n o r fo l k b i r d i n g w i t h c h r i s m i l l s
F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 7
February 3rd 2007. Holme 0930-1345 Cold mod NW, sunny
Lesser Yellowlegs still present and showing down to just a few feet. Also around Thornham channel 25 Twite, & 20 Scandinavian Rock Pipit "littoralis". A male Marsh Harrier was over the main mars and up at the Obs a Short-eared Owl was showing well just the other side of the Broadwater. 2 Siskin went over moving east & 500 Pink feet inclusive of a leucistic bird were out on the west end of the Main marsh.
At 12.15 we got onto a raptor over the Obs moving west - high, unfortunately it was picked up late & back on as it cruised away from us not once turning. I had it in the scope briefly, and could make out tawny brown underparts, we were able to eliminate Marsh Harrier on the wing profile, and it was clearly not a Buzzard - it was almost surely the Black-eared Kite. Frustratingly we didn't quite nail it! The Kite had been missing all morning from Snettisham, 45 mins after out mystery raptor sailed over the Black-eared Kite was back at Snettisham adding more frustration and speculation
February 3rd 2007. Snettisham 1400 -1600 Cold mod NW, sunny
I decided to finish off with some more views of the "Kite", just to add insult to injury further views of the Kite convinced me further - but it still ain't quite inked in the notebook!! Another Short-eared Owl hunting at Snettisham at the southern end.
February 4th 2007. Themelthorpe & Foxley Wood 1000-1300 sunshine & frosty
50 Redwing in fields, 2prs of Bullfinch along the lanes and 2 Nuthatch at Foxley
February 11th 2007. Thornham to Holme 0800-1600 V. wet am, then dry and sunny PM
At Thornham end at least 30 Twite present showing v. well on the path from the car park towards Holme, 7-8 Scandinavian Rock Pipit, but no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs, but an exceptional group of 7 Spotted Redshank were in the creek. A Peregrine scattered 100 Lapwing & 500 Golden Plover and succeeded in taking a un'id wader. The adjacent fields from the flood bank were very wet, and two pools were holding good numbers of waders, 20 Ringed Plover, c60 Dunlin, many roosting Golden Plover, 12 Ruff, 20+ Curlew.
Just offshore of Thornham Pt, 100 Kittiwake & 200 Common Gulls had clearly located a shoal of fish as they worked the area back and forth.
Up at the Obs, 2 Short-eared Owls were hunting, & the Peregrine was noted high over the village.
I finished the day with nice views of Barn Owl at Thornham, showing well in front of the Lifeboat Pub.
February 15th 2007. Titchwell 0800-1600 Dry and overcast, sunny spells mild 9-10c
With a couple of days off work I decided to try my luck with the camera at Titchwell. The saline pool nearly always guaranteeing a few close up waders. I wasn't to be disappointed and I spent most of the day shooting Black-tailed Godwit , Spotted Redshank , & Bar - tailed Godwit. I managed a bit of birding :-
1 Marsh harrier, 300 Golden Plover, 1 Kingfisher over the saline pool, 2 Scandi Rock Pipit, a Woodcock was in the usual area around the car-park.
I finished off chatting over a cup of tea with Paul Eeles the Assistant Warden, and we managed to both hear a fly over Waxwing.
February 17th 2007. Snettisham 1000-1500 Dry, sunny spells mild 9-10c
A steady tramp around the area starting at Dersingham, then to Heacham via Snettisham. 4 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 20 Goldeneye, 6+ Stonechat, 100+ Curlew, 1 Barn Owl, 5+ Little Egret.
February 25th 2007. Cley 1000-1330 Dry and overcast, light showers
Cycled up to Cley. 9 Shorelark were showing nicely just west of Coastguards, & 20+ Eider were just offshore. Several skeins of Pink-feet totalling 200+ birds passed west. Marsh Harriers were much in evidence, ad fem & 2 Imms. 100+ Brents, but no sign of any Black Brant amongst them.
From Simmonds & Pats there was a nice selection:- 150 Avocet, 100 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Dunlin, 2 Ruff & 20 Pintail still plenty of Wigeon & Teal.
En-route home 2 Common Buzzard over the Glaven valley
Lesser Yellowlegs still present and showing down to just a few feet. Also around Thornham channel 25 Twite, & 20 Scandinavian Rock Pipit "littoralis". A male Marsh Harrier was over the main mars and up at the Obs a Short-eared Owl was showing well just the other side of the Broadwater. 2 Siskin went over moving east & 500 Pink feet inclusive of a leucistic bird were out on the west end of the Main marsh.
At 12.15 we got onto a raptor over the Obs moving west - high, unfortunately it was picked up late & back on as it cruised away from us not once turning. I had it in the scope briefly, and could make out tawny brown underparts, we were able to eliminate Marsh Harrier on the wing profile, and it was clearly not a Buzzard - it was almost surely the Black-eared Kite. Frustratingly we didn't quite nail it! The Kite had been missing all morning from Snettisham, 45 mins after out mystery raptor sailed over the Black-eared Kite was back at Snettisham adding more frustration and speculation
February 3rd 2007. Snettisham 1400 -1600 Cold mod NW, sunny
I decided to finish off with some more views of the "Kite", just to add insult to injury further views of the Kite convinced me further - but it still ain't quite inked in the notebook!! Another Short-eared Owl hunting at Snettisham at the southern end.
February 4th 2007. Themelthorpe & Foxley Wood 1000-1300 sunshine & frosty
50 Redwing in fields, 2prs of Bullfinch along the lanes and 2 Nuthatch at Foxley
February 11th 2007. Thornham to Holme 0800-1600 V. wet am, then dry and sunny PM
At Thornham end at least 30 Twite present showing v. well on the path from the car park towards Holme, 7-8 Scandinavian Rock Pipit, but no sign of the Lesser Yellowlegs, but an exceptional group of 7 Spotted Redshank were in the creek. A Peregrine scattered 100 Lapwing & 500 Golden Plover and succeeded in taking a un'id wader. The adjacent fields from the flood bank were very wet, and two pools were holding good numbers of waders, 20 Ringed Plover, c60 Dunlin, many roosting Golden Plover, 12 Ruff, 20+ Curlew.
Just offshore of Thornham Pt, 100 Kittiwake & 200 Common Gulls had clearly located a shoal of fish as they worked the area back and forth.
Up at the Obs, 2 Short-eared Owls were hunting, & the Peregrine was noted high over the village.
I finished the day with nice views of Barn Owl at Thornham, showing well in front of the Lifeboat Pub.
February 15th 2007. Titchwell 0800-1600 Dry and overcast, sunny spells mild 9-10c
With a couple of days off work I decided to try my luck with the camera at Titchwell. The saline pool nearly always guaranteeing a few close up waders. I wasn't to be disappointed and I spent most of the day shooting Black-tailed Godwit , Spotted Redshank , & Bar - tailed Godwit. I managed a bit of birding :-
1 Marsh harrier, 300 Golden Plover, 1 Kingfisher over the saline pool, 2 Scandi Rock Pipit, a Woodcock was in the usual area around the car-park.
I finished off chatting over a cup of tea with Paul Eeles the Assistant Warden, and we managed to both hear a fly over Waxwing.
February 17th 2007. Snettisham 1000-1500 Dry, sunny spells mild 9-10c
A steady tramp around the area starting at Dersingham, then to Heacham via Snettisham. 4 Common Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 20 Goldeneye, 6+ Stonechat, 100+ Curlew, 1 Barn Owl, 5+ Little Egret.
February 25th 2007. Cley 1000-1330 Dry and overcast, light showers
Cycled up to Cley. 9 Shorelark were showing nicely just west of Coastguards, & 20+ Eider were just offshore. Several skeins of Pink-feet totalling 200+ birds passed west. Marsh Harriers were much in evidence, ad fem & 2 Imms. 100+ Brents, but no sign of any Black Brant amongst them.
From Simmonds & Pats there was a nice selection:- 150 Avocet, 100 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Dunlin, 2 Ruff & 20 Pintail still plenty of Wigeon & Teal.
En-route home 2 Common Buzzard over the Glaven valley