Blyth's Reed - At last!

After having seen a non accepted bird on Blakeney Point a few years ago it was great to see a 'no doubts' singing male at Warham Greens today.

First new UK tick of 2012 .. And did not have to travel too far to see it.
On arrival there were only about 15 people listening and trying to see the bird. This shows how regular they have become and how this species no longer has the ability to pull in a big crowd compared to just a decade or so when it was a real rarity! However, a singing bird in summer is still a rare treat and makes it a bit easier to identify.
The song was much slower than Marsh Warbler and without all the mimicry, although I'm sure I heard a few Great Tit calls! Full of whistles and unlike any Reed or Sedge Warbler!

The behaviour also reminded me of the birds I have seen in India. Always on the move in low to middle scrub. In fact even while singing it was moving around and made it very hard to get a glimpse.. The view I had would not get it through any BBRC description report but with the conclusive song.. Who cares! Plumage could be seen to be greyer than Reed but always hard to decipher.

On the whole.. A really enjoyable mini twitch. Now, what will my 451st UK bird be? Not many 'scarce' rather than very rare birds left

Summer time

The Rain has started , so it must be Summer time in the UK

The moths have started appearing including this very smart Eyed-Hawkmoth caught a few days ago

I will now give the Point a rest until the Autumn



I have ended the Spring with no rare birds found (I did manage a Blue-headed Wag at Cley a few days ago)

The Bee-eater at Cley was nice but no new birds yet seen this year - The one day Orphean Warbler would have been a UK tick but was not able to go and see it . The Channel Wagtail was a new 'form' for me and was probably my favourite bird of the Spring, closely followed by Spotted Flycatcher which is one of my favourite, charismatic, birds.

So what will the Summer bring??



Late migration

There is a real sense of excitement building in the air. Which is good seeing as I have a week off work!
The weather today was like an October morning with N winds and misty rain, with poor visibility.

First stop was near the Three Swallows where the Bee-eater was showing very well and seems quite settled - not normal for Bee-eaters. Only the third I have seen in the UK and my second in Norfolk

As I started to walk up the Point it felt like there would be something good
A Siskin shot past, a Les Whitethroat played hide-and-seek for a while
Wheatears were still passing. A hunting Hobby flew through
Marsh Harrier and the usual Grey Partridges

At the Plantation two lovely Spotted Flycatchers were fighting for the best perch

On the walk back down the weather slowly started to clear. Swifts were moving through. W Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, a Stonechat (more of an Autumn migrant here) were seen but nothing else of note. (other than a Stoat)
I met some of the regulars working the sueda. One mentioned that they had seen a Purple Sand (which I have only seen once before on Blakeney Point). I could not find it but I then found a freshly dead Swallow. It was still warm and very skinny. Makes me wonder if birds are struggling finding insects in this wintery weather. At one point I thought the Swallow may still have been alive but there was not much hope of it making a recovery even if it was.
Also freshly dead was an adult Guillemot. It too was very fresh...and had just been found by another birder heading up.
...In fact both birds still look scarily alive:

I then headed to Cley to see some waders. 3 Curlew Sandpipers, LRP, baby Avocets hiding under their parents were fun....

I could not resist another look at the Bee-eater before heading home.

Many birders are heading to Hereford to see the Cream Coloured Courser found there. I have fond memories of the bird on St Mary's years ago.. It, unfortunately, did not survive as the weather deteriorated. I hope this desert loving bird finds his way back to a warmer climate!

Migrants stream through

On arrival early in the morning, the first bird I saw was this Channel Wagtail - from the car! The photo above was taken through the windscreen with my phone (+bins). Just shows how close the bird was.
It was amongst 13 Yellow Wagtails. First one of this hybrid/sub-species/form that I have seen and certainly was stunning. Better than going to Yorks to see the other 'hybrid/possible species/form Flycatcher' that is around at the moment!

Walking up to the Point there was a real sense that anything could turn up.

100's Swallows constantly streaming through
A stunning SE Owl flew low overhead
1-2 M Harriers appeared to be fresh in-off
40+ Wheatears
male Redstart flushed from sueda
Willow Warbler x2
Chiffchaff x3
Whitethroat x2
Sedge W x1
H Martins 10
S Martin x4
Swifts 20
Greenshank 1
Little, Common and Sandwich Terns all over the place

Nice bit of Spring passage - finally some birds on the move
Now.... where are those rarities hiding

Spring Migration

After a very quiet April it was time to look for some migrants on the Point.

The wet weather meant a cold and wet start to the walk and it was not long before there were Wheatears appearing everywhere.
On reaching halfway house a stunning male Pied Fly appeared with Willow Warbler nearby. It looked slightly pale rather than jet black on some of the feathers and may have been a first summer but beautiful bird anyway.
On reaching the plantation a male Whinchat and a male Redstart were briefly seen but no sign of yesterday's RBFly!
Still a great trio of migrants as well as the following birds seen:

Spoonbill
Whimbrel 6
Greenshank
Arctic Tern
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap 2
Wheatear 30+
Swift 1
House Martin 20+(Salthouse)

On the return I bumped into one of the regulars who had seen a Wood Warbler! I could not find it in the area just after the Halfway House .. That would have been a good 'patch tick'

A beautiful male Garganey was feeding on a small pool next to the Salthouse beach road ...

May is a top month here in Norfolk

f f f f freezing April day

Quick morning visit to Cley... and it was cold! This cold North wind is currently blocking migrants and not making it much fun out there.

9+ Ring Ouzels were viewed distantly at 'The Hangs'. I have been birding in the area for years and did not even know about this site! Great view all around the coast from here. I think I will check this area more regularly
9 Ouzels is the most I have seen together

Cley held my Wheatear of the year (I know it is late!) along with Swallow, Spoonbill x 5 and a Merlin shot past the beach

He was cold ....

He was very cold .....

The Spoonbills, singing Sedge Warbler and Swallow tried hard to make it feel like Spring .. but with these cold winds it will be a while before some scarce birds start arriving

I then had my first 'dip' of the year. As I was sitting in the car getting ready to head to Cley cafe for a coffee a message came through that there was a Hooded Crow at West bank..right by where I was sitting! I had not seen it and rushed to join Gantlett and a few other birders on West bank ... the bird had already gone and was only seen by two Cley regulars.
They are scarce in Norfolk and in fact this site is the only place I have seen one before in the county ... 

Still, a good morning birding

Kite passage (1st April)

April 1st walk along coast from Holkham to Bunham Dunes (and back) in search of early migrants.
I was hoping to catch some of the Red Kite passage that now seems to be a regular feature along the Norfolk coast at this time of year. It was great to find two birds, one over Holkham Marsh and a more distant bird over Burnham Overy.
At one point there were Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, M Harrier,Kestrel and Red Kite all in the air at the same time!
No other migrants other than 15 Chiffs and a Blackcap. A singing Cettis was seen as well as heard (they are such a pain to see!)