Norfolk birding (1 Viewer)

[Ilya Maclean]

a red-throated pipit been seen at halfway house today, could this be what you saw?

Unlikely - if I was that uncertain about my ID, Meadow Pipit would be a better candidate, as I think they tend to rather outnumber Red-throated Pipits.

I wouldn't rule out Woodlark, although it didn't strike me as quite "chunky" enough.

I've spent a fair amount of time looking at Larks in the past: http://www.uea.ac.uk/~e039/birding/notebook.htm although StL is one of the spp I'm less familiar with

 

[sacha]

Had a Red Kite flying low over the center of Norwich heading East at 08:20 this morning..straight over my office and the castle... causing havock with all the Gulls around....Nice bird but....Would rather be on the coast today than stuck at work!

 

[kittykat23uk]

Nice!

 

[Connor Rand]

Red-throated Pipit, Grey-headed Wagtail and 2+ Icterine Warblers at Holme today. I was even lucky enough to see both the Icterines (couldnt get out early due to revision...). For a full trip report see my site and for all the sightings (its quite a long list!) see Holme birding...

Connor

 

[MICK SAUNT]

Had a Red Kite flying low over the center of Norwich heading East at 08:20 this morning..straight over my office and the castle... causing havock with all the Gulls around....Nice bird but....Would rather be on the coast today than stuck at work!

Not sure if central Norwich is becoming the red kite capital of Norfolk but I had one over Sainsbury's car park at about 16.20 last week. Was a fairly distinctive bird in heavy wing moult and although I didn't have my bins it had the decency to spiral around being mobbed by a gull directly overhead. Of interest(?!) have also had a couple of marsh harriers over central Norwich in the past and I know a birder who is is pretty certain he had bee-eater several years ago. Just keep looking!

 

[Andy Musgrove]

Shotesham goldie

Hi all

On my fifth grilling of the unusual golden plover in Shotesham (S Norfolk) this morning, the bird finally stretched and raised its wings, revealing gleaming white axillaries and underwing. So along with the call and a number of structural features, that about wraps it up as a Eurasian Goldie, albeit an extremely grey one. It would be nice if it would stick around all summer for me to be able to see how its plumage changes as it moults, although I imagine it will move on as the height of the sugar beet increases.

Have attached a couple of photos for anyone interested

Cheers

Andy Musgrove

 

[jimbob]

Got out this afternoon for a wander round Winterton dunes. Poor weather but a few birds made up for the wet feet.
A Wheatear made itself known amongst the Skylarks, zipping across the dune systems.
Fantastic views of a Cuckoo: first, calling during flight then perched on a fencepost. Probably the best views I have ever had of this species!
Then, a male Pied Flycatcher called briefly from a clump of bramble but was quick to disappear; I couldnt relocate it.
The promise of an Icterine of my own fell flat when an interesting Warbler turned out to be the local Chiffchaff. A distant wader could have been a Godwit, battling against the wind and drizzle.
Almost back to the car, I spotted a Short-eared Owl! High up, on route somewhere. The icing on the cake.

Quick question- where is the Waxham pipe dump? And can the public park at the caravan site? I nearly went there today but was unsure where to look; arrived home to see a Tawny Pipit reported from there. Typical.
Cheers,
Jim.

 

[Reader]

Hi Jim

The pipe dump is roughly in the area where the arrow is pointing.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

John

Quick question- where is the Waxham pipe dump? And can the public park at the caravan site? I nearly went there today but was unsure where to look; arrived home to see a Tawny Pipit reported from there. Typical.
Cheers,
Jim.

 

[Connor Rand]

A bash of Thornham Point this evening produced a female Redstart, a male Wheatear and a Chiffchaff, as well as a good soaking. That intersting looking warbler sp. just wouldnt come out...

 

[sacha]

Not sure if central Norwich is becoming the red kite capital of Norfolk but I had one over Sainsbury's car park at about 16.20 last week. Was a fairly distinctive bird in heavy wing moult and although I didn't have my bins it had the decency to spiral around being mobbed by a gull directly overhead. Of interest(?!) have also had a couple of marsh harriers over central Norwich in the past and I know a birder who is is pretty certain he had bee-eater several years ago. Just keep looking!

Hi Mick,

So far all i have managed in central Norwich (apart from the Red Kite) has been siskins, waxwings and grey wagtails.
A bit before i moved to this fine city but wasn't there a black+white warbler in Trowse once or have i got that wrong?!

On a different note, weather still looking better for migrants than last week ... i will be out looking ... good luck this weekend everyone.

:t:

 

[StuartReeves]

Not sure if central Norwich is becoming the red kite capital of Norfolk but I had one over Sainsbury's car park at about 16.20 last week. Was a fairly distinctive bird in heavy wing moult

Did it look anything like this one? I saw it on the Suffolk/Norfolk border in the Castle Marshes/Aldeby area on 10 May, and it certainly fits the decription re. wing moult.

Stuart

 

[jimbob]

Cheers John, mite head out there this weekend.
Jim.

Hi Jim

The pipe dump is roughly in the area where the arrow is pointing.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

John

 

[Tim P]

Did it look anything like this one? I saw it on the Suffolk/Norfolk border in the Castle Marshes/Aldeby area on 10 May, and it certainly fits the decription re. wing moult.

Stuart

I think the one I saw at Pensthorpe was marginally less ragged but could b the same. But who cares cause tday I got my bogey lifer Bittern at Strumpshaw.:eek!:

 

[MICK SAUNT]

Hi Mick,

So far all i have managed in central Norwich (apart from the Red Kite) has been siskins, waxwings and grey wagtails.
A bit before i moved to this fine city but wasn't there a black+white warbler in Trowse once or have i got that wrong?!

On a different note, weather still looking better for migrants than last week ... i will be out looking ... good luck this weekend everyone.

:t:

Not quite Norwich but near enough, the Trowse B&WW turned up in November 1996 and hung around for about a week. Hard to believe Norfolk can turn up two B&WW, Red-breasted Nuthatch and White-crowned Sparrow but still no Red-eyed vireo............

 

[MICK SAUNT]

Did it look anything like this one? I saw it on the Suffolk/Norfolk border in the Castle Marshes/Aldeby area on 10 May, and it certainly fits the decription re. wing moult.

Stuart

It certainly did look like the bird in your photos but would guess that a percentage of red kites about at the moment are probably in a similar state of moult. Having said that, it has been a really good year in the county for red kite and I added another one today at Trimingham when one flew west mid-afternoon. Still waiting for one on the garden list though!

 

[sacha]

Did it look anything like this one? I saw it on the Suffolk/Norfolk border in the Castle Marshes/Aldeby area on 10 May, and it certainly fits the decription re. wing moult.

Stuart

That is not the bird that went over the castle a few days ago! That one was quite a 'normal' looking bird with no signs of heavy moult. I am sure there have been a few through lately.

 

[sacha]

I think the one I saw at Pensthorpe was marginally less ragged but could b the same. But who cares cause tday I got my bogey lifer Bittern at Strumpshaw.:eek!:

Hi Tim,

The Pensthorpe bird may have been the hybrid/black kite that i saw near there recently. Andrew Easton wrote a good article on Birdguides with photos showing the ragged tail and wings. I believe this is the same bird that was photographed in his article about the bird at Aldeby Tip in April. Of course it does appear that many of these kites are moulting at this time so hard to say how many birds are lingering out thre... It seems this 'hybrid' bird is enjoying the Norfolk countryside since escaping London (i know the feeling!)

 

[Connor Rand]

Red-backed Shrike (male) in Snetisham Coastal Park yesterday evening but only briefly... See my website for details...

Cheers,

Connor

 

[postcardcv]

I popped over to Bodham after work to have a look and listen for the wood wabler. Well worth it the bird was very vocal and showed nicely on a couple of occassion. Great to spend some time with one in Norfolk, hopefully it will hang around so I can have another go in the week.

 

[David Norgate]

Sacha, Mick, Stuart etc (ie anyone who'd like to comment!)
I've been reading with interest your comments about kites and would like to remind you of some pics I posted:
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=1192413&postcount=3997
I came to the conclusion that this bird was a 'migrans', as Ilya commented but would be interested in your views (is this the bird others have seen in the Fakenham area?)
I also put out the news of a 'presumed Black Kite' from Titchwell today. It was I that used that word presumed, as it was obviously a kite and structurally, including the tail said Black. the wing patches were not obvious, although visible and no russet colouration was visible (but the bird was distant). Interesting a Red Kite was reported on the pager 1/2 hour later over Holme (from the Golf course) presumably the same bird (or not!?) maybe better views were had? Anyone know anything about this sighting?

All adds to the conumdrum!

David