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: Thrushes, Chats and Flycatchers

THRUSHES (family TURDIDAE)


Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus - One heard singing west of Carsaig (Mull) on 10th June 2019 and one at Burnham Overy on 6th October 2019.


Blackbird Turdus merula - Very common at the meadows and at home.

Blackbird, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 30th October 2019


Blackbird, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd March 2020


Blackbird, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd March 2020


Blackbird, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd June 2020



Fieldfare Turdus pilaris - Only odd birds recorded at the meadows in the first winter period of 2019 but spring passage evident with a flock of 26 on 19th April.  Then in late autumn some good movements including 100 west on 28th October and at least 120 moving through the hedgerows on 8th November.  Not many at the start of 2020 but a few in March.  Autumn passage pretty much restricted to October when the best count was 100 west on 12th.  Only a few recorded at home and no significant records elsewhere.


Fieldfares, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th April 2019



Redwing Turdus iliacus - A flock of between 50 and 80 frequented the sheepfield south of the meadows in January and February 2019.  Some evidence of spring passage included 30 (in 3 flocks) on 22nd March and 2 in with the Fieldfares on 19th April.  Autumn migrants from 4th October when 30 in the meadows and several groups overhead.  Best movement noted was 210 southwest on 15th October.  After very little activity during the winter there was another spring arrival with up to 30 on 5th-7th April.  Autumn migrants from 29th September with 150 west on 16th October.  At home lots flying over at night.



Redwings, Brancaster, 14th October 2020



Song Thrush Turdus philomelos - Fairly common at the meadows and often seen at home.  No significant more significant records than 30 at Burnham Overy on 6th October 2019.

Song Thrush, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th April 2019


Song Thrush, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th November 2020



Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus - Often present at the meadows and not infrequently seen or heard at home.

Mistle Thrush, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th June 2019


Mistle Thrush, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd February 2020



Mistle Thrush, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd March 2020



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CHATS and FLYCATCHERS (family MUSCICAPIDAE)


Eastern Rufous Bushchat Cercotrichas (galactotes) syriaca or Rufous Bush Robin or Rufous Scrub Robin or Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin, not to be confused with the Rufous-tailed Robin I saw nearby a few years ago :)  Whatever its called nowadays, one at Stiffkey on 17th October 2020 was a very welcome UK lifer.   I decided I would prefer to keep social distancing than join the scrum that was close enough to take decent photos, so here are a couple of rubbish photos instead.


Rufous Bushchat, Stiffkey, 17th October 2020



Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata - At the meadows recorded near the chapel in July 2019, in the same area as I saw them in 2018.  I only saw them on one occasion but heard some squeaks which I thought were probably coming from them on other occasions too and I suspect they may be breeding in nearby gardens.  Elswhere at the meadows I had two records of birds along the track and on one of these occasions (26th August) I had a further two birds (adult feeding a juvenile) along the disused railway - proving that they have bred somewhere nearby.  In 2020 one singing near the chapel on 3rd June and 2 seen on 13th July.

Spotted Flycatcher, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th August 2019


Spotted Flycatcher, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd June 2020

Spotted Flycatcher, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2020



Robin Erithacus rubecula - Very common at the meadows and in the garden.

Robin, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th February 2019



Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - 6 at 4 sites in Spain in February 2020.


Black Redstart, Platje de les filipines (Spain), 22nd February 2020


Black Redstart, Gava Mar (Spain), 22nd February 2020


Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus - One at Warham Greens on 18th September 2020.

Redstart, Warham Greens, 18th September 2020



Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius - A probable heard singing briefly at Monistrol de Montserrat (Spain) and at least one singing male (and possibly up to 3) at Emabalsa de Santa Ana on 23rd February 2020.


Whinchat Saxicola rubetra - On Mull one along the road to Carsaig on 10th June 2019.


Stonechat Saxicola rubicola - Getting on for 70 recorded in 2019-20 but none locally and no records of any significance.

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


Stonechat, Burnham Overy, 6th October 2019


Stonechat, Burnham Overy, 12th June 2020


Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - Remarkably few in Norfolk in either year - just one at Winterton in August in 2019 and in 2020 one at Burnham Overy on 12th June and one at Brancaster in September.  I hope that reflects on my lack of coastal birding rather than anything more sinister.  A record at the meadows must be on the cards but it hasn't happened yet.  Elsewhere singing birds at Honister (Cumbria) in April 2019 and 13 on Mull/Iona in June 2019.

Wheatear, Honister Pass, 6th April 2019



Wheatears, Iona, 11th June 2019


Wheatear, Burnham Overy, 12th June 2020



Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina - One at Cley on 12th November 2019, a superb find by Mark Golley.




Isabelline Wheatear, Cley, 12th November 2019



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