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  1. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    In Paul's absence... Thursday at titchwell; Short eared owl over dunes early afternoon 2 med gull on the beach feeding with a large flock of large gulls feeding on starfish/razorshell wreck 1 little stint on freshmarsh 140 sanderling on beach 2 red kite over 2 white wagtail on grazing pool 2...
  2. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    There are two very noisy ones along the lanes between strumpshaw and Buckenham at the the moment too (can't believe how loud they are when "singing"). Also in the same area are three reeves pheasants, a couple of albino pheasants and 3-4 peacocks! A mixed bag released this year!
  3. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    I was looking at Martin garners book last night thinking that I may have jumped to saker a bit fast, so interesting to see the last few posts! I don't know much about Arctic peregrine, this was certainly a large bird showing some good features of arctic peg. I'll put some pictures of the bird on...
  4. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    This probably should be in the mammals section but thought more would see it here.... Did anyone drive past the road kill near the entrance to pensthorpe today? It was on the guist side of the entrance to pensthorpe and looked very much like a small black hairy pig, not sure if wild boar is...
  5. ben_lewis

    Norfolk: other insects

    Nice one, well done for following up the report. I will let my colleague know that she assisted with finding a second for Norfolk, even if she says she was repulsed by it!! It was shortly after the Saharan dust came North so I suspect it rode the same winds, however it arrived its a great...
  6. ben_lewis

    2015 UK Orchids

    Just for info, there are still three places left on the Sutton Fen RSPB event this Friday. It is an opportunity to have a look at the best example of fen in western Europe with more RDB flora species than you can believe! The fen orchids are very good this year as well as up to 60 Adders Tongue...
  7. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    Turtle doves are also plagued with the trichomonas infection with 6 strains of the virus identified in the doves and a very high percentage of tested doves showing signs of the disease. An rspb study showed 96% of 104 doves tested to have the disease. So habitat loss, lack of food, high disease...
  8. ben_lewis

    Norfolk Butterflies and Moths

    12 on the garden alone would certainly be a record! I saw very much fewer that day. but there are still plenty around in today's sunny warm weather. Lots of happy folks connecting and clicking away, we even had two pairs mating in the nectar garden at one point! The dames violet is certainly a...
  9. ben_lewis

    Norfolk Dragon/Damselflies reports/news

    Had at least 10 this morning on the meadows at strumpshaw, (along with plenty of scarce chasers) but as for absolute best sites I'm not sure. Anywhere in the broads with decent habitat can be good on its day. If you want a photo, early mornings are best, they heat up quickly and become...
  10. ben_lewis

    Norfolk Dragon/Damselflies reports/news

    Had a rather odd report of Norfolk hawker today, with photo (I wasn't around at the time) description I got was of a hawker with green eyes and a single brown/orange coloured body. Wish I'd seen the pic. I'm assuming it's most unlikely given the temperatures at the moment, would be a month...
  11. ben_lewis

    Norfolk Dragon/Damselflies reports/news

    Strumpshaw fen this weekend; Variable, blue tailed, azure, common, red-eyed damselflies as well as banded demoiselles, hairy dragonfly, broad bodied and 4-spot chasers Don't think I've missed anything, but may have done! scarce chaser should be next on the list. Nice to have the odes back again!
  12. ben_lewis

    Norfolk Butterflies and Moths

    Single Swallowtail seen at Strumpshaw fen this afternoon, 3 days later than their usual emergence date. The cool wind & predicted rain this week may hold them up further, but the next warm sunny day should hopefully see a mass emergence
  13. ben_lewis

    Norfolk: other insects

    Interesting, I'll let her know so she can confirm/deny. Typically she didn't much like the look of it so didn't take a photo!
  14. ben_lewis

    Norfolk: other insects

    I was quite reliably told about a probable locust at holkham hall walled garden Saturday just gone. I'm not sure of the possibility or regularity that they occur in Norfolk but certainly thought it was worth a mention on here at the very least. The description was a huge grasshopper like insect...
  15. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    Nice Pec Sand at Buckenham rspb yesterday (and today) showing well between the mill and hide. With this and the great white egret in the same week I'm hoping decent birds do come in three's!
  16. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    Firstly, I would echo that it will be a shame to loose your/Davids comments on here. regular updates from the Mid Yare were useful to many i am sure. and will be missed. Since there are others who may agree with David's blog comments I will also post my response to his comments here in what...
  17. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    Wow that escalated quickly! Just got back from Buckenham where I spent 2 hours watching a breeding plumage great white egret (black bill, raspberry pink legs!) feeding in the ditches. How's that for timing!
  18. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    Interesting, I noticed that there were a few v's of gulls heading over to their roost sites as well as two v's of cormorants also heading towards roosting areas. They were certainly looking very much like the do in the evenings, which is slightly bizarre as they would have only left them a few...
  19. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    Interesting, I had a good candidate over strumpshaw at 12.45ish, not far from that location. What time was the sighting this morning?
  20. ben_lewis

    world list apps

    As Bob says it's great for birds as you can add photos etc too and even map sightings too for uk and world lists. I find it absolutely superb for moth records as it is so much quicker than excel spreadsheets, this is almost certainly the same for any order of taxa. Very reasonably priced as...
  21. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    I think it returned to rockland after its jaunt at the fen. It just did a couple of laps of strumpy, went down briefly in front of reception 'plunge washed' and then headed back towards Rockland. There is still hope for you on Saturday! I suspect it was actually quite annoying for David...
  22. ben_lewis

    GREYLAG or WFG

    Looks very much like a hybrid/dodgy genes greylag to me. They quite frequently have odd white patches, definitely not a white front though I'm afraid.
  23. ben_lewis

    1st winter gull, Norfolk 11 Jan

    Nice one Lou, I was partially expecting that, but thanks for humoring me!! Cheers
  24. ben_lewis

    1st winter gull, Norfolk 11 Jan

    Can I have a hand with this 1w? gull sp from today. I own up to be pretty poor when it comes to this age of gull in flight only, however this one caught my eye so I took a few ropey shots of it (made worse by compression and cropping). Looking in the book I am still not quite happy with an id...
  25. ben_lewis

    Norfolk birding

    I had a probable 13 beans yesterday morning at Buckenham. However it was a semi distant flight view only at dawn, based mainly on call dark wings and black tail band. They didn't look or sound like white fronts and were not pinks, greylags etc so I'll stick to probable but am pretty sure. I'm...
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