Geese, Shrike and Redpolls

First day out of proper birding in 2012:
Started by dipping the Great Grey Shrike near the Fakenham Morrisons roundabout, although it did turn up about 10 minutes after I left! The only compensation here was a flyover Branbling and lots of Grey Partrige.
Titchwell in glorious sunshine:
Coue's Arctic Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll, 4 Female Long T Ducks on the sea, Spot Redshank and lots of other year ticks..
Burnham A140 lay-by
1 Ross's Goose (found)
1 Black Brant (found)
2 plus White fronts.. And lots of Brents and Pink foots.
A brief stop at Holkham and just in time to see the 2nd Ross's that is in the area amongst 000's of Pink feet. There are probably 3 birds in the area including a dodgier than most bird, one that wanders around Cley area with some feral Barnacles. Last year it was in amongst a group of Barnacles that included a hybrid offspring.

On the way home a brief stop at Fakenham and the Shrike was showing well, sitting on top of a tree looking around and preening. Great finish to a successful morning out.. Now I really must see the Western Sand in 2012 before it moves on!

2011 birding year

As we move quickly into 2012 I am just looking back on the highlights of 2011.

Few new British ticks but one of the highest number of 'found' species for a few years, despite not finding any BBRC description species!

The new species were Collared Flycatcher, Sandhill Crane and an armchair tick in the form of Siberian Stonechat.
The Flycatcher was a bird that I always wanted to see after having friends (thanks Shaun!) winding me up for years of the ones they saw, Pagham and Scotland birds. One in Norfolk was a real result.
The Crane was something I never thought I would catch up with in the UK. The past birds in Scotland and Northern Isles seemed like they would become proper blockers.

There were some other very rare birds like my second ever Little Bittern and Western Sand both in Norfolk.

My rarest find was the Siberian Chiff on Blakeney Point with other scarce birds like Waxwings, Pec Sand and Rough leg Buzzard...but the Autumn was frustrating in Norfolk with a real lack of migrants from the East.

Foreign highlights being a great trip to Spain with Dave Gandy. Will never forget the Bustards and huge number of raptors. Cheers Dave. A few nice birds in Florida too on a non birding trip.

Now looking forward to the rest of 2012. I am determined to find at least one proper rarity on the Point this year.

Good luck everyone and happy birding in 2012.

Western Sandpiper

I have had to wait until the weekend to catch up with the latest First for Norfolk
On arrival early in the morning the hides were not as packed as I thought they would be, I even got a seat!
The bird was already on show, distantly at first but it then became the closest bird from Dawkes hide.
This little 'peep' was controversial at first. Having seen it now I can see it looks spot on for Western rather than Semip.
Structure - like a miniature Dunlin rather than like a small Stint. Which is what the Brownsea bird also reminded me of. When the bird was running around feeding it appeared to be flat backed with a square head rather than rounded stance and round headed like a Semip.
Bill - distinctive and although Semip can be long billed im sure this would be a very extreme bird ( like the Felixstowe Stint )
Rufous tones to crown and scaps still slightly visible despite the bird being in an advanced winter plumage

On the whole an instructive bird!

Past Cley coastguards were: Little Auk (a close bird), a few Kittiwakes, Goldeneye, Merganser, a few Scoter, Razorbill and Guillemot. The Little Auk is the first I have seen for a while.

Tundra look-alikes

I thought I would add a photo of one Goose at Burnham Marshes that had me confused (for a bit)

It appeared to have orange legs and orangey bill. Could be confused with Tundra Bean Goose however all other plumage features pointed to Pinf-foot. The head was distinctly two toned (grey/brown) unlike the real Tundra Bean Goose nearby which had a darker head all-over.

I have ofetn heard about Pink feet with odd leg colours but now I realise how confusing they can appear.

I think it is best to use a combination of features to confirm the ID and good views are required!

Any comments on Geese ID are welcome

Geese

Caught up with some of the Geese that have recently arrived on the N Coast today

1 Tundra Bean Goose was showing very well by the A149 near Burnham, with just a few Pink feet

I had forgotten how much orange they can show on the bill but the short neck and head structure is classic Tundra rather than Taiga

Also seen at Burnham Overy were : 21 Barnacle Geese (looking wilder than the usual ones present), 2 Buzzards (but no R Legs)

Earlier around Wells Woods and beach:
1 Chiff
10+ Grey Partridge
50+ Snow Buntings

Florida

A visit to stay with my sister and her family in Florida recently has mean no Norfolk birding. Looks like there have been some impressive Geese arrivals here though. So I hope to catch up with some of these.

As for Florida, no birding, but it is hard to avoid seeing birds as they are everywhere there. And so tame too.

I managed to see a new bird .. Snowy Plover, on the beach in Sarasota. A recent split from Kentish, it certainly looked paler and different in the bright, hot sunshine. All the waders there were ridiculously tame with Willets, Semip Plovers, Grey Plovers, Knot and Sanderlings all running around the feet of joggers and sunbathers!

Also noteworthy was the Amrican Bittern seen in flight from my sister's balcony along with many other roosting Herons, Egrets and Ibises. The first American Bittern since the one I saw at Martin Mere.. Many years ago

Lots of Ospreys , Palm Warblers as usual.

Now back to bread and butter birding here in the UK!

Late Autumn

What may be my final walk to the Point this year as Autumn is soon to turn into Winter (and I am off to Florida to visit family for a week)

An imm Metlin flew along the breaking waves at Cley and a stunning SE Owl flew along the shingle at the start of the walk.
Despite lots moving through the county a few weeks ago, this was the first one I have seen this year.

The walk was quiet. No decent migrants but lots of Starlings in-off in groups of 20 to 100.

Highlight was watching a Peregrine hunting out at sea near the old seawatching shelter.
It flew after migrating Starlings and at one point it chased after 4 Wigeon.
I lost site of it when it chased after a few birds further out. It always amazes me how much time Merlins and Peregrines spend hunting over open seas, something that not everyone realises.

This weekend looks good for something very rare. But I will not be in the Uk!