chris.mills@norfolkbirding.com
Double click to ed May 2006
norfolkbirding with chris mills
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Swanton Novers 1st May 2006 2PM-5.30PM Overcast 8/8 warm with showers, light SE
A short walk along the footpath through the woods produced 2 Singing male Firecrest, 20 Redpoll, 10+ Bullfinch and a nice selection of plants.
Sandringham - Wolferton - Snettisham 5th May 2006 6am - 1PM Sunny warm 220
Located 2 more singing male Firecrest, also 7prs of Marsh Harrier, Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit, & Woodlark
Titchwell 2.30Pm - 5.30 PM
3 drake Garganey, 6+ Ruff, 30+ Black-tailed Godwit, Bittern booming and my first Little Terns of the year.
Bearded Tits showing quite well
SEE LATEST IMAGES FOR MORE OF THESE PICS
Sheringham - Weybourne 6th May 2006 12.30PM-4.30PM Overcast 8/8 warm with showers. Light SEE
7 Yellow Wags west, 30 Swallow east, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Short eared Owl, 2 Gannet east, 1 Whimbrel east, 2 Garden Warbler.
The highlight was clearly an Osprey high over the Cromer - Holt ridge steadily moving east
Thornham/Holme
Following a telephone call from Jed Andrews at the NOA - myself and two others were very fortunate to witness the 1st sum female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Whilst we left prior to the birds release, it had at this stage been decided to release the bird at Snettisham CP, with the news being broadcast on the Pagers. However after ringing, it became apparent that due to BTO ringing guidelines the relocation was going to require a large amount of paperwork and an unnacceptable delay in releasing the bird. Clearly there was a lot of disappointment, and unhappy birders, however clearly distressing the bird any longer than necessary was also not acceptable. I understand that further alternative venues were explored but all were found to be not acceptable to landowners. I will not comment any further as the NOA will publish complete details in the forthcoming weeks.
A short walk along the footpath through the woods produced 2 Singing male Firecrest, 20 Redpoll, 10+ Bullfinch and a nice selection of plants.
Sandringham - Wolferton - Snettisham 5th May 2006 6am - 1PM Sunny warm 220
Located 2 more singing male Firecrest, also 7prs of Marsh Harrier, Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit, & Woodlark
Titchwell 2.30Pm - 5.30 PM
3 drake Garganey, 6+ Ruff, 30+ Black-tailed Godwit, Bittern booming and my first Little Terns of the year.
Bearded Tits showing quite well
SEE LATEST IMAGES FOR MORE OF THESE PICS
Sheringham - Weybourne 6th May 2006 12.30PM-4.30PM Overcast 8/8 warm with showers. Light SEE
7 Yellow Wags west, 30 Swallow east, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Short eared Owl, 2 Gannet east, 1 Whimbrel east, 2 Garden Warbler.
The highlight was clearly an Osprey high over the Cromer - Holt ridge steadily moving east
Thornham/Holme
Following a telephone call from Jed Andrews at the NOA - myself and two others were very fortunate to witness the 1st sum female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Whilst we left prior to the birds release, it had at this stage been decided to release the bird at Snettisham CP, with the news being broadcast on the Pagers. However after ringing, it became apparent that due to BTO ringing guidelines the relocation was going to require a large amount of paperwork and an unnacceptable delay in releasing the bird. Clearly there was a lot of disappointment, and unhappy birders, however clearly distressing the bird any longer than necessary was also not acceptable. I understand that further alternative venues were explored but all were found to be not acceptable to landowners. I will not comment any further as the NOA will publish complete details in the forthcoming weeks.
Sheringham - Weybourne 7th May 2006 6.45AM-11.00PM Overcast 8/8 much cooler with showers. V. Light NW
Single Corn Bunting still present 3 Yellow Wags present on the ground & 2 over west, c90 Swallow west, 4+ Lesser Whitethroat,
17 Gannet east, 1 Whimbrel west, 2 Garden Warbler, 32 Lesser Black-backed Gull all west, 4 Little Tern east, several Common Tern offshore mainly moving east, a single ad Kittiwake west. Several Turnstone west also included 3 Sanderling.
The highlight was an excellent female Merlin sat perched for 3-4 minutes before disappearing west and over the clifftop.
Andy Benson also managed 12 Black-tailed Godwit west.
Single Corn Bunting still present 3 Yellow Wags present on the ground & 2 over west, c90 Swallow west, 4+ Lesser Whitethroat,
17 Gannet east, 1 Whimbrel west, 2 Garden Warbler, 32 Lesser Black-backed Gull all west, 4 Little Tern east, several Common Tern offshore mainly moving east, a single ad Kittiwake west. Several Turnstone west also included 3 Sanderling.
The highlight was an excellent female Merlin sat perched for 3-4 minutes before disappearing west and over the clifftop.
Andy Benson also managed 12 Black-tailed Godwit west.
Merlin courtesy of Rob Lee digiscoping
Sheringham - Weybourne 8th May 2006 6.00PM
Tawny Pipit 1 in private fields watched on the ground and in flight. Also a single Barn Owl hunting at dusk
Tawny Pipit 1 in private fields watched on the ground and in flight. Also a single Barn Owl hunting at dusk
Sheringham - Weybourne 12th May 2006 6.00PM
Marsh Harrier west at 8.30PM
Sheringham - Weybourne 13th May 2006 5.00am - 930am Shower at dawn, then hazy sunshine, v. light NE
Vey little visible migration - 40 Swallow west & 10 east, 12 Lesser Black-backs, west and 5 east, 2 Yellow Wags over west.
Early walk along the cliff top (6.34) did produce a smart male Ring Ouzel, 2 Hobby's were in the area - one with prey, to complete the raptor feast I added Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, a Short-eared Owl high and moving west, and possibly the same female Merlin perched up on the golf course. A Barn Owl was hunting the fields, 21 Black-tailed Godwit moved east (6.55). A Cuckoo was calling just south of the A149, and a single Little Egret headed east (7.50). Of note was also a 3 & 2 Collared Doves west.
On the sea 4 Common tern, 1 Little Tern, and a female Eider just offshore.
Marsh Harrier west at 8.30PM
Sheringham - Weybourne 13th May 2006 5.00am - 930am Shower at dawn, then hazy sunshine, v. light NE
Vey little visible migration - 40 Swallow west & 10 east, 12 Lesser Black-backs, west and 5 east, 2 Yellow Wags over west.
Early walk along the cliff top (6.34) did produce a smart male Ring Ouzel, 2 Hobby's were in the area - one with prey, to complete the raptor feast I added Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, a Short-eared Owl high and moving west, and possibly the same female Merlin perched up on the golf course. A Barn Owl was hunting the fields, 21 Black-tailed Godwit moved east (6.55). A Cuckoo was calling just south of the A149, and a single Little Egret headed east (7.50). Of note was also a 3 & 2 Collared Doves west.
On the sea 4 Common tern, 1 Little Tern, and a female Eider just offshore.
Cley 14th May 2006 12.15PM - 1.30PM
A quick walk along the East bank to Arnolds marsh, produced Bearded Tit, at Arnolds there was a nice flock of 70 Dunlin which also held a smart summer plumaged Little Stint, others were 2 summer plumaged Knot and a single Common Sand
Swanton Novers 2PM-5.30PM
A botanical walk along the footpath through the woods also produced 2 Singing male Firecrest.
Titchwell 17th May 6PM -7.30PM Heavy showers, moderate SW
We made it as far as the First Hide in the showers!
The highlights were 10 Little Gulls (all 1st summers) & 1 superb drake Garganey. Also 1 Common Sand, 1 Greenshank, 12 Turnstone, a late drake Pintail & 5 Ruff.
A quick walk along the East bank to Arnolds marsh, produced Bearded Tit, at Arnolds there was a nice flock of 70 Dunlin which also held a smart summer plumaged Little Stint, others were 2 summer plumaged Knot and a single Common Sand
Swanton Novers 2PM-5.30PM
A botanical walk along the footpath through the woods also produced 2 Singing male Firecrest.
Titchwell 17th May 6PM -7.30PM Heavy showers, moderate SW
We made it as far as the First Hide in the showers!
The highlights were 10 Little Gulls (all 1st summers) & 1 superb drake Garganey. Also 1 Common Sand, 1 Greenshank, 12 Turnstone, a late drake Pintail & 5 Ruff.
26th May 2006 OFF TO FINLAND AND NORWAY UNTIL 4TH JUNE 2006