Notes from the valley

Not a bad way to start the summer break. King Eider is a rare bird in Norfolk, just 6 previous records so when news broke this morning that the first summer bird from Yorkshire was now being seen off Sheringham (followed by West Runton) I headed off for the latter venue. The bird showed well but a little distantly. Despite the distance, the structure appeared to be smaller and more compact compared to the Eider usually seen in these waters, and the bill was obviously smaller. A white-wash colouring could be seen on the underwings. At time of writing, the bird is now being seen again from Sheringham and will hopefully stick around.

A call from a birding friend and mentor had me up at 4am saturday morning, helping out at the River Warbler twitch. Thoroughly enjoyable experience, and nice to put something back into the scene after last sunday. The bird itself showed well in the wee hours, singing atop of a thistle and elsewhere between 4.45am and 8am. As the heat set in, the bird became more difficult to see, but whilst on car park duty I did manage some good views. The marsh itself offered some great birding after hours, including Barn Owl, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Comma Butterflies also observed. Back at the family home in Suffolk, the pair of Turtle Doves appear to have settled down to the point where I can't find them, and 2 young Tawny Owls greeted us on returning from the pub late last night. The moth trap this morning was brimming, and whilst I have plenty to still to ID, 5 Elephant Hawkmoths, 4 Swallowtails, 1 Magpie, 1 Privet Hawk, 1 Ghost and...

As mid summer approaches, a look through the birding archives will reveal a lull in activity, and to be honest the last few weeks have been a little slow. Nothing to write home about, so I haven't! Few trips to Strumpshaw, enjoying the summer evenings followed by a cider back in the city, you know how it is. Door-step birding. When news broke on sunday that a River Warbler had been singing at a site SE of Norwich for the past few days, I was very much on alert again. Did not get much done all day. Waiting. Haddiscoe was eventually revealed as the place to be, so after a quick snack I headed over and was welcomed by 'River Warbler >' signs. There really should be more of these, eastern Europe presumably the place for them. I was waved in, put my money in the collection pot, and car-parking attendants beckoned me into a spot. Bit like Glastonbury! The crowd was slowly building so I took up my place near the front of the viewing point. A Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Tree...

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 ...