Standard Fair - Part 2 (Days 2 + 3)

Our first full day started with the early check of the Heligoland traps.  This only produced two birds, a Song Thrush and a Chaffinch, but luckily, the mist nets back at the obs produced the goods with an adult and a young male Brambling.  

 

 

Just after breakfast, I was trying to get some shots of this Twite from the lounge window...

...when I noticed some movement in the bushes behind.  This proved to be a Goldcrest and a Yellow-browed Warbler.  Not the first I've found, but nice all the same.

As I waited outside for the others, first a Peregrine, then a Merlin circled about overhead. 

On our way south to the crofting area of the island, a couple of flocks of Whooper Swan flew over, and two Redpoll confused us as usual, but were probably 'Northwestern' Mealy Redpoll.

We made another attempt at seeing the Bluethroat, which this time showed immediately, although briefly.  It took a lot more waiting for it to show properly.  The wait was punctuated by a marauding Yellow-browed Warbler, which almost landed on my nearby tripod!  So strange seeing one out in the open, perching on wires and posts. 

These are the derelict buildings and small patches of Nettles of Pund, the home of the Bluethroat (and later Little Bunting).  As you can see, the weather was being kind (at the moment!).

On the way back to base for lunch, we flushed a Jack Snipe, and watched a juvenile Hen Harrier hunting. 

Our afternoon ramble took in the north of the island.  Some of the scenery was pretty dramatic.

The reason for going as far as the North Light, was to look for Snow Bunting.  It took no time at all to find a flock of 7, plus this loner.

Having Snow Bunting and Wheatear in the same scope view was quite surreal.

As was having to be blasé about Great Skua flying over.  ''What's this! Oh, it's only a Bonxie''.

One of the only Linnet of the week flew past.  Yep, we were actually searching Twite flocks for Linnet!

Back at the obs, I took the short walk down to the Havens below.  This area was continually swarming with Grey Seal.  A female...

...and a male.

The third day dawned to a decent start, but it was pretty windy out there!

From the Obs, we were able to see a male Scaup down in the Havens.  Once out, we headed down there for a better view.  There was no sign, but there was a cracking summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver instead.

On our walk back down south, we flushed a Jack Snipe from the roadside.  The bird had clearly been busy!

As we relaxed at the only shop on the island, we suddenly got the sight of a bird literally falling from the sky to our feet.

 

It was a Whinchat, and it was clearly exhausted.

 



I attempted to feed it with some woodlice and slugs that I found nearby, but it just wasn't interested.

  (c) Nicole Burgum

Unsurprisingly, the bird was later found dead.  The perils of migration are plain to see at this place.

The only other notable sighting from the day was a pair of Pochard flying over, a Fair Isle rarity.

A late round of the traps produced a few birds including a Twite and this Goldcrest.

The forecast for tomorrow is terrible!

Norfolk-ing Way - Part 3 (Days 4 + 5)

Day 4 (16/10)

This morning, I remembered that a few people had recommended to me the area of Warham Greens, just east of Wells, as a good area to bird.  I had visited a couple of years ago (for the departed Rufous-tailed Robin) but I was yet to explore it properly.

A woke up in a layby nearby, to the sounds of calling Grey Partridge (uniquely Norfolk!), and soon set off down Garden Drove. 

After turning left at the end, and having seen little more than the trip ticks of Green Woodpecker and Red-legged Partridge, suddenly all hell broke loose.  First, a single Snow Bunting flew over calling, then a few Redpoll came down to settle with a flock of Linnet, only for me to see that they were 3 Mealy Redpoll.  Finally, I scoped over the saltmarsh to the distant pines of East Hills.  Soaring over them was 2 ringtail Hen Harrier and a Short-eared Owl!  I watched as they interacted, and one of the Harriers went to be on show most of the time, though always distant.  What a spot!

In addition, further along the edge of the saltmarsh, 2 Kingfisher chased each other through one of the many channels.

I started inland, and happened to come across a ringing operation.  I got to a net that held a struggling Goldcrest and a Wren.

There was no-one in sight, and I set up my scope trained on a nearby hedge, as I thought I'd heard a Ring Ouzel.  Half an hour later, no Ring Ouzel, and more importantly, no-one had come to check the nets.  I was able to see the area quite a while after I left, and there still appeared to be no-one to attend to the, no doubt quite distressed, birds.  Quite naughty really.

On the walk back along the road, a fluttering moth got my attention.  It is one of the Epirrita species, and the general sparseness of markings would suggest a Pale November Moth (though strictly speaking, dissection is required to be sure).

 

The only scheduled walk for the day was to that other essential North Norfolk visit, Cley.

 

However, I have to say I think today was not my best trip there, by it's high standards.  We set off on the long walk along East Bank, the shore, then back via the Beach Road.

 

There were at least 3 Red-throated Diver out on the sea, an immature Mediterranean Gull went by, and some Bearded Tit showed briefly.  There was supposed to be a Black Redstart along the beach, but there was no sign.

 

The highlight for me though was spotting a Blackbird coming in-off, low over the sea a mile away.  Just as it got in-shore, an immature Great Black-backed Gull suddenly appeared behind it, and plucked it out of the sky!  The perils of migration.  We did however witness several Redwing making the same journey more successfully, and we found some very tired birds feeding just behind the beach in addition.

 

After this, with rather a lack of conviction, I headed off in the rain to West Runton the other side of Sheringham, in the hope of the Dusky Warbler showing.  There was never any real hope in those conditions! 

 

Incidentally, I think all in all we were pretty lucky with the weather this week to be honest, as the forecasts always seemed to be worse than it turned out!

 

Finally, I finished off the day back at Titchwell, where I'd yesterday overlooked the opportunity to check out the new bit of the reserve, at Patsy's Reedbed.  I had little trouble getting on a Jack Snipe from here, though the weather did hinder a little as this site has a screen, not a hide.

 



Day 5 (17/10)

My final day in Norfolk dawned to perfect weather.

 

All in all, I slept pretty well in my camper this trip, though last nights sleep was interrupted by a Little Owl calling close-by!

 

The group walk this morning was at Holkham, so rather than pay the ever-increasing parking charge there, I thought it would be a good idea to walk there via Burnham Overy Dunes, which is an area which has produced plenty in the past.

 

 

 



It was indeed a long walk, though it was very enjoyable, despite the nagging wind.  Nothing of particular note was seen, but there was still plenty of overhead passage occurring, including a number of Crossbill seemingly irrupting from the edge of Holkham pines.  Only one was seen well, and that was a Common.

The other top sighting was a very dark-looking Peregrine flying over the marsh, which had me scratching my head at first, till I re-found it and got better views, as it sat on the beach.

 

Once at the pines, I took a route along the seaward edge, and had two Grey Wagtail fly past, as well finding many Common Darter dragonfly.  Female and male here.

 

 

 

 As well as a fascinating (well, I think so!) Rabbit skull.

 

 

I joined up with the group at the end of Lady Anne's Drive, and we set off along the landward edge.  



The usual woodland species had been seen, up to the point when a very surprise Woodlark flew over with some Skylark.  My first 'out of habitat' sighting.

Both hides were disappointing, and a couple of very promising looking Tit-flocks held nothing more unusual than several Chiffchaff.  My walk back to the car was uneventful also.  Nonetheless, a very enjoyable ramble.

It was now a matter of making my way back to Surrey, attempting to avoid the traffic (I didn't do a very good job of that!).

But, I had to give those pesky two-bars one last try at Lynford.  Far better encounters were had with Common Crossbill than last time.  Despite how it appears at first glance, this bird is a young male, as it had quite a bit of red on it, particularly on the head.

But, yet again, there was no sign of the quarry.  I've now dipped this species four times this autumn!

After that, I made a brief sortie onto a good Stone Curlew site not far from Weeting, but it appears they have genuinely moved on.  A few Yellowhammer were the only consolation.

I got home pretty exhausted but delighted!  Final total for the trip was 126 species.