Norfolk Birders

1st May

I had a morning visit to Santon Downham. As I parked my car 8 Crossbills flew over calling as they flew over the trees. I walked along the track towards the small bridge that goes under the railway line.   It didn't take me long to locate a singing Tree Pipit on the cold grey day. Two Woodlark were walking alongside the track feeding amongst the scrub. As they took flight they sang their wonderful tuneful song above my head.

I drove to Wretham Heath where yet more Crossbills flew over the trees calling. I have never seen so much water in Langmere before. Tufted Duck, Greylag Geese, Shelduck, Shoveler and Coot were on the water. The Rooks were very noisy as they fought amongst themselves.

2nd May

As I descended the hill from Chosley barns this morning a Red Kite flew over my car. The view this morning was stunning as a clear blue sky on this glorious morning with views of a vividly blue sea glistening in the sunlightl and views of the reedbed and scapes made me realise just how lucky I was to work at Titchwell. With such good weather and being a Bank Holiday weekend we would surely be busy. I was early enough to go for a walk before work began and I made my way to Patsy's pool listening to Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats and Chiffchaff all singing in the bushes and trees. A Lesser Whitethroat was calling from the hedgeline as a Cetti's Warbler burst into song. I joined Kathryn and Gwinn as we admired Patsy's pool where Mute Swan, Coot and Moorhen were making the most of the wonderful good weather. 

Denzil arrived and we greeted many visitors and explained what they could expect to see. We had a really good day and both enjoyed our lunchtime's walk. I walked down the West bank path where I watched a Spotted Redshank in all its dark summer plumage. It looked spectacular. A Little Ringed Plover was running around the mud as Avocets filtered their food from the marsh. A Little Egret stood on Thornham Marsh as I helped a family with their identification of various birds. I was delighted to show them a Bearded Tit and a Reed Bunting that posed for them. Sally and I watched a Common Buzzard as we drove home after a very successful day.

4th May

After just returning from work yesterday I didn't have the energy left to turn the car around and return to Choseley to try and find the reported Shore Lark in driving rain and wind. I took the chance that it would still be this morning and so it proved to be. After Jim Lawrence's excellent directions I found the bird straight away and managed a few photos before I had to go to work. 

At work I watched a Blackcap from the window as it hid from the rain. What awful weather day day yet again with these strong northerly winds. I think we really are totally fed up with them. I was supposed to be in North Wales but with cold weather and my second jab appointment imminent we have postponed out trip until the weather warms up a bit! 

5th May

6th May

After a diversion to Filby Broad where we did not see a Black-crowned Night Heron but I watched an escaped White Stork, we drove to Buckenham where we watched a Common Whitethroat and a Great White Egret but failed to find the reported Wood Sandpipers. Redshanks and Dunlin wee the only waders we could find.

8th May

After fixing my guttering, baking a cake, doing the chores and spending time with my new system of bird recording I braved the elements and made my way to Wells North Point where I joined Jim watching a Wood Sandpiper on the west pool. Surprisingly I did not get my camera out in the pouring rain! Swifts were in abundance along with House Martins and Swallows as they whizzed by over the pools. Something disturbed all the Redshanks but I could not see what. A Male Marsh Harrier appeared later mobbed by the local corvids. After a good soaking I decide enough was enough and returned home to the warm and dry. 

9th May

With migrants now flooding into the country I arrived at work early to wander around the reserve with Rob. Together we watched a Lesser Whitethroat singing in the hedgeline near Patsy's Pool. Swifts were migrating along the coastline and were feeding overhead. Turtle Doves had been reported but we did not see or hear any. Later Rob thought he had a Red-breasted Flycatcher but all I could find when I checked the spot at lunchtime was a Garden Warbler along with a Chiffchaff. A Willow Warbler was present along the Meadow Trail. It was a busy day meeting and greeting visitors after yesterday's appalling weather that brought them all out and many had a fantastic day listening to our booming Bitterns.

10th May

11th May

12th May

After a day working from home and having to concentrate on my laptop all day I was eager for some fresh air. i made my way up to North Point at Wells where Jim had two Temminck's Stints lined up for me. They were running around a Common Sandpiper as two Little Ringed Plovers flew over us. We heard a Yellow Wagtail call but I did not see it.

I drove along the coastline where after watching three Marsh Harriers, two Grey Herons along with a Kestrel, Lapwings, Greylag Geese and Canada Geese I watched a Montagu's Harrier fly over my head. It has been a while since I have seen a male Montagu's Harrier and was wonderful to watch in the sunny warm, calm evening.

13th May

During another day of working from home I kept my eye on the bird feeder which has been overtaken by a pair of Starlings. They are eating me out of house and home! Whilst watching a presentation about the poisoning of Red Kites and the sad sight of a poisoned Red Kite sat on a nest with 3 unhatched eggs, a beautiful Red Kite chose that moment to fly low over my garden. I know why I fight so hard to support the RSPB in their work in the protection of species and I have no time for those low lives who poison our birds, vandalise and damage our reserves when our staff and volunteers are working so hard to save species and other wonderful wildlife. Our laws need to be much tougher and put these people who perpetrate these crimes behind bars where they belong!

14th May

After a morning of chores and gardening I drove to Snettisham where after a quick check with Mark I could hear a Turtle Dove purring. I made my way closer and soon saw a Turtle Dove but it was hiding up and obscured by vegetation. I started to walk back to my car and the Turtle Dove flew over me and landed on the telegraph wires where it was soon soon joined by a second bird. As I walked back I watched  a Bullfinch and a Lesser Whirethroat whilst listening to a Grasshopper Warbler reeling as well as a Reed Warbler singing. Common Whitethroats could be heard whilst Swallows clicked and Swifts screamed overhead. It was nice to be birding without any wind for once. A Barn Owl sat and stared at me before taking off.

15th May

After attending a function and some more gardening I needed a walk and walked along another section of the River Nar. Here I heard a Nightingale singing as well as a Blackcap. A Whitethroat was displaying as I stood still and waited. The Nightingale flew across between bushes but was too quick for my camera as was the Blackcap. I turned around as I heard a Cetti's Warbler calling just as a Kingfisher flew along the river. There were at least ten Reed Warblers singing in the reeds as I walked along as well as a lone Sedge Warbler. Reed Buntings sat and posed on the reeds as Skylarks sang above me. 

I stopped to watch a flooded pit where many hirundines and Swifts were feeding. They swooped all around me as I failed miserably to photograph any of them close up. They were simple flying too fast for me.

For several months now a pair of Red-legged Partridges have taken up residence in my garden. It is lovely to wake up every morning to see them scurrying about my garden. They spend a lot of time underneath my bird feeders eating the sunflower seeds and suet pellets that other bids drop

16th May

17th May

18th May

Another wonderful walk at lunchtime down the West Bank path at Titchwell with the sun shining and an actual feeling of warmth, so much so that I had to shed several layers of clothing! Common Terns were loafing on one of the islands as our Bittern was booming and our Bearded Tits were pinging in the reedbead as the Swifts were screaming overhead. Marsh Harriers were delivering food to neasts as I pointed a Spoonbill flying away to Thornham to some of our visitors. They were so pleased to see one!

19th May

I had a treat today because I was doing a preliminary visit for the RSPB's search for local Turtle Doves. I had been allocated Hillington Hall near my home and after years of looking in from the boundary wall from over the Babingley River bridge I was given permission to walk around the estate. I met with the owner after driving up the 3/4 mile drive and he kindly talked me through the birds that he thought I might or might not see and the agricultural changes that have taken place on his land. I had a delightful few hours as the sun was shining and the Babingley River and woods made for a very pleasant walk around the estate. One of the workers also share some information about where I would be able to cross the river and get to the parts shown on my allocated map. It was now quite hot and not the best time for birding but I shall return for my survey much earlier in the day for more! 

20th May

21st May

Looking out from my lounge window you would never guess it was May. The wind is howling, the rain is pouring down and I have seen very little in the way of garden birds except for my pair of Red-legged Partridges that seem to be living in my garden and a few Starlings, Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Blue Tits, Robins and Dunnocks. It seemed like an excellent opportunity to update my database. I am often asked how I keep my bird database. Many years ago I bought Bird Recorder 32 that morphed into Wildlife Recorder in later years. I was running Wildlife Recorder 3 but have recently upgraded to Wildlife Recorder 4 and needed to find some time to validate all the recent I.O.C taxonomic changes. As my database was 2 years out of date I knew it would take some time. Today was perfect opportunity to do so. So after Tim had kindly helped me and shown me some new features that I could not work out I spent the morning sorting out the taxonomic changes on the birds that I saw many years ago. It would seem that I have gained a few new world ticks from the splits that have taken place.

22nd May

A vey productive day today at work welcoming visitors and then managing to sell some of my old camera lenses on ebay! It is a nail-biting experience to see if they sell well!

23rd May

I had a pleasant morning's WeBS count at Nar Valley Fisheries along with John and Allan as we noted all the birds that we saw besides the waterfowl. As we expected for this time of year there really were not many birds on the water except for a few Mallard, Tufted Duck and Gadwall. The geese had some fluffy little jobs with them and so we listened to Garden Warblers and noted a few Blackcaps as well. Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers serenaded us as we walked along with Robins and Dunnocks. One growl from a Nightingale after it flew across the road and promptly buried itself in a dense bush did not provide us with much of a view of it.  We had all the common birds that you would expect to see at this time of year whilst we listened to two Cuckoos and watched a couple of Little Egrets inflight. A roast lunch in the local pub was called for before making for home and writing the results up to send off.

24th May

25th May

A very mixed day at work watching the mayhem that dog walkers are causing to our breeding ground-nesting beach birds at Snettisham as well as the poor Ringed Plovers having idiots driving quad bikes over their nests, my poor colleagues are at the point of despair. Why dog walkers think that beaches are a good place for their uncontrolled dogs during nesting season is totally beyond me. Please if you see a dog off its lead on a beach disturbing wildlife PLEASE call the police. It is a crime and needs reporting. Our Ringed Plovers do not stand a chance. With many more people owning dogs, it has now got to plague proportions on the coastline as people think it is a free for all place to be. 

My new lens for my camera has arrived and I cannot wait to have a play with it but with a busy schedule ahead it might be a while.

After noting that NarVOS had yet another zoom meeting that was not about birds I did not bother logging in and joined birding friends for a delightful meal out in a local pub. We are all well travelled and are so frustrated at not being able to travel. Our friends were meant to be in Russia at the moment but have decided to walk some of the Scottish mountains instead sleeping in a tent. I hope the weather will be kind! 

26th May

I got up early on yet another very cold, grey, gloomy day with rain threatening to have a quick 20 minute play at West Newton with my new lens. The light conditions were about as bad as they could get! The only bird that it was possible to point my lens at was a singing Blackcap as a singing Reed Warbler was buried deep inside a stand of Bamboo. (I don't blame it) A Willow Warbler and a Chiffchaff were also singing but not in a position for me to point my camera at.

27th May

31st May

Trevor and I met up with Sean at Titchwell. It has been many years since Sean and I used to go twitching all around the British Isles together. We had such a fabulous time, often leaving on a Friday evening, driving through the night, seeing the bird (hopefully) on Saturday morning, having a huge fry-up breakfast in a cafe, followed up by more birding, having a drink or two and a meal in a pub somewhere in the evening, staying in a B and B (or sleeping in the car) and returning back home by Sunday evening. What good times they were! It was so nice to see him back in his birding gear. We chatted so much that I barely noticed the Cetti's Warblers and Reed Warblers singing but I did hear a Blackcap singing away as I loaded up my new lens and camera which I never even pointed at a bird!