à propos to even more recent conversations, I’d meant to proffer a rewording of the following, based on the King James version of the Bible - assembled by six committees and...
  25. firstreesjohn

    August 2018 at Gramborough

    31: Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroats, Wheatear. 30: Whitethroat (new); poss. Lsr Whitethroat (from 29th), Wheatear (others, 2), Whinchat (others, 2). 29: Lesser Whitethroat (in a’noon). 28: 3 visits – no birds of note ! 27: Whitethroat (not mystery warbler from 26th). 26: [2 Wheatears, Willow...
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