wildlifeaylmerton

In Loving Memory....

2009-09-23T19:20:00.001+01:00

Thats it then, this web site is dead, it is deceased, it is no more!After 10 years of residence and nearly four years(!) of blogging WildlifeAylmerton comes to a close. Synomonous with dodgey bird photography and probably even dodgier spelling, I'ld like to thank those of you who took time to have a look occationally, and a bigger thanks to those who visited regularly and even got in touch. I hope for the ley-men out there, the contents of this blog sparked even a little interest in the wonders of nature, and the fact that you don't have to travel thousands of miles to see wonderful things. For the birders, I hope, apart from the odd stringy report (bloody Hen Harriers in July...ridiculous!) that my reports were reliable and gave a good account of real birding. I do leave with some great memories from this little parish, suffice to say that Aylmerton wasn't well known as a birding site prior to our arrival but, the next time there is a Honey Buzzard influx, I know where I'll be the following morning! However, all is not lost for those looking for a cure to insomnia because a new house means a new web site! So my grainy pics and 3 day late reports will still enter d'tiniternet!

Follow if you dare (or can be bothered)......

http://sites.google.com/site/tg23birdininabox/

Taking the gloss off....

2009-09-22T19:25:00.003+01:00

The past two days have seen me having appointments south of Norwich, and after missing out yesterday, I connected with one of three of the Glossy Ibis that have been present at Caister St.Edmunds for nearly a week. unfortunately I flushed the bird from close quarters along the river there, giving great flight views and photo opportunity-if had realised that the image stabilisation wasn't on! What a doofus!

Glossy Ibis...don't enlarge for crap pic!

Reconnaissance

2009-09-18T11:30:00.000+01:00

After work I hit the coast line as close to our new house as is practicable, which took me to Trimingham. A look in the wood here held single Willow warbler along with Great Tit 2, Blue Tit, and Long-tailed Tit 2. Some great habitat here and one to keep an eye on. Walking along the cliff top had single Wheatear and best of all three fairly confiding Snow Bunting

Osprey

2009-09-16T22:17:00.000+01:00

On way to work this morning I pulled over at Haworth Hall by the lakes to see if any waders had dropped in - nothing, but as I tur around a cracking Osprey flew across and disappeared behind the trees.

SBO tick

2009-09-11T07:54:00.001+01:00

Lunch time saw me at Filby Broad, I was hoping to may be jam inon an Osprey, it was very warm with cotton thick cumulus cloud, ideal for raptors. No fish-eater here though, but scanning behind the broad produced 2 Common Buzzard, Hobby, Marsh Harrier and a distant, presumably Red, Kite.

A text from Rob later in the afternoon saw me pack up work early and shifti ng it up to Sheringham Obs where, in the wood after a short wait and creeping into the undergrowth, reasonable views of the newly found Greenish Warbler were had as it fed within the canopy of a sycamore. At last! A rare warbler here that I really should have seen here a long time ago!!

Greenish Warbler "......you aint seen me, roight?!"

2009-09-06T07:51:00.000+01:00

A walk up the track this morning produced an imm Marsh Harrier moving east with singles of Hobby, Gol;den Plover and Snipe going west and a Chiffchaff in the hedgerow.

Sunshine State

2009-09-06T07:46:00.000+01:00

A weeks family RnR in Florida last week was greatly appreciated in the middle of the moving routine. With a promise not to take my bins or 'big boy' camera it was all fairly relaxing and unadulterated fun. ofcourse this didn't stop me from seeing loads of wildlife and a decent list of birds including Bald Eagle, Common Nighthawk, Brown Thrasher, Red-shouldered Hawk, Anhinga, Osprey....

Snowy Egret

Dragon sp.

Regal Moth.....what a stonker!

Common Nighthawk....all taken with compact camera

Mystery Bird (or is it?)

2009-08-25T15:24:00.006+01:00

So I stop for some lunch on some high ground just outside Northrepps and scan for birds. Almost immediately I pick up a Common Buzzard high up against the clouds and can hear a distant mewing. Watching this bird, a second appears, head on in the same area. Looking a little longer winged than the presumed adult I figure this may be a juvenile (they appear slimmer than the adults when fresh). Then it turns. "W.T.F!!!" out loud, as it shows an extensive white tail base (not pale or diffused but dazzling white!) with a clear cut, demarcated, black terminal band! I've seen Common Buzzard with pale tail bases (I look at every Buzzard I see!) but nothing like this! (Although they do occur, see below) This bird has now got my full attention ! Underneath though the bird is pale, too pale maybe for the other, highly unlikely candidate, but that tail is still screaming at me. I manage a very distant pic, cursing the fact that I don't have my 'scope with me, and as quickly as I found it, I lost it - raptors, never was any good at 'em!

Some comparison images blattently stolen from the net...

Common Buzzard by Brian Small.....

gorgeous Rough-leg, somewhere in Russia.....

my pale, screwed up, (short handed!) thing.... a Common pretender? (Pump it up to 200% if you can't see the speck!)

Saturday

2009-08-22T19:52:00.002+01:00

A morning dog walk up the track produced 3 Common Buzzard (2 ads and a juv) and a brace of Hobby hawking below the former. House martin and Swallow much in evidence over the village but no sign of any Swifts.

End of an Era....

2009-08-16T18:44:00.002+01:00

After a roller-coaster of a summer trying to make long term plans, and on the cusp of booking some far away flights somewhere, a crazy two hour period this week found us having an offer excepted on a house we have been courting for months followed by a 'cash' buyer for our place after being on the market for ten days!!!!!!!!!!!!! The move is not a million miles from here, in terms of distance or move date (!) but it is not in Aylmerton. However, between the packing and running around there is an autumn to come so I'm sure WildlifeAylmerton hasn't seen its last post trumpeted just yet, here's hoping for one last goody.....

Cley

2009-08-06T22:16:00.005+01:00

Went straight to Cley from work this afternoon and spent a couple of bird filled hours in front of the scrapes here getting a great wader fix! :
Spotted Redshank 15
Greeshank 18
Green Sandpiper 6
Common Sandpiper 5
Wood Sandpiper 1
Ruff 20
Yellow-legged Gull 5
Little Stint 5
Curlew Sandpiper 2
Ringed Plover 6
Little Ringed Plover 2
Dunlin 30
Golden Plover 2
Spoonbill 1
Whimbrel 2
Black-tailed Godwit c30
Redshank
Avocet
Lapwing
Cetti's Warbler 1

Avocet

Avocet with juvenile Marsh Harrier

Spoonbill

Just arrived... 4 Little Stint with 2 Curlew Sandpipers

Juvenile Spotted Redshank

Gadwall

Mothing

2009-08-06T22:05:00.005+01:00

Had loads of moths last night for a couple of hours. Amongest the Yellow Blunderwings of all sizes, Common Rustics and Ruby ,were first Rosy Footman for the year, and two new ones for me and the garden an Oak Nycteoline and a fabulous Antler, the latter was really smart looking.

Antler

Oak Nycteoline

Un-Great-spotted Cuckoo

2009-08-05T21:23:00.003+01:00

Saw my first Cuckoo of the year today (!), I mean my first Eurasian Cuckoo...the (supposedly) commoner one!

Great-spotted Cuckoo

2009-08-01T20:29:00.004+01:00

This is how to enjoy rare birds, a week later with about 5 other people!! Nipped down to Kelling this evening where the Great-spotted Cuckoo from last week (which I resisted temptation to go and see) had reappeared. The bird gave great views in fading light and was feeding happily on caterpillars. Had Ladybirds been part of its diet it may well have O.D'd on them, as they are in biblical proportions at the moment up here. The cuckoo was my first UK sighting of this species.

Great-spotted Cuckoo

....Bishy Barnebees!!!

New Moth

2009-07-26T14:51:00.004+01:00

Ran the trap last night, and along with the usual suspects including Dunbar, Ruby Tiger and Scalloped Oak was my first ever Oak Eggar, an absolute cracker of a beast! I also had time to have a look at the micro's today, which made a change! A look at the weeds around the pond found several skipper butterflies, with Essex Skippers out numbering Small Skippers.

Oak Eggar

Gypsonoma dealbana

Agriphila tristella

Essex Skipper

Skylark

Cley

2009-07-25T17:24:00.005+01:00

Took a trip up to Cley today for a change of scenery to look at some waders. It was a bright, warm morning with a light westerly, no major rares (least of all the Great-spotted Cuckoo from Salthouse!) but it was nice to do a bit of birding. Had a bit of a scare after sitting for half an hour looking out over Arnolds Marsh, walking back to my car only to receive a message on the pager "Pec Sand....Arnolds Marsh!! No way!!! Scuttling back rather peeved at myself, all was fine as the only bird looking anything near a Pec Sand where it just been watched was a juvenile Dunlin! (Although someone did claim a distant Redshank to be the bird as well!

Curlew and Whimbrel "in-off"

Shoveler

Black-tailed Godwit

Spoonbills-up to 14 have been at Cley over the summer, which I think is the biggest flock seen in Norfolk

The ones with black primary tips are immatures.

Crossbills

2009-07-11T21:29:00.002+01:00

The summer lull in birding, combined with some more pressing issues at the moment have resulted in very little observations. However today whilst taking a break in the garden, a flock of 7 Crossbills passed overhead, calling away. The rough grass behind the garden has been cut from its very long state and paid immediate dividens in the return of the Barn Owl.

Six-belted Clearwing

2009-07-03T14:40:00.003+01:00

A visit to the North Norfolk coast mid week enabled me the opportunity to visit a site where a species of probably the strangest family of moths, the Clearwings, had been found in recent years. The Six-belted Clearwing hadn't been seen in Norfolk since 1823 but was refound back in the summer of 2007. These amazing creatures look like a cross between a tiny wasp and a hoverfly, and only resemble a moth when seen up close, fantastic!!

Six-belted Clearwing

Bit of Mothing

2009-06-27T10:59:00.002+01:00

Along with Rob and Nigel, I took a trip out to Buxto Heath last night for a spot of mothing. Unfortunately the generator packed up at prior to the midnight hour so we had to come to a premature halt to the proceedings. We did manage a handful of species prior to this though which included some new ones for me.
Brown Silver-line 4
Bright-line Brown-eye 1
Elephant HM 1
Double-striped Pug 1
True Lovers Knot 6
Scarce Footman 1
Broom Moth 1
Striped Wainscot 4
Four-dotted Footman 1

Another new sighting for me was my first ever Glow worm-Magic!

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Felbrigg mid week

Four-dotted Footman

True Lovers Knot

Striped Wainscot

Some raptors, at last!

2009-06-02T22:19:00.000+01:00

A lunch time walk up the track today proved very fruitful, compared with the rest of the spring. With the wind swinging from south through to NW, I wondered if that had any bearing on the 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Red Kite, 1 Common Buzzard and single Hobby all moving west? As usual I was left contemplating on how, all over the rest of the country Honey Buzzards are seen with increasing regularity, but here I have yet to have a single spring record? I have a suspicion that they may not be quite so widespread, a view which was further enhanced by a photo on a well known birding website which clearly shows a Common Buzzard but has been posted as a Honey!

Thursday

2009-05-28T19:06:00.004+01:00

Couple of good birds seen durig the course of work today, infact a couple of my all time favorites. First was a moulting Red Kite, seen from my office drifting over the east side of Aylsham at 0830, the second sighting in as many weeks. Later on I stopped at a high point looking over the Norfolk countryside for my lunch break just as a second summer Mediterranean Gull flew through. Back home, a walk up the track late afternoon produced good numbers of wheeling Swifts and hirundines (Swallows and House Martins) and continuing numbers of Painted Lady Butterflies.

House Martins

Painted Lady

Bank Holiday Weekend

2009-05-24T18:28:00.002+01:00

Despite several hours of observation from Friday through to Sunday, I was unable to muster too much of interest here in Aylmerton. The notable sightings included up to 4 Common Buzzard throughout, 2 Hobby west on 22nd, a Yellow Wagtail holding territory to the west, and a pair of Turtle Dove south of village on two occasions. Even more notable was the sighting of a Fulmar on the 22nd heading inland and again today flying east over the ridge, not unprecedented but still a good record. Also notable today was the constant stream of Painted Lady butterflies heading west over the fields.

Ring Ouzel

2009-05-14T07:11:00.000+01:00

A look down at West Ruton before work this morning resulted in single a Wheatear, a Hobby flying east along the cliff top, ad a fresh in Ring Ouzel that lingered briefly before moving west.

Ring Ouzel

North Norfolk

2009-05-13T18:58:00.006+01:00

E Strong 4-5 bright becoming overcast, cold

Started the day down at West Runton, with the wind whipping the sand up and over the cliffs it was a bit blowy to say the least. Gannets were constantly trickling east off-shore, but little was happening on shore, with just 2 Wheatears noted. A chance glance at a Swallow around the disused buildings resulted in picking up 6 Arctic Terns coming over the village from inland heading for the coast and away.

Arctic Terns

Fulmar

I then headed for Sheringham Bird Observatory where, when reaching the cliff top, a flock of 5 Black Tern battled their way east off shore, apart from that things were pretty quiet-

Whimbrel 2w + 4 present

Hobby 1E

Wheatear 2

Whinchat 1

By lunchtime Cley was calling, and from Daukes Hide prolonged views of a dot, turned out to be the female CITRINE WAGTAIL- note to self "showing well" doesn't neccessarily mean that a bird is close enough to be seen, let alone identified!!!

More obliging however was a Temminck's Stint, up to 17 Black Terns (with numbers increasing by the minute) and a host of commoner waders.

Black Tern

Temminck' Stint

Temminck's Stint with Common Sandpiper

Black-tailed Godwit

Crossbills

2009-05-12T20:37:00.000+01:00

Nipped home for lunch to put the washing out and timed it too perfection as a flock of 16 Crossbills flew over the house heading north. I dread to think of the birds that I miss when I'm not here!!!

Red-rumped Swallows

2009-05-09T20:39:00.003+01:00

Spent the day at home today, in the garden, but only managed Common Buzzard (3) and a Whitethroat singing in the garden. I'd resisted the temptation to trawl over to Cley for the two Red-rumped Swallows all day, but when the news came through that they had moved to Weybourne I finally caved!! So in the evening sunshine I was watching two fabulous Red-rumped Swallows wheeling above the houses in the south of the village. I think these are only my second sighting in the UK of this species, the first at Cley in autumn during the nineties.

Red-rumped Swallow

Sheringham Bird Observatory, Friday afternoon

2009-05-08T16:13:00.005+01:00

The Wheatear count continued here, along with something a bit special thrown in for good measure!
Wheatear- 21
Whinchat - 5
Willow Warbler - 1
Dotterel - 3. Found on coastguards field, including a near full plumaged female, a moulting female and a dull, presumed male. Also seen in flight when a Merlin flew over and flushed them off over the cliff, although they apparently returned soon afterwards.

Dotterel- two females with blurrey male on left

female and male respectively

male far left, with female

Merlin

Dotterel in flight

Another smart Whinchat

Little Terns on the beach

Friday

2009-05-08T10:53:00.004+01:00

West Runton 0630-0915 Cold windy SW4-5 cloudy sunny intervals

Another day off, and another morning visit to the clifftop at Runton, with vis-mig evident and a good number of commoner migrants-

Wheatear - 18

Whinchat - 2

Willow Warbler - 3 in off sea

flava wagtail - 6w

Turtle Dove - 5w

Swift - 150w

Swallow - 40w

House Martin - 10w

Dunlin - 1 on field

Shelduck - 3E 2W

Skylark

Dunlin

Whinchat, a male

Wheatear

Back home from the track a further 6 Wheatear noted on fields, a definate arrival then!! May have to head back down too the coast shortly!!

Thursday

2009-05-07T20:16:00.003+01:00

A cold, grey start to the day with a strong south-westerly. A walk up the track produced nothing other than a bounding Roe Deer over the fields, however later 38 Pink-footed geese tracked west along the southside of the ridge. Prior to work I nipped down to West Runton beach carpark where Common Swifts were pouring west low over the fields and clifftop. On the carpark field there were 2 Wheatear, and single Whinchat and Whimbrel and 2 flava wags flew west in quarter of an hour.

PALLID HARRIER - THE ULTIMATE GARDEN TICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-01T14:58:00.006+01:00

SSE 3 Bright, hazy sunshine, broken cloud later

With a day off today, I was up bright and early(ish!) walking the dog up the track at just after six. Not much doing here, so after breakfast I ventured down to Sheringham B.O hoping to see a few migrants. Birds were thin on the ground here, with nothing more exciting than a handful of Whimbrel, 3 Wheatear and a single flava wagtail flying east. By 0845 I was heading back to the car with raptors on my mind at Aylmerton! I headed up the track and spent the next hour and a half seeing nothing, in an increasingly hazy landscape and, noticing a front of stormy looking clouds, decided to head home, get some chores out of the way and head over Felbrigg on the off chance of a Black Tern dropping in. So I'm at home emptying a waste bin in the bedroom, when I notice a soaring raptor over the fields behind the garden-it looked like the local buzzard, but always worth a look at. I go down stairs grab my bins and scope, and go to the top of the garden and spy my Common Buzzard which is now hovering....after this its all a bit blurry!!! I think I went back indoors, came back out and noticed a raptor, obviously a harrier, quartering the fields behind the garden. Initially the bird was going away, a ringtail, great I thought, something other than Marsh ! Then it dawned on me that it wasn't particularly big, getting better! Then the bird turned showing its pale washed out body leading into the under wing coverts, dark almost blackish secondaries, distinct white based primaries and a crisp distinct head pattern!!! Out loud, once again to know one I not-very calmly scream -

" Its a f***in' PALLID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this point absolute pandemonium! I am really bad at not getting stupidly excited at finding rare birds, and this was my rarest for a long time!!! I'm composed enough though to realise that I need some pics of this bird if I'm not going to get the excruciating after thoughts later (did I really see that field mark? was it really that obvious?) So I hare down the garden grab my camera and start shooting aimlessly hoping I get one 'clincher' (lucky I got that image stabilisation!!) The birds gaining height now and is drifting north, becoming harder to pick up with the naked eye. I phone the pager "probable Pallid harrier 1145...." (I was determined not to foul up this one like I did the July Hen Harrier a couple of years ago!) Indoors I download the pics to the big screen, and there it is, my first self found PALLID HARRIER, and its in the UK! Not a nice easy male neither, probably a first summer female. The euphoria was unbeleivable and the memory of this bird will last long. At the top of my garden I've got a shed with a window, and in that window is a lamenated array of magazine cut outs of....Pallid Harriers! I really enjoyed this one!!

Pallid Harrier. Note dark head pattern with complete pale collar ('boa')

Pallid Harrier. Immediate thoughts were how pale under parts were and very dark, blackish secondaries. The white 'boomarang' at the base of the primaries were visable and distinctive even distantly. Again note underparts and head pattern.

Pallid Harrier. Showing general warm unmarked underparts

Garden List - 130 PALLID HARRIER

April 30th

2009-05-01T14:54:00.002+01:00

Driving to the office mid morning in Aylsham, a cracking brace of Red Kite flew low over Sir Williams Way before drifting off over the town. See the excellet photos below....If I had had my bloody camera with me arrrrrrrrrgh!!!!!!

Sheringham Bird Observatory

2009-04-17T16:12:00.002+01:00

Having not visited my local coastal patch for ages, I took a chance and had a wander down here this morning. A cool north-easterly breeze was about par for the course for me when I have weekdays off during the spring, which resulted in little of interest. Summer migrants were represented by a dozen Swallows west while on the patch itself there were a number of Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler singing at the pool and a fly over Whimbrel. In Aylmerton a Marsh Harrier (shock,horror!) flew west over fields mid morning.

Whimbrel

Skylark

Easter Grott

2009-04-16T07:51:00.002+01:00

Apart from Good Friday, the Easter period has been somewhat grotty here to date, with a persistant mist every morning not clearing to well after lunch time. The Swallow has finally been joined by another and the Barn Owl has been regular again after a couple of weeks absence. Raptors have been few and far between, with just 4 Common Buzzards on holiday Friday and a distinct lack of Marsh Harriers. No doubt it will all happen next week when I'm off to Poland!!

FoTS!

2009-04-07T20:51:00.002+01:00

A pre-work look in at West Runton cliff this morning produced a couple of 'First of the Spring for me in the form of at least 4 Sand Martin and a Wheatear, during a chilly and breezy 10 minutes.

Sand Martin

Wheatear

Monday

2009-04-06T19:12:00.003+01:00

With an appointment in Neatishead, I took my morning break at Barton Broad, hoping to see any Scaup that were reported over the weekend. In fact there were very few wildfowl on the broad, but they seemed to have been replaced by a nice group of c25 Little Gulls, hawking over the waters surface 'dip' feeding. Back in Aylmerton this evening 10 Fieldfare flew east over the house

Little Gull

Classic April Aylmerton

2009-04-05T20:02:00.003+01:00

With a light, warmish southerly and hazy sunshine, it felt 'good' today and it didn't disappoint, with some classic April fayre! The predictions for today were spot on albeit rather lame, as they were always gonna be nailed on certs!

Common Buzzard c 7 - (all presumed local birds)

Red Kite 1 - seen over Felbrigg Park 0935 and appeared to drift off south.

Cormorant - 6 E

Coal Tit- 1 west along hedgerow

Grey Heron -2

Blackcap - 1 still singing fro hedgrows opposite house

Swallow - 1 still in village.

Common Crane - 2 drifted in from the east and spent a good 10 mins continuing west, coming directly over the garden on a couple of instances.

The Red Kite situation was somewhat disappointing as we had three birds either side of us but just the single was seen, a bit sneaky at that! The Cranes came on the pager at Trimingham, but by the time I got to the front of the house they were up over Felbrigg and heading our way!

Also in the garden among the bees, a Bee-Fly briefly paid a visit before quickly exiting again!

Bee-fly

Common Crane

Saturday

2009-04-04T19:32:00.004+01:00

A cold, murkey start to the day didn't promise too much, and delivered about the same. Three Common Buzzard were see in the together around lunch time and the Swallow and Blackcap are still present. Plenty of bees in the garden later in the afternoon sunshine and a flock of c500 Golden Plover could be seen distantly wheeling over East Beckham.

Common Buzzard

Sparrowhawk

Another Migrant

2009-04-03T20:53:00.002+01:00

Whilst cleaning the windows this morning the warbling sounds of a Blackcap could be heard fro the pond, through the pea-soup fog!

Cometh the month.....

2009-04-01T20:20:00.001+01:00

April's here, my favorite month of the year, and this morning kicked off with a new-in Swallow flying up and down the street, the first of many!

Sprung forward

2009-03-30T14:08:00.002+01:00

Bang on time with the clocks going forward, a Chiffchaff was foraging in the garden this morning briefly before flitting off, then whilst at work, driving through Attlebridge west of Norwich, my first ever March Swallow was sitting on powerlines next to the main road.

Friday

2009-03-27T13:46:00.000Z

The pair of Mediterranean Gulls graced us with their presence again this morning, but only after first checking that I didn't have my camera with me, again!

Saturday

2009-03-22T20:42:00.003Z

A beautiful morning here, with wall to wall sunshine. A little early for major broadwing movement, I did manage the first Marsh Harrier of the seasonand miss the first Common Crane,all within 10 minutes. Only other birds of note were 3 Jay west and 2 Golden Plover on the fields.

Marsh Harrier

Peregrine

2009-03-20T20:38:00.000Z

An almost inspired lunch break visit to Abel Heath, just west of Aylsham resulted in the immediate appearence of another Peregrine, as it soared high overhead whilst I ate my chicken drum stick!

Peregrine

Snowy

2009-03-19T07:45:00.002Z

Track first thing this morning, and was momentarily stumped by a small white bird with black wing tips flying around the concrete pad, before realising it was a stunning summer male Snow Bunting! Unfortunately it didn't settle and soon headed off North, calling. Totally unexpected!

Not quite...

2009-03-14T17:34:00.001Z

A walk up the track this morning before a days retail therapy(!) found a large white 'blob' in the ploughed field. Unfortunately this one was a few DNA strands short of being anythng resembling last weekends reported Gyr Falcon, but a handsome Peregrine was a pleasent change from the usual. It eventually sloped off west over the hedges.

Saturday

2009-03-07T19:50:00.000Z

Nothing of note on the morning dog walk this morning. A close eye was kept on the skies from 0945 onwards after news of a white phase Gyr Falcon was reported flying west at Cromer, but no sign here. At lunch time a group of 5 Common Buzzard were high over the garden with a sixth bird seen distantly looking longer, broader winged and longer tailed than those already seen, but was too far away to do anything with through bins.

Smart

2009-03-05T19:50:00.000Z

Walking back along the track this mornin, I glanced up to see a pair of full summer plumaged Mediterranean Gulls slowly heading north, pure white wings, full black 'hang mans' hood and stonking blood red bills. I watched as the turned west, heading for the pig field near the tip.

2009-03-01T20:22:00.000Z

Barn Owl

2009-02-24T07:44:00.000Z

Giving good views from the kitchen window in the fog this morning.

Weekend

2009-02-15T10:49:00.003Z

With the weekend spent doing home improvements, the welcoming news of confirmation of a trip to Poland in April resulted in a more renewed effort to get stuff done before spring!! At home we had a return of Siskin on the feeders (the first for a couple of years) along with Goldfinch and of course our Barn Owl.

Siskin

Goldfinch

Norfolk Tick

2009-02-12T07:40:00.001Z

An appointment at West Beckham late afternoon fortuitously ensured that I could go from my office in Aylsham via Barningham Hall. Not usually a big deal, apart from this time there's been a Cattle Egret over the past couple of days here feeding behind a plough. As I pulled up with a couple of other cars a scanned the back of the field and immediately saw the bird flying towards us, scrambling for my unprepared camera, the bird flew virtually over or heads and plonked itself on the roadside verge! The greyness of the afternoon was crap for pics, but a couple of shots for posterity were snatched before the bird flew to the opposite side of the field. This was a first in Norfolk for me, having had a couple of half-hearted attempts previously, and looking back, only the second in the UK, the first being at Pagham Harbour (I think) in 1985!!!

was it or wasn't it?!

2009-02-10T17:31:00.000Z

I was stopped dead in my tracks yesterday as I walked up a customers path at the western end of Holman Road Road in Aylsham - hearing a dry, rolling trill immediately lit up the name Serin in my brain! Unfortunately my customer had already spied me as I arrived, so I had to dutifully go through the motions of work before, half an hour later, I could grab my bins from the car and scan the row large trees next to the road where I heard the call. Nothing there except a small group of fat green peanut-buzzards (Greenfinches!) though there were a few birds flitting about in the area, including more finches (Green and Chaff) I left, convincing myself I'ld miss heard a Greenfinch-it niggled for the rest of the day!

Barn Owl

2009-02-08T18:45:00.002Z

The Barn Owl has been fairly prevalent during the daylight hours this weekend, and by the looks of the ringed leg, it is likely that its the same bird seen at the beginning of the autumn. This is good news because we had noticed him by his absence since returning from our hols.

Wednesday

2009-02-04T07:50:00.000Z

With the garden thermometer reading -6 C, I knew I wouldn't be going anywhere fast! A slow drive to Caister via a Waxwingless North Walsham was uneventful. A brief visit to the beach at Caister did not result in the ad Med Gull I often used to see here. On the way back via Ludham the flock of Bewick's Swan near the bridge here were feeding on the marshes, albeit fairly distant.

Bewick's Swan

New Mammal...I think

2009-01-31T18:49:00.003Z

As I drove out of the drive yesterday morning a tiny Weasel darted across the road from the pond and up onto the bank. I've seen a couple of Stoats in the 10 years we've been here, but I can't recall seeing a Weasel in the village. Otter next then..........!!!!

Due to work and home commitments I have hardly started sorting the holiday snaps out, however a couple have been duely processed and are reproduced to remind us of warmer, sunnier days!!

Silvereye

Australian Pelican

Felbrigg

2009-01-24T07:47:00.000Z

An extended dog-walk into Felbrigg this morning, under an initially bright(er) sky, found me around the hall carpark where a Hawfinch immediately flushed up from the ground and stuck around for the next quarter of an hour, albeit elusively, before completely disappearing. Unfortunately this is the Felbrigg side of the hall, not Aylmerton, typical!

Hawfinch

Its official, I have P.H.B (Post Holiday Blues!!!)

2009-01-17T12:10:00.002Z

Yep, still here, and have return to some wretched weather following a month in Australia, where the temperature didn't drop much below 23 C and hit 43C once! I am cold, jet lagged and have a ton of pics to download and edit, so unless something majorly rare flops down in my garden, I ain't going out for a while! Belated Happy New Year to all!!!!!!

Gull Fest

2008-12-11T22:19:00.003Z

Yesterday took me down to Yarmouth, which happens to be good spot for one of my favorite birds, Mediterranean Gull.

Mediterranean Gulls, adult...

2nd winter

1st winter

adult

2nd winter

1st winter

This morning, before an appointment in Cley, I zipped down to Salthouse beach, where in the early morning grey a mean looking 1st winter Glaucous Gull was feeding before sloping off on to Cley's North scrape for the rest of the day.

Glaucous Gull... ISO800 @ 1/38 second!

Parish Birding

2008-12-07T13:50:00.006Z

Had a walk around the Parish this morning, as i am often do at this time of the year. Headed towards Felbrigg Lake first thing, wildfowl numbers back up but nothing out of the ordinary Mallard 40, Shelduck 1, Coot 2, Gadwall 3, Mandarin at least 9, Tufted Duck 4 and Pochard 2. No Mute Swans so far this winter, a Water Rail was squealing from the reed bed. Most notable sighting was a hang around Little Egret which first flew up from the south end of the lake then was feeding in the ditch to the north. Felbrigg Great Wood was notable only for the absence of any birds. Continuing over the fields to the west of the village a good flock of 1000 Golden Plover and 50 Lapwing were thoroughly scanned but no little gems could be found. Presumably the same Little Egret flew high west over the fields and a Common Buzzard made an appearance over the Ridge.

(notice how I have successfully blown out the white in the morning sunshine-D'oh!
Little Egret

Tufted Duck

Jackdaws

hen Blackbird

Brrr!!!

2008-11-23T15:22:00.004Z

West Runton
v.cold, snow S.W 3-4 0730-0900

Keen as mustard this morning and focused on hauling in a large white-winged gull or even a slightly pinkish one! It was certainly the weather for it! It was bloody freezing on the beach this morning, as I watched a succession of Gbbs and Herring Gull coast west along the tideline without so much as a sniff of anything Arctic-esque, the nearest being an argentatus Herring Gull. Other birds of note duck Goosander W, Shelduck 6W, Common Scoter 7W, Song Thrush (1 on beach) and notable 'in off the sea' fodder were single Blackbird, Common Snipe and Woodcock. By 0900 the snow was blizzard like and I couldn't feel me fingers so I thought **** this for a game of soldiers and went home!

A walk up the track this afternoon produced nothing of note, though the local Barn Owl and Kestrel were having a bit of a fall out!!!

Winter has arrived!

2008-11-22T07:36:00.002Z

Last weekend, for me, was the last days of autumn. Generally in birding terms, this is usually the last dates for some major rare birds to turn out before the quieter winter period, and by the looks of the weather forecast the winter is going to start with a bang! With cold howling North-westerlies I managed to get to the coast during the last 3/4 hours of day light. West Runton looked out on to an angry looking North Sea and sky, and though hundreds of Black-headed Gulls were off-shore, no hoped for 'white-winged' gulls were up for grabs with birds of note being a brace of Pintail west with a Mallard and a fine immature Pomarine Skua scaring the crap out of the gulls as it passed just off shore.

Craning to see!

2008-11-18T18:10:00.002Z

Waxwings! Thats what I'm looking out for around the county whilst driving around for work, Waxwings. So imagine my surprise as I sat sitting at the traffic lights at Norwich Aiport, to glance across and see a pair of Common Crane leisurely drift over the runway then directly over the road and me! I pulled over and watched them through bins' as they headed west over Hellesdon, drifting slightly north over towards Taverham. Birds, I love 'em!

Saturday

2008-11-15T17:34:00.004Z

With pretty much the day to myself, and with a prevailing westerly wind, I toyed with the idea of taking a trip up to Lincolnshire to see the Steppe Grey Shrike, but ultimately couldn't be arsed to drive up there, which would have meant spending most of the day in the car! The geese moved off early this morning as the ploughs got on the field, it was good while it lasted.
Took a walk along the cliffs at West Runton, it was considerably breezier down here. Nothing unexpected seen, but pleasent enough though, birds of note being the 2 resident adult Mediterranean Gulls, a brace of mobile Lapland Buntings, commoner waders and a pair of Stonechat.

Stonechat

Grey Plover with Redshank

Ringed Plover

Grey Plover in flight

A quick look in at Felbrigg Lake produced single Tufted and Pochard, a Dabchick, 2 Coot and at least one pair of Mandarin.

Parish Tick!

2008-11-14T17:24:00.002Z

Scanning the geese whenever possible had so far proved fruitless, until this morning as I crept up the Track, raising my bins' there was a smart BARNACLE GOOSE in the midst of the Pink-feet. Simultaniously as I turned to head back and get it on the garden list, the flock spooked (think I pushed my luck too far!) and they all lifted and buggered off! Anyway it was nice to get a 'real' Barnacle after the imposters of last winter!!!

104. Barnacle Goose PYL http://wildlifeaylmerton.blogspot.com/2005/12/parish-year-list-2008.html

Another Work 'Jam-in'!

2008-11-12T21:12:00.001Z

My current run of luck with working near rare birds continued today, having to be in Norwich this morning and sufficiently close enough to Whitlingham Country Park to go and see the Ring-necked Duck that was seen here yesterday. This was a new bird in Norfolk for me and the first I've seen since 1984!!! It was nice to get to grips with one again, ready for my first find of one on Felbrigg Lake!

Ring-necked Duck

Pinkies

2008-11-11T19:34:00.005Z

With the sugar beet being lifted from the field behind our house it was inevitable that the Pink-feet that fly over most days would find the shredded beet tops (their favorite tucker!) In the early morning light I quickly scanned through all those visable, but no sign of any lurking Bean Geese or anything else, although a distinct coffee coloured luestic bird and one bearing a neck ring 'FIA' were noted.

Saturday

2008-11-08T18:15:00.004Z

Working Saturday's is one of my least favorite past times and initially today was no exception, after working all week without getting out to do some birding! However as I drove along towards my first days appointment at Stiffkey at last this week I manage to jam in on 3 Waxwing, feeding beside the road between Cley and Blakeney near the Glaven River. There's been loads coming in this week and I was hoping to get one going through in the mornings on pooch patrol. Being a tad early I went down to Stiffkey Greens to park next to the saltmarsh, literally for ten minutes. The marsh was bespeckled with Little Egrets glowing white, along with Brent Geese and Curlew. A flock of birds flying west along the edge of the saltmarsh and fields looked suspciously compact for Starlings and, as they approached, sure enough another 25 Waxwings flew west and onwards.

Waxwings

Brent Goose

Little Egret

Red-flanked Bluetail

2008-11-03T21:21:00.007Z

With a quack's appointment in Sheringham mid morning, and having to wait for the dispensary to deal my goods, the temptation to trosh of up to Muckleborough Hill was to great! In the murky understorey the Red-flanked Bluetail showed well in the poor light conditions (its been like perpetual twilight here past couple of days!) Didn't get no piccies but a couple scrawls attached to give some idea of this Robin- like bird, all the way from Siberia.

Red-flanked Bluetail

SUNDAY

2008-11-02T19:32:00.000Z

The Black Redstart has moved to the south of the village, seen feeding around Church Farm Barns this morning. Still plenty of Thrushes around and Goldcrest noted in several gardens, including ours.

Turdus!

2008-11-01T16:52:00.003Z

Due to previous commitments, coupled with the pure dread of having to stand with a load of prattling t**** talking s**** whilst waiting for a Red-flanked Bluetail, I resisted the temptation to join the undoubted throngs that would have been present at Weybourne's Muckleborough Hill. Instead I walked the dog up the Church track where it soon became evident that Thrushes (linean family name, Turdus) were arriving in numbers with at least 50 Blackbirds noted and 200 Redwing with much smaller numbers of Mistle Thrush and Fieldfare. The Yew trees, laiden with berries in the church yard seemed to be the place of choice, the birds dropping into the heart of these trees and out of sight. Try as I might I couldn't pick up a Ring Ouzel or jam in on any Siberian warblers!

Redwing

Mistle Thrush

Blackbird...incoming!

Redwing... showing why its called a Redwing!

At lunch time the dog had to go to the pooch parlour, and on my return, as I drove down the road I noticed and distinctive little shape sitting on the chimney stack, and sure enough there was a Black Redstart, the second garden record and like the first, it soon disappeared.

Black Redstart

A late afternoon jaunt down to West Runton, and it was blowing a hooley from the north-east. Off shore there was a constant flow of Kiitiwakes and Gannets heading east a handful of Brent Geese heading west and a single Bonxie.

American Golden Plover

2008-10-30T17:43:00.003Z

Yep, still here! What with being busy at work, clocks going back, constant westerlies, and my camera having been away for repair, inspiration has been fairly low! Today however, an appointment down at Newmarket took me too close to East Harling to ignore so around nine o'clock I'd picked out the American Golden Plover that was was found here a couple of days ago. A bit of a birders bird being subtle and rather dull to look at, but I'm sure the finder was absolutely made up! I always have admiration for birders that are land locked but plug on with local patches and they deserve all the pludits when they turn up the goods-well done!

American Golden Plover - distant!

Wilson's Phalarope

2008-10-14T18:25:00.002+01:00

After playing it cool for several days I eventually got round to try for this bird which had by all accounts, been leading a bit of a merry dance as it flitted betwixt Cley and Salthouse. With the pager reporting it as showing on Pat's Pool at Cley, an appointment just 2 mins down the coast was all the excuse I needed to nip along to here and get good, if distant, views of the Wilson's Phalarope, a small wading bird from North America. This was only the second one I've seen in Britain, the first was about a million years ago at Staines Reservoir in Surrey (1984 I think!)

New Moth

2008-10-11T20:19:00.000+01:00

Ran the trap all night last night, in with the expected Rosy Rustic, Chestnut, Satellite a late Lesser Yellow-Underwing and Snout was a nice Black Rustic, a new one for me and the garden.

Black Rustic

Quiet

2008-10-11T20:11:00.000+01:00

After the 'excitment' of the warbler on Monday its been fairly quiet compared to the rainfalls of Yank land birds in the west- Scilly Season is upon us! The last of the local Swallows departed on the 7th, set for sunnier climes. A drive along the coast on Saturday as far as Titchwell produced a day count of 8 Common Buzzards taking full use of the unseasonally warm (fantastic!) weather.

Blyth's Reed Warbler- Nailed!

2008-10-06T19:50:00.000+01:00

Lady Luck was my baby today after a message first thing announced a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Wells Woods, a look in my works diary had me at Wells mid to late morning! After getting work issues out of the way I headed down to the pine woods where I piled the pressure on by actually paying the £3.50 carparking fee!!! I had to see this bird now! Scooting along to where aload of birders were standing on the edge of the woods I stood downwind as it were from where the bird was showing and sure enough the BLYTH'S REED WARBLER gave good albeit brief views as it lumbered around in the bramble tangle. A conspicuously grey bird with the short winged profile and short pale superscilium evident and was fairly vocal too giving two or three harsh 'zzick' call notes in short succession. Alas no pics, but for any non birders, think of a female skinny female sparrow with a thin beak- but less colourful!!

MALTA...don't do it

2008-10-03T20:48:00.003+01:00

For anyone thinking of taking a nice holiday or vacation to Malta, watch this video and think again. What gives these ****s the right to blast these birds out of the the sky?!! I don't remember a special mandate to let them slaughter the EU's birds when they joined. I will never visit or encourage anyone to visit Malta while this continues unchecked by local authorities.

(the advert previous is only 12 seconds long)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2008/sep/30/malta.birds.prey

For a very sweary debate, and link to where I swiped the video from click here https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3123276740006077877&postID=8495619171115992149

Walcott

2008-10-02T20:25:00.005+01:00

As I walked out the front door this morning at 0740 to work a flock of 40 thrushes, presumably Redwing went whisping silently down the street in the murky morning light. During a truely miserable morning weatherwise I took my morning tea break sat next to a grumpy North Sea at Walcott watching the Turnstones when a fine adult Mediterranean Gull, dropped in briefly on the sea wall. Nice.

Mediterranean Gull

Turnstones

Its looking particularly tasty for a Leach's Petrel Fest tomorrow with the wind taking a NW slant with rain, but then ofcourse it would, its a week day!!!

Gull Return

2008-10-01T20:20:00.000+01:00

With a blustery westerly wind spitting rain in my face walk up the track this morning, the walk back was slightly more comfortable and interesting as an adult Little Gull flew south low over the concrete pad. The second record in as many years, like bloody buses!

More Shrikes!

2008-09-28T19:45:00.000+01:00

0800-1430 gloomy, rain mid-day, clearing becoming bright. WNW 1-2

A protracted visit to Sheringham Obs today was fairly quiet compared to recent days, with seemingly no new migrants 'in' passerine wise. However there were birds to be seen some certainly more interesting than others!
Lesser Grey Shrike - still present and drawing the crowds.
Velvet Scoter - single then three west
Common Tern - 1E
Sandwich Tern - 6 present
Red-throated-Diver - 10E
Arctic Skua - 1 off shore (conspiring with a Gbb Gull to take an incoming, unidentified wader!)
Teal - 7 west
Pink-footed Goose - 40 west
Grey Heron - 1 west
Egyptian Goose - 2
Wheatear - 5
Willow Warbler - 1
Whinchat -1
Hen Harrier - 1st wtr, first seen yesterday flew off west early afternoon.

Whilst watching the shrike a lone goose flew over the fields along the cliff top low and fairly close. Intially thinking it was a Pink-foot, I took a couple of shots, as I did so it gave a single un-Pink-foot type honk! Later meeting up with Steve Joyner he too mentioned the bird and thought it may have been a Bean Goose! The photos below are not great but there does appear to be rather restricted white border to the outer tail, rather brown upperwing coverts and something I've noticed on alot of photos on in flight Bean Goose, the more pointed flank patch rather than Pink-footed Goose's seemingly rounder one making the latter appear more white ended. Interesting. Unfortunately the clarity isn't good enough to confirm the presence of a 'grinning' line on the bill.

Hen Harrier

Lesser Grey Shrike

After getting home for little more than an hour, Dad phoned to say there was a Woodchat (another species of shrike!) on Beeston Bump. About ten minutes later I was watching the bird, a pale 1st winter type as it hopped about on the tall scrub behind the gardens here. Those of a certain inclination may have been able to see four species of Shrike in a day here in North Norfolk with Great Grey and Red-backed both being reported further along the coast.

Woodchat

Blyth's S**te Warbler

2008-09-26T19:46:00.000+01:00

A victim of its own success, West Runton scored again today with Blyth's Reed Warbler. A call from Dad just before leaving work " that it was showing well" filled with me with confidence that maybe I'll finally get a decent view of one of these drab birds. My confidence was clearly misplaced as the bird became very elusive, and when it did show it decided to do so behind a bonfire stack that obscured my view! Bored and hungry I went home. At just after seven when it was nigh-on dark a pager message came through that bird showed at seven o'clock! Wow! there must be some keen eyes there to nail a Blyth's Reed in the dark!!

my standard view of Blyth's Reed Warbler!

Lesser Grey Shrike

2008-09-25T17:16:00.003+01:00

As I was finding the Sibe 'Chat yesterday further along the coast at Sheringham Bird Observatory, Kevin Shepherd, a stalwart of the set up there during the nineties was finding a smart Lesser Grey Shrike (his second find of this species at the patch!). Unable to get there in time last night, I sat it out and had a look this morning at this smart bird as it fed along a scant hedgerow down the side of East Field and Twenty Acres. The bird appeared to be an adult with a hint of a pinkish wash on the upperbreast and flanks and a full black 'Dick Turpin' mask. I fear Dave A's conspiracy theories will be re-ignited on his return from Malawi!!!!! A Great Grey Shrike was also present albeit briefly this morning seen distantly by Dad

Lesser Grey Shrike

'Siberian' Stonechat

2008-09-24T20:02:00.006+01:00

My last appointment today took me into the next village to us, West Runton. With the days work done and a few minutes before having to rendezvous for a hospital appointment, I took a look in at the rough ground next to the coast road. After watching the local Med Gull I saw a couple of Goldcrest come flitting across the fields and decided to look over the top bank onto the enclosed private area. Immediately, a Stonechat flitted up, pale, peachy washed with a broad pale rump joining the underparts! I instantly shouted 'Siberian Stonechat' to absolutely no one present! I was just going 'in' when I was unceremoniously 'thrown off' this private land.

Siberian Stonechat

showing blackish underwing coverts

wrap around unstreaked rump enhancing black tail

overall warm gingery tones to plumage

2008-09-24T17:07:00.001+01:00

After necessities completed, I returned to West Runton just before dusk to see if the 'chat was still showing. It was, and with other birders now viewing it (and kicking about where I had been ejected!) I left them to it. A Short-eared Owl was a nice sight as it came in off the sea and half a dozen Wheatear had appeared from no where on the clifftop fields.

Med Gull

Short-eared Owl

Sheringham Bird Observatory

2008-09-21T15:07:00.004+01:00

0800-1300 Fine hazy sunshine, warm ESE 1-2

Conditions indicated it may well be a quiet day and it pretty much was. Nothing major to write home about but enough supporting cast should something big decided to put in an appearance, but it didn't! Though I did see more Small Tortoiseshell butterflies today than all year.

Siskin - 52W

Lesser Whitethroat 1

Redstart - 2

Spotted Flycatcher - 1W

Willow Warbler - 7

Arctic Skua - 1E

Northern Wheatear- 3

Whitethroat - 2

Grey Heron - 1E

R-t-Diver - 1E

Whinchat - 2

Stonechat - 3

Meadow Pipit

Great Black-backed Gull's

Lesser Whitethroat

Small Tort.

Willow Warbler

Summer's Over, Pinkies In!

2008-09-20T14:58:00.000+01:00

Walked dog before work this morning to sight 153 Pink-footed Geese moving east, south of village. Bang on cue date wise and a real omen that summer is in its demise! Also a Hobby still present to the west.

Bits and Bobs

2008-09-19T14:21:00.000+01:00

Friday saw me taking a trip down to Great Yarmouth with work, so lunch time I decided to have a mooch around Great Yarmouth Cemetary. Doesn't sound to nice I know, but this cemetary must have the best rare bird list of any cemetary in the country! Today of course it was fairly quiet with just a hand full of Willow Warblers and two Pied Flycatchers. On the way back to the office an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen hawking over the road at Rollesby Broad.

Willow Warbler

Med Gull

Over the course of this week, whilst travelling around Norfolk, I must have seen up to a dozen Buzzards in total. All have been Common's!

Track Walking

2008-09-17T19:18:00.003+01:00

Haven't managed to connect with any drift migrants on the morning dog walks this week. Monday (15th) saw an increased number of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes and a flock of 17 Teal go speeding over the village. The House Martins seemed to have all but disappeared with none noted this morning, just a large flock of Long-tailed Tits moving across the fields which included Coal Tit and Goldcrest.

Long-tailed Tit

Coal Tit

Goldfinches, a permanent feature of the south end of the village.

Honey Monsters!

2008-09-14T21:58:00.005+01:00

Yesterdays feeling of hard done-by bitterness disolved instantly as I opened the back door this morning to go walk the dog and was confronted by a 1st year HONEY BUZZARD as it was being pursued by a Rook going over the garden! A long, long awaited addition to the garden list, this one was thoroughly enjoyed! What I didn't realise was that this was the first of SEVEN birds seen from Aylmerton this morning! The track afforded great veiws of birds moving along the ridge, drifting inland and one rising up out of Felbrigg Park with a Common Buzzard. One of those birding experiences that will linger in the memory for along time, a respectable supporting cast included another 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Hobby and another Osprey at about 1100 that moved quickly inland. Great Stuff!!

Honey Buzzard over the garden!

another individual.....

and another!

Osprey from the garden

Garden List 129. Honey Buzzard

Sheringham Bird Observatory

2008-09-14T19:19:00.000+01:00

After spending the morning watching those bow-winged beauties over the parish, a brisk easterly breeze drew my attention to the coast so I decided to have an afternoon down here with Dad. Sure enough the easterly was starting to work its magic, and a nice mix of drift migrants were seen.

Pied Flycatchter

Whinchat (c14)

Spotted Flycatcher (2)

Tree Pipit landed briefly at pool then away.

Redstart, a male. (7)

Sparrowhawk (2) moving west along clifftop

Additional to above were Wheatear (4), Garden Warbler (3), Willow Warbler (2) Whitethroat and an elusive Wryneck (so elusive, we didn't see it!)

Second Coming...second miss!

2008-09-13T20:37:00.000+01:00

Eight years ago, to the week actually, there were unprecidented number of Honey Buzzards that had been drifted across the North Sea from Scandinavia and onto the east cost of England. I remember the day well, 'cause I was at work and was watching the excitment unfold via my pager! By the time I got home the excitment was over ofcourse, and the birds had drifted off inland by mid-afternoon. So you can image the look of joy across my face when it soon became apparent that something of a similar situation was beginning to unfold again this morning... when I was at work!!! Honey Buzzards? Honey Bastards more like! I was stuck in and around Norwich, with the pager constantly reporting more and more of these summer migrants being seen all along the North Norfolk coast, knowing that if at home, it would be a nailed on cert for the garden list! Heading back to my office in Aylsham, I decided to take my lunch at Abel Heath, just west of Aylsham, maybe I could get to see one as part of the movement. Picking up a raptor to the east after about twenty minutes, it soon became apparent that this was NOT a Honey Bastard, but an Osprey! And it had obviously just enjoyed some fishing success at Blickling Lake by the look of its lunch it was carrying!

Osprey ..anyone got any chips!

On the way home (now around 1630) I had a straw-clutching watch from some high ground near Roughton for the off chance of a stray Honey, but unsurprisingly drew a blank. I concluded that all Honey Buzzards seen today were A) Immature gulls (accounting for light phase birds) B) At best, Marsh Harriers for dark phase birds! There, now that feels better!

At least the Barn Owl bothered to show up!

Yellow-legged Gull

2008-09-11T20:32:00.002+01:00

Travelling from Dereham towards Bawdeswell today, I swung a right to Bylaugh to have a look at Dave A's Yellow-legged Gulls. The pig field was pretty obvious and a flock of around 60 Lesser-black backed Gulls were loafing there. I had a scan through and found the adult bird but there were very few immatures present, and those that were were defo Lessers.

Yellow-legged Gull

with Lesser-black Backed Gull (lower)

AC Down!

2008-09-10T19:29:00.002+01:00

Had problems with laptop AC cable over the past week, hence the lack of posting, evilbay delivered (at more than half the cost at PC World!) soo normal service should now resume!

Turtle

2008-09-04T08:05:00.000+01:00

One of the first migrants to almost disappear overnight back to Africa, a Turtle Dove was on wires along the Church Track this morning. The latest bird we've had here.

Parish Tick (I think!)

2008-08-30T08:38:00.000+01:00

I was hoping to get out for a good birding session today, but remembered that a delivery of wood was coming for the stove so I decided to have a garden watch. Started off pretty well with a Grey Heron high going west, followed by a Whimbrel circling overhead then off west. A group of 22 Cormorant high over the fields west was a fine sight, and the most in one day, let alone one flock! I was hoping (as I do year after year from May through to September!) to maybe get a fly over Honey Buzzard, as they seem to be seen frequently all over Norfolk during migration periods, but despite scrutiny of all the Buzzards I see, I can only manage Commons! Maybe I suffer HB Blindness eh?! Anyway 'broadwings' were non existent, with the seasons first Peregrine off west and a Hobby whipping down the street. Early afternoon I took a stroll over to Felbrigg Lake and shortly after getting to the N.E corner a wader came in high over the lake heading east, it took a second or two for the penny to drop but I realised that it was a RUFF. I think I saw one when we first moved here ten years ago but can't find a record of it, so we'll treat this one as a first! In the garden Maddy dog discovered a family of baby Bank Voles providing some major aaahhh material!

Whimbrel

Ruff

Hobby

Banksey

all together now......aaaahhh

Filby Broad

2008-08-29T08:29:00.002+01:00

Work took me to Filby this morning so I looked in at Filby Broad. In the brief sunshine Dragonflies were in abundance with lots of Common Darter and Migrant Hawkers. Common Terns still present here, feeding big youngsters on the man-made rafts.

Common Darter

Migrant Hawker

Common Tern adult upper, first year lower

Sparrowhawk

Sheringham Bird Observatory

2008-08-28T08:23:00.003+01:00

An evening visit here produced just a single Whinchat and a couple of (local ) Whitethroats. Along the clifftop the gull and tern movement west, presumably going to roost on Blakeney Point, was fairly impressive with hundreds of Black-headed Gulls and c250 Common Tern being the main stay. In with the gulls managed to pick out 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls looking smart as ever.

Med Gull with Black-headed Gulls

Med Gull

Off to roost

White-arse

2008-08-25T19:56:00.004+01:00

Aka Wheatear, one seen along Church Track this morning before scooting up onto the Cattle stalls.

Year Tick

2008-08-23T21:17:00.004+01:00

Walking the dog up the track first thing this morning, a plover, black and silver, came flying over the fields heading north, the years' first Grey Plover was respendent in full summer plumage. Shortly after 10 Golden Plover took the same flight line. Late this afternoon a Common Buzzard drifted east and a Barn Owl hunted behind the garden.

Swallow hawking insects over the field

Great -spotted Woodpeckers

Barn Owl

click on the picture below, notice the metal ring on the right leg.

Sheringham Bird Observatory

2008-08-21T20:56:00.004+01:00

Another jaunt down here late afternoon saw little change in the state of play, a Wheatear showed as the rain started, and was then followed by a Whimbrel flying in from the south. Running the trap for moths last night, my first immigrants of the autumn were represented by 3 Silver Y and a single White Point.

Ringed Plover

Guillimot offshore

White Point

Last word today goes to Josh, who tentatively picked up his GCSE results this morning. Despite taking his exams under pressure this spring, he done brilliantly, getting 8 GCSE's. Well done son, we're all very proud.

Sheringham Shag!

2008-08-20T20:26:00.005+01:00

Went down to Sheringham Bird Observatory straight after work for a wander before tea. No sign of any passerine migrants, a few Swallows were moving west along the cliff, probably going to roost. On the beach half a dozen Ringed Plover were briefly joined by a Sanderling. Just before the heavens opened a Shag flew west in tandam with a Cormorant, giving a good comparison.

Sandwich Tern

Ringed Plover

Shag (left hand bird) with Cormorant

Barn Owl