Confusion Continues!

The day began at Horsey Gap, walking north to the 'Pipe Dump'. There was an obvious arrival of Willow Warblers, with 10 + singing. A singing Common Whitethroat was also present, with a couple of Wheatears, plenty of Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps and Stonechat. A bird that looked like a Tree Pipit probably was a Tree Pipit, but was only seen briefly.

From here we went to Breydon, where a Yellow-legged Gull was seen before the Lesser Golden Plover was located. It showed reasonably well although still quite distant. The strange moult of the bird still causes identification issues, with the bird still looking American from some views and Pacific from others! A Sandwich Tern was also present.

A variety of east coast sites were visited before arriving at Muckleborough Hill in a vain attempt to see the Wryneck. It did, however, give an opportunity to see the Nordic Jackdaw there. News of a Lapland Bunting at Cley, saw us later observing the bird in the Eye field, where at least 4 Wheatears were present, as well as a rather dark mantled White Wagtail.

The day ended with a high singing (at the top of a small silver birch) Dartford Warbler.

A brief afternoon visit to Cley on Thursday produced, rather belatedly, my first Sandwich Tern. Walsey Hills held 4+ Blackcaps, including a female. A pair of Swans have chosen a rather dodgy place to nest.

Stopping off a Lakenheath before a day in Brighton, produced distant views of a pair of Garganey. A singing sedge Warbler was unfortunately in Suffolk!

New e-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk

Having had my old e-mail account shut down without warning, I lost all my contacts, so feel free to contact me as above - old and new alike!

Will It be 'Nailed'?

Yesterday started at Gorleston, searching for the Hoopoe. It was very quiet and the highlight was meeting the local birder who saw the bird last night. From here I went to Burgh Castle, where a hybrid Hooded / Carrion Crow was feeding. There was little migrant activity. As I drove over Breydon Bridge I noticed a couple of birders hurrying across. I decided to pull into the Asda car park, to here that someone had found a 'Lesser' Golden Plover. After a certain amount of searching the bird was located again from the hide, where it showed intermittently among the vegetation. The misty conditions made viewing difficult. I came away with the impression of a small, seemingly bulky, well marked (particularly the dark cap and broad supercillium) bird (although rather golden in colour). It was not seen in flight, but the finder definitely saw grey underwing.

From here I went to Barton Broad, where a count of 32 Little Gull and 4 Common Tern was had - although only 8 Little Gull remained when I left. I have since heard 24 were present later, so presumably they had been passing through throughout the day.

Today, news that the plover was still present and thought to be probably Pacific, I decided to return. In much better light the bird looked slightly greyer than y'day, with the head pattern more noticeable. However, better views seemed to suggest that the primary projection was marginal, beyond the tail and the tertials long, creating a shorter appearance! What a difference light makes!

A cruise round the east coast produced a Yellow Wagtail over Horsey Corner and a summer plumaged Black-throated Diver (typical) flying south!

Finally, the 3rd Diver Falls

The day started at Holme, where a circumnavigation of the Golf Course through Old Hunstanton produced 2 or 3 Wheatear, a pair of Stonechat and my first House Martin of the year. Onto Heacham, there was no sign of the Redstart, but a cracking male Ring Ouzel was seen briefly, before a micro-glider thingy spook all the birds. Two more Wheatear were seen. Then, the yearlisters dread occurred, when news of the Black-throated Diver at Ormsby came through. We made our way over and had frustrating views of the bird, which was spending much more time under the water than on it! From here we spent a bit of time cruising the east coast, with a couple of Black Redstarts he best birds.

Spring Cracker

Another search for Ring Ouzel was more successful. I still didn't see one, but was nearby when a cracking male Redstart was found. Two Wheatear and 5 Swallow and Sand Martin were also seen, as well as s dull Redwing. A cruise around Heacham and Snettisham Coastal Park produced my first Willow Warbler (not even singing!) 5 Wheatear together at Heacham, three in the Coastal Park and two other individuals. A female Black Redstart was seen briefly and two more Swallow.
The evening finished at Chosley, were both Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer were showing well.

Dusky, anyone?

Friday produced some more raptors, including 5 Marsh harriers and the Harris Hawk grappling with a Buzzard and Crow. Another pair of Buzzard were seen nearby.

Thursday morning was spent in the mist at Kelling Water Meadows. Little was seen, but this Wren was singing in a very unusual manner, reminiscent of Yellowhammer, without the melodic ending!

Wednesday saw me looking for a Ring Ouzel at Heacham. It wasn't seen, but a Barn Owl kept me company for over 1/2 hour and an orange-legged Greylag was seen!

Surfbirds March

Rank 1
Name David Norgate
Nationality Norfolk
Total 183
Highlights BOU + 4
24/3 Spoonbill, 22/3 Stone Curlew, 16/3 Red-crested Pochard, 14/3 Greenshank, 9/3 Wheatear, 4/3 Siberian Thrush (pending acceptance), 1/3 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 25/1 Rough-legged Buzzard, 21/2 Red Kite, Hooded Crow, 15/2 Ferruginous Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Guillemot, Black Redstart, 14/2 Black-necked Grebe, Woodlark, Goshawk, 12/2 Cattle Egret, 8/2 Penduline Tit, Green-winged Teal, 2/2 Ruddy Duck, 25/1 Black-bellied Dipper, 24/1 Great Grey Shrike, 21/1 Barnacle Goose, 13/1 Jack Snipe, 11/1 Green Sandpiper (Dipped Killdeer), 10/1 Iceland and Caspian Gull, 9/1 Smew, 6/1 Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipit, 4/1 (Ross's Goose) 2/1 Common Crane, Taiga Bean Goose, Waxwing, 1/1 Glaucous Gull, Hawfinch, 5 Owl species See: http://ruralchill.blogspot.com/

Although this is the current state of play on Surfbirds, my partner in crime is actually one ahead of me!

One That Got Away

Yesterday, we decided that Snettisham was as good a place as any to find some early migrants. It was hard work, although six or seven Barn Owls, ringtail Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier kept us company. A single Wheatear was seen with a second later around he pits and a couple of Swallows flew through. Then suddenly, "What is that?" came the call. I looked to see a small, but in the brief glimpse, seemingly long and slender streaky finch, with a buff/yellow wash disappear over a bush. Better views were had by my companion, who saw yellow face markings of a squatter bird! Two hours later, there was no further sign! Oh, well!
Later we visited Pentney, where Wheatear, Little Ringed Plover and a strange Wigeon were noted.