Surfbirds : May Account

Rank 1
Name David Norgate
Nationality Norfolk
Total 233
Highlights
BOU + 6 19/5 Woodchat Shrike, 17/5 Honey Buzzard, 15/5 Collared Pratincole, 13/5 Kentish Plover, 12/5 Citrine Wagtail, 4/5 Purple Heron, 3/5 Short-toed Lark, 25/4 Red-rumped Swallow, (Black-headed Wagtail) 20/4 Hoopoe, 6/4 American Golden Plover, 21/2 Hooded Crow, 15/2 Ferruginous Duck, Ring-necked Duck, 12/2 Cattle Egret, 8/2 Penduline Tit, Green-winged Teal, 25/1 Black-bellied Dipper, 4/1 (Ross's Goose) See: http://ruralchill.blogspot.com/

Dave is level with me at the current time, with 2 Skuas and the Great White Egret to my Wood Warbler and Sandpiper and Pied Flycatcher!

Oh Well, There is Always Tomorrow!

Decided to do the right thing by my family today, so was gripped off by Dave's texts about the Great White Egret at Hickling. I had just about given in when the 'Collared' Pratincole reappeared and was reidentified as a Black-winged (well as a possible, anyway!). I still needed to wait for Louise to return, to hand over the baton (Megan). It transpired that by the time I had left it had already gone! I finally left the site about 7 (with a brief interlude at Titchwell, just in case - where I saw more Little Gulls than birders trying to relocate the Pratincole!)

Mega: Great Knot or Great Dot Revisited

News of a Great Knot from the southern wall at Breydon Water was quickly released after the finder had clarified it with a couple of local birders. Their views were said to be very satisfactory, which is more than can be said for when I got there. Initial thoughts were of a bulky bird, deep chested and extenuated rear end, with a small head and long bill. It was difficult to make out any plumage features, although the brown colouration of the upperparts contrasted with the underparts, which seemed clean, with possibly patchy blotches of grey. The bird did show quite a distinctive breast band on the lower breast, seemingly similar brown.

Looking at Collins, I was immediately struck by the bill pictured.
Brian S has made an interesting post here: http://surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?p=14788#post14788

Wednesday 27th May

A Quail was heard calling and did a (couple of?) hop jumps out of the field! Otherwise the day was very quiet, there was still a small passage of Swifts and House Martins etc. We even tried Blakeney Point, but to no avail, although there were still a good number of Painted Ladies about.

So Near, but Still No Scarce Find

I was going to title this with some type of reference to my bird finding ability, but all I can do is keep trying!

Started at Burnham Overy, where all we could muster was 3 Little Gull - all 1st year and a presumed migrant Reed Warbler singing in the scrub. A family of Stonechat were also present.

Singing Reed Warbler in scrub. Mimicy Reed Warbler

Stonechat family Burnham Overy Dunes

Whilst taking this someone was finding a Common Rosefinch just a few 100 yards away, in an area we had just searched. Oh well, that's birding! We didn't find out for 3 hours!

3 Common Crane over Warham Greens, seen over Cley and Kelling

Fox cub and wary Magpie near Stiffkey

23rd May: Another Day

Starting at Burnham Norton produced two first summer Little Gulls

Whist at Titchwell, news of an adult Iceland Gull on the beach came through. Soon on sight it was immediately apparent that the bird was not an adult and probably not even an Iceland Gull. An enjoyable few hours was spent trying to suss it out as it moved down toward Brancaster, but I could never get away from the thought it was a leucistic Herring Gull.

Showy Robins at Titchwell, where else

Rare sights: Red-crested (7+ seen) (Titchwell) and Common Pochard female with chicks

Whilst looking at the gull, 5 Spoonbills were seen at great distance, having been seen over Holme

Newly emerged Four-spotted Chaser, with caste

Ovipositing Azure and Large Red Damselfly. Teneral Blue-tailed Damselfly

Wall in tandem. Green-veined White.

'White-headed' Blackbird, Fakenham