Norfolk birding (1 Viewer)

[jimmyg]

I'm sure you could find enough birders to join in for the asking price, there might be problems with up keep and if you plan public access then insurance could be a nightmare... that said I'd be tempted to join in.

Planning public access might be a bit too much (and it would be nice to have a private rarity hotspot that most of the top listers won't have access to B ), but surely the place could be used/rented by a local farmer, or better, a birding farmer? I don't know a lot about conservation, but maintaining the place purely to attract migrants surely wouldn't involve that much maintenance beyond grazing the place?

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell August 20th

Today's highlights

Greenshank - 1 on fresh marsh
Curlew sandpiper - 1 on fresh marsh
Ruff - 40 on fresh marsh
Dunlin - 100 on fresh marsh
Green sandpiper - 1 on fresh marsh

Paul

 

[Penny Clarke]

Hope to see some of you maybe at the Birdfair - I am going Friday and Saturday:t:

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[firstreesjohn]

Put out the bunting

Following my return from a busman's holiday (therefore, mostly non-birding) in Devon, trudging around my usual haunts has produced almost nothing.

Gramboro' has had a few transient warblers (Chiffchaff, Whitethroat) and a frustratingly elusive Hawker, but no more.

The desolate area which was once lush with vegetation at West Runton has already begun to regrow, but its fate remains as up in the air as a geostationary satellite.

Cley looks the best bet in the near future, with a goodly number of Dunlin and a supporting cast of a couple of Little Stints et al. Will we get another rare wader to add to the impressive list this year ?

The walk up, and then back, the East Bank was notable for a brief fluttering of heart valves, when the bird featured appeared on the path. Was it Little, or even a Rustic ? However, after mental defibrillation and even a quick glance at the creature in question, it flew into the eponymous reeds.

 

[jimmyg]

Spent the morning at Snettisham for the high tide, picking up a few nice birds. Highlights included a juv. Curlew Sandpiper, a distant Wood Sandpiper, bucket-loads of Spotted Redshank and Greenshank and a Wheatear. A Fulmar flew over the pits as I was leaving! Several Yellow Wagtails flew over, and hundreds of Swallows were gathering to fly south. The sheer number of waders present never fails to amaze me.

 

[Songkhran]

The walk up, and then back, the East Bank was notable for a brief fluttering of heart valves, when the bird featured appeared on the path. Was it Little, or even a Rustic ? However, after mental defibrillation and even a quick glance at the creature in question, it flew into the eponymous reeds.

My monitor is terrible so can't make out much colour, but lack of straight culmen would appear to rule them both out, don't see particularly prominent eye ring or peaked crown. Smudgey streaking on the underparts, 1st win/ juvie Reed i'd say,

The 'eponymous' reeds, reeds that are named after themselves? do elaborate dear chap, only playing you at your own game, 'wink"

mental defibrillation? is this performed with an electrical dose of ones own pysche? if so where is the plug?

good to catch up, The Bohemian Birder

 

[firstreesjohn]

Considerable Menace at Salthouse

This large and frightening apparition greets (?) one from the side of road, just west of the Dun Cow. Dennis is well, but thankfully not alive. His eyes are eerily reminiscent of those of the mo'ai, on Easter Island.

On the bird front, there was no change from yesterday.

However, on the ladybird front, they're on the attack again. Increased numbers near the coast, perhaps as a result of the high temperatures of the last few days.

 

[Happisbirder]

However, on the ladybird front, they're on the attack again. Increased numbers near the coast, perhaps as a result of the high temperatures of the last few days.

The increase in Ladybird numbers was apparent on the beach at Happisburgh today too. Return of the nippers...

James

 

[ChrisBish]

Finally seen young Spotted flycatchers from my bedroom window this morning, at least 2 being fed by parents.

Chris

 

[ben_lewis]

A walk around Holkham yesterday afternoon did not produce any good birds (although still trying to work out one song heard from reed/scrub-probably a subsinging warbler of sorts but cannot place it!). The main attraction were the insects, with butterflies and dragonflies gallore; best of the bunch were 4 clouded yellow butterflies, hundreds of ruddy and common darters and the highlight for me were the Migrant Hawkers, at one point at the Western edge of the pines there was a swam of well over 100 all together, quite a sight and sound!

 

[firstreesjohn]

It wasn't until we got back to the beginning at the end- East Hills this afternoon

In blazing sun, we trudged out slowly to the Hills. The tide had been very high and the track was commensurately wet and slippery.

Arriving at the main sycamore glade, we rested, before searching for what appeared to be non-existent aivfauna. It is dispiriting to do the long trek out to this magical place, only to see nowt. However, we persevered, flushing nothing on the way west.

I managed a brief view of a greenish warbler (NB in lower case), which was probably a WillowChiff. The others didn't even see this. We got back all the way into the easternmost conifers, before Ian found a Pied Flycatcher . . . then another . . . and another. This last was the only one that called- very softly. I managed the poor photo (below) of the first, which repeatedly frustrated a good shot, by perching out of sight, or with most of it obscured.

That was it.

***SAFETY ADVISORY***
Do not go out here without good local knowledge, the timings of tides etc explained and, preferably, having been shown the way by someone who knows- at least once!

 

[craigaholden]

Hiya

Wondered if anyone could help me out. I'm starting to get on the slippery slope of enjoying butterflies and am keen to know if any dark green fritillary are still present at Horsey Gap (taken from the Norfolk page of the Buterfly Conservation website). Also if there are any other decent species to be found in the area (eg second brood of swallowtail at Hickling etc etc)

Thanks in advance

 

[Penny Clarke]

Spent the last 3 days at the Bird Fair, BUT on hearing there were 6 Pied Flys at Holme this pm, I drove straight to Holme from the fair, arriving 7.15pmish - Had a good look around the NWT Forestry area, but only saw a single Wheatear.

Then popped into parents to show off all my celebrity pictures including of course SK!!!!!

I have Monday and Tuesday off:t:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[Reader]

How on earth did I miss you today. I was there from 9am until 16.45. I even had a long chat with Chris Mills and we talked about you a bit and he mentioned that you had been on a bit of a celebrity hunt.:-O

John

Spent the last 3 days at the Bird Fair, BUT on hearing there were 6 Pied Flys at Holme this pm, I drove straight to Holme from the fair, arriving 7.15pmish - Had a good look around the NWT Forestry area, but only saw a single Wheatear.

Then popped into parents to show off all my celebrity pictures including of course SK!!!!!

I have Monday and Tuesday off:t:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[Penny Clarke]

How on earth did I miss you today. I was there from 9am until 16.45. I even had a long chat with Chris Mills and we talked about you a bit and he mentioned that you had been on a bit of a celebrity hunt.:-O

John

Hi John

Sorry I missed you!!! I did not arrive until lunchtime today - an hour of that was in the Simon King queue to get signed photo card and my picture WITH Simon!!!! I will be putting a Bird Fair thread on soon with tons of pictures. Not until end of week though, as have Mon, Tues off and want to go birding!

Best Wishes Penny:girl:

 

[Irene Boston]

I'm starting to get on the slippery slope of enjoying butterflies and am keen to know if any dark green fritillary are still present at Horsey Gap (taken from the Norfolk page of the Buterfly Conservation website). Also if there are any other decent species to be found in the area (eg second brood of swallowtail at Hickling etc etc)

I can't help with the specific questions but you might find this Norfolk Butterflies thread interesting and the Norfolk butterflies site below, which is a work in progress

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=137034&highlight=Norfolk+butterflies&page=8

http://www.norfolkbutterflies.co.uk/

 

[senatore]

I hope to visit your great birding county again early in September but this time,instead of staying at the Hunstanton end,I plan to stay at the Cromer end.

I don't know this end too well so if anyone can tell me of some good birding spots to visit hopefully to see some migrants I would be very grateful.

Max.

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Three distant record shots of the Osprey over Strumpshaw on Saturday afternoon. Taken from the Tower Hide.

Ron

 

[James Emerson]

Hiya

Wondered if anyone could help me out. I'm starting to get on the slippery slope of enjoying butterflies and am keen to know if any dark green fritillary are still present at Horsey Gap (taken from the Norfolk page of the Buterfly Conservation website). Also if there are any other decent species to be found in the area (eg second brood of swallowtail at Hickling etc etc)

Thanks in advance

Yes, there are still Dark Green Fritillaries at Horsey Gap, a friend went a week and a half ago and saw quite a few to the east of the main car park. You should also see Wall Butterflies and Grayling, and possibly Small Heath. The second brood of Swallowtails are flying at Hickling, and there are also some caterpillars, I saw mine along the boardwalk on the right hand path, just past the track towards Seckers Hide. If you can go on the boat trip at Hickling, Purple Hairstreak can be seen from the Tower Hide in the woods, although I don't know whether they are still flying.

 

[Jono L]

Early Saturday at Buckenham Marshes revealed nothing on the flashes, as they had completely dried out. Really sad as a fortnight ago they looked fab and were full of waders and today held none. Only birds of note were a fly-over Whimbrel and several showy Sedge Warblers, which looked to be itching to depart for foreign climes.
Nevertheless a fine walk with some low mist hanging over the ditches making for some fine photography, if I had remembered a camera.
Cheers
Jono