Viz or audible mig at the Paget, out shopping & at home

On Friday 6th November, as I was having my lunch outside at 1pm, I heard a Grey Wagtail flying around the Burrage centre at the James Paget Hospital. Shopping at Aldi at 9pm I heard several Redwings flying over and then completing my shop at Tesco's Gunton between 9.30- 9.40pm I could heard the regualr hooting of a Tawny Owl from Gunton wood somwwhere behind Tesco's petrol station and Redwings again flying over both Gunton Tesco's superstore and our home at Parkhill whilst I was unloading all the shopping.

The ultra showy Lesser Yellowlegs at Cley

On Wednesday 4th November, I caved in and finally went for the Lesser Yellowlegs at Cley because a) reports were saying it was really showy and b) for once it would be a nice sunny day finally c) also it was the last day before lockdown, so it was today or bust. Having booked a morning's leave off work, I left at 6am in the morning and by 7.30am I was drawing into Cley NWT car park. Lesser Yellowlegs is a rare visitor to the UK from across the "pond" usually blown over by westerly gales. After receving excellent directions from John H I walked left and past the entrance to the hides but couldn't see it in the flooded fields, walking down towards the hides no sign there either so back on the footpath near the road, I saw a chap scurrying by, I followed him and saw another 5 toggers looking just over the fence at the excellent Lesser Yellowlegs, which was this side of a puddle barely 5 metres away, it was incredibly confiding even walking to within 2 metres of me, but it was constanly on the move, initally in shadow but later as the sun rose it shone on the bird as it was continally walking around feeding giving superlative views. A dog walker with 2 dogs off leads spooked it and it flew over to the next field where it was further away and it settled the far side of the puddle where it stood for a while and preened. A male Stonechat flew by and perched briefly on the fence further down. At this point I left, no chance of enetring the hides before 10am (which was very disappointing as I knew I wouldn't get a chance to look for a long overdue Norfolk tick Caspian Gulls which had been seen on the reserve recently. A walk down the east bank only revealed 3 Pintail on the far pool and no sign of the Scaup, although Wigeons were calling on the marsh the other side. No sign of any Otters either.

Curlew Sand, elusive Great White & Scaup still at Carlton Marshes

On Sunday 25th October, I walked up to the old scrape and saw a Great White Egret on Peto's Marsh, much further away thn yesterday but worth a few pics in the good afternoon light. Looking over the old scrape, unfortunately I was looking directly into the sun and could only make out the silhouette of a Knot and could not see the Curlew Sand. Rob H, kindly texted to say it was viewable from the other side (it was news to me that the Share Marsh track was open, I thought it was still closed!) Rob walked over and kindly pointed out the adult Curlew Sandpiper, the poor thing was hopping along but the distinctive down curved bill and elongated dhape could be seen and brick red rusty blotchy colouration could be seen at one stage. Walking over to Peto's Marsh, the Great White Egret was seen in a similar area to yesterday albeit more distantly but unfortunately a family walking further along the bank flushed it and it flew to the middle of the marsh. 2 Little Egrets flew in and were squaring up to each other flying up and attacking each other. A Buzzard was seen flying at the back and then seen flying over the Marsh. A female Marsh Harrier seen north- west of here and red wing tagged male seen on the marsh. We heard a Redpoll flying over and several Kingfisher calls from the river behind us and the squealing of a Water Rail. The Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and the female Scaup were again seen. Walking back, we saw Chris D and his wife and he pointed out a distant Short- eared Owl flying in the extreme south- east area of the reserve.

Scaup at Carlton Marshes

During the afternoon of Saturday 24th October, a long walk up to the Peto's Marsh meant I had left my camera at home with the windy conditions, big mistake! A close feeding yellow- billed Great White Egret feeding barely 50 metres away meant I would have frame filling photos. This is a large Egret species around Grey Heron sized, sporting a striking yellow bill (winter plumage) and typically long necked with the distinctive kink half way down, it fed in the nearest flooded pool and was totally fearless. Seeing Julie we then walked up past the first new n hide to half way over to the North hide and looking out I first saw a Tufted Duck and then up popped the female Scaup, with light "dirt" brown plumage and distinction white circular band at the base of the bill.

Hawfinch at Tar Works road allotments

On Friday at work, I received a tweet from Tommy C, a great field birder, who had found a Hawfinch in Great Yarmouth. On Saturday 24th March, early morning, following the excellent directions from both Tommy & John H. I parked neat the Lobec Fabrications Ltd building (sitated over the river) and located a lone Hawthorn intially I couldn't see the bird looking at the southern side of the bush by walking north a couple of metres, I then spotted the excellent Hawfinch, perched on the left hand side of the bush busily feeding. It looked like a young male to me, being a more 'faded'version of an adult male. A large finch with enormous bill, it spent the duration feeding on berries in the bush flying down at one stage before quickly flying up to its favoured spot. Sadly too far away to photograph and looking into the early morning sun meant photography wasn't an option. My third in the Great Yarmouth area, having seen one in Great Yarmouth Cemetary, one at Ormesby St Michael found by Peter C. Also seen a couple of times was a calling Grey Wagtail flying over the river several times. Around 3 Redwings seen flying south too. I then went to Corton and apart from the usual 4 Blackbirds and a Sparrowhawk flying over it was quiet in Corton Churchyard.

Great Viz-mig at the Paget

On Thursday 22nd November whilst eating my lunch outside the Burrage centre at 2pm an excellent Crossbill flew north- east calling "chip chip as it flew". On Friday 23rd October, a Grey Wagtail flew north- east over the Burrage centre at 12.45pm (loving these lunch breaks outside) Walking the south bushes I also saw a Grey Wagtail fly over going north- east at 2.45pm.

Ness Point Black Redstarts

On Sunday 18th October, late afternoon, a walk around Ness Point at very low tide revealed at 4.20pm, 3 Black Redstarts in the SLP yard opposite the Orbis Energy building. The resplendant male singing from the very top of the builsing joined by one female then another female when it flew down to the ground. I also heard a Rock Pipit too. By the fence a group of 8 Linnets fed with 7 Goldfinches and the Linnets were later seen feeding in the SLP dock complex. By Birds Eye a roost of around 20 House Sparrows and 2 calling Dunnocks calling to each other. 1 Dunnock also seen under the Tamarisk bushes along the northern edge of Birds Eye car park.