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  1. firstreesjohn

    UK Dragonflies and Damselflies 2024

    This male Southern Migrant Hawker was a welcome find, after days of grilling the 'Dragons': It was near the N end of the Beach Road, Salthouse, in north Norfolk - and the County Recorder informs me a first for the Parish.
  2. firstreesjohn

    Collins bird guide 3rd edition in an App

    I was informed by Harper Collins this week that their Bird App team hope to have the Android app of the 3rd edition out before Christmas. I first enquired in mid-October. Having had no response after a fortnight I asked again, copying in their CEO, and had the above reply that day (!).
  3. firstreesjohn

    North Norfolk Woodland to Visit in January

    Holt Country Park & Holt Lowes: Mainly deciduous woodland with, south of the boundary fence, a completely different habitat of heathland and peat bog. Holt country park (with downloadable leaflet/map). Holt Lowes | A very special place for wildlife (highly informative)...
  4. firstreesjohn

    Spring 2020 at Gramborough

    The strangest of Springs. Not the strangest birds, sadly: a predictable list of species that I saw at the Hill. This included Pied & Spotted Flycatchers, Ring Ouzels and Whinchats - although a skulky Grasshopper Warbler (only the 3rd I’ve seen here in over two decades - and apparently the first...
  5. firstreesjohn

    Breaking news: Gramborough delivers the Mega Mega . . . . . . . . . . (almost)

    12 June: Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler (foy; in brief song). ♂ Wheatear (scarce in June: records on the fingers of one hand) and possible Black Redstart (seen very badly and even scarcer in June) in a’noon. A “bright” Phyllosc was glimpsed by an ultra-experienced world birder - obviously...
  6. firstreesjohn

    February 2020 at Gramborough

    I was mildly ecstatic on 2nd, when a (the ?) male Stonechat re-appeared and engaged in some ‘frisky’ behaviour with the female, in bright sunshine and the ridiculously mild temperature. This was not ‘full-on’ and neither song nor churring/clacking calls were emitted. Apart from this, February...
  7. firstreesjohn

    January 2020 at Gramborough

    I’d hoped the New Decade hadn’t begun as it meant to go on: I could’ve done with better than a pair (?) of persistently brave Wrens. In fact, as you can readily see from the post below, there were more words than birds. I kept on scanning the bare shingle for wintering wheatears and simply...
  8. firstreesjohn

    March 2020 at Gramborough

    It was not to be: I’d had hopes, yet again, of a February Wheatear. The weather charts were potentially favourable – and one did turn up in Essex. Although flowers started to come into bloom impossibly early, and insects began to multiply, it took until St Patrick’s Day for the first avian...
  9. firstreesjohn

    February 2020 at Gramborough

    More like 'desperation', Mike. These new Stonechats are behaving a little differently from previous ones* and, in addition, are pushing at the maximum count for the Hill. It already has been. [* more to follow]
  10. firstreesjohn

    February 2020 at Gramborough

    29: 4♂♂, 2♀♀ Stonechats. 28: only 1♂ Stonechat visible today. (CBC: 3 Woodcocks.) 27: 5♂♂, 2♀♀ Stonechats. 26: 4♂♂, 1♀ Stonechats, in a’noon. 25: Meadow Pipit in 1st of year parachute song-flight. 17: Ringed Plovers (pair) seemingly occupying territory (Brackish Pool). Extra ♂ trying to get in...
  11. firstreesjohn

    January 2020 at Gramborough

    22: Barn Owl. 21: Hen Harrier (ringtail). 17: Dunnock. 16: 1+ Dunnocks. 15: Dunnock. [11: Red-necked Grebe (on sea - RBA).] 4: 2 Snow Buntings (Yay !).
  12. firstreesjohn

    Highlights of 2019 at Gramborough

    There was little excitement until April; then, a goodly selection of migrants made for interest most days. All were regular and expected, save for a certain Cuckoo (see attachments). Although anyone can see that the BBRC has hundreds of submissions to sort through each year, I wonder if there...
  13. firstreesjohn

    December 2019 at Gramborough

    The 2 Wrens persist. The pair of Stonechats appears sporadically. Will 2020 witness more breeding of this charismatic species ? 2019’s ‘Beast’ ensured their failure. With notable (?) sightings on only 5 days, this still may’ve been less excruciatingly soul-destroying than the same month a year...
  14. firstreesjohn

    November 2019 at Gramborough

    Good shout ! I’m glad you approve, Mike. I can assure you that all expense will be spared in the furtherance of these audible objectives. However, despite the depredations of the ‘rising of the’ seas (not ‘Sun’, which would be more seasonal), there is no thought of relocation to be nearer the...
  15. firstreesjohn

    November 2019 at Gramborough

    The Gramborough Hill Rarities Committee has set up a sub-committee, in the attempt to reverse this drought, Mike. RARE (Really Awesome Rarities Exist) has been granted an infinitesimal budget to explore all avenues (short of fabrication) to redress the situation. Solutions explored include...
  16. firstreesjohn

    November 2019 at Gramborough

    Apart from a small, raptorous flurry on 6th, the month was distinguished by being undistinguished - with no stand out species. I have made an executive decision: the pairs of Stonechats, Dunnocks and Wrens will now not be included in the daily ‘log’, unless there is a change in their status. It...
  17. firstreesjohn

    Norfolnk Bird Report 2018

    “I saw this, & started to mutter; Then, got inna bittuva flutter ! No-one could pronounce What this do announce: Its title, you just cannot utter ! This last year’s bad-typo’d Report Has not made Our County more short: We’re one letter longer – Tho’, doubtless, not stronger – To say it, your...
  18. firstreesjohn

    October 2019 at Gramborough

    31: 2♂♂ 1♀ Stonechats, Dunnock, Wren. 30: Hen Harrier ringtail ↑W, Redwing, ♂♀ Stonechats, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Wren. 29: Snow Bunting ↑W, ♂♀ Stonechats, Dunnock, Wren. 2 Little Auks (other observer ). 28: 2 Lapland Buntings ↑W, Chaffinch (unusual to find perched here: on brambles, briefly; then...
  19. firstreesjohn

    October 2019 at Gramborough

    The almost relentless south-westerlies continued, tossing the Sycamores about and yielding no Yellow-broweds for the second year running. A miscellany of thrushes was just about the only benefit of a brief switch to the north-east. The last Wasp Spider was seen early on 5th, before 6 hours of...
  20. firstreesjohn

    Camera lens hood lost at East Hills

    “I thank you, Sir, for your good wishes; &, hope it’s not took by no fishes ! Prefer WARBLER with Hood – For Nflk, would be good ! They do come to piercing pishes !”
  21. firstreesjohn

    Camera lens hood lost at East Hills

    I lost this small piece from my Sony this week, probably towards the western end of the Hills. Please DM me, in the unlikely event of its being found. Many thanks.
  22. firstreesjohn

    September 2019 at Gramborough

    To add to last month’s unseen (or badly seen) birds, yet another. I sincerely hope this trend doesn’t persist. The probable Citrine Wagtail was yet one more highly unsatisfactory record: I did, however, at least see this one . . . fly away ! I’d spent much of the day in Norwich; rushed home...
  23. firstreesjohn

    September 2019 at Gramborough

    30: 2 Blue Tits, Wheatear, Wren. 29: Lapland Bunting, ♂♀ Stonechats, Wheatear, Wren. 28: Wheatear. 27: Wheatear, Wren. 26: Lapland Bunting, Song Thrush (in/off, then ↑S; foa), ♂ Blackcap, Wren. (Snow Bunting in a’noon - highly-experienced observer.) 25: Lapland Bunting, Wren. (2 Swifts...
  24. firstreesjohn

    August 2019 at Gramborough

    31: 3 Whinchats, Wheatear. 30: Wheatear. 29: KINGFISHER, 3 Whinchats, 2 Whitethroats, Wheatear, Wren. 28: PIED FLYCATCHER (highly elusive), Garden Warbler, ♀ Blackcap, 3 Whitethroats, Wren. 27: A small fall ! 3 Garden Warblers, 3 Whinchats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Whitethroats. A...
  25. firstreesjohn

    August 2019 at Gramborough

    In the same month last year [https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=366562], that list mainly consisted of the commoner warblers and chats - leavened with 5 Pied Fly days. This month was roughly similar, though fortunately with many fewer ‘non-notable’ days. It was enlivened by single Pied...
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