Norfolk birding (3 Viewers)

[GYBirder23]

had a great morning on my patch c300 blackbirds, many song thrushes too and large flocks of fly over redwings

 

[stuart white]

HORNEMANN'S ARCTIC REDPOLL at Holkham not couse's

 

[Robert S J Smith]

HORNEMANN'S ARCTIC REDPOLL at Holkham not couse's

Are there any photos of the bird on the web?

 

[Jhanlon]

Are there any photos of this redpoll? It says above it was phoned in to RBA as hornemanni but they don't seem to have put it out as such. Today they had it out as exilipes before going back to generic 'arctic redpoll'. I see the term 'large redpoll' has been used. Really? One of the best features of this taxon is it's size - it's the largest redpoll, about sparrow-sized. The buff wash to face & throat sound good (present also in 1st wint exilipes but never seem to contrast as much with the snowy underparts, can be striking in HAR) as does the long flank/ belly feathering. So from descriptions this doesn't sound like a Scandanavian bird. Hornemanni is much sought after so if anyone can post pics that would be v helpful! Sounds like it's approachable so there should be something?

James

Classic Autumn day on the North Coast today started off at Holkham and on Lady's Anne Drive. Seemed fairly obvious that a lot of the Thrushes had cleared out but there seemed to be a slight increase in Song Thrushes. The first decent bird was a Black Redstart near the coralle. Fairly quiet walking up the pines but then had a chat with someone about where the accessible OBP had been and headed up there. About about 10.15 I flushed a Redpoll from the edge of the pines which I was able to watch at close range as it fed on the ground in the mossy area just before the dunes. I'm stil slightly in dark about what this bird is and because i don't own a camera I'll write a description.
Large Redpoll. Rump was spotlessly white with streaking on the uppertail coverts.
Undertail coverts appeared white too.
Wing bar buffy, off white
Slight frostiness on centre of the mantle, concolourous no tramlines.
Fairly extensive streaking on the the breast and flanks.
A buffy wash on the throat and chest.
Small bill with very punched in impression on the face.
The bird had a really immaculate feel, it was a really nice to find!
Most things point to exilipes - small bill, mantle pattern, gleaming white rump but the two things bothering me are the buffy wash on the breast and the off-white wing bar - anyone know if these fall into the Arctic Redpoll range.
Anyway day wasn't finished! Two Laps here and then Ring Ouzel, another Black Red and new in Woodcocks in the Dunes. I checked the sea - a few Bonxies, a Long-tailed Duck in the surf and a Red-necked Grebe flew past. Then headed over to where the Little Bunting had just been reported, bird is just past the sluice, frequenting the lower path, at time very unobtrusive and easily to walk past. Headed back into the Pines, about half dozen Ring Ouzel along Bones Drift viewable from Joe Jordan hide. Then back to the seaward side to locate the Redpoll still showing really well but another observer was equally perplexed. Then got news of a Long-eared Owl on the Dunes, walked up and down and suddenly it flew out of a dune hollow and landed low down in a bush. With darkness drawing in watched it from a safe distance - it was really active looking about all over the place bouncing up and down on its branch, ears being buffeted about in the strong wind. Walked back flushing one more Woodcock which disappeared under its namesakes moon. What a day!

 

[O.Reville1989]

Are there any photos of the bird on the web?

Hopefully heading over after work so will be some later if its still there! But be great to see some in the mean time.

 

[O.Reville1989]

Hi Conner,
There was that unforgettable major influx in Norfolk in 96.
Simon

Some of the best views of birds were in Langham I believe. No more than 50 feet from the house I moved into the summer following that.
Pretty gutting! As was the Junco Dave Curtis had in his garden post myself living in that area. C'est la vie!

 

[Songkhran]

Are there any photos of this redpoll? It says above it was phoned in to RBA as hornemanni but they don't seem to have put it out as such. Today they had it out as exilipes before going back to generic 'arctic redpoll'. I see the term 'large redpoll' has been used. Really? One of the best features of this taxon is it's size - it's the largest redpoll, about sparrow-sized. The buff wash to face & throat sound good (present also in 1st wint exilipes but never seem to contrast as much with the snowy underparts, can be striking in HAR) as does the long flank/ belly feathering. So from descriptions this doesn't sound like a Scandanavian bird. Hornemanni is much sought after so if anyone can post pics that would be v helpful! Sounds like it's approachable so there should be something?

James

been discussing this bird with MAG this morning. Another pro Hornemann feature seems to be the mantle - it was brownish merging into frosty white along the centre - no distinct tramlines
I also heard it call and although it was a typical Redpoll call it seemed more strident and bold - quite nasal.
James - can some Hornemanni have off-white covert bars?

The overall impression is a 'sparklingly' bright bird.

Good run continues this morning at Cley we got pretty much all the stuff past Sheringham, but in addition a juv Long-tailed Skua and an incoming eared Owl - probably a Long-eared, (missed it was distracted by a ultra-spooned Pom!

 

[Jhanlon]

Usually white with varying buff influence at the edges, but yes, I'd say the wing-bar can be off-white. See http://cyberbirding.uib.no/photo/c_hornemanni_01.php for one with off-white bar and good size comparison with human hand!

Cursing dreadful decision not to go to Norfolk today. Can't make it til Tuesday now! :-C

been discussing this bird with MAG this morning. Another pro Hornemann feature seems to be the mantle - it was brownish merging into frosty white along the centre - no distinct tramlines
I also heard it call and although it was a typical Redpoll call it seemed more strident and bold - quite nasal.
James - can some Hornemanni have off-white covert bars?

The overall impression is a 'sparklingly' bright bird.

Good run continues this morning at Cley we got pretty much all the stuff past Sheringham, but in addition a juv Long-tailed Skua and an incoming eared Owl - probably a Long-eared, (missed it was distracted by a ultra-spooned Pom!

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell October 27th

Today’s highlights

Grey phalarope – 1 on tidal pool from mid-afternoon
Ring ouzel – 4 along East Trail
Snow bunting – 5 on beach
Kittiwake – 400+ offshore
Grey partridge – 14 along access road
Swallow – 1 over reserve
Sooty shearwater – 3 reported west
Hen harrier – male over reedbed
Pom skua – 1 offshore

Paul

 

[Jhanlon]

Just realised news 'broke' while I was typing my post, if only I had seen what was just above on this very thread! It took me another half hour to hear it had been confirmed as hornemanni by which time I didn't quite have enough daylight to make it (and can't now til Tues). All v frustrating!

 

[GYBirder23]

Lots of Birds in off at nearby Lowestoft all Day, still few Blackbirds in GY cem, I think Sunday will produce another good day

 

[firstreesjohn]

The Redpoll

I'll post these straight out of the camera, save for cropping to fit here.

No editing or sharpening of any sort.

This is so people can see what is being talked about.

 

[Mark Batten]

been discussing this bird with MAG this morning. Another pro Hornemann feature seems to be the mantle - it was brownish merging into frosty white along the centre - no distinct tramlines
I also heard it call and although it was a typical Redpoll call it seemed more strident and bold - quite nasal.
James - can some Hornemanni have off-white covert bars?

The overall impression is a 'sparklingly' bright bird.

Good run continues this morning at Cley we got pretty much all the stuff past Sheringham, but in addition a juv Long-tailed Skua and an incoming eared Owl - probably a Long-eared, (missed it was distracted by a ultra-spooned Pom!

Josh. Did think your description of the bird last night sounded like a hornemanni. Nice one.:cat:k

 

[O.Reville1989]

Missed the redpoll by 5 minutes.
Some very irate birders there at dusk with accusations aimed at the camera users.
No idea what happened so (for once) staying on the fence and putting it down to one of those things.

 

[Robert S J Smith]

I'll post these straight out of the camera, save for cropping to fit here.

No editing or sharpening of any sort.

This is so people can see what is being talked about.

Thank you John!

 

[Songkhran]

Josh. Did think your description of the bird last night sounded like a hornemanni. Nice one.:cat:k

To be fair Mark, Shytorque saw the bird a bit later than my initial sighting but called it out as Hornemanni straightaway - its then taken a day and half to confirm it as a... Hornemann's. 8-P I just saw it thought it was an ultra stunning bird, flaffed about in my usual shambolic way and only told people i had an interesting Redpoll at the Little Bunting twitch - so most credit should go to Simon :t:

Has been a great learning experience since then though.

 

[Mark Batten]

Josh. I would suggest you play down your birding knowledge and skills which do not just apply to dots on the sea

 

[nicholland]

Does anyone know what happened to the Salthouse Little Auk. When we arrived it looked decidedly poorly, but had perked up before we left. Did it manage to fly, off to wherever the Little Auks fly, Little Aukland, presumably?

 

[firstreesjohn]

Seeing (more) red ?

Some very irate birders there at dusk with accusations aimed at the camera users.

I can’t write about the conduct of the ‘camera users’ after I’d left, but the bird seemed totally unconcerned by several right out in the open while I was there. I still played safe and penetrated a sea-buckthorn (It’s alright: they can’t do you for it.), using it as rather spiky cover to obtain my shots.

Wotteva, the bird is delightful in its behaviour and striking to see. That it’s not climbing around a tree is possibly significant. I would also make the fairly obvious point re the above that birds often go to roost towards dusk.

After several hours at home this morning, before I was able to clear my returned congestion, I hastened to Salthouse, to twitch the delightful, if probably unwell, Dovekie. I have a video of the astonishing incident when it swam towards Eddie M, halted and then turned nasty- battering its way through the fence and approaching Simon R, as if to attack, like an altered version of Happy Feet on steroids. He picked it up, where it nestled quite happily in his hands. It was probably warmer in his palm than in the floodwater. Its photos are uncropped.

A bracket fungus was in Wells Woods, where I strode around slowly, searching for something in capitals that never appeared:

Piptoporus betulinus - Birch Polypore

Thank you, Andy

The red bush is in the garden of Meals House. On the way back to the car, Stevie G spotted a Swallow, feeding in the lee of the wind along the edge of the trees.

 

[Andy Musgrove]

A bracket fungus was in Wells Woods

Piptoporus betulinus - Birch Polypore

Taking son to rugby match in Holt tomorrow morning, so hope the horny Redpoll reappears by lunchtime...

Anyone know details about the "recent" Sibe Stonechat at Horsey, rept on Birdguides tonight? Free on Monday to go and have a look, but would be good to know if worth walking north or south from the gap. Winterton quiet today, but a nice Peregrine sparring with the Marsh Harriers. Thrush numbers seemed low, except for a few Blackbirds and Redwings along the western edge of the village

Ta

Andy