Birder Ozzie
Well-known member
I'm staying in Norfolk at the moment. I was at Titchwell today, and am going to get out early tomorrow morning. Is there a best place to go for rares?
Cheers
Oscar
Cheers
Oscar
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Norfolk birding (38 Viewers)
- Thread starter Edward woodwood
- Start date
David Norgate
Well-known member
Halve your numbers, Rob and that's what I recon I had around Stiffkey and I only arrived at noon!
I am still convincing myself that I didn't walk past Stiffkey's little gem and that it had only just arrived when found!
PS apologies to anyone I annoyed talking on my phone too loudly, hopefully lesson learned
Robert S J Smith
Well-known member
Half a Hawfinch!?!...Interesting! Tell me more... ;o)
Suffolkringer
Inland birding is hard work!!
Hi all
A rare away day gave me a chance to get to Blakeney Point, 08.30-14.30 produced one of my most exciting migration days in 20 years of birding.
19 Ring Ouzel was the highlight. Including one group of 4 birds that landed on the strand line in front of me having just flown in off the sea at 13.30pm
Also an estimate of the high 000s of other thrushes uncountable numbers, a bigger % Redwing. Quite a mind boggling sight.
Also 62 Brambling
Plus other Chiff, Crests and 4 Black Redstarts.
Birds were arriving all day and definately more Robins in the afternoon than the morning, maybe the Bluetail came sometime in the morning?
A quite remarkable day. Even with the thick fog!
All the best
Jon
A rare away day gave me a chance to get to Blakeney Point, 08.30-14.30 produced one of my most exciting migration days in 20 years of birding.
19 Ring Ouzel was the highlight. Including one group of 4 birds that landed on the strand line in front of me having just flown in off the sea at 13.30pm
Also an estimate of the high 000s of other thrushes uncountable numbers, a bigger % Redwing. Quite a mind boggling sight.
Also 62 Brambling
Plus other Chiff, Crests and 4 Black Redstarts.
Birds were arriving all day and definately more Robins in the afternoon than the morning, maybe the Bluetail came sometime in the morning?
A quite remarkable day. Even with the thick fog!
All the best
Jon
Locostella
Guest
Although I was at work I still managed to get out and see the Bluetail, thanks to my wonderful managers :t:
Even though I have been in the office for the entire day, even the short drive to Stiffkey, race down to the Bluetail and the walk back with Norgate produced a massive amount of Thrushes. So many where piling over the road as I came past Stiffkey floods my attention was diverted for a second and I nearly slammed head on into a bus. Safe to say I won't be so easily distracted in future. The poor drives face was a picture, too.
Well done Mike and well done to Dave for some cracking shots, oh and Stuart.
Kieran
Even though I have been in the office for the entire day, even the short drive to Stiffkey, race down to the Bluetail and the walk back with Norgate produced a massive amount of Thrushes. So many where piling over the road as I came past Stiffkey floods my attention was diverted for a second and I nearly slammed head on into a bus. Safe to say I won't be so easily distracted in future. The poor drives face was a picture, too.
Well done Mike and well done to Dave for some cracking shots, oh and Stuart.
Kieran
firstreesjohn
Well-known member
I thought it might be a good day, when I opened my door and a Black Redstart flitted around the corner. It had reasonably discernible white wing-patches. Further investigation of some of The Esplanade and gardens gave Bramblings, Reed Buntings, Goldcrests- and hundreds of thrushes in/off.
Another location produced my first Ring Ouzels of the day- around a half-dozen- and more wheezy Bramblings.
What was planned as a short visit to Gramboro’, before going somewhere ‘good’, saw me spend a couple of hours, slowly going around and around- but not like a top. As my time there progressed, more and more birds appeared. The continuous invasion of thrushes continued (!). Here were p277 and half of p278 (most unfortunately the top half) of the Collin’s Guide. Another half-dozen Rousels, Bramblings, 20 or so Robins, a similar number of Goldecrests, a male Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaffs (Vince H gripped my with a Redstart). I found it unusual to hear the rattling of Mistle Thrushes, obviously migrants. (I was to hear these in several places.)
Driving west towards Warham Greens, I’d just gone through Stiffkey when a timely fone call (thank you, Mark) alerted me to the Bluetail. My new ‘phone is not easy to hear, when in my jacket pocket, and I might have gone much further, before I looked at the pager- which is even softer. Well done to Mike S for spotting this nice bird, which I hope to be the harbinger of more Sibe lovelies.
The westernmost track at Warham Greens and a ½ mile west on the Coast Path gave more Rousels, but little else.
What a day ! The magic of thousands of thrushes in and out of foggy visibility; the seeping, trilling and other thrushy calls; the anticipation of something mega around the corner. October came alive today.
Another location produced my first Ring Ouzels of the day- around a half-dozen- and more wheezy Bramblings.
What was planned as a short visit to Gramboro’, before going somewhere ‘good’, saw me spend a couple of hours, slowly going around and around- but not like a top. As my time there progressed, more and more birds appeared. The continuous invasion of thrushes continued (!). Here were p277 and half of p278 (most unfortunately the top half) of the Collin’s Guide. Another half-dozen Rousels, Bramblings, 20 or so Robins, a similar number of Goldecrests, a male Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaffs (Vince H gripped my with a Redstart). I found it unusual to hear the rattling of Mistle Thrushes, obviously migrants. (I was to hear these in several places.)
Driving west towards Warham Greens, I’d just gone through Stiffkey when a timely fone call (thank you, Mark) alerted me to the Bluetail. My new ‘phone is not easy to hear, when in my jacket pocket, and I might have gone much further, before I looked at the pager- which is even softer. Well done to Mike S for spotting this nice bird, which I hope to be the harbinger of more Sibe lovelies.
The westernmost track at Warham Greens and a ½ mile west on the Coast Path gave more Rousels, but little else.
What a day ! The magic of thousands of thrushes in and out of foggy visibility; the seeping, trilling and other thrushy calls; the anticipation of something mega around the corner. October came alive today.
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David Norgate
Well-known member
I nearly made a comment about that, but thought someone else would pick up on it, so thanks!
Any more infomation about the OBP?
Bittern2010
Well-known member
Guess I picked the wrong day to walk to the Point.
And I can't get out birding till Sunday now..Fiddlesticks.
But it sounds like it's been a great day for many birders on the coast. :t:
Regards
Steve
ben_lewis
Well-known member
Incredible morning at Waxham today. As others have said the thrush movement was very impressive, like none I have seen before, every step in the dunes saw 10's of thrushes fly off from the ground as well as having 100's flying in-off seemingly constantly forming huge flocks. The bushes just North of the pipe dump help thousands of redwings and fieldfares. An amazing sight and sound!
One of the best mornings birding for ages and the highlights were just 1 black-red, 8+ Rouzels and a few Bramblings..
Doesn't always take rarities to make a good morning, so glad I had the day off!
One of the best mornings birding for ages and the highlights were just 1 black-red, 8+ Rouzels and a few Bramblings..
Doesn't always take rarities to make a good morning, so glad I had the day off!
Robert S J Smith
Well-known member
OBP sat in tree out side the visitor centre like a babe then dropped down onto the deck = no sign since...
David Norgate
Well-known member
Thanks, just seen Ashley's pics!!
MICK SAUNT
Well-known member
A superb day birding between Horsey Gap and Winterton despite a lack of anything with a blue tail........
Continuous passage of thrushes throughout with conditions making it difficult to accurately determine totals since many birds not visible in the murk so estimate of 2000 redwings, 800 fieldfares, 250 song thrushes and 150 blackbirds probably way too low. Highlights were 8 ring ouzels and 5 black redstarts but despite high hopes no sign of anything better. Also c. 100 robins along main track plus good numbers of goldcrests, c. 70 bramblings over and a flock of 30 lesser redpolls in the North Dunes.
Not in the same league as JF's efforts but a couple of shots of black redstart and ring ouzel gives some idea of just how poor visibility was.
Mick
Continuous passage of thrushes throughout with conditions making it difficult to accurately determine totals since many birds not visible in the murk so estimate of 2000 redwings, 800 fieldfares, 250 song thrushes and 150 blackbirds probably way too low. Highlights were 8 ring ouzels and 5 black redstarts but despite high hopes no sign of anything better. Also c. 100 robins along main track plus good numbers of goldcrests, c. 70 bramblings over and a flock of 30 lesser redpolls in the North Dunes.
Not in the same league as JF's efforts but a couple of shots of black redstart and ring ouzel gives some idea of just how poor visibility was.
Mick
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David Norgate
Well-known member
Your guess it about as good as mine, but I recon that birds will still be arriving, but in lesser numbers, with more visibility and feeding birds making it slightly easier to pick things out. There must be Dusky and Raddes in Norfolk somewhere, waiting to be found. I thnk that just about anything could be found anywhere!
So, as to where to go and where to start: with the rares at Holme or Stiffkey or try a place that wasn't on the pager today, that'll be a good start!!
The sniper
Well-known member
Hope the Bluetail stays till Wednesday
Spent all day at Waxham, hard to estimate but over 20 Ring Ouzels through the area today (we caught 5). Amazing day of thousands of thrushes! Of note 4 Abietinus chiffchaffs arrived late afternoon, could be a sign of better things to come in the morning - We'll be there again!
See Blog for totals - http://uearg.blogspot.co.uk/
See Blog for totals - http://uearg.blogspot.co.uk/
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Robert S J Smith
Well-known member
Looking at the forecast I can't see why it's not going to continue until tomorrow maybe less numbers but we'll have to wait and see! I reckon a few rares (maybe a Mega, Sibe Blue Robin anyone?
) will be found tomorrow...
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Dawn Balmer
Well-known member
Meanwhile at the other end of the county there was a showy drake Common Scoter on the Nunnery Lakes in Thetford. First record for the reserve.
O.Reville1989
I started off with nothing and I've still got some
Even from the ramparts of Fortress One Stop Nature the army of Thrushes were banging at the gates.
In and out of the fog the shapes moved south throughout the morning, some occasionally deciding the trees were a good stopping point.
As the day progressed the noise increased with more and more Robins heard.
A small walk, my first in over 2 weeks, gave little away other than long-tailed tits, goldcrests and the ever increasing volume from Robins.
Alas it seems my injury has cost me dear today, at least in terms of enjoying the spectacle of migration in the UK as I did in Spain a few weeks ago.
The bluetail was a great find, but I fear, for my sake, only the tip of the iceberg that is the week to come.
In and out of the fog the shapes moved south throughout the morning, some occasionally deciding the trees were a good stopping point.
As the day progressed the noise increased with more and more Robins heard.
A small walk, my first in over 2 weeks, gave little away other than long-tailed tits, goldcrests and the ever increasing volume from Robins.
Alas it seems my injury has cost me dear today, at least in terms of enjoying the spectacle of migration in the UK as I did in Spain a few weeks ago.
The bluetail was a great find, but I fear, for my sake, only the tip of the iceberg that is the week to come.
Penny Clarke
Well-known member
Major falls of birds
Its many years since I saw a fall of birds like I did this evening. It was worth me driving to Holme after work, even though I only had an hour of light. Hundreds and hundreds of redwings, blackbirds, fieldfares, robins, goldcrests and had 12 Ring Ouzels all in the NWT Forestry (dunes) between 5pm to 6pm. Unbelievable amount of birds!:eek!::eek!::eek!:
Full update on blog.
Penny:girl:
Its many years since I saw a fall of birds like I did this evening. It was worth me driving to Holme after work, even though I only had an hour of light. Hundreds and hundreds of redwings, blackbirds, fieldfares, robins, goldcrests and had 12 Ring Ouzels all in the NWT Forestry (dunes) between 5pm to 6pm. Unbelievable amount of birds!:eek!::eek!::eek!:
Full update on blog.
Penny:girl:
