Keep Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'!

Saw an awesome bird today! Having been unable to connect with the Roller at Edgefield on Sunday due to family commitments, my personal day out from school could not have been better placed. I arrived at the clearing near Holt Lowes this morning and the Roller was on show, atop a tall tree stump. The bird continued to show albeit distantly, and was observed in flight and feeding. I left when the bird seemed settled on the ground. I remember as a child leafing through my Reader's Digest Birds of Britain, and thinking "What on earth is that doing in here?"whilst looking at the Roller image. Now, I have seen one for myself. Many thanks to the finder. Also at Edgefield, 2 Crossbill (!m) and a singing Woodlark.

Working backwards, I opted for a quiet potter around Wheatfen on Sunday, and arrived to find their busiest day of the year in full flow, Swallowtail Day. I tagged on the end of a guided walk and got to see 3 or 4 Swallowtail Butterflies, my first this year. Someone had also spotted a freshly emerged Elephant Hawkmoth, a cracker as always.  The reserve was buzzing, Gropper reeling and 2 Cuckoo calling whilst at the Swallowtail site. I had a quick chat to the warden David Nobbs before leaving, lovely chap, he told me that Red Kites are being seen every week and a Spotted Flycatcher has been in the cottage garden.  Wheatfen is such a special place, I look forward to whiling away a few Summer's days here again this year.

Last week, Thursday night, I joined Norwich Bat Group for the annual UEA Bat Hunt. The weather was a little breezy, but not too cold and thankfully for the first time this year, the Bats delivered. A full set of results can be viewed here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/147767281/Norwich-Bat-Group-Walk-UEA-Broad-13th-June-2013. Thanks to Stuart for taking the time to analyse the recordings.

A quick plug for the Norfolk Bat Survey: If you haven't already done so, it is not too late to sign up and help ascertain just what species are in 'your' 1km square. Details here: http://www.batsurvey.org/.

Digging further back into the archives, on Monday the 10th Debs and I shared in a proper wildlife experience at Church Marsh when 2 Fox cubs emerged from an earth. The light was fading and despite revisiting we have not yet encountered the cubs again. Still, magical stuff.

To finish, a few recent highlights that we did manage to photograph!

 Surlingham Fox Cubs

Surlingham evening sky

 Common Spotted Orchid

 Elephant Hawkmoth

Swallowtail Butterfly

Retracing my steps.

Another crazy few weeks has led to the absence of an update. I am pleased to report that I have been out and about, and looking back over the pictures Debs and I took has reminded me of a few gems over the past few weeks.
A highlight for me has been the emergence of Dragons and Damsels. At Wheatfen, Large Red and Azure Damselfly were on the wing on the 26th of May, along with Hairy Dragonfly. Better late than never! This was a particularly fine day, in which we also heard Cuckoo and saw a Grass Snake.
At Rockland on the 2nd of June, 4 Spotted-Chasers were new for the year, striking looking beasties these. Red-tailed Damsels were also a first of 2013. On the birding front, a distant Hobby was a year tick and 2 Common Terns were hawking over the broad. Met a thoroughly decent chap who was convinced he had seen a Lynx here a few years back.
Evening visits to Surlingham Church Marsh have thrown up the expected breeding birds at this time of year. Debs and I enjoyed watching a Barn Owl hunt earlier in the week, a positive sign considering the scarcity of sightings from here this year.

Away from Norfolk, a wedding in Harrogate involved a stop at a friends in Oundle. We took out a canoe and paddled down the Nene one evening. A fantastic experience, not least because the wildlife accept a much closer encounter than if one were walking. We saw Kingfisher, Common Tern, Bullfinch and distant Red Kites throughout the valley. A stop at a lock for a beer and crisps with 2 of my best mates was pretty much my idea of perfection. Need to start saving for a Kayak, I've done enough talking about it!

On the Bat front, a very early individual left a roost somewhere near Surlingham church at 8.30pm on Wednesday the 5th of June. I would guess Natterer's based on flight pattern. The weather is slowly improving, so the various surveys I have signed up to should begin soon. This coming Thursday, the 13th, is Norwich Bat Group's Big Bat Hunt at UEA. Passive detectors will be used which record every Bat pass, and computers will be available to help assign the recordings to species level that night. If you are interested, we are meeting at North Park Avenue carpark at 9pm.

Whirlwind couple of weeks

Just happy to be alive and kicking after a nasty accident involving a berk in a lorry and my now scrapped Fiesta. Luckily, a lady stopped and offered to be a witness if necessary which put my faith back in humanity within a few minutes. Moral of the story? Do not take out insurance with Hastings Direct. Useless. 

Anyway, rant over and new car is on the way. Starting with the South Yare patch, a new species was added to the year list, and a very pleasing one too since Grey Partridge have declined considerably in the last 20 years. A pair were seen in a field along Surlingham Lane. At Church Marsh, 2 Feral Pigeon were an almost regrettable patch tick. Things have been quiet here, as the resident species settle down to breed and absolutely no Waders pas through. It has been rather more lively over at Claxton, where a Montagu's Harrier has been hanging around opposite Buckenham RSPB. Despite 3 evening visits after work, I still haven't connected. A calling Greenshank did provide me with a new bird for the year however. 

Yesterday, Connor and I agreed to put some time in on the Norfolk coast searching for migrants. Upon hearing that he and Ben had endured a largely fruitless day on the point the day before, I was already lowering my expectations. We walked Burnham Overy Dunes and Wareham Greens, not seeing a single migrant. The saving grace was smashing views of a pair of Montagu's Harrier and a Red Kite.

Today, Debs and I enjoyed a stroll in some sunshine around Wheatfen. Finally, we observed our first Dragons and Damsels of the year. A pair of both Large Red and Azure Damselfly and then 2 singles of Hairy Dragonfly were seen. Other bits of interest were a Sparrowhawk, Cuckoo and at least 2 Grass Snakes. 

We had our eyes to the skies here and later at Rockland, but no sign of the reported Black Kite from yesterday. 

A Bat update- last night I was on a NBMP course which dealt with survey methodology and identification. I'm good to go! Bats were not really playing ball, a few Daubs and less than 5 Pips; it was bloody freezing. We did see a roding Woodcock and a Barn Owl at Santon Downham. 

At the Norwich Bat Group AGM I ended up joining the committee, so the way this Summer is shaping up I won't be seeing too much daylight!

An early start.

With Debs away with friends for the weekend, the opportunity to disturb nobody but myself arose, so I headed to Surlingham at dawn on Saturday morning. I like to make at least 2 early visits around this time of year.
The weather was chilly and overcast, and therefore birdsong was not at quite the heights I had hoped for. However, 2 Grasshopper Warblers were reeling in front of the hide, unseen. 2 Garden Warbler were picked up on call near the Ferry Inn, a year tick and not the easiest of species here or anywhere. Brief glimpses were all I could manage, but at least I know where to look once breeding commences. A Barn Owl was out hunting at half 5, and on the lagoon of note were 3 Lapwing and 6 Tufted Duck (5 Drakes). 2 House Martin in the village were also NFY. Perhaps my favourite moment of the morning was a Cuckoo, calling in flight over my head near the pub. He was cuckoo-ing so fast that it sounds almost as if the bird narrowly avoids choking. Clearly a bird desperate to make itself heard.

Yesterday, I was overwhelmed by the 100's of Swifts I encountered around Langley, Claxton and Rockland. There were probably 1000's in the Yare valley. 6 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harrier and a single Lesser Whitethroat (NFY) were the other highlights. Finally,  a Kingfisher was seen in a small dyke not far from the road. Not the first time, so maybe a breeding bird.

An unusually warm Bank Holiday weekend

Our small garden was a hive of activity yesterday, 2 Holly Blue butterflies the diurnal highlight along with various White sp. passing through. That evening, 2 Pipistrelle Bats were hunting at rooftop level.
The bulk of our day was spent at Cley, enjoying an excellent crab salad at Cookies after a short walk around the reserve. Avocets were noisily about their business, and 2 Little-ringed Plover were also on the scrape keeping their distance. A Lesser Whitethroat was heard along Old Woman's Lane, and the expected Marsh Harriers were soaring over the reedbed. Unexpectedly, a group of c30 Brent Geese dropped in to graze. Surely the latest into the breeding season I have seen this species in Norfolk.

Today, the temperature cranked up another couple of degrees to 19, I enjoyed a stroll round Wheatfen. For once, I didn't have the reserve to myself. A Cuckoo was heard and was subsequently new for the year. Whitethroat were everywhere, as were Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers. Speckled Wood and Orange Tip were on the wing, the first time I have caught up with either of these species this year. I stumbled upon the tail end of at least 4 snakes, probably Grass, but they were too quick for me, disappearing into the reedbed on each occasion. I spent some time scanning the skies over Strumpshaw, for 2 Common Crane had been reported earlier in the day. No luck on that front, but I did pick out a kettle of 5 Buzzards and the resident Marsh Harriers.
Rockland Broad, and another Cuckoo was heard. A Garden Warbler, new for the year, shared a piece of scrub with the more obvious Whitethroats. Best birds were undoubtedly 2 Common Tern, fishing the broad itself and engaging in a bit of chase. Perhaps they will make use of one of the platforms and breed this year.

Patch Gold: Common Redstart.

There I was, wandering ever more slowly round Surlingham this evening lamenting the fact that Spring had been quiet here and wishing for a Yellow Wagtail or Whinchat. What I stumbled across has reminded me why patch birding can be so rewarding, and is also my best 'find' here. An unfamiliar song was heard, that I couldn't quite pin onto a Linnet. Eventually the bird in question was accidentally flushed, and the red tail left me in no doubt and the song fell into place. Upon landing, I was treated to super views of a stonking male Common Redstart! I enjoyed watching him for around 45 minutes, sometimes disappearing out of view but faithful to a particular hedgerow. I would imagine the chances of him staying are slim; Redstart are rare breeding birds in Norfolk, and a female would of course need to drop in. However, the habitat does provide breeding potential. With this in mind I will keep the exact location to myself incase the former does occur. That would be superb!
Elsewhere on the reserve, a Fox crossed my path no more than 4 feet in front of me, clearly it had no idea I was there, stock still. Reed Warblers are back at Church Marsh, so now I await Garden Warbler and possibly Lesser Whitethroat.

Over the weekend, I enjoyed views of a Kingfisher from inside the Water's Edge at Wood's End. Pub and bird well worth a look if you are in the area.

The week just passed in review

Sensing that this was a week in which to catch up with migration in action, Debs and I headed out to the patch on Monday 15th after work. A super evening. On arriving at the river bend opposite Wood's End, that call of the wild resonated from across the Yare. Somewhere, a patch first, a Curlew was calling! I didn't have to search for him, since the large Wader flew over our heads and over Church Marsh! Elsewhere on the reserve, a Barn Owl was surprisingly and worryingly the first recorded here this year (better numbers at Claxton) and the reel of a Grasshopper Warbler also alerted us to another year first. Walking back to the car, at dusk, 5 Common Pipistrelle's caught insects high at tree top level.

Rockland Broad on Wednesday night held little of note, bar courting Great-crested Grebes.

Fast-forward to Saturday 20th, and another visit to Church Marsh mid morning. A Whitethroat sang from across the river, NFY. Willow Warbler appeared to be outnumbering Chiffchaff now, or at least were louder! 2 male Marsh Harriers are now present on the reserve, but not at the same time. One bird has almost silver coloured wing patches, very distinctive. A Great Black-backed Gull heaading towards Postwick was shockingly a second 'patch tick' of the week. Many Peacock and Comma were on the wing along with a smattering of Brimstone.

That evening, I attended a Bat detector course at Santon Downham, run jointly by Suffolk Bat Group and the BCT. This was both an informative and enjoyable course, and I learnt a lot about rhythm, tone and how variable calls can be. We were able to put our new found knowledge into practise, and despite the cold temperatures we located Soprano Pips and Daubenton's. I return here later in May for a NBMP course which will help with my intended survey work this year.

Yesterday, I took in some of the wider South Yare patch, starting with Rockland Broad. The Broad has been pretty devoid of anything decent so far this year and I am relying on it to deliver some more difficult birds I am unlikely to pick up elsewhere. Very few Ducks seem to use The Broad, perhaps it is too deep for dabbling? Anyway, enough whinging because today I struck lucky with an Arctic Tern. the bird was distant at first, although clearly 'legless' with long tail feathers. There was some black at the tip of the bill which initially threw me, although it would seem some Arctics can display this feature we would usually associate with Common. So, a top patch tick and hopefully one of a few species of Tern I will see here this year.

Later in the afternoon, Debs and I enjoyed a stroll round Langley. A Peregrine was across the river (a 'stolen' patch tick) but the best find was a Grass Snake, lounging in the sun and proving photogenic.