Barn Owl Tyto alba - At the Cathedral Meadows up to 2 regularly seen in the valley looking from the railway between late January and mid February 2019, at least one of the birds sometimes seen hunting the meadows themselves. After this heard calling after dark a few times during the spring and then 1-2 seen on 3 occasions in different places in July and August. Fewer records in 2020 but singles in March, June (4 records) and November. One heard calling from home in May 2019 and a small number of records elsewhere.
Barn Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd February 2019
Barn Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th June 2020
Barn Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th November 2020
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OWLS (family STRIGIDAE)
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo - I couldn't resist popping over to Winterton to see the Eagle Owl in December 2019. Contrary to some messages put out by RBA it didn't have a ring, and the locals who were reported to be saying it was theirs (Angus) didn't seem to think it was theirs when I spoke to them, although I gather they might have changed their mind about that later. Either way I think anyone would have a hard time claiming it was a wild bird, even if that possibility wasn't completely eliminated. A great bird to see anyway and the best look I've ever had of one outside of a cage.
Eagle Owl, Winterton, 2nd December 2019
Tawny Owl Strix aluco - I found a day-roosting bird near the chapel at North Elmham on 24th December 2018 and this remained very reliable in all but the wettest or windiest of weathers until the end of February 2019. It was then seen less consistently until 18th March. It wasn't seen again all summer but reappeared on 29th November raising hopes that it would resume its habit for the winter, but with Jackdaws still frequenting the hole (they had nested in it) it wasn't seen again in 2019. I saw it again on 6 dates between 25th January and 7th March 2020 but it wasn't as reliable as it had been the previous winter. There were no more sightings in 2020 (although it reappeared in January 2021). Birds heard at the meadows regularly throughout the year. At home one was watched at 4.00 am on 1st July 2020 flying up to next-door's Birch where it sat in full view (but silhouetted in pre-dawn half-light) for a minute or so before flying off again - despite hearing them here on a regular basis, often very close, this was the first time I'd managed to see one from the house/garden. Elsewhere very few seen - one along the Low Road at Hellesdon and one in Spain.
Tawny Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd January 2019
Tawny Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th January 2019
Tawny Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st March 2019
Tawny Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th November 2019
Tawny Owl (with Jackdaw), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 6th February 2020
Tawny Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th February 2020
Tawny Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd March 2020
Little Owl Athene noctua - Frequently heard calling at the meadows in 2019 but only seen on a few occasions, although some really good views on some of those times. Harder to find there in 2020 and only seen briefly on one occasion and heard on 4 dates in March-April. Heard from home in March 2019 and elsewhere just one on roadside wires between North Elmham and Broom Green on 24th May 2019.
Little Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 24th March 2019
Little Owl, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th April 2019
Long-eared Owl Asio otus - A very unexpected local sighting in 2020. Despite much searching over the following nights no further sign.
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus - One west at sea at Sheringham on 21st October 2019 followed by one at St Benet's Abbey and 2-3 at Burnham Overy in December. Another at Burnham Overy in June 2020 was more of a surprise.
Short-eared Owls, Burnham Overy, 25th December
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HOOPOES (family UPUPIDAE)
Hoopoe Upupa epops - One at Llobregat Delta (Spain) on 22nd February 2020 which, if I correctly understood what one of the locals said, was their first of the spring.
Hoopoe, Llobregat Delta (Spain), 22nd February 2020
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KINGFISHERS (family ALCEDINIDAE)
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis - Just one record at the meadows in 2019, a bird that flew along the dyke next to the railway and then over the field to the river on 13th July. Recorded there twice in 2020 with one briefly perched by the same dyke on 8th April and one heard only on 5th September. A surprise addition to the garden list when one flew over calling early in the morning of 1st August 2019 - unfortunately I had my head down looking at moths and didn't manage to look up quickly enough to see it. Elsewhere recorded at Fairburn Ings (Yorkshire), Great Ryburgh and Burnham Overy (2) in 2019. 3 at Llobregat Delta (Spain) in February 2020 and recorded at 3 different sites in the Stiffkey area in mid October.
Kingfishers, Llobregat Delta (Spain), 22nd February 2020
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WOODPECKERS (family PICIDAE)
Wryneck Jynx torquilla - One along the disused railway on 22nd September 2020 was probably the best bird I've found at the meadows to date. It was in an area that has plenty of ants and where I have often fancied finding a Wryneck, but it still came as a big surprise when I first flushed it. A largish passerine-like bird flew up from the grass and disappeared into a tree, for a moment leaving me wondering what on earth it was. After a bit of thought I'd joined up the dots and realised it could only have been a Wryneck, but hadn't really seen enough to feel I could claim it, so retreated to a safe distance and hoped it would come back down to where it had been flushed from. Thankfully, after quite a wait, it did and I got a decent look at it on a fence post before it disappeared again. After another wait it must have returned but this time I didn't see it until a cyclist came past and flushed it again. Sadly this was the last time I saw it and despite torrential rain during the night and into the following morning there was no sign of it the next day.
Wryneck, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd September 2020
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor - It was good to see a pair of these during a visit to a far too well-known site in the Brecks in February 2019.
Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Brecks, 23rd February 2019
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major - Regularly recorded at the meadows throughout both years. Heard from home in July 2020 and several records from other locations.
Great Spotted Woodpecker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th July 2019
Great Spotted Woodpecker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd March 2020
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis - Regularly recorded at the meadows, though heard far more often than seen. Recorded at all seasons but some long gaps without any records. I'm pretty sure they bred in the chapel area in 2019. Occasionally heard from home and a handful of records from elsewhere.
Green Woodpecker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th January 2019
Green Woodpecker, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May 2019
Iberian Green Woodpecker Picus sharpei - One seen and heard at Gava Mar upon arrival. It moved off pretty quickly and although I heard it a few more times (initially distantly and then much closer) I never managed to see it again. Thanks to Ash for the site tips.
Iberian Green Woodpecker, Gava Mar (Spain), 22nd February 2020
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FALCONS (family FALCONIDAE)
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus - Regularly recorded at the meadows and occasionally from home.
Kestrel, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd January 2019
Kestrel, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st March 2019
Kestrel, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th December 2019
Kestrel, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 10th July 2020
Hobby Falco subbuteo - Three records at the meadows, on 29th July 2019, 24th April 2020 and 2nd May 2020. Also one from my study window on 12th August 2019 which was new for the house and another on 26th May 2020. Elsewhere recorded at Guist and Winterton in 2019 and Frost's Common and Little Barningham in 2020.
Hobby, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May 2020
Peregrine Falco peregrinus - One seen at the meadows on 2nd January 2019. An indirect drive home after one of my visits to the coast in October 2019 took me past Norman's Burrow Wood near South Raynham and here I enjoyed fantastic views of a Peregrine as it flew around chasing Woodpigeons for several minutes, often coming quite close to where I was standing. I didn't see if it eventually caught one but was getting close when it disappeared over the wood for the last time. Elsewhere one at Blakeney in March 2019, Fairburn Ings (Yorkshire) and Pendeen (Cornwall).
Peregrine and Woodpigeon, Norman's Burrow Wood, 7th October 2019
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PARROTS (family PSICADULIDAE)
Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus - A vocal flock of 12 seen a little distantly in flight from El Prat station (Spain).
Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri - One of the Hellesdon flock seen in flight from Laura's garden on 15th July 2019, the first time I've seen any from this recently-established population. Visits to family in Kent were generally not very productive for birding but did provide an opportunity to familiarise myself with this species' call - a dozen or so seen in December 2019. Also recorded in Spain with 5 at Gava Mar and one in the middle of Barcelona.
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