Description


A diary of my birding activity covering highlights and photos from my birding adventures. Mainly Norfolk (UK), occasionally beyond. I might mention the odd thing that isn't avian, but for moth and other insect news check out my mothing diary.

Wednesday 20 January 2021

Review of 2019 and 2020 - Birds: Shrikes, Crows, Tits, Larks and Hirundines

SHRIKES (family LANIIDAE)


Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus - One at Warham Greens on 18th September 2020.


Brown Shrike, Warham Greens, 18th September 2020



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CROWS (family CORVIDAE)


Jay Garrulus glandarius - Regularly seen at the meadows and occasionally at home.

Jay, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th March 2019


Jay, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th December 2019


Jay, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th April 2020




Magpie Pica pica - Regularly seen at the meadows and very occasionally from home.


Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax - 1-2 seen at Porthgwarra, Lands End and Kenidjack (all Cornwall) in October 2020.




Choughs, Porthgwarra (Cornwall), 8th October 2020



Jackdaw Corvus monedula - A constant presence at the meadows and also at home where they have an annoying habit of falling down the chimney.

Jackdaw, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd February 2019


Jackdaw, Blakeney, 17th March 2019




Jackdaws, Blakeney, 18th March 2019



Rook Corvus frugilegus - Another constant presence at the meadows and also at home but unlike the Jackdaws they keep out of the chimney.


Rooks, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th March 2019


Rook, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th January 2020


Rook, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd March 2020



Carrion Crow Corvus corone - Regularly seen from the meadows but bizarrely never on the meadows themselves.

Carrion Crow, West Runton, 18th March 2019



Hooded Crow Corvus cornix - Lots on Mull in June 2019.

Hooded Crow, somewhere near Loch na Kael, 12th June 2019



Raven Corvus corax - 3 seen in Spain in February 2020 and about 9 in Cornwall in October.

Raven, Glengorm, 12th June 2019



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TITS (family PARIDAE)


Coal Tit Periparus ater - Sometimes seen at the meadows outside of the breeding season but particularly scarce in 2020 when it was the 101st and last addition to the patch year list in mid December.   Occasional in the garden.

Marsh Tit Poecile palustris - Regularly seen at the meadows in winter.  In 2019 they appeared post-breeding from July but in 2020 I didn't see them post-breeding until September.  Also recorded from quite a few other locations.

Marsh Tit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th December 2019



Marsh Tit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th March 2020



Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus - Commonly seen at the meadows and at home.

Blue Tit, Lackford Lakes, 23rd February 2019


Blue Tit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th March 2019


Blue Tit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th December 2019



Blue Tit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 6th February 2020


Blue Tit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th September 2020



Great Tit Parus major - Commonly seen at the meadows and at home.

Great Tit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th October 2019


Great Tit (with wasp), North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th January 2020



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BEARDED TITS (family PANURIDAE)


Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus - Small numbers seen at Titchwell, Brancaster and Burnham Overy in 2019 and Brancaster in 2020.


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LARKS (family ALAUDIDAE)


Woodlark Lullula arborea - One in the Brecks on 23rd February 2019.



Woodlark, Brecks, 23rd February 2019



Skylark Alauda arvensis - Sometimes seen and more often heard at the meadows, though the meadows themselves are too disturbed for them to pitch in much so they're usually either flying over or singing over the surrounding farmland.  Also heard singing from home on occasion.


Crested Lark Galerida cristata - Up to 4 seen at 3 locations in Spain in February 2020.


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HIRUNDINES (family HIRUNDINIDAE)


Sand Martin Riparia riparia - No records of any significance and none seen in the North Elmham area since 2018.

Sand Martin, Fairburn Ings, 7th April 2019



Swallow Hirundo rustica - Very few seen at the meadows except in the autumn when a small group could often be found around the meadows or over the river valley.  Despite breeding in next door's property and sometimes singing on the wires outside my study in the first year or two that I lived here they've been virtually absent for 3-4 years - one in September 2020 was the first I saw here for 2-3 years.

Swallow, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th April 2019










Swallows, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th September 2020


Swallow, Brancaster, 18th September 2020



Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris - Small numbers (up to at least 10) at 5 sites in Spain in February 2020.





Crag Martins, Llobregat Delta (Spain), 22nd February 2020



House Martin Delichon urbicum - Sometimes seen from the meadows, occasionally with a small flock lingering for a few days.  No longer expected from home unfortunately.


Next page: Warblers, Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatches, Wallcreepers, Treecreepers and Starlings

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