Norfolk birding (7 Viewers)

[ben_lewis]

Thanks John, unfortunately I started birding in the 90's which makes it all the more annoying that they've been so scarce in recent years. I have missed the chance to see quite a few over the years, so this is the year where I will make a real effort to find one!

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell April 5th

Today’s highlights

Water pipit – moulting bird on fresh marsh
Velvet scoter – 1 offshore
Wheatear – female on beach
Bittern – 1 in flight over reedbed

Paul

 

[willowgrouse]

Reverse migration

...When I taught ornithology at university the accepted term “reverse migration “ meant a bird that migrated in the opposite direction to normal due to a genetic abnormality...

This is indeed the oldest and most common conception of 'reverse migration' but I have always doubted the wisdom of the term 'genetic abnormality'. Far from being abnormal is it not essentially normal for a small percentage of a breeding bird population to behave in a different manner to the masses, thus exploring new (potential wintering/breeding) territory? Is this not what the dynamics of bird populations are all about?

Genetically different perhaps, but not abnormal.

 

[Dave Appleton]

To completely change the subject yet again...and look to proper spring.

Can anyone post/pm me dates of past spring/autumn Icterine warblers in Norfolk/suffolk.
From looking at past bird reports it seems to be mid-late May/aug. I'm hoping someone has a program whereby they can just type Icterine and it comes out with dates rather than trawling through years of data.

I know its quite wind dependent but this year I really want to find/see one, so want to book a few days off in peak time in advance.
Many thanks.
PS Strumpshaw now has a few Reed,Sedge and Grasshopper warblers (mon) as well as a noticeable wave of Willow Warblers yesterday

I don't have such a program unfortunately, but I do for my own records. For spring records late May and early June is best - the 3 I've seen have been between 30th May and 6th June and I think they were pretty typical. In autumn I've personally seen more in September than August, but their appearance depends largely on the weather. A shame they've gone so scarce recently. Even in the early 90s they weren't easy to find - I chased after loads without success before deciding I wouldn't chase after any more until I'd found my own. It wasn't long before I did!

 

[SueBryan]

To completely change the subject yet again...and look to proper spring.

Can anyone post/pm me dates of past spring/autumn Icterine warblers in Norfolk/suffolk.
From looking at past bird reports it seems to be mid-late May/aug. I'm hoping someone has a program whereby they can just type Icterine and it comes out with dates rather than trawling through years of data.

I know its quite wind dependent but this year I really want to find/see one, so want to book a few days off in peak time in advance.
Many thanks.
PS Strumpshaw now has a few Reed,Sedge and Grasshopper warblers (mon) as well as a noticeable wave of Willow Warblers yesterday

My bird recorder programme of my Norfolk/Suffolk records shows the following dates for Icterine Warblers:

Blakeney 21/05/1994
Great Yarmouth 09/09/1995
Burnham Overy 20/05/1997
Bungay 31/05/2004

Salthouse 21/08/1997
Wells-next-Sea 21/09/2002
Wells-next-Sea 14/09/2009 ( Stu!!!)

Sue

 

[Penny Clarke]

.....Can anyone post/pm me dates of past spring/autumn Icterine warblers in Norfolk/suffolk.
From looking at past bird reports it seems to be mid-late May/aug......

14th August 2010 http://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/seawatching-and-blakeney-point.html

and one I didn't see!!!! http://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/bad-start-to-day.html

and one seen on 27th August 2010 http://pennyshotbirdingandlife.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/mega-day-booted-warbler-and-lapland.html

 

[ben_lewis]

Thanks a lot for all the Icky info everyone. I think I'm well armed with the rough dates to take off of work and blitz the coast. I hope its a good spring and the winds are kind!

Thanks again for all the data

 

[Mark Batten]

Subalp in east norfolk late march. Probably eccles.

 

[ben_lewis]

Just for completeness I have put together a list of all Ickys from the Norfolk bird reports (I have 8 copies between 2000 and 2009), info given to me on here and internet searches.

I have attached the excel spreadsheet which documents quite a few (but not all) records available. I dont believe it gives away any sensitive info about the species, but its worth mentioning that you cant get to Scolt without wading across mud/strong currents (don't do it unless you know what your doing etc!)

-sightings vary hugely between years, 2002 and 2008 being the stand out years.

-Scolt, Blakeney pt and Holkham in that order are the hotspots for the species.

-There is a 25:54 split between spring:autumn sightings.

thanks again

 

[VillagerFred]

Anyone know if the Norfolk Wildlife trust or the RSPB are going to raise the funds and buy the marsh? Cley is a Ramsar site after all, surely a little habit creation on the land in question would make it a priority for national conservation efforts. Or is it currently being kept under wraps as discussions in process etc?

 

[O.Reville1989]

Anyone know if the Norfolk Wildlife trust or the RSPB are going to raise the funds and buy the marsh? Cley is a Ramsar site after all, surely a little habit creation on the land in question would make it a priority for national conservation efforts. Or is it currently being kept under wraps as discussions in process etc?

I think out of the two only the RSPB would have £1.2 million available for new land? Just a guess though.
It would be a fantastic bit of land to buy, despite its lack of protection.

 

[halcyonlisa]

Golden Pheasant

I saw a Golden Pheasant running along the hedgerow last night whilst driving through the village of Burston near Diss (not sure if that is Norfolk or Suffolk).

I did take a photo and could upload later if anyone wants to see it.

I'm guessing it is an escapee from someones garden in that location though

 

[Shaky09]

A nice afternoon walk around the patch yesterday gave me my first returning Sedge warbler Of the year along with the 2 x Lrp's and 4x noisey Oystercatchers .
On the subject of Golden Pheasents , is the one that has been hanging around at sculthorpe wild ? It was sulking alot when a saw it last year and didn't seem tame?
Shaky

 

[dbradnum]

On the subject of Golden Pheasents , is the one that has been hanging around at sculthorpe wild ? It was sulking alot when a saw it last year and didn't seem tame?

No, they were released at Sculthorpe a few years ago.

 

[john miller]

A nice afternoon walk around the patch yesterday gave me my first returning Sedge warbler Of the year along with the 2 x Lrp's and 4x noisey Oystercatchers .
On the subject of Golden Pheasents , is the one that has been hanging around at sculthorpe wild ? It was sulking alot when a saw it last year and didn't seem tame?
Shaky

The only way to make any Golden Pheasant wild is to chuck something at it

John

 

[Locostella]

I saw a Golden Pheasant running along the hedgerow last night whilst driving through the village of Burston near Diss (not sure if that is Norfolk or Suffolk).

I did take a photo and could upload later if anyone wants to see it.

I'm guessing it is an escapee from someones garden in that location though

Still interesting to see, just a smart looking bird no matter where its from. be great to see your shot.

Regards Kieran

 

[Andy Musgrove]

Hi all

There's only days left now to book your place at the upcoming BTO Norfolk Birdwatchers Conference at East Tuddenham on Saturday 14th April. We've got a "fantastic line-up of guest speakers" (*) talking on all aspects of birdwatching from nest recording to ringing, patch birding to seawatching. There will also be a host of local bird clubs, a raffle and a bird ID quiz. The full programme and booking form is available here, book now to avoid disappointment.

Thanks

Andy

(* and me, if I pull my finger out and prepare something ...)

 

[Andy Musgrove]

On a different matter, I heard from a friend of a friend, that apparently there were "about a thousand" seals hauled up on the beach at Horsey. This seems highly odd for early April? Anyone else noticed these? Perhaps displaced from Scroby Sands off Yarmouth?

I don't know if Greys (presumably) or Common - have asked for a photo to be forwarded to me so might learn more then.

Ta

Andy

 

[tootsietim]

Overpriced ?

In case any philanthropic millionaires are passing, per Birding World, Pope's Marsh, Cley (East of East Bank) is on the market for a mere 1.2 million (or 24,000 £50 donations :t

Increasing the mosaic of managed and protected freshwater pools in this most dynamic and special of environments will afford a greater degree of resilience from the ever present threat of saltwater incursion.

Cheers, Rob

I don't claim to have any experience of land prices, but how on earth can Pope's marsh be worth 1.2million?

I was led to believe that good agricultural land is going for around £6500 to £7000 per acre.

How can Pope's marsh, at best marginal grazing land, likely to be inundated by the sea in our lifetimes and wholely unsuitable for commercial developement, be worth £1.2million of anybody's money?

 

[Lightthiscandle]

Seals

On a different matter, I heard from a friend of a friend, that apparently there were "about a thousand" seals hauled up on the beach at Horsey. This seems highly odd for early April? Anyone else noticed these? Perhaps displaced from Scroby Sands off Yarmouth?

I don't know if Greys (presumably) or Common - have asked for a photo to be forwarded to me so might learn more then.

They've been there for over a month. They seem happy enough, but I'm a confirmed windfarm detester: demolish the lot, I say!