Wensum Valley Birdwatching Society

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A male Brown-headed Cowbird was reported again at Weybourne 3rd. Could it be conceivable that the Cowbird seen at the beginning of May had been hiding out in the Weybourne area all that time?

The Black-winged Pratincole remained in the Thornham and Titchwell RSPB area until 13th.

Late spring migrants included a Bee-eater at Pott Row 29th and Stiffkey 30th. Marsh Warblers were found at Holkham Freshmarsh 15th and Weybourne 16th and a Red-backed Shrike also at Holkham Freshmarsh 15th, Strumpshaw Fen RSPB 7th and Thornham 23rd.

Scarce waders included a Red-necked Phalarope at Hickling Broad NWT 4th-5th and a Temminck’s Stint reported at Cley NWT 7th. Six Wood Sandpipers at Pentney GPs 27th was a good count. A Roseate Tern was at Breydon Water 26th.

Honey Buzzards continued to be seen at their breeding area and were regularly seen from the watchpoints at Wensum Valley, Great Ryburgh and Swanton Novers. Others included one that flew north near King’s Lynn 11th, Blofield Heath 1st and Pretty Corner 19th. A Black Kite was reported west over Kelling Water Meadows 20th. A male Red-footed Falcon was seen at Winterton 5th.

Slightly unexpected were a Redstart was at Titchwell RSPB 17th, a Snow Bunting at Cley NWT 20th-24th, a Whinchat at Breydon Water 29th and a Jack Snipe displaying at Salthouse 26th.

A Great White Egret was again at Hickling Broad NWT on and off until 10th, one flew past Cley 20th and Wiveton 28th.

Common summer migrants arrived early with the favourable warm zephyrs from the south. With them came some of the now very regular Mediterranean overshoots or perhaps more accurately described as vanguards of potential colonisation. An Alpine Swift flew south over Snettisham RSPB 9th. A Red-rumped Swallow flew east past Titchwell RSPB and one flew south past Horsey and Winterton 24th and it or another flew past Horsey Gap the next day. A Red-rumped Swallow lingered for an evening at Cley 25th.

A Purple Heron flew east over Cley, Salthouse & Weybourne 27th and one was seen near North Walsham 28th. Hoopoes pitched in at Gorleston 5th and Upper Sheringham 20th. A Serin was at Caister-on-Sea briefly 5th. Former breeders included a Wryneck at Weybourne 10th, Blakeney 17th, Winterton 28th and Waxham 28th.

The rarest passerine found was a Black-headed Wagtail at Titchwell RSPB 25th. Departing winter visitors included a Shorelark at Winterton 5th, a Great Grey Shrike at Letheringsett 9th-10th, a Hooded Crow at Happisburgh 22nd and Rough-legged Buzzards were at West Somerton 10th, Winterton 20th and Horsey 21st. An early adult male Red-footed Falcon was over Kelling Heath 24th. Montagu’s Harriers were seen on passage at Holme 23rd, Salthouse 23rd and Winterton 24th.

A Golden Plover at Breydon Water entertained birders with its elusive identity. Was it an American or a Pacific 7th-18th? A Glaucous Gull was found there 15th. An early summer or left over wintering Dotterel was at Wereham 18th-21st and two Dotterel were at Happisburgh briefly 26th. Away from their core breeding range was a Stone-curlew at Stiffkey 11th, it or another at Weybourne 14th and one was just west of Great Yarmouth 27th.

A Great White Egret was at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB 11th and Breydon Water 26th.

A drake Green-winged Teal was Lynn Point 20th-21st and Cley NWT 25th-30th at least. Black Brants were still at Snettisham RSPB, Heacham, Blakeney, Titchwell RSPB during April.

A lingering Long-tailed Duck was still in Blakeney Harbour 8th-22nd. The Black-throated Diver remained on Ormesby Little Broad until 5th. Three Black-necked Grebe popped in at Pentney GPs 17th and one was at Breydon Water 20th. An Iceland Gull was at Titchwell RSPB 26th.

The fine conditions encouraged Common Cranes to wander; two flew east over Titchwell, Holme, Holkham, Cley, West Runton & Trimingham 5th, two Trunch 6th, one King’s Lynn 12th, five Holme 19th, three over Saxlingham, Kelling and Weybourne 22nd, four Sheringham Park 21st, two Gateley 22nd, two south Heacham 24th, one south-east Burnham Overy Dunes 28th and one south-west Titchwell 30th.

A Siberian Thrush at Glandford was found feeding by the River Glaven after its release from a recuperation cage but unfortunately was never seen again 4th.

The two Penduline Tits were seen at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB until 2nd. It was speculated that they could have been spending more time on the south side of the River Yare. Nearby the Cattle Egret remained in the Beighton/Hassingham/Strumpshaw area until 7th and then moved to Suffolk and Essex (see below).

Great White Egrets were seen in flight at Geldeston 1st, near Stalham 18th, Roydon Common NWT 20th and Stiffkey 20th.

A Hoopoe was at Thornage briefly 21st.The Black-bellied Dipper was seen again on the River Glaven anywhere between Glandford and Hunworth until 16th.

Up to two Rough-legged Buzzards were at North Wootton Marshes until 14th. Another lingered in north Norfolk being seen at Hunworth, Blakeney and Little Walsingham 19th-20th, another was at Haddiscoe on and off until 10th and one flew over Ridlington 23rd and Hoveton 27th. A healthy passage of twenty-two Common Buzzards in three and a half hours was witnessed passing over Titchwell RSPB 29th. The Dark-breasted Barn Owl was seen at Welney WWT again 27th.

The Great Grey Shrike was at Dersingham Bog NNR until 22nd and the one at Roydon Common NWT was there until 26th. Another was at Briston 8th-9th.

The only Tundra Bean Geese was at Holkham and Ellingham. Black Brants seen were at Titchwell RSPB, Wells & Holkham, Burnham Overy Staithe and Stiffkey. Away from Holme the only Long-tailed Duck was in Blakeney Harbour 8th. A Black-throated Diver was on Ormesby Little Broad 30th. The Black-necked Grebe was still east of Titchwell until 21st.

Single Iceland Gulls were seen over High Kelling and a second winter Kumlien’s Gull was at Blackborough End Tip 20th & 28th.

A Common Crane was at Holkham Freshmarsh 21st and what was probably the same bird later flew high east over Cromer 21st.

A Hooded Crow at Sheringham Park NT 11th was perhaps the same bird present nearby in February. A Red-throated Diver was on the pool Kelling Water Meadows 8th-14th. The maximum count of Common Crossbills was thirty-two at Horsford Woods 3rd.

Early dates in for summer visitors in Norfolk were; Wheatear at Salthouse 8th, Swallow at Docking 13th, seven Garganey at Hickling Broad NWT 14th, Little Ringed Plover at Titchwell RSPB 14th, Common Sandpiper Stiffkey 21st, Spoonbill Titchwell RSPB 24th, House Martin Whitlingham CP 28th, Willow Warbler Whitlingham CP 30th and Ring Ouzel Heacham 30th.

Continuing the trend from January were more Great White Egrets and Great Grey Shrikes and a couple of Penduline Tits.

A male Penduline Tit was discovered at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB from 4th-22nd at least. Although a first for the reserve it is one of several wandering around southern England this winter. With such a vast area of suitable habitat it was not that surprising that it was only seen occasionally. Two were seen there 16th.

A Cattle Egret was at Cockley Cley for two days 3rd-4th. What was probably the same bird moved to the Barningham Park area from 12th-22nd and then near Strumpshaw from 24th. The bird liked following ploughing tractors.

A Black-bellied Dipper was seen again on the River Glaven anywhere between Glandford and Hunworth, but most regularly at Letheringsett. There were three Rough-legged Buzzards. One was at Haddiscoe Island 26th and up to two were in the area of Sandringham and North Wootton Marshes from 14th. Nearby a Raven was seen at Roydon Common NWT 14th. This species is expanding eastwards from their marginal upland retreat. More records of this corvid are to be expected, if they remain unmolested.

Two Great Grey Shrikes were finally confirmed in west Norfolk with birds seen at the same time at Dersingham Bog NNR and Roydon Common NWT. Three were in the Brecks at Santon Downham, at Lakenheath Fen RSPB and Olley’s Farm near Thetford 27th. The Lakenheath bird often ranged across the river into Norfolk. A Dark-breasted Barn Owl was again at Welney WWT.

A Ferruginous Duck and Ring-necked Duck were seen again Hoveton Little Broad, although the former was seen once or twice at Wroxham Broad itself. A drake Green-winged Teal was at Buckenham Marshes RSPB and was even seen briefly at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB 8th. The maximum count of Long-tailed Ducks offshore from Holme was fifteen and up to eleven Velvet Scoter were off Hunstanton.

The Ross’s Goose was among the Pink-feet on and off in north and then west and east Norfolk later in February. Up to nineteen Tundra Bean Geese were at Welney WWT, up to six were between Hillington & Flitcham, up to three at Langham, two at Choseley and singles were at Cantley Marshes RSPB, Burnham Overy Staithe and Horsey. Black Brants seen were up to two at Wells & Holkham and Morston and singles at Titchwell RSPB and Cley.

Single Iceland Gulls were seen at Aldeby Tip, Sheringham, Blackborough End Tip, Hockwold Washes and Wroxham Broad. The juvenile Glaucous Gull remained in the Salthouse and Cley NWT. It favoured means of getting about was by foot and seemed to have no trouble flying despite its left wing becoming progressively more droopy. It was taken into care 27th.

Scarce nowadays was a Hooded Crow at Beeston Regis 21st. Black-necked Grebe was east of Titchwell for much of the month. An early Sandwich Tern flew past Sheringham 22nd. A White Stork was reported near Kimberley 21st and a Spoonbill was at Buckenham marshes RSPB 22nd.

Information kindly supplied by

Robin ChittendenBirdline East Anglia

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January was all about Great White Egrets, Penduline Tits with a Killdeer, Ross’s Goose, Cattle Egret and Lesser Yellowlegs added to the mix. Other diversions were a Black-bellied Dipper and a few Great Grey Shrikes.

Norfolk

Killdeer was at Saddlebow briefly in the early afternoon 11th. This is the third record for Norfolk of this vagrant North American wader. All three have been since 2005. Could they all relate to the same individual?

A Great White Egret was at Welney WWT and then flew south. Another flew over the Hickling Stubb Mill roost watchpoint 17th and yet another put in a brief early morning appearance at Marston Marshes 18th and one was at Long Dam Levels in south-east Norfolk 30th.

A Black-bellied Dipper was seen again on the River Glaven anywhere between Glandford and Hunworth, but as long stretches of this river are on private land the bird was only seen occasionally.

Single Iceland Gulls were seen occasionally at Aldeby Tip, Hockwold Washes and Blackborough End Tip. The juvenile Glaucous Gull remained in the Salthouse, Cley NWT, Kelling area and others were seen at Blackborough End Tip, Aldeby Tip and Great Yarmouth.

A wandering Ross’s Goose was among the Pink-feet in East Norfolk but then moved to north Norfolk later in January

The Taiga Bean Geese were still at Cantley and Buckenham Marshes RSPB. A Green-winged Teal was at the later site 20th. Up to eight Tundra Bean Geese were at Welney WWT, up to six in the Horsey/Waxham area, ten at Blakeney Freshmarsh NT 27th and a single was at Burnham Overy Staithe. Black Brants seen were up to two at Wells & Holkham and singles at Titchwell RSPB, Cockthorpe and Morston. The maximum count of Long-tailed Ducks offshore from Holme was fifteen and up to twelve Velvet Scoter were off Hunstanton.

A Dark-breasted Barn Owl was seen at Stiffkey 16th and a bird showing characteristics of this form was at Welney WWT in the last week in January.

A Great Grey Shrike was still wintering in west Norfolk being seen more off than on near Castle Rising and then at Dersingham Bog NNR. The Great Grey Shrike at Lakenheath Fen RSPB often ranged across the river into Norfolk.

Hickling Stubb Mill roost watchpoint had a maximum count of 85 Marsh Harriers 17th. The numbers of Mealy Redpoll at Town Farm Swaffham grew to thirty-five during the month. Surely it is only a question of time before a Coues’s Arctic Redpoll is found among them.

A hint of Spring, perhaps, was a Balearic Shearwater past Sheringham 23rd.

A drake Ferruginous Duck was in the Wroxham Broad area 14^th-21^st. Also found there were a Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Scaup and a female Ring-necked Duck was in the area 21^st, presumably the Whitlingham bird. A Black-bellied Dipper was found on the River Stiffkey at Houghton St Giles 29^th.

A Rough-legged Buzzard was in the Hickling area 3rd -8^th and it or others were then seen over Kelling Heath 10^th, Stanhoe 11^th and Wighton 14^th. A Great Grey Shrike wintered in west Norfolk at Castle Rising and Dersingham Bog NNR. There was no news of the one seen last month in the Grimes Graves/Santon Downham area of The Brecks but there was one at was Mundesley 7^th

Single Iceland Gulls were seen at Cley NWT, Blackborough End Tip and Aldeby Tip. The juvenile Glaucous Gull remained in the Salthouse, Cley NWT, Kelling area and others were seen at Blackborough End Tip and Aldeby Tip.

A wandering Ross’s Goose was among the Pink-feet at Repps-with-Bastwick, Martham, Thorpe Marshes, Burgh Castle, Burney Marshes RSPB, Bradwell, east of Acle and Buckenham Marshes RSPB throughout December.

The Taiga Bean Geese were at Cantley Marshes and Buckenham Marshes RSPB but numbers seemed to decline during the month or perhaps, which seems more likely, the main flock is feeding somewhere nearby. This flock is though, renowned for leaving this wintering area very early in the New Year.

Up to sixteen Tundra Bean Geese were at Langham, Blakeney Freshmarsh NT, Sharrington  and Cley NWT, a maximum of nine Welney WWT, two at Waxham, two Shernborne, one Amner and two east of Acle. Black Brants were at Stiffkey, Holkham, up to two Wells and Titchwell RSPB.

The only Smew was at Tottenhill GPs and a Scaup was at Whitlingham CP. Inland (to varying degrees) were a couple of Shags at Denver Sluice and one at Wells Quay.

More usually seen during warmer months were a late Wheatear at Horsey 14^th and Black Redstart was there 21st, a Sandwich Tern past Sheringham 15^th, a Siberian Chiffchaff in Norwich 7^th and a Little Stint at Cley NWT. A Storm Petrel was seen off Cley 1^st and a Pomarine Skua flew over Salthouse 1^st. A male Serin was briefly at Glandford 18^th.

This article was written by Robin Chittenden from Birdline East Anglia.

 

Anyone can listen to the latest bird sightings on Birdline East Anglia by phoning 09068 700 245. Please contact us with your sightings by phone or text 07941333970

 

Robin is available for private bird, wildlife or photography tours. For more information please click on the  ‘news’ page at www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk

 

You can view his photographs at www.harlequinpictures.co.uk

Norfolk bird & wildlife report for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust for May-September 2008

A male Red-backed Shrike spent the summer at Sea Palling. The species used to known as the ‘butcher’ bird. Named from its habit of stock piling prey items, such as large insects, on thorns in a ‘larder’, to which it could return at leisure to consume. The Red-backed Shrike has become extinct, during my lifetime, as a regular UK breeding bird. The last pair to breed in Norfolk was in 1988 in the Brecklands at Santon Downham. It is still a regular, but scarce, spring and autumn migrant, simply passing through Norfolk to other pastures. For one to find Sea Palling so attractive that it couldn’t bear to leave is at least interesting.

Red-backed Shrike is a Norfolk BAP species meaning that it is listed on the Norfolk Biodiversity Action Plan. The plan provides a legal framework to conserve, protect and enhance biodiversity. The idea is to focus the energy of conservation organisations on those species that make it on the list. So perhaps in the future we can hope for this species to return as a regular breeder.

Nearby and even more unusual in the UK was a female Lesser Grey Shrike that spent a few days at Hickling in June. This species breeds in Eastern Europe, in such areas as the Hortobagy in Hungary. What was more amazing though, was that the same bird was re-found near Middlebere Heath in Dorset in August. This bird had unique mark by its bill enabling the finders of the Dorset bird to determine it was the Hickling bird. Where it was between dates will have to remain a mystery.
Honey Buzzards are rare breeding birds in Norfolk and Natural England have two locations where anyone can go to lookout for the species. Both are east of Fakenham, one at the Wensum Valley Watchpoint near Great Ryburgh and the other at the Swanton Novers watchpoint. Birdwatchers were treated to a spectacular arrival of the species in mid-September. Weather conditions were such that a few hundred birds migrating south in mainland Europe were pushed across the North Sea. As a result many were seen to fly in off the sea at numerous locations around Norfolk on 13th September. Those on the north Norfolk coast appeared to filter inland as there were sightings over Attleborough, Cringleford and Norwich, whereas those on the east coast continued south resulting in record counts at Minsmere RSPB.

The next day hardly any Honey Buzzards were seen coming in off the sea and their distribution had more westerly bias, with for instance eight over Welney WWT. It seems likely that these birds had arrived on 13th in northern England and were making their way south. The movement continued with lower numbers until nearly the end of the month. Associated with the movement were Common Buzzards and Ospreys. Their arrival coincided with large falls of Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers, Wheatears and Whinchats. Redstarts were found along the entire length of the Norfolk coastline. The highest count was eighty-six on Blakeney Point.

Highlights from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserves from May onwards included a Great Reed Warbler, Temminck’s Stints, Lesser Yellowlegs White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpipers, Dotterel and Barred Warbler at Cley NWT. A Cattle Egret was also seen there. This species has bred in south-west England for the first time this year. Could it be about to do the same as the Little Egret, which has successfully colonised southern England and is now a familiar bird on estuaries and saltings. At Upton Broad NWT were two Red-footed Falcons, but surprisingly none were seen at Hickling Broad NWT where it is normally occurs annually. Hickling Broad NWT had a juvenile Marsh Sandpiper, White-winged Black Tern and two Pectoral Sandpipers.

There was a ‘new’ bird for Norfolk. Normally found in desert habitats a Trumpeter Finch spent a few days at the end of May and beginning of June in the desert like habitat on Blakeney Point.

Surprise mammals of the month goes to the two Long-finned Pilot Whales seen off Holme 5th and a rare migrant bat, the Parti-coloured Bat, was seen to fly off the sea at Kelling 13th and was apparently the first Norfolk record.
This article was written by Robin Chittenden from Birdline East Anglia.

Anyone can listen to the latest bird sightings on Birdline East Anglia by phoning 09068 700 245
Robin is available for private bird, wildlife or photography tours. For more information please click on the ‘news’ button near the bottom of this page. You can view his photographs at www.harlequinpictures.co.uk Please register by clicking on ‘lightbox’.
Please contact us with your sightings phone/text 07941333970 or e birdnews@birdline-eastanglia.co.uk

Birdline East Anglia report for November 2008

The easterly winds at the end of October continued into the first week of November. These favourable winds for the arrival of late autumn migrants from the continent resulted in many Waxwings along the north Norfolk coast. These rapidly filtered southwards and inland to Suffolk & Essex and Cambridgeshire & Bedfordshire respectively in a matter of days. Otherwise November was all about Red-flanked Bluetails (and Suffolk’s third Desert Wheatear).

Norfolk

Three Red-flanked Bluetails in the county was a record. The first being at Muckleburgh Hill, Weybourne found at the end of October and still present until 4th November. With the first clear skies in the evening of the 3rd it departed. A Dusky Warbler was found there 3rd-6th. A second Red-flanked Bluetail was found at Brancaster 4th and almost unbelievably a third was on Blakeney Point 6th. The latter was the seventh Norfolk record. A Radde’s Warbler was on Blakeney Point 7th and an elusive Hume’s Warbler was at Wells Woods 7th-8th.

Pallas’s Warblers were seen at Holme, two or three Wells Woods, Burnham Deepdale, Blakeney Point, Cley and Yellow-browed Warblers were at Wells Woods, Holkham, Burnham Deepdale, Holme (two), Blakeney, Burgh Castle, Great Yarmouth, Paston, Muckleburgh Hill, Sidestrand, Cley and inland at Lakenham 13th. Great Grey Shrikes were at East Hills, Warham Greens, North Walsham, Holme NWT 7th-8th, Buxton Heath NWT 8th onwards, Foulsham 10th, Grimes Graves/Santon Downham area 19th-30th at least and Denver Sluice 28th-29th. The only Shorelark was at Breydon Water 20th-21st and the only Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Horsey 22nd.

A juvenile American Golden Plover found at East Harling Heath in October remained until 13th at least and the Dotterel until 9th. The Black-bellied Dipper at Glandford was seen on and off until 15th. A Great White Egret flew west over Cley, Titchwell RSPB and Holme 12th. It was seen again at Holme & Thornham Marshes 14th-16th.

Slightly out of habitat was an Iceland Gull that flew west over Wells Woods 8th. A period of northerlies from 20th resulted in a few more of these ‘white-winged Gulls’ with sightings of both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls. Seawatchers at Overstrand had one Iceland and up to three Glaucous Gulls past 22nd. Both an Iceland and a Glaucous Gull were at Blackborough End Tip. Other Glaucous Gulls were seen at Salthouse, Cley NWT and Sheringham. The northerly blow also resulted in another Grey Phalarope at Cley NWT 22nd-27th. Black Guillemots were seen off various spots between Weybourne to Blakeney Point and one at Titchwell RSPB was later found dead 26th. There were only a few Little Auks the maximum count being six past Sheringham 22nd. Apart from Great Northern Divers seen passing offshore, others were at Wells 23rd and Titchwell RSPB 24th. An inland Shag was at Wroxham Broad 28th and two were at Denver Sluice 29th.

Waxwings continued to be seen but gradually filtered out of Norfolk into the rest of East Anglia. A Raven flew over Fakenham 1st and two flew over New Costessey 8th.

Two species of wildfowl were found in Norfolk that originated from North America. The first being a female Ring-necked Duck at Whitlingham CP 11th-22nd and the second was a Lesser Snow Goose among Pink-feet at Repps-with-Bastwick 30th. The first five Taiga Bean Geese returned to Buckenham Marshes RSPB 9th increasing to sixty-eight by the end of November. The first Black Brants were at Stiffkey and Titchwell RSPB from 1st. Two Tundra Bean Geese were at Rollesby 11th and two were at Happisburgh 14th.

Away from The Broads two Common Cranes flew northwest over Norwich airport 18th and two flew east at Downham Market 27th. A late Redstart was at Holkham 5th. Wells Woods had a Siberian Chiffchaff and a Northern Treecreeper at the beginning of November. Northern Treecreeper is a migrant from Fennoscandia and there have been birds showing characteristics of this form have turned up at least three times before in Norfolk. Last year there was one at Gramborough Hill in October and the two earlier records were both in November, the last being at Holme in 1987. A Spoonbill was at Lynn Point 23rd.

This article was written by Robin Chittenden from Birdline East Anglia.

Anyone can listen to the latest bird sightings on Birdline East Anglia by phoning 09068 700 245

Robin is available for private bird, wildlife or photography tours. For more information please click on the ‘news’ button near the bottom of this page. You can view his photographs at www.harlequinpictures.co.uk Please register by clicking on ‘lightbox’.

Please contact us with your sightings phone/text 07941333970 or e birdnews@birdline-eastanglia.co.uk

 

Norfolk bird & wildlife report for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust for May-September 2008

A male Red-backed Shrike spent the summer at Sea Palling. The species used to known as the ‘butcher’ bird. Named from its habit of stock piling prey items, such as large insects, on thorns in a ‘larder’, to which it could return at leisure to consume. The Red-backed Shrike has become extinct, during my lifetime, as a regular UK breeding bird. The last pair to breed in Norfolk was in 1988 in the Brecklands at Santon Downham. It is still a regular, but scarce, spring and autumn migrant, simply passing through Norfolk to other pastures. For one to find Sea Palling so attractive that it couldn’t bear to leave is at least interesting.

Red-backed Shrike is a Norfolk BAP species meaning that it is listed on the Norfolk Biodiversity Action Plan. The plan provides a legal framework to conserve, protect and enhance biodiversity. The idea is to focus the energy of conservation organisations on those species that make it on the list. So perhaps in the future we can hope for this species to return as a regular breeder.

Nearby and even more unusual in the UK was a female Lesser Grey Shrike that spent a few days at Hickling in June. This species breeds in Eastern Europe, in such areas as the Hortobagy in Hungary. What was more amazing though, was that the same bird was re-found near Middlebere Heath in Dorset in August. This bird had unique mark by its bill enabling the finders of the Dorset bird to determine it was the Hickling bird. Where it was between dates will have to remain a mystery.

Honey Buzzards are rare breeding birds in Norfolk and Natural England have two locations where anyone can go to lookout for the species. Both are east of Fakenham, one at the Wensum Valley Watchpoint near Great Ryburgh and the other at the Swanton Novers watchpoint. Birdwatchers were treated to a spectacular arrival of the species in mid-September. Weather conditions were such that a few hundred birds migrating south in mainland Europe were pushed across the North Sea. As a result many were seen to fly in off the sea at numerous locations around Norfolk on 13th September. Those on the north Norfolk coast appeared to filter inland as there were sightings over Attleborough, Cringleford and Norwich, whereas those on the east coast continued south resulting in record counts at Minsmere RSPB.

The next day hardly any Honey Buzzards were seen coming in off the sea and their distribution had more westerly bias, with for instance eight over Welney WWT. It seems likely that these birds had arrived on 13th in northern England and were making their way south. The movement continued with lower numbers until nearly the end of the month. Associated with the movement were Common Buzzards and Ospreys. Their arrival coincided with large falls of Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers, Wheatears and Whinchats. Redstarts were found along the entire length of the Norfolk coastline. The highest count was eighty-six on Blakeney Point.

Highlights from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserves from May onwards included a Great Reed Warbler, Temminck’s Stints, Lesser Yellowlegs White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpipers, Dotterel and Barred Warbler at Cley NWT. A Cattle Egret was also seen there. This species has bred in south-west England for the first time this year. Could it be about to do the same as the Little Egret, which has successfully colonised southern England and is now a familiar bird on estuaries and saltings. At Upton Broad NWT were two Red-footed Falcons, but surprisingly none were seen at Hickling Broad NWT where it is normally occurs annually. Hickling Broad NWT had a juvenile Marsh Sandpiper, White-winged Black Tern and two Pectoral Sandpipers.

There was a ‘new’ bird for Norfolk. Normally found in desert habitats a Trumpeter Finch spent a few days at the end of May and beginning of June in the desert like habitat on Blakeney Point.

Surprise mammals of the month goes to the two Long-finned Pilot Whales seen off Holme 5th and a rare migrant bat, the Parti-coloured Bat, was seen to fly off the sea at Kelling 13th and was apparently the first Norfolk record.

This article was written by Robin Chittenden from Birdline East Anglia.

Anyone can listen to the latest bird sightings on Birdline East Anglia by phoning 09068 700 245

Robin is available for private bird, wildlife or photography tours. For more information please click on the ‘news’ button near the bottom of this page. You can view his photographs at www.harlequinpictures.co.uk Please register by clicking on ‘lightbox’.

Please contact us with your sightings phone/text 07941333970 or e birdnews@birdline-eastanglia.co.uk

With mostly south-westerly winds throughout October it was not surprisingly quite a quiet month for birds in East Anglia. During the last three days of the month the winds changed and the birds arrived. There were eight species of rarities; Red-flanked Bluetail, Wilson’s Phalarope, Lesser Grey Shrike, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, Marbled Duck, Olive-backed Pipit and Blyth’s Reed Warbler.

Norfolk

From a small bird viewpoint the highlights were a Red-flanked Bluetail at Muckleburgh Hill, Weybourne 31st at least. This follows one that was trapped and ringed there in 29th September last year. An annual Weybourne bird!? A Black-throated Thrush was east of Holme 31st, although it may be been glimpsed on the reserves 30th. Also briefly at Holme was an Olive-backed Pipit 31st.

A Marbled Duck was at Wissington sugar beet factory lagoons 25th. A first winter Wilson’s Phalarope at Cley NWT and Salthouse 7th- 17th attracted many birdwatchers, as the last one in Norfolk was in 1994. Not as rare but still engaging was a Grey Phalarope also at Cley NWT 25th-26th and then was at Kelling Water Meadows 27th-29th.

A juvenile American Golden Plover was found at East Harling Heath 28th-31st at least. American Golden Plover used to be incredibly rare in Norfolk, but since 1999 they have become almost annual. This may be a reflection of observers checking Eurasian Golden Plover flocks with greater diligence and expertise. As is so often the case visiting birdwatchers looking for the American Golden Plover located another species, which can often be ‘carried ‘ by Eurasian Golden Plover, a Dotterel 29th-31st at least.

The second Blyth’s Reed Warbler for the Autumn in Norfolk was at Wells Woods 5th-8th. Other scarce warblers included a Radde’s Warbler at Weybourne 6th and Yellow-browed Warblers at Cley (two), Holkham (up to three), Wells Woods (two), Glandford, Kelling, Happisburgh (two), Titchwell RSPB, Eccles-on-Sea, Weybourne, Burnham Deepdale and Burgh Castle. Pallas’s Warblers started to arrive on 30th with up to four at Holme 30th-31st, two at Wells Woods 30th-31st, one at Warham Greens 31st, one Great Yarmouth 31st and Sea Palling 31st. Holme also had a late Barred Warbler 30th.

Other scarce passerine migrants included a Richards’ Pipit at Salthouse, Thornham Point, two at Holme NWT and West Runton 30th. Great Grey Shrikes were at Choseley 2nd, Waxham & Hickling Broad NWT 11th & 25th, Burnham Overy Dunes, Heacham and Stiffkey 24th. A Red-backed Shrike was at Sea Palling 28th.

Early winter dates included the first Waxwing of the winter that flew over Cromer 28th, eight Shorelark flew past Salthouse 25th and a Rough-legged Buzzard was at Holkham NNR 16th.

From warmer climates a Red-rumped Swallow flew past Titchwell RSPB 17th and another flew east at Warham Greens 23rd. A Hoopoe was at Cromer 8th.

Away from the Broads two Common Cranes were at Welney WWT.

This article was written by Robin Chittenden from Birdline East Anglia.

Anyone can listen to the latest bird sightings on Birdline East Anglia by phoning 09068 700 245. Please contact him with your sightings by phone or text 07941333970

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Robin Chittenden

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