Awesomeeeee

The plan today was to nip to North Norfolk and Holt for various birds including Parrot Crossbills.
However things didn't quiet go to plan. On passing Great Yarmouth I decided to have a very quick look for the 2 Shorelark reported, now id seen these last year but thought cos its a new year id have a look again. Trouble was they took an hour to find.....They are cracking wee birds. A few Mediterranean Gulls were on the beach as usual.

So now onto North Norfolk, no wait lets have a quick look through the big number of Gulls at Bure Park.... Holy Crap! Glossy Ibis, now this bird had been seen for last couple of days but it wasn't reported after yesterday afternoon so never thought it would be still around. It showed really well too. pity the sun was so strong right in front of me, never happy ;-). The obligatory Med Gull pic too.

So onto North Norfolk, owww Parrot Crossbills showing at Waveney Forest,  must go see them instead. On arriving the birds were showing immediately 25 Common Crossbill and 2 Parrots (male and a female) although I could only pick up the female, couldn't find the male which was a shame.

Female Parrot Crossbill

 

Below Common Crossbills.

Right Definatly onto north Norfolk now but no more birding just having a walk around Sheringham and Cromer, although I did spot a Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham, oh and the half hour sea watching whilst eating lunch. 8 Red-throated Diver, 2 Common Scoter and 4 Guillemot.
Loved it what a day.

 

Little Owl

Not a day of birding, it was a day of walking, doing a circular walk the Beccles Marsh Trail although I was hoping to see some birds on the way around. Unfortunately I didn't bugger all really.

We did the shopping then moved onto North Cove for a cracking Little Owl. Im always pleased to be given sites for regular roosting birds.

Dropped shopping of and had the evening at Waveney Forest, this is where the Rough Legged Buzzards are but I didn't look for them just had a wander with the dogs, oh listening out for any Crossbills and the 1 Parrot Crossbill that had been about but unfortunately no sign..
Video of Little Owl below

Narfolk

As always I started early on the patch but it was as quiet as id ever seen it, absolutely nothing even on the sea.
So moved onto Breydon Water, tide was on its way in and there was an amazing amount of birds on show, all distant but wow what sight. A Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk put the whole lot up a couple of times. Birds on show were Avocets, Grey Plover, Bar and Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Redshank and Golden Plover. Ducks were thousands of Wigeon, smaller numbers of Teal, Pintail and Mallard.

Next to Lodham Airfield for the cracking flock of Bewick Swans, today the number was up to an impressive 79 Bewicks , most ive ever seen in 1 flock, just love it...

There were also 31 Egyptian Geese and and 20 Whooper Swans.

 

Next onto one of our favourite places for lunch, Horsey Mill, I was hoping for Cranes.
We sat having lunch whilst I carefully checked the 500 Pink footed Geese that were in the area, unfortunately nothing of any interest.

 

After an hour or so I Finally spotted 5 Common Cranes in flight, BINGO woohoo and then immediately my other target species for the day ring tailed Hen Harrier, what 2 great birds.
The Cranes landed out of site distantly and I took my eyes of the Harrier so now I went back to checking the Geese and the big flock of Golden plover that were there. Other birds on site Common Buzzard and 3 Marsh Harriers. Eventually the Cranes walked out into the open ok very distant but really nice all the same.

 

Rach was getting cold so It was time for home but to me it was still early so managed to persuade Rach to go for a walk to Haddiscoe Marsh (she warmed up in the car) ;-) where the birds were great, again always distant here but the 2 Rough Legged Buzzard were still present as well as 2 Common Buzzard, 4 Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, 3 Barn Owl and 3 Little Egret. 3 Bearded Tits were a real bonus. Finally 4 Chinease Water Deer ended a great day.

Cleaning up

So Today I stayed put till about 9 am when the wind and rain finally stopped battering against the window. Rach didn't want to get her wellies dirty so It was just me n the dogs. Sea watching off Corton was poor, a good movement of Kittiwakes a few distant divers and a Juvenile Arctic Skua was the pick of the bunch, oh not forgetting the very distant Velvet Scoter in flight.
I moved onto Oulton Marsh to get the Glossy Ibis which was still present, took some finding first as it was hiding in the long grass. A Little Egret was a year tick.

On the way back a Barn Owl was hunting and showing nicely.

I moved onto Pakefield Beach where I struggled to locate the Snow Buntings but saw 4 Med Gulls instead. On the way back the Snow Buntings flew in from the North, originally 25 which built up to 55 by the time I left.

Lastly on the way home I quickly nipped into Ness point for Purple Sandpiper. Again weren't seen when I arrived but a walk north payed off and 12 showed well all but briefly as the sea was so rough.
It was getting dark, not that it had ever got light today so I headed home.

Year list upto 77.

Norfolk for a few bits hopefully tomorrow.

Waxwings

Woohoo at work today I arrived on site in the centre of Norwich got out the van and could hear Redwing and then I could have sworn I heard a Waxwing. So I had a quick walk up the road to look in any trees but nothing. So inside one of the properties I looked at some much taller trees out the back and spotted what looked like a Waxwing, without bins it was difficult to be sure but then it flew past the window close enough to see it was a Waxwing..Bingo!!! after I finished me job I wanded up to the trees it came out of and I then heard a few Waxwings and then counted 12 altogether mixed in with the redwings. They sat in sun preening  and calling to each other then flew off but came back fairly quickly. I then watched em fly off again and typically a few birders turned up and the buggers never came back. They were spotted a short distance away though luckily.
Waxwings have been thin on the ground this winter so I feel very lucky.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year all This morning I decided id get out early as the rain and wind was due by lunch. Grabbed the dogs and walked to the patch Corton Old Sewage works first bird of the new year was Starling. I then stood doing a sea watch for the next couple of hours and it was excellent picking up Black Throated, Red Throated and Great Northern Diver I picked up a distant grebe coming from the north it then headed out to sea and I could just make out the wing pattern of what im very sure was a Red Necked Grebe. Talking to some other people when 2 White Fronted Geese flew directly over head. Duck numbers were big mainly being Wigeon, smaller numbers of Teal a single Mallard and at least 8 Pintail. Good numbers of Common Scoter were just visible from here but too far to spot the  Velvets that were with them. An adult Med Gull flew south and there were plenty of Dark Bellied Brent Geese and Kittiwakes. the only wader though was a patch tick single Grey Plover.
A walk around Corton New Sewage works and the railway was very quiet but plenty of small jobbies and a couple of Green Woodpecker. A lone Brent goose was feeding in fields by the sewage works.

 

Finished at Corton Woods as I was hoping for Firecrest but the weather was now changing it was windy and wet and the Firecrests were nowhere to be seen, so packed it in and headed home on 50 Species, brilliant mornings birding and all within half a mile of home.
Till the weekend when ill be picking up some real rarities... Bewick Swan and Glossy Ibis hopefully.

Happy New Years Eve

So had chores to do before nipping out to Breydon Water with the dogs, it was cold and wet but dogs needed walking. Amazing mass of birds on the estuary, maybe 1500 Wigeon, 2000 Lapwing with mixed Teal, Black tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover Redshank and 400 Golden Plover, Loads of mixed gulls 5 Med Gulls.. It was windy and the birds were distant so I didn't check them very thoroughly.
Half way down the bank I heard Snow Bunting, then 3 flew up from the edge of the marsh, also a Rock pipit.

On the way home stopped at Gorleston and had a quick check of the Scoter flock, 5 Velvet Scoters still. Finished with 3 Med Gull In the car park.
Great finish to 2013....

Happy New Year Everyone.

Norfolk Again.

Can ya tell I just LOVE Norfolk... Rach the dogs n I headed that way again. Started looking for the Rose Coloured Starling and not a great start, just couldn't find it anywhere.
Moved onto Ludham airfield where I managed distant views of a group of 58 Bewick and 27 Whooper Swans. We moved around and managed to find a better area to view although it was looking into the sun but I love Bewick Swans so was pleased to see them a bit closer.

Moved onto Kelling Quags where the Richards Pipit showed well at times giving good scope views.

 

checked through a few Pinkfooted geese too but nothing special. Sat on the beach and had our lunch and did a sea watch for an hour and a half picked up 8 Red Throated Divers, handful of Guillemots and then just before we were going to leave a close Little Auk flew north bingo!!!
Finished off by visiting Chosley Barns and 0 Corn Buntings! then Titchwell for the sunset. At Titchwell 5 Spotted Redshank were the pick of the good numbers of waders. A sea watch was disappointing with 2 GC Grebe and 8 Goldeneye. a list of Waders were Black and Bar tailed Godwit, loads of Ruff and Golden Plover,  Dunlin, Grey Plover and some Avocets. On the way back in the dark Cetties Warbler and Water Rail, also nice to hear Bearded Tits.
Back on the patch (drive past) I Spotted a Tawny Owl sat in the tree. What a great finish..

Id be very surprised if I saw any new birds now before the new year so im happy to say I finished my year list on a respectable 276 Species....

Purple Sandpiper

Went and had a look for the Purple Sandpipers at Ness point but had real trouble finding them but on the way back they flew past and landed on the rocks initially distant but they did eventually come a little closer. Well had real trouble with very poor light and had to shoot on iso 200 so I was very surprised to get 4 half decent shots off the camera.
2 Gannet and 3 Kittiwake were the only other notable birds really.

 

Feeling rough boxing day.

Christmas day was just a walk around the patch with nothing to report unfortunately.
Today took dogs out for a walk around Haddiscoe Island, loads of Coal tits, Goldcrests, a few Treecreepers and Chaffinchs but the best birds were 2 Rough Legged Buzzard, 2 Peregrine, 2 Kestrel and numerous Marsh Harriers. A couple of Egyptian geese and a Chinese Water Deer finished the walk out.

Merry Christmas

A Very Merry Christmas one and all and thanks for your continued support..