COLLARED FLYCATCHER

A fantastic weekend and a reminder of how great birding in May, in Norfolk, can be.

With the winds in a great direction decided to walk to the Point, despite the lack of rain on Saturday:

Sedge Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat x5
A singing Grasshopper Warbler at the Hood
Little Terns
A few C Terns
Whimbrel x10
Yellow Wagtail
A few Wheatear
A male Hare was so busy chasing a female, with her 'boxing' him, that they both nearly ran into me.
One large raptor distantly flew over the Gull colony and over the marsh (Buzzard sp?)

After returning to the car had a quick look out of North Hide where the day was rescued with Spoonbills x2, Tem Stint, Greenshank x5 and LRP amongst the other waders there.

Real feeling that a bit of rain would produce something really good....... Which was revealed on Sunday..

SUN 8th:

Started morning by dipping the Citrine Wagtail found by Mark G the previous evening. Still, it was nice to be out with many more Hirundines and Swifts than the previous day passing over. Hobby near Holt on way.
Hides at Cley produced just Common Sand, LRP and a Stoat running around chasing birds and anything else in it's way.
It was also great to finally hear some Bearded Tits as the cold winter seems to have reduced numbers of them this year.

After returning home was not expecting any the message at 4.20pm. COLLARED FLYCATCHER Holme....

Rushed up there and by 5.15pm I was in amongst a crowd of 2-300 trying to see it high in the canopy.

Eventually saw it well with the bonus of a Wood Warbler there too.

Some photos of the crowd to follow...

Quote of the day from one birder struggling to see it:
Birder 1 - ' I have seen the White belly and black head, so I'm happy to tick it '
Birder 2 - ' Could have been a Pintail! ' haha

Finished the day with a Turtle Dove seen from the car near Haveringland. A rare sight these days!

What a great day. And my first new British bird in 2011.

Spring is here

My first April walk up Blakeney Point this year
There was a real feeling that birds were on the move. Plenty of Spring migrants arriving and lots of Winter species departing.
Of the departing birds:
2 Pink footed Geese - Eye Field
Curlews
20+ Golden Plover - most of which were in summer plumage
1 Female Merlin - which headed straight out into the north sea!



And the fresh arrivals:
1-2 male Redstarts
2 Whitethroat
3+ Whimbrel
25+ Wheatear
10+ Willow Warblers
6+ Chiffchaff
and a few Swallows

Fudge Duck at Strumpshaw

A quick visit to Strumpshaw this pm resulted in seeing the Ferruginous Duck that has been elusive at times. The bird was right in front of Fen hide and was displaying to Pochards. Tipping its head back and calling.
No sign of any rings and as pure as can be
This was a long awaited Norfolk tick having dipped them a few times over the last few years.

Also here: 2 Green Sand flew over. 1 Common Sandpiper. Singing Grasshopper Warbler. A few Sedge Warblers now back and lots of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs

Strumpshaw in the sunshine