Norfolk birding (20 Viewers)

[Locostella]

Stiffkey Area

David Norgate, and I did an afternoon loop of Stiffkey, from the campsite carpark via the village and back produced a few birds.

Highlights were a European White-fronted Goose with Graylags on the Fen, 5 Grey Plover on flats south of the point, including 4 birds in smart breeding plumage. Lesser Whitethroat was also around the Fen which was holding good numbers of Blackwit, Common & Green Sand and a a handful of Wigeon. Also one decked Whimbrel was on the creek to the north of the Fen, but many more birds were seen moving west on the way back to the car.

On the private floods to the east of the village, a stunningly fresh juvenile Little Stint was with Common and Green Sandpipers.

 

[jimbob]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the info.

I was suprised by the variety of birds that were about. I had quite a late start and was just hoping to find a local Wood Sandpiper because I had not seen one this year.

The Whinchat was at Buckenham Marshes. I saw it half way between the hide and the old mill close to the path (Almost opposite the pub but on the Buckenham side). It was on a fence post and appeared to be hanging out with a pair of Stonechats. So it almost seemed like a mini "Fall".

An Osprey has also been reported in the area (but not seen by me). So good luck tomorrow.

Cheers

Steve

No sign of the Whinchat today, but did find a couple of Stonechat in said place.
Wood, Green and Common Sandpiper also at Buckenham Marshes.
Incredible number of Hawkers and Darters on the wing.

Cheers,
Jim,

 

[davethebird]

Tree Sparrow

A nice surprise in the garden yesterday when I found 2 juvenile Tree Sparrows (at least that is what they appear to be) around the feeders. No sign of any adults and the juveniles did not re-appear today.

The local House Sparrows only starting using our garden a few weeks ago.

 

[James Emerson]

Interestingly Josh & I had a single White-fronted Goose with the Greylags at Stiffkey Fen late summer last year (3rd September according to my records). I wonder where it is the rest of the year?

Regards,
James

David Norgate, and I did an afternoon loop of Stiffkey, from the campsite carpark via the village and back produced a few birds.
Highlights were a European White-fronted Goose with Graylags on the Fen, 5 Grey Plover on flats south of the point, including 4 birds in smart breeding plumage. Lesser Whitethroat was also around the Fen which was holding good numbers of Blackwit, Common & Green Sand and a a handful of Wigeon. Also one decked Whimbrel was on the creek to the north of the Fen, but many more birds were seen moving west on the way back to the car.

 

[Tideliner]

The Stiffkey fen Whitefront has been present in the area for some years and it has a strong indications of some mixed parentage including a yellow eye ring. I have not seen her ( its a female ) since February , until she returned last week. For the last 3 years its been pared to a greylag and though no young this year they rased 4 last year on the Fen. She regular at Stiffkey fen at this time of year and though seen at times in winter she is more often absent , probably wandering the coast with the greylag flock.

Real whitefronts do turn up here from time to time , the last being a juvenile in March.

 

[James Emerson]

Thanks for that, interesting to know!

The Stiffkey fen Whitefront has been present in the area for some years and it has a strong indications of some mixed parentage including a yellow eye ring. I have not seen her ( its a female ) since February , until she returned last week. For the last 3 years its been pared to a greylag and though no young this year they rased 4 last year on the Fen. She regular at Stiffkey fen at this time of year and though seen at times in winter she is more often absent , probably wandering the coast with the greylag flock.

Real whitefronts do turn up here from time to time , the last being a juvenile in March.

 

[James Emerson]

Three Common Sandpipers on the shingle at Thorpe Marsh this afternoon, the scrape is pretty much dry though.

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell August 20th

Today’s highlights

Little stint – 2 on fresh marsh
Spoonbill – 13 on fresh marsh
Ruff – 30 on fresh marsh
Spotted redshank – 6 on fresh marsh
Little gull – 2 on fresh marsh
Osprey – 1 west over Thornham Point and out to sea this afternoon

Paul

 

[paul1127]

Took an early morning stroll around Thorpe on Saturday morning before it got really hot. There were two Common Sandpipers working their way along the far river bank (Whitlingham).

Three Common Sandpipers on the shingle at Thorpe Marsh this afternoon, the scrape is pretty much dry though.

 

[Penny Clarke]

8 Common Sandpipers together in front of Teal Hide NWT, Cley last night along with good numbers of snipe including a very obliging one posing for photos!

Full update on my blog.

Penny:girl:

 

[jimbob]

Watching the behaviour of our two pairs of Turtle Doves, it seems highly probable that one pair are now feeding a second brood, while the second pair (see photos!) are contemplating laying more eggs...

We all hope that David's Turtle's become a permanent fixture year after year, and perhaps in time the species will make a come back in the county and further afield.
However, the following activity organised by the company below (based in Britain) puts this vision in jeopardy.

http://www.davis-bowring.co.uk/index.php/sporting/Moroccan-Shooting.html

If you are as annoyed as I am, or indeed more annoyed, do contact them and lodge your complaint via email.

We want David's Turtles back next year, and more besides.

Cheers,
Jim.

 

[dave higgins]

This should be on all forums to get as many people as possible to send emails and phone the office of this company to make complaints regarding this advert.Surely this rates higher than Parakeets, Lets have some of that aggression aimed at these BASTARDS.

 

[firstreesjohn]

Silence is Golden- but silent activity can be most vociferous

If you are as annoyed as I am, or indeed more annoyed, do contact them and lodge your complaint via email.

I wholeheartedly agree, Jim, and will be taking action in the morning. With the parlous state of our Turtle Dove population in the UK, this advert. could be labelled ‘obscene’. It doesn’t matter that this ‘sporting activity’ (not included in the Olympics, yet, as far as I’m aware) is legal in Morocco, the advert. is aimed at UK punters and ‘our’ Turtles use this flyway. Thus, they are massacring some British Doves.

Unless their decline is reversed, we could well lose these lovely birds as breeders within the decade. I add the link again: http://operationturtledove.org/

A juvenile Golden Plover graced the brackish pool just west of Gramboro’ today. I did not hear it call.

A fall of (one) Chiffchaff weighed down the bushes at the east end of The Hill. Passerine migration has begun !

 

[willowgrouse]

Operation Turtle Dove

I wholeheartedly agree, Jim, and will be taking action in the morning. With the parlous state of our Turtle Dove population in the UK, this advert. could be labelled ‘obscene’. It doesn’t matter that this ‘sporting activity’ ...(...)... is legal in Morocco, the advert. is aimed at UK punters and ‘our’ Turtles use this flyway. Thus, they are massacring some British Doves.

Unless their decline is reversed, we could well lose these lovely birds as breeders within the decade. I add the link again: http://operationturtledove.org/...

I too am in full agreement John, and I have alerted the Operation Turtle Dove team to this link, so no need for everybody to do that and waste their valuable resources answering the same email from us all. They can advise best if there is any reasonable lawful action that can be taken (I doubt this is the case). Meantime, better to send emails and make telephone calls to the company concerned. Reasoned arguments always make more of an impression. Abuse can come later if necessary.

 

[Lightthiscandle]

Bits & pieces!

The Whirligig Bushes (Cheers Firstrees, old chap!) at Stiffkey produced reasonable views of a Dartford Warbler and frustrating (but pretty conclusive) glimpses of a Barred Warbler blundering around in an Elder...

There were 10 dozy Spoonbills on Arnold's Marsh and lots of Little Egrets, of course. Also, A juv Stonechat wearing leg-irons!

 

[firstreesjohn]

Re: “Let’s go off for a jolly weekend and slaughter a few hundred Turtle Doves!”

In correspondence, I have received the excellent suggestion that people should also relay their displeasure to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors who, presumably, have higher ethical standards than this affiliated company.

As the winds shift to the north for the deluge that is usually our August Bank Holiday weekend, keep your eyes peeled for a specimen of the dull species below depicted.

One has escaped from the tropical climes of . . . Edinburgh: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-19346665. It shouldn’t be too difficult to spot, lurking amongst the Cley Spoonbills, rather like the Red Knight against a snow-covered Avalon !

 

[Robert S J Smith]

Didn't see the Osprey over Holme this morning but have just seen some pictures of it and the bird appears to have a blue darvic on one of it's legs. Can't see any letters or numbers though. Will check out the colour ringing website when I get home...

 

[Robert S J Smith]

Would be very interested to know if anybody else has seen this bird and possibly even got its code.

 

[putnoebabes]

Hooded Crow with Carrion Crow on E Runton cliffs at this moment

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell August 23rd

Today’s highlights

Spoonbill – 15 on fresh marsh
Little stint – 2 on fresh marsh
Curlew sandpiper – 1 on fresh marsh
Dunlin – 40 on fresh marsh
Green sandpiper – 1 on fresh marsh
Common sandpiper – 2 on fresh marsh
Hobby – 2 over reedbed

Paul