[Paul Eele]

Today’s highlights

Spoonbill – 22 on fresh marsh, new reserve record
Spotted redshank – 1 on fresh marsh
Little gull – 1 on fresh marsh
Green sandpiper – 2 on fresh marsh
Crossbill – 1 west

Paul

[stuart white]

Originally Posted by Paul Eele

Today’s highlights

Spoonbill – 22 on fresh marsh, new reserve record
Spotted redshank – 1 on fresh marsh
Little gull – 1 on fresh marsh
Green sandpiper – 2 on fresh marsh
Crossbill – 1 west

Paul

Is that a county record for a flock at one site, I remember there being 21 at Cley back in 2010

[GeoffBowen]

Has anyone checked out Whitlingham for the Scoter today ? There seems to have been no news either way so far

Cheers

Geoff

[paul1127]

I have to confess I stuggle a bit sometimes when identifying waders.

Saw a pair of these at Thorpe Marshes this morning. I concluded that they were the Green Sandpipers that James recorded a few days ago. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

Regards Paul

[James Emerson]

Originally Posted by paul1127

I have to confess I stuggle a bit sometimes when identifying waders.

Saw a pair of these at Thorpe Marshes this morning. I concluded that they were the Green Sandpipers that James recorded a few days ago. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

Regards Paul

Hi Paul.

They are indeed Green Sandpipers. The second picture made me think, but its just the light making the plumage look greyer! I have just been to Thorpe and saw three, presumably the two you saw out in the open and another one emerged briefly from the rushes to the left to join them.

Re. the scoter - unfortunately I didn't hear anything either way yesterday, but all of the previous birds have never stayed more than two days, so odds are it has probably gone, although I stand to be corrected if anyone is visiting today (bear in mind that Norwich are playing so it will be very busy this afternoon).

[Stratton Birder]

Originally Posted by MJB

In the hot and humid conditions near home this morning, there must have been a massive swarming of flying ants. At about 11 am I counted seven to eight hundred Black-headed Gulls excitedly hunting ants, probably below 100 metres above the ground. Via binoculars, I could see several Common Gulls and at least one Herring Gull also feeding, or attempting to do so, along with several Jackdaws. The activity lasted only about 15 minutes. A single Common Swift, possibly the last of summer, was hunting above the mob, but no hirundines, although there was a small passage of juvenile Barn Swallows yesterday.

This year, I've noted only a few ant swarms being predated, and then only by perhaps 30 birds at a time.
MJB

I too witnessed a similar ocurrance involving a feeding frenzy of around 150 Swallows over Tharston Industrial Estate yesterday morning upon arriving at work at 6.00am. I went out to have another look just half an hour later and they had virtually all gone!

[tootsietim]

Predictably quiet at Strumpshaw today with 2 green sandpiper, green woodpeckers and hunting sparrowhawk the highlights.
Better on the mammal front with otter and common shrew.

[D0c]

I have been on holiday in Norfolk and was driving through Brancaster Staithe towards Titchwell on Friday and saw a Ring Necked Parakeet sitting on a telephone wire across the A149.

Does anyone know if they are breeding around there or is it almost certainly an escapee.

I thought there might be a family of them on Barrow Common which is very near by.

[Paul Eele]

Originally Posted by stuart white

Is that a county record for a flock at one site, I remember there being 21 at Cley back in 2010

Don't know mate, but it is an impressive sight.
The previous reserve peak was 16 last week but before that it was only 11. There were at least 3 juvs begging adults for food so I would assume they are all Holkham birds dispersing.

[NoSpringChicken]

I was surprised and pleased to see that there were still a few Swifts flying over the garden in Gorleston this afternoon. I assumed they had all left during the week. Last Saturday I saw one flying under the the tiles of my neighbour's roof, so I guess it was still feeding young.

Ron

[Phil Carter]

Sometime over the next couple of weeks I'll be visiting an octogenarian friend in Weybourne, (you know the one....Great Snipe). Now, as hard to believe as it may be, in eighty years, he has never seen a Badger. So if anyone has a reliable site nearby, I'd be grateful for any info to give the old chap a belated birthday present.

Phil

[stuart white]

Originally Posted by Paul Eele

Don't know mate, but it is an impressive sight.
The previous reserve peak was 16 last week but before that it was only 11. There were at least 3 juvs begging adults for food so I would assume they are all Holkham birds dispersing.

This could potentially be a country wide record flock ?

[Geof Douglas]

Originally Posted by D0c

I have been on holiday in Norfolk and was driving through Brancaster Staithe towards Titchwell on Friday and saw a Ring Necked Parakeet sitting on a telephone wire across the A149.

Does anyone know if they are breeding around there or is it almost certainly an escapee.

I thought there might be a family of them on Barrow Common which is very near by.

I have been a part time resident of Brancaster for 25 yrs. and have never seen or heard of Ring necked parakeet in the area. Likewise for Barrow Common. Indeed many a Norfolk year lister would be pleases to see one.

Possibly it was an escape but lets hope not and it shows again.

[Alan on the beach]

Originally Posted by Geof Douglas

I have been a part time resident of Brancaster for 25 yrs. and have never seen or heard of Ring necked parakeet in the area. Likewise for Barrow Common. Indeed many a Norfolk year lister would be pleases to see one.

Possibly it was an escape but lets hope not and it shows again.

Single bird seen in Titchwell village twice in the last three weeks, possibly juvenile or female as no distinct neck ring. I have a record shot taken of it on our garden fence through my 'scope so apologies for the quality.

Alan

[marshwobbler]

Originally Posted by stuart white

This could potentially be a country wide record flock ?

I remembered seeing a big flock at Minsmere a few years ago ... and referring back to "Birds of Suffolk" quotes a flock of 28 in August 2002 following failed breeding in the county.

Chris A.

[Penny Clarke]

Four Pied Flycatchers at Great Yarmouth Cemetery this afternoon (J.L. and A.W) and at least one at Holme NWT this afternoon.

Been working this morning, but free this afternoon, so popping out for a spot of birding shortly

Penny

[Penny Clarke]

Originally Posted by Alan on the beach

Single bird seen in Titchwell village twice in the last three weeks, possibly juvenile or female as no distinct neck ring. I have a record shot taken of it on our garden fence through my 'scope so apologies for the quality.

Alan

Lovely Would be great to see this bird!

[D0c]

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me, but I agree as my first impression was a female as the ring around it's neck was barely visible.

My wife and son also got exremely good views of this bird and it stayed put on the telephone wire for all the time we viewed it which must have been 10 minutes.

We did return the next day and had a good look round Brancaster and barrow Common but could not relocate the Parakeet.

[Fast Ricky]

A quick thanks to Paul and James for mentioning the green sandpipers on Thorpe Marsh; I popped down there this afternoon and saw them, one (juvenile?) with a paler head. As a novice birder these are my first green sandpipers and as a newbie to Birdforum what a great start. Any info on birds in the Norwich area really appreciated. I didn't get a chance to photograph them (probably too far away anyway) as I'm still waiting for my lens to come back from being repaired.

[James Emerson]

Welcome to Birdforum!

At least one of the Green Sandpipers was a juvenile/immature, as well as the slightly different head the notches on the tertials were more obvious, giving an almost barred look (visible in Paul's second photo).

There are quite a few Norwich based birders on the forum so most good Norwich birds tend to get mentioned. I get out quite regularly and put updates on my blog (link in my signature) if anything interesting is about so that is worth a look now and again. Other than that we have some good resident birds in the city (cathedral Peregrines, Grey Wagtails along the river, Nuthatches in the cemeteries etc.) to keep you going.

All the best,
James

Originally Posted by Fast Ricky

A quick thanks to Paul and James for mentioning the green sandpipers on Thorpe Marsh; I popped down there this afternoon and saw them, one (juvenile?) with a paler head. As a novice birder these are my first green sandpipers and as a newbie to Birdforum what a great start. Any info on birds in the Norwich area really appreciated. I didn't get a chance to photograph them (probably too far away anyway) as I'm still waiting for my lens to come back from being repaired.

[Paul Woolnough]

Three greenshanks, perhaps two adults and a juvenile, on a small pool at Upton marshes this afternoon.

No green sandpipers at Thorpe Marshes early am.

[rob lee]

[QUOTE) Single bird seen in Titchwell village twice in the last three weeks, possibly juvenile or female as no distinct neck ring. QUOTE]

Can we top `em now before they get a hold

[NoSpringChicken]

Nice views of this juvenile Cuckoo on the Buckenham road at Strumpshaw today. There was also a Kestrel present which caused some confusion until I saw both birds together! Other treats on a rather quiet day were a Buzzard over the Buckenham road, a family of Whitethroats in the brambles near the station and another family of Marsh Tits in Strumpshaw woods near the water.

Ron

[ChrisBish]

Originally Posted by Alan on the beach

Single bird seen in Titchwell village twice in the last three weeks, possibly juvenile or female as no distinct neck ring. I have a record shot taken of it on our garden fence through my 'scope so apologies for the quality.

Alan

Difficult to judge with angle etc but bill colour looks pale which may suggest juv, though I'm wondering if it's an escape of a similar species...?

Chris

[Bilvo]

Originally Posted by rob lee

[QUOTE) Single bird seen in Titchwell village twice in the last three weeks, possibly juvenile or female as no distinct neck ring. QUOTE]

Can we top `em now before they get a hold

Yes, we really do not want these breeding in Norfolk. They are a pest and should be eradicated from the country.