Any time of year is good Kathy Right place right time and luck come into it, One will fly out of the reeds or walk out of them when your there. A lot of folk sit in the Bittern hide all day waiting for just that moment. Good luck Chris
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Norfolk birding (12 Viewers)
- Thread starter Edward woodwood
- Start date
Any time of year is good Kathy Right place right time and luck come into it, One will fly out of the reeds or walk out of them when your there. A lot of folk sit in the Bittern hide all day waiting for just that moment. Good luck Chris
Looking for first Swallow / Sand Martin
Been out today along the beach from Gorleston-on-Sea to Hopton-on-Sea Checking for my first of the year Swallow and Sand Martin but no luck not much luck with anything else ether Years ago { 60s early 70s } there was a big colony of Sand Martin's that nested in these cliffs. there is some good cliff face left that looks ideal for Sand Martin will keep an eye. On another note House Martin's nested all over Gorleston then to not seen none for years.Chris
Been out today along the beach from Gorleston-on-Sea to Hopton-on-Sea Checking for my first of the year Swallow and Sand Martin but no luck not much luck with anything else ether Years ago { 60s early 70s } there was a big colony of Sand Martin's that nested in these cliffs. there is some good cliff face left that looks ideal for Sand Martin will keep an eye. On another note House Martin's nested all over Gorleston then to not seen none for years.Chris
Carol Baldock
Carol Rushton
Delighted to say Rob and I got some fabulous views of Hawfinch today, at Lynford Arboretum. 2 males and 1 female, all together at the same time, in the leaf litter to the left hand side of the 5 barred gate, offering excellent and close viewing. Several goldcrests showing well in the woods too, although , unlike our last visit 2 weeks ago, the firecrests proved elusive today. The Great Grey Shrike was not where we saw it 2 weeks ago, just south of Grimes' Graves...we spent a good while hunting for it, but nice end of day views of male yellowhammers and stonechats.
Hi Breydon
Thank you for the information
Oh, that is good as it will be a few weeks before I am mobile once more :-C
It is good to take a photos when the chance of photographing one is increased by the fact that the bird is always there, and is used to the surroundings even if it is being observed 24/7
Cannot wait to have a look sometime :-O
Penny Clarke
Well-known member
Just managed to see the Male Ring Ouzel at Ringstead as it flew off high north!
Stratton Birder
Well-known member
An excellent morning was had by myself and Geoff in the Hickling area first thing which was sorely needed by me to ease the pain of a rather fruitless days birding the day previous.
To begin with, we had three Cranes flying south west over Potter Heigham church before we had even taken one step away from the car. A Barn Owl quartered the field immediately north of the church and was soon joined by a second bird. Both showed very well. As we approached Coll's Plantation, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming and another Crane called in the distance. It was nice to also do a little bit of wildlife detective work when we spotted four trails snaking their way through the early morning dew on top of the crops - probably caused by Roe Deer. A flock of 18 Siskins flew in and landed in the top of a tree and walking through the wood, Geoff's sharp hearing picked up a slight rustling sound at the base of a holly bush and upon peering in we spotted a cute little Field Vole.
Walking along the Weavers Way towards Rush Hill Scrape, we heard a few brief scratchy calls coming from the base of the reeds which was almost certainly a Sedge Warbler tuning up but unfortunately that was all we heard.
The pair of Garganey were noted within minutes of arriving at the scrape, both asleep but well out in the open at the back of the water. There were about a dozen each of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit here too. A Bittern boomed regularly but unfortunately a second summer visitor also only gave a tantalising glimpse when a hirundine appeared out of the gloomy mist only to disappear back into it again. It was most likely a Swallow. We walked towards where it had come from but never saw it again. Two male Bearded Tits made the extra walk worthwhile though.
At Barton Broad we got the two adult Little Gulls along with two Water Rails uttering a slightly more melodic trill call which I think is about as good as their song gets. A more accomplished songster was a fine male Blackcap along the boardwalk. The first singing bird of the year for us both.
We finished up in the Honing / East Ruston area which is a great area of un-disturbed rough woodland, Alder/Carr, reedbed and heath. Well worth a look later in the spring for anyone nearby. Rather quiet today though apart from a few Chiffchaffs, a couple of Buzzards and a Marsh Tit but East Ruston Common did produce our first Comma of the year which was nice to see and then we called it a day.
Steve.
To begin with, we had three Cranes flying south west over Potter Heigham church before we had even taken one step away from the car. A Barn Owl quartered the field immediately north of the church and was soon joined by a second bird. Both showed very well. As we approached Coll's Plantation, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming and another Crane called in the distance. It was nice to also do a little bit of wildlife detective work when we spotted four trails snaking their way through the early morning dew on top of the crops - probably caused by Roe Deer. A flock of 18 Siskins flew in and landed in the top of a tree and walking through the wood, Geoff's sharp hearing picked up a slight rustling sound at the base of a holly bush and upon peering in we spotted a cute little Field Vole.
Walking along the Weavers Way towards Rush Hill Scrape, we heard a few brief scratchy calls coming from the base of the reeds which was almost certainly a Sedge Warbler tuning up but unfortunately that was all we heard.
The pair of Garganey were noted within minutes of arriving at the scrape, both asleep but well out in the open at the back of the water. There were about a dozen each of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit here too. A Bittern boomed regularly but unfortunately a second summer visitor also only gave a tantalising glimpse when a hirundine appeared out of the gloomy mist only to disappear back into it again. It was most likely a Swallow. We walked towards where it had come from but never saw it again. Two male Bearded Tits made the extra walk worthwhile though.
At Barton Broad we got the two adult Little Gulls along with two Water Rails uttering a slightly more melodic trill call which I think is about as good as their song gets. A more accomplished songster was a fine male Blackcap along the boardwalk. The first singing bird of the year for us both.
We finished up in the Honing / East Ruston area which is a great area of un-disturbed rough woodland, Alder/Carr, reedbed and heath. Well worth a look later in the spring for anyone nearby. Rather quiet today though apart from a few Chiffchaffs, a couple of Buzzards and a Marsh Tit but East Ruston Common did produce our first Comma of the year which was nice to see and then we called it a day.
Steve.
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upstarts1979
Well-known member
Always look forward to reading your sightings Paul, the habitat news could be enhanced with some photographs. I regularly do this on the upton warren thread, this keeps people updated on whats happening and how things look on the reserve. B
JohnNick Moran
Well-known member
Finally a few summer migrants at the Nunnery Lakes, Thetford in the last few days [my earliest dates 2010–14 in square brackets]:
Sand Martin 31/3 (Neil Calbrade) [30/3]
Swallow 3/4 [24/3]
Blackcap 6/4 (Neil C) [30/3]
Willow Warbler 7/4 [31/3]
Still 18+ Brambling on site, though no winter thrushes since a single Fieldfare on 31/3 and 12 Redwing on 28/3.
Agree with James Emerson and breydon. Despite everything (size, structure, bill structure etc), I find that Great Black-backed Gulls have a nasty habit of not always being immediately obvious (probably not helped by the level of individual variation in large gulls).
Sand Martin 31/3 (Neil Calbrade) [30/3]
Swallow 3/4 [24/3]
Blackcap 6/4 (Neil C) [30/3]
Willow Warbler 7/4 [31/3]
Still 18+ Brambling on site, though no winter thrushes since a single Fieldfare on 31/3 and 12 Redwing on 28/3.
Agree with James Emerson and breydon. Despite everything (size, structure, bill structure etc), I find that Great Black-backed Gulls have a nasty habit of not always being immediately obvious (probably not helped by the level of individual variation in large gulls).
AFeather
Well-known member
Cheers, they were nice birds
Nothing clears up a case so much as stating it to another person { Sherlock Holmes } Silver Blaze :t:
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Always look forward to reading your sightings Paul, the habitat news could be enhanced with some photographs. I regularly do this on the upton warren thread, this keeps people updated on whats happening and how things look on the reserve. B
Thanks for the input John. Something for me to consider for the future
Paul
Titchwell April 8th
Today's highlights
Little ringed plover - 3 on fresh marsh this afternoon
Goosander - female on fresh marsh briefly this morning
Sedge warbler - 2 singing males in reedbed
Med gull - 4 adults on fresh marsh throughout the day
Bittern - male booming near Fen Hide
Greenshank - 1 on tidal pool
Swallow - 1 west
Sand martin - 7 west
Paul
Today's highlights
Little ringed plover - 3 on fresh marsh this afternoon
Goosander - female on fresh marsh briefly this morning
Sedge warbler - 2 singing males in reedbed
Med gull - 4 adults on fresh marsh throughout the day
Bittern - male booming near Fen Hide
Greenshank - 1 on tidal pool
Swallow - 1 west
Sand martin - 7 west
Paul
An excellent long day in the Brecks. Goshawk at 2 sites, good to see these birds displaying and hopefully doing well. Great views of Stone Curlew and Firecrest, along with Brambling, Woodlark and Red Kite.
Willow Warbler and Blackcap back on the patch, and with some high pressure and southerlies over the next couple of days perhaps the floodgates will open.
Cheers,
Jim.
Willow Warbler and Blackcap back on the patch, and with some high pressure and southerlies over the next couple of days perhaps the floodgates will open.
Cheers,
Jim.
Carol- we missed out on Hawfinch today but I understand birds were ringed at Lynford within the last week so perhaps they are keeping their distance.
Thanks for your comments re; the blog and Black Redstart. The bird has undoubtedly gone by now but it did show well (as they do) for a couple of days. Things slowly picking up on the patch and I await the first Sedge Warbler now.
Jim.
Thanks for your comments re; the blog and Black Redstart. The bird has undoubtedly gone by now but it did show well (as they do) for a couple of days. Things slowly picking up on the patch and I await the first Sedge Warbler now.
Jim.
Peter Dolton
Well-known member
Male Hawfinch at Lynford feeding on ground along feeders this morning- so not put off by any ringing activity
AFeather
Well-known member
Did you notice if it was ringed?
Nick Moran
Well-known member
Indeed...though I can now make my own case for Blackcap, at last, as of this lunchtime in the Nunnery grounds!
Talking of stating it to another person...
...another person drew my attention to the attached from the RBA Gallery today. A case in point?
Attachments
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