Triple Twitch!

Having been rather stationary over the last few days and delayed in any early movement today, I responded to the temptation to go up and look for an Alpine Swift seen at East Runton, which was supported by White-fronted Goose and Spoonbill (which I had forgotten about as I left!)

As I traveled news came that the bird was reported over West Runton, could it be a route tick as well? Well, no as it hung around there rather than continuing West! I went via Walsey and saw the 2 White-fronted Goose present, although asleep further east of East Bank! The Swift was still lingering over West Runton, so I decided to continue rather than wait for it to come to me! I arrived to the news that it hadn't been seen for a while and then, before I could get out the car someone received a call that it was at Cromer. I continued on and after another phone call and some 'imaginative' parking I came to be standing on the sea font when it reappeared! It came close at times, but preferred to circle the church, approaching it with intent at times and was last seen just before 5.00pm when it might have roosted on the tower! The (?) Glaucous Gull flew west just before the Swift reappeared!)

These last two record shots were taken by Julian Bhalerao, as we stood together watching the bird (he fortunately relocated the bird over Cromer in the first place!)

Having remembered the Spoonbill, I returned to Walsey, where the bird could be seen distantly on North Scrape (and, amazingly, from the end of East bank, where about 5m of North Scrape can be seen!) A male Mandarin was briefly on Snipe's Marsh before taking flight and possibly moving onto the main reserve. A Peregrine was seen, probably a different bird to before, seeming much smaller. Two Little Egret were seen together.

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

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 168, Route 118, Sp 81, SM 83, SF 36

Highlights Catch-up

The last couple pf days have past me by, but I was fortunate to be working last week when Spring finally Sprung!

Friday 19th March
The morning began with three Barn Owls, two Nuthatches and an unexpected Woodcock. The highlight, though were two Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, one calling and the other drumming!
Two chiffchaffs were at Walsey, a singing bird in North Plantation and another seen along the path.
The major surprise, though, came in the form of 3 Crossbills that flew west, 'chupping' away. A few Greenfinch and Great and Blue Tit also seemed to be moving west. A visit to the Beach Car park produced c 20 Snow Bunting and a single Wheatear - distantly on the Little Eye.
A lunchtime excursion was extremely lucky, producing brief sightings and soundings of Woodlark and Dartford Warbler.
After work one, of the now two, Wheatear was seen from the road - an adult male and 1st year male. A Peregrine shot through.

Thursday 18th March
Perseverance paid off in the form of a calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. 3 Barn Owls were seen, including two together at Guist
My first Chiffchaff of the year was at Salthouse, although I had to 'twitch' it, walking 200 m to where 3 birders (I never see birders here!) were watching and listening to it!
A late evening stop off produced two Sand Martin moving from Snipe's Marsh onto the main reserve, as well as 5+ Marsh Harrier.

Wednesday 17th March
Birding was limited to an afternoon twitch, where the 1st sum Black Redstart played chase around the Weybourne Coastguards Cottages, where it was seen distantly from the road.

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

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 166, Route 116, Sp 81, SM 83, SF 36

Julian Bhalerao Pics

A few rather average pics attached (JB's words!)

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

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 160, Route 110, Sp 81, SM 83, SF 36

Waxwing Pictures

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

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 160, Route 110, Sp 81, SM 83, SF 36

A Twitch and a 'Good' Find!

After a quiet trip to Swanton Morley Y'day - with the highlights being two pairs of Oystercatcher in situ, 49 Tufted Duck, 3 Wigeon and singing Marsh Tit and Reed bunting - I succumbed to going to see the Slavonian Grebes at Ormesby Broad.

On route I stopped off at Bowthorpe and had a much better experience with the Waxwings!
At Ormesby 2 Slavonian Grebes showed well, but a little distant from the screen, with another bird even more distant to the left. A much closer bird was seen on Filby Broad, where there was still a reasonable quota of Goldeneye.

Two Red Kite and up to 12 Common Buzzard were seen, with 8 Buzzard circling and displaying and two more perched up together.

At Sparham the pools were much quieter, although 13 Goosander (5 drakes) were still present, showing some tendency to display and a 'good' find of a drake Red-crested Pochard. A juv Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over. The usual woodland birds were seen and amorous Oystercatchers were about!

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

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 160, Route 110, Sp 81, SM 83, SF 36

Some Recent Pics

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

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 108, Sp 78, SM 83, SF 36

Some birds were seen somewhere, including some Barn Owls!

Thursday 11th March
A beautiful evening, with a number of highlights. Whilst watching the Peregrine cause havoc over North Scrape, I scanned the waders to try and identify something different. Unable to do so I was pleasantly surprised to come across the Short-eared Owl at distance. Onto Guist, where 208 Pied Wagtail were counted on the wires and a Barn Owl quartered and the unmistakable shape of a Bittern moved briefly over the reeds - bonus!

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

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 110, Sp 78, SM 83, SF 36

Adam Hartley's blog

Adam recently visited Norfolk and his account can be found here:
http://oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2010/03/rough-legs-in-norfolk.html
It includes some excellent pictures and also video.

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

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 108, Sp 78, SM 83, SF 36

Back to the Birds!

After seeing the 5 Waxwings at Bowthorpe, I consoled myself with some time watching the Red Kite. It flew right over my head (my anticipation wasn't too great!) and then hunted the 'valley' for c 20 min. Two Buzzard wre also present.

On the eastern edge of my Sparham patch 6 Buzzard circled together in the thermal. A quiet afternoon round the pools was interrupted by a Cetti's Warbler singing (unusual at Sparham) 10 Goosander were present, with 3 drake and 4 female on the main pool. A Tawny Owl 'keek'ed with amazingly another 'woo'ing at Swanton Morley. There were two pairs of Oystercatcher at Sparham, with one calling in flight over Swanton Morley. A calling Brambling and a flock of c 50 Fieldfare suggested some movement at Swanton Morley. An afternoon Barn Owl showed beautifully, later joining a second in a crevace in a tree.

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

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 108, Sp 78, SM 83, SF 36