Norfolk Bird News September 2007

Birdline East Anglia bird news for Norfolk for September 2007

by Robin Chittenden

In a repeat performance from last autumn a white morph Lesser Snow Goose was tracked heading south past Flamborough and Spurn in Yorkshire then Capel St Leonards in Lincolnshire with 340 Pink-footed Geese. It was then seen to fly east past Titchwell RSPB before landing at Holkham Freshmarsh 15 th-30th at least. It was calculated that it flew an average of thirty miles an hour. This bird that may well be the same individual as last winter was then seen at several sites in north Norfolk including Burnham Norton 17 th-18th, on and off at Burnham Deepdale 19th-25th, Burnham Market 22nd, Stiffkey 27th, Warham Greens 29th, over Winterton 30th. A Ross’s Goose was at Warham Greens with Pink-feet 29th.

A drake Ferruginous Duck was at Cantley sugar beet factory lagoons 19th

A Great White Egret was seen at Holkham Freshmarsh before flying west over Titchwell RSPB and Hunstanton 21st.

A juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher appeared at Titchwell RSPB 21st-25th. And a juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper was there 22nd. The adult White-rumped Sandpiper remained at Breydon Water until 8th. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found in a field by Happisburgh lighthouse 25th-26th. There were several Pectoral Sandpipers; one at Titchwell RSPB 7th-15th, up to two Hickling Broad NWT 13th-25th, one at Salthouse and Kelling 22nd-23rd. A juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was at Buckenham Marshes RSPB 8 th-10th and there was a probable at Titchwell RSPB but it was too distant to safely separate from Grey Phalarope 18th. A Grey Phalarope was at Cley NWT following a northerly blow 26 th.

Fifteen Great Shearwaters flew past Sheringham 10th and two past there the next day. Others were seen at various locations of north Norfolk coast including one loafing close inshore off Scolt Head Island.

In suitable weather conditions there were good numbers of seabirds passing viewable from various coastal seawatching locations. Highlights were higher than normal numbers of Sabine’s Gull with a maximum of ten seen off Titchwell RSPB on one day equalling the Norfolk record The only Roseate Terns were at Breydon Water 1st and Stiffkey 8th

Following some favourable winds there was a small arrival of passerines including a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Sea Palling was seen well but briefly by the joyful finder. A Barred Warbler was at Winterton 12th-17th and Waxham 23rd and a Wryneck was at Horsey 15th. A Hoopoe was at Rollesby 23rd-24th.

These were eclipsed at the end of the month when the weather patterns became perfect for an huge influx of passerine migrants, winter wildfowl and waders. Highlights were a Blyth’s Reed Warbler at Salthouse 30th, a Red-flanked Bluetail at Weybourne 30th and a Subalpine Warbler species at Burnham Overy Dunes 30th. The Bluetail was trapped and ringed but not seen after it flew from the release spot. There were also a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Wells 29th, Red-backed Shrikes at Sea Palling, Great Grey Shrikes at Thornham Point 27th, Happisburgh 27th -30th, Thornham 29th, Warham Greens 28th-29th, up to two at Waxham 29th-30th and two at Winterton 30 th, Eccles 29th, Stiffkey 30th, Holme 30th, Felmingham 30th, a Greenish Warbler at Holkham 27th-30th and Caister Road Cemetery 30th , Yellow-browed Warblers at Wells 27th, Holkham 28th-30th, Stiffkey 29th-30th, up to two Wells 29th, Horsey 30th, Winterton 30th, Great Yarmouth 30th, up to four Holme 29 th-30th, a Little Bunting at Wells 27th and Weybourne 27th, a Richards Pipit Warham Greens 29th and Holkham 30th, two Barred Warblers were at Winterton 30 th, one at Waxham 23rd, Burnham Overy Dunes 30th, Holme 29th-30th, a Wryneck was at Holkham 29th and a Serin was at Wells Wood 29 th.

There were a few Honey Buzzards one at Burnham Overy Dunes and two over Holkham Park 6 th

The first Pink-foot Geese began to arrive including forty over Holme 11th
Other winter visitors trickled in with a Redwing at Great Yarmouth and Creeting St Mary 15th and a Snow Bunting at Winterton 15th.

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