Norfolk birding (12 Viewers)

[Phil Carter]

Does anyone have any information on the Humpback off Mundesley ie. regularity, distance and how long ite been about (or is it just today)?

Cheers

Phil

 

[StewB]

After several years of being very thin on the ground, isn't it great to have so many records of twite in the county? Any theories about why this sudden increase has happened? Is it improved breeding success and/or a shift in wintering area?

Stew

 

[sacha]

After several years of being very thin on the ground, isn't it great to have so many records of twite in the county? Any theories about why this sudden increase has happened? Is it improved breeding success and/or a shift in wintering area?

Stew

I presume good breeding success further north related to weather conditions this summer (but that's my guess based on no fact at all!)
Ups and downs of species
For example .. Where have all the Siskins gone this year. There were loads a few years ago.

 

[SDV]

Actually it is a deterrent. If he commits a further offence then the custodial sentence comes into force by default. The alternative is to fill our already full prison system with more non violent offenders. No doubt "outraged UKIP from Norwich" will disagree, but national sentencing guidelines for a first time offence is about right. Cheers.

I'm not a right wing nutter thanks very much, in fact very much the opposite with a long history in the socialist and labour movement. Gamekeepers that poison wildlife on behalf of the landed rich deserve very little sympathy. Whilst I generally agree with your comment about custodial sentences, there are exceptions and this sort of crime comes into that category. British law has a long history of putting property above person, including in this case pheasants being bred to be shot by the rich, but not birds of prey that are appreciated by the rest of us.

 

[Mark Batten]

I'm not a right wing nutter thanks very much, in fact very much the opposite with a long history in the socialist and labour movement. Gamekeepers that poison wildlife on behalf of the landed rich deserve very little sympathy. Whilst I generally agree with your comment about custodial sentences, there are exceptions and this sort of crime comes into that category. British law has a long history of putting property above person, including in this case pheasants being bred to be shot by the rich, but not birds of prey that are appreciated by the rest of us.

Pleased to here that. Still do not think a custodial sentence has to be passed. What I would have liked to see the judge do is impose a long community service order with placements in a variety of conservation settings. Much more constructive than a short prison sentence.

 

[davethebird]

Actually it is a deterrent. If he commits a further offence then the custodial sentence comes into force by default. The alternative is to fill our already full prison system with more non violent offenders. No doubt "outraged UKIP from Norwich" will disagree, but national sentencing guidelines for a first time offence is about right. Cheers.

OK I'll play 'Outraged from Langham' :C

First time offence? First time caught may be more accurate as the RSPB and police were alerted by members of the public who had previously found poisoned birds on or near the estate. This has been described as the worst crime of this type in England so I expected a sentence that would provide a greater deterrent. Yes the suspended sentence will deter this individual from repeating the offence but I doubt it will stop the next person who raises a shotgun at a harrier or thinks about laying some poisoned bait.

It would be nice if the Stody estate broke their silence about this unacceptable behaviour by one of their employees.

 

[Mark Batten]

OK I'll play 'Outraged from Langham' :C

First time offence? First time caught may be more accurate as the RSPB and police were alerted by members of the public who had previously found poisoned birds on or near the estate. This has been described as the worst crime of this type in England so I expected a sentence that would provide a greater deterrent. Yes the suspended sentence will deter this individual from repeating the offence but I doubt it will stop the next person who raises a shotgun at a harrier or thinks about laying some poisoned bait.

It would be nice if the Stody estate broke their silence about this unacceptable behaviour by one of their employees.

Would not disagree. Still think that a short custodial sentence would have little impact either. The problem with illegal killing of raptors appears to be getting worse. How this moved forward is both complicated and cultural.

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell November 6th

Today's highlights

Grey phalarope - 1 briefly on the fresh marsh @ 2pm before flying onto the saltmarsh
Teal - 1200 on fresh marsh
Slavonian grebe - 1 offshore
Spotted redshank - 3 on fresh marsh
Little gull - 1 offshore

Paul

 

[stuarta21]

Hi I'm staying in Norfolk next weekend at Northwold I was wondering if anyone can recommend a couple of good local spots for birding?Only really been to Titchwell on previous day trips so interested in exploring some new sites. Thanks in advance

 

[Grayman]

OK I'll play 'Outraged from Langham' :C


It would be nice if the Stody estate broke their silence about this unacceptable behaviour by one of their employees.

Soon find out, if he has a job next week, then he had their blessing.

Graham

 

[James Emerson]

Close to Northwold you've got Lynford Arboretum (Hawfinch, Crossbills, Firecrest etc) and just across the Suffolk border Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve (Bittern, Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier). Lots of places you can stop and walk about in Thetford Forest too.

A bit further afield you could take the A1065 to Fakenham and visit Sculthorpe Moor - the bird tables allow excellent views of stuff like Bullfinch, Water Rail, Marsh Tit etc. If you go up that way then the farmland between Docking and the coast is a good place to look for flocks of geese feeding.

Hi I'm staying in Norfolk next weekend at Northwold I was wondering if anyone can recommend a couple of good local spots for birding?Only really been to Titchwell on previous day trips so interested in exploring some new sites. Thanks in advance

[Edit] Sculthorpe opening days removed (previously closed on Mondays, now open every day) as per Gordon's post below.

 

[gordon hamlett]

A bit further afield you could take the A1065 to Fakenham and visit Sculthorpe Moor (they are closed on a Monday .

Just to correct James slightly, Sculthorpe is now open all week. Siskins and Bramblings are now back in, with Redpolls imminent. Kingfishers are showing well at the scrape hide at the moment. Expect 40-50 species in a half day there.

Gordon

 

[Lightthiscandle]

Desert Wheatear

Couple of shots of the beautiful little Desert Wheatear on Gorleston Beach this morning: a real cracker that posed happily for a small well-behaved bunch of birders. Couldn't find any Black Redstarts, but they would just have been gilding the lily!

 

[putnoebabes]

Thoughts on Humpback

Does anyone have any information on the Humpback off Mundesley ie. regularity, distance and how long ite been about (or is it just today)?
Just browsed the local blogs re this record, including a video on utube. Took me back 3 years to my sighting (see Cetacean off Sheringham forum) The Humpback dorsal fin and "blow" characteristics were very much like "my" whale. Apparently, Carl Chapman thinks this is the same individual that appeared last year, so could it be a regular migrant? We'll never know, of course, but just a thought
Cheers, Graham

 

[Bittern2010]

Breydon

Lovely walk at Breydon today: three / four Rough-legged Buzzards and a decent flock (20+) of Twite, Also a couple of Kingfishers & a raft of Pintail - lots more pictures on my blog....

I walked out to Lockgate Drainage Mill yesterday at Breydon. The conditions weren't ideal due to the strengthening winds. However, I did get distant views of at least a couple of Rough Legged Buzzards hunting.

A female/immature merlin which flew in, harassed a flock of starling and landed on the ground was an unexpected surprise.

No Twite unfortunately but it was pleasing to see some large flocks of birds including Golden Plovers, Starlings and Curlews.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Penny Clarke]

Fabulous views of the Desert Wheatear at Gorleston today and dare I mention on here......the Lowestoft bird!

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell November 10th

Today's highlights

Long tailed duck - 2 offshore
Slavonian grebe - 2 offshore
Twite - 3 on fresh marsh
Snow bunting - 12 on beach
Spotted redshank - 6 on fresh marsh
Sandwich tern - 3 late birds offshore
Little gull - 1 on fresh marsh

Paul

 

[Lightthiscandle]

Whales!

Dropping off my old friend Martin's spare furniture at Aylsham was the perfect excuse to continue northwards for an afternoon at Cley.

While we were drinking coffee at the reserve centre a Rough-legged Buzzard drifted eastwards - very distantly, unfortunately. Then people suddenly gazing intently towards the sea: through the 'Cley Spy' guy's telescope we could make out a pod of small whales heading towards Salthouse - we slurped down our coffee and followed them!

After five minutes at the beach we decided to walk westwards to see if they'd turned back, but all we encountered was a decent flock (60+) of Snow Buntings and a Stonechat, so we retraced our steps.

Back by the site of the old carpark a group of well-known birders had refound the whales about three-quarters of a mile offshore. Although distant, I grabbed a few images which identified them as Pilot Whales - possibly Long-finned. A little closer inshore was a couple of REd-throated Divers, but little else.

We returned to Cley for another coffee and then a walk along the East Bank: no sign of the Long-tailed Duck, but a Little Egret was eating sticklebacks at close range!

 

[jimbob]

What a day David! This glut of Whale sightings are just superb for the county. Mammal thread really the place for this, but I wonder to what extent sightings are increasing due to the fact people are actively searching? Humpback already out there, people looking, Pilots picked up? Whatever the case well.done to all involved.

As for the Desert Wheatear, probably best I didn't go if the behaviour I've heard about is true. Wouldn't mind a picture of the bird, don't really fancy one with a chap laying across the concrete in shot covered in meal worms

 

[NoSpringChicken]

As for the Desert Wheatear, probably best I didn't go if the behaviour I've heard about is true. Wouldn't mind a picture of the bird, don't really fancy one with a chap laying across the concrete in shot covered in meal worms

When I saw the Lowestoft bird on the day it was discovered last week, it was quite happily feeding on insects and at one point flew over to perch briefly about a metre away from me. I heard somebody remark "It's a pity we haven't got any meal worms." This was greeted by incredulous looks from most of the birders there and the obvious question "Why?"

Ron