No Adders

On Wednesday 18th March, I drove to Minsmere, I initially looked by the Sand Martin bank and was pleased to see 1 and then 4 Sand Martins flying around here but I could not see any Adders in the usual spot. This was repeated along the Dunes despite a 2.5 hour search I didn't see any Adders here either, although one was seen near the public hide path to the beach, but not by me. Very disappointing. In my search I saw my first butterfly of the year a Peacock that briefly settled plus a Viviparous Common Lizard, scuttling over the grassy fronds and into cover. No sign of the Slav grebe on South Scrape but several 5 Mediterranean Gull heard and seen. From east Scrape I couldn't see the Little Stint over on west but I did see 1 Ruff and 4 Black- tailed Godwits. I walked back to the path back from the North wall near the SC field and on its eastern border I saw Carl B and John G. and they pointed out a delightful female Black Redstart perched on the edge of a bush. I joined Carl walking over to West Hide and aftr a short while, I added to my Ruff tally when we saw 2 Ruff on the muddy bund stretching out east from the hide and then the fine Little Stint flew in here, gradually working its way feeding closer along the southern edge. It had a subdued greyish back (rather than the striking yellow lined back of immatures in autumn) but the legs were black.

RIP Brileider

I heard on Monday March 16th, the famous Brileider, the Spectacled Eider that had been seen on the sea off the island of Texel had passed away. Not a good week at all this week. I was very fortunate to see this fabulous bird last year on 25th January 2025 with Rob H. where we travelled over to Holland and saw this bird on the sea off Texel, a fabulous bird. We are indebted to Ecomare and De Wulp at The Hague, which cared for this bird after it was taken into care. Initially he responded well to treatment but ultimately sucuumbed, possibly due to a worm infection. RIP Brileider.

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. UPDATE: In light of events on Monday 16th March; I didn't post on Wednesday 11th March, on a previous visit I saw an odd looking Herring Gull with a blackish face/ hood caused by staining on the left side of its face perched on the southern most groyne just north of the Point, but it was completely white ie. normal for a Herring gull on its right side, on a previous visit to Ness Point, other than that... nothing of note seen on that visit.

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.