Nothing that exciting happening on the coast today!
But did find an imm Lap Bunting in the eye field. Rest of day was birdless. Will have to wait for Easterly winds before venturing out again.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
More sunshine and very few birds
Today (with Raymond the dog) walked Blakeney to Watchhouse, Wells Woods and to beach at Titchwell. There were plenty of Martins moving through Sand and House, with a few Swallows all moving West
More Mipits in today. 4 Wheatear on beach at Cley
Very few seabirds. A few A Skua and Red T Divers etc
3 Yellow Wagtails at Titchwell and a good candidate for White Wag (a juv bird with grey crown and grey upper rump) with plenty of Pieds
Greenshank and Spot Red along river Glaven with a single Pink foot over.
2 Little Stint at Titchwell still.
Another pleasant day but fairly migrant free. There are now two (UK) ticks for me in the country.. Long T Stint and N Waterthrush.. But will spend my last day off work tomorrow trying to find at least one scarce bird nearer to home. There has to be at least one good bird in Norfolk!
More Mipits in today. 4 Wheatear on beach at Cley
Very few seabirds. A few A Skua and Red T Divers etc
3 Yellow Wagtails at Titchwell and a good candidate for White Wag (a juv bird with grey crown and grey upper rump) with plenty of Pieds
Greenshank and Spot Red along river Glaven with a single Pink foot over.
2 Little Stint at Titchwell still.
Another pleasant day but fairly migrant free. There are now two (UK) ticks for me in the country.. Long T Stint and N Waterthrush.. But will spend my last day off work tomorrow trying to find at least one scarce bird nearer to home. There has to be at least one good bird in Norfolk!
Monday, 19 September 2011
Sunny September day
A short seawatch from Cley produced: A few Manxies, 2 Bonxie, 1 A Skua and plenty of Gannets nearly all going East
Despite sunshine and west winds I decided to check the Point anyway
After about 40 minutes I got a call from John Molloy in Northumberland! To let me know that a Fea had been reported going West.. I rushed up to James McCallum who was watching a Black Tern and had a look out in case it was seen again.
The B Tern was the first I have seen this year, so was pleased with that.
As for the Fea.. I have just just read the description and I must say, compared to James's bird last week does not sound too convincing to me!
Only other migrants today:
Whimbrels, Wheatear..a Peregrine .. Not much else. But a beautiful day anyway
Despite sunshine and west winds I decided to check the Point anyway
After about 40 minutes I got a call from John Molloy in Northumberland! To let me know that a Fea had been reported going West.. I rushed up to James McCallum who was watching a Black Tern and had a look out in case it was seen again.
The B Tern was the first I have seen this year, so was pleased with that.
As for the Fea.. I have just just read the description and I must say, compared to James's bird last week does not sound too convincing to me!
Only other migrants today:
Whimbrels, Wheatear..a Peregrine .. Not much else. But a beautiful day anyway
Friday, 16 September 2011
I Have no Fea....
....on my list!
I have always wanted to find a Fea's Petrel and today I came close to seeing one in Norfolk. But not close enough.
Chose to go to Cley to seawatch at around 8am and when I got there I found out (via a text alert) that a Fea's had passed Sheringham earlier in the day.
Plenty of Cley regulars looking for it but other than a few distant Manxies, 8 Bonxies, 2 Arctic Terns and the first Brent Geese of the autumn there was very little.
The only 'new' thing for me was HEARING 3 Red T Divers calling to each other close to shore. I had never heard one before. Sounded like a strange Gull being strangled. A Walk to the Watchhouse on Blakeney Point produced just one Grey Heron a Knot and a few Whimbrel! So I turned back.
Next week I have a few days off work and will be out searching quite a bit... If only the winds would stay from the East it would be great.
I have always wanted to find a Fea's Petrel and today I came close to seeing one in Norfolk. But not close enough.
Chose to go to Cley to seawatch at around 8am and when I got there I found out (via a text alert) that a Fea's had passed Sheringham earlier in the day.
Plenty of Cley regulars looking for it but other than a few distant Manxies, 8 Bonxies, 2 Arctic Terns and the first Brent Geese of the autumn there was very little.
The only 'new' thing for me was HEARING 3 Red T Divers calling to each other close to shore. I had never heard one before. Sounded like a strange Gull being strangled. A Walk to the Watchhouse on Blakeney Point produced just one Grey Heron a Knot and a few Whimbrel! So I turned back.
Next week I have a few days off work and will be out searching quite a bit... If only the winds would stay from the East it would be great.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
The Urban Birder visits Norwich
Yesterday evening I went to a book signing and talk by my old friend David Lindo (aka The Urban Birder)
The talk was great and summarised his book well. To anyone who hasn't got it yet it is his autobiography and covers his early years, growing up in urban London and his passion for birds and wildlife despite living in a busy city centre with what is wrongly considered by the general public a 'lack of birds'!
The book mirrors my life in terms of the same fascination with wanting to learn more about the birds around me and both growing up in London. We also both 'borrowed' bird books from the library for rather long periods of time and memorised each page. I think we both still have some of those early books!
I first met David while walking around the Brent reservoir birding and then in later years we started birding at Wormwood Scrubs. We started to realise its true potential as a migrant stop-over point when we found Pied Flycatchers, Tree pipits etc
David has gone on to find a long list of scarce migrants there with Wryneck (which I got to see), Richard's Pipits, Little Bunting, the first UK wintering Redstart (which we named Rudolph) etc etc
His passion for showing young people in cities the wealth of wildlife they can see if they just look up is to be commended .. and his enthusiasm for birds and wildlife can clearly be seen on his Television appearances
I must admit that when I am feeling down about the lack of birds on Blakeney Point the text updates from the Scrubs sent to me by David keep me going. If he can keep going when it is hard work finding anything, then so can I !
Keep up the good work David!
The talk was great and summarised his book well. To anyone who hasn't got it yet it is his autobiography and covers his early years, growing up in urban London and his passion for birds and wildlife despite living in a busy city centre with what is wrongly considered by the general public a 'lack of birds'!
The book mirrors my life in terms of the same fascination with wanting to learn more about the birds around me and both growing up in London. We also both 'borrowed' bird books from the library for rather long periods of time and memorised each page. I think we both still have some of those early books!
I first met David while walking around the Brent reservoir birding and then in later years we started birding at Wormwood Scrubs. We started to realise its true potential as a migrant stop-over point when we found Pied Flycatchers, Tree pipits etc
David has gone on to find a long list of scarce migrants there with Wryneck (which I got to see), Richard's Pipits, Little Bunting, the first UK wintering Redstart (which we named Rudolph) etc etc
His passion for showing young people in cities the wealth of wildlife they can see if they just look up is to be commended .. and his enthusiasm for birds and wildlife can clearly be seen on his Television appearances
I must admit that when I am feeling down about the lack of birds on Blakeney Point the text updates from the Scrubs sent to me by David keep me going. If he can keep going when it is hard work finding anything, then so can I !
Keep up the good work David!
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Red sky in the morning...
Whilst walking Raymond (the dog!) around Salle early this morning had a stunning Red Kite low over the road. Even managed to get some decent photos on the phone without the use of binoculars!
Great birds and always a pleasure to see.
I have seen them flying low over main roads a few times in the early mornings. My guess is that they are searching for overnight road kills?
Great birds and always a pleasure to see.
I have seen them flying low over main roads a few times in the early mornings. My guess is that they are searching for overnight road kills?
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Cley morning
A quiet morning after all the excitement yesterday.
A pleasant stroll up to North Hide. No sign of yesterday's Dotterel. Some close Arctic Skuas, a flock of 22 Eider on the sea, a hunting male Peregrine.
... Just waiting for the winds to turn easterly.
A pleasant stroll up to North Hide. No sign of yesterday's Dotterel. Some close Arctic Skuas, a flock of 22 Eider on the sea, a hunting male Peregrine.
... Just waiting for the winds to turn easterly.
Saturday, 10 September 2011
Titchwell Twitchwell
Got to Titchwell early and already a crowd was forming where the Little Bittern had been seen. Gave it about 20mins but decided to check the hides instead.
From the main hide:
Cattle Egret showing well (my 3rd in Norfolk)
Buff-breasted Sabdpiper 1juv - Amazing how small these birds look next to Ruff.
Curlew Sand - 7+
Little Stint
Spot Red
Then on hearing that the L Bittern had been seen again I headed back to the 'scrum'. After only about 30 mins I got good views of the juvenile bird sitting in the reeds.
This Is only the second one I have ever seen (anywhere in the world) after a very nice male in Sussex in about 1988! I was therefore very happy to see one again.
A beautiful Red Kite flew over the marshes being hassled by Marsh Harriers.
Was hoping to see the Citrine at Cley but no sign of it since early morning. 11 Spoonbill at Cley were feeding and not sleeping for a change!
Out at sea just a few close Gannets and Arctic Skua.
It's an exciting month.. Anything can happen.
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