firstreesjohn
Well-known member
Many dozens of Graylings on top of Holt Lowes, 'behind' the Country Park and in amongst the bracken and gorse. Small Coppers there- and Friary Hills, Gramborough Hill, Beeston Bog, etc, etc.
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Norfolk birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Edward woodwood
- Start date
HarassedDad
Norfolk County Butterfly Recorder
Graylings are on most coastal dunes from Titchwell to Cley, but their real stronghold is Winterton on the east coast. Small coppers are common on sandy heaths and coastal dunes, so basically all the edges of the county (though they are on Mousehold heath in norwich).
Warham has a history of introductions - there was a colony there in the early 80's which died out. It's not an official introduction so we have no details as to where they came from, how many were introduced, and how often. It's possible that they aren't even breeding there - someone might be just releasing stock they've raised each year at home at the site.
In other news, there's a small migration event taking place at the moment - whites and painted ladies with the odd few peacocks and small torts drifting in off along the Caistor/Yarmouth coast. Not high, about 25 per hour per Km.(Had a female wheatear just by the Caistor golf course at midday today - so the traffic's both ways)
The first painted ladies should be hitting Norwich around now if you'd like to check your buddlia?
As always, your records would be much appreciated: what,where,when and how many to [email protected] I'd particularly like beach sightings of in-offs over the next two weeks, and keep your eyes peeled for Camberwell Beauties and Clouded Yellows - this is peak time for them. (I'm actually away for the next ten days - bad timing - but I'll acknowledge emails when I get back.)
Warham has a history of introductions - there was a colony there in the early 80's which died out. It's not an official introduction so we have no details as to where they came from, how many were introduced, and how often. It's possible that they aren't even breeding there - someone might be just releasing stock they've raised each year at home at the site.
In other news, there's a small migration event taking place at the moment - whites and painted ladies with the odd few peacocks and small torts drifting in off along the Caistor/Yarmouth coast. Not high, about 25 per hour per Km.(Had a female wheatear just by the Caistor golf course at midday today - so the traffic's both ways)
The first painted ladies should be hitting Norwich around now if you'd like to check your buddlia?
As always, your records would be much appreciated: what,where,when and how many to [email protected] I'd particularly like beach sightings of in-offs over the next two weeks, and keep your eyes peeled for Camberwell Beauties and Clouded Yellows - this is peak time for them. (I'm actually away for the next ten days - bad timing - but I'll acknowledge emails when I get back.)
NoSpringChicken
Well-known member
HarrassedDad. I believe they were trying to reintroduce Silver-studded Blues to Kelling Heath a couple of years back. Any idea if they have been successful?
Ron
Ron
Nottingham Panther
Active member
Ron
I saw 3+ Silver Studded Blues at Kelling Heath near the railway crossing at the end of July this year (exact date escapes me !) I think the re introduction has been a success and i'm sure H Dad can fill in the details for you. I got my info from Adrian Riley's fantastic book 'British and Irish Butterflies' put me straight on them with field tips/grid ref !! For all the work that has gone into that book he deserves one of these !! B
Saw my first Painted Ladies last year in the beer garden of the Dun Cow Salthouse with pint in hand. I had just started to enjoy Butterflies and these really kick started it when i read where they had come from !!!
Steve
I saw 3+ Silver Studded Blues at Kelling Heath near the railway crossing at the end of July this year (exact date escapes me !) I think the re introduction has been a success and i'm sure H Dad can fill in the details for you. I got my info from Adrian Riley's fantastic book 'British and Irish Butterflies' put me straight on them with field tips/grid ref !! For all the work that has gone into that book he deserves one of these !! B
Saw my first Painted Ladies last year in the beer garden of the Dun Cow Salthouse with pint in hand. I had just started to enjoy Butterflies and these really kick started it when i read where they had come from !!!
Steve
NoSpringChicken
Well-known member
Thanks Steve. It's good to know the reintroduction has been successful. I do a bit of work for the owners of Kelling Heath and I was amazed by the amount of red tape involved in a project like this.Ron
I saw 3+ Silver Studded Blues at Kelling Heath near the railway crossing at the end of July this year (exact date escapes me !) I think the re introduction has been a success and i'm sure H Dad can fill in the details for you. I got my info from Adrian Riley's fantastic book 'British and Irish Butterflies' put me straight on them with field tips/grid ref !! For all the work that has gone into that book he deserves one of these !! B
Saw my first Painted Ladies last year in the beer garden of the Dun Cow Salthouse with pint in hand. I had just started to enjoy Butterflies and these really kick started it when i read where they had come from !!!
Steve
Painted Ladies are beautiful butterflies and I find it can become quite compulsive picking them out among the Small Tortoiseshells. Judging from the huge numbers of Red Admirals, Peacocks and Commas at Minsmere on Sunday we are in a bit of butterfly bonanza at the moment.
Ron
Songkhran
Well-known member
Great days seawatching at both ends of the day today.
In the morning had Balearic Shearwater and Manx + a few Skuas
In the evening had a Sooty initialy close then flying out to sea, was then watching my 5th Arctic Skua which was then joined by a juvenile intermediate morph Long-tailed Skua
Because alot of Long-tailed Skuas are thought to be stringy i thought it would be informative to put my description on, any comments welcome even if you think its a load of [email protected]!
Initially was watching an Arctic Skua which then went after a Tern and was then joined by another small, slim Skua - this attack didn‘t last long. The Skua then flew East and was in view for 2-3 mintues
Plumage - colour of plumage a non-descript greyish brown, not warm toned, there was a distinctly pale area around the belly and the whole of the underbody was quite mottled and ‘messy’. As the bird was initially very close, I was able to see the upper wing very well and could see that there were only two white shafts on the primaries. The underwing shafts appeared more reduced than Arctic. The upper tail coverts were barred and this contrasted with a thin dark tail (probably the darkest part of the plumage) and two blunt fairly longish finger points that made up the tail streamers (able to note this when Skua attacked the Tern). The bird was very chesty and flat bodied making for quite an athletic appearance. The head was small and compact, the bill was small. The head and chest were dark, but in my excitement the only feature I did not note was the paler nape collar. The bird was very thin winged, the wing tips being pointed - especially noticeable when it was flying away.
Flight - very tern-like and buoyant, quite bouncy, the wing beats were deeper than Arctic Skua. Once it had separated from the Arctic (which landed on the sea) it stalled on a couple of occasions as it flew east at one point almost hovering. The flight was slightly haphazard, not as direct or steady as Arctic.
In the morning had Balearic Shearwater and Manx + a few Skuas
In the evening had a Sooty initialy close then flying out to sea, was then watching my 5th Arctic Skua which was then joined by a juvenile intermediate morph Long-tailed Skua
Because alot of Long-tailed Skuas are thought to be stringy i thought it would be informative to put my description on, any comments welcome even if you think its a load of [email protected]!
Initially was watching an Arctic Skua which then went after a Tern and was then joined by another small, slim Skua - this attack didn‘t last long. The Skua then flew East and was in view for 2-3 mintues
Plumage - colour of plumage a non-descript greyish brown, not warm toned, there was a distinctly pale area around the belly and the whole of the underbody was quite mottled and ‘messy’. As the bird was initially very close, I was able to see the upper wing very well and could see that there were only two white shafts on the primaries. The underwing shafts appeared more reduced than Arctic. The upper tail coverts were barred and this contrasted with a thin dark tail (probably the darkest part of the plumage) and two blunt fairly longish finger points that made up the tail streamers (able to note this when Skua attacked the Tern). The bird was very chesty and flat bodied making for quite an athletic appearance. The head was small and compact, the bill was small. The head and chest were dark, but in my excitement the only feature I did not note was the paler nape collar. The bird was very thin winged, the wing tips being pointed - especially noticeable when it was flying away.
Flight - very tern-like and buoyant, quite bouncy, the wing beats were deeper than Arctic Skua. Once it had separated from the Arctic (which landed on the sea) it stalled on a couple of occasions as it flew east at one point almost hovering. The flight was slightly haphazard, not as direct or steady as Arctic.
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Helen O
Anything that flies
A bit late, but I just want to confirm, the bird was indeed a red kite, originating in the Chilterns.
Chiltern kites that are wing tagged have a yellow tag on the left wing. Further explanations on wing tags, and how to read them, on the website in my signature block. Thanks.
Penny Clarke
Well-known member
My Birdfair extravaganza with Simon, Bill and David A etc. if anyone wants to look - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=120994
Norfolkbirder
Vizmigger
Birdy stuff
Hi everyone,
Sorry not posted for ages! But couple bits of interest - a Quail was clearly audible yesterday evening from fields opposite Foxley wood at the eastern end just before Themelthorpe. Plus Thursday I had an amzing encounter with a male Goshawk, which crossed the B1145 between Litcham & Lexham, it perched roadside & I managed to reverse back & get a brief perched view before it flew off. I say amazing as I have spent quite a few hours searching for these around my part of the world in Feb/March & seen none in the the last 2 years.
Got some nice Black Darter & Emerald pics at Dersingham if any one wants to take a peak - click here!
Ta C
Hi everyone,
Sorry not posted for ages! But couple bits of interest - a Quail was clearly audible yesterday evening from fields opposite Foxley wood at the eastern end just before Themelthorpe. Plus Thursday I had an amzing encounter with a male Goshawk, which crossed the B1145 between Litcham & Lexham, it perched roadside & I managed to reverse back & get a brief perched view before it flew off. I say amazing as I have spent quite a few hours searching for these around my part of the world in Feb/March & seen none in the the last 2 years.
Got some nice Black Darter & Emerald pics at Dersingham if any one wants to take a peak - click here!
Ta C
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Connor Rand
Norwich resident, Holme devotee
Very nice shots mate! And well done on the Gos, most jammy :t:
Quite quiet at Holme today, but 3 Arctic Skuas and 2 Arctic Terns past and 2 Stonechats in the dunes. Redwell Marsh NOA (members-only hide) was much better with a Wood Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank (remarkably confinding, see pics at http://connorsbirdingsite.blogspot.com/2008/08/holme-noa-18808.html ), 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 juv Little Ringed Plovers and 7 fly-over Greenshanks, so wader passage very much in evidence (just not a Marsh Sandpiper or anything rare!)
Cheers,
Connor
p.s lost of stuff starting to happen up north, scattering of Red-backed Shrikes, Barred Warblers, the odd Wryneck, Icky etc. soon time to get serious.
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Penny Clarke
Well-known member
Now updated today with loads more photos - are you in them? and finished if anyone wants to look - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=120994
and finished if anyone wants to look - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=120994Andy Musgrove
Well-known member
Marsh Sand and woeful dog-ownership
Hi all
Thanks to Andy Kane (I understand?) on the Marsh Sand at Hickling today - most enjoyable.
Thanks v much also to Tim for scuppering my attempt to lose my dog! Having enjoyed prolonged views of the bird, I eventually walked away with my two kids completely forgetting that I'd left my ageing and almost entirely deaf dog (Jess - British List 348) snoozing by the hide. Tim cleverly phoned the number on Jess's collar, and informed my wife of my misdemenour. She then attempted to call me on my mobile, which by a stroke of genius I'd left in the car by mistake. Fortunately, I realised my mistake just on getting back to Potter Heigham church, did a u-turn and headed back towards the broad, luckily catching up with Jess before too long. All that remained then was to relocate my phone, with its 31 missed calls from a frantic wife assuming that I'd driven away leaving the dog behind! Ho hum - all's well that ends well!
Ta again Tim!
Andy
Hi all
Thanks to Andy Kane (I understand?) on the Marsh Sand at Hickling today - most enjoyable.
Thanks v much also to Tim for scuppering my attempt to lose my dog! Having enjoyed prolonged views of the bird, I eventually walked away with my two kids completely forgetting that I'd left my ageing and almost entirely deaf dog (Jess - British List 348) snoozing by the hide. Tim cleverly phoned the number on Jess's collar, and informed my wife of my misdemenour. She then attempted to call me on my mobile, which by a stroke of genius I'd left in the car by mistake. Fortunately, I realised my mistake just on getting back to Potter Heigham church, did a u-turn and headed back towards the broad, luckily catching up with Jess before too long. All that remained then was to relocate my phone, with its 31 missed calls from a frantic wife assuming that I'd driven away leaving the dog behind! Ho hum - all's well that ends well!
Ta again Tim!
Andy
stevetb
Registered user
North Norfolk Trip
Just got back from North norfolk yesterday after seeing some very good birds.
On the 16th we saw the 2 monties harriers at the undisclosed site performing brilliantly, doing a food pass and allsorts, plus a tawny owl near the b&b in salthouse. We went to titchwell on the 17th, and from the first hide, we saw a small wader, which was causing some id problems. A pied wagtail gave a good size comparison, and it was soon i'd'd as an adult little stint. There was a nice variety of waders, including ruff and green sand. On the same lagoon were 2 spoonbills. After an eider on the beach, some yellow wagtails and some smart grey plovers, I managed some nice photos of the birds near the visitor centre, including an obese chaffinch. After, we called in to the monties site again, where I met connor rand, and we watched as we got even better views - at one point, 2 monties, a kestrel and a sparrowhawk were all together, and later we managed 3 monties in the same scope view!
We visited cley on the 18th, starting the day in torrential rain. Amazingly, after a couple of hours, it cleared completely! We walked to the first few hides, listening for pinging - I desperately wanted bearded tit! - but with no luck. Scanning from these hides revealed a good variety of sandpipers, with wood, green, common and curlew being seen. Raptors were well represented by marsh harrier, a hobby and a sparrowhawk that flew straight in front of the hide at high speed! A local birder kindly led me around the rest of the reserve, which yielded a stoat, 5 spotshanks on arnolds marsh - including one that still had a lot of sum. plum. still - and a yellow legged gull. We also heard some beardies, but the glimpses were extremely fleeting! Walking back to the first 3 hides again, we saw some movement, and locking onto it revealed a bearded tit flying from one stalk to the other nice and closely! No pics, but still a good view.
Back in the hides, there were sandpipers very close in, including 3 wood sands. A subadult spoonbill flew in, and was captured brilliantly by richard bedford and 'crew' (see birdguides). Walking back, I had to take some pictures of the little grebes, and in the same channel there was a water vole. Walking back to the car park, a female sprawk flew overhead and allowed some photos. After tea, we had to come back, and when we got back to the hides, the spoonbill was a lot closer, we saw a garganey and had 5 wood sands together in flight!
In the rain on monday, we had a quick look at the sea from cley beach, and thanks to a couple of other birders, bagged gannet, a razorbill and 3 artic skuas in the space of 15mins! We decided to go to cley again, as we really liked the reserve, and had a couple of hours before we went. The curlew sands had now become 2, both nice moulting adults. Otherwise it was similar to the day before, albeit a marsh harrier perfomed brilliantly for the camera and I pretty much missed it!!! On the way back though, the reeds were alive with pinging, and I got some good, although quick, views of the bearded tits. As I walked along the channel by the path to the car park, a shrew screeched and ran out of the grass.
I managed to bag another lifer on the way home, in the form of a group of ring necked parakeets over the M25 near london!
Some snaps:
Just got back from North norfolk yesterday after seeing some very good birds.
On the 16th we saw the 2 monties harriers at the undisclosed site performing brilliantly, doing a food pass and allsorts, plus a tawny owl near the b&b in salthouse. We went to titchwell on the 17th, and from the first hide, we saw a small wader, which was causing some id problems. A pied wagtail gave a good size comparison, and it was soon i'd'd as an adult little stint. There was a nice variety of waders, including ruff and green sand. On the same lagoon were 2 spoonbills. After an eider on the beach, some yellow wagtails and some smart grey plovers, I managed some nice photos of the birds near the visitor centre, including an obese chaffinch. After, we called in to the monties site again, where I met connor rand, and we watched as we got even better views - at one point, 2 monties, a kestrel and a sparrowhawk were all together, and later we managed 3 monties in the same scope view!
We visited cley on the 18th, starting the day in torrential rain. Amazingly, after a couple of hours, it cleared completely! We walked to the first few hides, listening for pinging - I desperately wanted bearded tit! - but with no luck. Scanning from these hides revealed a good variety of sandpipers, with wood, green, common and curlew being seen. Raptors were well represented by marsh harrier, a hobby and a sparrowhawk that flew straight in front of the hide at high speed! A local birder kindly led me around the rest of the reserve, which yielded a stoat, 5 spotshanks on arnolds marsh - including one that still had a lot of sum. plum. still - and a yellow legged gull. We also heard some beardies, but the glimpses were extremely fleeting! Walking back to the first 3 hides again, we saw some movement, and locking onto it revealed a bearded tit flying from one stalk to the other nice and closely! No pics, but still a good view.
Back in the hides, there were sandpipers very close in, including 3 wood sands. A subadult spoonbill flew in, and was captured brilliantly by richard bedford and 'crew' (see birdguides). Walking back, I had to take some pictures of the little grebes, and in the same channel there was a water vole. Walking back to the car park, a female sprawk flew overhead and allowed some photos. After tea, we had to come back, and when we got back to the hides, the spoonbill was a lot closer, we saw a garganey and had 5 wood sands together in flight!
In the rain on monday, we had a quick look at the sea from cley beach, and thanks to a couple of other birders, bagged gannet, a razorbill and 3 artic skuas in the space of 15mins! We decided to go to cley again, as we really liked the reserve, and had a couple of hours before we went. The curlew sands had now become 2, both nice moulting adults. Otherwise it was similar to the day before, albeit a marsh harrier perfomed brilliantly for the camera and I pretty much missed it!!! On the way back though, the reeds were alive with pinging, and I got some good, although quick, views of the bearded tits. As I walked along the channel by the path to the car park, a shrew screeched and ran out of the grass.
I managed to bag another lifer on the way home, in the form of a group of ring necked parakeets over the M25 near london!
Some snaps:
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Connor Rand
Norwich resident, Holme devotee
An excellent report with some excellent snaps - nice one! Glad you got some ticks and good to meet you...
Penny Clarke
Well-known member
As Connor said - a fantastic report, glad you enjoyed yourself. I especially like the robin picture with a glint in his eye - very sweet
Best Wishes Penny:girl:
David Norgate
Well-known member
Back in Norfolk after 3 weeks away, and things have started well.
Interesting how many seabirds are being seen on these southerly winds, well done Pomskua and others for keeping such a good eye on the sea, very interesting.
Good to see my first Marsh Sandpiper in Norfolk since I moved here in 1996, although distant, still very enjoyable - and has come close enough to Andy Kane, see his excellent pics on Surfbirds.
I have decide to start my own blog. For anybody interested it can be found here:
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/Ruralchill/
Interesting how many seabirds are being seen on these southerly winds, well done Pomskua and others for keeping such a good eye on the sea, very interesting.
Good to see my first Marsh Sandpiper in Norfolk since I moved here in 1996, although distant, still very enjoyable - and has come close enough to Andy Kane, see his excellent pics on Surfbirds.
I have decide to start my own blog. For anybody interested it can be found here:
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/Ruralchill/
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