Norfolk birding (9 Viewers)

[ChrisBish]

I see the Cattle Egret at Strumpshaw has reportedly got a damaged leg. Has anyone seen the bird? Is there anything (else) to suggest it is a different bird to the Branningham (and Cockley Cley!?) bird?

Hi David,

The bird definitely walks with a strong, noticeable limp, so leg is presumably damaged in some way. However, I didn't notice anything plumagewise that suggested it was definitely not the bird I saw on Saturday at Branningham. However, being relatively boring white birds, I probably didn't look as closely as I could have - I spent too long on Saturday trying for dodgy photos with my camera held upto my scope and only stopped briefly yesterday at Strumpshaw as it's a short detour on the way to see my kids!

Sorry I can't be anymore help!

Chris

 

[Andy Musgrove]

Hi All.

Nothing to do with birds here, no doubt somebody will frown upon me for posting where I shouldn't post. Does anybody know if Red Squirrels occur in Norfolk? I have a friend who is convinced he saw 1 today. I have explained about the variation in colour of Greys but he says he is certain he saw a Red.

I would be pleased for to hear your views.

John.

Hi John

Please could you or your friend send further details (i.e. location) to Dave Leech at the BTO, who is the Norfolk mammal recorder. All mammal records are of interest. Email dave dot leech at bto dot org. Thanks.

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell February 26th

Today's highlights

Avocet - 141 on fresh marsh
Ruff - 40 on fresh marsh
Black brant - 1 on grazing marsh in afternoon
Brambling - 1 on feeders in picnic area

Paul

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell February 27th

Today's highlights

Black brant - 1 in field by reserve access road
Avocet - 130 on lagoons
Ruff - 40 on fresh marsh
Med gull - 2 adults on fresh marsh
Brambling - 4 in picnic area
Snow bunting - 8 on brackish marsh
Peregrine - female hunting over saltmarsh

Paul

 

[firstreesjohn]

Sad, but necessary

Immediately I saw the condition of the poor Glaucous Gull at Salthouse today, I realised it should be in care, at the very least. It was in a worse state than last weekend and parts of its drooping left wing were green.

A few 'phone calls later, I was connected with someone from the RSPCA (in Wisbech!), who said she'd try and make it before dusk. She did and, apparently, captured it by the sea. It had actually been IN the car park, earlier.

After examination, it was found that its wing was fractured in three places and, to prevent further suffering, it will be put down.

I am a tad surprised that no-one had thought of this previously.

The welfare of wild creatures should ALWAYS take precedence over our pleasure in them.

 

[ben_lewis]

Lynn area

I've had a few days staying pretty local (kings lynn area) and have been rewarded a few decent birds, for Feb anyway.
Firstly the fact that I didnt know North Wooton marshes existed is pretty criminal as I have been living 5 mins from it for a little while! had a fairly long walk around this area and had 2 ringtail hens 4 marsh harriers, 1 very attractive pale rough legged buzzard and 7 buzzards. I've never seen so many together in North Norfolk before, all 7 were circling each other which was a good sight.

Wolverton- It's produced some monsters! I had 4 goldenish pheasants at dusk on weds, all complete mutants, one male had a complete golden look ie full red and yellow but had a big white collar and red face mask. I wonder how many mutants get ticked or reported to the bird news services? I did have a 'real' male just behind wolverton cliff today, calling and actually visible. Also there GG shrike still, 20+crossbills and many siskin.

Finally Blackborough end tip this afternoon, I'm 98% sure I had a 1st year caspian gull, it looked pretty good- white head, nice neat shawl, long parallel sided dark bill, the overall shape and way it sat in the water suited that species too. No photos unfortunatly. Has anyone else been there recently?
Anyone out birding at the weekend, there seem to be a lot of raptors around at the moment, especially obvious have been the increase in male marsh harriers, so hopefully something else will drift in.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[postcardcv]

The welfare of wild creatures should ALWAYS take precedence over our pleasure in them.

While I do agree with this I do have a slight issue with taking a bird into care in this sort of situation. If a bird is in such a bad state that it is going to be put down as soon as it's taken into care I do think that there is an argument for leaving well alone. The action taken may save the bird an hour or so of suffering (no way of being sure) but it also removes it from the food chain. I'm sure there are plenty of creature around Salthouse that would have happily fed on a dead gull.

 

[Penny Clarke]

Could someone please direct me to where North Wootton Wood or and marshes exactly is please for rough legged buzzards. The marshes go on for miles and miles when I have been there before, is there a particularly good spot to be?

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[firstreesjohn]

Sad, but necessary retiterated

I have already stated my views on the situation.

Below is what bird and animal welfare organisations on two continents say in such cases.

From the RSPB (http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/health/injuredbirds.asp):
"For instance, a bird with an injured leg is probably best left, whilst a wing injury is serious enough to merit capture and treatment."
"An injured bird should always be passed onto a local vet, RSPCA in England and Wales, SSPCA in Scotland, USPCA in Northern Ireland or an independent rescue centre, so it can receive appropriate treatment without undue delay."

From the BTO's "birdwatchers' code" (http://www.bto.org/notices/birdwatchers_code/intro.htm):
"the birds’ interests should always come first."

From the American Birding Association Code of Ethics PRINCIPLES OF BIRDING ETHICS
(http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html):
"the welfare of the birds . . . comes first."

From the RSPCA: "An injured bird will need veterinary assistance and then care by someone who is experienced . . "
(http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Sat...0179&previousPage=1114778749280#1112958902413)

 

[ben_lewis]

Penny, North Wooton marshes can be accessed on foot from west norfolk rugby club (follow sisns WNRC) -TF 639 248, or by car, the best spot to view is from TF 628 248. By car you get quite distant views but you get a wider view to scan. The bird is mainly south west of wolverton wood but its impossible to view from the east as far as i can tell.

Ben

 

[jimbob]

Hi guys, not strictly bird news, but thought I would give the thread a heads up on some stand up comedy coming to norfolk.

Alex Horne is bringing his birdwatching watching tour to norfolk. Two dates, one at Norwich arts centre and one over in Kings Lynn. In a nutshell, his dad is a keen twitcher and Alex decided to join him on a big year.

http://www.alexhorne.com/shows.php?show=3

A friend has seen him and really enjoyed it, I have booked my tickets. Details on the website.

Cheers,
Jim.

 

[ChrisBish]

The welfare of wild creatures should ALWAYS take precedence over our pleasure in them.

I don't feel postcardcv was disagreeing with this point, I feel s/he was merely pointing out that, in this case, surely the bird being taken into care simply to be put down straight away goes against natural balance by removing it from the food chain. (Survival of the fittest and all that)

The view of the RSPB and RSPCA implies trying to help the bird, in which case, is 'humane' death really of overall natural benefit? Obviously if the bird could be rehabilitated I don't think any argument would've been raised - we'd all agree it was in the bird's best interests.

Finally, I feel the implication in the BOU statment, and that of their American counterparts, is to ensure the welfare of the bird is protected, which in this case would mean keeping a sensible distance and not causing the bird undue stress through observation.

In conclusion, while human interference may be kind, it isn't necessarily nature's way.

Chris

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell February 28th

Today's highlights

White fronted goose - 13 NW over reserve @ 08:30
Brambling - 7 feeding in picnic area
Stonechat - 4 on saltmarsh
Avocet - 187 on lagoons
Spotted redshank - 7 on fresh marsh
Ruff - 68 on fresh marsh
Med gull - 1 on fresh marsh early afternoon
Scaup - female offshore until 08:45 only
Red necked grebe - 1 offshore
Snow bunting - 20 on beach

Paul

 

[firstreesjohn]

And God . . said, ". . have dominion over . . the birds of the air . . "

In the Judaeo-Christian model, I prefer to understand this as enlightened stewardship, rather than mastery. Although we are, as other animals, sentient beings, we are also more than that. We have consciences and, thus, inhabit a more or less moral world and adhere to various ethical codes.

"Nature, red in tooth and claw," does not mean that we abdicate this responsibility, when we can exercise it. Therefore, rather than allow another creature to continue to suffer unnecessarily, I asked people professional in this field to use their judgment. That the outcome was as described to me by the RSPCA officer, seems to be more than a justification of my decision.

 

[firstreesjohn]

Put out the bunting(s) for the stunning chats?

Today, it seems, there was a small fall of Stonechats on the north coast. I heard of 5 around West Runton and a similar number in the Weybourne area.

I saw 3 or 4 on Gramborough Hill and another (see photo) on the Little Eye (both Salthouse).

Just west of the beach car park here, 2 Snow Buntings continued to be most confiding- presumably habituated by people scattering seed.

 

[nigelt]

In the Judaeo-Christian model, I prefer to understand this as enlightened stewardship, rather than mastery. Although we are, as other animals, sentient beings, we are also more than that. We have consciences and, thus, inhabit a more or less moral world and adhere to various ethical codes.

"Nature, red in tooth and claw," does not mean that we abdicate this responsibility, when we can exercise it. Therefore, rather than allow another creature to continue to suffer unnecessarily, I asked people professional in this field to use their judgment. That the outcome was as described to me by the RSPCA officer, seems to be more than a justification of my decision.

I quite agree. I don't think the loss of the body of one dead gull would have seriously impacted on the wellbeing of any of the other wildlife of Salthouse.

 

[Penny Clarke]

Penny, North Wooton marshes can be accessed on foot from west norfolk rugby club (follow sisns WNRC) -TF 639 248, or by car, the best spot to view is from TF 628 248. By car you get quite distant views but you get a wider view to scan. The bird is mainly south west of wolverton wood but its impossible to view from the east as far as i can tell.

Ben

Thank you very much Ben:t:

 

[Penny Clarke]

Did not get out until lunchtime today - still recovering from two Strumpshaw trips last weekend and a heavy week of work.

Arrived Wolverton Clifftop to see more birders than dog walkers (makes a refreshing change!) including Eddie M. all the way from Cley! Did not see Rough Legged Buzzard - my fault for not getting up earlier, but had stunning views of a male Crossbill (1pm) sitting at top of pine close to cliff and another later. Connor and Simeon then arrived aswell and we walked down the steps to the pond area and had fantastic views of the Great Grey Shrike. The most fascinating thing happened - a birder in front of us said he had watched the shrike impale a lizard on the tree half way up the slope - I thought that rather odd.... bit early for a lizard, so I climbed up the slope to investigate and impaled directly through its throat:eek!: was a Common Newt!!!!!!! I have never seen this before and took some gory pictures of it!!!!! I noticed the shrike was going back and forth to the pond area, so is obviously emptying the pond of newts! Lots of Meadow Pipits flying about and a few Siskins flying through and a nice male Stonechat. Also 2 Common Buzzards and 1 sparrowhawk and also 1 barn owl distantly over Snettisham RSPB sharply spotted by Simeon.

Back at carpark an awful snotty woman with dog was most put out when she read the sign on the gate saying dogs must be on leads and loudly said 's*d it'..... I asked her what was wrong and she said something like 'can't walk your dogs now' and I said 'you can with them on a lead'.... 'exactly, it means you can't walk your dogs here now'... I then went on to mention nesting/disturbing birds and she said there aren't any birds there, bla bla bla and that there were more birds there before English Nature took over, I then mentioned that there were nesting birds there etc etc and she carried on cursing and grumbling, slammed car with dog in and drove off!!!! (good ridance) What she actually mean't was that before English Nature took over it mean't all dog owners could run riot everywhere out of control and somewhere to p** without anyone saying anything!!!

Left here and after collecting bird seed in a shop for parents, then went on to Ringstead Downs with P. in the semi dusk, but only heard a Tawny Owl and saw a few long tailed tits.

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[ChrisBish]

Therefore, rather than allow another creature to continue to suffer unnecessarily, I asked people professional in this field to use their judgment. That the outcome was as described to me by the RSPCA officer, seems to be more than a justification of my decision.

I wasn't disagreeing with your decision or asking for justification, personal opinion is important and you acted accordingly, while the reaction of the RSPCA was inevitable given their focus. I was merely pointing out that a case can be made for letting nature take its course, if that be the decision of others.

Chris

 

[Geoff Pain]

Coming down on Friday for a long weekend,can anybody direct me to Wolverton Clifftop thanks.