[Penny Clarke]

Originally Posted by Reader

Jeez that's frightening. The sheer scale of what is being projected is beyond belief.

I wonder what Tim thinks, as he will be one of those affected if it comes to fruition.

John

It certainly is frightening - 6 villages and MAJOR birding hotspots etc etc!!!

[Penny Clarke]

John has some lovely shots that he took today of the Minsmere Bluethroat here:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....104224&page=12

[David Norgate]

My first Little Ringed Plover today, in the Wensum Valley, also Green Sandpiper still there. (managed a littorus Rock Pipit there in the week, my first in the area). Spaham had one Sand Martin, but little else. Best find of the day was a White Wagtail in the valley (with a second bird identified later). If I had found it on the coast I would have just said, 'nice white wagtail,' however, this far inland it took me ages to convince myself!!

[On-Firecrest]

Originally Posted by Penny Clarke

Walked round Walsey Hills - 1 Cettis Warbler singing, snipe drumming, an Adder basking on bank with his red eye glinting in the sunshine! Several blue tits, great tits and chaffinches in the scrub, a large flock of yellow hammers, greenfinches and linnets round the back fields. Meadow pipits and skylarks, several blackbirds and robins. Along the back ridge a long tailed tit, marsh harrier, a 2nd Cettis Warbler and 2 red leg partridge in bottom field.

Hi Penny, i've never been to Walsey hills before, are Adders easy to see/regular there? If they are it sounds easier then trying to get lucky in Thetford forest...

A brief mid day/afternoon out today around kelling with my dad produced fantastic views of the Great grey Shrike and Steam train which set fire to the embankment! pictures and a proper trip report, as always, on my blog.

cheers
steve

[matt green]

Thought this might be of interest to some Norfolkeans!!

I was recently contacted by Collin Penny who has recently revised his website for the Buxton Heath Wildlife Group, part of the site is still in construction but it will be interesting to se the species records from previous years. Looks to be great little site for plants, insects and reptiles as well as for birds!....anyone been there?

http://www.freewebs.com/buxtonheath/

Matt

[Penny Clarke]

Originally Posted by On-Firecrest

Hi Penny, i've never been to Walsey hills before, are Adders easy to see/regular there? If they are it sounds easier then trying to get lucky in Thetford forest...

A brief mid day/afternoon out today around kelling with my dad produced fantastic views of the Great grey Shrike and Steam train which set fire to the embankment! pictures and a proper trip report, as always, on my blog.

cheers
steve

Hi Steve

Yes Walsey is an excellent site for adders, not a place to walk about with sandals!!! One of the best times to see them at Walsey is just after the sun first warms up. They tend to go back in under cover when it gets too hot. If you ask the warden at Walsey Hills he will be able to give you directions/more info when you get there.

Best Wishes Penny

[On-Firecrest]

Originally Posted by Penny Clarke

Hi Steve

Yes Walsey is an excellent site for adders, not a place to walk about with sandals!!! One of the best times to see them at Walsey is just after the sun first warms up. They tend to go back in under cover when it gets too hot. If you ask the warden at Walsey Hills he will be able to give you directions/more info when you get there.

Best Wishes Penny

Thank you very much Penny
cheers
steve

[Zenzero]

Hi,
I was staying in Burnham Market recently and noticed a few Tree Sparrows in the hedges along the minor road going south from the village (Beacon Hill Road). Not sure how many there are as they were quite elusive.
Nice for me, but maybe not so interesting for you.

[J Moss]

I came across a couple here earlier this year, after searching hard for this species elsewhere. They are pretty hard to come across in Norfolk nowadays, with only a few reliable sites, so it was nice for me too!

Jason

[Penny Clarke]

I see on Birdguides my firecrest is still at Walsey Hills

My mother had 2 sandmartins going west early this morning at Holme and I have just noticed on the NOA website they also had two, maybe the same ones and also a wheatear in the dunes.

Whinchat at Cley - I see also.

Been working all day

Lighter in the evenings now - birding after work

[Frootshoot]

What fantastic weather today! Got dragged away from the coast today but enjoyed a lovely walk around Ludham and How Hill. A male Marsh Harrier was 'rollercoasting' to impress his mate, a couple of Cettis gave bursts of song and up to 6 Chiffchaffs were singing their hearts out. Couple of sightings of Common Buzzard too; one distantly over Catfield, the other (possibly the same) over the Neatishead area. Had a brief flyover flock of thrushes too, well over 100 I'd guess, but views were too brief to count species ratios. There's also a large flock of Goldies between Catfield and Ludham estimated at 500+.

On the butterfly front, 4 sightings of Brimstone, a similar number of Tortoiseshell and a Comma...

Regarding the coastal flooding of Tim's garden, if Natural England are planning new seawalls inland, why the f*** can't they build them on the present coast?!?!

James

[David Norgate]

All Day Birding 30th March
Long Post, So Please Ignore if you Like!

6.30 am Purposely left house as first light was developing, in the hope of Owls on the drive.
The 1st Barn Owl was seen at Hoe Rough, then north of Beetley, south of Sennoe and south of Guist, a regular bird at Wood Norton and another at Holt. 37 species were seen on the drive to Salthouse, with another 10 before I parked up in the Beach car park.

7.30 left the car to walk round Gramborough Hill and then returned west to the Little Eye. Another 15 species were added, including a Marsh Harrier that flew NW out to sea then along the coast and a wonderful Kingfisher perched on fence posts by the hill. There were many Meadow Pipits and Woodpigeon flying west, with a smaller number of finches. However, only a single Chiffchaff and leftover Stonechat were evident migrants on the ground.

I decided to add a few ‘pager’ birds to the list and at 8.10 parked up by Walsey Hill. Here I found a drake Ruddy Duck on Snipes Marsh (although I put the wrong place name out on the pager!) A quick walk round Walsey only produced a Siskin over. Then down to the east bank, where the three Shorelark were located after a little searching.

So next stop was the Beach Car park. A brief scan of the Brent Goose flock along the Beach road produced both the Black Brant and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. 2 + male Wheatear were in the corner of the Eye Field (although they soon disappeared). While waiting for the Lapland Buntings (interestingly 2 males, whereas the last 2 birds I saw at Salthouse included a female) 6 Snow Bunting appeared, including 1 cracking male. As I was about to make my way back to the car, 2 Whimbrel flew west offshore. This made me linger a while and was rewarded with 1 (possibly 2) Swallow, also moving west. (Other birds reported in the area were Yellow Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, White Wagtails and more Wheatears.)

I had now reached 83 species and decided that some birding was in order away from the crowds. I decided to walk down to Kelling Quags, but was rewarded with only a single Common Buzzard of note. Moved onto Kelling Heath, where the Great Grey Shrike was seen very well (eventually), as well as other expected heathland birds.

The (Penny’s) Firecrest was reported again from Walsey Hill, so I returned and had cracking views, where also a singing Blackcap was present. 2 Sandwich Terns (and Tim Allwood) was also noted from here and my days total had reached 94.

Couldn’t decide what to do next, I wanted to try and get the day total over a hundred, so finally thought that a slow drive down the coast to end the day at Titchwell was in order. A single Darn Owl was seen coming out of Wells, with stop offs at Holkham Park and the Freshmarsh (where 2 more Barn Owls were seen) increased the total, although Stiffkey, Brancaster Staithe and the Burnham produced little.

Finally arrived at Titchwell at 5.10 pm. A male Brambling was on the feeders, with 5 seen later on the Fen Trail (where a Willow Warbler had been singing, but not when I was there). A number of waders I had not yet seen were noted, as well as birds on the sea. The female Hen Harrier was seen, as were 3 Lesser Redpoll. The sea was the proverbial millpond and had me transfixed for an hour. Highlight here was a superb male Long-tailed Duck. Evening was drawing on (I meant to leave Titchwell earlier to continue my Barn Owl count, but couldn’t tear myself away. Amazingly I did not see any more Barn Owls on the way home, but did see one of the Chosely Little Owls briefly – the last ‘bird’ of the day. Arrived Home at 8.50

Final Totals: 14hours 20min out
115 species
3 year ticks
10 Barn Owls!

[kittykat23uk]

Yesterday a walk in the afternoon along Mariotts way from Marl Pit Lane up past Gunton Lane and out along some fields provided a barn owl hunting at about 3pm, two Gt Spotted woodpeckers, two green woodpeckers, stock doves, skylarks singing, one Cettis warbler heard at the rvier by the entrance to Gunton Lane, but no sign of the grey wags seen ion the blizzard the other day. Chiffchaffs singing along with commoner fare.

[Connor Rand]

Glaucous Gull at Gorleston and 3 singing male Firecrests in the Brecks the main highlights today, having been in east Suffolk during the morning and early afternoon.

(For Suffolk sightings please see the Suffolk thread).

For a full trip report of the day (and a pic of the Glaucous) please visit my website...

Connor

[Connor Rand]

Just been caught out by an April Fool about a Great-spotted Cuckoo at a North Norfolk nature reserve. As normal when I get a text about a stunning rarity like this I fly off the handle and had my lift organised in a record breaking three minutes. Fortunately I realised what day it was just in time and had my suspcisions comfirmed a short time later!!!! Good one, you really got me there <insert name of prominent BF member>. He he! Also fooled the warden apparantly. Ouch!

Connor

[Clive Watson]

Originally Posted by Connor Rand

Just been caught out by an April Fool about a Great-spotted Cuckoo at a North Norfolk nature reserve. As normal when I get a text about a stunning rarity like this I fly off the handle and had my lift organised in a record breaking three minutes. Fortunately I realised what day it was just in time and had my suspcisions comfirmed a short time later!!!! Good one, you really got me there <insert name of prominent BF member and associate>. He he!

Connor

Ah, but is it you who found the GSC and us who are all being the April Fools by not going for it?

[John Hague]

Are Golden Pheasant being seen at Wayland Wood anymore and if so where is the best spot/strategy for seeing them now?

I went last year and the wood has been seriously coppiced with no sight or sound of any Goldies. I have heard they're not being seen in the wood. How true is this?

Cheers

John

[Karl J]

don't actually know which side of the border this is on (possibly both ?) so reckon its worth
dropping into both threads, but 3 sp. owl (Little, Barn & SEO) in the Somerleyton Hall / Lound waterworks area yesterday morning

[Connor Rand]

Originally Posted by Jack Haggis

Are Golden Pheasant being seen at Wayland Wood anymore and if so where is the best spot/strategy for seeing them now?

I went last year and the wood has been seriously coppiced with no sight or sound of any Goldies. I have heard they're not being seen in the wood. How true is this?

Cheers

John

I believe Golden Pheasants are extinct at this site (and havent been seen since early last year or earlier).

Connor

[John Hague]

Originally Posted by Connor Rand

I believe Golden Pheasants are extinct at this site (and havent been seen since early last year or earlier).

Connor

That's something like we'd been told. A bit reckless of the NWT to coppice the wood so savagely especially as they used to use the fact that the Goldies were there as a major reason to visit the wood.

I used to be an NWT member but I'm not a happy bunny with a lot of their 'management' work.

John

[Songkhran]

Some hefty hours raptor-watching paid off on Sunday with one Red Kite gliding straight over our heads, also over the course of two days and around six hours produced

Buzzard 1W, + lingering bird
Marsh Harrier 6W
Peregrine 1 inland
Kestrel pair resident
Sparrowhawk 4-5 pairs - quite a bit of displaying
Harris's Hawk 1W

Sand Martin 5W

already hooked on this relaxing and patient form of birding.

The patch produced the first flushes of spring migration with Chiffy, Wheatear and returning Purple Sand and 2 Rock Pipits - one bird showing characteristics of Scandanavian race.

Big clearout now with all the Wheatears having left on Sunday night, but many Chiffys now singing on Beeston Common.

IN regard to proposed flooding of the broads, it was 1 proposal out of five that English Nature were considering - ok they shouldn't be considering it all, but it does seem it was a bit of a case of the press taking it out of proportion - cannot see it happening.

[Jabberwocky]

Originally Posted by Jack Haggis

That's something like we'd been told. A bit reckless of the NWT to coppice the wood so savagely especially as they used to use the fact that the Goldies were there as a major reason to visit the wood.

I used to be an NWT member but I'm not a happy bunny with a lot of their 'management' work.

John

I am local to Wayland Wood and haven't seen any golden pheasants there for a couple of years.
I'm not sure that NWT are totally to blame though, as more often than not there are dog walkers there when I go. Some are not even on leads. The dogs I mean!
Maybe the NO DOGS sign should be bigger.

[Reader]

I used to always go there for my yearly Goldies until 2001. When I got there that year I couldn't believe just how much they had coppiced. Needless to say I didn't see any that year.

I persevered the next two years and saw one each your but from 2005 onwards nothing, not even a call.

With that much coppicing it didn't leave enough undergrowth for the Pheasants to hide in, except relatively close to the car park where they were subject to disturbance.

I firmly put down the loss of these birds to over coppicing of this ancient woodland and even now I can't understand why they went so far with it.

John

Originally Posted by Connor Rand

I believe Golden Pheasants are extinct at this site (and havent been seen since early last year or earlier).

Connor

[Penny Clarke]

Originally Posted by Connor Rand

Just been caught out by an April Fool about a Great-spotted Cuckoo at a North Norfolk nature reserve. As normal when I get a text about a stunning rarity like this I fly off the handle and had my lift organised in a record breaking three minutes. Fortunately I realised what day it was just in time and had my suspcisions comfirmed a short time later!!!! Good one, you really got me there <insert name of prominent BF member>. He he! Also fooled the warden apparantly. Ouch!

Connor

Hi Connor


Went out birding this evening (will post bird news in a minute), fell asleep until now, Pete just rang and I didn't realise you actually rang him!!!!!!!!! Nice one Just to explain to everyone else, I sent Connor a text this morning which read 'Great Spotted Cuckoo at Walsey phone Pete for details on 0000000000 Best W Penny' (Pete is the Vol. Warden at Walsey)

Sorry Connor I couldn't resist, I got several people this morning with that - the most fun I have had for a long time!!!!!! First I phoned Andy W. at work - he fell for it and I can't repeat what he said on here. Next up was Pete S. who I woke up and he got mega excited!!!!. Next up was my father who also believed me and my mother in the background was getting very excited 'A great spotted cuckoo - whereeeeeee?'. Hmmmmm who else can I get, ahhhh young Connor. Sent a text to Jed too - ran out of time after that. I did all this while I was waiting to unload my van at the loading bay at Norwich hospital. My story to Andy and Pete and my father went something like this: 'guess what, on my way to Norwich just now I am sure I saw a great spotted cuckoo in a tree, I stopped the van and parked up.... it was just sitting there, really long tail, dark brown, yellow on it near tail - can't believe it.........

[Selsey Birder]

Penny,

Who's a naughty girl?

I can already hear the retaliation from here