Norwich Birding (2 Viewers)

Joseph N · Feb 2, 2013

dendroica said:
Fantastic Joseph! Although I'll admit to being more than a little green as those probably went over my patch (Costessey GPs) soon after you saw them! At that exact time I was in the garden scanning the sky hopefully as Andy Musgrove also reported a flock of Cranes this morning ("non bins" views of a flock of 9 over Whitlingham heading towards Norwich).

Thanks very much for all the info on these birds, always good to put a record in context. Wonder if they'll end up at Welney? Certainly a moment worth waiting for as you say Nick, easily the best species i've had on site. Gutted to hear that dendroica! The birds weren't moving particularly fast, hung around a few minutes but pretty high up as they left so may have gained speed.

James Emerson · Feb 3, 2013

Congrats to those who saw the Cranes yesterday. Unfortunately for me there was no second wave of birds over Whitlingham this morning!

I did have a Buzzard over, mobbed by Jackdaws, a site record 182 Pochard* and a very pale Egyptian Goose.

* As far as I know, feel free to correct if anyone has had a higher count.

dendroica · Feb 7, 2013

Great White Egret was showing nicely both sides of the Three Score Tollgate Way bridge at lunchtime today: presumably this is the bird from Marlingford? After being flushed by a Grey Heron from the Earlham side of the bridge, it favoured the flooded pools SW of the bridge. Also at least 5 Little Egrets along this stretch and 1+ Little Owl.

James Emerson · Feb 9, 2013

I had a male Mealy Redpoll in with a flock of c80 Siskin and c10 Lesser Redpoll along the south edge of the Little Broad at Whitlingham this morning.

Not much of interest on the Great Broad, other than the usual little hybrid goose and 92 Pochard.

On Friday I had a Coal Tit in trees near Cow Tower, which appears to be my first 'inner ring road' bird.

Nick Robinson · Feb 9, 2013

The great white egret was on West Earlham marsh this morning, just by the University Village. Flew West towads Tollgate Way bridge. Other highlights were two nice mealy redpoll on the feeders at the East end of UEA Broad giving the other redpolls and siskin a hard time.

Paul Woolnough · Feb 9, 2013

Redpoll species

James Emerson said:
I had a male Mealy Redpoll in with a flock of c80 Siskin and c10 Lesser Redpoll along the south edge of the Little Broad at Whitlingham this morning.

On Jan 22 I had a flock of approx. 11 redpolls by Little Broad including the male mealy. I was unsure if I also had a female mealy with the male or whether the female bird was a lesser.
No one has reported a mealy at Whitlingham again until now. The redpoll flock only stayed briefly when I was there (on 22 Jan).
Am unconvinced mealy and lesser redpoll are two species. I was only happy to claim the male mealy from the few male lessers present.

Green-winged teal and Eurasian teal different species
Today I saw the Breydon green-wing teal. When I arrived the bird was at the front and side on, showing the vertical stripe. When the bird moved it was hard to tell it from the Eurasian teal but the speculum was a different shade of green, observers agreed.
From what I have read, the DNA of green-winged teal and Eurasian teal is more distinctive than that between mealy and lesser redpoll.
Perhaps the distribution of the two teal species has something to do with the genetic differences.

James Emerson · Feb 9, 2013

Sounds very like today. I went back after my walk around the Great Broad and all of the Redpolls and most of the Siskin had gone. Presumably there is a large 'superflock' that divides into smaller groups and feeds in different places, including Carey's Meadow and Thorpe areas. I had side by side views of the Mealy and a Lesser for comparison.

Paul Woolnough said:
On Jan 22 I had a flock of approx. 11 redpolls by Little Broad including the male mealy. I was unsure if I also had a female mealy with the male or whether the female bird was a lesser.
No one has reported a mealy at Whitlingham again until now. The redpoll flock only stayed briefly when I was there (on 22 Jan).
Am unconvinced mealy and lesser redpoll are two species. I was only happy to claim the male mealy from the few male lessers present.

Nick Robinson · Feb 9, 2013

On this subject, last Sunday I had a large flock of siskin on the Yare just up from the A11 bridge towards UEA. There must have been over 300 birds in the stand of alders. Quite a racket and the biggest flock of siskin I've seen in years!

James Emerson · Feb 11, 2013

An excellent start to the day when on my way to work around 7:30 I noticed an adult Shag sat about 10 feet away on a ledge along the wall along the edge of the River Wensum. It appeared to have roosted there judging from the amount of guano! I couldn't think of what the bridge nearby was called, hence 'law courts bridge'. Will attach a photo this evening.

Connor Rand · Feb 11, 2013

Flock of up to 42 Waxwings along Cambridge Street last week (and up to 30 the week before). Finally caught up with a group of 30+ yesterday late afternoon but unfortunately I was on my way out and despite a good search of the area with a camera in hand this morning I've been unable to locate them. I can see their favoured spot from my front door so hopefully they'll return!

Connor Rand · Feb 11, 2013

Now 35 Waxwings on Cambridge Street. Very obliging, pics to follow

sacha · Feb 11, 2013

A friend of mine saw the Shag today.. It's not sounding well.. It hasn't moved and is shaking! I wonder if someone can try and rescue the poor thing

It is apparently on a ledge behind the Art college car park.. On south side of the river near the playhouse
Is that we're you saw it?

I went looking on lunch break bit must have walked past as I didn't see it from N side

Sacha

James Emerson · Feb 11, 2013

That doesn't sound good. No, I saw it just west of Whitefriars bridge (see attached map), so between then and late morning it had moved west through a couple of bridges. It wasn't shaking when I saw it, but as I was quite close (that bit of path has a wall behind it so I couldn't observe from further away) I took a couple of record shots and then left it alone.

On my way home I kept an eye out between Fye Bridge (Magdalen St) and Bishopgate and didn't see it, although from the sound of it, it is more likely to be near New Mills if its still around.

sacha said:
A friend of mine saw the Shag today.. It's not sounding well.. It hasn't moved and is shaking! I wonder if someone can try and rescue the poor thing

It is apparently on a ledge behind the Art college car park.. On south side of the river near the playhouse
Is that we're you saw it?

I went looking on lunch break bit must have walked past as I didn't see it from N side

Sacha

Paul Woolnough · Feb 11, 2013

The shag was by Whitefriars bridge near the law courts, no camera.

Later I had the bird roosting behind Elm Hill off the monastery car park.
Woke up when I looked over the wall. I took a few shots, moving back out of sight between each one, as the bird watched me.

Shaky09 · Feb 11, 2013

Nice picture. I was able to see it this morning. Very obliging to the passer by and cameras

Shaky09 · Feb 11, 2013

I have to say that when I saw it this morning it was diving frequently and seemed to be ok .

sacha · Feb 11, 2013

Shaky09 said:
I have to say that when I saw it this morning it was diving frequently and seemed to be ok .

That's good to hear ... Will be looking for it pre / during lunch break from work round the corner..

Always nice to see something unusual in the city !

Good find James

Shaky09 · Feb 12, 2013

Good luck buddy.
Shaky

sacha · Feb 12, 2013

Shag still there this morning. Can be seen from the car park behind the art college, near Playhouse

Ps Doesn't look ill or weak to me.. Nice glossy plumage

Shaky09 · Feb 12, 2013

Glad u got it mate. As I left for work this morning I was lucky enough to watch 21x waxwings drop on to the telegraph wires in front of me. Superb! I watched as hey took off only to land again on telegraph wires on Gloucester street ,Norwich . They've brighten my day up even if it is overcast out here!

R. Cleverley

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