Norfolk birding (21 Viewers)

Had some unfinished business on the coast, so managed to fit in a few hours this afternoon at Waxham. Arrived at Shangri La to see a ring-tail Hen Harrier hunting over the adjacent field. Off to a good start then! A couple of Wheatears were in the field over the road. The scrub held many of the birds from yesterday including Redwing, Song Thrush, Goldcrest and Chiffchaff. The latter seemed a little paler with browner tones today, and one bird I clocked even appeared a little bigger; I am reliably informed are of eastern origin. Fewer Brambling today, perhaps they have moved inland.
At the roadside pull-in, I could see yesterdays Lapwing and Golden Plover flock, so alighted for a better look. Another birder was there, who said he thought he had seen a Hooded Crow. I had a scan, and sure enough, my first Norfolk Hooded Crow! Nice clean grey colour, and despite only a brief view before it was lost to view, this looked good and showed no signs of hybridization. Glad to finally turn something up after the time put in this weekend! Thanks to the chap who put me onto it, glad to confirm it!
Horsey as the light faded held some tired looking Chaffinch and Siskin and a hunting Barn Owl.
Cheers,
Jim.

“Full of Eastern promise” (?)

After the highs of yesterday, today was a bit of a let-down. Perhaps I’m used to the Redstarts, Siskins and Bramblings of the last few days, but I was wanting something (else) new.

A Lapland Bunting down on the brambles at Gramboro’ might have been it, but the photos, into the sun, were discarded.

Warham Greens was manic, with more birders there than I’ve seen since the ‘Pallid’ Harrier. The small copse was devoid of birds- quite a feat and performed by those after a rarer thrush. With so many people milling about, I fled west, to Wells.

Yellow-browed and Garden Warblers were notable, apart from the soft tacking, which stopped as I drew near, never to be repeated.

A return east and some sliding across the saltmarsh eventually provided good views of the Olive-backed Pipit. It crept across the track like a Jacana in slow-motion, or John Cleese doing his silly walk whilst keeping his feet almost on the ground and having overdosed on tranquillisers.

Walking south, to bird somewhere else before dusk, the pager suddenly gave a mega squawk. We then started slithering at high speed, spattering mud high in the air and on ourselves, in the quest for a Norfolk tick. The drive was frustrated by imbecilically slow drivers.

More moolah for His Loudship and another, more grotty, Garden Warbler later ended the day on a low.

Stiffkey

The walk out across the mudflats/marsh was extremely slippery - I wasn't bothered about getting muddy, but was bothered about falling with all my camera gear. I made it there without falling over! The sueda bushes on the ridge looked exciting and there were a good number of birders here. For quite a while all I saw of the Olive backed Pipit was flight views. I got VERY, VERY lucky later on when I stood just inside the bushes next to another couple and the man said look its coming down the path towards us - the said path was no more than a few inches wide - suddenly it came out of that little path right in front of us in a tiny flat area of grass and my camera was clicking away with joy!!! Watched the Olive backed Pipit at 2.30pm - very striking bird - it crept and ran, fascinating to watch. Also here a Common Redstart, chiffchaffs, goldcrests, robins, reed buntings, redwings and a Reed Warbler.

East Hills looked exciting in the distance - its my mission to go there this week, whatever it takes - anyone want to escort me out there please?

Walked back with Andy Wilkinson and Justin and Sonia Lansdell. I did manage to half fall over on the way back, only because I took Andy's hand to assist me over a deep, muddy dyke - fortunately I only got a tiny amount of mud on camera rucksack - I was of course muddy all the way up to my backside! Back at the car, Justin's pager bleeped up with Olivaceous Warbler, Wells Wood. Off we all went!

Wells Wood

On route near the Seat where the path bares left, were a Brambling and a Common Redstart and further along a stunning male Redstart.

The finder who ever it was, left - story goes that he was with his family - wife + child in pushchair. Unbeknown to myself, Andy Wilkinson, Justin and Sonia Lansdell, Dave Holman and others, he passed us on route, we realised later!!! A lady birder who Justin knew said she stopped to ask a birder coming away and he explained he was the finder and had to go because of his family (for whatever reason?). Very strange that he did not speak to any other birders as several of us passed him!!!!!!

I found out that it was initially phoned through to birdguides, so phoned them and spoke to someone who kindly gave me the same directions as we already had - also that the finder thought it was a Western Olivaceous. It was one of the most frustrating, disappointing twitches I have been to and ALOT of birders were understandably not very happy. It would have been very helpful if he had been able to wait for ONE birder to arrive before he left, especially being as it was a first for Norfolk!!!!!!

Congratulations to the finder, who ever you are and yes, you phoned it through, thanks, BUT directions in Wells Woods is difficult enough anyway without trying to find two fallen trees in a V shape with a path going through them!!!

Best Wishes Penny:girl:


MORE PICTURES OF OLIVE BACKED PIPIT ON BLOG

As Hummerman said earlier, what a magic weekend we had in Norfolk. The OBP was a superb lifer for me and whilst I haven't got the photography equipment of the big boys (I only have a 50D and a Sigma 150-500) I did manage a couple of record shots of the bird, something I had no chance getting with the constantly moving Radde's.

I managed a few shots of Siskin and Goldcrest and below are my efforts along with a couple of the OBP.

Today was a bit of a body blow for me. Yesterday I had fallen on my way back from the OBP and today I got a reaction on my back from it. So much so that after walking Warham Greens then Wells Wood all day I decided that going for the Lowestoft Wheatear was a step too far and decided that I had to go home. After looking at the photos on Surfbirds how I wish I had gone for it after all. The other bit of bad luck was being only a couple of hundred yards away from when the Black-throated Thrush was found. Sadly that was one that got away.

The Olivaceous was a non starter for me and I said to Martin that I doubted very much that it would be found again. Thankfully I was proved right but in the end nothing could detract from this super weekend.

Apart from the obvious goodies I doubt if I will forget the sheer numbers of Goldcrests dripping off almost every piece of vegetation, the Redwings huge numbers and seemingly birds everywhere.

John

Tideliner said:

Penny the spotted flycatcher in your photos may be of the race Musciapa s neumanni as it looks very similar to a bird I caught back in the 1996 fall at Wells , but biometrics are needed to be sure. I would post a photo , but I only have the bird on slide and no way of converting slides onto my PC. ID was confirmed by the late Chris Mead and other ringers at their annunal meeting in Dereham spring 1997. As far as i know this was the first recorded in the UK , but I could be wrong.

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Thank you - very interesting indeed!!!:t:

Where was the Shrike ?

How disappointing to learn that, while a group of us was watching the OBP, a Great Grey Shrike was somewhere close to the south.

How did no-one spot it ?

How come no-one knew ?

That line of (mainly) gorse should, I believe, be called 'Stiffkey Meals'.

firstreesjohn said:

Warham Greens... ‘Pallid’ Harrier...

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Am I being overly picky here, but why is Pallid Harrier now 'Pallid' Harrier, if you follow me? I presume you mean the one that wintered in 2002-03? Back then it didn't have inverted commas.

Just curious.

T

PALLID HARRIER at Holme?

See: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=183160

A pallid reply

Sorry.

My memory told me there was controversy about this one (I was there on the first day) and now find, checking the relevan Report, that it was accepted.

Sometimes, one just can't keep up with everything- and, in partial mitigation, I was quite ill at the time.

Please don't harri me further on this (!).

OMG!!! - was just packing stuff in boot of car to go birding and as I looked up at the blue skies, I realised there were two large birds up above, mid distance. Grabbed bins and I couldn't believe it!!!!! TWO COMMON CRANES!!!! 9.30am flying south over King's Lynn. Grabbed camera but was seconds two late as they disappeared behind one of my neighbours too bl**dy tall leylandi hedge!!!!!!

Over my house!!!!! Thats got to be the start to a top day!!!:t::t:

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

firstreesjohn said:

Sorry.

My memory told me there was controversy about this one (I was there on the first day) and now find, checking the relevan Report, that it was accepted.

Sometimes, one just can't keep up with everything- and, in partial mitigation, I was quite ill at the time.

Please don't harri me further on this (!).

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Thanks for the reply. I just wanted to check there was no circus of controversy.

Very good, Tom !

That would've been a ring(-tailed)master job for someone, then (?).

firstreesjohn said:

Very good, Tom !

That would've been a ring(-tailed)master job for someone, then (?).

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Put a (pal) lid on it you two

tom mckinney said:

Am I being overly picky here, but why is Pallid Harrier now 'Pallid' Harrier, if you follow me? I presume you mean the one that wintered in 2002-03? Back then it didn't have inverted commas.

Just curious.

T

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Hi all, not a Norfolk birder but just reading of the excitement over the weekend down there, sounds like it was great fun:t:

To ease Firstreesjohns "harriersment" I saw this quote and I wonder if John is thinking of the '95 harrier at Warham Greens not the 2002-3 Pallid as that one was controversial and re-identified as a Montys wasn't it? Just looked at my notes on it:-O:-O



ATB

Monty's or pallid at Holme

I was walking west at Holme when a small ring-tail harrier flew from behind me on the left. The smallness led me to assume the bird would be a young male hen harrier.

Bird turned and was brick red and dark underneath. That would make the bird a montagu's not a hen harrier. (Normally of course!)

The pattern on the head and neck did stand out.

Whether that makes the bird a pallid harrier I cannot say.

More photos needed and advice from raptor experts.

When I explained what I had seen to Lee Evans at the Warham radde's warbler twitch he asked me whether the bird could have been a pallid harrier.

Tideliner said:

Penny the spotted flycatcher in your photos may be of the race Musciapa s neumanni as it looks very similar to a bird I caught back in the 1996 fall at Wells , but biometrics are needed to be sure. I would post a photo , but I only have the bird on slide and no way of converting slides onto my PC. ID was confirmed by the late Chris Mead and other ringers at their annunal meeting in Dereham spring 1997. As far as i know this was the first recorded in the UK , but I could be wrong.

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neumanni is not on the British List, so despite being confirmed by others inc. the late great CM, and stated as a first (which it would be), it clearly never went any further re. being formally submitted. So if you still have the biometric data and a photo, I suggest you submit this formally for BBRC and BOURC to consider as a first for Britain.

Steve
BOU | www.bou.org.uk

Titchwell October 11th

Today's highlights

Black redstart - 1 in dunes by beach boardwalk
Shorelark - 3 on beach east of boardwalk
Wheatear - 3 on brackish marsh

Paul

Gomphus said:

Hi all, not a Norfolk birder but just reading of the excitement over the weekend down there, sounds like it was great fun:t:

To ease Firstreesjohns "harriersment" I saw this quote and I wonder if John is thinking of the '95 harrier at Warham Greens not the 2002-3 Pallid as that one was controversial and re-identified as a Montys wasn't it? Just looked at my notes on it:-O:-O

ATB

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The wintering 2002/3 juv female Pallid was seen by hundreds and was a defo Pallid.

StuartReeves said:

Nice juv. Montagu's Harrier!

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Yes, I agree Stuart. I cant see what the talk of Pallid is about on this bird.

I hope these photos may be of use with regards the harrier at Holme. I have done nothing to the pictures except for cropping.





Regards
Tony