Bird news from Norfolk in November 2007
Birdline East Anglia bird news for Norfolk for November 2007
by Robin Chittenden
A first winter male Desert Wheatear was found at Horsey 24th-30th at least. As is often the case with this species it was very confiding, often dropping down by birdwatchers feet to feed. Its long stay and faithfulness to a small area, encouraged there by a succession of visiting bird photographers putting out food resulted it being the most popular rarity in November. Click the link for a selection of photographs of the Desert Wheatear at harlequinpictures.co.uk (Click on any of the images to enlarge)
A Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler was heard at Holkham 25th. Scarce migrants included several Great Grey Shrikes left over from last month. There was still one at Burnham Overy Dunes until 2nd, one at Sidestrand 1st. It looks like a few may winter those being one at Dersingham Bog NNR until 29th at least, one at Roydon Common 4th-29th at least and one at Wicken Fen NT until 30th. However there have been no records received from the Brecks yet so far this winter. A Richard’s Pipit flew east over Titchwell 1st, up to three were at Salthouse 3rd-8th, one was at Terrington Marsh 26th and another was at Horsey 26th-27th.
The number of Lapland Bunting built up to a maximum of at least thirty at Salthouse all month. The flock gave fantastic views along with the Snow Buntings there, encouraged to the area by seeds left by bird photographers. Click the link for a selection of Lapland Bunting photographs at harlequinpictures.co.uk (Click on any of the images to enlarge)
The only Shorelarks were two at Holkham Gap 21st and three at Cley NWT 25th-30th.
A Great White Egret was at Holkham Freshmarsh 2nd, one flew north-west over Whittlingham Lane sewage works near Norwich 4th, one over Titchwell RSPB 10th and one west over Waxham, Sheringham, Salthouse, Cley NWT and Morston 13th. A Green-winged Teal was at Hickling Broad NWT 28th-30th at least.
The Lesser Snow Goose was in the Horsey, Waxham and Hickling Broad NWT area until 12th and also seen on various dates at Breydon Water, Berney Marshes RSPB and Halvergate until 30th at least. Another Snow Goose was south of Brancaster 22nd-24th and Holkham Freshmarsh 25th. One of the Ross’s Geese popped up at Heigham Holmes, Waxham and Edingthorpe area 6th-26th and the other was at Burnham Overy Marshes 17th, then near Heacham and Snettisham RSPB 21st- 22nd, then it was south of Brancaster 24th-25th and then near Langham 29th.
A Black Brant was at Burnham Overy Marshes 1st-2nd, at Wells 7th-26th, Titchwell RSPB 17th-20th and up to three were at Cockthorpe airfield/Warham Greens/Wighton/Stiffkey area 14th-26th.
The first fifty-five Taiga Bean Geese were seen at Buckenham Marshes RSPB 4th. They were seen on later dates at the nearby Cantley Marshes RSPB and Thorpe Marshes and their numbers built up to just above 130. A Tundra Bean Goose was south of Brancaster 25th.
There was a scattering of Waxwings including one at Titchwell RSPB until 8th, one at Surlingham 21st-22nd and one at Holme 24th-25th.
An Arctic Tern flew past Hopton-on-Sea 4th and Sheringham 6th. A late Wood Sandpiper was at Welney WWT 4th and a Swallow was at Eccles 30th, Cley 29th and Salthouse 15th.
There was a large passage of Pomarine Skuas in Norfolk 3rd-14th. Birds were logged at all coastal locations from Hopton to Holme. The highest counts initially were from Holme and Titchwell when the winds were relatively light from the north. About 150 flew past Titchwell in two days 3rd-4th. At Sheringham the highest count was 103 when the winds had become stronger from the north-west 6th. Numbers dwindled by mid-month. In the first couple of days of the passage flocks were composed of more adults than juveniles.
Associated with this seabird movement were Little Auks, Grey Phalaropes, Velvet Scoter, a few Arctic Skua and Great Skua, Great Northern and Black-throated Divers and Scaup.
s RSPB 5th. Another Common Crane Welney WWT until 28th. There are at least thirty-one Common Cranes in the Broads
The most unusual species seen seawatching was a White-billed Diver past Sheringham 6th plus a couple of other claims of this species flying over Cley 9th and Blakeney 10th. A female Surf Scoter flew past Sheringham 9th and was reported past Cley a couple of hours later. Perhaps the same female Surf Scoter passed Titchwell RSPB and Holme 10th. A ‘probable’ Brunnich’s Guillemot that flew past Cley NWT could have been the most rare!
The saltwater flooding at Cley and Salthouse attracted one or two Grey Phalaropes 9th-10th, up to three Pomarine Skuas 11th-19th and a Little Auk 9th and 14th. A few Iceland Gull were seen but by far the most popular was one at Edgefield 19th-30th at least
Inland seabirds included a Great Northern Diver at Nar Valley Fisheries 11th-13th and Little Auks were inland at Bramerton 9th, three on Wroxham Broad 11th, one University of East Anglia broad 12th, Outwell 13th, Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen 14th and one Hickling Broad NWT 15th. A Grey Phalarope was at Hickling Broad NWT 15th. A Long-tailed Duck was at Berney Marshes RSPB 9th-29th at least. Inland Slavonian Grebes were at Hickling Broad NWT 15th. A dead Storm Petrel was found at Cockthorpe 17th having apparently seen alive a few days previously and a dead Pomarine Skua was found at Attleborough 15th.
A Rough-legged Buzzard was at Gapton Marshes near Great Yarmouth 18th-28th, one flew over Horsey and East Ruston 28th and one flew north over Minsmere RSPB 5th.
A Common Crane was at Claxton Marshes 4th and then Buckenham Marshes 4th and then Buckenham Marshes RSPB 5th. Another Common Crane Welney WWT until 28th. There are at least thirty-one Common Cranes in the Broads
Robin Chittenden
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