Notes from the valley

Great end to the half term week. Thursday night- I went to the brecks, again. After driving round the forest clearfells near East Harling, I decided to set up at one and hope. I was rewarded with excellent views of Nightjar at 3 seperate clearfells, including a pair. Intiguing to watch, for as long as the light allowed. Incessant churring combined with the odd croaking sound, can't work out if both sexes emit this call or not. Woodcock, Red Deer and Tawny owl the other highlights. Possible Long eared in the headlights but could so easily have been Tawny at that distance. Still, managed to avoid any dogging sites this time. Friday- put in 3 hours sky watching from Pipps Ford in Suffolk in hope that the Booted Eagle would be seen again. It wasn't, although hopefully it will be pinned down now, reports today suggest it is in the Havant/Andover area. Hobby, Buzzard and Nightingale were seen during the watch, and it was good to catch up the 3 other birders who made the effort. Satur...

It is half term, so I promised myself one early start. drove off into the Brecks at just gone 5am this morning, and after years of anguish and pain, I finally connected with a Golden Pheasant. I would guess around 3 calling males at a sensitive site. 2 Cuckoos, few Mistle Thrush and a Red Deer stag topped off the morning. Put that in your Springwatch and smoke it.

After feeling shitty last weekend, it was a relief to get out and about this weekend. A phonecall from a friend who had twitched the Oriental Pratincole straight after a flight in from Oz inspired me to leave the county and make the trip to Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincs. Simple enough drive, under 2 hours. Staff in the visitor centre put me onto a male Gargany, as usual looking like an odd bar of chocolate. I took in the reserve...and what a reserve it is. Reminded me of both Boyton Marshes in Suffolk and Titchwell. On hitting the reserve trail, I was surrounded by birds- Avocet, Lapwing, Redshank, Corn Bunting, Yellow Wagtail......and, distantly, an Oriental Pratincole. Happy but far from satisfied, I walked round to the east hide where the bird was apparantly showing down to 10 metres. On route, I watched a tiny wader land and despite poor views on the ground it was confirmed by an 'expert' as a Temmincks Stint. Feeling increasingly smug, I rounded the corner and true to form, t...

After Saturday's Bluethroat 'experience', a trip to the east coast would help ground me more firmly in reality, but of course with the chance of something a bit special. The strong northerly winds may have made for some good sea watching, but without shelter this I decided would be futile. Bush bashing it was to be. Happisburgh coast watch was absolutely dead, apart from the carpet bowls competition. Easy....... Sea Palling was a little quiet, the winds clearly having an effect on the smaller birds which had probably taken to hunkering down in the scrub. Waxham proved more fruitful. At the Shangri La cottage, a Sparrowhawk upset a Willow Warbler and the resident Chaffinches. A walk to the pipe dump produced little on route except for a singing Cettis, but the chicken field held 13 Whimbrel and a single Bar-Tailed Godwit. Couldn't help but notice that had been missed as per RBA........ Nice. 2 Stonechat were present and the local Skylark were now attempting to sing over ...

A visit to a friend's at Methwold provided the ideal opportunity to spend the morning at Lakenheath and the afternoon at Welney. The RSPB reserve was alive with song, Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warbler were all seen in good numbers by the train track. My first Cuckoo of the year was heard, but not seen. Stock Dove and the squeal of Swifts added to the cacophony of sound. A single male Golden Oriole was present on site, but not seen by me. It has been too long since I have laid eyes on one. At the Joist fen watchpoint, the sight of 30+ Hobbies greeted us, probably the most I have ever seen in one spot. What a sight, what a reserve. Orange Tip Butterflies accompanied me on my walk back to the carpark. The afternoon was spent at Welney, my obvious target bird being the White-Spotted Bluethroat, now present for just over a week. £6.90 entrance fee; I would like to know how this can be justified, considering the cheaper entrance fee to NWT and RSPB reserves. However, from near the Lyl...

Began at Weeting Heath, first trip for a number of years. Nothing changes- distant views of the Stone Curlews! Did have a 3-4 birds on the move before disappearing over the mound, but I could just make out one on the nest (shhhh!) for more or less the whole time we were there. A pair each of Stock Dove and Mistle Thrush more than made up the numbers, and a Marsh Tit showed well in front of the hide. No Woodlark though, hit and miss this year according to the warden. Lynford was quiet, save for Treecreepers and Nuthatch. 'Nuff said. Santon Downham threatened to go much the same way, until the next big thing on the birding scene, my cousin of 10, called 'Redpoll!' Sure enough, he had spotted 3 birds nearby, but the noise from a little further away suggested more were close by, and a 50-strong flock of Lesser Redpoll was located. Fidgety, sociable birds, great to watch. In the same tree, 3 Common Crossbill were observed. Things had picked up. East Wretham Heath held the common...

All seemed quiet in the county, if you go by the pager that is. Must be some birds out there? A walk through the marrams towards the pipe dump at Waxham reeked of potential, complete with biting NNE wind! Early signs were not promising, just the resident Chaffinches and LT Tits. On approaching the pipe dump, memories flooded back of the possible Semi-collared Flycatcher I saw here a year (or more?) ago. These bushes needed careful attention. A Willow Warbler gave a burst of song, and was then easily located. A second bird was seen in the adjacent bush, and further down the track another put in a showing to make it a hat-trick. The chicken paddocks (!) held 3 Stonechat on the fence and 2 male Marsh Harriers put in an appearance, one resting for awhile amongst the chickens! A Kestrel breezed through and was suitably grilled, and the resident Skylarks made a fuss of the windy conditions. Decided a quick stop at Shrangri La was in order (a holiday bungalow with a rare looking garden before...