Jim's Birding Blog

Weekend Mutterings

2012-01-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

Genuinely good session at Surlingham Saturday morning, regardless of the season. 3 Bullfinch, a female then a pair, were a treat and ever since last December I seem to be doing well with this species, and long may it continue. The Wood's End marshes had turned into a flash, which held c350 Black-headed Gull, a record count for the patch. 2 Kingfishers were seen on the river, one fishing from Surlingham Landspring, almost in the carpark! The common birds also seemed more evident today; Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch overhead.
From the hide, two (yes, two) female Marsh Harriers were hunting. Last year was a poor year for Harriers on the reserve, so this bodes well. One bird flushed 11 Snipe- another patch record. No doubt the Snipe are ever-present out there, but I have never seen a group this large. One bird looked smaller than the rest, and I instantly thought of Jack Snipe, although from experience this species does not flush so easily and if it is spooked, will only fly a short distance before landing. Who knows.
Walking back to the carpark, the pine trees adjacent to the churchyard held a noisy Tit flock, which held every Tit species I have ever recorded at Surlingham, including a Coal and two Marsh! Great to get that under my belt so early in the year. Now for that year list on Bubo......

Saturday and Sunday evening were spent out in The Broads raptor watching. It was nice to be joined by proud dad Ricky on the Saturday, not put off by the strong winds. Neither was James of Happisburgh fame! We struggled on in the cold, James picked out a pair of Common Cranes not far from the wild Swan flock; 36 distantly, seemed to be more Whoopers than Bewicks. 35 Golden Plover were on a ploughed field, and other birds of interest were a single Kestrel and 4 Barn Owl. The biggest, literally, suprise was a Red Deer Hind over the river. At first glance we thought it was a horse!

Sunday was a much better day weather-wise, and the birds played ball. 4 Short-eared Owls, 4 Barn Owls, 4 Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine and a Male Hen Harrier (which I missed!) made for a Raptor super-fest! A Stonechat was picked out by the sharp eyes of my little cousin, and distantly a group of 10 Cranes landed out of sight. Only one place I'll be next weekend! Added to that I saw the FIRST half of the United match, and I was one happy chap.

Off and running

2012-01-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

Well, walking really. Credit to these hardy folk who make the early start for a New Year's Day list, but I prefer the relaxed approach. A mug of tea, a Neil Young song, a read of the headlines, then I'm ready.
Surlingham the obvious venue, and with daylight burning fast the full circuit would have to wait. Wood's End again was home to good numbers of Common and Black-headed Gulls and flocks of 35 Fieldfare and 10 Redwing flew overhead. A distant raptor that upset the Gulls was probably a Harrier. 150 Greylag were counted, not the complete flock. 2 Great-crested Grebe were on the river. More birds for the year list included Cettis Warbler and Green Woodpecker. An unexpected sight was a murmuration of c5,000 Starlings over Wood's End, later seen behind the ruins of St. Saviours. A small group of c100 is often seen around the reserve, but nothing on this scale.

We popped out for a couple of hours this afternoon, Spring clean complete.
Beginning at Barton Broad, 2 Marsh Harrier over the reedbed, 20+ Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Mallard and a single Pochard, looking lost. Very few passerines in the bushes and scrub, and we left a little disappointed.
Ludham again, and here our best ever views of Short-eared Owl, we agreed. Two birds, one of which we managed to phish a little closer. The camera was dead, so no record shots I am afraid. Other raptors we saw: Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Common Buzzard. We left when the light was still good, both Shorties still hunting. A group of wild Swans graced the sky, distantly.
Owls, great birds. It was observed the the legs of a Short-eared Owl are about as big as that of a baby (human).

On the eve of 2012

2012-01-01T04:33:00.001-08:00

Couple of days birding in The Broads to report back on, and some thoughts on 2012, if you care for them.
On the 30th, Debs and I again visited the ruins of St. Benet's abbey. We were treated to views of a Short-eared Owl soon after arriving, whilst two Barn Owls seemed to work a circuit around us, our company for the evening. The Shortie was proving elusive, but was eventually tracked down at rest on a perch, offering cracking views. Another 'eared-Owl' was seen briefly along the adjacent dyke, and 4+ Marsh Harriers flew into roost. As with last time, a steady stream of Cormorants overhead- just where do they go?
Yesterday, I was keen to finish the year with a trip to Surlingham Church Marsh. Barely a bird on the reserve, the limited action was on the river and meadows. 2 Little Grebe, 2 Great-crested Grebe and some Ducks were on the Yare, and across at Wood's End the feral Greylag flock was out in force, along with a good dosage of Gulls- perhaps a chance of something scarce, genuinely quite a few out there!
So, a record breaking (!) year at Surlingham. Targets for next year, below.
I then continued the day and paid a visit to Hardley Flood. Minus a scope (my new maverick attitude to birding) it was tricky to id everything, but amongst the usual species were a group of 57 Curlew, which left before dusk as a group and probably represented my highlight of the day.
Finished at Langley Marshes, from the Wherryman's Way footpath. Gorgeous Norfolk evening. Across the river, I could just make out the White-fronted Goose flock at Cantley. A Marsh Harrier drifted into roost amongst the now departing Corvids, classic Broads Birding. 3 Barn Owls were soon out hunting, and walking back to the car a Tawny Owl was my last bird of 2011. My last mammal was not the expected Chinese Water Deer, but a Bat sp, encouraged to feed in the mild air.

As aforementioned, I broke the 100 species mark in a year at Surlingham. Highlights have included Crossbill, Short-eared Owl and at times an excellent Wader Passage. Whilst I can't get enough of the patch buzz, this has taken some doing, as regular readers will know! 2 species were heard-only, and I am not missing too many extras. I will therefore set myself a target of 103 species for 2012 on the patch.

Furthermore, some target birds I am yet to see at Surlingham:
Lesser Redpoll
Pink-footed Goose
Garganey
Wood Sandpiper
Spotted Flyatcher

See how I manage with that lot!

Looking further afield, finding something decent on the East Coast is always a target, and I plan to get under the skin of Scratby, Caister and Hemsby this Spring and Autumn.
Having reached 300 species BOU in 2011 (including Little Bittern, Sandhill Crane and Daurian Shrike) I am in no rush to dash around after the next 'tick', but I would like to see a Red-breasted Flycatcher this year!

Estonia was memorable in so many ways, not least since I got to share it all with Debs. Grey-headed Woodpecker lured with the HTC, Ural Owl on nest and Steller's Eider at sea just some of the best bits.
2012 and no trip abroad for us, but we are planning a late summer trip to Northumberland.

Finally, a big thanks to all the good folk I have met and befriended through birding. You help make the hobby what it is for me, and I am looking forward to another year in the field, and look forward to bumping into you, whether it be trundling around the patch or at the next Norfolk twitch!

Norfolk- come get some!

Weekend drizzle and a hunt for some Ducks

2011-12-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

Not the hoped for Raptor fest at Surlingham on Sunday, not a lot of anything infact. Wood's End is/was where it's at: 12 Mute Swans, the Lapwing flock, Common and Black-headed Gulls and the mixed feral Goose flock.
The lagoon held a single Mute Swan, but Teal could be heard in the dykes. Awaiting Raptors on the hill, it began to rain, then snow. I headed back to the car, as the church bells tolled and families rushed to the service inside, snow falling harder now. A proper Christmas scene!
Today, temperatures still around 1 degrees celsius, I spent the morning searching for scarce Ducks in the Broads. Began at an icy Barton, where I enjoyed Goldeneye, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted and Mallard. Best of all, a Bittern flew low across the water.
Driving back through Neatishead, I saw the white flash of Bullfinch backside. Slowing down, I watched a male feeding. What a cracking bird.
I then tried Hoveton Little Broad. Less Ducks here, same species as Barton. A Marsh Tit was with its Blue and Great cousins. The icy ground and bare trees reminded me of Estonia, and it is nice to know that the solitude and wilderness of that country can be found closer to home.

Soggy Surlingham

2011-12-11T11:06:00.001-08:00

Not a great deal to report, although a fine Winter's walk was had on the patch on Saturday. Still seems to be more Blackbirds about than usual, and I also heard a Song Thrush singing; beautiful, pangs of nostalgia. A Kingfisher perched was a highlight, looking brighter than ever in the bright sunshine. A male Marsh Harrier drifted through, no doubt unimpressed by the lack of prey on the lagoon. A Kestrel perched itself on one of those white pole things, preening and looking smart. I could hear Siskins in the scrub, but could only manage a brief flight view.
I have never seen the reserve quite so wet, paths on all sides flooded making Wellington boots essential.

St Benet's, Ludham.

2011-12-04T10:15:00.001-08:00

One of very few places I have visited that has a genuine ethereal aura to it, St.Benet's Abbey near Ludham has in the past been privy to a raptor roost of sorts.
Bit of history here, and I like the fact that the Abbey moreorless survived the dissolution under Henry VIII due to its near inaccessible location!
On arrival, Debs and I were greeted with a flock of Cormorants overhead (see above), and in our short time here many more would head west; must be a sizeable roost somewhere. Two Marsh Harriers drifted through, and distantly around 17 wild Swans were seen, probably Bewicks, which favour the marshy areas around Ludham during the winter.
The real star of the show was a Short-eared Owl, remarkably acrobatic in the wind, considering the bulk of the bird. A Barn Owl was seen briefly, and a Kestrel made up the remainder of our bird of prey species. Two more Marsh Harriers arrived as darkness fell over the ruins, and I would say that these birds did indeed roost in the small wood over the other side of the river.
Two distant shapes looked big, and I had my suspicions that they were not Geese. On arrival back home two Common Cranes had been reported to RBA.
Finally, more Cormorants overhead followed by Fieldfare and Redwing.
Driving back up the track, at least three Chinese Water Deer were seen, and interestingly two Skylark were flushed from the verge, in the darkness.

100!

2011-12-03T10:26:00.001-08:00

Really very pleased to locate a flock of 12 White-fronted Geese on the marshes at Wood's End this afternoon, to make it 100 for the year on the patch. The resident Greylag flock were close, just over the river infact, so I had set about scanning through the noisy group when I came across a single White-front in with the Greylags. Perhaps this bird is feral, but the 11+ birds feeding away from the Greylags were much more likely to be migrants. A good bird away from Buckenham! Also of note was a White-front sized goose, dark almost black head, brown back with diffuse white feathers on primaries. Perhaps a Brent x Greylag?! Do they exist? It is certainly a Goose winter.
Not a great deal else to report around the reserve, a worrying lack of Barn Owls of late. Gull roost building on Wood's End, 30+ Common Gull and a few Herring. 5 Pied Wagtail over (off to Morrisons?) and 2 Meadow Pipit flushed from the flooded marsh. Single Teal on the lagoon, bit rubbish.

A final note on the Western Sandpiper. Moult patterns and the rufous on the scapulars seems to have clinched it, but something that really rang bells with me was a piece of behaviour described on Birdforum.Western Sandpipers feed in a methodical 'Sewing machine' style, probing back and forth in the mud. I observed the Cley bird do just this, so feel a little happier ticking a bird that at first I could not ID!

Striking Sandpiper

2011-12-01T12:08:00.001-08:00

The Unions could not have timed that any better. Perhaps I should be shot, but a day on strike on the Wednesday of the week now almost past saw me take a trip to Cley NWT, in search of a new bird to add to my British (and Norfolk) list. Not only that, but but I am a huge Sandpiper/Shorebird fan, so a possible Semi-palmated/Western Sandpiper would be an education whatever the case.

At the time, I made the following notes:
Black Legs
Very short primary projection
Relatively long, pointed bill
Contrasting white underparts
Grey tones to feathers, but scapulars showing some rufous in better light
'Dumpy' appearance.

Now, a key feature (concave or convex shape to marks on feathers?) could not be seen in the field, and photos are proving ambiguous! I'll be honest, I was siding with Semi-P by the time I had left, yet today the bird is being pagered as Western, so I and others await instruction!
I did make a couple of notes regarding another small Wader. It was small, dumpy, similar plumage colouring to the grey Dunlin, couldn't make out a supercillium (although photos do show a hint). Could this be simply a small Dunlin, or something else? Looks to big for as Little Stint, bill also too long. Do we have a Semi P and Western in Norfolk at the same time, on the same pool?!

Also on site, a brief glimpse of a Water Rail, and a Peregrine sat on the bank opposite the hide.

Cracking birding!

Surlingham again and life in perspective

2011-11-27T11:51:00.001-08:00

Although Saturday morning was relatively quiet on the reserve, Surlingham has hit the headlines of late with the occurance of at least 3 Short-eared Owls. I was happy with 1, but this blog has some cracking shots of the birds, which according to the much abused sightings board in the hide, may still be present. What is interesting is that the birds are being reported roosting in scrub, which I thought was unusual for Shorties.
Ben Lewis informed me of both flyover Pink-footed Geese and Lesser Redpoll in the scrub, neither of which I could locate on my visit, but sure signs that that elusive 100th species for the year is not far away. Good numbers of the beautiful Redwing and Fieldfare were present, and Wigeon have returned to graze on the banks of the Yare. What smart looking ducks these are, if a little cumbersome compared to the ever-present Teal.
The Highland Cattle have been taken off grazing duty for the Winter, Matt and the team from Strumpshaw moving the animals to drier quarters until the Spring.
Ricky made a belated entrance (!) and we headed to Haddiscoe Marshes. Marsh Harrier and Kestrel were our only raptors, but an evening visit here later in the season would no doubt pay dividends.
The news today of the death of the Wales football team manager Gary Speed has left me both sad and frustrated. News such as this certainly puts things into perspective, and what a shame to lose a great man and legend in the game.

A break in the fog and a silent flap

2011-11-23T01:04:00.001-08:00

A weekend of monotony and illness on the couch has crept into this very week dear reader, however I did sneak out to the patch on Monday night. A walk could lead to sickness and definitely sweat, but a short hike and a stand at the vis-mig hotspot of the ruins was manageable.
As the light dimmed, a Kestrel flew through purposefully, hoping for a last minute snack. Watching a Little Egret fish, my attention turned to a silent flap of wings: a Short-eared Owl, briefly, spooked by a dog walker, flapped over the hedge and was lost to view. But, what a few seconds! No doubt the bird heard me exclaim "yes!" and thought better of hanging around.
As the mist began to settle over the marsh, Snipe began to grunt in the air, unseen. Wigeon and Teal arrived to roost on the lagoon, the Wigeon particularly audible as they arrived. In the distance, but growing ever closer, the Greylag flock. Numbering around 300, it seems the group are continuing the current trend of roosting on the lagoon. Their arrival set against the backdrop of moonlight and Water Rail calls made for a memorable end to a cracking hour on the reserve.
Walking back in the dark, a plop louder than a Water Vole could possibly make in the adjacent dyke. Surely an Otter, but this elusive mammal flatly refuses to give itself up here at Surlingham.

Weekend Post Two- Titchwell and Gypsy Lane

2011-11-13T11:41:00.001-08:00

Got to say, wasn't massively keen on joining the crowds at Titchwell today, but with relatives visiting it seemed only fair to visit a premier bird reserve, surely guaranteeing some decent birds for them.

The search began not far from the car-park, and I picked up the calling Yellow-browed Warbler that has been present for over a month now. Avoiding the ridiculous scrum in the wood, we waited by the path and eventually were rewarded with neck-aching views of this always super migrant.

A helpful member of staff alerted us to the presence of feeding Water Rail in the ditch near the centre, and we didn't have to wait long to hear the squealing call, and then this usually elusive bird fed no more than 2 metres away from us, probably my best ever views of this species.

Walking to the beach, 2 Lesser Redpoll were in bushes feeding on catkins with Goldfinch. Barely out of the car-park, and some great birds already!

100s of Golden Plover were on the scrape, and opposite were many Curlew and a single Grey Plover on the marsh. Pintail were looking glamorous as ever.

The sea was a little quiet, although at least one Little Gull passed in a short time, and a juvenile Gannet was loafing close to the shore. Knot, Sanderling and Turnstone all fed at the shoreline.

Walking back to the centre, the Water Rail spot was again of interest, but this time a Woodcock sat silently in a sun spot. We all felt lucky to observe this species at such close range.

A visit to Gypsy Lane away from the crowds proved rewarding; a single Tundra Bean Goose fed just across a channel in a meadow. Seems to have been an arrival of these Geese today, but I certainly had not expected to find my own! This was the icing on the cake of a super day on the north coast. Sure, give me the east coast, solitude and a bag of chips any day, but this ranks as one of my best day's birding this year no doubt. Crippling views of Water Rail and Woodcock, unforgettable stuff.

Weekend Post One- Hemsby and Caister

2011-11-13T11:35:00.001-08:00

Began my search of 'new' habitat round Hemsby and Caister. I must have been searching in the wrong area, for I did not see the Waxwings that have since been reported. However, it was Thrush city in a small copse; c50 Blackbird and a smattering of Redwing. A Bullfinch was amongst Chaffinch feeding on berries. This apparently the wood that once held Dusky, Pallas's and YBW. I can see why, I need to be hitting this every day in half term! The dunes also look decent, large-ish areas of bramble and plenty of leafy gardens for birds to hide up in.

At Caister beach, and I quickly got onto a group of 19 Snow Bunting, several showing much of their striking summer plumage, fantastic! Despite the misty conditions at sea, Red-throated Divers came past and 2 Gannets fished more distantly. A probable Red-necked Grebe was seen briefly, but I made the mistake of moving my scope. That was that! A nice suprise were a flock of 21 Barnacle Geese heading south. I had a wander round the small patch of heathland north of the town, nothing doing here but again an area I clearly need to find the time for. I have since read the the other end of town, an area round the golf course, is decent for migrants too.

Popped into Filby Broad on the way home, 6 Goldeneye the highlight here. A backing track of howling apes from the wildlife gardens made for a surreal experience.

Patch, California, some Ducks.

2011-11-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

Can't seem to magic a Short-eared Owl out of Surlingham at the moment, or much else for that matter. Teal are the sole representative from the Duck family on the lagoon at the moment, looking nice in their Winter plumage.
A Kingfisher is often heard along the river, but rarely seen. A Tit flock near the church comprised Marsh, Coal, Great, Blue and many Long-tailed.
A better evening was had last weekend, which included Barn Owl, Snipe and Greylag Geese at dusk arriving on the lagoon to roost. Close to 300 in number.

Went exploring today, first Scratby for some seawatching. Coming from Norwich, this is the nearest coastal spot for me along with Caister. I set myself up inbetween some chalets and watched the waves between 13.15 and 14.30. Here are my totals, in order of appearance:

Diver Sp. 3 North
Common Scoter 2 N
Dunlin 17N
Teal 36 N
Ringed Plover 3 N
Brent Geese 26 N
Shelduck 2 N
Med Gull 1 South
Curlew 2 N
Wigeon 20 N
Great-crested Grebe 1 N
Lapwing 1 N
Kittiwake 3 S
Red-Breasted Merganser 1 N

A dog put up a small flock of birds from the beach, a brief view suggested they were Snow Bunting.
Gutted not to pick up a Skua, but nonetheless an enjoyable afternoon. Forgot how much I enjoy seawatching!
Popped to California out of curiosity, end of the world stuff there. Little cover for the birds, unless they like caravan parks. Caister next week, weather permitting!

Patch list creeps up, and a trip to the G Y.

2011-10-29T00:57:00.000-07:00

Thursday morning, I snuck in a couple of hours on the patch before marking books loomed large.

Good bit of vis-mig taking place, including Greenfinch, Skylark and Pied Wagtail. On rounding the first bend, I heard the familiar mournful call of a Bullfinch- 2 birds flew from view. Siskin were here too, but then a less familiar call. Convinced this was not an odd Great Tit, I waited around and backed off a little. Sure enough, a Marsh Tit flew into view. Surprisingly, this is a new bird for my patch list, despite seemingly good habitat. Certainly never heard singing during the breeding season, so I wonder where this little chap has come from. My favourite tit on the patch!

Moving on, the ground muddy beneath my boots now, Geese and Corvids were busy overhead communicating in scattered groups. On the lagoon, another first: the only Duck species present were Teal, and 122 was a record count for the patch. Quite a day, then!

Yesterday (28th) I set off for Great Yarmouth cemetery for some sprite hunting. I began in the north section, but arrived back at the road a lot sooner than I had hoped to! Not a lot doing then. Sadly, the south section was even more quiet. In total, one Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, Linnet and Siskin in groups overhead and a couple of Fieldfare completed the below average haul considering time and place.

Breydon Water was at high tide, but a quick scan through revealed the expected Avocet, Golden Plover, Redshank, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and a selection of winter Ducks.

Best of all were three Little Egret, one of which was hunting under the bridge next to a late-ish Whimbrel.

Even more exciting (I know, it's October guys) were two Mistle Thrush over our house in Norwich yesterday.

Phalarope Day!

2011-10-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Debs and I met up with family today, both of whom were keen to see the confiding Daurian Shrike at Horsey. Excellent views were again obtained of this confident individual, which today was building up a small larder of bees and wasps. Shrikes can only 'show well', so why the photographers present needed to shove their massive lenses in the face of the bird I don't know, ridiculous.

A quick seawatch from here proved productive, a Common Scoter flock of c100 birds were loafing offshore, and closer in a few Red-throated Divers were fishing. Gannets fished distantly and one or two Auk species could be seen but not assigned to a species. A probable Grey Phalarope flew North, the first of a few today.

We had planned on giving the bushes a look around Shangri-La at Waxham, and on finding nothing of note we headed down to the beach. As luck would have it a couple of birders were watching two Grey Phalarope close in, gripping photos below!! The birds (possibly one adult and one juvenile) allowed for a close approach and we watched them spinning for food, classic Phalarope behaviour. A memorable moment followed, as two more Grey Phalarope flew South, over the heads of the pair spinning! My little cousin claimed another one South, so a maximum of six seen today, lovely little birds and I cannot imagine ever seeing four at once again!

Driving back we pulled in and studied the gulls following a plough. A distant Harrier would not come close enough, but a Mediterranean Gull was easily picked out amongst the masses of Black-headed.

We finished the day at Strumpshaw Fen and had brief views of Bittern. Marsh Harriers, Bullfinch, Siskin, Marsh Tit and Fieldfare made up a super supporting cast. Matt, one of the reserve staff, told us Otters have been showing beautifully from the reception hide, typical.

Patch update, and the only way to start half-term.

2011-10-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

With a (nearly) blank week stretching ahead of me I began by taking in Surlingham Church Marsh this morning. A Wigeon was new in on the lagoon, and both Little Grebe and Cormorant on the river heralded the arrival ofWinter. 2 Great Crested Grebe were probably a breeding pair, and a Sparrowhawk overhead was probably local too. Large numbers of Starlings moving overhead, a flock of 5 Pied Wagtail, 6 Stock Doves and finally 40 Lapwing at Wood's End. Fieldfare and Redwing heard, but not yet pinned down this winter period. Bullfinch and Siskin also vocal from the scrub.
Returning home after the weekly shop, news had broken of an Isabelline Shrike at Horsey. Shrikes are a real favourite of mine, and I couldn't miss this! I read up on the Izzy Shrike complex whilst having lunch, and felt prepared to ID whatever was there.
Once I had enjoyed good views, I set about pinning the bird down to subspecies level. One or two on site thought it to be a Turkestan (Red-tailed) Shrike, but I could see no features indicating this. Infact, the bird was pale, lacked a prominent mask and supercillium, and the creamy wash breast with faint barring suggested an obvious Daurian Shrike.
It was a cracker, and showed well for the birders present. I missed it catching a Wren (short distance migrant?) but did watch it feed on the impaled carcass; butcher bird indeed!

Dipping and Patching

2011-10-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

With a change in the winds and a quite unprecedented influx of Short-eared Owls into Norfolk, I had a feeling the weekend might hold something special. A Rufous-tailed Robin, though, was not even on my radar! Mixed messages were coming through regarding the whereabouts of this Siberian mega, and I decided on the Friday night there was no way I could get to Wells, let alone East Hills, before darkness. Photos appeared, and there was only one place I wanted to be the following morning.
Myself and Ricky arrived at Wareham Greens for first light and joined the masses, shuffling to keep warm in the dark. If the bird was still around, only chaos could ensue. Perhaps anticipating a ruck, the Robin had either copped it or left on the clear skies of the night before. Yes, we were disappointed, but October in Norfolk is great on a bad day. Waiting for the Robin, we had seen Brambling, Marsh Harriers, Yellowhammers, Skylarks, Brent Geese and Curlew, all on their own morning commute.
Both of us had to be back for a late lunch, so after checking the other track to the saltmarsh (and picking up a few Redwing and 2 Chiffchaff) we headed to Wells Woods. After some searching, we were able to pick up a calling Yellow-browed Warbler. This individual offered us a glimpse, and a second then left the same bush, flying high and away.

Today, with nowhere in particular to be and not in the mood for chasing anything rare, I set out for Happisburgh. It was a cracking day, and the local Starlings and Black-headed Gulls were making the most of the warm conditions doing some fly-catching on the wing. Groups of Siskin called overhead, but that was about it in terms of migrants. Waxham was much the same, and my migrant hunt had by now turned into a leisurely stroll.
I needed no excuse to get going, but had to be at Surlingham before dusk to conduct the first of 6 Hen Harrier roost counts. Traditionally, there has been a Harrier roost at Surlingham Church Marsh, but last year I only managed a single ring-tail. Still, it provided a good reason to sit still and see what comes and goes.
I was in place by half 5, and the reserve was a noisy place this evening. Cettis, Water Rail and Snipe were all a part of the evening chorus. Better vis-mig here than the coast: Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Redwing and Mistle Thrush all moved through. A small roost of the latter was present, and Magpie and Jay numbers seemed to have at least tripled. The only raptor I managed was a male Sparrowhawk, and the evening finished with views of the resident Barn Owl. Surlingham at its best? Not far off.

Timely Mega arrives in Suffolk

2011-10-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Having struggled to get out birding of late (weddings, stags, birthdays) I was chomping at the bit to be back in the field. On Sunday I literally found myself in a field late afternoon, watching a North American Sandhill Crane, probably the rarest bird on my personal list in terms of previous records. This, the first mainland record, is certainly a bird that commands the wow factor. Watching from a distance of about 100m, the bird occasionally raised its head in our direction, threatened to fly, but then just carried on grazing. The grey plumage with rusty overtones looked beautiful in the fading sun. Back on the lane in Boyton village, people were parking up and sprinting towards the target- scenes I have not witnessed since the Winterton Black Lark.

I only just made it to see the Crane, since I had been away in London for a friend's wedding. Whilst Slough is not somewhere I would like to be stuck, a passing Red Kite certainly lifted my mood as I ate lunch in a graveyard! A Ring-necked Parakeet flew over the reception party at Windsor, and a Nuthatch called loudly from atop a pine. I was doing Urban Birding- like David Lindo, his book of which I finished on the train ride home.

The patch has suffered of late, and I hate to think what I have missed passing through. An evening trip with the RSPB threw up good numbers of Duck flighting into the lagoon- 10 Tufties were notable. The only Bat species we recorded were Soprano Pipistrelle and Daubentens outside the Ferry House pub. Bats and Broadside- gotta love it!

I finally have some evenings free this week, so should get down to Surlingham before dark. Another wedding next weekend (am I getting old?) but it is in Bath, so a twitch on the way back? My money is on a certain Brown Shrike, returning to Staines, or maybe a Black Kite. Either would do very nicely!

Good Vibrations on the patch

2011-09-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

With a series of busy weekends coming up at precisely the wrong time of year, it was essential to squeeze in a visit to Surlingham on Friday night before leaving for London on the Saturday.
I left it late, purposefully, to get a taste of what might be around for next weekend's RSPB Moth and Bat night on the reserve. Before the Bats came out, I enjoyed excellent views of a Kingfisher, first perched and preparing to fish before being spooked by a boat and flying off downriver. Continuing round the river bend, my first Bats of the evening. A purposeful flight, swooping down to grab insects from the surface of the Yare. One would associate Daubentens with water, but these mammals were flying high over the river rather than feeding close to the water. In short, I couldn't identify them! Natterers perhaps, sizewise.
The lagoon was busy with wildfowl, Teal arriving in the gloom. As I left, the first of the Egyptian Geese began flighting in. A Tawny Owl called from the pine plantation.
More Bats flew past at head height, these ones much smaller, Pipistrelle sp. One definite ID was a single Noctule, which bombed past across the reedbed. Lovely stuff!
A Snipe was flushed from the puddle at the foot of the ruins, and by now I was struggling to see any further than 20 metres ahead, so back to the car I went.
Me and Debs enjoyed Brian Wilson in concert last night, the old boy has still got it!
Depending on the United result, I may well pop out again after tea.

....and then onto the patch

2011-09-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

Seeing rare birds does have an inspirational effect on me, and riding high on the buzz of seeing a Little Bittern earlier in the morning I headed to Surlingham Church Marsh that evening, eager to find some birds.
The male Marsh Harrier was back, drifting over the reed bed as the light began to wane. The muddy margins really should hold some Waders, but I had to be content with watching the Ducks for a bit.
The main points of note came whilst watching the dark descend from on high, next to the ruins. On approaching, a few Mistle Thrush exited a large Oak. By the time they had all left, I had counted 29! Maybe I had disturbed their planned roost site, but hopefully this was usual behaviour for this time of the day. I reckon there were more, too. Pleased with a record count for the site, I was preparing to head back to the car when a Hobby appeared, like only Hobbies can do. High, over my head, then onto the reserve. A final foray before bed no doubt. Now very satisfied, I did head back to the car.

Titchwell: The Reaction

2011-09-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

With the Little Bittern showing well (albeit occasionally) yesterday, I was in no doubt as to where I would be birding today. Arriving fashionably late, Debs and I joined the throngs that were cluttering the main track and raised bank, scouring the small pool for the juvenile Bittern. Ricky informed us there had been little action so far this morning, but a brief flight and the bird had everyone on their toes. It even had some on their backs, and bums, sliding down the bank for a glimpse. Not cool guys, the tracks are there for a reason. We did not have to wait too long before the bird moved again, and I was looking the other way, Debs with the first view as it flew low across the pool. I uttered a few expletives, fearing this could again be another dip balanced precariously on 299 BOU. Scanning the reed edge, a snake-like movement, and the Little Bittern was fishing. I had the views I was desperate for! Beautiful streaking on the breast, and a bright yellow bill. A landmark bird for me in Britain, and one I won't forget.
Able to relax, we took in some more of the reserve. Debs had not visited Titchwell before, and I promised her there was more to see than just a small pool. The sea was quiet, but a number of Waders fed along the shoreline. Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Dunlin, Curlew and a cracking Grey Plover. From the super hide, we watched Dunlin and at least 5 Curlew Sandpiper were picked up in a quick scan. No sign of the reported Buff-breasted Sandpiper sadly.
To break up the journey back to Norwich, we stopped off at Sparham Pools. I have never visited before, but this seems like a decent spot with potential. A walk away from the car-park, to the road and bridge over the Wensum, and we were rewarded with a lovely male Grey Wagtail.
Surlingham Church Marsh yesterday was quiet, save for a Common Buzzard and Kestrel. Teal numbers have tripled, and 6 Mistle Thrush were in the grazing fields viewed from the ruins.

Surlingham update and Cantley Waders

2011-09-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

Waders galore

Common Darter

Sunrise over Surlingham Village

A flurry of recent visits to Surlingham have come about I believe due to the realisation that a return to work looms. An Autumnal twist has been noted on the reserve: Mixed tit flocks roving far and wide through the scrub, and 4 Snipe were feeding at the rear of the lagoon on the 31st oAugust. On the 1st of September, a flock of c.50 Lapwing were at Wood's End, and a Chinese Water Deer was feeding at the edge of the lagoon. These mammals do seem to be more visible at this time of year. 3 Cormorants were on the river, returning for the winter. Other bits and bobs included a coming together involving a Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk (no harm done) and a Heron carrying away a Grass Snake.

On the 2nd of September, I was a busy birder. I began at the patch, arriving on site at 5.30am. I was keen to see what wildfowl used the lagoon overnight. As I walked towards my target, at least 2 Bullfinch called persistantly, but I was unable to pick them out in the half-light. A Tawny Owl called, Cettis Warblers sang and the Geese began to wake up; it was a noisy start to the day! On the lagoon, I smashed my record count of Mallard on site- 106 were counted. 44 Egyptian Geese, 7 Canadian Geese, 2 Greylag Geese and smaller numbers of Teal and Gadwall were the other birds that had presumably roosted on the lagoon. I watched most of them leave as the light broke through the misty gloom. The real highlight was a Kingfisher, which flew right past me as I sat in the bus shelter hide.

In front of the 'proper' hide, the reeds have been cut and burned. 2 Moorhen foraged here, and this looks like a good spot for Water Rail and Snipe, particularly as the months pass into Winter.

After cracking a few last minute chores at home, I picked up James and set off for Strumpshaw. The reserve was quiet save for a Hobby perched nicely on a dead tree, but we had really come to search for the Reported Willow Emerald Damselfies. I am still a novice in this area, but despite employing the expert help of James, we were unsuccessful. We did however see Common Blue, Brown Hawker, Common Hawker, Ruddy and Common Darter and a couple of male Brimstone Butterflies.

We then popped to Cantley, meeting up with Ricky and bumping into fellow blogger David Norgate. We had crippling views of the Dunlin flock feeding within yards of us. A quick scan through revealed at least 10 Little Stint, 4 Curlew Sandpiper and a few Ringos. We hunted for the Pectoral Sandpiper in amongst the mudflats and endless supply of Ruff, but this bird was to prove too elusive. We did however manage the usual Green and Common Sandpipers, and picked up a smart Wood Sandpiper. Again, fantastic variety on offer and having visited a few times over the summer, I feel like I am really beginning to get to grips with Wader behaviour at a site like this.

Dare to dip

2011-08-30T11:04:00.001-07:00

You will need to make this BIGGER.

I seem to keep dipping a lot of birds lately. The Happisburgh Greenish, The Cromer Greenish and Bonelli's......don't get me started regarding the Caspian Tern at Titchwell. Its not like I twitch regularly, you would have thought the birds could behave on the odd occasion I do travel. Credit though to those hardened souls at Cromer; standing in one place for a lengthy period is not my strong point.

Cantley Beet Factory has been brimming with quality the last couple of days, and after my telescope temporarily lost a leg yesterday (putting a stop to some proper scanning of the exposed mudflats) I returned today for a proper count up, scope rehabilitated.

Little Stint 1 Juv (see photo; you do well to spot him observer!)

Curlew Sandpiper 3 Juvs

Common Snipe c15

Green Sandpiper 9

Common Sandpiper 4

Dunlin 12

Greenshank 13

Ruff c14

Knot 1

Redshank 2

Ringed Plover 10+

Lapwing 250+

Yellow Wagtail 2

Yesterday, I had my first Wheatear of the Autumn, plus a female Marsh Harrier.

Cracking range of Waders to be had, and a real pleasure to come across the Little Stint, so smart in immature plumage. Initially I found a single Curlew Sand with the Dunlin flock, and it was a classic 'last scan before I leave' moment during which I latched onto the 3 birds together. As a chap said to me on site, "Keep still, and the birds will come to you". Sound advice!

Someone left the gate open......

2011-08-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

....and cows left their mess, all over the joint. Added to that the RSPB lads doing some sterling work clearing scrub, I was not expecting too much in the way of birds.

A much needed patch tick arrived on the lagoon, a Common Sandpiper calling had presumably been feeding out of sight. After a few bobs and a typically low flight path across the lagoon, it was gone.

Also of interest was a group of Warblers flicking in and out of a bush, mainly Chiffchaff, but in amongst them was a Lesser Whitethroat. I do not have any evidence of breeding for this species on the site, so presumably this bird was feeding up and moving through. Other bits and bobs included a Jay, pair of Great--crested Grebe and a chick, and teal numbers building up (note- must count the ducks!).

I photographed this pair of Odonata 'in the moment'. Are they Common Darter? If not, why not?

Popped to Happisburgh this afternoon after a late report of a Greenish Warbler in pines behind the cricket pavilion. I clearly need to be quicker out of the blocks. A flyover Yellow Wagtail was welcome, but not exactly what I came for! I stopped at various patches of scrub and horse paddocks on the way out of the village, all the right habitat; no birds save for more Whitethroat, feeding up for the journey ahead.

Dune walking

2011-08-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

washed out Small Copper

'Resting' Small Heath

Debs and I spent a couple of hours searching for Butterflies in the Dunes at Horsey today.

Our main target was Dark Green Fritillary, and we were lucky enough to have 2 individuals give us a fly past; these guys just would not settle! As I understand they are past their 'best' now, and I will return next year with hopefully some photos to share.

My good record with Wall Browns continued, 1/2 seen. Singles of Small Copper and Small Heath were well watched. The Small Heath was at first identified in flight; I later read that these butterflies never rest or feed with wings open. Lazy. 2 Holly Blues, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and plenty of both Large and Small Whites made up the rest of the Lepidoptera.

Ruddy Darter, Migrant Hawker and I believe a male Common Hawker gave us a right show, delaying the drink in the Nelson's Head.

Debs, it was her lucky day, saw 2 Common Lizards. One she claimed was significantly bigger than the other, perhaps a male? Or could it have been something else entirely, since it was but a fleeting view?

Apologies if you are reading for birds, the title of the blog could easily lead one to believe that the content of the writing should be avian-based. With that in mind, we watched a female Sparrowhawk materialise, cruise towards some Swallows, then thought better of it. Why can't I find a Wryneck? Yes, there was that one time on Fair Isle, but that is cheating, right?

There goes the fear

2011-08-22T02:52:00.000-07:00

Osprey at Eyebrook

WW Black at Grafham

Essex Skipper at Happisburgh

Before heading off to the British Birdfair at Rutland Water, I headed to the east coast for a bit of bush shaking. Conditions looked good for some early migrants, Wryneck and RB Shrike my own personal targets for the morning. Perhaps I should have set my sights a little lower, since a good few Lesser Whitethroats were as good as it got on the avian front. I did enjoy some success with some Butterflies: 2 Wall Brown in dunes at Waxham, an Essex Skipper on the clifftops at Happisburgh and best of all, a new moth for me: The Drinker! This thing looks like an X-file, what a beast. Stupidly the camera was in the car at this point.

On route to 'The birdwatcher's Glastonbury' (Yeah, right. If that was the Glastonbury crowd, you can count me out in the future) Debs and I stopped off at Grafham Water. Here we enjoyed excellent views of Both Black and White-Winged Black Tern. A useful exercise in Tern ID with Common also fishing the reservoir. Debs watching Terns= happy for the weekend.

The fair itself was a good one this year, punctuated by some interesting lectures and a brief meet and chat with Jimmi from Doves! He is involved with a project known as 'Ghosts of Gone Birds', which highlights extinction past and present. Also involved is my friend and mentor from my Nottingham days, Dr. Rob Lambert. He nailed his specialist subject of 'The History of British Seabirds' during the celebrity wildlife brain of Britain, but went on to be frankly embarrassed by Mike Dilger (Oooooooonnnnneee) in the general knowledge round. Rob, if you are reading, I was mouthing the words 'Lulworth Skipper' to you.

Best lecture was given by Martin Garner and James Lees, who spoke about finding and documenting rarities. Just the boost I needed after my abject failure to find anything decent on the coast, but they did point strongly at the use of digiscoping in order to get records accepted, something I do not do....as yet.

On the Sunday, we left early in order to do the circuit of Eyebrook Reservoir. I quickly picked up the hunched-over Cattle Egret that had kindly turned up over the weekend, and intervened when I noticed a group of birders happily watching a Little Egret and believing it to be Cattle. Think of it as community service, lads. We also enjoyed crippling views of an Osprey, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. A Ruff was with the Lapwing flock, and distantly a probable Black Tern hawked over the water. Bullfinch called from scrub, and a Yellowhammer landed and called within feet. What a great set of birds, and for a brief blasphemous moment, I wished Eyebrook were my local patch. Surlingham- you know I don't mean it, and will appease with the finding of a Whinchat later this week. Or a Woodchat Shrike.

Mink!

2011-08-15T02:53:00.000-07:00

Mink are a bit of a guilty pleasure, like say Duran Duran. They are an invasive species (Mink, that is) and have been responsible for depleting native fish stocks, and have had a negative impact on Water Vole numbers. They should not be here. But, one could argue that is a very xenophobic attitude. Little Owls should not strictly be here, but I can't say I mind them. I had never seen a Mink in the wild until yesterday, and a part of me was pleased to see them. It goes without saying, that I will not articulate this pleasure when contacting the RSPB.

After a fruitless morning at Surlingham, Ricky and I went to Rockland Broad in the hope of an Osprey sighting. Walking the track that circumnavigates the broad, a crash in the reeds revealed the aforementioned Mink, one chasing another. Unaware of our presence, but unseen in the undergrowth by now, the pair engaged in some rather odd noises (courtship, play?) and then disappeared further into the thick vegetation.

The Broad itself held a few Great-crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and a resident Kingfisher. 2 Marsh Harrier drifted through, and both Common Buzzard and kestrel were seen behind the hide in the meadow. No Osprey, but going by recent form, there is a good chance of one or more hanging around the Rockland/Strumpshaw/Surlingham area until September. Now that would be a smashing bird for the patch list!

Debs and I went for a wander in the Broads that evening, and the sky was undoubtedly the best bit. Add in the sound of bugling Common Cranes, and you can only be in Norfolk.

Knee-deep in Waders

2011-08-12T06:27:00.001-07:00

Dropped Debbie off at work this morning and went straight onto Breydon Water. I had my reservations about the tide, and was proven correct when on arrival it was apparent most of the Waders were hunkered up against the bank, awaiting the retreat of the high tide. Despite that, I settled in for an hour's watch in the worst hide in Britain (honestly, check it out, it looks and smells like a toilet in a dirty rock club). Wader counts right here:

c220 Avocet- all feeding- what a sight! Over 1000 were seen in 2009, in September.

Black-tailed Godwit 20+

Bar-tailed Godwit 50+ (many of both Godwit species roosting out of sight).

Curlew 20

Greenshank 1

Oystercatcher 4

Redshank- difficult to even estimate, mainly out of sight.

Also of note was one Little Egret and a Common Tern.

The tide showed about as much movement as the Waders, so with time on my hands I decided to take in Cantley too. I checked the northern-most pits first, only 3 Green Sandpiper here. Main action was in the scrub- Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and young birds of prey (Sparrowhawk?) called from woodland nearby.

Not to be beaten, I signed in at reception and tapped up the main pit.

Loads of birds.

My notes make for some good reading!

Ruff 20

Knot 4

Green Sandpiper 15- conservative estimate

Common Sandpiper 5

Wood Sandpiper 1

Greenshank 1

Common Snipe 2

Redshank 2

Dunlin 2 (one interesting juvenile actually had me taking notes; the all black bill and short projection amongst other things confirmed it was 'just' a juvenile Dunlin).

Yellow Wagtail 4

Marsh Harrier 2

Kestrel 1

Bearded Tit- many pinging birds unseen in reed bed.

Little Grebe 2

Rather happy with that lot! Really enjoyed sifting through the endless Green Sandpipers in search of that one Wood; I would guess there were more of each, but as I did the circuit I was in danger of counting some twice. Easily spooked, they make you work for it!

Surlingham and Buckenham stuff

2011-08-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, visits to Surlingham have been a little uninspiring of late. Poor weather, very few birds, and a while since a new species. The westerlies are not really conducive to decent migration on this side of the country, and the strong breeze means Warblers are laying low.

On the 9th, kingfisher hunting the main lagoon was brief but pleasing, and the recent glut of sightings lead me to believe there must be a late brood somewhere close. Duck numbers are low, but Teal, Tufted, Shovelor, Mallard and Gadwall are presumably here to stay until the Spring. Both Coot and Moorhen have bred.

Today, a male Kestrel was observed in classic pose, on electricity wires. 3+ Bullfinch were heard, one seen, near the start of the trail. Maybe a family group. Teal numbers were up again, 5+ now. A pair of Blackcap were feeding on berries in scrub. A Pied Wagtail flew upriver.

After lunch and a chance to collect myself, I headed to Buckenham Marshes for further disappointment. No Raptors, no Waders (pools are dry) but plenty of feral geese. A look through the flocks revealed a single White-fronted, local celebrity the Red-breasted x Barnacle, 2 Canada x Greylag and larger numbers of Greylag and Canada. It started to rain, I neglected to count them.

Above are some moody/uplifting pictures from both venues.

Frampton Marsh RSPB and a little bit of Derbyshire

2011-08-11T08:34:00.001-07:00

Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire is one of my favourite 'big' reserves, so with time on my hands before a university reunion weekend in Derbyshire I stopped off here on the 5th of August and spent a good few hours on a bench, surveying some excellent birds.

Top of the pile was a Pectoral Sandpiper, presumably an adult (I couldn't make out any white tram lines on the back) and a bird I have not seen for some years; 2 well-watched birds at Minsmere around 7 years ago (before I made notes!). What struck me was the overall 'dumpy' impression; even upright, the bird appeared somewhat portly. This was in contrast to the elegant Wood Sandpiper, 2 of which fed much closer to the path and my bench. 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Ruff, 2 LRP, 2 Ringo and plenty of Lapwing made up the rest of the wader fest. Juvenile and adult Yellow Wagtail were flying over, sometimes landing, all of the time. At least 7 Little Egret stalked the marsh, completing a memorable scene. My reason for remaining seated rather than doing the circuit was a certain Spotted Crake, which had been present for just under a week. Despite my efforts, the bird was not seen. Apparently it rocked up early the following morning, typically Crake-like I thought.

Whilst I was not really in Derbyshire to bird, I did manage to get away from the cottage for a bit to visit Wyver Lane DWT north of Belper. Not much was seen here other than plenty of Hirundines and Lapwing, but the water levels look good for a Wader soon. Great little reserve; have a look here for an up-to-date look at what is about. Patch birding rules!

Extended update part 3- Other bits and bobs

2011-08-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

Debs being arty at Strumpy

Holly Blue

Only by listening to Black Mountain have I made it this far- the third and final update, for now.

On the 29th of July, James and I made an early start in The Broads. Fairly unproductive, although a few juvenile Bearded Tits were welcome (only the second sighting for me this year, the first being pinging birds at Breydon). Feeling like not a lot was doing, we signed in at Cantley Beet Factory for a Wader watch. 2 Wood Sandpipers were undoubtedly birds of the day, and allowing for comparison were 5+ each of Common and Green Sandpiper. Still no sign of the rumoured flock of 45 Green Sand, so I will be back again before long. Other Waders included 1/2 Ruff, Dunlin and 3+ Lapwing. It was difficult to not flush the birds feeding around the edge of the pit, so will hidden were they. My counts above are conservative; infact, it seemed like Green Sands in particular were dropping in regularly, perhaps having fed in the nearby dykes of grazing meadows and marsh.

Summer returned yesterday, so Debs and I spent the evening at Strumpshaw. A nice range considering the time of year, including Common Tern, Little Egret, Green Sandpiper (heard only), Stock Dove, Jay, Marsh Tit and the usual Marsh Harriers. A Holly Blue posed nicely, and we watched a pair of Common Hawkers near the small pond.

Extended update part 2- Mothing.

2011-08-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Unknown?

Chinese Character

Swallow Prominent and Peppered

Elephant and Poplar Hawks

Two nights of trapping in a rural garden in Suffolk provided me with new species, ID conondrums and a reason to get up early in the first week of the holidays. I appear to have mislaid my complete lists, so below is a highlights reel, in no order whatsoever:

Dusky Sallow

Poplar Hawk Moth

Elephant Hawkmoth

Swallow Prominent

Brimstone Moth

Swallowtail

Dark Arches

Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing

Orange Moth

Chinese Character

Ruby Tiger

Pale Prominent

Peppered Moth

Not bad!

One in particular threw me, and typically this was the one image that was unfocussed. Can anyone ID the blurry moth with the purple sheen above, top photo?

Extended update part 1- Patch notes

2011-08-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Due to the absence of a computer and the usual self-indulgences I enjoy during the first week of the holidays, an update of my movements has been hard to come by. I am now back online and de-toxing before a weekend in Derbyshire. Here are my recent notes for Surlingham Church Marsh.

On the 25th, 2 broods of Reed Warbler were located. A single Tufted Duck was on the lagoon, no sign of those youngsters. Geese numbers had increased over the river; c50 Egyptian and the Greylag flock now well over 100. Mingling with 5 Canada Geese was an odd looking job, a small mainly black goose, pale cheeks with red fringes. I had it down as a Red-breasted x with either Canada or Barnacle. Later that day, I realised I had seen this bird before, but not in the flesh. Barnacle x Red-breasted it is then.

The 29th was very quiet, duck numbers even lower and Warblers hard to come by. A Kingfisher heading upriver was a welcome sight.

Today, presumably the same Kingfisher whizzed past as I meandered alongside the river. Juveniles of both Chiffchaff and Willow were seen and heard respectively. A female Kestrel and Magpie had let the heat get to them, engaging in an aerial duel. 2 Lapwing were on Wood's End marshes, a Little Egret Flew over and one of the two Little Owls was in the dead tree. The warmth meant plenty of Butterflies were on the wing, as were some Dragonflies. I am still learning with these guys, but I believe the picture shows a splendid looking Migrant Hawker. Please comment if incorrect! Also watched a pair of Brown Hawkers near the Gun Club. A bugger to photo, they just would not settle!

Surlingham and Cantley

2011-07-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week, Thursday, I visited Surlingham Church Marsh and was lucky enough to equal my site record count for Green Sandpipers- 3 individuals. I noted that one of the three did not have a clear cut border between breast streaking and white underparts; infact, a white streak went straight up to the throat. My excellent 'Shorebirds of the Northern Hemisphere' by R.Chandler informs me that this is usual on juvenile birds. More ammo for the future article in The Norfolk Bird Report!
Today, no Waders and not too much else. Standard fair for the time of year I suppose. 2 broods of Reed Warblers were briefly watched, as was a female Blackcap. A Sedge Warbler was showing well in a Buddleia bush, picking away at the unsuspecting insects. One juvenile Shelduck remains on the lagoon.
The first Gatekeepers of the year were out, along with plenty of Small Whites, Comma and Red Admiral. I also saw the moth pictured below; I do not recognise it, so I assume it might be a day-flying micro. Could someone ID please?
Cantley Sugar Beet factory was a new site for me, and there have been some decent Wader counts from there of late. Recent rarities include Baird's and Marsh Sandpiper. I had a feeling the rain would mean I had missed the best of the birds and I was proven right. Muddy edges that might have been there were not exposed. Juvenile Shelduck and Shovelor did not mind. The highlight were 2 Common Sandpipers, flying low over the large pit, calling.
Access here is straightforward. If you are without a car, then you can follow the public footpath that follows the river, leading down to the pits. I would assume if you require access to the dirt tracks that circumnavigate the pits, you would need a pass. Presumably most don't bother, since the signing in book in reception had not been used since early in the month, and Wader counts have been coming out of Cantley as recent as earlier this week. If you have a car, pull up at reception and sign in, picking up your security pass. Staff friendly and helpful. A site worth visiting- as long as the water levels are just right!

Godwit and a lesson in Wader ID

2011-07-10T05:22:00.001-07:00

Two visits to Surlingham this weekend, a rather smart Black-tailed Godwit present both today and yesterday is new for the patch list. Also of note yesterday was a single Green Sandpiper, which I initially mistook for a Wood Sand! It was a rather smart looking bird, and at first looked quite delicate and dainty, just as a Wood should. Despite seeing plenty of Greens on the patch this last year, I am seeing them in all of their guises, and having poured over my Shorebirds book I can see how I made the mistake, and a lesson learnt! If I wasn't regularly watching a patch, I would not have had the opportunity to make such a balls up, and then correct myself!
The 2 Little Owls were showing well today, and nearby Ricky picked up a pair of Treecreeper- the third territory on the patch. 2 Green Woodpecker on the tree belonging to the Owls were probably youngsters, and 2 Marsh Harrier passed through. A total of 9 Lapwing were seen: 5 at Wood's End, 2 on the lagoon and one with a chick on the hill by the ruins. Great Tit broods were further evidence of breeding activity, and a Great Crested Grebe on the river had a single youngster.
In line with local sightings, there does appear to have been an emergance of Red Admirals, and I would suggest to a smaller extent Commas also. Speckled Wood being seen regularly on the reserve now, along with Ringlet and Meadow Brown. No sign of the Purple Hairstreaks this weekend, and no Gatekeepers as yet.
Picking up both Blackwit and Green Sand yesterday was a patch highlight for me, and although I like to think I 'watch' Surlingham regularly, I only really scratch the surface over the course of an average week. If I can come across goodies like the aforementioned by putting in 4 hours a week (approx), what else am I missing?! With the summer holidays fast approaching, I intend to maximise my time here for a short period and see just what I can turn up.

In the firing line?

2011-07-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

What was looking like a quiet evening on the patch picked up considerably as I made my way round the circular trail by now so familiar.
A Chiffchaff was the lone songster by the river, and Swallows were a welcome site over at Wood's End. The lagoon was quiet, the resident wildfowl loafing on the low level of water. The Shelduck family are still hosting their Egyptian Goose shadow, and the female Tufted Duck has managed to hold onto 6 young. 3 other pairs of Tuftie were present, new arrivals. 3 Lapwing were on or around the lagoon and a single chick is hanging on!
A noisy Kingfisher on the reserve was always going to get the pulse rate going, not only because its a Kingfisher (!) but because they have been a difficult bird to come by on the patch. The noise was coming from the firing range, and although only brief flight views were obtained the bird may have a nest on the steep muddy bank usually used for target practise. Not the safest place to raise a family, if indeed that is the case. It may be a young bird exploring territory, but the brief views and calls said adult to me.
More noise from the pinewoods, this time young Sparrowhawks, and a male carrying food confirmed my thoughts. Waiting for him to reappear, I scanned the trees at the foot of the ruins. A dash of silver in the canopy and I was onto a colony of skittish Purple Hairstreak Butterflies! The odd good view of a male at rest, what a pretty insect. Does give one neck ache, though.

A (mainly) Insect based update

2011-07-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

Set the Moth trap at the folks' on Friday night in ideal conditions. We were not disappointed, a great haul including both Privet and Poplar Hawk, Peppered, Scalloped Oak, Dot and Common Footman amongst others. Some of the duller, more worn individuals have proven tricky to ID, so the pictures have been emailed to my Moth expert. A full list to follow!

Surlingham Saturday evening was glorious as usual, although bird life was restricted to a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and soaring Sparrowhawk. I will hold back from saying the Lapwing chicks have all been predated until I can visit again. Debs and I managed a good Butterfly list:

Large White

Small White

Green-veined White

Red Admiral

Ringlet

Large Skipper

Comma

Common Blue

Meadow Brown.

Also, can anyone ID this snail?? I believe Surlingham is known for its invertebrates, and one snail in particular. Maybe this is the critter?

Sunday afternoon looked promising for more Butterflies, so we again grabbed the camera and headed out, first visiting little known Booton Common NWT. Again, Ringlets galore here, plenty of Meadow Browns and the odd Large Skipper. A singing Chiffchaff was one of few birds seen or heard.

My Butterfly list is small, but with so many good areas of habo in Norfolk I hope it will be positively swelling by September. Buxton Heath holds a small colony of the rare Silver-Studded Blue, and Deb's pictures below will tell you all you need to know.

Bullfinch calling here also, and a Siskin flew overhead. Yellowhammer numbers seem good here, and the site looks ideal for Tree Pipit and Woodlark.

Still becoming better aquainted with the finer points of Dragonfly ID, although I am fairly confident that we had a pair of Broad-bodied Chaser investigating a large puddle.

100!

2011-06-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

Finally managed the 100 species mark at Surlingham Church Marsh this evening. 101 soon followed, but the big one first.
As you may know, I am currently stuck on 299 BOU for my British Life List. What will number 300 be? It won't be a Caspian Tern. It might be a Quail. It might even be a Little Swift. It will be a special bird whatever the feather. Now, my 100th bird recorded in the Surlingham CM tetrad was never going to be as grandiose as the above cast, but I had hoped for a little better than a pair of Red-Legged Partridge! Still, colourful as ever, and this time they really meant something!
Whilst the main reserve was a little quiet with Duck numbers right down, number 101 went to a much nicer bird- a Common Tern, purposefully heading up river. 95 for the year, thankyou!
The lagoon was quiet as aforementioned, 2 Lapwing were present and 1 chick was seen- running away from me on the circular footpath! One odd piece of behaviour to report: The Shelduck with 6 young appears to have attracted the attention of a single Egyptian Goose. On my 2 previous visits I had the Goose with the ducklings, and thought nothing of it, a fluke perhaps. But today I can confirm- this Goose thinks it is a Shelduck.
I decided to check the Little Owl tree again, and for the first time I actually watched 2 birds together. I had no doubts there was a pair around, but this is the first time I have recorded 2 individuals. Lots of head-bobbing going on, glorious views of this species so full of character.

Chasing the Caspian then back to basics

2011-06-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

After not going for the Roller in Suffolk earlier this week, I was getting a little twitchy around the 299 BOU mark. Would Caspo Tern be the big 300? A big fat no. I left a little late Saturday morning, and missed the window when the bird was showing well at Titchwell. Whilst the majority of 'birders' I saw then sat in and around Titchwell waiting for it to be refound, I joined the braver souls at Thornham and then Holme. No fly-by, a grounded Hobby the only bird of note on the beach at Holme. Windswept, weather and bird beaten, it was a long drive home.

Back to basics this morning, and an extra pair of eyes in the shape of Ricky allowed me to connect with a couple of good patch birds I may have otherwise missed.

The circuit began well, a Cuckoo on a dead tree above our heads emitted the weird guttural sound you only hear when the bird is close, before the expected notes of song. The scrub was still busy, both Garden Warbler and Blackcap singing. I couldn't see any Oystercatcher over the river, but perhaps they were wisely hunkering down in the drizzle.

At least 3 Lapwing chick remain, as do the broods of Tufted Duck and Shelduck. Ricky spotted a fast moving Hobby and a high flying Little Egret. The lonely Marsh Harrier was hunting with its usual grace, and a House Martin was hawking (can you use that verb for a Martin?)over the lagoon. Plenty of Swifts on the wing also.

We did the full version of the walk, round the back of the pub and onto the field. My Little Owl put in a timely showing at the front of the dead tree; the Egyptian Geese that were using the hole have since moved on, perhaps allowing the Owls a late chance to fledge young.

Back on the reserve, at least 2 Grasshopper Warbler were seen (at potential nest sites) as well as Reed and Sedge Warbler. A probable Treecreeper near the ruins added another territory to the reserve list, if indeed it was a creeper.

A good haul of species, and a nice antidote to the disappointment of yesterday. The summer slow down has not set in just yet! Thank goodness for Surlingham.

Double Patch Update

2011-06-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

An evening and morning visit to blog about.
Thursday evening, and a new bird for the reserve. 2 juvenile Grey Wagtail were on the muddy edges of the lagoon, and whilst being the first time I have clapped eyes on this species at Surlingham, there is plenty of suitable breeding habitat around the streams near the landspring.
Also present was a single Green Sandpiper. If I put in enough hours, I reckon I could record this bird for every calendar month! My short paper, 'The occurance and behaviour of Green Sandpiper at Surlingham Church Marsh', is under production! This individual seemed relaxed, little bobbing, no calling, infact not much of anything.
A Barn Owl was hunting over the river, and the usual Warblers gave us their eveningsong.
Today, I made an earlier start in order to 'do' the reserve before the shooting begins. Of note were 5/6 Oystercatcher on the other side of the river, which will hopefully fledge some young between them. The story of breeding Waders took a turn for the worse at the lagoon; no sign of any Lapwing chicks, but the pair that attempted to breed first time around are trying again. The female is sat tight, the male on constant guard. Plenty of ducks on the lagoon, including offspring of Mallard, Shelduck (where did they come from?) and Gadwall. A Grey Heron was lurking a little too close for comfort, if you are a duckling.
A Grasshopper Warbler was a late morning reeler, and Reed Bunting continue to call and feed young. I startled a female Sparrowhawk, and the usual male Marsh Harrier was hunting near the ruins. Walking back to the car, I saw my first Meadow Brown Butterlies of the year.

Moth update?!

2011-06-06T12:08:00.000-07:00

White Ermine and Common Wainscott

Elephant Hawkmoth and Coxcomb Prominent

Unusual, I know, but a welcome return to Moths on the blog! After seeing X bird in X location, I spent an evening at home with the folks in Suffolk and had some fun emptying the Moth Trap. I do not set the Moth trap at my home in Norwich for 2 reasons: Firstly, I did it once and got bugger all. Secondly, it does look rather odd in our terraced garden, and would probably cause the odd complaint/curtain twitching.

Our list for the evening:

Buff Ermine

White Ermine

Burnished Brass

Common Swift

Common Wainscott

Coxcomb Prominent

Elephant Hawkmoth

Flame Shoulder

Ghost Moth

Heart and Dart

Marbled Minor

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Silver Y

Treble Brown Spot

Treble Lines

Triple-Spotted Clay

Shuttle-Shaped Dart

Brown-eyed Bright-Line

Dusky Brocade

Marbled White Spot

Double Square Spot

Lakenheath Fen then a patch evening

2011-06-03T03:48:00.000-07:00

It was rather hot at Lakenheath Fen yesterday, and as usual the flagship species proved difficult on this cracking June day. We did hear Golden Oriole, and others managed the odd glimpse, be prepared to wait if you want a proper look! Another birder had seen a Common Crane on the ground, but on our arrival we were not so lucky. A Hobby was a nice bonus though; I remember seeing 30-odd here last year! 3 Cuckoos flew across our field of view, calling to one another, perhaps settling a territorial dispute. Reed and Sedge Warblers were both very active despite the heat, nest building and singing taking up their time.
I was visiting a non birding friend out west, so I really only scratched the surface here, but an early start would pay dividends I am sure. What a reserve; I always leave with that thought!
Surlingham was beautiful in the fading light, the pink sky the backdrop for reeling and warbling of the residents. 2 Barn Owls were seen, and one individual has I think gotten used to seeing me, for s/he glances in my direction every now and then but continues to hunt regardless. I watched the bird carrying a vole, flying with purpose towards Wood's End.
Grasshopper Warblers were in full song, 5 birds reeling in total. I have not heard them for a while, but then again I have not visited as late as this for a while.
3 Oystercatchers were a patch record (!) and whilst one pair of Lapwing appear to have lost their chick (sad face) the other bird that had been sitting tight is now the proud mother of 4 chicks!
Walking past the ruins, it was evident a good few bats were out and about. Going purely on size and jizz, I would say the majority were Pips but a couple of larger beasties may have been Natterers.
I then went for a drive round the nearby villages of Rockland and Claxton. An unexpected chill had perhaps caused the mist to cling to the grazing fields, and more bats were on the hunt. I stopped and listened at various spots, Owls and Quail the targets. Drew a blank, but still ample opportunity as yet.

Broad-billed Sandpiper, Breydon Water

2011-06-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

Finally got a chance to visit Breydon Water this afternoon, a Broad-billed Sandpiper has been present for around a week and I do like a good Sandpiper. Now, before I continue suffice to say there may indeed be 2 birds present, which may account for the confusion on site.
On encountering James not far from the rugby club carpark, we followed the shore and began scanning the small flocks of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Another birder and myself locked onto the bird, and we obtained satisfactory views- Broad-billed Sand, looked nice, Norfolk/Suffolk border, British lifer.
The bird then proved rather elusive, and another group that arrived struggled to obtain views of any sort for a while. We did happen upon another wader, interesting looking beastie it was too. Pale underneath- couldn't make out any streaking. Less rufous on top, drooping bill, stunted tail, relatively long-legged. This could of course been the 'other' Broad-billed, but other birds thrown into the mix were Dunlin and Sanderling?! A couple of bright looking Dunlin were present, Articola perhaps (not Icelandica, they don't exist, all my reading up on Dunlin was a waste of time!).
Bit-part views, I headed back to the car-park, scanning as I went. Another chap in a cool hat had beaten me to it, the Broad-billed was now much closer and I enjoyed great views of a lovely bird. Get in!

Hobby cruises in

2011-05-31T04:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, things just fall into place. Doing the circuit around Surlingham Church Marsh this morning, I had been thinking about seeing a Hobby. A harbinger of Summer, a true athlete in the birding world. On cue, he appeared, zooming low across the reedbed announcing himself with a gust of wind. Lovely stuff! This was a bird I saw regularly last year, late summer, so hopefully this year I will be lucky enough to see juveniles fledge here or nearby.
Another year tick came in the form of a Yellowhammer, on the other side of the river at Wood's End. I expect there are more birds around on the farmland but I have been a little lazy and neglected this part of the reserve. Furthermore, no sign of the Little Owl again, prompting me to conduct a thorough search of the field and surrounding trees soon.
The Lapwing chick bravely survives, and the other female remains sat tight. A single Shelduck was on the lagoon. A Little Egret flew over, and maybe a different individual did the same around an hour later. 2 male Marsh Harriers were calling/shouting at each other high above the reedbed, and the 'intruder' elected to move on after a brief scuffle. Surlingham regaining its status as a raptor hotspot then.
Also of note, 4/5 Mistle Thrushes were in the sheep field next to Church Lane.
A Buzzard was seen over woods between Rockland and Surlingham.

The Swallowtails at Strumpshaw

2011-05-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

And you can make them bigger, too. Click on the above for Broads glory shots.

For those that don't know where to look, park up at Strumpshaw Fen and walk back on yourself to the house and footpath. Follow this footpath for 5 minutes or so, and the owners of the next house you will encounter kindly allow Butterfly watchers to walk up the border where the above crackers often feed. Sure enough, we watched one individual very closely here. Another was seen on the reserve itself, not far over the railway track, and a final Swallowtail was seen back along the aforementioned footpath. One would have been fine, felt priviliged and lucky to see three!

Had a quick look round parts of the reserve, and the breeding season is now in full swing here. Amorous Marsh Harriers over the reedbed, Ducklings on the ponds, baby Tits and Warblers in the bushes and reeds and a grunting Water Rail was within touching distance but not seen.

We saw plenty of other Butterflies too: Orange Tip, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Brimstone, Large White and Brown Argus.

Overdue update- worth the wait!

2011-05-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

I almost felt like a half decent birder as I trudged down the track adjacent to the river at Surlingham Church Marsh this evening. A bunch of chip-chip calls overhead, and looking up I knew exactly what I was going to see- Crossbills! I raced back up the track, and viewed across the meadow and located the birds sat atop a pine tree looking like classic Crossbills. They didn't hang around, but what a bird for the patch, elated!
The rest of the reserve was pretty lively tonight; along with the usual warblers and Reed Buntings a Lapwing chick was 'new in'. Rather worryingly it was moreorless left to its own devices, the mother remained sat tight. Perhaps another egg yet to hatch? However, as soon as a Grey Heron drifted across the lagoon, birds from both pairs launched themselves bravely at the Heron. One of many skirmishes I expect. A Water Rail was the first squealer for some time.
Near the gun club, a Treecreeper gave a couple of bursts of its unobtrusive song, and a Little Egret flew east. At least 4 Blue/Great Tit nests counted, need to do a proper survey next week.
I also saw 2 foxes tonight. One was on the other side of the river, presumably the same individual I have seen here in the past. However, at the ruins a different male almost trotted right up to me, checked me out, and plodded away in no great rush. Probably my best ever views of a Fox, and a close encounter I am still buzzing from!
Still no Hobby, Turtle Dove or Spotted Flycatcher yet; still time, I keep telling myself.

Weekend round-up: Did I see it?

2011-05-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, if you are thinking of the Lesser Yellowlegs at Cley. And a lovely looking bird it was too, made all the more sweet considering this has been a bit of a bogey bird for me; dipped 3 times when living in Suffolk. And waders, I can watch all day.

O.K, Great Snipe- arrived in the hide at 6.15am, it was packed! The door guardian ushered me behind him and to the right, where I waited for around an hour until people started filtering out. No sign, and when I heard some people had been present since half 4 (maybe some even stayed in the hide through the night?) I felt a little lucky in a strange way. Leaving the hide, I quickly picked up the Yellowlegs on a pool along with 2 Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin and a Little-ringed Plover. I thought the Dunlin looked rather smart, even at a distance, and today I noticed RBA are reporting a possible American Dunlin. Interesting. I have since had a gander at my shorebirds book, which suggests Pacifica and Hudsonia have slightly longer bills, bright chestnut scapulars and a large belly patch. A little annoyed with myself that I didn't take any notes about this bird I saw on Saturday morning, but truth be told I was knackered, and an American Calidris was not really on my radar. I need to be a better birder.

Surlingham Sunday morning was a nice stroll as usual, and whilst no new species were added to the reserve list I did observe Blackcap, Blue and Great Tit carrying food. In fact, I even got a shot of a Blue Tit at the nest; a hole in the ruins.

There seem to be 2 Lapwing nests, although one parent was worryingly casual about the business of looking after the eggs, if indeed there are any.

Oh, the Snipe is still about at Cley, if anyone has a spare few days.

If you're looking for rare, look on.

2011-05-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

The magnificent Citrine Wagtail aside, I haven't seen many 'rare' birds of late. I am partly to blame, since both the recent Collared Flycatcher and Great Snipe were just about gettable from my place in Norwich, but I refrained from making the journey on both occassions. It was late, my football team were playing, I had just opened a beer, I really should find my own and what if I miss it were my main excuses/thoughts. However, the Snipe lekking is a mindblower, and as I type a Lesser Yellowlegs has also made landfall at Cley. Could be worth a trip over the weekend, a rare foray to the north coast from this birder increasingly comfortable in The Broads.
Surlingham Church Marsh allowed for some classic British birding yesterday evening. The usual Reed and Sedge Warblers were in full voice and active across the reedbeds. 2 Lapwing are now nesting, significant for the Yare Valley. A male Sparrowhawk materialised, as they tend to do, and drifted over the reedbed. A Kingfisher was again on the river, and a Fox showed well in amongst the long grass. Another birder put me onto a resting Treecreeper, and also said that a pair of Kingfisher have been using one of the dykes and are presumably nesting somewhere nearby. Talk of Otters using the reserve is great, but I never see them!
No new birds for the reserve or year list this evening but nonetheless a Spring evening worth blogging about.

Surlingham, Storks, score!

2011-05-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

Up early today, driving towards Surlingham watching the sun rise, and one cannot help but feel you have got the edge over everyone else. I don't do enough really early mornings, but a walk organised by the South Yare Wildlife Group around my patch was a good reason to be up and about just after 4. The walk was led by Ben of Strumpshaw fame. Bird of the morning was a Kingfisher which flashed past heading downriver, new for the year and a bird I don't often see at Surlingham Church Marsh. A couple of Swifts high and distant were also new, and other highlights included the usual Warblers including 4 Grasshopper and a new Garden. A Little Egret was a decent record, and 2 pairs of Lapwing were on the lagoon. No waders today, a little disappointing in truth. The walk concluded with an excellent cooked breakfast at the Ferry House, the group seemingly pleased with the morning's events.
After bashing out a few reports, I decided to investigate Hardley Flood over a trip to the coast. 3 Avocet were the best birds here, also present were plenty of Shelduck, Swallows, Martins and a Great-spotted Woodpecker. A decent site I will certainly be revisiting.
Since I was moreorless in the neighbourhood, I popped over to Aldeby hoping for a look at the White Stork. There are apparently free-flying birds at Thrigby, but this individual is unringed and has arrived in good conditions for migration. Sure enough, on rounding the corner there was the bird, wading in shallow water and showing well, which Storks tend to do. A couple of Wigeon were rather late, and the other birder at the site had also seen a Pintail and Grey Plover. The small patch of water is described on the bird information services as a 'shooting pool', so I am not sure about the creedence of the ducks but nonetheless another good spot worth coming back to. Oh, and a British tick in the bag.
Arrived home in time to see Hernandez put Chelsea to the sword. Get in!

Evening update from the patch

2011-05-05T12:47:00.001-07:00

After the glut of new birds at Surlingham recently, I was perhaps a little greedy in hoping for another tonight. Although no new birds were counted, Hobby cannot be far away from appearing. With the water level on the lagoon still low, I am hopeful for a wader or two Sunday morning.

The Greenshank was still present on the lagoon, happy to wade up to its breast in the water to the left of the hide. The Lapwing was sitting tight, and an Oystercatcher called overhead. I notcied that the only duck species present were Gadwall and Mallard; perhaps that will be that until failed breeders return. The usual warblers were vocal, in one spot a Sedge and Reed Warbler were sharing the same square foot of reedbed it seemed.

A final highlight was a Great-spotted Woodpecker, a bird I have seen on and off but not for some time. The male pictured below was 'chip' calling and drumming on the edge of the scrub and woodland near the church. Other birds of note on and around the reserve included Mistle Thrush, calling Cuckoo and the first Egyptian Goose chick.

Estonia Trip Report, April 2011

2011-05-03T08:25:00.001-07:00

Estonia April 12th-19th 2011, Jim Bradley. ice_bear1@hotmail.com

Ice at the ferry crossing

Exploring the ancient forest

Red-breasted Goose at Audru

Pick the bones out of that!

Great-grey Shrike near Spithami.

Introduction.

Estonia is a place of real wilderness, yet easy to explore with the possibility of some cracking birds. Recent literature from both Gerard Gorman and Dave Gosney means that there is now plenty of useful information on birding Estonia, yet this country remains relatively unknown compared to other eastern European states such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Steller’s Eider, Owls and Woodpeckers in early Spring, Citrine Wagtail, Great Snipe, Great Spotted Eagle, Black Stork and Greenish Warbler in May and beyond are just some of the birds you may encounter.

We used Estonian Nature Tours http://www.naturetours.ee/ to help plan and guide our trip. We are a young couple, so did not fancy being part of a tour bus scenario, and were keen to do most of the birding ourselves. We used a guide for one and a half days courtesy of the above company, who in turn arranged a hire car and our accommodation. In hindsight, we could probably have made arrangements independently, but this gave us piece of mind and both guides were very good. Estonian Nature Tours were excellent when it came to planning the trip and organising potential places to stay and birding sites to visit.

Books and DVDs:

'Birding in Eastern Europe' Gerard Gorman

'Finding Birds in Estonia' Dave Gosney. This is a book and DVD pack, both of which are excellent and highly recommended. We used this guide every day without fail.

Logistics.

Flights.

Easyjet fly from Stansted to Tallin, and we booked our tickets January 2011 for around £120 for the pair.

Car Hire.

Estonian Nature Tours organised a Honda Jazz for us at 215 Euros for 6 days. Main roads are tarred and usually free of traffic. Minor roads are what we in the UK would class as a dirt track and need to be driven with some caution. Small settlements and cities are well signposted, and the maximum drive time between large cities was around 2 hours; Estonia is a small country and easy to navigate. However, driving in Tallin is another matter. Signposting is sudden and lanes open and close without one realising.

Petrol is around half the price of what we pay in the U.K (£1.35/LITRE) and stations are common, as are ATM’s. Some stations are self service where you pop in your card before starting, and some are pay at the counter.

We bought a michelin road map from ebay before the trip for around a fiver, and this turned out to be a shrewd purchase in hindsight.

Guided Birding.

Looking back, I am glad we had paid for the guides but that is not to say you have to use a guide to bird in Estonia. We used one guide on the island of Saaremaa from 15.00 to 22.00 in order to secure Steller’s Eider and hopefully some Owls. We used another near Tartu from 06.00 to 18.00 for the forest brding, chiefly in search of woodpeckers. Their local knowledge and expertise was a real help and we enjoyed their company.

Food and Drink.

It would be difficult to be a vegetarian in Estonia. We ate plenty of meat here, even for Breakfast! The various places we stayed at provided a substantial breakfast, often enough to see us through until dinner. This consisted of porridge, cold cuts, cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, eggs, bacon, bread and juice. Main meals we ate included pork and beef dishes, chicken and fish. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as we were concerned, and we were well looked after. We both agreed we never ate a bad meal, and some were very good. They like their soup, too. Food was between a third and a half cheaper than what we are used to in the UK, depending on where we ate.

Detailed Itinaray .

Day one- arrival and journey to Roosta Holiday village, near Spithami.

After navigating our way out of Tallin, the roads to our destination on the west coast were fairly good and we were able to stop at a few locations for birds. One route, we saw White Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Woodpecker and Common Crane- this all from the car.
At Dirhami, a small fishing port, the bay held large numbers of both Long-tailed Duck and Red-breasted Merganser. Suprisingly no Divers were seen, but a supporting cast of 50+ Goldeneye, singing Woodlark and White Wagtail made up for their absence. I can safely say I have never seen so many LT Duck in one place!

Spithami, futher north, is supposedly a good sea watching point. By the time we had arrived, mist had turned to fog and little could be seen. A few migrants were on the spit, including Wheatear, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare and Redwing.

The road (track) from Spithami to the main road held some goodies though; 6+ Common Buzzard were circling, and in amongst the group were 2 Rough-legged Buzzard. We stopped awhile to watch this magnificent spectacle, and it was a good job we did for a Great Grey Shrike made itself known to us, landing on wires.

At Roosta Village itself, we were ideally placed for an evening walk along the beach. Cranes were heard, Woodlark again singing and Goldeneye were at sea. 3 Heron flew past as the sun set, and walking back to our cabin a flock of Bean Geese announced themselves overhead.

Great start, great spot!

Day 2 Roosta- Saareemaa.

We had to meet our first guide at our hotel, west of Kurressaare, at 15:00. We opted to head straight for our hotel, have a sleep, then head out. This meant missing out on Matsalu Bay and Sutlepa Meri, but the former would be visited the following day when time allowed.

Similar birds seen from the car including Hooded Crow, White Stork, Fieldfare and Redwing.

The ferry at Virtsu was a straightforward affair, we arrived around half an hour before departure, queued for a short time, drove on and headed to the top deck.
The ferry journey takes around 30 minutes, and was easily one of the best experiences of the trip. Much of the bay was still iced over, but the patches of water that were clear (around the midway point of the journey) held 100's of both Long-tailed Duck and Greater Scaup. There seemed to be a greater variety of birds on the return leg, including Common Scoter, Smew and Common Eider.

Our guide Veljo met us at the Saaremaa Hotel and we took our car out to the coast. Sorve is a usual hotspot for Steller's Eider, but Veljo directed us to Undva instead. Here we enjoyed good views of c.220 Steller's Eider. It almost goes without saying, but, what a bird! A White-tailed Eagle was calling distantly, and grounded migrants on the beach included Brambling, Meadow Pipit and Yellowhammer.

The rest of the afternoon and evening were spent in the area searching likely looking spots. We came across a flooded field which held c40 Common Crane (an unusually large flock for the time of year, commented Veljo) Barnacle, White-fronted, Taiga Bean and Greylag Goose, drumming Snipe, Whooper Swan, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Pintail and more Buzzard. Classic Estonia. A Black Woodpecker flew in front of the car.

As darkness fell, we tried playback to entice a Pygmy Owl closer. We did hear calling, but no views. Veljo was desperate for us to see something, so we trekked deeper into the forest for Tengmalms. Again no luck, but we did see a couple of roding Woodcock.

We thanked Veljo, who had been not only a great guide but great company, and hit the sack for the night.

Day 3- Saaremaa to Parnu.

Before heading south we stopped at Matsalu Bay and Keemu bird tower on the south side. This was a great spot and we regretted not having time for the northern shore. We saw 2 White-tailed Sea Eagle on the ice, 100's of Whooper Swan, Great-crested Grebe, Wigeon, Barnacle and Taiga Bean Geese. A Herony was a nice sight soon after leaving the tower at Keemu. More classic Estonian birding near Lihula. A flooded field held 4 species of Goose, Whooper Swan and Crane. We pulled up and took a few photos.

Tuhu Soo, mentioned in Dave Gosney's guide, would no doubt be a great site but was totally flooded when we visited due to the snow melting.

Before Parnu, we stopped on the coast near Audru. Amongst the 1000's of White-fronted and Barnacle Geese, we found the bird of the trip- a Red-breasted Goose! We even obtained a few pictures. The hedges and scrub here held Mealy Redpoll, Siskin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Thrushes. No sign of any Penduline Tit, which can apparently be found here. Maybe we were a little early for breeding activity.

Day 4 Nigula and surrounds.

Headed to 'Gosney's Magic corner' first thing. The snow meant some tracks were inacessible, but we did manage a Hazel Hen, flushed from the path we were walking down. A Grey-headed Woodpecker responded to playback and gave good views. Curlew called and Snipe drummed.

Near Massiauru, were came across our second Great Grey Shrike of the trip, 2 Wood Sandpiper, Wheatear and 2 White Stork's nest.

Nigula Bog itself was a little disappointing. The main boardwalk was covered in snow and the water frozen over. The (by now) usual species were seen, and of note was a calling Middle-spotted Woodpecker heard near the reserve centre.

Day 5 Parnu- Trofee Lodge.

First and only wet day of the trip. Little birding done but we did hear our first Ravens of the trip. Even more pools opening up by the side of the road holding swans and geese.

Trofee lodge was probably our favourite place to stay, although if you have any issues with hunting it might not be the best place for you!

Day 6- Birding around Tartu.

A slow start caused by mist and cold temperatures. Despite the excellent local knowledge of our guide Ivar, we only managed to hear Black and Three-toed Woodpecker at a flooded riverside site near Puurmani. 35 Mealy Redpoll and a Common Sandpiper were the only other birds of note here.

The sun was slow in appearing, perhaps putting pay to any early morning woodpecker activity. Instead, we happened across a Ural Owl on a nest near Laeva. A welcome bird before lunch. We did stop at the Great Snipe lek site at Karevare, but were a little early in the season. No Snipe were seen, but we did see a pair of Common Sandpiper.

The afternoon was some of the best birding we had here, mainly thanks to Ivar. We stopped at a forest track between Laaniste and Joepara, near the river Peravalla. By now the day was much brighter. We had 2 Wood Sandpiper on territory and Ivar spotted a Lynx footprint in the snow. Then, jackpot. White-backed and Three-toed Woodpecker seen well, the former observed at the nest. Just as we clocked the Three-toed, a Tengmalm's Owl began calling from deeper in the forest; this was 16:25!! Pairs of both Firecrest and Northern Treecreeper then put on a show, and Ivar saw a Nutcracker nearby. Northern Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Goldcrest were other birds of note. What a wealth of species! We were all thrilled, and felt rewarded after many hours walking and searching.

Day 7- Back to Tallin.

The drive back produced the expected Geese, White Storks, Swans, Buzzards and a single White-tailed Sea Eagle.

Tallin is a fantastic city and well worth leaving some time to explore here. We ambled round the cobbled side streets, drank beer and wine, and reminisced on an awesome week in the Estonian wilderness.

Happisburgh, Eccles, Sea Palling 02/05/11

2011-05-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

On a high after the success at the patch this morning, I headed to the coast genuinely believing my luck was in. If you call a Wheatear lucky, then it was. Always nice to see of course, but I had rather hoped for me. It was at the Decca site, Happisburgh. It arrived and perched nicely for around half a minute, then off it flew. Seems a lot of birds are probably doing just that at the moment. Plenty of Swallows around, but not much else. And to think I checked so much good habo! Will the wind drop? Will Norwich get promoted tonight? Does anyone care?
In other news, the death of Osama Bin Laden was totally overshadowed by 2 Whimbrel and a Greenshank at Surlingham Church Marsh (see previous post, reader/s. Adding the s perhaps optimistic there).

The wind remains but plenty of patch ticks!

2011-05-02T02:45:00.000-07:00

Cracking morning, glad I made the effort to get up and about earlier than usual.
A pair of Oystercatcher over at Wood's End gave some hope that waders may be on the move, and on arriving at the lagoon I struck lucky. A Greenshank was feeding just to the left of the bus shelter hide, a comical scene as it dipped its upturned bill into the mud, surrounded by the brood of Mallard ducklings! A second patch tick soon followed, as a Whimbrel called and flew overhead, north. Another one soon followed. Could have sat there all day, but no food and a trip to the coast this afternoon meant that was just not possible.
Decent goings on in the scrub too, a Garden Warbler was new in and sang from the same bush as a Blackcap, allowing close scrutiny of these two variable songsters. Suprisingly good views were obtained.
Passing the Ferry House, Reed, Grasshopper and Sedge Warbler were singing and 2 House Martin were over the village. Convinced I had heard the rattle of a Lesser Whitethroat near the gun club, I waited patiently and eventually the bird in question gave brief views- another tick! A Skylark singing from the field to the South-East was also a new bird, but I couldn't find this one to admire.
A report from the hide of 6 Greenshank and a single Black-tailed Godwit from yesterday did make me a tad jealous I'll admit, but still what a morning.
Next sunday at 5.30am, the South Yare Wildlife Group are doing a walk around the reserve and then breakfast at the Ferry House. Sounds good! I was unaware such a group existed, so all being well I will go along and report back. Remember, you heard it here first.

Rough and windy

2011-04-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

A Hoopoe reported from Winterton Dunes this morning was more than enough motivation for me to hit the east coast and bag some migrants.
Disappointingly few birds seen, of any description. Happisburgh was windswept and bare, so I headed for 'cover'; the dunes at Eccles. 3 Lesser Whitethroats were heard rattling, but no Wagtails, Falcons, nothing. This was hard going- the wind blew so hard I actually had a headache. Probable Swift over Whimpwell Green, but I was unable to stop the car for a look.
I sat back in the car and collected myself and decided a change of tactics were in order. It's windy, too windy. Birds are either hunkered down or passing straight through, maybe stopping further inland, I hoped. Hickling Rush Hill Scrape seemed like a good shout, so that was where I ended up.
3 Wood Sandpiper were at the far side of the scrape, and 3 out of 4 Greenshank showed much closer to the hide. 8 Ruff were almost looking smart, and 2 Avocets provided more colour. A good wader fest! 2 Marsh Harrier were in the air, then something else caught my attention. Clearly a Buzzard, and prolonged but distant views showed off a white rump and dark carpal patches. Having just seen a few of these beasties in Estonia, I was watching a Rough-legged Buzzard. I managed to get the other birder in the hide onto it before it drifted west over Hickling. A good bird for east Norfolk and a satisfying end to the day. More tomorrow!

Broads Tours, 25/04/11

2011-04-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

The Broads looked great yesterday, a pleasure to be out and about, even with a few holidaymakers!

We began at Barton, hoping to catch more than just the tail end of the Black Tern passage. I had a feeling we had left it too late, and that was the case. We did however enjoy watching the now resident Common Terns here, and looked very hard at a few incase an Arctic was amongst them. 2 Common Sandpiper were seen, but not by us. The scrub around the boardwalk offered good views of Treecreeper and Blackcap.

Ranworth Broad was a first time visit for us, which again was heaving with Common Terns, and this time the scrub allowed us a close up of both a Cettis Warbler and a Willow Warbler. More was heard than seen, the trees and vegetation thickening by the day.

Upton Fen was not as hard to find as we expected, and is somewhere that will keep me coming back, this is a great reserve. It reminded me of a mini Hickling Broad, and as at Hickling there is potential for rare, with a vast reedbed surrounded by grazing marshes. A Savi's Warbler apparantly took up residence in 2000 (fast becoming a bird that I am setting my sights on to 'find' in the broads), and Red-footed Falcons have been seen in the last 5 years. We had great views of a hunting Barn Owl around midday, a pair of Marsh Harrier and 2 Hobby- my first of the year. Always a buzz seeing that first Hobby. Great variety of insects and Butterflies here too, not all we could put a name to, but will try to one day. No rush though, this is a great reserve to soak up. With so many good pubs located around and between, I think the odd evening visit here will be in order during midsummer. Bloody love The Broads.

Wag-tales

2011-04-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

James and I set off mid morning for the Ouse Washes reserve in Cambridgeshire, hoping to see the drake Blue-winged Teal which has been present for long enough.
Twitching, on this blog? Hold on.......
Great reserve, similar to Welney just up the road. Good views of Yellow Wagtail, Little Egret, Little-ringed Plover and Lapwing on the lagoons. Pride of place probably went to a lone Greenshank. As you may have guessed, no sign of the Teal. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling somewhere out of sight, and I had a Turtle Dove blaze past.
On route to the Ouse, James received a text from Gary alerting us to a Citrine Wagtail at East Runton. Bugger, we thought. We had spent so much time looking for the Teal, any chance of the Wagtail had surely gone.
I got home and got on with some marking. My friend Rob called. I marked one book.
45 Minutes later I was looking at a pristine male Citrine Wagtail. The bird showed down to 15 metres and with a head like that, will be unforgettable I'm sure. Most birds I have seen photos of have been Autumn migrants, so to see a real live spring bird was a treat. I would add some pictures, but the camera says "card read error".
Not finished with my day, I headed to the patch after dinner. Two twitches in a day and I was in need of a cleanse. Surlingham always does the job. The 2 Little-ringed Plover were still in place on the edge of the lagoon, and were aggressively defending their new territory from.....a Yellow Wagtail! Get in!
Marsh Harrier and more distantly a Buzzard hunted over the marsh, and a Gropper reeled me back to the car.

Now thats what I call Surlingham!

2011-04-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

You can probably tell by the over-excited title of this post that I am rather pleased with my evening exploits on the patch.
Counted 5 Groppers on the reserve, one of which was across the river, so not technically Surlingham I suppose. Managed a glimpse of one, but as is often the case they remained so close yet so far, a bird that keeps me coming back for more! More Reed Warbler seem to have arrived too. Quite a noise as I completed the circuit.
6 Lapwing were on the lagoon, and as well as displaying they appeared agitated. A closer look revealed the victims of their dive bombing- a pair of Little Ringed Plover, a new bird for me at Surlingham. A Cuckoo then flew over, having been calling from across the river. Yes, another new one but no doubt present every year in ideal habitat.
I didn't try for Little Owl this evening, but on the walk back another Owl started calling, this time a Tawny. I went a bit King/Packham all over it, calling it towards me. It did respond, appearing in a tree close by. My last 'hoot' was in truth poor, and the Owl responded by buggering off. Whoops.
Finding MOJO on the doormat with a free Black Keys CD completed an awesome day!

Turtle Dove joined the Lesser Whitethroat in mother's garden yesterday.

Return from the east and Norfolk is blazing!

2011-04-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

Estonia was a true wilderness experience for me, an amazing if desolate country with great birds and great people. A full trip report will follow, but I'll just leave this as a taster for now:

Visited the patch yesterday morning/afternoon and minus a few species it could easily have been mid July, ridiculous heat! the HTC clocked it at 25 degrees at one point.

The main change, other than the thicker vegetation, appeared to be an arrival of Whitethroat, approximately 5 on the reserve. I was pleased to again view a Little Owl in the usual tree, and presumably the same Gropper reeled from a hidden perch.

At Rockland, no Terns, but 2 Cuckoos were heard for the first time this year. Well, for me anyway! I noticed one had been reported from the hide at Surlingham also.

I then had a drive out to Hardley Flood, failing miserably in my attempts to find the place, but I have a fair idea of where I went wrong.

Visiting my parents in Suffolk for a couple of days, and upon unloading the car I heard a call that was just about familiar......a Lesser Whitethroat, which mum thinks may have been present for a few days. It is very vocal today, infact I can hear the rattling end to the call as I type, so I plan to spend the afternoon getting decent views and maybe a picture!

Trip report to follow sometime this weekend.

One final look and more migrants are arriving.

2011-04-11T06:35:00.000-07:00

Couldn't resist a last stroll round the patch before heading off to the Baltic, and very glad I did. Mopped up a good few year ticks. I rarely visit the reserve early in the morning, so it was interesting to see so many Rooks around, new for the year. More Blackcaps appeared to have arrived, and I counted 5 Sedge Warbler this time around. A pair of Shelduck were back on the lagoon, and behind them a Barn Owl was out hunting in the morning sun. Sitting in the hide I watched Reed Bunting, another bird which seems to have doubled in number all of a sudden. Another first, a Reed Warbler sang unseen. The Gropper was silent today. I wandered further up the hill in hope of a flyover raptor. Looking in the direction of the village, I spotted a bird sunning itself that I have been trying to locate for a while now- Little Owl. I am fairly sure I have located the nest/roost, and it seems s/he is sharing a tree with a nesting Egyptian Goose! A Swallow on the patch was another year tick, and finally back at the car a calling House Sparrow was also a new bird!! I wonder what will have changed when I next visit in over a week's time. Should have seen a White-tailed Sea Eagle by this time tomorrow, and plenty of seaduck. Lovely stuff. For now, a couple of pics of the humble residents of Surlingham Church Marsh.

Success in The Brecks?! 09/04/11

2011-04-10T02:33:00.000-07:00

A later start than preferred due to an appointment with the doctor meant chances of a Lesser Pecker at Santon Downham were always going to be slim. It was a cracking morning however, plenty of birdsong including Blackcap, Nuthatch, Marsh Tit, Siskin and other woodland residents. In terms of target species, a possible Willow Tit was all we managed, and a brief view of Whitlingham's finest. We had lunch in the sun and headed off to try somewhere different, which in typical brecks fashion shall remain a location 'somewhere in the forest'.

Things really picked up here, beginning with the butterlies on the wing. Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Tortoiseshell and Comma were all enjoying the 20 degree plus heat. As were 2 Common Lizards!

2 Woodlark sang from separate clearings, a beautiful song with a real liquid quality I never tire of. Best of all, excellent views of 3+ Goshawk including one bird that flew over head allowing a closer than usual look at the plumage of this enigmatic species.

A familiar call alerted us to the presence of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which gave a brief view before flying off. Other bits and bobs included A Buzzard carrying a large twig, Kestrel, GS and Green Woodpeckers and a local walker told us a Redstart had been seen earlier in the morning.

So a relatively straightforward and rewarding afternoon, helped in no small part by my uncle and little cousin who joined me for the day. I would back him to find a first for Britain one day; he beat me to a Goshawk shout on more than one occasion!

Debs and I leave for Estonia on Monday, so depending on net access this may be it for a while. But I bet you can't wait for those gripping photos of Steller's Eider, Pygmy Owl and Great Snipe. We can't!

Gropper on site!

2011-04-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

An evening visit seemed the obvious thing to do after a day of above average temperatures for early April. Furthermore, my shoulder is not in as bad shape as I had feared; a mini-dislocation was all. Carrying the scope was no hassle! Along with the newly resident Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers, some new song amongst the reeds. 2 Sedge Warbler were belting out their scratchy tune for the first time this year, a welcome sound. Even better was a reeling Grasshopper Warbler near the ruins. Despite waiting patiently I only managed a glimpse, and by this time it was getting quite dark. Typical for this species, I find that they either give superb views, or barely show at all. A few bats were flitting about, difficult to put a species to them in the fading light.

Surlingham yesterday, A&E tomorrow?

2011-04-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

Warmest day of the year so far on the patch, and my notebook makes good reading!

I extended the walk this time, taking in Ferry Road which leads down to the pub. Some excellent damp scrub there, and of course I hoped for a Firecrest reported last week from here. No luck there, but a worthwhile extension and a walk I will be doing more often at 'peak' times of the year.

At least 10 Singing Chiffchaff were counted on and around the reserve, along with new arrivals in the form of 3 Willow Warbler, all giving away their presence with a beautiful song. I heard a Sand Martin near the river but could not lock onto it, still a year tick mind! A Blackcap was singing near the pub, another year first, and a male Marsh Harrier gave the ducks a scare over the main lagoon. Hopefully a mate will show up and breeding can commence. Shoveler numbers were up to 6, Cettis up to at least 3.

At least 6 Brimstone butterflies were seen, along with two Commas, a favourite of mine. Their wings look frazzled, like they have been set alight somehow.

A Swallow was seen low over fields near Bramerton on the way home.

I had big plans for today, but finding myself laying flat on my back on the bathroom floor this morning put pay to migrant hunting. Possible shoulder dislocation (again), so off to the docs in the morning. Now, if the WT Eagle would land somewhere, tomorrow afternoon could be interesting.....

Surlingham 27/03/11

2011-03-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

Taking advantage of the extra light in the evening, and avoiding the gun club, I headed out for a Sunday evening stroll round the patch. I expect the Chiffchaffs have been here for most of the week, but I counted 3 birds on site, one in particular showing well. Also from the scrub, 2 of both Reed Bunting and Bullfinch. Across on the mud at Wood's End, the faithful Green Sandpipers were present, just 2 today though. On the river, a Great Crested Grebe was behaving with some attitude, and I noticed that the nest (or beginnings of a nest) had disappeared. Perhaps the female had fallen prey to a fox, and the male was starting over again. 4 Shovelor on the lagoon were new for the year, as was a flyover Herring Gull. A couple of Cettis called and a Chinese Water Deer gave good views. Later, presumably the same animal was chasing a smaller individual, crashing through the reedbed, oblivious to my presence. 2 Snipe flew over and the 4 Lapwing remain. Finishing just off the reserve boundary, I watched a Barn Owl hunt the riverside at close quarters. A Little Egret flew towards the marsh to round off a good species haul. Grebe and the deer:

In search of Black Redstarts

2011-03-20T13:17:00.000-07:00

The Marrams at Sea Palling is a favoured spot of mine for a venture east, and in the past has been a good spot for Black Redstart. One or two have filtered through on the pager of late, but other than to check whats about and what I can expect, I'm not really a pager birder. I set out to find my own. As luck would have it, a striking male was present in one of the gardens, and here he is:

Tim informed me more were present, but were not found during our short stint. We continued on for a look round Eccles, a place I plan to focus on during Spring, if the birds will allow. No Black Reds this time, but 2 good candidates for White Wagtail in a flock of Pied. See what you think, any comments welcome, but the right hand bird looks good to me, as did another out of shot. I realise there is some confusion with 1st summer female Pieds, but the pale grey back contrasting with dark head appeared to be in place.

Happisburgh was not quite so productive. James had seen some Lapland Bunting earlier in the day, but on arrival to a patch of tilled field near the coast watch 2 probable birds lifted off and flew overhead. That was that then! Few Linnet through and a distant raptor hunting mipits was probably a Sparrowhawk.

A Barn Owl was hunting near Crostwick about an hour ago. A good weekend, sure signs that things are moving now.

Surlingham Church Marsh Wader Scrape!

2011-03-20T06:48:00.001-07:00

The reserve seemed a little quiet on entrance at around 4.30pm yesterday; the usual Tits were calling but no Bullfinch from the usual spot or Siskin.

Viewing the marsh across to Wood's End got the pulse quickening: 4 small waders were on the muddy puddle! At first glance I was convinced there were 2 Green Sandpiper and 2 Redshank, since 2 birds were bobbing up and down, and 2 just weren't. However, the birds soon took flight and began calling, heading in the direction of the main lagoon.

On approaching the lagoon, I could hear Lapwing displaying and there were now 4 birds here. The water levels do change frequently, so I would be a little concerned if they did nest here, but at the same time hopeful! the 4 waders were here, and they were indeed Green Sandpiper. A site record! Gadwall, Teal and Mallard dabbled here and there along with the usual 2 pairs of Coot and a pair of Moorhen. The first of the days mammal sightings was a Chinese Water Deer, a large individual and probably a male. The waders fed for a while as the light faded, eventually flying off high towards Wheat Fen.

A Long overdue year tick then arrived in the form of 4 Snipe, grunting as they flew over head. A Meadow Pipit was seen in the old roost spot and a Pied Wagtail was heard. Continuing round, the sun now setting, another Water Deer was seen feeding, this time most likely a female. 13 Fieldfare were on the hill, and I wondered if these would be the last I would see until the Autumn. A fitting finale was a Barn Owl hunting over the reedbed.

Driving home, 2 Bats were out and about hunting a hedgerow near Bramerton. The marshes at Rockland and Claxton were quiet save for a gathering of Mute Swans.

Barn Owl at dusk

Yet to be Identified!

Wood's End and Surlingham, 13/03/11

2011-03-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

Decided it was time to search for a Lesser Pecker within and around the patch, ideal habitat alongside the Yare and plenty of deadwood. I should say now that the search was fruitless, but did throw up some good habo and a few decent birds for the area.

Wood's End had a large flock of Siskin in a small conifer plantation, and a Nuthatch called from within. A Common Buzzard called overhead, and was seen again from the pub- I will keep an eye on this a potential breeding site. Great Spotted Pecker showed well, and my second Brimstone Butterfly in 2 days passed through- stealing a march, or so I thought! My first was seen from the staffroom yesterday, not all bad on the Western Front then.

Surlingham was looking pristine in the sunshine, and approaching the lagoon I could hear Lapwing- usually across river at Wood's End- and then a familiar call which I almost ignored, but then realised where I was.....Redshank! Never actually saw it, but still a new bird for the patch.

A pair of Sparrowhawk soared overhead, and further round the circuit a Kestrel hovered over the marsh. Where had this lot been for the past 2/3 months?! Despite hearing the Redshank, bird of the day went to a Little Egret hunting on the smaller lagoon, viewed from the hill. 2 Reed Bunting could be seen from here, and a Cettis sang with purpose for the first time this year.

Today, I happened across a Reeve's Pheasant, somewhere in The Brecks........although not the bird reported by RBA, an invasion perhaps!

Church Marsh

Little Egret at a distance.

BBRC Work in progress

2011-03-08T11:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.bbrc.org.uk/workinprogress.htm

All birds currently being assessed by the BBRC, if you are into that sort of thing.
Searching by county (Norfolk) some absolute crackers in there, including Masked Booby, Eleonora's Falcon, Red-necked Stint and a couple of Savi's Warblers, all from last year. Of particular interest for me were the Savi's, both at Broadland sites (one undisclosed, and no doubt good reason behind this decision). Reminds me that the breeding season is not far away, and the patch could yield who knows what.......early June, warm evening, a 'reel' from the reedbed that doesn't sound quite right for Gropper........why not?!

Strumpshaw Fen 06/03/10

2011-03-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

Currently a popular destination for us on a Sunday!
Highlights today included stonking views of 3 male Bullfinch feeding in bushes at the start of the Meadow Trail. Probably the best views of Bullfinch I have ever had! Later presumably the same 3 flew over our heads, heading across the river I would guess. A single Marsh Harrier was pursued by a Crow from Fen Hide, and here Gadwall and Teal were quite confiding. Back at the vistor centre, a single Marsh Tit was heard then seen around the feeders amongst the commoner species. Bittern had been seen in the morning and Brambling had apparently been seen near the feeders, but not by us.

Strumpshaw Fen 27/02/11

2011-02-27T11:40:00.000-08:00

Glorious day, if a little windswept.

Birds of note on the reserve included a Bittern, which appeared to come from Rockland across the river, and flew high onto the reserve and landed somewhere near the railway line, hopefully not on it. A stonechat was seen in the reedbed from the Tower Hide, and loafing on the water here were a few Gulls, Shoveler, Pochard, Teal and Greylag Geese. 4 Snipe were in the long grass. A Marsh Harrier appeared to be nest building, disappearing into the reedbed on 2 occassions with a largish twig.
Birds of the day were undoubtedly the Treecreepers. 2 Pairs were vocal: one near the start of the meadow trail, and one near Tower Hide. A lovely song and a sure sign that courtship is underway for some birds, and as we know more will follow.
6+ Siskins were showing well, feeding on the catkins hanging amongst the trees and bushes near the visitor centre.
Back to work tomorrow, trying to look on the bright side- perhaps the Grey Wagtail which seems to have overwintered will still be about?

Here is a Gull ducking from today:

Over-wintering Green Sandpiper

2011-02-26T08:01:00.001-08:00

2 of them, on the main lagoon at Surlingham Church Marsh. With my late summer records last year, I would reckon Surlingham to be an important site for this species. I would assume they are not returning birds, so I wonder where they have been during the winter? According to RBA, a single bird went east at Hardley flood earlier in the month. Other than that, you have to go back to November for a 'reported' bird in the county. Maybe with the warmer weather, they have come from a short distance somewhere to the south of us.
Other bits and bobs included a pair of Coal Tit in the graveyard, 3 Bullfinch in scrub, pairs of Coot and Shelduck on the lagoon and a Cettis sang from somewhere.

Titchwell 25/02/11

2011-02-25T12:51:00.000-08:00

Working hard on the patch (or east coast come migration) heralds obvious rewards, but sometimes it is good to see a lot of birds. Plus, I had not yet visited Titchwell's newest hide, a behemoth, a blockbuster amongst hides I would say.

It did not take long to catch up with the Northern Harrier, hunting low and easy to miss, over the marsh in the direction of Thornham. Looked very dark on top, orange below, but at some distance. Just to confuse things, a Hen Harrier hunted roughly the same area a little later on that morning; due to lack of communication the two did not hunt side by side.

From the new hide, I watched 43 Twite feeding with a few Skylark. My notes read: one with pink ring, one with 2 orange rings. Not sure what that means, yet. I also saw a Spotted Redshank from here.

Right place right time on the beach; 2 Snow Bunting zipped over my head. Out at sea, a very flighty Scoter flock allowed me to lock onto a single Velvet Scoter. As you would, I called this to the small group next to me, they grunted. As you do. Also at sea were a pair of Red Breasted Merganser and a smattering of Goldeneye. A Sanderling was brave, scuttling towards the assembled sea watchers before veering away on seeing my new camera unveiled.

Cracking views of ducks on the way back to the centre: Pintail, Goldeneye, Shovelor, Gadwall and a female Smew, asleep.

Finished the day at Thornham, hoping for a better look at the Harrier, but I was not able to stay too long, since I had another 30 minute meal to concoct, which unsuprisingly took more than 30 minutes.

Last night, I had been on the ale, but I'm fairly sure I heard 2+ Whooper Swan calling over the house in Norwich. Proving there is something in this, Debs informs me she saw 3 Swans flying over the city this morning around 8.30am, which looked a little small for Mute Swans. Interesting, and a good excuse to head to the pub of an evening.

Making use of the new camera, some shots from today:

Things are starting to happen- The Monthly Count.

2011-02-23T01:10:00.000-08:00

New hardback A6 Notebook in hand, I set out to count everything I saw and heard at Surlingham Church Marsh, yesterday. My past notes are a bit of a muddle/mystery, and aside from writing them up on here, incomplete scribblings are the fruits of my labour to date. That is about to change.

Firstly, the highlights. A pair of Treecreeper engaging in courtship would be a good spot anywhere, but this wasn't anywhere; this was the patch, and this was a new bird! Nearby, a Blue Tit was chased and then violently attacked by a gang of 3 fellow Blueys. I stood by and did nothing. Across at Wood's End, a very lost looking Oystercatcher was also a new

bird for the reserve list, and I have never been so pleased to see an Oystercatcher. There were 3 Great Crested Grebes on the river, a pair of which were nest building. At least 6 Siskin were seen, 2 Shelduck were on the lagoon and 2 Stock Doves called. Lovely stuff.

The following is in no real order (common ones first, prepared at home) and took place between 2.30 and 4pm (read that line in the voice of Jack Bauer):

6 Blackbird

8 Blue Tit

11 Great Tit

10 long Tailed Tit

7 Robin

20+ Woodpigeon

4 Carrion Crow

10 Magpie

88 Greylag Goose

2 Chaffinch

1 Dunnock

10+ Black Headed Gull

3 Wren

6 Greenfinch

2 Goldcrest

6 Siskin

2 Treecreeper

1 Oystercatcher

4 Coot

3 Great Crested Grebe

8 Moorhen

5+ Wigeon

4 Egyptian Goose

1 Green Woodpecker

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

2 Common Gull

2 Gadwall

2 Stock Dove

38 Teal

2 Shelduck

1 Redwing

10+ Fieldfare

2 Mistle Thrush

1 Reed Bunting

1 Water Rail

1 Grey Heron

1 Pheasant

1 Mute Swan

1 Song Thrush

1+ Goldfinch

Missed Bullfinch, but I am pleased with 40 Species.

These 2 Shelduck have returned to the lagoon, and if the much maligned and abused sightings board in the hide is to be believed, they were here 5 days ago also.

Surlingham 12/02/11

2011-02-12T11:31:00.000-08:00

It was always going to be difficult to top a quite sensational goal in the Manchester derby this lunchtime, but after a reality check in the form of book marking, I got underway with a thorough grilling of the patch.
Some action was afoot on the river, involving the usually grass-bound Greylag flock and smaller numbers of Wigeon and Teal. 2 Coot were further down-river, and a Great Crested Grebe was also seen.
The scrub at the start of the trail is proving particularly productive of late; Bullfinch, c15 Siskin, Long-tailed Tit and Greenfinch were all here. A scan across to Wood's End revealed the hunting Barn Owl and a large flock of c200 Fieldfare and a few Redwing. Further a long, I watched a dog Fox investigating holes along the river bank, methodically marking his territory. A sublime view of one of our mammals about his daily business.
A few ducks were out the front of the hide, A nice pair of Gadwall and 8 Teal were looking smart. Water Rails squealed, Reed Bunting sang and a Cettis called- finally, some sounds at Surlingham!
A Great Spotted Woodpecker 'chipped' from within the scrub, and expected year tick. Hoping for a Heron or Egret in the grazing meadow, I picked up another expected year tick, but an unexpected number and locality. 16 Meadow Pipit were in a bare tree, feeding on what I wasn't sure. I have had mipit flyover, but to stumble across this wintering flock like this is notable for the patch.
I headed to Claxton Marshes at dusk, fruitless, but on route just outside the village (before Rockland) was the Greylag flock in a newly ploughed field. I also counted 44 Egyptian Geese, and more Greylags arrived. In amongst them was a Pink-footed Goose. I need to examine the flock at Wood's End a little more closely if I want that year tick! The flock, numbering somewhere around 200, was still there once darkness had fallen as I drove back to the city.

Stubb Mill Roost and Broads

2011-02-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

Saturday evening and a visit from a friend, so an ideal opportunity to show off one of Norfolk's finest spectacles- The Crane and Raptor roost at Stubb Mill. Walking up the track, I informed him of the high likelihood of a gang of numpties at the watchpoint. He responded with "I'll just tell them all about the Cock Of The Rock I saw". Fair shout. After a slow start, the birding soon picked up, and we were able to count a total of 41 Marsh Harriers in the air, battling against the wind. A shout from next to us alerted us to a low flying Male Hen Harrier. I spied a small falcon with his back to us- I would guess Merlin, but must I have been looking away when he took off. As the sun set, a Woodcock blazed through, and despite my shout out, it seemed very few of the crowd knew what a Woodcock was. Muppets. We caught a glimpse of c14 Cranes landing far away to our left, and right on cue the crowd dispersed. Realising there was some light left and relishing the peace and quiet, we waited a little longer. Following a flock of Pink Feet, something bigger behind them, coming into view....more Cranes! 18 in total, and they gave us a lovely view flying across the horizon, the mill and darkening sky a beautiful backdrop. Walking back, a second Woodcock fought fiercely against the wind, flying at an impossible angle over our heads. Smug as hell!
Today began with a headache, talks of travelling the night before had led to a late one. We did manage to get out however, and had a wander round Wood's End, a part of my patch I rarely step foot on. A Kestrel was added to the year list, and the Greylag flock were present but smaller in number. Snowdrops were out, a Song Thursh was singing Spring. We bought refreshments from the Wood's End pub, which we agreed needed a little work but could be quite good.
Rockland Broad was disappointing, a Little Grebe was all we saw. Little point investigating Surlingham on shooting Sundays, so a more thorough search will be conducted next Saturday.

Surlingham update

2011-01-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

A return to the bitterly cold conditions of the Christmas period, one or two ditches holding water were slushy with ice. Walking down to the beginning of the reserve trail, a few vocal Blue and Great Tits stopped us in our tracks. A wheezing call alerted me to 2 Brambling, always great to see and a year tick to boot. I set up my scope hoping for a better look, but the pair became agitated and flew off. Further along the track, a Bullfinch called for the first time this year, and a party of Long-tailed Tits moreorless followed us round.
Looking out to Woods End, again a smattering of Golden Plover were amongst the Lapwing- I counted at least 14. The Greylag flock were present, including the 4 farmyard oddball types. A Cormorant was on the river, as were 4 Coot.
A Mute Swan was out on the main lagoon, but apart from a flyover flock of Tufted Duck, not much else to report. Still, another couple of year ticks and some territorial action from the commoner Tits.

Target bird nailed amongst other things

2011-01-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

A week punctuated by the sight and sound of day-flying Pink Footed Geese skeins...over Norwich! Couldn't get one on the Surlingham list though.

Surlingham Saturday afternoon.

Managed to tick off one of my target birds for the year a little earlier than expected; a flyover Little Egret, which I waved towards the marsh but eventually it was lost to sight, probably landing at Wheatfen. Across at Wood's End, a number of Fieldfare were feeding amongst a mixed group of Greylags, Magpies and Crows, an odd assortment. A closer inspection revealed at least 2 Redwing, new for the year!

Whilst the scrub it still quiet, save for a couple of Blue Tits, the lagoon finally gave me something to shout about. A pair of Shelduck were presumably checking out some potential breeding sites, and I approached with caution. The problem with the open-fronted bus shelter hide is that it is not really a hide at all, and unsuprisingly the birds saw me, quacked a bit, and then flew off towards Wheatfen. However, this was also a new bird for my reserve list! Further round the track, a Grey Heron was new for the year list and a few Wigeon and Teal are still holed in up the large back garden.

A trip back to see the folks allowed me a chance to see the female Ferruginous Duck at Bosmere Lake, Needham Market. I had stupidly written off females as crap after seeing a stonking male at Barton last winter; on close inspection this was actually one smart duck. Lovely round brown head, beady eye and white backside. If I kept a 'home with the folks' list, this would be a good bird to have on it.

Driving home I made what has become an annual stop at farmland near Great Moulton, managed a flock of at least 7 Bullfinch. Following on from the crap theme mentioned earlier, I went a bit Chris Packham over this well placed turd:

Weekend Ramblings minus a twist

2011-01-17T11:50:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoon was as is often the case, spent at Surlingham. Very quiet on site, and whilst I love being out around dusk I must at least try to go earlier next week to pick up some passerines. The geese at Wood's End were noticeably absent, although 4 Canadas flew over once I was back at the car. Beyond the hides where the turn off for the Ferry Pub meets the track, a Barn Owl was hunting and I was able to obtain some cracking views.
Magpies and in particular Jays appear to thrive at Surlingham, so a noisy group of Magpies at first did little to excite on route back to the car. However, a closer look revealed a total of 38 Magpies at a pre-roost gathering. I am unsure whether they remained in that spot to roost, although they seemed content enough, despite being dive-bombed by what was presumably a local Sparrowhawk. A Meadow Pipit over was a year tick.
Yesterday, and a casual trip out to one or two of the broads. Wroxham was full of Black Headed Gulls, a few Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Duck, Pochard and a Siskin called overhead, but sadly nothing of real interest could be found. Barton Broad was a little better, over 10 Goldeneye here and a Marsh Harrier hunting.
A quick stop at Happisburgh and a Grey Seal was at sea, and 2 skeins of Pink-Footed Geese called noisily overhead.
Pleased to hear that a Ferruginous Duck was found at Cockshoot; after the pleasure the pain- why did we not go there?! That could have been me!

Cantley then Surlingham

2011-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

With time on my hands and with it being the last day of the holiday, I finally decided to have a look at the Lesser White Fronted Goose which has been frequenting Buckenham and Cantley marshes. Having always used the marshes at Buckenham as a starting point, I have never actually made it down to Cantley, so was quite taken aback by the fantastic views from Burnthouse Lane. Sure enough, the LWFG was in with the Taiga Bean Geese. Noticeably smaller even from some distance, and the 'blaze' on the face appeared 'fatter' than on those of the nearby White Fronted Geese. A couple next to me were discussing the eye ring in some depth, but then they did have a better scope. Regardless of the bird's wild credentials, this was an educational experience for I have never seen a LWFG in any context!

A Barn Owl and Kestrel were hunting the reed bed towards the back of the marsh.

This guy was laying on the verge near where I parked the car; sadly an all too brief 2011 for him.

Surlingham as usual threw up some good birds. A Coal Tit greeted me, singing from the churchyard. Looking out to the Wood's End marsh, In amongst 81 Lapwing, was a new patch bird- 9 Golden Plover! Having seen Lapwing here before, I should have expected a Goldie at some point really, but a nice suprise nonetheless. Another Barn Owl was hunting here.

I counted 30 species but by now this was a little late in the day, many of the smaller birds were settling down for the night. Still, a good start to the year and chuffed with my GP.

The lagoon still won't thaw!

Exciting trip to Lowestoft! Yes, really!

2011-01-02T04:16:00.000-08:00

The long-staying Iceland Gull at Lowestoft finally proved too tempting, and a worthwhile visit it was. Excellent views down to a few metres were obtained of the bird at Ness Point. I did manage a couple of shots which of course do not do this bird justice, but at least the camera is out of the drawer. A single Purple Sandpiper was seen on the rocks, and c11 Turnstone were counted.

Driving back through Norwich, a group of likely looking suspects near the station gave me a buzz- around 10 Waxwings were in a tiny tree opposite the entrance to Riverside car-park. A good self-found tick, and probably the shortest height from the ground I have ever seen Waxwings perched. Nice.

After inputting me Surlingham life list into Bubo Listings, minus the spring and summer, I am currently on 77 species. Even with the expected Warblers and suchlike, I have re-targeted my yearly total- I am aiming for 90 species this year! That final total will include the marshy ground around Wood's End (I'm having that Peregrine) and the hilly ground and grazing fields around the gun club.

So, some pictures from the day. Don't scroll down if you are expecting Waxwing or anything digiscoped.

Turnstone City

Look Carefully.

Last outing of the year, 30th December

2010-12-31T08:23:00.000-08:00

Had really hoped to catch up with the LWF at Cantley by now, but with foggy conditions forecast in Norfolk for the next few days, that would (hopefully) have to wait until the New Year.
Debs and I began at Strumpshaw, relatively early, in search of Bitterns on ice. There had been Bitterns showing in front of Fen Hide, but not whilst we were present. I would tentatively suggest this may have had something to do with camera shutters clicking away when anything flew by/landed out front; 5 going off all at once makes for quite a racket! Luckily, this didn't put off the Water Rails too much, of which 4 individuals were counted. One brave individual made a dash across the ice, but he was quickly gunned down by the crowd of photographers, clearly spooked. Is there really any skill in just firing away like crazy, or am I being too harsh?
Following the boardwalk, we could hear some Pink Footed Geese somewhere close, but the fog meant we couldn't see them. Other than that, Marsh Harrier, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit and Chinese Water Deer were the other bits and bobs of note.

Went to Surlingham after lunch; seemed fitting my last visit anywhere this year should be here.
The fog had by now worsened and views across the river were non-existant. Some Coot were still on the river, along with Gadwall and Mallard. As before, the reedbed itself was silent; haven't heard the Cettis for a few weeks. An odd highlight came in the form of a flyover flock of Goldfinch and Linnet, unseen; the Linnet was a very late patch tick for me!

With the day's action all but over, this got me thinking about targets for the year. Having only begun birding Surlingham Church Marsh seriously since August, I am finding it difficult to set a species total target. I would guess at 130 (although once I have set up my BUBO account, I may adjust this total next week). I also need to set those patch boundaries out more clearly. Highlights so far have been Hen Harrier, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Brambling and Green Sandpiper.
My individual targets for the site are as follows: Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Garganey, Little Egret, Lesser Redpoll. I think these are all well within reach. An outside bet would be Lesser Pecker....and who knows what waders! In terms of potential rarities, the scrub and reedbed is crying out for a Marsh or even Savi's Warbler, and Red Footed Falcon would go down well.
I have not decided on 'bigger picture' targets yet, although finding something decent on the east coast goes without saying.
Best decision I have made since moving to Norfolk was to start birding a local patch. Thoroughly enjoyable few months here and another year in Norfolk. Thanks for reading, and heres to a cracking 2011! That Steller's Eider in Estonia is a little bit closer.........
(Oh, and a New Year's resolution will be to take more pictures, I know the blog needs brightening up. Now, wheres that Whiskey bottle........).

Christmas, and still the thaw will not come.

2010-12-27T13:32:00.000-08:00

I could quite happily watch the garden birds from Mum's window all day. More often than not, with drink in hand, this is what I spent much of the festive period doing. Fieldfare and Redwing would sometimes stop to rest in the bare trees, whilst Song Thrush, 10+ Blackbird, Tits, Pheasant and Robin fed on or around the feeders provided. Star bird was spotted by my 10 year old cousin, a male Bullfinch feeding amongst Chaffinches.
Leaving rural Suffolk and returning home today, of course I found time to stop off at Surlingham on route. For once, there were ducks on the river- Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Mallard. A group of Coot cracked on with some much needed weeding, and Wigeon were grazing on the opposite bank. Exciting stuff, for the patch. Further away, towards Postwick, 3 farmyard type geese fed amongst the Greylag. Without my scope, it was difficult to gauge size but they appeared a little cumbersome and nothing of real interest. A couple of Lapwing were out on the marsh.
Carrying on with the usual circuit, a Bullfinch called from deep within the scrub. The reed bed itself was silent, not even the Cettis was singing. I had to walk round to the ruins to see another bird, but worth the walk it was. A mixed flock of finches held one Brambling, and 2 Bullfinch called and quickly flew off. Good stuff! A few Teal were in evidence on the unfrozen dykes, and a Grey Heron was fishing. No sign of the Bittern that Ben had seen, but still a good few birds to blog about.

Some Thrush action

2010-12-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

Whilst I am giving a talk on STDs at school tomorrow, the heading of this blogpost has nothing to do with the nasty kind of Thrush.

A lovely flock of c40Fieldfare on the hill at Surlingham held a Redwing and Mistle Thrush, enjoying the company of its visitors from the north.

Apart from the usual Cettis and Reed Bunting, the reserve was quiet and therefore I have little to report! However,one mammalian highlight 'popped' up in the form of a Weasel, my second here at Surlingham. This little fellow slipped out of the river-bank undergrowth and trotted away down the path at the foot of the ruins, completely unaware of my presence.

Ducks are in short supply right now, since much of the lagoon is still frozen over. Teal are again favouring the 'back garden area' of the reserve!

A Little Grebe on the river is going on the list, thank-you.

Dancing on ice

2010-12-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

A Water Rail, of course. My hoped for bird of the weekend, watched sliding around on an iced dyke at Buckenham Marshes today. Bitterly cold, lost all feeling in my hands after a while so the trip was cut a little shorter than planned. I did however manage to see a gaggle of 20+ White Fronted Geese and 15+ Barnacles, difficult to ascertain exact numbers due to the distance. Ducks were much closer though, Teal and Wigeon were feeding either side of the track.The noise was immense, it was like being in the middle of the flock. Plenty of Lapwing around, but no raptors.
I popped into Strumpshaw Fen on the way back home, and much of the action was around the visitor centre. A reported Northern Bullfinch could not be located, but I did pick out a couple of Lesser Redpoll in amongst the Siskin flocks. Marsh Tits also in good number and vocal.
Yesterday, I only had time for Surlingham. Other than the usual suspects it was a little quiet on the reserve, no doubt due to a frozen lagoon and visibilty was down to less than 50 metres. I could hear Thrushes on the move, and then a group of angry Blackbirds allowed me to watch a Tawny Owl at roost. An expected, but welcome, bird for the patch list.

Snowy visit to the patch

2010-11-28T10:57:00.000-08:00

An early rise on a Sunday can only mean 2 things- my better half is away for the weekend, and I have not yet managed a trip out since last Sunday. Difficult to plan, when the weather is so unpredictable and mock papers need marking.
Odd goings on at the start of the circular walk- 5 Cormorants were fishing on the Yare, these guys usually just fly through. The marshes at Woods End were devoid of geese- these were also in the river- but a lovely sight ensued, a Red Fox was out on patrol, padding through the white stuff. 2 Egyptian Geese honked loudly in the offending direction.
The scrub held the usual Tit flocks, and 2 Bullfinch called, unseen. The lagoon was completely forzen over, and I had rather hoped for a Water Rail, displaced. A flock of c10 Reed Bunting buzzed through the reeds, and 2 Bearded Tit pinged through.
Making my way round to the ruins, I was alerted to a mixed flock of Goldfinch and Siskin, which settled in a large oak. A female Kestrel joined them, which initially upset the flock but they did settle. An amusing scene then took place: the Kestrel took off, landed on a tree nearby, and the flock followed. Seeking protection?
Then, more odd news. A family of Mute Swans appeared to harbour 2 Canada Geese, if a little reluctantly. More security in numbers? Walking back towards the church, I could hear Wigeon call. Through the flooded woodland, I could see a flock of around 20, with 15 Teal. They were on a small pool, at the bottom of someone's garden. This is a small, secluded spot and perhaps I can understand the Teal being here, but the Wigeon should surely be elsewhere? Finally, a Greater Spotted Woodpecker was in the churchyard trees.

Interesting article in the Observer regarding the 'release' of Beavers in Scotland. This is something I am personally in favour of, although setting 20 loose illegally is perhaps not the way to go about these things. Cannot seem to post a link, but it is on the website.

Surlingham and surrounds

2010-11-21T10:51:00.000-08:00

Arriving at Coldham Hall car park, the smell of Sunday roasts from within reminded me I should book a table here for a sit down meal over Christmas. The small tracts of RSPB managed marsh and reed beds were quiet, save for a Cettis and the odd vocal Reed Bunting. A young Marsh Harrier, not presumed Northern, passed through in comfort despite being harried by a Crow. A largish flock of Siskin called but refused to settle.

Down at the patch, a record count of 100+ Greylag Geese were on the marshes at Wood's End. A muddy puddle held a Herring Gull and intriguingly a Green Sandpiper. A march round to the hides and I was able to take in the usual Long Tailed Tits, Blackbirds and the odd Redwing. Despite the noise from the rifle range, a few Mallard were loafing in the lagoon, and just as I was thinking the muddy margins looked promising, presumably the same Green Sandpiper dropped in. A good bird for the site, and this individual fed and settled well, unlike the birds I saw in August. A female Sparrowhawk was also out for a feed, much to the annoyance of the local thrushes.

Finally, I caught up with some Siskin on the patch, a mixed flock including Goldfinch flew overhead as I headed back to the car. Less water about today, although wellies still a must.

Hoping for some Owls, I finished off at the marshes around Langley and Claxton. The Corvid roost is by now quite a spectacle, and a single Barn Owl made for a nice finish to the afternoon as darkness fell.

Surlingham on Saturday

2010-11-15T06:44:00.000-08:00

Short on time this weekend just gone, so much so that I had to turn down a lift to the Pied-billed Grebe near Manchester. Congrats on seeing the bird though lads, heres hoping it stays true to form and hangs around into the New Year.

Taking my usual route round Surlingham, a look across the river towards Wood's End revealed very little, which is odd since this is usually a good spot for Geese and Gulls. I soon picked up the reason for this: a Peregrine Falcon was on the ground, quite how long it had been there was unclear. However, when I finally get round to defining the boundaries of 'The Patch', I could do with Peregrine on the list.

The scrub and bushes that skirt the main area of reed bed and marsh were full of Fieldfare, the largest flock being 20. A sorrowful call alerted me to the presence of a Bullfinch, one of 'ours', which proved elusive but I did get a brief view before he departed across the river. Heard before, but not seen until now, so a new bird for the patch! As if to accentuate that point, a group of Siskin called from somewhere. Next time maybe.

Nothing from either hide, but large parts of the marshy land were now underwater and were attracting Black-headed Gulls, Mallard and Teal, all of which clearly preferred to feed here than on the deeper lagoon. A Sparrowhawk breezed through, confirming the Surlingham area as the raptor capital of the Broads. Thats Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Peregrine, Marsh and Hen Harrier here since August, plus Barn and Little Owl.

The churchyard held a few Redwing and Goldcrest, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called. This looks like being a good spot in spring, Spotted Flycatcher the obvious target.

Happisburgh duck watch

2010-11-07T11:38:00.001-08:00

Great range of species, mainly duck, seen off Happisburgh this a'noon, between 13.40 and 15.00.
In no particular order:
c100 Common Scoter, one Velvet a little closer to the shore.
1 Little Auk bombing South.
2 Great Black-Backed Gulls, distantly.
8 Brent Geese.
An incredible 163 Common Eider, all heading north.
Female and Male Goldeneye, not together.
11 Wigeon.
1 Kittiwake resting up on a groyne before flying off northwards.

Inland, 14 Golden Plover, 10 Skylark and c15 Lapland Buntings capped off an excellent afternoon in the field.

Gotta admit, I just can't get excited by this Northern Harrier business. But then, I did rubbish the advanced Bird ID Guide. I now believe it to be essential reading.
Flights booked to Estonia next April, a week of 'birding, racoon-dogs and culture'. Very excited, Steller's Eider, Great Snipe, Owls, Peckers, Bears, who knows. Details to follow. If anyone has been, any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Border-Hopping

2010-10-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

As is the norm for half-term, I spent some of the time back home in Suffolk visiting parents and getting the car nursed for the winter. Mother had not yet caught up with the King Eider that has been lingering off Dunwich, and frankly I was keen for better views than I had managed earlier in the year at West Runton.
From Dunwich beach, I picked up the bird distantly loafing near the sluice, so we walked south for better views. The scrape had a few duck on it, along with 5 Bewick Swans, which clearly suggests we are in for a terrible winter. By now, the Eider could be considered to be lingering off Sizewell, so the hoped for amazing views were not really obtained. Better than nothing, that's King Eider in 2 counties this year!
We searched for the reported Rough Legged Buzzard pair near Reydon, but only managed a glimpse of a distant Buzzard sp. Westleton Heath was short of a Shrike, but we enjoyed watching a Red Deer stag and his harem from the deer watch point.
Lackford Lakes is a cracking little reserve, so on the friday took a non-birding friend for a trundle. Large numbers of Siskin across the reserve, plus Tree Sparrow and Lesser Redpoll in scrub around the carpark. The first Goldeneye had returned, along with the expected Wigeon, Gadwall and Shovelor, all showing off nicely. My friend was suitably inspired to set up a new feeding station in his garden. That's the ticket, I thought.
Spent this morning exploring Eccles, Waxham and Sea Palling. Shit all birds, but some super new habo to delve into. Managed little, and oddly the best was at sea- a Red Throated Diver, 6 Common Scoter and a few Gannet seen off Waxham.
The missus is really nailing this birding lark; a text from her whilst I was on route alerted me to the presence of 8 Waxwing not far from our place. I picked her up on the way through and sure enough, just round the corner from the Whalebone pub, were 5 of the 8 Waxwing looking superb at the top of a tree. Seaduck, Siskin, Swans and Waxwing....maybe Autumn is over, but I could easily adapt to this winter medley.

Wet and Windy

2010-10-23T12:03:00.001-07:00

An Autumnal feel to the day. The warm coat was dug out of the cupboard under the stairs, and the rain stopped for long enough to allow a blustery walk round Surlingham Church Marsh. The main action was on the river today, starting with a Great Crested Grebe. This adult moulting into winter plumage had two, then one young back in late summer; hopefully at least one fledged successfully. A noisy Kingfisher was glimpsed, finally on the patch list. Wildfowl numbers were at an all time low, and the only birds seen around the lagoon were 3 Reed Bunting and a single Grey Heron. Wondering where all the ducks were, a flock of 15 Wigeon called overhead and refused to settle, clearly unimpressed with the lack of grazing potential. (We could do with some more scrub removal though, the Cattle are having to work over-time). This was another new bird for the patch, so certainly not an afternoon wasted.
The 2009 Norfolk Bird Report has just been published, hoping to pick up a copy from John Lewis.

Cottages, cemeteries and marshes.

2010-10-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

Waxham was quiet around Shangri La, although I left feeling a little guilty that I had not been able to put the time in today. Various stops to look for Cranes for my visiting family drew a blank.
Great Yarmouth cemetery proved to be a good move, for after much searching we latched onto a tit flock which comprised a beautiful Yellow Browed Warbler and a brief Firecrest. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Redwing and Song Thrush made for a very rewarding couple of hours.
Buckenham Marshes was windswept, perhaps leading to the now resident Peregrine positioning herself on the ground sheilded by the cattle. 3 Ruff were here also.
Surlingham seemed lively, and it was no suprise when I located 3 Brambling amongst some Thrushes feeding on berries. Another patch tick! Good to see they are now filtering inland, never tire of seeing them. The finale was a bit special however, a female Hen Harrier over the reeds until dusk. My run of good birds here continues, this the best of the lot. My thoughts are now turning to the prospect of a winter roost here. Still on a real high, this is what patch watching is all about!

Tough luck out east ends with a flourish

2010-10-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

An enjoyable if tough couple of days birding around Waxham and Happisburgh. Highlights included 3 Redstart at Happisburgh, large numbers of Brambling, Siskin, Song Thrush, Redwing, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest, my earliest Fieldfare ever, Hen Harrier at Waxham and finally a Hooded Crow in a ploughed field, also Waxham.
It was amazing to be out in fall conditions, and the opportuntity to observe Siskin, Brambling and Chaffinch so close was a real treat. A little gutted not to have turned up a rare Pipit or Warbler, but nonetheless a memorable couple of days in the field. Every bush flicked or ticked, the horizon often covered in Pink Footed and Brent Geese.
To finish with the Hoodie was the highlight. I pulled up at the road-side pull in, just south of Shangri La. I could see a few Crows, Lapwing and Goldies out on the ploughed field, so decided to have a scan before walking to the beach. Another birder was present, who said he thought he might have seen a Hooded Crow, but his optics weren't quite up to the job. I had a scan, and there it was, in East Norfolk! A combination of channels in the mud, discussion with the gentleman and fumbling for my phone meant the bird was lost to view, but no doubt it is still knocking about somewhere. Couldn't make out any signs of hybridization, and hopefully it can be refound.

Surlingham this evening 07/10/10

2010-10-07T11:49:00.001-07:00

The light was fading as I observed my latest patch tick- a Little Owl, perched on a fence post out on the grazing land. A satisfying find; the habitat looked spot on for this species, and I hope now that a breeding pair will become vocal in the Spring. It also struck me that it had been some time since I had good views of a Little Owl. No doubt this species goes under-recorded, since many pairs breed on private parkland or agricultural land. Great to have this species at Surlingham. Earlier in the evening, I had been watching 2 Bearded Tits from the hide (heard only before today) along with a glimpse of a Reed Bunting. Quite a contrast to the owl, which says a lot for the varied habitat in a relatively small area. The reserve is slowly revealing itself, and with evidence of further flooding, who knows what could be next.....

Out of tune at Holkham forces local action.

2010-10-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

OK, so this has moreorless been done to death on Birdforum, but it would seem there was something of a mishap regarding Hippo id at Holkham on Saturday. It would seem that an Icterine Warbler was indeed seen early doors, and this individual did not hang around. However, a report of a Melodious Warbler bought out the crowds, and understandably so. Hoping to see a county mega, I ditched the trip to the east coast (mistake) and joined the throngs. On arrival, most were standing around in hope, and word on the track was that the reported Melodious was optimistic at best. Not one to linger, I spent a good hour round the cross-tracks hoping for the YBW that was reported earlier that morning. I settled for a good haul of common migrants in the bushes including Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Bullfinch, lots of Goldcrest and c10 Siskin.
Good to see Connor, James and Gary at the 'ghost' twitch, and the north coast is a premier birding venue, but the crowds of people at the pine woods is enough to put me off for a while....and I was one of them! If you follow the news, there always that chance you will get stung. Not that I will learn anything from this.
Spent this afternoon exploring habitat round Surlingham. Surlingham Marsh at Coldham Hall is a nice spot, but all I managed in the wind was a Kestrel. The patch itself (Surlingham CHURCH Marsh, confusing isn't it?) was quiet, no doubt due to the Sunday gun club. A few Teal and Gadwall were on the lagoon, so clearly the rifle fire does not bother all of the wildfowl. A large Tit flock were near the hide, and out of sight I could hear what I believe was some kind of Reed Warbler sub song, an odd one that. Wellies absolutely essential here; track muddy most of the way round and signs that the site is beginning to flood. A drive round Claxton and Langley offered fantastic views over the marshes, but the wind seemed to be putting pay to raptor spotting.

Empid effort and a shedload of Robins.

2010-09-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

It was just about worth it, one of those 'I was there moments'. After a gruelling walk, I managed good views of an Empidonax Flycatcher in the plantation. Eye ring, olive tones, tail flicking, yes- this one was from The States! Quite which one it is, the experts will decide but from what I have read ID will be tricky and may take some time. Some good bits on LGRE's blog. The walk back was reminiscent of a scene from Dawn of The Dead, but a Grey Phalarope was a good self-find on the beach. Now one of these and 2 Red Necked at Kelling, amazing!
Feeling like the time to strike was now, I left early from school today and trawled Waxham until dark. Huge numbers of continental Robins had made landfall, a 'tick' from moreorless every bush. Good few Blackbirds, handful of Goldcrest, 30 Siskin, 7 Redwing, and Chiffchaff were all in the bushes around Shangri La and the trail to the beach. The first Pink Footed Geese had arrived, and they shared a field with a mixed flock of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Ruff. Great feel about the evening, a real intensity in the air. A female Pied Flycatcher was probably the best of the bunch, but surely more to come?

Just another day

2010-09-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

Late twenties really is not significant, but I still felt the need to treat myself a little and get out birding this evening.
Debs had not yet been to Buckenham Marshes, and we were the right side of the city for a meal at the re-opened Rushcutters. On arrival in the carpark, Rooks and Jackdaws were perched on the wires like harbingers of old age. Looking forward to the winter roost here. On the track to the scrape, a few Linnets nipped in and out of the scrub. Quite a Gull roost had built up, mainly Black Headed but a few juvenile Herring. Lapwing were sparingly interspersed. The main attractions were again the raptors. A hunting Marsh Harrier was the first to show itself in the fading light, then of more interest was a possible female Hen Harrier. Difficult to id at a distance, but the general jizz felt right. The keen eye of my better half picked up a falcon on a post, which turned out to be a cracking Peregrine! What with the small arrival of Wigeon, signs of winter are afoot.

Football means keeping it local

2010-09-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

.....and Berbatov finally repaid my commitment. What a hat-trick.
Surlingham on saturday evening allowed me to add yet more species to the site list. Not the hoped for Pec Sand, but Great Spotted Woodpecker and Reed Bunting. Also of note, a single Marsh Harrier powered through at dusk and a juvenile Green Woodpecker was seen on the grazing hill. Another noisy evening on the reserve, the chorus again led by Cettis and Water Rail. Thanks to the RSPB staff who have been busy clearing nettles and scrub; sitting in the hide is now a worthwhile experience! Teal, Shovelor, Mallard and the odd Gadwall are still the expected duck species on the lagoon.
This evening (Sunday) was spent at Rockland Marshes. A tatty looking Barn Owl was seen, and the Corvid roost was even bigger than last time, and is quite a spectacle. Bought back memories of Mark Cocker's excellent 'Crow Country'. Plenty of bats between here and Claxton, reminding me that a detector is necessary for next summer. These ones were not Pipistrelles; a little bigger, less fluttery. I was standing near water, so most likely Daubentens, enjoying the relatively warm evening under cloud cover.

Yare birding

2010-09-12T11:10:00.001-07:00

One could argue favouring Buckenham over Cantley was a mistake, considering the wader count on RBA from the latter site. A few Snipe were in evidence at Buckenham though, along with Egyptian Geese and some nice looking Lapwing. When aren't they?
Good day for raptors, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and Hobby all seen well.
A trip to Rockland Broad allowed me to connect with the Black Tern that has been present over a week, great little bird to watch as it hawked for insects up, down and over the broad. Debs was gutted to have missed this one, she has a bit of a thing for Terns it would seem.
Surlingham Marsh on a Sunday appeared a bit dodgy on paper, the firing range nearby surely not conducive to a Shrike looking for a rest. However, I did manage a few patch ticks including Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Rook, Meadow Pipit and a Mistle Thrush. This was seen from the ruins, feeding on the hilly grazing land.

News from the patch and further afield

2010-09-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

A sodden thursday evening at Waxham proved my worst fears: I had missed the best of it. A glimpse of a lovely male Redstart and a Chiffchaff with a roving tit flock (its 21st century winter time) were the best bits. Of interest, a field full of various brutes, including Lesser BBs and Herrings, and as if to rub it in a Yellow Legged was seen on the beach that day. I told myself it was in a difficult 2cy plumage, and I wouldn't have been able to id it for definate anyway.

An afternoon walk round Surlingham Marsh was terribly uneventful but pleasant. A number of dog walkers doing the circuit along with the odd family group. A Marsh Harrier caused a fuss over the river and was mobbed by a crow. The lagoon had 50+ Teal on it, most of them resting on the now muddy banks- where were the Snipe? A late brood of Greenfinch were still on the nest next to a public footpath, and a Stock Dove called. Hardly typical of a September day.

Surlingham then migrant hunting

2010-09-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

The highlight of the past couple of days is a bird I haven't even seen, and it remains unconfirmed! A singing Savis Warbler at Strumpshaw Fen would be a cracker, lets hope it is genuine.
Surlingham Marsh last night produced a Hobby hunting at dusk and at least 3 Chinese Water Deer. It was actually quite noisy on the reserve as the sun went down; squealing Water Rail, at least 3 Cettis going at it, bark of the deer and of course the omnipresent geese. 35 Egyptian Geese were counted over the river, wonder what the record is? 2 Bats were seen hunting in and out of the ruins, Pipistrelle sp. I would guess, perhaps roosting in the ruins themselves. A Jay that flew from the other side of the river made it onto the patch, and represents the latest patch tick.

Winterton Dunes this afternoon was hard work, bashed by ESEs but very few birds to show for it. Female Redstart, 2 Whinchat and 4 Wheatear were the migrants, and locals included a Kestrel, Marsh Harrier and Buzzard. Glad we put the time in, but can't help but feel we were hard done by when you consider what has turned up elsewhere. Did bump into another birder, who agreed that the hoped for birds just weren't present. Weather too nice. Tuesday looks really good, bit of rain to ground some birds, which at present are surely just passing through.

East Norfolk, 31/08/10

2010-09-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Something snapped yesterday, the terrible realisation that a return to work was once again inevitable. My response: bird. And bird hard.

Happisburgh was first stop on the agenda, a favourite site of mine but under watched of late, no doubt due to the acceptance of a patch. The coast watch was quiet, but glorious. The clifftop walk produced a Wall Brown Butterfly, my third ever and second in this spot! At sea, 10 Eider flew north along with 3 Curlew. 2 Sand Martin were clearly reluctant to leave, and Sandwich Terns were seemingly on the move. Managed to turn up a total of zero migrants despite some serious pishing down Doggetts Lane, but field inland of the cliffs interestingly held a number of large juvenile Gulls, Lesser Black Backed and Herring, which appeared to be sheltering 7 Sandwich Tern! An odd sight.

Surlingham was equally stunning in the late summer sun, and here a new bird was added to the fledgling patch list: a Hobby, which at first I thought was just showing off, but infact was being mobbed by Swallows, so this individual did not hang around. A drink in the Ferry House was much needed; this should be more of a regular stop I decided.

Picked Debs up from work and drove out to Waxham. We managed to locate the Red Backed Shrike, and watched this great little bird from the dunes in the fading light. Despite a trundle through the dunes, no Wryneck, but another birder told us it had been seen, showing well. A Lesser Whitethroat and Wheatear were the other birds of note.

As with last year, the last few days of the school holidays proved some of the most productive of the lot. Back to it for me, but with the decent weather set to continue until at least the weekend, one or two evening trips are in the pipeline.