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Norfolk birding (32 Viewers)

Norfolk birder. I wonder who you are? As you suggest, one of the usual suspects no doubt;) Good that you do not seek to defend a building that would be better suited to a urban sprawl than the North Norfolk coast. As for raptor politics the picture you present is a rosy one, which is not that accurate. You are effectively making the argument that we have to accept that birds of prey will be controlled where there are shooting interests, so Hen Harriers have no chance to recover. Not bashing either the RSPB or the wildlife trust. I would suggest that comparing NE in the same breath as the other two organisations is not borne out by recent evidence. As for defending those disturbing breeding birds of prey to take pictures, I am not doing that either. They is of course another solution to all the worlds problems: Socialism;)
 
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Titchwell Parrinder Hide

Hi all,

I know that the hide is liked by many and it attracts new people to birding and therefore brings in money for the RSPB which they can spend on conservation, etc.

That's brilliant and I applaud it.

But I see no reason why all that can't be done without completely changing the appearance and feel of a wild place (and yes, I know the whole place is man made but, despite that, it used to feel wild and now it doesn't and that is what I object to).

Best wishes
BS
 
Mark not sure where I said killing raptors was acceptable, perhaps I did not make it clear in my post, I think the killing of any raptors is totally unacceptable and those that undertake it should be prosecuted and locked up. The Hen Harrier situation is tragic and could be dealt with by the government if they had the will or the wish to do so, prosecute the landowner as well as the offender.

Locally the picture is quite rosy for raptors, hardly a day goes past without seeing a Red Kite, 30 years ago Common Buzzards were rare now they are everywhere, Peregrines now breed and Hobbies have increased.

The recent license to destroy Common Buzard nests issued by NE was scandelous and sets a dangerous precedent. But NE is a large organisation and I am know that most of those who work for NE did not support the decision and were appalled. NE do some great work on sites along the North Norfolk Coast, Broads, Brecks and North West Norfolk, they just don't shout about it. Perhaps you do not live in Norfolk and are not aware of this.

And no I am not one of the usual suspects, I have been birding and living in Norfolk for over 40 years (now retired), this is the first time I ever posted anything on here, and like many birders in Norfolk are fed up with your endless post which seem to contirbute nothing to Norfolk birding.
 
Hi

I've been reading this thread with interest. Particularly on the subject of hides and facilities for birders. As someone who has recently moved to Norfolk from the Republic of Ireland I would respectfully say this........you don't know how good you have it!
In Ireland there are no facilities like Cley or Titchwell. The closest thing is the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, Tacumshin has absolutely nothing at all, Ballyvergan in Cork has a hide that is locked up because of vandals, there are no hides or visitor centers at spots like Ballycotton or Mizen Head either. Birdwatch Ireland has, I think, 10,000 members. Norfolk Wildlife Trust has 35,000 I believe and RSPB, 1 million plus. The choice and quality of reserves here is amazing, I bet BWI would give their left arm for a fraction of the RSPB or NWT budget. Granted there are a lot more birders here, a decent sized twitch in Ireland could be more than ten birders and you'd know them all. That has its good and bad points. Organisations like RSPB and NWT have significantly raised the awareness of conversation and highlighted the needs of birds, its a far tougher job for BWI, birds and birding doesn't have the same profile or attraction in Ireland as it does in the UK.
Just my thoughts on the subject.

Best regards

Graham Clarke

http://grahamsphoto.blogspot.co.uk/
 
Norfolk Birder 1950 said:
Mark not sure were in the post I said that killing of any raptors is acceptable, perhaps I did not make it clear, the persecution of any raptors is totally unacceptable and those that do it should be locked up and not just fined or given community service. Perhaps as well as prosecuting the offender, landowners should be also be prosecuted if it happens on their land.

The raptor picture in Norfolk is rosy, I now see Red Kites daily, Common Buzzards are now common across the county, Peregrines now breed, Marsh Harrier are increasing every year and more Hobby's now breed in the county than ever before.

In Norfolk NE do a great job along the North coast, broads, brecks and north west Norfolk they just do not shout about it. Perhaps you do not live in Norfolk and are not aware of this.

No I am not one of the usual suspects, I have lived and been birding in Norfolk for over 40 years (now retired), these are the first posts I have ever made and probably the last, and decided that some of the recent posts especially some of yours needed responding to. I like many of the Norfolk birders I know, do not undertsand why you continuosly post things on here which contribute nothing to Norfolk birding.
Click to expand...

Well said, thanks Norfolk Birder
 
Welcome to birdforum Norfolk birder 1950. I noticed you joined today. Good that we agree on most of the key issues that you refer to in your post. If you are interested in raptor politics, have a read of the Northern raptor group. The stuff on Bowland is very interesting if not a little sad. Great to see Marsh Harriers a Red Kites doing so well. Regards.
 
There is not a single hide in Norfolk that is perfect for all. But I will say this, all of these hides allow us to see amazing birds and habitat provided and managed by the wealth of wildlife organisations we have in this county that I am very proud of and all the work that everyone does. We are very lucky indeed to live in and be a part of this rich county and to share this with visiting birders:t:

Penny:girl:
 
Much has been said regarding this year's sadly lost Montagu's Harrier nest, but no-one has mentioned one potentially very important point that I often hear spoken of, with regard to this year and to many previous years. Why is this, I wonder? Maybe it is just not true? Or is it too sensitive to dare criticise 'the RSPB' in the field? It goes like this:

Seemingly, every year 'the RSPB' enter the fields and visit the nests of these birds to count their eggs. And then they act surprised when, time after time, a fox follows their trail through the field to the nest. Will 'the RSPB' never learn? Why do 'they' think there is any benefit in visiting the nest at all? In doing so, they are doing far far more damage than any number of birdwatchers (or even photographers) just watching from a discreet distance. It is said that there were three eggs in this year's nest. How did they know that if they didn't make a predator trail to the nest?

So, is this outrageous repeated stupidity, or is there a very good reason for it that I cannot think of, or is it just not true at all? If it is true, shouldn't someone at RSPB head office get these nest visits banned?
 
Hirundapus - I can assure you that visits to Montagu's harrier nests are the exception rather than the norm. Typically, nests are only visited to ring chicks or occasionally to remove them from the nest temporarily for safekeeping if the field is being harvested before the chicks have fledged. Sometimes it is necessary to go in after periods of strong wind and/or heavy rain in order to clear away crops that can collapse over the nest - nests have failed in the past due to crop collapse.

Hopefully this answers your question but if not, please come back to me.

Rob

Hirundapus said:
Much has been said regarding this year's sadly lost Montagu's Harrier nest, but no-one has mentioned one potentially very important point that I often hear spoken of, with regard to this year and to many previous years. Why is this, I wonder? Maybe it is just not true? Or is it too sensitive to dare criticise 'the RSPB' in the field? It goes like this:

Seemingly, every year 'the RSPB' enter the fields and visit the nests of these birds to count their eggs. And then they act surprised when, time after time, a fox follows their trail through the field to the nest. Will 'the RSPB' never learn? Why do 'they' think there is any benefit in visiting the nest at all? In doing so, they are doing far far more damage than any number of birdwatchers (or even photographers) just watching from a discreet distance. It is said that there were three eggs in this year's nest. How did they know that if they didn't make a predator trail to the nest?

So, is this outrageous repeated stupidity, or is there a very good reason for it that I cannot think of, or is it just not true at all? If it is true, shouldn't someone at RSPB head office get these nest visits banned?
Click to expand...
 
Hirundapus said:
Much has been said regarding this year's sadly lost Montagu's Harrier nest, but no-one has mentioned one potentially very important point that I often hear spoken of, with regard to this year and to many previous years. Why is this, I wonder? Maybe it is just not true? Or is it too sensitive to dare criticise 'the RSPB' in the field? It goes like this:

Seemingly, every year 'the RSPB' enter the fields and visit the nests of these birds to count their eggs. And then they act surprised when, time after time, a fox follows their trail through the field to the nest. Will 'the RSPB' never learn? Why do 'they' think there is any benefit in visiting the nest at all? In doing so, they are doing far far more damage than any number of birdwatchers (or even photographers) just watching from a discreet distance. It is said that there were three eggs in this year's nest. How did they know that if they didn't make a predator trail to the nest?

So, is this outrageous repeated stupidity, or is there a very good reason for it that I cannot think of, or is it just not true at all? If it is true, shouldn't someone at RSPB head office get these nest visits banned?
Click to expand...

Talking to somebody a long time ago who helped protect Monty`s nests in the New Forest, I was told that if anyone checked the nest site they covered their tracks with a spray to prevent predators following their scent.

John

www.kellingnature.zenfolio.com
 
Thank you, Rob. That at least partially relieves my concerns. Were there 3 eggs this year? Was this year's nest lost to a predator after an RSPB visit as is rumoured again? I was not aware of any strong winds or heavy rain having occurred.... Personally, I'd rather the young were not ringed either.
 
Titchwell June 11th

Today's highlights

Little gull - 3 1st summer on fresh marsh
Spotted redshank - 1 on fresh marsh
Wigeon - 2 drakes on fresh marsh
Bittern - regular feeding flights over reedbed
Hobby - 1 west

Paul
 
Satellite tagged cuckoo
Fairly uneventful walk from Horsey Gap to Winterton today but did see cuckoo with satellite tag just south of Nelson's Head track. Anyone from BTO care to comment on whether one of last year's survivors or one of the 'new kids on the block'.
Apart from a couple of distant cranes very little else but did get best ever views of Chinese Water Deer - photo attached.

Mick
 

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I was at Horsey several nights last week and there was a Chinese Water Deer on and off in the fields between Brograve mill and the woods around the hall. Also saw a fox with a couple of cubs on Thursday as well.
 
I hate to get involved here on the RSPB debate and the hide at Tichwell as I'm not in Norfolk but I found the link below and thought I'd share it, check out the paragraph full of B*****Ks about the design influences, funniest read I've had for ages (you have to smile at it surely even if you like the design!).
Incidentally I think the hide is a design disaster as do many others who have spoken of it to me (Doctor Evils bunker is mentioned a lot!)... I have a husband in the business and he just laughed the first time he saw it, then worried at the way it impacted on the area... incidentally the RIBA gave it an award (tells me all I need to know;))...

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environ...eserve_scoops_award_for_its_new_hide_1_899406

I do wonder though reading this thread over the last few pages that in some eyes the RSPB can do no wrong.... it can and does, and its our place to criticize if we feel we need to.

Our conservation bodies undoubtedly do sterling work but I fear sometimes the "Fluffy Bunny" approach on shiny reserves (and on programs like Springwatch etc) is projecting the wrong image, I have heard a lot of public comments recently that its nice everything is clearly getting so much better what with the RSPB and the like owning all these reserve etc, "Wildlife belongs on reserves anyway" is the impression I get! A quote recently from a meeting my ecologist other half was in, "we don't want dirty wildlife here". Somewhere the message is getting lost....................

Steph'
 

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