Norfolk birding (1 Viewer)

[Penny Clarke]

For what it's worth, I live at Heacham near Hunstanton, which as a lot of people will know is not far from Titchwell. Hence the reason most of my pictures come from there.

One pub I can mention is the Fox and Hounds in Heacham. I've lived here 23 years and never been in it until recently when my cousin and her husband drop in for a weekends stay. He's a real ale fan so I took him there because they brew their own beer. I was a lager fan until recently but I've just been converted. Definately worth a visit.

http://www.foxandhoundsheacham.co.uk/

Another good pub to mention that does nice grub is the King William at Sedgeford. Go for the Chef Specials though. Lamb Curry is lovely. They don't skimp on the servings either.

http://thekingwilliamsedgeford.co.uk/

If your anywhere near Burnham Deepdale on the A149 the cafe there at the garage is definately worth a visit. Avoid the mid day rush though. It's very popular and gets a bit busy at noon. If you're going to go then, it's best to book in advance.

http://www.deepdalecafe.co.uk/

Before you go accusing me of owning these pubs, I work for the NHS. I so wish they did pay me enough to own them.

PLEASE don't think I am being rude, but is your post on the wrong thread, this thread is Norfolk Birding? May I suggest on this thread for example: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=91888

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[Dylan999]

Am I a bit slow or are the Avocets spreading further afield from Titchwell? When I first start birding I only saw them at Titchwell. Now I see them at Holme and Thornham. It's like Little Egrets. You see one and think wow!!! Then you see them everywhere.

 

[Dylan999]

Sorry Penny. I thought I was giving advice for anyone thinking about birding in my part of Norfolk. They might want to eat while they're here.

Just my little bit of local knowledge so to speak.

If there's another forum for this sort of thing I'll quite happily copy and paste it there.

Being a Newbie I didn't know.

I was going by the original Blog. I didn't realise we'd moved on since then.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348

 

[Penny Clarke]

Sorry Penny. I thought I was giving advice for anyone thinking about birding in my part of Norfolk. They might want to eat while they're here.

Just my little bit of local knowledge so to speak.

If there's another forum for this sort of thing I'll quite happily copy and paste it there.

Being a Newbie I didn't know.

I was going by the original Blog. I didn't realise we'd moved on since then.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348

I do apologise:eek!:, I must admit looking at Tim's first post on here I didn't realise what he suggested we include on here!!!!! So NO leave your post here, sorry!!!!!

And yes Fox & Hounds is very good, had a fantastic homecooked vegi meal in there not so long back!

Happy Birding

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[Dylan999]

Thanks Penny.

I noticed the restaurant as well. So you can recommend it then? That's interesting. Save's me having to drive to Hunstanton or Silk Road. Ooops I digress LOL

 

[Paul Eele]

12 hours birding 7.45am 'til 7.45pm!!!


Went to Titchwell to meet up with last year's Lesvos crew: Pete S. Graham and Glyn. Lots of good birds have been seen at Titchwell today when I looked in the book: Osprey, a White Stork, Ring Ouzel, common whitethroat, a whinchat, willow warbler, yellow wagtails (none of these came up on the pager apart from Osprey I noticed). Anyway from the Fen hide we saw a marsh harrier and a ringtail hen harrier and 3 Sand Martins flew past west. Along the main bank, Graham very sharply spotted the pair of Red Crested Pochard at the back of the reeds:t: Walking along the bank we saw 3 more Sandmartins and a swallow.

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

Hi Penny

Most of the bird news that you see from Titchwell on a daily basis comes from me. I put out bird news to the information services via a yahoogroup and they also take info off these forums. I was not working yesterday so the osprey was probably phoned out directly. As for the rest of the stuff, I have no idea. I assume it wasn't seen by any of the staff or volunteers as I didn't get any phonecalls although it would not be the first time I haven't been tolad about things.

Few more migrants in this morning - 3 willow warbler, sedge warbler, 6 chiffs, 2 blackcap, ringtail hen harrier. Bittern distantly booming in reedbed and a light westerly passage of woodpigeon.

Paul

Just had a look in the visitors book and the white stork was reported SW @ 13:50 mobbed by gulls

 

[Dylan999]

Hi Paul. "White Stork"? That wouldn't be a Little Egret would it?
If it is a Stork I might pop up later.

Dylan

 

[ChrisBish]

Hi Paul. "White Stork"? That wouldn't be a Little Egret would it?
If it is a Stork I might pop up later.

Dylan

If it was a stork, it's likely to have continued on its merry way I'm afraid! Still seems a little early for the reported Whinchat...

Chris

 

[sacha]

Blakeney Point today:

1 Long Eared Owl - flew over the Harbour and headed west - being mobbed by gulls (I could see it was an 'eared' owl but fortunately someone nearby had seen it through the scope and at closer range)

2+ Red Kites drifting over Blakeney Village (3 reported)

1+ Buzzard

Plenty of Marsh Harriers

2 swallows, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Chiffchaff, (1 dead shag), plenty of mipits and linnets, 3 wheatear and lots of sandwich terns around the point.

 

[Happisbirder]

A couple of Red Kites here for me today; the first circling to the west just south of the village at 10:50am then another viewed distantly over East Ruston as it flew north towards Ridlington at 1:35pm. Also Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk through and a distinctive 'fssieew' call alerted me to my first Yellow Wagtail of the year. :t:

I tried reporting these onto RBA but couldn't get through for some reason... :h?:

James

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell April 5th

Today's highlights

Common crane - 2 flew in from the west, circled over reserve/Thornham Harbour area between 16:10-16:40 before flying back east
Red kite - 1 west @ 11:50
Common buzzard - steady movement all day with at least 15 west mainly moving along the ridge south of the reserve.
Red crested pochard - pair on brackish marsh
Water pipit - 1 on fresh marsh
Sedge warbler - 1st singing male of the year
Brambling - singing male by feeders
Hen harrier - ringtail over reedbed
Bittern - 1 booming in reedbed
Med gull - 2 adults on fresh marsh all day
Grey wagtail - 1 west
Siskin - 74 west

Paul

 

[mr.sim]

Plenty of Buzzards being seen at Titchwell recently. I've recieved info. on nearly 40 birds! Does anyone have any coastal sightings of Buzzards from further out East? I am finding most people are seeing them in the West of the county...only had info. on 2 birds at Happisburgh and 1 at Blakeney...
I was watching the Common Crane reports on BirdGuides today! Was ready to get down to Denver Sluice when they were reported at Holme, only for them to be reported at Titchwell again! Thanks for clarifying what went on Paul! I wonder why they went back East?!...

 

[alandawn]

Mr Sim

1 Common Buzzard seen today at Horsey Mill was heading west

Cheers

Alan

 

[Dave Hawkins]

Plenty of Buzzards being seen at Titchwell recently. I've recieved info. on nearly 40 birds! Does anyone have any coastal sightings of Buzzards from further out East? .....

Spent the day raptor watching near West Runton, where we had a few common buzzards but they were probably all local birds. They certainly didn't appear to be moving to any pattern or direction. So no evidence of a buzzard movement out this far east.

Had the kites and the cranes and some excellent company...thanks guys.

Dave

 

[Connor Rand]

Was ready to get down to Denver Sluice when they were reported at Holme, only for them to be reported at Titchwell again!

Presumably wanderers from the Broads, as is generally accepted for birds at this time of year I think, so probably heading back home after a nice day out!

 

[borobirder]

Hello,just got back from another weekend in Heacham,and a cracking one at that.
Male Ring Ouzel on Saturday morning was followed up by being in the right place at the right time at Titchwell to find the White Stork,it circled over the brackish marsh,mobbed by a couple of Herring Gulls,before gaining height on thermals and lost in the distance,heading South East(not South West as i said at the visitors centre-directions not a strongpoint!)
This morning whilst sitting on the sea wall at Heacham watching the Brent Geese feeding on the shore,another small flock flew in containing a nice looking Black Brant,not a bad weekend all in all!
Good birding all,Adrian.

 

[ben_lewis]

Presumably wanderers from the Broads, as is generally accepted for birds at this time of year I think, so probably heading back home after a nice day out!

I watched a thermal this morning at about 10ish between waxham and Horsey containing 7 cranes and an amazing 12 Marsh harriers. As I watched they went higher and higher. If it had been anywhere else I'd have put them on the pager straight away, I guess at least some of these birds made it onto the pager a little later on in the day! Other than that I had a fairly quiet vis migging session (for the conditions) just a single wheatear, 6 chiffs and 3 willow warblers.
...Ben

 

[Penny Clarke]

Worked 'til 1pm today so couldn't resist going out this afternoon!

Arrived Snettisham Coastal Park 3pm in another day of glorious sunshine.

3.30pm 3 Wheatears in the very large flat area of grass shore side of the pines in the carpark. 1 barn owl hunting round. Several linnets, chaffinches and meadow pipits, a couple more swallows. Over Ken Hill Wood 3 Common Buzzards going east 4.30pm - one of them was sitting on a tree. Kept a sharp eye out for a Red Kite by alas did not see one. Very frustrating to hear there were 2 cranes coming my way and then they decided to turn back!!! typical! oh well!! Continued on to the green corrugated tin hut at Heacham where they were another 5 Wheatears, 1 lapwing and several meadow pipits all feeding on the large grass area around hut. On the return walk I had my first Sedge Warbler singing in some reeds close by the path and further up my first Willow Warbler seen and heard singing AND A lovely Black Redstart 6pm (did phone these through to RBA but for some reason did not come up on my pager). The black redstart if anyone looks tomorrow was roughly in buckthorn/scrub not long after the path becomes very narrow amongst the bushes (if you know where I mean) - heading towards Heacham. Whilst sitting in car back at the carpark and feeding bits of my hot cross buns to a pair of mallards, I watched lots of linnets and chaffinches feeding from the cones in the pines directly in front of me.

Left here and went to Heacham North Beach, but too late in the day to see anything really, should have gone yesterday to see the redstart, never mind. Took some sunset pictures and cruised back to King's Lynn

Roll on Good Friday!

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[mr.sim]

Anyone know anything about the American/Pacific Golden Plover reported at Breydon about 45 mins ago. It has the big black question mark next to it on BirdGuides...

 

[Connor Rand]

Anyone know anything about the American/Pacific Golden Plover reported at Breydon about 45 mins ago. It has the big black question mark next to it on BirdGuides...

From the hide at the north end but don't know anything more about the ID.

C