Norfolk birding (12 Viewers)

[firstreesjohn]

Can I ask what ISO, shutter speed and aperture you were on for that Chiffchaff shot?

Yes: ISO 100; 1/125 ; f 5.2

As I drove east through Cley, late yesterday a’noon, I passed a sodden (please note spelling) cyclist heading west. It was Josh, who must have just finished sea-watching and wasn’t looking a happy bunny; but, then, I’ve never seen a rabbit on a bike, so don’t have much to go on. At least he had a bike. I can’t imagine why he was looking so dispirited, having notched up 48 different skua species in one day in British waters.

I feel no shame about not having seen Redwing yet; in fact, the numbness of constantly seeing nothing pervades me to the depths of my very soul. Then, we are both greedy and lucky in Norfolk.

I took some HD video yesterday, in drizzle, under grey skies and the trees in Wells Woods, as practice for the mega Sibe: stunning.

 

[Tarsiger]

Any chance of seeing the HD video as I may be interested in this camera?

Russ

 

[tea4two]

I hope Phil knows the Sculthorpe Golden Pheasants are not part of any self-sustaining feral population so wouldn't qualify for ticking any more than an escaped budgie.

But while we're talking about escaped (or deliberately released) birds, does anyone know if the Eagle Owl at Hunstanton is still knocking around?

Hi i saw it regular on the way to hunstanton a few weeks back but seems to have disappeared would be nice to know if it has been captured rather than killed does anyone know what has happened to it please? such a beautiful bird.

 

[firstreesjohn]

Any chance of seeing the HD video as I may be interested in this camera?

Russ

Russ: I’m afraid I can’t post such a hi-res video, neither can I send it via email. Take my word for it; the FZ38 was good enough, giving good vid of Eared Pitta, Dark-sided Thrush and such like in very low light forest in Thailand. This is streets better.

At least I saw a few Redwings today- at Walsey Hills NOA and Gramboro’. Also, Fieldfare at the latter site.

A few more practice shots with the new machine. Both handheld, in windy conditions.

Dunlin: ISO 100; 1/1000; f 5.2; cropped, sharpened & otherwise edited.

Darter: ISO 100; 1/320; f 5.2; sharpened & otherwise edited.

 

[Penny Clarke]

First Fieldfare and Redwings today, 2 Velvet Scoters plus news of a possible BLUE ROCK THRUSH!!!!!!!

See blog for full account.

Penny

 

[Norfolk Birder]

Could it have possibly have been a Whistling Thrush?

 

[firstreesjohn]

Could it have possibly have been a Whistling Thrush?

More like 'whistling in the wind', today !

Do you suppose it accompanied the Mugimaki (in Italy) part of the way ?

May this be yet another of my unwise decisions, this autumn.

 

[Penny Clarke]

Could it have possibly have been a Whistling Thrush?

No idea - who knows!!! But might well pay the gardens a visit when they are next open!

Penny

 

[Paul Eele]

Thought I would have a look off Titchwell this morning in the hope of bagging a few skuas left over from yesterday. Unfortunatly the cupboard was bare (on the skua front) but it was interesting all the same.
Large numbers of wildfowl were moving west with the following totals between 10:30 and 12:00.

Wigeon - 890
Teal - 416
Brent goose - 298
Common scoter - 101
Pintail - 33
RB merganser - 22
Goldeneye - 2
Velvet scoter - 1
Pochard - 4
Tufted duck - 12
Avocet - 3
Grey heron - 6 !
Arctic skua - 1
Great skua - 1

Snipe - 19 west over the carpark along with 1 fieldfare and 40 redwing.

 

[Stratton Birder]

Thanks for the comprehensive sea-watch account Paul. I was at Cley today and like yourself I only noted the lack of skuas passing (just two Arctics) and not a sniff of a shearwater which was a bit disappointing.
However, there were some good moments and an impressive movement of wildfowl, and to show a good comparison between both ends of the coast, here's a rundown of my sightings, mostly an all day account but with a couple of breaks in between.
All flying west - Brent Goose 980, Greylag Goose 1, Shelduck 122, Wigeon 870, Mallard 8, Teal 235, Pintail 13 (one leucistic) Pochard 10, Common Scoter 85, Velvet 1, Merg 18, Gannet 2000, RT Diver 25, Grey Heron 10 (my best ever single day count ) Sanderling 1, Dunlin 50, Knot 70, Snipe 3, Sandwich Tern 1.
In off sightings included 3 Lapwings, 75 Skylarks and 40 Redwings.
A special mention must be made of the decent Rock Pipit westerly movement along the shingle bank which reached a max of 15 (eight passed together at one point) + another 7 together on the Eye Field.
Away from the immediate coast there were a few Redwings, one Brambling and one Fieldfare at Walsey Hills.

 

[rob lee]

Dont wish to labour the point but todays wildfowl movement really was excellent & given the lack of passerine migrants to date so far , thinks its worth a few posts before we descend back in to bitching & nonsenscicle whimsy. Probably due to the lack of seabird news coming out of Sheringham yesterday p.m. there were only the 5 of us in the shelter this morning to witness the event. Once the rain had eased & gave views further out it could be seen that there was a steady stream of birds moving west, nothing to match the movements on the near continent the last couple of days, but immensely enjoyable non the less. We counted from 7:00 - 12:00 & achieved the following totals.

B.T.Diver 1
Gannet 800+
G.Heron 12 (6,1,2,3)
Greylag 1 (with small flock of 2 Cormorants & 4 Brents)
Brent 1506
Shelduck 97
Mallard 27
Pintail 8
Wigeon 1620
Teal 450+
Pochard 1
T.Duck 8
Eider 2
C.Scoter 518
V.Scoter 2
Long-tailed Duck 1 fem.
Goldeneye 7
R.B.Merganser 36
Hen Harrier 1 fem.
Peregrine 1 juv.
G.Skua 7 east
Pom. Skua 3 east, 1 west
Arctic Skua 3 east.
Arctic Tern 3 Juvs.
waders were mostly too far out to i.d safely but included Curlew, Knot, Dunlin, Lapwing, Golden Plover & at least 13 Snipe. Pipits moved west throughout the morning (with Rock Pipits seen & heard frequently) & no doubt more went over & behind the shelter unseen. Also the first Starlings in off the sea (18) & a trickle of Skylarks west as well.

 

[Happisbirder]

Sadly missed out on the 'fowl movement this morning; sounds like it was a good one following on from yesterday's build-up. Given the lack of Skuas reported elsewhere I guess I should count myself lucky to have seen a ginger-headed juvenile Arctic fly right along the shoreline as I walked along the cliffs this afternoon. Like Rob and Stratton Birder, I too had a few Rock Pipits and at least one party of Skylarks definitely flew 'in-off'. Happisburgh village itself was quiet although a Brambling flew over and there had been a noticeable arrival of Song Thrushes compared to recent days. A Ring Ouzel was perhaps the best bird...

James

 

[petehasset]

Fieldfare's over Strumpshaw fen about 6pm

 

[kimandsue]

Corton

O yea just checked those too:

http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=148&land=3&site=0&datum=20111007&taal=2

http://www.trektellen.nl/trektelling.asp?telpost=7&land=3&site=0&datum=20111007&taal=2

Will be looking off Corton from first light tommorow in hope of that stuff reorienting back north. Cley/Sheringham could well still be productive tommorow as its still blowing down north west overnight. Good luck.

Hi cortonbirds. Off your subject I know, but we spent a couple off days in the corton area and wanted to say it looked a great spot for birding/migrants. Good to look off the cliffs although this was windless we picked up several Red throated divers. I'm not sure if your interested in sightings for your local patch? but we had a Redwing along the hedge near the old sewage farm 1/10 in really good plumage and 3 wheatears 3/10 and a whinchat 4/10 on the fence at the old sewage/water treament plant lots of skylarks and pipits. Also a Yellow browed Warbler 3/10 on the old railway line. I thought it was a great spot and look forward to getting back that side of the county in spring.
Kind regards Kim

 

[Phil Andrews]

Brt

Any background to the unconfirmed report of a male Blue Rock Thrush at East Ruston on Sat and Sun?

 

[David Norgate]

Any background to the unconfirmed report of a male Blue Rock Thrush at East Ruston on Sat and Sun?

See Penny's blog (#13405). As far as I know this is all the info so far, although anyone who visited the site today may be able to add more.

 

[Happisbirder]

Brt @ Er...

I've spoken to a friend who checked out the church next door this morning (big rocky building) but there was no sign. The gardens are closed until Wednesday AFAIK, not sure either about yesterdays sighting?

James

 

[firstreesjohn]

the church next door this morning (big rocky building)

It's just as well this is not dedicated to St Petroc ! (Say it.)

All we heard yesterday was blue, thrush-sized bird on holly.

Another trial photo: this time Little Grebe, halfway across Abraham's Bosom in poorish light and partially against sun. Only cropped: ISO 100; f 5.2; 1/400

 

[Cortonbirds]

Hi Kimandsue. Thanks for those records I will pass them on to the Lowestoft bird club recorders. Nice you had a Yellow-browed Warbler there on that Monday, I had one there that weekend before so it was probably still lingering. Great little birds to see..we have now had at least 9 in the Corton/Lowestoft area this autumn in far from ideal conditions, just goes to show just get out there in any conditions. I do feel lucky living on the coast here. Hope you return soon.

Update this is the account of YBW in our area this month, You Norfolk birders looking..? or more likely these seem isolated to Suffolk all the way down to Landguard maybe due to the intricacies in the weather somehow.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus inornatus ****
Four were present in our area over the weekend of the 1st and 2nd, and at least another five found on the weekend of the 8th and 9th
Sparrows Nest Park - 1st (1 remaining from September 30th), 9th (1 by lighthouse), 10th (1 by lighthouse/bowling green).
Flycatcher Alley (Denes Oval) - 1st & 2nd (1).
Corton disused railtrack - 1st & 3rd (1).
Cycle Track (adjacent to Lowestoft Cemetery) - 2nd (1).
Warren House Wood - 8th & 9th (1), 10th (with four birds present just north and just south at the same time a minimum of four were present).
Gunton Cliff/Links Road - 8th (1), 9th (2 present at same time as Warrenhouse Wood bird), 10th (2).
Corton old sewage works - 9th (1).
Gunton Warren/Corton Road gardens - 9th (1), 10th (2).

 

[Songkhran]

Blow over

Very little on the sea now, one Arctic Tern lingering was very useful in terms of ID. 7 Wigeon! 1 Common Scoter, a few Gannets, RTD, regular Razorbill and Guillemot going West, 1 Great Skua east, No Fea's!