Grasshopper Warblers, Woodlark and Firecrest

I checked the moth trap in the dark on Saturday 29th April as I did it before heading up to Burnham Overy for dawn.  So in the garden for 5 minutes in the dark at around 4.15 am - not the most promising opportunity for garden-birding activity.  But a Lapwing was calling continuously - something I don't see or hear at home very often and a Skylark was singing away as if it was sunny - again something I don't hear from home all that often.  Then a Moorhen called, apparently from the neighbour's small pond.  I've never seen Moorhens here though (before or since), and this was a new species for the garden (hot on the heels of a couple of nocturnal fly-over Coots earlier in the week).  Then what was almost certainly a Water Rail flew over calling - just a couple of calls though, too quick for me to press record on my iPhone, and I'm not putting it down as I'm not 100% sure.  Wowsers.  Who needs daylight?

Three visits to Burnham Overy over the bank holiday weekend or thereabouts produced a few birds worth seeing but generally lacked the "wow factor".  On Saturday 29th the star bird was a singing Grasshopper Warbler.  It was so close it sounded a little odd but it never really had any of the characteristics that would make it a different Locustella species.  In the end I managed a good view of its head which put to bed any lingering doubts that it might be something more unusual.  There were still at least 15 Ring Ouzels in the dunes, with a Fieldfare among them, and I kept hearing (and eventually seeing) a Tree Pipit in the east dunes - perhaps the same bird that I saw on 24th?  Other migrants present included at least 6 Wheatears, a Whimbrel and 2 Common Sandpipers.  At least 10 Little Terns were in and a Cuckoo was cuckooing.

Ring Ouzel, Burnham Overy, 29th April

Willow Warbler, Burnham Overy, 29th April

There was a bit of overhead passage (vis mig) too - though this didn't get underway until about 7.30 am.  I've not quite mastered how best to record vis mig at Burnham Overy but it seems things filter through on a narrower front at the west end around Gun Hill.  I'd stood there first thing for a couple of hours (a little bit of wandering round the immediate area during that time) and recorded practically no passage but as soon as I started wandering through the east dunes, where things seem to pass over on a broader front so are harder to pick up, things started moving.  Consequently my counts will be very low compared to the actual passage - 29 Yellow Wagtails and 32 Swallows, the odd Redpoll but not a lot else.

Stragglers from winter included 22 Pink-footed Geese.  A Long-tailed Duck flew west along the beach turning up the channel between Gun Hill and Scolt Head where it looked like it went down.  A pair of Pintail were perhaps leftovers, spring migrants or maybe they are breeding somewhere up here?  I haven't seen them since.  Other birds of note included Great White Egret, 1-2 Spoonbills, 5 Red Kites, Peregrine, 2 Bearded Tits and 5 Stonechats (4 males).

Red Kite, Burnham Overy, 29th April

These balloons were heading straight out to sea - yet more marine pollution...

balloons, Burnham Overy, 29th April

A nice surprise at another site I visited that day was a singing Firecrest holding territory.  I don't think many birders visit this site so I shall have to return and keep an eye on what happens.

Firecrest, 29th April

The best day of the weekend around the county was probably Sunday 30th, but typically this was the one day I didn't have much available time.  I did manage to do a cruise of a few local gravel pits in the afternoon with a view to picking up on some of the day's tern passage (extraordinary numbers of Arctic Terns and lots of Black Terns moving through the county).  I drew a blank everywhere until I reached Sparham Pools where it was nice to see 8 Black Terns bouncing around.

Back up to Burnham Overy early on Monday 1st and it was noticeably quieter despite rain which I had hoped would ground some migrants.  There were still 5-6 Ring Ouzels in the dunes and 8 Wheatear.  The Grasshopper Warbler wasn't singing at Gun Hill but as I headed back towards the car at lunch time I heard a brief snatch of Grasshopper Warbler  reeling from brambles in the freshmarsh.  There were 3 Common Sandpipers and 6 Whimbrel and now at least 20 Little Terns.  The Cuckoo was still calling but visible migration was almost non-existent - just 1 Yellow Wagtail west.  Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Red Kite, Barn Owl and 5 Stonechats were seen but the highlight of the morning was a Woodlark singing in the dunes.  Another 2 Spoonbills were watched from Joe Jordan hide at Holkham and another Cuckoo and a Mediterranean Gull or two heard calling.

Woodlark, Burnham Overy, 1st May

Wheatear, Burnham Overy, 1st May

Great White Egret, Burnham Overy, 1st May

Bar-tailed Godwits, Burnham Overy, 1st May

Next day (Tuesday 2nd) was even quieter - quite disappointing in fact.  There was Greenshank and Whimbrel in the channel, along with 10 Bar-tailed Godwits (mostly in summer plumage) and 14 Knot (none in summer plumage).  The sea was quiet and there wasn't much left in the dunes - probably only 3 Ring Ouzels (possibly 5) and 6 Wheatear (and still 5 Stonechats).

Sedge Warbler, Burnham Overy, 2nd May

On a recent visit I'd seen an interesting Brent Goose among the Dark-bellied Brents on the saltmarsh.  It had really conspicuous white flanks but not like your typical Black Brant hybrid.  The bird was no darker than the accompanying Dark-belllied Brents - paler and browner if anything - and the neck collar was small.  I wondered if it might be a Pale-bellied x Dark-bellied Brent Goose hybrid, but when I looked at my photos (very poor) that evening I started having doubts - it looked like a pure Pale-bellied Brent Goose!  I was all but sure it hadn't been one - the lower part of the belly which wasn't clear in the photos had been too dark, but I decided to try and see it again before putting it down as anything.  I'd failed to find it on the last couple of visits but it was back again on Tuesday, and I confirmed my original impressions, and presume it was indeed a Pale-bellied Brent Goose x Dark-bellied Brent Goose hybrid.  Given the number of single Pale-bellied Brent Geese that turn up among Dark-bellied Brent Geese we might expect these hybrids to be more frequent but unlike Black Brant hybrids they seem to be quite unusual.  There was a mixed pair that were accompanied by hybrid young at Cley in at least two consecutive winters recently, and perhaps this bird was one of those offspring?

apparent Pale-bellied x Dark-bellied Brent Goose hybrid, Burnham Overy, 2nd May

Interestingly this hybrid seemed to be paired with a colour-ringed Dark-bellied Brent Goose.  The left leg had a blue ring with white Ys and the right leg had a blue ring with two white horizontal bands.  It turns out that "BYB=" was ringed in Taimyr in July 2008 and has been reported in Norfolk (Burnham Norton or Burnham Overy) in at least 4 winters subsequently (though interestingly never earlier than 21st February).  There have been various reports of it from Netherlands in October/November over the years and one from France (Aquitaine) in November 2015 (it was at Burnham Overy the following spring).  It also spent a while in Germany one spring.


Hihglights of local birding have included up to 2 pairs of Avocets, a Greenshank, the continued (intermittent) presence of a White Wagtail at Ryburgh, occasional visits from up to 2 Grey Wagtails and a one-off visit by a Yellow Wagtail.  There have been a couple of days with good numbers of hirundines but nothing red-rumped among them just yet.  I've seen up to 10 Barnacle Geese at Ryburgh and 2 at Bittering but the straggling White-fronted Goose has perhaps finally departed, along with the Pink-footed Geese.  A flock of 10+ Yellowhammers one day was a surprise - I didn't manage to find many flocks that big throughout the whole of the winter when I was looking for them with the hope of finding an overwintering Pine Bunting.

Avocets, 26th April

White Wagtail, Ryburgh, 28th April

White Wagtail, Ryburgh, 3rd May

Pied Wagtail, Ryburgh, 27th April

Finally this pair of Bullfinches graced my garden yesterday afternoon - not the first time I've seen them here but the first time I've seen them feeding actually in my garden.

Bullfinches, North Elmham, 4th May

Ring Ouzels galore

I thought the SW wind forecast last Thursday might produce some good vis mig so headed up to Burnham Overy early, walking out in the dark to get to Gun Hill by first light.  Despite the darkness I could make out the shape and action of a Spoonbill feeding in one of the pools next to the path, and I could hear at least 7 Sedge Warblers and a single Reed Warbler singing as I headed down.

Vis mig was really disappointing at dawn - a single Yellow Wagtail west and 2 Carrion Crows in were the only passerines I could clearly put down as being on vis mig in the first couple of hours.  But there was plenty of action.  There were flocks of Scoter constantly flying west - some may have been on vis mig but a lot of them seemed to be coming out of Holkham Bay so I assume it was mainly a local feeding movement.  Anyway, I ended up with 3020 Common Scoter and 8 Velvet Scoter.  There were about 100 Sandwich Terns passing by and over the estuary a group of 5 Whimbrel (2 more flew west later) and I heard a Greenshank calling.  A female Hen Harrier appeared briefly, flying west through the saltmarsh.

I could hear the odd chack of Ring Ouzels now and then and after a while 3 Ring Ouzels flew west off over towards Scolt Head.  I suspected they'd come up from the Sibe Thrush bushes from where another 2 Ring Ouzels headed off towards the east dunes.  There were still 2 Ring Ouzels there when I started headed off to the east dunes myself.  The first of 15 Wheatears were also near Gun Hill.

Ring Ouzels, Burnham Overy, 20th April

Stonechat, Burnham Overy, 20th April

As I walked through the dunes it became apparent that the vis mig I'd hoped for had now started, but it's hard to get a handle on what's happening in the east dunes - birds are moving on too broad a front here and you don't get a good view across the whole front.  There didn't seem to be vast numbers but a reasonable passage of Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches, the odd Yellow Wagtail (I had 5 in the end) and Swallow.  I also had 3 Tree Pipits move through and noticed several Redpolls (most heard only so hard to know how many - at least 12).

From one vantage point in the east dunes I could see a group of at least 7 Ring Ouzels one way and 3 Ring Ouzels another way.  Later on the seven moved round and I walked through finding another 2 Ring Ouzels.  Allowing for the possibility that the two from Gun Hill were among the ones I saw in the east dunes I must have seen at least 17 Ring Ouzels this morning - one of my best counts ever.

One of the Holkham Great White Egrets was on view for a while and a pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls flew over.

Whimbrel, Burnham Overy, 20th April

Nothing much to report from the rest of the day which included Blakeney Friary Hills (nothing better than a Lesser Whitethroat) and local patches.

Radde's Warbler!

On 15th October I was sorely tempted to go and see the Siberian Accentor in Yorkshire but conditions were still good for finding rare eastern vagrants in Norfolk and as much as I was keen to see the Accentor I did not want to waste valuable birding time driving to Yorkshire and standing in a queue.  Instead I would try my level best to find one in Norfolk.  I decided to start my search somewhere that I thought may not have been birded much over the last couple of days (judged by a lack of reports from there on the rare bird news networks) and where I had seen plenty of Dunnocks in the past (making an assumption that Siberian Accentors might like the same sorts of places) – the footpath between Morston and Stiffkey.

Dunnock, Morston Greens, 15th October

I arrived at Stiffkey at first light parking at the layby near the barns where a Barn Owl was hunting.  As I walked down towards the Fen a total of 50 Little Egrets flew away from the Fen - these were just the birds flying SW from roost - there must have been a load more leaving in other directions.  A couple of Bramblings were calling and on the Fen itself there were at least 25 Greenshanks.  A Spotted Redshank flew in to join them as I headed off along the footpath through Morston Greens.

I stopped to check some buntings thinking I could hear one ticking like a Song Thrush, before realising that it was a Song Thrush flying high overhead - there were quite a few thrushes coming in from the north.  In looking for the bunting I retraced my steps for a few yards and flushed a Jack Snipe from under my feet in doing so - odd how I didn't flush it when I walked there a minute earlier.  Some interesting sounding geese caused me to look up - they were a flock of 27 White-fronted Geese flying east, part of a large movement of this species mainly the previous day.  It was shaping up to be an enjoyable morning.

Further along the path I found 2 Ring Ouzels in the bushes which eventually flew off inland.

Ring Ouzel, Morston Greens, 15th October

There were also a couple of Blackcaps and I continued on to Morston village where I did a loop round the village before heading back along the same path towards Stiffkey.

 

Stock Dove and Woodpigeon, Morston, 15th October

 Morston, 15th October

When I reached one patch of scrub I lifted by bins to look at a small bird in a rose bush ahead of me and was pleased to see a bird which I pretty much instantly identified as a RADDE'S WARBLER!  It was in full view (except perhaps its bill which I think was hidden behind leaves) and in side profile.  The view was very brief, but I clocked the key features I needed and felt confident about the ID.  I did not have time to take any photos before the bird moved, gave a soft ‘tac’ and then flew across the path to brambles where I could not see it.  It then flew back across the path to a large hawthorn behind the rose where I obtained further brief views, then back across the path and out of view.  Apart from a further possible flight view I did not see or hear it again.

A Yellow-browed Warbler called in the hedgerow to my side while I was looking - so loud it sounded like it was perched on my left ear but I couldn't see it.  Another Ring Ouzel was in the same area too.  Eventually I gave up looking for the Radde's and continued on towards Stiffkey.  There were 175 Pintail visible in Blakeney Harbour and a Tree Pipit (or perhaps an Olive-backed Pipit - I am not sure I can tell their calls apart) flew west over Stiffkey Fen.  Other than Brambling, a couple of Siskins and a few thrushes there wasn't a great deal at Stiffkey Greens and even less in the campsite wood.

Yellowhammer, Stiffkey Greens, 15th October

Robin, Stiffkey, 15th October

I then had a look round the village and took the road up to the south end of Cockthorpe Common.  I've birded the north end of the common a few times coming in from beside Stiffkey Flood, but never approached it from this end.  It was good this end.  There were loads of thrushes in the hedgerows here.  As one group of thrushes flew across the path in front of me I noticed one large bird that stopped me in my tracks.  It clearly wasn't a Mistle Thrush as it had no white on the tail, but it seemed to have scaly pale markings on the upperparts.  I know what you're thinking but this was no White's Thrush (sadly) - the flock all landed in a big ivy-covered tree and the larger bird was just visible although mostly obscured.  Just about all I could see was a big yellow eye peering at me - it was a Little Owl!  A short way further a Ring Ouzel appeared among the thrushes and then a Yellow-browed Warbler started calling in the trees next to where the path started to open up.

Further down the common the birds thinned out a bit but a second Ring Ouzel was calling from the blackthorn on the east side.  Then as I entered the wood that runs down the side of Stiffkey Flood another Yellow-browed Warbler was calling there.  It either followed me along the path or else there was a second bird in the same wood.  A Kingfisher flew along the ditch but there was nothing of much note on the flood.

After this I had just enough time and energy left to look round somewhere small and not too far away, so popped down to Friary Hills at Blakeney.  Brambling, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 40 Redwings but not the Cattle Egret that dropped in here the following day.

Muntjac, Blakeney, 15th October

Ring Ouzels at last

Had the day off on Wednesday so after emptying the moth trap at dawn (while listening to the Cuckoo again) I headed up to Burnham Overy.  Much enjoyed the walk out to the dunes, seeing or hearing 70 species by the time I reached the boardwalk bushes.  The first of those was a Common Sandpiper which I nearly ran over as I drove in to the staithe car park.

Common Sandpiper, Burnham Overy, 4th May

The first of 5 Whimbrel were soon added to the tally, and this Barn Owl.  They always look whiter at this time of year - presumably due to worn plumage prior to their next moult.

Barn Owl, Burnham Overy, 4th May

Grey Plovers, Burnham Overy, 4th May

Whitethroat, Burnham Overy, 4th May

The dykeside bushes held a Willow Warbler and before long a second Willow Warbler was seen in the sueada, with a third bird in the bushes when I arrived at the boardwalk.  Signs of a small fall of migrants, I hoped, but after a fourth Willow Warbler the other side of Gun Hill there were no more.

Willow Warbler, Burnham Overy, 4th May

Curiously this bird, the one at the boardwalk, showed many similarities to a Phyllosc that Mike Buckland photographed in the same spot yesterday.  A lot of the detail around head pattern etc. is matched remarkably precisely.  Mike's bird was apparently a strong candidate for Iberian Chiffchaff and when I saw his photos yesterday I was struck how alike it was, in some of the images, to the bird I'd seen - and I feared that I'd stuffed up badly in passing it off as a Willow Warbler.  But checking both sets of photos when I got home one of his looked more Chiffchaff-like than mine ever looked and another showed dark legs.  The legs aren't well shown in any of my images, but just well enough to reassure me that it must be a different bird (and they looked pale in the field too), and in any case surely my bird's wings are too long even for an Iberian Chiffy.  But really weird how so much small detail matches between the two birds.

Lots of Little Terns have arrived since the weekend - I counted about 30 on one scan but no doubt there were a lot more than that in the area.

Little Terns, Burnham Overy, 4th May

Common Tern, Burnham Overy, 4th May

There were a few Yellow Wagtails moving west, though not so many as last time and I heard a single Tree Pipit fly west.  Finches included a Brambling west and at least one Redpoll.  The most obvious birds moving through were corvids with 38 Carrion Crows noticed and 5 Jackdaws.

There were about 20 Wheatears present in various places and a single Whinchat - not the same bird I'd seen on Monday.  Having missed them on my last 2-3 visits (despite them being present) I was glad to see 2 Ring Ouzels this time.

Wheatear, Burnham Overy, 4th May

Whinchat, Burnham Overy, 4th May

Ring Ouzel, Burnham Overy, 4th May

This Cuckoo was also calling away in the dunes all morning, with presumably a different bird nearer the road on my arrival.

Cuckoo, Burnham Overy, 4th May

Other birds worthy of note were 1-2 Greenshanks in the channel, at least one Red Kite and a Spoonbill over.  From the sea wall I saw another large white bird drop in to the heronry at Holkham - it was hard to see what it was with all the heat haze but in the end I was sure it was the Great White Egret and not just another Spoonbill.

On Thursday I was working from home - shame I wasn't birding as this was the best day of the spring I think.  Lots of summer migrants arrived today and that was apparent even at home where at least 15 Swifts screamed around and next door's Swallow finally returned (singing its heart out just outside my study window all day).