Norfolk birding (2 Viewers)

[DaveN]

Hi Dave

Yes, weather not so good but birds spot on! Mind you, it will never be Wyver Lane.......... Wood Sand in Norfolk isnt quite the same as you turning one up on the local patch!

Sounds like Willingtons had Avocet again whilst we were watching hundreds there.....Wyver next?

You are right, nothing like getting these birds on your local patch. I went to Norfolk on the 28th April and on the first two days there Carsington had 2 Avocets and a Little Egret.
I had Little Egret down Wyver last year so maybe it could be Avocet next.:t:

 

[Penny Clarke]

Great Reed Warbler nr the East Bank at Cley today.

 

[Viv Connett]

Dotterel

Have they returned or does anyone know if they have been relocated anywhere? WE are up in Norfolk this weekend hopefully for raptors but would love to see the Dotterel as well

Many thanks

 

[firstreesjohn]

Avoid Holkham this Bank Holiday weekend !

Just spotted this in the EDP:

"Around 3,000 caravans and 10,000 people are expected to descend on Holkham Hall over the bank holiday weekend for the Caravan Club's 81st National Rally.

The annual event - sponsored by Kia Motors - is traditionally organised at stately homes all over the country and will provide a wide range of activities from football matches to clubbing."

This could be very dangerous- especially if they take after the Canadians.

 

[Connor Rand]

Spring seemingly having one final push- lets hope it gets better as we near the weekend. Tawny Pipit and Red-footed Falcon at Waxham...

Cheers,

Connor

 

[mr.sim]

The rain on Sunday and Monday should bring some stuff down. Probably mostly warblers...Otherwise its all just going over; Red Rumped Swallows are certainly thinning, but the odd Red foot is still being found. Maybe even a mega - check the swifts? Good luck to everyone...

 

[On-Firecrest]

Anything at Strumpshaw at the moment? Any Swallowtails out yet? I've managed to get the parents to promise to drop me off their on there way into Norwich...

 

[MICK SAUNT]

Spring seemingly having one final push- lets hope it gets better as we near the weekend. Tawny Pipit and Red-footed Falcon at Waxham...

Cheers,

Connor

Connor

My money is on the Red-foot ending up at Hickling NWT which has the knack of turning up this species on an almost annual basis. Failing that, Stubb Mill, Upton Broad and Catfield Fen are other likely spots to try. Good luck.

Mick

 

[Connor Rand]

Anyone else think conditions look good for drift migrants on Sunday/Monday! Perhaps a few Red-backed Shrikes, while surely Icky, Common Rosefinch and Bluethroat have to be possiblities. Outsiders, perhpas more Red-footed Falcons, Thrush Nightingale, Rustic Bunting...

Cheers,

Connor

 

[Connor Rand]

Connor

My money is on the Red-foot ending up at Hickling NWT which has the knack of turning up this species on an almost annual basis. Failing that, Stubb Mill, Upton Broad and Catfield Fen are other likely spots to try. Good luck.

Mick

Cheers Mick. Lets hope it resurfaces and then stays put so everyone can enjoy it.

Connor

 

[James Hunter]

Anything at Strumpshaw at the moment? Any Swallowtails out yet? I've managed to get the parents to promise to drop me off their on there way into Norwich...

Had one there on Monday. Also 1 Scarce chaser and a hobby.

RS

 

[senatore]

Hi Norfolk birders. I'm just back from a few days birding in your area.I hope you realise what a great birding county you live in compared with us birders who live in Warwickshire where we get excited if a Dunlin pays us a visit.

Got involved in a twitch on Wednesday by mistake when I'd gone to Cley to get some pics of the Marsh Harriers when I saw all these birders on the banked path to the beach.I joined them to find they were after a Great Reed Warbler which I'm pleased to say I had a brief view as it flew down into the reeds.We wouldn't even dream of this bird in our area.

Other great birds seen during my short stay included Montagu's Harrier,2 Wood Sandpipers,3 Temmincks Stints,a Red Crested Pochard,3 Black Terns,30+ Little Gulls,a Med.Gull,an Arcrtic Tern and a Grey-headed Wagtail ( all at Titchwell).

Thanks Norfolk.I'll be back soon.

Max.

 

[peter hill]

Thanks to all the posters on this thread it keeps us imformed of whats going on in this area , visting next week so if you see a longhaired middle aged camoed up hippy type say hello will be going to cley , holme ,tichwell , holcome,and mybe hickling

 

[sacha]

Great day for Raptors

Started late this morning by driving up towards Titchwell. As i was heading up the Norwich to Fakenham road i saw a large , 'long winged' raptor to my right. As soon as it started twisting its tail i thought i must stop to have a better look at this bird ! Luckily there was a minor road to my right and i managed to speed to where the bird was slowly heading. Got out of the car and had fantastic views of BLACK KITE drifting slowly past. Not sure why the pagers had put it out as probable as it WAS one! - I drove further up the road to watch it flying slowly NE towards Swanton Novers /Holt direction.
If you are out at the weekend look out for it as i'm sure it will get re-found somewhere else in Norfolk
The outer secondaries in both wings seemed to have a small gap/shorter feathers on each side and one of its tail feathers was short/missing (on its right side) - but on the whole it looked like a pure Black kite and not a hybrid or lineatus bird
As for its origins...It was probably one of the London Zoo birds returning back to Norfolk but who knows! And it was a nice bird to find anyway

Titchwell was fairly quiet - 20+ Little Gulls, Red C pochard a few waders
15+Corn Bunts at Choseley but no Quail heard

Male Mont. Harrier at usual site with a white wagtail there and finished the day with a fantastic view of Honey Buzzard at Gr Ryburg at around 3.30pm with a few Buzzards and Hobbys here also

7 Raptor species (but didn't see a sparrowhawk)...Not bad

If anybody has any photos of black kites seen recently it would be good to see if they resemble the one i saw..it was certainly not rufous as some of the 'hybrids' i've seen in photos recently! But i am concerned by the slightly tatty state of the bird as i would have thought that Black kites would look quite pristine at this time of year...

 

[Dave Hutton]

us birders who live in Warwickshire where we get excited if a Dunlin pays us a visit.
Great Reed Warbler which I'm pleased to say I had a brief view as it flew down into the reeds.We wouldn't even dream of this bird in our area.

Other great birds seen during my short stay included Montagu's Harrier (N.Creake),2 Wood Sandpipers,3 Temmincks Stints,a Red Crested Pochard,3 Black Terns,30+ Little Gulls,a Med.Gull,an Arcrtic Tern and a Grey-headed Wagtail ( all at Titchwell).

Thanks Norfolk.I'll be back soon.

Max.

I Hope Max isnt speaking for the majority of Warks birders with his excitement of DUNLIN in the Warks area As for the Great Reed Warbler (Short memory Max!! 1 at Brandon May 05) :t:

 

[mr.sim]

Apparently there's some caravan club thing at Holkham over the bank holiday with over 8000 caravans expected! Aaaahhhh!!! Avoid area at all costs if possible...

 

[sacha]

I have just read Andrew Easton's excellent online article (on birdguides) about Black Kites this year and the bird i saw earlier on today WAS the same bird seen at Aldeby Tip in April 2008 - It had exactly the same wing and tail pattern of missing/damaged feathers.
I thought the bird i saw was a pure bird as it didn't look reddish in colour but it looks like i was wrong!
It looks like this was one of the London Zoo birds after all.. I think we will be getting lots more reports thoughout the summer.
I will have to wait a bit longer for a non hybrid to fly over my head..:C

 

[draycotebirding]

I Hope Max isnt speaking for the majority of Warks birders with his excitement of DUNLIN in the Warks area As for the Great Reed Warbler (Short memory Max!! 1 at Brandon May 05) :t:

Give him a break Dave he only got Garden Warbler and Knot as a lifer this year

John

 

[Penny Clarke]

Apparently there's some caravan club thing at Holkham over the bank holiday with over 8000 caravans expected! Aaaahhhh!!! Avoid area at all costs if possible...

I was thinking of doing an early morning stint at Holkham over the weekend and I bet you if you were there at 5am the caravaners will either be sleeping or still eating their bacon and eggs! Tomorrow I think I will cover my local patch with a fine tooth comb!!!!! Not going anywhere else unless a mega turns up!!! Petrol toooooo expensive now.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[Tim P]

Popped to Pensthorpe today for some pre springwatch birding. Amongst everything you'd expect was a nice if slightly ragged Red (black?) Kite over the wader scrapes.