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: Sparrows, Accentors, Wagtails and Pipits

SPARROWS (family PASSERIDAE)


House Sparrow Passer domesticus - Common at home and sometimes present at the meadows but I can go months without seeing them there (though they're always along Church Lane a few metres away).


Tree Sparrow Passer montanus - 4 at Fairburn Ings (Yorkshire) on 7th April 2019 and one at Llobregat Delta (Spain) in February 2020.


Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia - A flock of 12 along the road leading to the Emabalsa de Santa Ana (Spain) on 23rd February 2020.


Rock Sparrows, near Embalsa de Santa Ana (Spain), 23rd February 2020



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ACCENTORS (family PRUNELLIDAE)


Dunnock Prunella modularis.  Common at the meadows and in the garden.

Dunnock, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th March 2019


Dunnock, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st June 2019


Dunnock, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 16th March 2020


Dunnock, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th April 2020



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WAGTAILS and PIPITS (family MOTACILLIDAE)


Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutchensis.  A new bird for me, one at Sedgeford on 24th December 2019 and again on 1st January 2020.  Another great find by James McCallum and Kayne Forbes.  Incredibly this was the only 'Yellow' Wagtail I saw in either year!


Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Sedgeford, 24th December 2019






Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Sedgeford, 1st January 2020



Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea.  Singles flew over the meadows on 8th March and 8th November 2019 and 5th and 23rd September and 4th November 2020.  None noted over my garden these years but at least 2 elsewhere in North Elmham.  Also noted at Bintree Mill, Great Ryburgh, Bylaugh, Burham Overy, Stiffkey and Sedgeford.  Out of county one in Cumbria, 4 on Mull, one in Spain and 15 in Cornwall.

Grey Wagtail, Great Ryburgh, 17th April 2019



Grey Wagtail, Porthgwarra (Cornwall), 8th October 2020



Pied Wagtail Motacilla (alba) yarrellii.  Often seen at the meadows including a flock of up to 25 frequenting a sheep field in February 2019.  Occasionally seen or heard from home.

Pied Wagtail, Iona, 11th June 2019



Pied Wagtail, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th December 2020



White Wagtail Motacilla (alba) alba.  Small numbers seen at several locations in Spain in February 2020.

White Wagtail, Gava Mar (Spain), 22nd February 2020






White Wagtails, Llobregat Delta (Spain), 22nd February 2020



Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis.  Small numbers occasionally present at the meadows and more often flying over.

Meadow Pipit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th November 2020



Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis.  One singing along the road to Carsaig (on Mull) on 11th and 12th June 2019.

Tree Pipit, Carsaig Road (Mull), 12th June 2019



Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta - 2 at Titchwell on 7th December 2019 and one at Llobregat Delta (Spain) on 22nd February 2020.

Water Pipit, Titchwell, 7th December 2019





Water Pipit, Llobregat Delta (Spain), 22nd February 2020



Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus - Only a small number recorded and no significant records.

Rock Pipit, between Carsaig and Rubha Dubh (Mull), 10th June 2019



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