SHETLAND BIRD NEWS, PHOTOS, BIRDING, LIFE AND MORE! MY 14th YEAR ANNIVERSARY 2024!


Ring RARE BIRD ALERT with your sightings to: 01603 456789 or Hotline: 0207 0382820 or Text: 07520 634324
All Bird News & Megas via The Rare Bird Alert Website – Subscribe To RBA For Detailed News & Much More!

OVER TEN MILLION VIEWS! If you would like to advertise here, please contact me at [pennyclarke@talktalk.net]

Thursday 30 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 30 at Santon Warren, NE of Santon Downham
Glaucous Gull & Little Auk flew past Holme Dunes
Hawfinches x 2 at Holkham Park
Little Auk, Black-throated Divers x 2, Long-tailed Duck at Cley
Snow Bunting at Snettisham Coastal Park
Glaucous Gull, Caspian Gull, Long-tailed Duck flew past Weybourne Camp
Snow Buntings x 14 at Winterton
Little Auk, Short-eared Owl at Sheringham
Glaucous Gull at Sidestrand

MEGA NEWS 
None

Please Sign Petition: Ban Driven Grouse Shooting!

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/201443

"Mismanagement of UK uplands for Driven Grouse Shooting leads to the illegal killing and persecution of British raptors, including Hen Harriers, Golden Eagles and Peregrine Falcons and causes significant flood risk, water pollution and environmental damage contributing to global climate change.
  • Raptors, Foxes, Badgers, Stoats, Hedgehogs and Mountain Hare are killed in their thousands each year.
     
  • Draining of peat bog (internationally valuable Carbon storage resource) and burning of heather has been shown to pollute our waterways, increase lowland flooding and cause significant environmental damage, contributing to climate change.
     
  • Grouse moorland estates and wealthy landowners have so far received £20m+ in subsidies paid for by the tax payer."

RBA Weekly Round-Up 22nd to 28th November!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-48.aspx?s_id=842030886

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Brendan Joyce Receives OBE

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/norfolk-chief-executive-receives-obe-for-services-to-nature-conservation-1-5290341

Snow On The Way!

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/it-s-official-snow-is-on-its-way-to-norfolk-1-5299325

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 40 at Santon Warren, NE of Santon Downham
Glaucous Gull, Black Brant, Dark-bellied Brent Geese x 100, Spotted Redshank at Cley NWT
Grey Phalaropes x 2, Little Auk, Little Gulls x 10 at Titchwell RSPB
Black-throated Diver at Winterton
Swallow still at Beach Cafe, Wells
Lapland Bunting, Snow Buntings x 30 at Weybourne
Taiga Bean Geese x 3, Russian White-fronted Geese x 65 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Shorelark near Sailing Club at Snettisham
Blue Fulmar, Shag, Goosanders x 3, Great Skuas x 19 at Sheringham

MEGA NEWS 
None

Tuesday 28 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 42 at Santon Warren, NE of Santon Downham
Caspian Gull, Great Skuas x 5, Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham
Water Pipits x 2 yesterday at Rockland Broad
Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Twite, Slavonian Grebes x 2 at Holme
Black Brant at Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 14 at Thornham Harbour
Hawfinches x 2 at Lynford Aboretum
Taiga Bean Geese x 2 (unconfirmed report), Water Pipit at Berney Marshes RSPB
Long-tailed Duck at Brancaster Staithe
Snow Buntings x 15, Little Gulls x 47 at Titchwell RSPB

MEGA NEWS 
None

Monday 27 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Black Brant, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
White Stork flew over North Walsham
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 32 at Santon Warren, NE of Santon Downham
Bittern at Welney WWT
Hawfinches x 16, Scaup at Lynford Aboretum
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey Fen
Lapland Buntings x 4 at Weybourne
Hen Harriers x 5 at Warham Greens
Swallow still over beach cafe, Snow Buntings x 4 at Wells
Common Cranes x 34 near Horsey Mere

MEGA NEWS 
None

Sunday 26 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 28 at Santon Warren, NE of Santon Downham
Hawfinches x 2 at Felbrigg Hall NT
Swallow still over beach cafe, Wells
Snow Buntings x 60, Black Brant, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Shorelark, Snow Buntings x 4 at Holme
Snow Buntings x 9, Lapland Buntings x 2 at Weybourne
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
Snow Buntings x 30 at Eccles-on-Sea
Hen Harriers x 4 at Warham Greens
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Hawfinches x 8 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 2 at Salthouse 

MEGA NEWS 
None

Saturday 25 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Little Auk, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Ducks x 8, Snow Buntings x 2, Water Pipits x 2, Hen Harrier at Titchwell RSPB
Long-tailed Duck at Brancaster Staithe
Shorelark, Snow Buntings x 3 at Holme
Hawfinches x 2 at Holkham Park
Black-necked Grebe, Snow Buntings x 30, Short-eared Owl at Winterton
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Short-eared Owl at Breydon Water
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 16 at Santon Warren, NE of Santon Downham
Cattle Egrets x 2 opposite Red Lion Pub at Stiffkey
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
Swallow at beach cafe, Wells
Great White Egret at Snettisham RSPB
Black Brant at Cley NWT
Hawfinch at Thorpe St Andrew
Hen Harrier at Morston
Hen Harrier at Warham Greens
Great White Egrets x 3, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath
Great White Egret at Lynford Aboretum
Lapland Bunting flew over Hunstanton Cliffs

MEGA NEWS 
None

Friday 24 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Snow Buntings x 50 on beach at Cley
Long-tailed Duck at Brancaster Staithe
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
Lapland Buntings x 2, Snow Buntings x 2 at Weybourne
Taiga Bean Goose, Pink-footed Geese x 10,000 at Great Bircham
Hawfinch in garden at Norwich
House Martins x 2, Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham
Snow Buntings x 13 at North Beach, Great Yarmouth
Little Auk, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Shorelark, Lapland Bunting at Holme
Purple Sandpiper at North Beach, Heacham
Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier at Warham Greens
Common Cranes x 8 at Upton Marshes
Hen Harrier at Hickling Broad NWT
Cackling Geese x 2 reported at Welney WWT

MEGA NEWS 
None

Thursday 23 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Hawfinches x 3 at Felbrigg Hall NT
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Great White Egrets x 2, Russian White-fronted Geese x 7 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Hawfinches x 2 at Holkham Park
Shorelark east of Lady Ann's Drive + Hen Harrier at Holkham
Hawfinches x 2 flew over Norwich
Firecrest at Beeston Common, Sheringham
Cattle Egrets x 2 opposite Red Lion Pub at Stiffkey
House Martin over Wells
Long-tailed Duck at Brancaster Staithe
Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Blakeney Freshmarsh
Long-tailed Ducks x 4, Great Northern Divers x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
PARROT CROSSBILLS x 6 possible, at Santon Warren, NE of Santon Downham
Snow Buntings x 3 at North Beach, Heacham
HUMPBACK WHALE north past Hemsby
Greenland White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Geese x 12,000 at Bircham Newton
Caspian Gull at Sheringham

MEGA NEWS 
None

Wednesday 22 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Lapland Buntings x 5 at Weybourne
Long-tailed Ducks x 6, Great Northern Diver, Water Pipit, Spotted Redshank at Titchwell RSPB
Grey-bellied Brant (possible), Pink-footed Geese x 12,000, Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Barnacle Geese x 4, Tundra Bean Goose, Greenland White-fronted Goose at Bircham Newton
Black Brant, Iceland Gull at Cley NWT
Spotted Redshank at Kelling Water Meadows
Snow Buntings x 4 at Sheringham

MEGA NEWS 
FORSTER'S TERN
Kinvarra, County Galway, Ireland

RBA Weekly Round-Up 15th to 21st November!

By Jon Dunn
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-47.aspx?s_id=677135806

Tuesday 21 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Glaucous Gull, Velvet Scoter, Snow Buntings x 50 at Beach Road Car Park, Cley
Iceland Gull at Cley NWT
Hawfinches x 2 flew over Thorpe Marriott
Grey Phalarope (probable) flew over Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 20 at Thornham Harbour
Great White Egrets x 2 at Holkham Freshmarsh
Long-tailed Duck at Brancaster Staithe
Water Pipit at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS 
None

Monday 20 November 2017

Course in Derby!

Left the Premier Inn early morning – no ice to scrape off the car this morning! I arrived at the London Road Community Hospital in Derby at just after 8am. Started my day with a fabulous NHS breakfast for £2.99 and a nice cup of tea in a very relaxed canteen. My course started at 9am – "Posture and Balance in Relation to the Lower Limbs for Assistants".

More on that tomorrow........

Left Derby at 4.50pm this evening. It was quite daunting driving through the city and beyond in the evening traffic – grid locked is an understatement! I consider myself a good driver and have only ever had silly car park accidents in first gear, but my journey home was not my best at all. I had two near incidents, the first one was not understanding the sat nav information and realising that I should have been in the far left hand lane to get into a slip road and nearly ended up on the M1 – not where I wanted to be heading! As I got into the slip road at the last second, a massive lorry who had been driving up my backside anyway, nearly went into the back of me. Later in the journey I was on a dual carriage way and the sat nav instructed me to get into the right hand lane to turn right on the next roundabout, but the right hand lane was heavily congested and no one would let me in! So I had no choice but to stay in the left hand lane (arrowed for first exit only) and go round the roundabout – as I passed the first exit a 'white man van' nearly went into the back of me, as they presumably thought I was turning off on the first exit. Thinking about this, I didn't do anything majorly wrong – both the lorry driver and the van driver were both too close to me in the first place!!! My worst driving trip to date though!

Arrived back in King's Lynn at 7.50pm in one piece thank goodness. The journey to work in the morning will seem so simple! Absolutely exhausted, good night!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Long-tailed Duck at Brancaster Staithe
Iceland Gull, Black Brant, Dark-bellied Brent Gees x 250 at Cley NWT
Hawfinch, Firecrest at Lynford Aboretum
Twite x 14 at Thornham Harbour
Slavonian Grebe, Velvet Scoter at Titchwell RSPB
Lapland Bunting at Weybourne
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Water Pipits x 2 at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Snow Buntings x 4 at North Beach, Winterton

MEGA NEWS 
None

Sunday 19 November 2017

Dippers in Derbyshire!

After having an excellent night's sleep and an invigorating shower, I was out of the house by 7.30am. It was freezing outside and it took a long time to defrost the car. It was a beautiful morning and the sun shone all day – lucky me! Last night I planned today with visits to Dovedale, Monsal Dale, Lathkill Dale at Over Haddon, Cromford Mills and Carsington Water and if I had time Snake Pass in the northern Peak District for Red Grouse (as recommended by Andy W.). However, I only managed to visit three of these places!

Dovedale & The Stepping Stones
I arrived at the Dovedale car park to find that it didn't open until 9am! Luckily the ticket man turned up just after 8.30am and let me in. £3.00 to park and the public toilets cost 20p (turnstile). I specifically wanted to visit here, as it was recommended to me for Dippers and I also wanted to see the 'Stepping Stones'. I was so glad I was the first person here, as it was chaos later with loads of people and out of control dogs. I saw so many birds here! As soon as I started the walk, I had masses of Redwings in the trees along with good numbers of Blackbirds, two Great-spotted Woodpeckers were in a tree close by, also two Green Woodpeckers, Robins, a Grey Wagtail and a Buzzard was calling overhead. The walk along the river to the stepping stones was beautiful, but I didn't seen any Dippers. The stepping stones were magical and quite easy to walk across – a very scenic spot. You then continue on through a 'squeeze' stile – any fatter and I wouldn't have got through! The river was now on my left – saw a Heron on route. I climbed up some stone steps, known as 'Lovers Leap' and then at a viewing point, had brilliant views of a Nuthatch, Treecreeper and a Goldcrest all at the same time! I didn't continue the walk, as I had a more reliable Dipper site to go to and I knew the day wouldn't last long. I re-traced my steps to the car park and was passed by loads of people and dogs. By the bridge just before the car park I had at least 100+ Siskins feeding in the Alder trees! Also had a Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren and Robins here.

Monsal Dale and Viaduct
I lost at least a valuable hour of light or possibly more, trying to find the Lees Bottom Car park (SK17 9UH) with my Sat nav, which basically doesn't exist, its actually called "White Lodge Car Park" which is just off the A6. I was very pleased to find that the parking machine (would have cost me £3.50) had been vandalised! From here you cross the road, go through a 'squeeze' stile and descend some tiny stone steps, follow the path down and climb over another stile and walk through the woodland with a cascading river on your right. Where the path splits, I kept to the right path which follows the River Wye. The path goes through Monsal Dale. I was so excited when I found my first Dipper of the day – bobbing up and down on a bright green covered stone amongst the cascades of rippling water! In all I found EIGHT Dippers!!! I was so pleased! They are so exciting to watch! As you can imagine, I took alot of photographs! I also had wonderful views of several pairs of Goosanders on the river and there were also Mallard, Teal and Little Grebes. I arrived at Monsal Dale Weir – a spectacular place! A dramatic triple cascade, tumbles down to the river below – I spent a good while here, taking pictures and videos. Eventually I reached a flat area of grassland with cows grazing and the backdrop is the Monsal Head Viaduct. I could have easily carried on, but the clock was ticking and I wanted to visit Lathkill Dale. I re-traced my steps. On route, some youngsters were being very silly and two of them had removed their shoes and socks and had walked across the top of the weir to be photographed! It looked so dangerous, one slip and they would have fallen over the edge and crashed at the bottom. I saw more Dippers on the way back – a beautiful walk. One thing that disappointed me today, was seeing little black dog poo bags strung up in bushes and trees – I thought that only happened in Norfolk!

Lathkill Dale, Over Haddon
Back at the White Lodge Car Park, it was now 3.15pm. My Sat nav informed me that it was way too late to go to Snake Pass, which is in the north Peak District and is a good place to see Red Grouse. It was too late in the day to go anywhere really, but still went to Lathkill Dale at Over Haddon. Because of the time and failing light, I didn't park in the designated car park, but headed down the steep single track tarmac road and got as close to the river as I could. I walked down to the river, which looked beautiful, but the light was awful now – it would have looked considerably better in the morning sunshine. Bumped into a local man, who advised me that I wouldn't see much now at this time of the day. I returned to my car and put the Premier Inn postcode into the Sat nav. I stopped on route to take a picture of the sunset with dry stone walls and sheep in the foreground. I arrived back at about 5.30pm.

I went to the Mundy Arms for my evening meal and was again extremely disappointed. I had a 'Gourmet Veggie Burger', served with 'skin on fries' (chips) and coleslaw and a garlic and cheddar ciabatta. When the meal was brought out, the coleslaw was minuscule and looked a very odd colour – when I tasted it, I was shocked to find it was warm, if not almost hot! The burger seemed to be the same as the 'nut roast' last night!!! Dry and not very nice chips and ditto with the ciabatta. Sent the meal back and the warm coleslaw was replaced with some cold coleslaw, but it tasted off to me, so I left it. In fact I left half my meal, which is rare for me. I decided not to bother with dessert, it wasn't worth the risk. When I went to the bar to pay, a very nice lady let me off my bill as an apology for both last night and tonight and admitted they had staffing problems. It was nice of her to do that, but they really need to get the food sorted out! Its a huge shame, as the pub is really pretty and well laid out, staff are nice, but the food is crap! It won't help returning customers to the Premier Inn (the two are linked).

After I left the pub, I popped into the Premier Inn reception to let them know about the awful food at the Mundy Arms and also to cancel my breakfast in the morning. I didn't want to have a rubbish breakfast too (I notice on Trip Advisor, that someone had a bad breakfast experience there a few days ago!). The receptionist very kindly gave me a small bottle of wine and a box of chocolates as an apology, which was very nice of her! Update: I noticed on Trip Advisor, that someone else has written a review for the same Saturday evening titled "Faulty Towers on a bad day".

I don't have time to go through any pictures as have to go to sleep now. Very early start in the morning. I leave here to attend a course in Derby and then drive home to King's Lynn at 4.30pm. HUGE thanks to all the wonderful Derbyshire birders (and from elsewhere), who have so kindly taken the time to email and advise me where to search for Dippers, much appreciated.

PICTURES AND VIDEOS TO BE ADDED THURSDAY EVENING

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Snow Buntings x 3, Lapland Bunting at Weybourne
Long-tailed Duck at Brancaster Staithe
Long-tailed Duck at Burnham Deepdale
Hawfinches x 2, Snow Buntings (flew over) x 2 at Felbrigg Hall NT
Snow Buntings x 60, Iceland Gulls x 2, Glaucous Gull, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull at Salthouse
Snow Buntings x 6 at Sheringham
Water Pipit at Berney Marshes RSPB
Pale-bellied Brent Geese x 2 at Burnham Norton
Iceland Gull at Weybourne
Cattle Egrets x 2 opposite the Red Lion Pub at Stiffkey
Mealy Redpolls x 3, Great Northern Diver, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Hawfinch flew over Norwich
Snow Buntings x 3 at North Beach, Winterton
Hen Harriers x 3 at Warham Greens
Water Pipit at Thornham Harbour

MEGA NEWS 
None

Saturday 18 November 2017

Derbyshire Mini Break!

On Monday I'm booked on a day course in Derby (booked via work), so I decided to make a weekend of my visit and booked to stay Saturday and Sunday. I'm hoping to see some Dippers!

I arrived at my Premier Inn (Derby North West) in Derbyshire this afternoon and managed to see some sights before dusk, but no birds of note seen yet. I visited Ilam Park just before dusk – a very picturesque village, with stone bridge, cascading river, pretty houses, sheep and Ilam Hall. In the centre of the village is the Mary Watts-Russell Memorial Cross, built in 1840 in memory of Jesse Watts-Russell's wife.

"The picturesque village of Ilam (eye-lamb) nestles beside the River Manifold in the Staffordshire Peak District among limestone hills. It sits in the Peak District National Park on the Staffordshire border with Derbyshire, close to the famous Dovedale valley. It has Alpine style cottages, a church and river and is set against the backdrop of Bunster Hill, Thorpe Cloud and the steep and tumbling pastures. There is a youth hostel at Ilam Hall, set within Ilam Park, cared for by the National Trust."

On return to the Premier Inn, I went to the Mundy Arms (next to and part of the Premier Inn package) for my evening meal, which I had pre-booked for 7pm. I was very excited to see that they did a nut roast roast dinner and ginger cheesecake for dessert! I had a glass of Prosecco wine whilst I waited for my food. It was a massive disappointment – I can't remember the last time I had food this bad and I had to wait 75 minutes for the main course. The nut roast was a round flat type burger that tasted spicy. The vegetables were over done and the entire plate was mushed together and badly presented. I sent the plate back as there was no yorkshire pudding (as specified) and the sprouts were almost cold. The plate was taken away and re-served hot (obviously just stuck in the microwave) and the yorkshire pudding was like a big crisp – I couldn't cut it open, it was rock hard, so sent that back and got another one when I had finished my meal and that was also rock hard. I didn't think they could go wrong with the dessert, but they did – half the depth of the cheese cake was biscuit based and was so hard, I couldn't use the spoon and even prodding a fork in it was difficult! Gordon Ramsey would have had a field day! However the staff were all really nice, that was the only good thing.

Very nice accommodation, but not as pristine as the newer Premier Inns – I found a few cobwebs and a heater didn't work (this was repaired later though). Wonderfully quiet here and no noise at all. My car is parked just outside my window! I cancelled my pre-booked breakfast in the morning, as they don't start until 8am and I want a full day out birding from dawn until dusk.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Hawfinches x 2 at Felbrigg Hall NT
Iceland Gull at Kelling Water Meadows
Grey Phalarope, Black Brant, Bittern, Iceland Gull, Dark-bellied Brent Geese x 500, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Cley NWT
Iceland Gull at Salthouse
Black Redstart at boating pool, Snow Buntings x 4, Purple Sandpipers x 2 at Sheringham
Long-tailed Duck at Brancaster Staithe
Goshawk flew over, Glaucous Gull flew past Trimingham
Cattle Egrets x 2 opposite Red Lion Pub at Stiffkey
Caspian Gull at Sidestrand
Lapland Bunting at Halvergate
Firecrest at Titchwell RSPB
Caspian Gull, Iceland Gull at Weybourne
Twite x 20, Yellow-legged Gull at Thornham Harbour
Purple Sandpiper, Shag at Overstrand
Snow Buntings x 35 at Happisburgh
Water Pipits x 2 at Cantley Beet Factory
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh

MEGA NEWS 
FORSTER'S TERN
Kinvarra, County Galway, Ireland

Friday 17 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Glaucous Gull at Sidestrand
Purple Sandpiper at Bacton
Twite x 20, Spotted Redshank at Thornham Harbour
Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks x 3, Purple Sandpiper at Sheringham
Shorelarks x 2, Snow Buntings x 26 at Happisburgh
Hawfinches x 7 at Felbrigg Hall
Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Snow Buntings x 35 at Cley NWT
Richard's Pipit flew over, Lapland Buntings x 3 at Weybourne
Long-tailed Duck at Brancaster Staithe
Great Northern Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Snow Buntings x 25 at South Beach, Winterton
Caspian Gull at Kelling
Rough-legged Buzzard at Flitcham

MEGA NEWS 
None

Thursday 16 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Snow Buntings x 100 at Blakeney Point
Glaucous Gull at Bacton
Waxwing flew over Hunstanton
Great White Egret at Hockwold Washes
Snow Buntings x 20 flew over Cromer
Snow Buntings x 50, Black Brant at Cley NWT
Hawfinches x 4 at Felbrigg Hall NT
Shorelark, Lapland Bunting, Snow Buntings x 45, Glaucous Gull at Happisburgh
Hawfinches x 4 at East Wretham Heath
Glaucous Gull at Walcott
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Waxwings x 2 flew over Muckleburgh Hill
Snow Buntings x 2, Lapland Bunting flew over at Weybourne Camp
Black Redstart at South Beach, Hunstanton
Hen Harrier at Thornham Marsh
Slavonian Grebe at Titchwell RSPB
Water Pipit at Potter Heigham Marshes

MEGA NEWS 
None

Fascinating 1968 Film of the Railway Line from King's Lynn to Hunstanton!

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-future-uncertain-1968-online

"A whistle-stop venture from Kings Lynn to Hunstanton via rail, in the company of Chib Thorp, amateur filmmaker and rail enthusiast from Leigh-on-Sea."

"Edward Thorp, known as ‘Chib’, an undertaker from Leigh-on-Sea, spent his weekends throughout the year visiting the rural railway lines in East Anglia with wife Edna and their dog Micky. Chib always took along his 8mm camera, a good supply of Kodachrome film, and a tape recorder, to document their trips. Chib would edit the film himself at home, have a magnetic stripe added to the film, and on his Kodak projector, which had a recording facility, he would record a commentary.

The train journey starts outside King's Lynn station, passing through the first station North Wootton, then to the lovely Wolferton - the station that once served the Sandringham Estate, stopping at Dersingham then Snettisham Station and Heacham, before hitting Hunstanton, the end of the line. Presumably the film's title "Future Uncertain" refers to the spate of line and station closures and therefore withdrawal of passenger services by British Rail following the Beeching Report."

Wednesday 15 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Great White Egret at Hockwold Washes, Lakenheath
Hawfinches x 2 flew over Thorpe Marshes, Haddiscoe
Iceland Gulls x 2 at Cley NWT
Hawfinches x 5 at Felbrigg Hall NT
Snow Buntings x 90, Hen Harrier at Blakeney Point
Yellow-browed Warbler ringed at Holme NOA
Iceland Gull flew past Kelling Hard
Iceland Gull flew past Weybourne
Shorelarks x 14, Snow Buntings x 40 at Happisburgh
Iceland Gull at Salthouse
Dartford Warbler at South Dunes, Snow Buntings x 19 at North Dunes, Winterton
Waxwings x 4 flew over Hunstanton Cliffs

MEGA NEWS 
FORSTER'S TERN
Newtownlynch, County Galway, Ireland
MEDITERRANEAN FLYCATCHER
reported on 24th-28th October, was a Spotted Flycatcher [confirmed by DNA analysis] at Cloughton, Yorkshire

RBA Weekly Round-Up 8th to 14th November!

By Jon Dunn
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-46.aspx?s_id=512239999

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
TUESDAY 4th NOVEMBER
Hawfinch flew over New Costessey
Waxwing flew over Norwich
Shorelarks x 9, Lapland Bunting, Snow Buntings x 40 at Happisburgh
Iceland Gull, Snow Buntings x 48 at beach car park, Cley
Black Brant, Little Stint at Cley NWT
Hawfinches x 6 at Felbrigg Hall NT
Snow Bunting between Overstrand & Cromer
Caspian Gulls x 2 at Cromer
Iceland Gull east of Kelling Hard
Waxwing at Stiffkey Campsite
Caspian Gull at Mundesley
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Sabine's Gull, Little Auk, Long-tailed Duck, Little Gulls x 8, Snow Bunting at Holme
Dartford Warbler at Horsey Gap
Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Titchwell RSPB
Little Auk, Great Northern Diver, Snow Buntings x 3 at Thornham Point
Snow Buntings x 26 at North Beach, Winterton
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Great Northern Diver at Sidestrand

MEGA NEWS 
None

Tuesday 14 November 2017

Holkham Plea On Controlling Dogs!

This was published on 5th October, but still relevant now and throughout the year. The photograph of the dog attacking the muntjac is horrific! I have said this many times – if all dogs were on a lead in public, there would be no issues with disturbance to wildlife, harassing or attacking other people.

http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/holkham-plea-on-controlling-dogs-1-8179604

Monday 13 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Grey Phalarope, Little Stints x 2, Water Pipits x 2 at Cley NWT
Snow Buntings x 40, Glaucous Gull, Little Auk, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Velvet Scoters x 2 at Coastguards, Cley
Velvet Scoter at Great Yarmouth
Waxwing in garden at Hethersett
Little Auks x 5, Velvet Scoters x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Great Northern Divers x 2, Black-throated Diver, Little Gulls x 2, Shag, Short-eared Owl, Purple Sandpipers x 4 at Sheringham
Long-tailed Duck, Purple Sandpiper at Overstrand
Hawfinches x 4 at Felbrigg Hall NT
Little Auks x 2, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Great Northern Diver at Titchwell RSPB
Little Auk, Short-eared Owl, Snow Buntings x 24 at Winterton
Shorelarks x 18, Lapland Buntings x 3, Snow Buntings x 38 at Happisburgh
Great White Egrets x 3 at Welney WWT
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Hen Harrier at Stiffkey Fen
Waxwing flew over Burnham Overy Dunes
Glaucous Gull, Little Auk flew past Waxham
Glaucous Gull & Caspian Gull east of Beach Road, Salthouse
Rough-legged Buzzard south of Choseley Drying Barns
Little Auks x 3, Little Gulls x 4 at Holme
Short-eared Owl flew past Weybourne Camp
Hawfinches x 2 flew over Blakeney
Long-tailed Duck at Sidestrand

MEGA NEWS 
None

Sunday 12 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Hawfinch flew over car park, Snow Bunting, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Glaucous Gulls x 2, Little Auk, Velvet Scoter, Snow Buntings x 37, Caspian Gulls x 3 at Coastguards, Cley
Grey Phalarope at Cley NWT
Shorelarks x 8, Snow Buntings x 32 at Happisburgh
Glaucous Gull, Little Auk, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Little Gulls x 26, Snow Bunting at Holme
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Leach's Petrel, Sabine's Gull, Grey Phalarope, Black Guillemot, Little Auks x 2, Puffin, Great Northern Diver, Pomarine Skua, Little Gull at Sheringham
Scaup at Holkham Hall
Great White Egret at Holkham Freshmarsh
Little Auk flew past Weybourne
Leach's Petrel, Purple Sandpiper at Heacham
Great White Egret at Welney WWT
Hawfinch (last night) flew over Norwich

MEGA NEWS 
None

Saturday 11 November 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIVIEN!

Today, we spent a lovely day celebrating my youngest sister Vivien's birthday! Vivien and Ray are spending the weekend in Holt, so we arranged to meet for 1pm lunch in The Three Swallows pub at Cley. I picked Lucy up, then my mother and headed to Cley via Fakenham. We stopped at the Ernest Dow shop in Fakenham, so my mother could buy some wellingtons – a long ongoing saga, as we can't find any that fit her! This was a complete waste of time, as she still couldn't find a pair to fit her properly and this only resulted in her showing me up in the shop with her frustration and disbelief that wellingtons are not manufactured for ladies with wider feet (swollen), much to Lucy's amusement! You would have thought that there would have been some big enough for her in a shop like Ernest Dow, but there wasn't! I now give up on the wellingtons.

We arrived in Cley and had a wonderful lunch in the Three Swallows – shortly after we arrived, all the tables were taken and it was packed out. I was very upset to see an RIP poster up on the wall for the glorious big ginger tom cat called ASBO who used be in the pub – he died in October 2016. This charismatic cat was known to have a bit a temper and would strike out at people sometimes I was told, but I never had an issue with this lovely cat, who was always happy for me to make a fuss of him – he obviously had his favourites! The only thing I was not impressed with today, was the amount of dogs in the pub, had I known how many were going to be in an area I was eating in, I wouldn't have taken my family there, but to be fair they were mostly well behaved – but I don't really like smelling the doggy smell whilst I am eating! But as Vivien remarked, so many people have dogs nowadays, that if pubs were not dog friendly they would lose a lot of trade.

We then headed for Salthouse to walk off some of the lunch, but Lucy and Mother refused to get out of the car as it was 'too cold', so I left them sitting in the car with blankets etc, whilst Vivien, Ray and I went for a short walk to Gramborough Hill. Just at the end of Beach Road there were five Turnstones on the shingle, who seemed unperturbed by our close presence. We saw a Stonechat in the first main bramble bush and then bumped into John Furse who had seen nothing here but a Robin, which we also saw in the main bushes below the hill. There were tons of Pink-footed Geese flying over and a good number in the field close by. We walked to the top of the hill to view the sea – Vivien and Ray had not been here before and really enjoyed this little walk I think. A Meadow Pipit flew from the wooden seat by the gorse, but nothing else of note.

Back at the car, Lucy excitedly told us that she had watched a Kingfisher sitting on the fence wire! I couldn't believe she had seen that! I can't ever recall seeing a Kingfisher here myself. She saw it dive into the water to catch a fish and then disappear. We should have stayed in the car! We then headed to Cley Visitor Centre, but discovered we were too late as it closes at 4pm – I forgot about the new winter closing time. Vivien opened her presents from us and then we departed. Vivien and Ray went to their B&B in Holt and I drove along the coast road to Holme, where Lucy and I spent the evening with mother. I felt exhausted from all the driving. Took Lucy back to King's Lynn and then I collapsed on the sofa back at my house.

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Shorelarks x 17, Lapland Buntings x 2, Snow Buntings x 17 at Happisburgh
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Slavonian Grebe at Titchwell RSPB
Dartford Warbler at North Dunes, Snow Buntings x 12 at Winterton
Grey Phalarope, Long-tailed Duck, Snow Buntings x 40 (beach car park), Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Grey Phalarope at Kelling Water Meadows
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Hawfinch at Wymondham Abbey
Ring Ouzels x 2 at Gun Hill, Burnham Overy Dunes
Dartford Warbler at west end of Holkham Pines
Glaucous Gull flew along beach, Black Brant at Salthouse
Black Redstart at boating lake, Pomarine Skua flew past Sheringham
Scaup x 7 at Snettisham RSPB
Lapland Buntings x 4, Snow Buntings x 5 at Walcott
Tundra Bean Geese x 2 at Upton Fen NWT

MEGA NEWS 
None

Rest In Peace

I heard some very sad news this evening, that Lincolnshire birder Malc Almey passed away unexpectedly last night. His friend Ken Reeves posted this on Facebook tonight.

I don't know Malc personally, but bumped into him fairly regularly in the field, mostly at Titchwell RSPB. He always came across as a gentleman – a quiet man with a lovely smile and who always said hello to me. So sorry to hear this – my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Rest in Peace Malc

Friday 10 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Grey Phalarope, Black Brant, Caspian Gull at Cley NWT
Shorelarks x 12 at Happisburgh
Pallas's Warbler yesterday at Happisburgh
Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Great Northern Diver, Little Gulls x 2, Water Pipit, Richard's Pipit flew over at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 12 at Thornham Harbour
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Snow Buntings x 30 at Salthouse
Snow Bunting at Snettisham Coastal Park
Hen Harriers x 8 at Warham Greens
Water Pipit at Halvergate Marshes
Richard's Pipit, Lapland Buntings x 2, Twite, Purple Sandpiper, Hawfinch, Snow Buntings x 3 at Breydon Water

MEGA NEWS 
None

Thursday 9 November 2017

Big Thank You To My Derbyshire Readers!

Massive thanks to lots of very kind readers, who have taken the time to email me with advice on seeing Dippers on my forthcoming weekend trip to Derbyshire. I have replied to some of you already and will be answering you all by the end of the week. I didn't expect that many people to contact me! Thank you again, it is much appreciated!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Hawfinch flew over Attlebridge
Shorelarks x 8 at Happisburgh
Grey Phalarope at Kelling Quags
Hawfinch in garden at Kelling
Great White Egret at Holkham
Black Redstart on beach at Wells
Hen Harrier over East Hills, Wells
Great White Egret at Colney Gravel Pits
Grey Phalarope, Black Brant, Capsian Gull at Cley NWT
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Scaup, Snow Bunting at Snettisham Coastal Park
Snow Buntings x 5 flew over Weybourne Camp
Water Pipit, Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Great Northern Diver, Little Gulls x 30 at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 7 at Thornham
Hawfinches x 8 at Lynford Aboretum
Snow Buntings x 5 at Winterton
Water Pipit at Rockland Broad
Water Pipits x 5 at Church Marsh, Surlingham

MEGA NEWS 
FORSTER'S TERN
Newtownlynch, County Galway, Ireland
AMERICAN COOT
Lough Gill, County Kerry Ireland

Wednesday 8 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Hawfinches x 2 flew over Felmingham
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of, Hen Harrier at Stiffkey
Long-tailed Ducks x 2, Great Northern Diver Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Scaup at Coastguards, Cley
Grey Phalarope, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Caspian Gulls x 2, Yellow-legged Gulls x 5, Snow Buntings x 35 at Cley NWT
Hen Harrier at Walsey Hills NOA
Pomarine Skua flew past Holme
Shorelark reported yesterday at Holme
Snow Bunting flew over Wells
Shorelarks x 5, Snow Bunting east of Lady Ann's Drive, Holkham
Purple Sandpipers x 3 at Sheringham
Firecrest at Great Yarmouth Cemetery
Purple Sandpipers x 2 at Waxham
Short-eared Owl flew in off sea, Spotted Redshank at Kelling Quags
Spotted Redshank at Brancaster Staithe
Black Guillemot, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebes x 2, Red-necked Grebe at Sheringham
Hen Harrier at Morston
Hen Harrier flew over Hunstanton

MEGA NEWS 
None

RBA Weekly Round-up 1st to 7th November!

By Jon Dunn
http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2017-45.aspx?s_id=347365382

Tuesday 7 November 2017

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Hawfinches x 2 flew over Thetford
Hawfinch flew over Norwich
Ring Ouzel at Bloodgate Hill Fort, South Creake
Purple Sandpiper at Walcott
Shorelarks x 4, Lapland Bunting at Happisburgh
Hawfinches x 2 flew over, Long-tailed Ducks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Twite x 6 at Thornham Harbour
Grey Phalarope, Great White Egret, Little Stints x 2, Black Brant, Caspian Gull, Snow Buntings x 40 at Cley NWT
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Purple Sandpipers x 3 at Sheringham
Dotterel with Golden Plovers x 350 south of Choseley Drying Barns
Greenland White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Geese x 3,850 NE of Stanhoe
Grey-bellied Brant (possible), Taiga Bean Goose, Russian White-fronted Goose at Burnham Overy Marshes
Richard's Pipit, Crossbill, Snow Bunting, Hen Harrier, Great White Egret flew south over Hunstanton

MEGA NEWS 
None

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
MONDAY 6th NOVEMBER
Dotterel, Lapland Bunting, Water Pipits x 2, Spotted Redshanks x 2 at Titchwell RSPB
Taiga Bean Goose at Burnham Overy Staithe
Shorelarks x 13, Lapland Buntings x 2 at Happisburgh
Sabine's Gull at Cromer
Grey Phalarope, Snow Buntings x 40, Black Brant at Cley NWT
WHITE-BILLED DIVER at Walcott
Yellow-browed Warbler at Lynford Aboretum
Russian White-fronted Goose at Kelling
Snow Buntings x 8, Little Gulls x 8, Purple Sandpipers x 3 at Sheringham
Hawfinch flew over Norwich
Hawfinch flew over Beeston Common
Common Crane at Potter Heigham Marshes
Twite x 9 at Thornham Harbour

MEGA NEWS 
WILSON'S SNIPE
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly

Sunday 5 November 2017

Cley and Salthouse!

Dramatic skies at Cley Beach


I was up late last night booking accommodation for a weekend in Derbyshire. I have to go on a day course for work on a Monday within the next few weeks and can't possibly drive on the day, so have to stay the day before. So I decided that I might as well book two nights (Saturday and Sunday night) and try and find some Dippers to photograph whilst I'm there. I have never been to Derbyshire, so have no idea where all the good birding spots are. Any advice or help would be much appreciated. I'm staying in Derby itself and that is where my course is, so I don't really want to travel much more than half an hour away from Derby itself.

I fell asleep without setting the alarm last night, which was extremely annoying and woke up with my phone and glasses on the duvet and the beside light still on! Got ready quickly, had 'brunch', packed the car up and headed east.

I quite fancied seeing the reported Shorelarks, so headed to Cley and Salthouse. Parked my car up at the East Bank car park – as soon as I got out of the car, a very kind birder told me that the Grey Phalarope was viewable from the top of Walsey Hills NOA. I decided not to go there first and headed along the East Bank and then east to the sea pool to search for the Shorelarks. It was a chilly, but beautiful day. I had every layer on and was toasty warm. Lots of Wigeon, Pochard, Teal and Lapwings on 'The Serpentine' and a couple of Little Egrets.
Cley/Salthouse beach


It was slightly warmer when I headed east to the sea pool, as I was sheltered by the shingle ridge. No Shorelarks seen, but did have 25 Snow Buntings fly overhead and land on the beach briefly and then flew off east! Several Redshanks and Curlews were seen and several small flocks of Starlings. I also saw a Guillemot flying east over the sea. It started to rain, so put both my hoods up over my hat and continued east. I had grand thoughts of walking to Gramborough Hill from here, but realised I wouldn't have time with the fading light, so instead walked back along the Iron Road where I saw a Grey Heron by a small pool, Egyptian Geese, Little Egrets, Shelducks and some Reed Buntings flitting around in the reeds along the path.
East of Sea Pool, Salthouse


I then walked on the footpath alongside the A149 and through Walsey Hills, where I stopped to look over Arnold's Marsh for the Grey Phalarope, but didn't see it. There were a couple of Blackbirds along the path amongst the gorse, which has become very overgrown and I had to duck several times to avoid being scratched by gorse. A couple of Little Grebes were on Snipe's Marsh and that was about it. I just got back to my car in time, before the rain fell heavily again. It felt lovely and cosy in my car, drinking hot coffee and enjoying a marmalade sandwich, whilst the rain lashed on the windows. Drove straight home.
Sunset over Cley


It was not a very good evening, the fireworks exploded every two seconds and it became very tiresome indeed – it went on for several hours. What a waste of money – burning, noise pollution, stressing out animals and people. Fireworks should really only be for public displays in my opinion and should not be sold to the general public, its getting way out of hand. Unfortunately the fireworks will continue over the next few days, its not limited to 5th November!

Now, on the scale of things, Strictly Come Dancing is not that important😉BUT, they voted Aston Merrygold off, who in my opinion should not only have stayed in, but should have won the entire show! The biggest mistake the judges (Craig) have made in Strictly history, well actually in the end it was down to new head judge Shirley Ballas – bring back Len Goodman! In protest I won't be watching it any more, as many others won't be either. There are several couples that should have gone before Aston – all fixed and has now lost all credibility. Good night!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Dotterel, Purple Sandpiper, Lapland Bunting at Titchwell RSPB
Little Auk, Velvet Scoters x 5 at Cley
Grey Phalarope, Little Stints x 2, Black Brant, Snow Buntings x 25, Lapland Bunting at Cley NWT
Hawfinches x 2 at Whitlingham Country Park
Caspian Gull at Cromer
Cattle Egrets x 2 east of Stiffkey
Yellow-browed Warbler at Campsite Wood, Stiffkey 
Little Auk, Great Northern Diver (probable) at Walcott
Water Pipit, Short-eared Owl at Halvergate Marshes
Hawfinches x 2 at East Wretham Heath
Shorelarks x 4 at Salthouse
Mealy Redpolls x 4 at Walsey Hills NOA
Black-throated Diver (probable), Snow Buntings x 9, Lapland Bunting, Short-eared Owl at Winterton
WHITE-BILLED DIVER flew east, Little Auk, Short-eared Owl at Sheringham
Shorelarks x 14, Lapland Bunting at Happisburgh
Great White Egret at Cockley Cley
Ring Ouzel, Taiga Bean Goose at Burnham Overy Staithe
Great White Egret at Thornham Harbour
Ring Ouzel at Waxham
Velvet Scoter at Kelling
Common Cranes x 3 at Welney WWT
Velvet Scoter at Hopton-on-Sea
Water Pipits x 5, Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Potter Heigham Marshes
Russian White-fronted Geese x 20 at Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Hawfinches x 13 at Oxborough Hall NT
Hawfinch flew over Taverham Garden Centre

MEGA NEWS 
None

Saturday 4 November 2017

Lunch With Lucy and Vivien!

A horrible rainy day in Norfolk, not even a hint of bright skies. I didn't get up very early this morning. However, tomorrow is supposed to be a lovely sunny day!

Vivien was in King's Lynn having her hair done, so I suggested we all meet up for lunch – we don't often do this, I can't remember the last time we had lunch together! We decided to go to Crofters Coffee House in King Street. Crofters is set in a 15th century underground tunnel and is a unique, quiet and relaxed setting.

Lucy choose a salmon and veg quiche, I choose a brie and veg quiche and both came with the usual potatoes and salad etc. Vivien had a ploughman's. The food was beautifully presented and the waitress service was good, but the quiche was luke warm and mine tasted really odd – I soon realised that mine had a strong hint of salmon to it. I pointed this out to the staff and they told me that all the quiches are cooked in the oven together! Not really good enough! If I had wanted a salmon quiche I would have ordered one! The food here is limited, so the only other choice would have been a sandwich or a jacket potato. As a vegetarian, I wouldn't come here again for hot food. But the coffee cake I had was excellent and made up for the main course! Vivien and Lucy enjoyed their Sticky toffee pudding and ice-cream.

We then had coffee and tea at my house and it was nice to sit and chat. Vivien's birthday is next weekend, so hopefully we will all meet up again then. Vivien's, Lucy's and my birthday all fall on the same day every year – Vivien's is next Saturday, mine is on a Saturday in January and Lucy's is on a Saturday in February, when she will be 50! It sounds so funny, there is no way Lucy looks 50! Lucy looks about 35 – where do the years go! Vivien left around 4pm and drove back to Ely in poor driving conditions. I helped Lucy to find some sheet music she wanted to buy, which proved far more difficult than we expected. In the end, I had to phone a Cambridge music shop for help. Took Lucy home and then I spent the rest of the evening chilling on the sofa with cheese on toast, watching 'Strictly'!

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS & MEGAS!

SUMMARY OF TODAY'S BIRD NEWS VIA "RARE BIRD ALERT
  For access to full details of daily sightings, please subscribe to one of RBA's Bird News Services  
Ring Ouzel at Cockley Cley
Cattle Egret east of Stiffkey
Hawfinches x 11 at Lynford Aboretum
Dotterel with Golden Plovers, Water Pipit at Titchwell RSPB
Ring Ouzel at Winterton
Water Pipits x 2, Short-eared Owl at Holme
Black Brant, Caspian Gulls x 3 + hybrid Caspian Gull x Herring Gull, Little Stints x 3, Water Pipits x 4 at Cley NWT
WHITE-BILLED DIVER reported again at Walcott
Great White Egret at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
Snow Buntings x 3 at Holkham Beach
Hen Harrier at Rockland Broad
Hen Harriers x 2 at Warham Greens
GREAT SNIPE, probable flushed from Beach Road, Salthouse
Taiga Bean Goose at Burnham Overy Staithe

MEGA NEWS 
GREAT SNIPE
probable, at Salthouse, Norfolk