Norfolk birding (2 Viewers)

[Irene Boston]

Interesting to see that the three Red Kites (presuming there are the ones seen at Great Yarmouth a few days ago) have decided to go back East. Did anyone pick them up further along the coast?

I didn't have one on the north coast at the weekend but late Saturday morning, I had one going south over the North Wootton marshes at the bottom end of the Wash. Only picked it up actually on the marshes so have no idea which direction it came from. Obvious gaps in both wings, just on the inner primaries ... if that matches any of the north coast birds?

Fascinating bit of behaviour too. We watched it 'mug' a Kestrel which was carrying prey, forcing the Kestrel to drop it and the Kite proceeded to sit in the field eating whatever it was for the next 20 minutes, so it must have been fairly substantial. It then flew south, eventually being lost in the haze.

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell April 29th

Today's highlights

Little gull - 5 on fresh marsh (4 2nd summer, 1 1st summer)
Greenshank - 1 on tidal pool
Red crested pochard - drake on reedbed pool
Spotted redshank - 3 on fresh marsh
Whimbrel - 3 on fresh marsh

Paul

 

[Tim P]

Looking for little egrets this morning along the Acle straight caught a brief glimpse by the Berny Arms of similar sized bird with huge yellow bill. A very brief glimpse only and the bird was gone an hour later so my best guess would be Cattle Egret however it was wading through a deep stream and could have been bigger.

 

[Penny Clarke]

Evening's birding down south!!!

I was very, very lucky this evening. Arrived Weeting Heath and from the West Hide I had a few seconds view of a single Stone Curlew (7.45pm) flying over the back and then landing out of view over the hill. Sadly a couple in the hide who were on holiday had been waiting ages to see one - I couldn't get them on the bird quick enough. I stayed in the hide for ages after to try and find them one, but no luck. Lots of lapwings, pied wagtails and bunnies!

Moved onto Lakenheath for Golden Orioles, but way too late in the evening!!! But did have a cuckoo in the big willow at the end of the top path, marsh harrier over the reed beds, sedge and willow warblers singing, lots of mute swans, tufted duck, great crested grebes, herons and reed buntings.

Counting down the days to my 2 week holiday!

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[ben_lewis]

Looking for little egrets this morning along the Acle straight caught a brief glimpse by the Berny Arms of similar sized bird with huge yellow bill. A very brief glimpse only and the bird was gone an hour later so my best guess would be Cattle Egret however it was wading through a deep stream and could have been bigger.

There was a great white egret along the south wall at Breydon last week Tim so could well be the same bird. One has been around the broads for the past 5 weeks or so but has never settled on a final location. I had it near Stalham on 19/3 and then flying south over Acle straight on 8/4, it was also seen at Strumpshaw briefly...but then again a Cattle egret was also in the area earlier in the year but I believe it was tracked further south into suffolk before dissapearing. Who knows? I'll keep an eye out for it as always, Im not far from that area.
Cheers

 

[Penny Clarke]

My mother had 2 Med Gulls and the biggest number of grey plover that she can remember (in the hundreds!) on Holme beach early this morning, also Turtle Dove 'purring', several Lesser Whitethroats and Common Whitethroats, a 'good movement of birds in general this morning'.

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[Happisbirder]

FAO Mr.Sim...

Watched a cracking Red Kite heading SE just south of Happisburgh village at 10:55 this morning and 25 minutes earlier had a Common Buzzard quite high heading SE too. This (the Buzzard) was a medium phase bird which appeared to have lost a primary or two from it's right wing so should be quite readily identifiable as an individual if anybody else picks it up...

James

 

[ben_lewis]

Hi James, just out of interest, I had this Red Kite go North over Waxham at about 9 this morning, is it the same bird that you had? ( it looked like it came from the North circled the pipe dump and then went back North again) It was a very contrasty bird on top and had a couple of feathers missing on the trailing edge of each wing (could even be Irene's bird from N. Wooton). Not much else seen this morn apart from my first Whinchat of the year, which was a nice male and a female Rouzel.

Cheers

 

[Irene Boston]

It was a very contrasty bird on top and had a couple of feathers missing on the trailing edge of each wing (could even be Irene's bird from N. Wooton).

It's difficult to be sure but I think 'my' bird at North Wootton had a similar gap in the right wing (and in the same place) but the gap in the left wing was much bigger than this bird is showing, although the left wing isn't as clear on the photos so it may just be the angle.

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell April 30th

Today's highlights

Comon crane - 1 SW over reserve late morning
Little gull - 10 on fresh marsh
Bittern - 1 booming in reedbed
Turtle dove - 1 singing in scrub near carpark

Paul

 

[Happisbirder]

It could well be the same bird Ben. I didn't see the uppers, it was almost overhead, but the underparts and 'nick' in the wings look very similar. I was hoping others may have picked up the Common Buzzard elsewhere as it had a distinct gap in the right pps and would've been an easy one to track round the coast...

James

 

[mr.sim]

Thanks for all the Buzzard and Red Kite information guys...keep it coming!

 

[Tractorboy69]

Red Kite

Just to add to the record of the recent Kite sightings, attached below is a pic of a Red Kite that drifted south from Overstrand this am after it had been circling over the east end of Cromer golf course for 10 mins at c1030-1040.

Simon

 

[Andy Benson]

An account of todays Pallid Harrier and how I un-coolly handled the situation can be found on my blog.

 

[Birding Bob]

Hi all
Is high water 2moz @ 1209 or 1109?

 

[Peter Dolton]

'Is high water 2moz @ 1209 or 1109?'

Depends where you are on the coast

 

[Connor Rand]

An account of todays Pallid Harrier and how I un-coolly handled the situation can be found on my blog.

Great find :t: Lets hole this weekend throws up a few more nice bits and pieces.

 

[ben_lewis]

Titchwell this morning

I decided to go to Titchwell this morning, getting there around 6am I was fairly surprised not to be the first there but headed straight to Thornham point in the hope of a migrant or two. Lots of Sandwich and common terns offshore this morning as well as 3 groppers and 5 wheatears along the way. While at the point I decided to sit on the sand and have a bit of a seawatch. Within 10mins I had an odd call from the south of the dunes, the call got closer and I eventually saw the bird heading straight for me, landing about 10-15m away in my wind shadow, a stunning female Dotterel in super light!! The camera was soon out and it started walking towards me, which was fantastic, it must have been seeking shelter from the wind and using me (this sort of thing never seems to happen to me so I enjoyed every second). After digiscoping some shots (reduced images attached) 2 crows flew low over the beach and spooked it, I followed it heading south and the east but lost it to view, probably ended up at Chosely.
Fantastic bird and glad I had my camera on me!

 

[Happisbirder]

There's nothing un-cool about finding, IDing and photographing a Pallid H from your garden Andy! What an experience. It speaks volumes for your camera's image stabilising system too! Were you the sole observer? I see it originally came on RBA as north at Aylmerton and then, an hour later, SE at Sheringham/Felbrigg? Perhaps this, and the fact that in one photo it looks to have recently fed, could suggest that it may be lingering somewhere not too far away...

Nice Dotterel pic too Ben. With that kind of luck do you think you could hang around east Norfolk a bit more please? 3

James

 

[Penny Clarke]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!! They are the most stunning pictures of dotterel I have seen!!!!!! Beautiful light on the bird - I would be over the moon if I had taken those pictures - early bird catches the worm!!! Well done!!!:t::t:

I decided to go to Titchwell this morning, getting there around 6am I was fairly surprised not to be the first there but headed straight to Thornham point in the hope of a migrant or two. Lots of Sandwich and common terns offshore this morning as well as 3 groppers and 5 wheatears along the way. While at the point I decided to sit on the sand and have a bit of a seawatch. Within 10mins I had an odd call from the south of the dunes, the call got closer and I eventually saw the bird heading straight for me, landing about 10-15m away in my wind shadow, a stunning female Dotterel in super light!! The camera was soon out and it started walking towards me, which was fantastic, it must have been seeking shelter from the wind and using me (this sort of thing never seems to happen to me so I enjoyed every second). After digiscoping some shots (reduced images attached) 2 crows flew low over the beach and spooked it, I followed it heading south and the east but lost it to view, probably ended up at Chosely.
Fantastic bird and glad I had my camera on me!