Birdline East Anglia bird news August 2008
With south-westerly winds throughout most of August, it was not surprising that passerine migrants were thin on the ground. Despite that fact a few did get through, although it looked for most of the month there were going to be more Pied Flycatchers in Cambridgeshire than Norfolk!
In the last few days of August the situation changed and the winds moved to a more favourable quarter. This resulted in a few more migrants arriving including a ‘fall’ of twelve Redstarts on Blakeney Point and several Pied Flycatchers along the Norfolk coast.
Highlights were a Tawny Pipit was on Blakeney Point 8th-26th but it remained difficult to locate during its unusually protracted stay. There were three Wrynecks with birds at Kelling Heath 23rd-29th, Holme 30th and Blakeney Point 1st. There were two Icterine Warblers at Snettisham CP 24th and Blakeney Point 1st. A Common Rosefinch was also on the Point 30th and a Barred Warbler was at Cley 31st.
A Red-backed Shrike was at Warham Greens 31st and another at Sea Palling 31st.
There were a few unusual waders, the best being a juvenile Marsh Sandpiper at Hickling Broad NWT 18th-30th. A White-rumped Sandpiper put in a brief appearance at Cley NWT 4th and the Pectoral Sandpiper at Titchwell RSPB, first seen in July, remained until 5th. Another seen on the beach at Great Yarmouth 1st.
A Cattle Egret was at Cley NWT and Blakeney Freshmarsh NT 12th-15th and Spoonbills were at Cley NWT, Stiffkey Fen, Titchwell RSPB, Breydon Water and Welney WWT.
Roseate Terns were seen off Cley NWT, Sheringham, Holme and Eccles.
An adult male Honey Buzzard was seen over the Kelling ‘Triangle’ followed by a juvenile nearby at Cley Hangs 29th.
Two Common Cranes were again at Welney WWT more off then on during August and two were seen at Hardley Marshes 22nd.
Seawatching season kicked off with an adult Long-tailed Skua (without a long tail) very close in at Sheringham and an adult Sabine’s Gull passed Holme 8th. A Cory’s Shearwater flew past Sea Palling 9th. But disappointingly there were no truly favourable winds for great seawatching.
Surprise mammal of the month goes to the two Long-finned Pilot Whales seen off Holme 5th.
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