Wednesday 31 March 2010

Ridiculous Raptor Revelry!

Stopping off on route the initial highlights were pairs of Shelduck and Little Grebe. A brief, distant drumming was probably a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. At 6.38 am a large raptor was seen and identified as the local escaped Harris' Hawk. It is still a great bird to watch, so I moved round to view the bird again. Amazingly, it was now flying low over the area with an early rising Buzzard. Scanning to the west, a male Marsh Harrier was immediately seen - my first here this year, but have been around for a week! I continued scanning and found (another?) male Marsh Harrier to the east! Back to the West a large slim raptor appeared above the trees. Immediately it could be seen to be a Red Kite! A rather ragged bird, with feathers missing in the left wing and tail. Another Buzzard quickly appeared, making it 6 large raptors of 4 species, all within 10 minutes, all before 7.00 am! A Sparrowhawk was also seen!

A brief stop at Walsey had me lifting my binoculars to 3 Swallow flying through east, then a single bird briefly lingering, then the rain set in!

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 171, Route 124, Sp 85, SM 87, SF 38

Monday 29 March 2010

JB's Suffolk Swifts

Viewed both the Pallid and Alpine Swifts with Julian Bhalerao. Here are some of his pics:


Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 170, Route 122, Sp 85, SM 87, SF 38

Suffolk, a Kestrel and a few Swifts: the Pics

First light at Westleton, produced fewer birders than expected and, although quite distant, the relief filled views of the male Lesser Kestrel (It's in the first pic, honest - but I won't let you blow it up!!)
The first sighting of the Alpine Swift at Lowestoft were of the two birds roosting just over a metre apart, but we departed back to Kessingland before they awoke!
Reasonable views were eventually had of the Pallid Swift, although the light never really showed the bird at its full glory!
Returning to Lowestoft, the Alpine Swifts were snuggled together, but eventually took flight and gave an outstanding performance!

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 170, Route 122, Sp 85, SM 87, SF 38

Suffolk, a Kestrel and a few Swifts

Temptation proved too great to resist a trip to Suffolk!

(pics to come, not loading!)

Connor and I arrived at Westleton Heath, with good directions from DA, and positioned ourselves with nearly 100 others. After a debate over a Sparrowhawk perched distantly, a call came that someone thought he had seen 'the' bird. After a short while the adult (?) male Lesser Kestrel flew up and perched in full view. Although distant, the clean slate blue head (and upper tail), russet upperparts and rich black wingtips were easily noted. Occasionally the blue flash in the wing was noted, as well as the long tapering tail and extended centre tail feathers and deep black terminal band. The bird flew down to the ground feeding and returned into view, often on the same perch by the hut. It moved deeper into cover as rain set on (but was seen on and off until mid afternoon).
For an idea of the views, see here:
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/RareGallery_ShowSpecies.asp?GalleryID=4311

After checking out the sight at Kessingland, we decided to go and see if the two Alpine Swift were still at Lowestoft. There was no sign at their previous roost site and it was suggested that they might have departed the evening before. So we returned to Kessingland and spent c 1 hour hoping the Pallid Swift would appear - it didn't. Just as despondency was setting in news came that the two Alpine Swift had been refound slightly further N of the original roost site. We decided to leave our vigil and return, finding the birds roosting on the side of a red brick block of flats.As we were waiting for them to fly, news came through that the Pallid had been seen! So a return trip was immediately taken!

There was no sign as we arrived at the Caravan Park, it was being watched c 5 min earlier! We change the angle of observation, returning to where it had first been seen. Just as I was going to relieve myself (don't worry - there was a toilet block!) the Pallid Swift reappeared, although rather distantly. Another change of venue gave much better views, with the bird nearly appearing overhead. The blunt winged, heavy chested and large headed appearance was noted, as well as plumage features such as pale throat and fringes to upperparts and scaled belly. After watching this for about 30 mins we heard that the Alpine Swifts at Lowestoft had taken flight, so we decided to return.

Arriving back at the site, we found one of the Swifts had moved, but both were now roosting together in the corner of the building. However, after a short wait they began to take flight, circling and feeding around our heads and continually returning to their roost site. They occasionally called as they roosted together, with comments that they were acting a a definite 'pair'. We left before the third bird flew south, but can't complain with our 'haul', especially considering the overcast and dank weather.

What a morning!

PS two other year ticks were seen, but it's too embarrassing to list them here!!


LGRE's account of the Suffok Spectacular can be found here:
http://rarebirdsinbritain.blogspot.com/2010/03/sixth-lesser-kestrel-since-1950.html

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 170, Route 122, Sp 85, SM 87, SF 38

Sunday 28 March 2010

Swanton Morley and Sparham Pools

Having neglected the area for a while I decided a visit was in order and it was surprisingly productive.
Expecting Chiffchaff to be around, I wasn't disappointed, as 7 were counted at SW and 5 at SP. More of a surprise was a Willow Warbler singing at SW, a bit early, I thought, until I had another at SP which also had a singing Blackcap. Real 'highlights' came, though in the form of calling birds. With plenty of Oystercatchers around I was surprised to pick up on a different call of a Redshank that headed over NW, with another calling bird came in the form of a Nuthatch, both good patch birds! Sparham, though, produced the true highlight of the day, when a singing Firecrest was found between the car park and the Main Pool. It showed well and I even managed to get DA onto it before he successfully raced down to Minsmere! A Little Ringed Plover was on the Island, only to quickly disappear and 3 redhead Goosander were still present.

Thursday and Friday Highlights
A Greenshank flew over W Salthouse, where a wonderful female Merlin was seen. At least 1 Firecrest was still around, but I didn't see any on Friday (or a Raven). An imm White-fronted Goose was E of East Bank on Thurs and, strangely a Pink-footed Goose was N A149 on Friday, both with Greylag. A single Wheatear was seen Fri, but no sign of the group or the Med Gulls either day. A Common Buzzard was S of Holt.

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 170, Route 122, Sp 85, SM 87, SF 38

Cromer Alpine Swift Julian Bhalerao

Morston

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 170, Route 122, Sp 85, SM 87, SF 38

Wednesday 24 March 2010

A Solid Day's Birding

The day started with a couple of texts from JB, firstly that there was no sign of the Alpine Swift and then, a minute later, that it was showing well.

Hoping that it might cruise west (it didn't, it went east and round the coast, finally seen at Gt Yarmouth - the Hunstanton bird reappeared in the afternoon and continued to show well 'til late) I made my way up to Cley. A single Barn Owl was again S of Broom Green. Through to Walsey Hills, I decided to make this my first stop. In the 'scrub' I managed to find a number of 'my own' Firecrest. Two birds were seen together on two occasions, seemingly further birds both sang and called. So at least two and I reckon there could have been up to five! Always wonderful birds, especially to find (even if they are doing very well in Norfolk!) Also in the area was a male Blackcap, 3+ Chiffchaff and good numbers of Tits. There seemed to be little moving, except a few Linnet and Starling. 2 Cettis' continued to call and my first Bearded Tit in the area did too. The smaller Peregrine showed again and the Marsh harriers were particularly active.
After a long chat I moved onto Salthouse. The area was quiet on the first visit, a single Wheatear and 3 migrant Chiffchaff flitting in the fields. Meadow Pipits were particularly active, with lesser numbers of Skylark. I eventually caught up with the Great Northern Diver which has been wintering in the area, a fem Merganser flew past. Granborough Hill was 'dead'. However, after a break for lunch I returned to Salthouse car park. Whilst on the beach, 10 Meadow Pipit seemingly flew in off the sea. A moment later a fem Stonechat appeared on the shingle. I decided to move down for a better look, when a Wheatear appeared, quickly followed by up to 5 more. It looked like a small arrival had taken place.
Back at the Duck Pond, a smart fem Grey Wagtail appeared briefly, before flying off south over the village. The mewing of Mediterranean Gull drew my attention and i soon located two birds, one full summer bird (lacking its tail) and a 2nd (or 3rd??) year bird, with nearly a full 'head' - they were obviously a pair! They flew around hoping to collect some bread, then returned to the 200+ Black-headed Gulls that had amassed!
All in all an excellent days birding, with everything being my own birds and some pleasing finds amongst them! However, still a little jealous of others who found some more interesting birds! Oh well, small steps!
Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 168, Route 121, Sp 81, SM 83, SF 36