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

2 comments:

  1. I wondered if you found / saw the goodies at Sparham. I took a break from birding (three goes before seeing alpine swift etc) but not before getting to 160 BOU for Norfolk in March with woodlark. Happy with that total. Missed nothing important.

    You have reached the round target of 170, I see. Good as weather not too good this week.

    No way I could get to the lesser kestrel. We will find out who got it in good time. Thankfully it wasn't in Norfolk!

    If I can get away at a reasonable time Monday(4pm)and the lesser kestrel stays (most records are one-dayers) I will go after work tomorrow.

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  2. Yes, was pleased to find the birds at Sparham, particularly the Firecrest. But just as 'rare' were the Nuthatch and Redshank at Swanton! Hope you get to see the Kestrel!

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