Hume's back in Sparrow's Nest

On Friday 13th March, I walked into Sparrow's Nest and saw a chap looking from the side by the 5 Holm Oaks just behind the Movie Makers theatre in the north- east corner of the Sparrow's Nest. Typically hyper active the fine Hume's Warbler was actively feeding at 10.40am but when it came down low, the grey plumage, wing bar and striking head pattern seen well but the grey day meant photos would be virtually impossible to obtain but I enjoyed watching the bird until another birder turned up asked where it was and walked directly underneath the trees causing the bird to fly off. No fieldcraft whatsoever and he deprived himself of seeing the bird. At this point I left. A Lesser black- backed Gull was seen slap bang in the middle of the Oval. A Long-tailed Tit seen nearby with nest material plus 5 Goldfinch. Nothing at the Net Posts, a cat in the fenced off area didn't help. A trip to Ness Point included 13 Turnstone and by seaweed encrusted promentary I call 'the finger' first 5 and then up to 7 Purple Sandpipers seen actively feeding, the original quintet joined by additional duo when a large waves crashed across the rocks on its southern side. I waited, sat down quietly waited and was instantly rewarded when 3 of their number came realy close, having a quick nap and a then a very thorough active preen, so I managed to get some nice close up shots of these charming birds that always a pleasure to see.

Hoodie on the North Denes

Early on, on Wednesday 11th March, following a tweet the previous night I made my way to link's Road car park, I saw Andrew E and Josh, even though there were around 30 carrions Crows around there was no initial sign of the Hoodie. Until Andrew E. spotted it on the beach just north of Link's Road car park, I saw the fine Hooded Crow, but it was with a pack of Crows following a dog walking walking along the shore line It followed back across the beack to Warren House Wood and then flew to the trees just west the wood, before it flew back to Link's Road car park, another dog walker flushed it further south and David & his wife appeared and he spotted it on the wall by railing near the beach where again it was disturbed and it was seen on the North denes, before another dog walker flushed it over to sycamore trees along a cliff. I managed a few pics of it in a tree before 3 dogs rampaging completely out of control flushed it over to the group of tall Pines where I lost it. I walked back to the car park and we suddenly at 8.35am, Kevin B. spotted a trio of Red Kites flew in off the sea and inland. I was loading up the car ready to depart, with the door still open I spotted the Hoodie on rocks just on the beach but danger yet another dog walker walking towards it along the shoreline. I literally leapt into action grabbing the Canon camera and lens and jumped over the wall and headed off the dog walker who condiderately stopped and I was able to get a few pictures of the bird before it flew off on its own accord back onto the beach north of there at 9.40am. I then looked for the Hume's despite looking wuth a newly arrived Derek B. we couldn't see it just a Red- legged Partridge running along the path in the Oval grounds running along the path west of the tennis courts. I also saw a Buzzard in off by Gunton Heath.

A trip for early spring migrants and watch winter visitors

On Sunday 8th March, I took a look down Fisher Row, near the bowl, I saw and heard a trio of Treecreepers and a Firecrest plus several Long-tailed Tits and another Firecrest nearby. Walking back I saw Andrew E. and I carried on back by the entrance track, a Buzzard flew just west of the track and was sitting on posts by the horse paddocks. I saw by the dyke just past the entrance track another Firecrest in the scrub. A fine adult male White Wagtail briefly alighted on the track behind me and flew into the horse field. I couldn't relocate it, although a couple were in the horse field. As I was looking I saw an additional female Grey Wagtail in the horse paddocks that then flew south. there was also a lot of Redwings heard flying over and I saw 1 or 2 birds. Back at Ness Point in the afternoon, I was pleased to count at least 11 Purple Sandpipers (my highest persnal tally this winter), on the rocks near the Compass plus the blue-ringed Rock Pipit seen on the shelf just south of there at 2.30pm

Frogs a croaking!

It was lovely to hear a Frog croking chorus last night Friday 6th March at around 1pm, this morning Saturday 7th March, one was still croaking and I even saw a mid sized Frog in the wildlife pond early morning.

Finally, a Short- eared Owl: courtesy of a Norfolk coastal locality

Mid afternoon on Sunday 1st March, a visit to coastal strip in neighbouring Norfolk was long overdue. This locality had been a haunt for wintering SEOs, but initial prospects didn't seem too promising with grey leaden skies and a bit of a breeze. I met a very friendly, helpful and informative dog walker who knew all about the SEOs (he even had a stunning flying pic of a SEO on his phone, now these dog walkers are ones I like!) and directed me a little way of south of where I was by the first ridge seawards up to where the white house was in the distance was the best area for the Owls, there had been 6 but their number had dwindled as winter turned to spring down to 2. He said he would walk the next ridge line and keep an eye onwhere he was just in case he disturbed. I needn't have worried as I walked the marram grass area and one flew up directly in front of me, finally a fine Short- eared Owl for this winter after many unsuccessful previous attempts at various locations. It settled in the valley in full view but didn't stay long and flew a little way north. Another birder appeared to have picked it up, a birder called Paul and I walked the next valley and behind so I didn't disturb the bird. Paul kindly showed me the owl in his 'scope. Other birders soon joined us and we were able to get a little closer and I even managed one or two shots too. Around half a dozen Sky Larks were seen too.

Very distant Slavonian Grebe at Barton Broad

After the Hume's visit, I changed my gear Nikon set up for the canon big lens and drove mid moring on Sunday 1st March to Barton Broad, I found the disable car park OK but was struggling to find the main car park, carring along the road and turning left at the main house I eventually found it parked up and walked back right and left following a farm track along a hedge which then rejoined the corner of the road I had just driven thena an 800 metre stroll lead me to directional signs left of the road to the boardwalk. I found the viewing platform and having met some birders they advised if I was lucky I'd only see it with a scope and was right at the far back difficult to see as it was spending time within the reeds and when out on the water it was diving a lot. After just 10 minutes I spotted it a fine Slavonian Grebe, its black and white bicolouration prominent but seen at extreme range, exactly where they said right at the far back, it was regularly diving first left and right of a rusty bouy situated close to the far reeds. Unfortunately first a passing boat and then a low flying male Marsh Harrier spooked it and later a female Marsh Harrier quartered the reeds it swam into the reeds and didn't come out during the next 90 minutes. Meanwhile I scanned the Broad at least 6 Goldeneye seen, 4 males and 2 females plus 9 GC Grebes together one fairly close in. Plus 2 Chiff- Chaffs were singing heralds of spring. A Kingfisher darted by twice and a Buzzard flew left.

Hume's Warbler re-visit

Early on Sunday 1 March, I drove to Whapload Road and parked up saw Andrew E. and Rob W. walking to the car park, following my perambulation along the road it wood good to see Steve H. from Norfolk peering over the partly collapsed Oval south Oval wall just beyond the ravine and we saw the fine Hume's Warbler darting about the bushes by the green and the ones adjoining Flycatcher alley. I made my way around to the Alley and through the diamond shaped aperture I saw the lovely Hume's flitting around at the top of the bush just 4 foot away alas into the sun so no pics here. As I chatted with Steve, we saw and heard a Siskin flying north, the drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. I left Steve to look in the north east corner of Sparrow's Nest after the bird had flown east a little. My hunch was correct as the Hum's was feeding in the hedge by the grass cuttings corner, I waited patiently for a minute then it popped out in full view and I managed a few shots with the Nikon.