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!

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?

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.

Titchwell Twitchwell

Well, what a morning! Nothing wrong with a bit of good old fashioned twitching now and again.

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.

Still quiet..

..with these westerly winds.
Very few passerine migrants but waders seemed to everywhere.

7 Common Sandpipers
8 Whimbrel
and in low tide Greenshanks and Spotted Redshank on the river Glaven channel.

Only about 20 Linnets and M Pipit numbers slowly building.
1 Eider on the sea.

Next week will hopefully be better as it really is quiet on Blakeney Point at the moment!

Autumn begins - Thu 25th Aug

A recent fall had me heading up to the Point with high expectations .... The reality was that nearly all the migrants had already moved on!

A nice male Red backed Shrike was still hanging around the bushes at the start of the walk near the river Glaven.

At the Watchhouse 1 Phyllosc in the area where there had been a Greenish Warbler would not play ball and refused to show itself more than a few times in flight. One Whitethroat was the only other migrant seen!

1 lone Swift over Blakeney Marsh, as rain moved in, may be the last of the year here..

There were still signs of summer with a few butterflies like this Small Copper hanging in there:

Small Copper

The clouds produced a dramatic sky ... but no rare birds

A few birders were twitching the Shrike. I am hoping there will be a bigger crowd pleaser here this autumn .. Only a few weeks before the main fun and passage really starts:

Pec Surprise

Walked into N Hide at Cley late morning and was asked to help out with the ID of a wader which they suspected was a Pec Sand.

Bird flew in closer, nice Adult Pectoral Sandpiper! Released the news and a few birders including S Gantlett managed to see it before it flew out of sight. Seems to like the left corner looking out from the hide.

Cley is looking in perfect condition for a really rare wader this month.

This was the best shot I could manage on my phone when the bird briefly flew in closer to the hide. Before it was chased away by the usual Avocet pair that attack any close waders!

I was surprised by how yellow the legs were. The pectoral band was very defined. The structure was very similar to a miniature Ruff, hunched over when feeding. Size was smaller than the Green Sandpipers next to it.

Stopped at Buxton Heath on way home briefly. One Crossbill flew over but highlight for me (of the day!) was a new moth. A Beautiful Yellow Underwing . Dayflying Heathland species which I did not even recognise until I looked it up.