Raven

A great evening on the patch tonight, I made my way to radar lodge seeing very little initially except for 5 Linnet and a couple of Whitethroat.

 

So decided to do a sea watch. Started with a close Sandwich Tern, my first of the year. Then a Fulmar, 18 Common Scoter sat on the water. Terns then started to move but at a great distance with 40 feeding and then sat on the Yellow Bouy. 78 More in one big group went south as well as smaller numbers. I think they were Sandwich Tern but not 100% 2 Gannets added to the list.
I was just about to pack up when I picked up a large dark bird very very distant, firstly thinking cormorant but the flight was totally wrong. It was heading straight at me but I felt it was a Corvid and the closer it got the more detail I got with long wings large shape and then eventually just before it got to land turning showing the big size and diamond tail of the RAVEN, which I suspected all along ;-). It continued north and seemed to make land at Hopton. What a bird and my best find for the year so far.  Whilst making sure It was a Raven 2 Whimbrel flew south calling but I didn't want to take my eyes of the corvid.
A few more distant terns went south and a couple of Swallows came in off but that was it, so started heading back. I heard the distinctive call of the Common Sandpiper and found it feeding on the Groynes opposite the Caravan park, another year tick and finished the patching off just nicely.

Hotting up.

Started on the patch and immediately heard Yellow Wagtail somewhere, Some were actually flying over but 2 were on the deck.

Continued on to the ponds where the Lesser Whitethroat was singing away merrily. Showed intermittently too.

Got around to the old Sewage works listening to many more Yellow Wagtails flying over then 2 Whimbrel feeding in the field. James had these birds on the next field at Broadlands Caravan Park.

James also had a Bar tailed Godwit on the Caravan Park, I scoped it from where I was and could see it had no fear of people or dogs so nipped up for a better look and some pictures.

Whilst watching the Godwit a few Sand Martins rested on the wires, there were a lot more than there had been, seemed like up to a hundred, with smaller numbers of Swallow.

Headed home and picked up the 2 Whimbrel on the beach this time but very little else after.

Headed for Oulton Marsh where a pair of Garganey and 2 Mandarin Ducks had been found. It wsnt nice weather wise but I did finally find the Garganeys but the Mandarin's moved to Carlton Marsh so missed em.

 

More Yellow Wagtails here, my first Cuckoo of the year, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Cettis, Willow Warblers and a Whimbrel were other additions to the morning.
Warming up nicely now though.

Horsey

After the morning on the patch Rach n I decided to head to Horsey and Winterton for an afternoon walk. We started at Winterton and the north dunes where I checked all the bushes but just 2 Wheatear were seen. We reached my usual viewpoint on top of one of the Dunes by the Natajack pools and immediately saw 2 male Ring Ouzel but very distantly, so moved a little closer and then found 6 together. Good scope views if not a little distant for photos.

We then headed for Horsey mill for a drink and an ice cream and wow it was so good here with 4 Common Tern, 2 distant flyby Cranes, 30+ Swallow and 2 flyover Avocets a showy Great Crested Grebe and a 1st Summer Med Gull.

On the way back 3 Kingfisher together in the ditch.

We just love the Horsey area, although I hope they replace the sails on the poor mill soon.

We then drove slightly up the road to Horsey Gap where I spotted a Short eared owl being mobbed by a crow then a second, one of the birds disappeared but the other sat on a post for a few pics, what a stunning bird.

Time was moving on so we had a slow drive past the windmill again and Rach spotted two Cranes in the fields, they stayed long enough for a few pics, slight displaying was going on, we felt very privileged.

Turned into a very very good afternoon.

More Migrants.

During the week a few common migrants started to appear including Willow Warbler and Common Whitethroat. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs are now everywhere and 5 Wheatear were on the cliff top. 2 Swallows through yesterday. Divers have been moving north over the last few days.

As the Suns been shining insects have been out and about including Commas, Small Tortoise, peacocks, Green veined whites and Brimstones. Bee Flys have been on the patch and fantastically in my garden.

Talking of the Garden, Chiffchaff as Blackcap have been through.
Best bird of the week however was today with a cracking Adult Hobby!, its been tough for decent birds though.
Ive made my self a Moth trap so hope to get something good in the trap over the next few weeks.

Migrants finally...

Hard work on the patch still but during the week a Blackcap was singing from the dis rail track.
My First swallow on the way home from work at St Olaves bridge on Wednesday.
Back on the patch yesterday 10 Sandmartins back on cliffs, 2 Swallows and a movement of Linnets and Goldfinches. Round at the NSW a Common Buzzard and a Bullfinch. 3-4 Chiffchaffs.
Bored of the patch I headed up to Carlton Marsh's where migrants were a little more evident with 3 Willow Warbler, and a Sedge Warbler.

After this it went rather quiet here and nothing new to add except a brief view of a Water Vole and a Little Egret.

To today finally things were properly happening with another Swallow past, 25+ Sandmartins now on the cliffs and a very nice Male Wheatear, only about 3 weeks later than last year.

Back at the Dis Rail track, loads of Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps singing and lots of insects. A Yellow wagtail calling as it flew north was bird of the morning. That's it for now.