Blogs and Websites

Looking to add as many Norfolk based Blogs and websites to the lists here, feel free to forward any you know of that are not already listed.

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

Return of the Chill

Going to be starting this blog up again in the new year.

Looking to become more of a news, views and discussion blog, as well as more of my own sightings!

See you soon!

Very rarely (hopefully never for most people) a circumstance in life occurs that makes you reassess your priorities. One of these has occurred in my life and this has lead me to decide to leave year listing to others. I hope maybe to start another blog at some time. Until then, be patient with me and don't worry, I'll still be out there and, hopefully, see you at the next 'biggy'! Until then, Peace.

One Good Tern Deserves Another!

Cley NWT strikes again - over Billy's Wash, viewed from the Info Centre, then from the Beach Car Park.

Adult White-winged Black Tern

Apologies for the pictures (I sometimes wonder why I bother!)

Good Birds to End a Trying Time

Simmond's Scrape, Cley NWT
Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Also 4 Spoonbills and 11 Little Egrets on Pat's Pool

Saturday 4th July

Buxton Hide, Welney WWT

Caspian Tern

Can I Count It As A Find?

Quick answer: No! But let me explain...
When news of a female Red-backed Shrike at Holkham appeared it took me a while (well 10 min!) to decide to go for it. I arrived at the Washington Hide just before 11 am (I cycled down before you ask!) There were only two people in the hide and they hadn't seen the Shrike. However, whilst searching, I kept hearing bird song of varying variety(!) I mentioned it to the others, but only one heard something interesting. I mentioned the mimicry and Marsh Warbler was mentioned in passing! Unfortunately, it stopped singing as a couple of other birders arrived. 1/2 hour later there was no further sound, so I resigned it to a mimicking Reed Warbler (there was one singing nearby) and decided to go further a field to look for the Shrike! At 1 pm the pager went off the say a Marsh Warbler was singing just west of the hide at 12.55 - bit surprised I didn't get a phone call first. I cycled back quickly and after a few minutes the bird was heard and even seen briefly. The Red-backed Shrike was relocated by the original finders (who also identified the Warbler - thanks guys) so we went to see this, showing well, and returned to the Marsh Warbler. The bird seemed to have a small circuit, singing briefly and showing even more so. Storm approach and we left before the rain (and a picture!)

Marsh Warbler. Okay, it's not in there, but it was!

Distant, but No Controversy!

An after work visit to Rushills Scrape, Hickling Broad brought distant, but good scope views, of the female Red-necked Phalarope. Fortunately, Philip was on sight and mentioned that both Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper were on sight. He quickly pointed out the Little Stint and as I scanned across the Curlew Sandpiper was seen, both were in full summer plumage. This was fortunate as these birds quickly disappeared, presumably back to Swim Coots.

All's Well That Starts Well!

What a start to June! (seeing birds that I could have finished May with!)
The day began with a dawn start at Hickling. I met AK and at 4.50 am he picked up the Great White Egret at distance, flying north with a Grey Heron. The bird perched for a while then went down in the reed bed. Hobby, Bittern (also booming) and a distant Crane were seen (with a much closer, but brief, Crane encounter later) amongst other birds. Whilst returning via Rush Hills The Egret flew west no more than 20 m away, landing near Swim Coots. A couple of more distant views showed the bird was spending some time on / over the NWT Reserve, so I made my way round and had superb views as it eventually flew over my head and back to Higham Holmes.

A showy but brief Cetti's Warber at Hickling.

Back at the NWT car park news broke of the return of the Pratincole. A long and arduous journey ensued, but the bird didn't show whilst I travelled. On site the wait was interrupted by a call of Montagu's Harrier and a female drifted past. 'There it is,' immediately came and we assumed it was the for the Monties, but there 'it' was, the Black-winged Pratincole! The phrase 'showing well', really is an understatement for this bird as it, literally whizzed above our heads!

You get the picture!

Anyone for Oriental next week? Would be great to get all three!

News of a possible Iberian Chiffchaff was quashed as it was identified as a mix singing Willow Warbler - would have been nice, but not today!

Lovely mixture of other wildlife at Hickling.

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.