Single White Female

The observatory at Welney WWT has a log book to record ring numbers of Whooper Swans noted at the reserve. This is helpful in tracking the birds as the staff do not have time to monitor the swans as often as they would like to. Going through my photos, I noticed I had captured an image of this Whooper showing off its bling.

I emailed Welney with the image and number and asked if they could supply me with any information on this individual. This morning, I received the following reply from Emma Brand, the Events and Marketing Officer:

Hi Kay

Nice photo; the whooper swan in question (E4A) was ringed at WWT Welney on 25^th November 2009 as a cygnet. The swan has returned to Welney this winter and she’s a female so hopefully we’ll see her return to Welney in the future with a mate of her own.

Cheers

Emma Brand

More from Norfolk

I spent yet more time at Titchwell on the 11th and 13th, only venturing into the new Parrinder Hide as a matter of necessity to see six of the reported eight Shore Larks present on the 13th. Awesome little birds. This was a very good day for passerines on the brackish marsh and I also saw a Rock Pipit, c.40 Twite (RSPB are putting out seed for them) around 20 Skylark, Linnet and some Meadow Pipit. Unfortunately a Lapland Bunting was also seen before I arrived.

There were also a variety of Ruff, including some very nice white-headed ones. I saw the female Scaup on both of these visits, although she can be a bit difficult to find, as she has been lurking around the back of the fresh Marsh.

The Whooper Swan was still feeding with Mute Swans in the field left of the access road on both occasions. On the 13th, I got a further brief glimpse of the Northern Harrier over Thornham Marsh and at dusk two ringtail Hen Harriers.

On the 11th I visited Holme NWT after Titch, walking from Gore Point up to the hides. Here, I added Snow Bunting to my year list, with a flock of around 20 on the beach. A seawatch got me a Great Northern Diver, a Red-throated Diver, 2 fly-past Long-tailed Duck, 2 Fulmar, Shelduck and c.30 Oystercatcher.

The reserve itself was a little quieter. Around 40 Fieldfare were feeding in the thorny orange berries, 7 Grey Partridge flew over the path, and on the marsh/fields were Golden Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Wigeon, Brent Goose etc. 3 Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk hunted over towards the church.

Late in the day I briefly popped to Burham Norton, mostly for reconnaissance purposes. There seems to be more wintering Marsh Harriers in Norfolk than I've ever seen before and at least 5 hunted the reedbeds here, including a nice male. I also spotted a ringtail Hen Harrier. Skeins of Pink-footed Geese were flying over, always a lovely way to end a Norfolk birding day.

On the 12th Jan, I visited Welney WWT. The reserve looked drastically different to my previous visit in October when a Wilson's Phalarope had graced the small pool. The entire meadows were now completely flooded; an important wintering haven for wildfowl. Around 40 Whooper Swans were waiting for the feed outside the observatory, so I decided to use this opportunity for a spot of photography.

Whooper Swans

Tufted Duck

Pochard

Amongst my Whooper photos, I have a photo of an adult wearing a yellow colour ring - number E4A. I've emailed Welney to ask if they have any info on this bird.

A very narrow exposed peninsula held c.40 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Dunlin and a Redshank. Two Tree Sparrows at the feeders and a Barn Owl, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard from Lyle Hide. There were 1000's of Wigeon present (6409 as per Welney's latest WeBS count) and a few Goldeneye were noted.

Late in the day, Snettisham. From about 4:00pm till at least 4:40 seemingly endless skeins of Pink-footed Geese passed over, in from the east and off out to roost on the Wash. Now, I've witnessed large flocks of Pinkies in Norfolk many a time, but this was something else, a staggering number of geese. On the Monday morning, apparently some 37,350 had been counted leaving the roost.

Other highlights here included a single female Brambling, a drake Red-breasted Merganser and 8 Goldeneye on the lagoons and the usual array of waders out on the estuary; Curlew, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Knot and Redshank.

On Friday 14th, a visit to Strumpshaw Fen and Buckenham/Cantley Marshes. The plan was to explore Strumpshaw in the morning then around lunchtime set about the task of trying to spot the Lesser White-fronted Goose.

First time I'd visited these places and I was mightily impressed, although I didn't see too much at Strumpshaw itself apart from 3 Marsh Tit, a Treecreeper, 5 Marsh Harriers and from the tower hide, a nice little selection of wildfowl including Gadwall and Goldeneye.

Would have been nice to spend more time there, but I was keen to get out onto Cantley and Buckenham. It's an impressively vast place and the task of searching the distant huge goose flocks for this Lesser White-fronted Goose was daunting. Helpfully, two birders directed me to where this goose was usually being seen. Other birders were also concentrating their efforts here, although no one could find it. It was later reported at another spot in the marsh. I wasn't too disappointed though, the good views of six Taiga Bean Geese was worth trip here in itself. Whether the record of the Lesser White-fronted Goose will be accepted or not depends on whether the goose disappears with his Taiga Bean Geese or disgraces itself by staying the summer hanging with the Greylags.

Also noted a flock of c.450 White-fronted Geese, Pink-footed Geese, Barnacle Geese (feral) and Egyption Geese. A Red-necked Grebe on the Yare was very nice and a Barn Owl was hunting.

The last couple of days were a bit hard-going; although it wasn't cold the winds were very harsh and it was difficult to steady your scope and bins at most times. Despite this, there were a few more good spots.

On 15th, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose (most in Norfolk are of course of the Dark-bellied race) at Burnham Overy Staithe and at Holme later that day 2 Waxwings were by the car park.

Why do I never see Waxwings when the sun shines?

On Sunday the 16th, I visited Weybourne in the hope of seeing Lapland Buntings. Up to 15 have been seen recently in the stubble fields east of the coastguards cottages. I did get to see about seven, however only in flight and calling and never got a good view of one on the deck. This was rather disappointing, I've not had a decent view of one in a long while.

Final stop of the trip, Warham Greens. A spot of raptor watching. I had been hoping for Short-eared Owl or a male Hen Harrier, but what I got was far better. I noticed a raptor to the far left drifting along the bank, I couldn't quite place it at first, it turned slightly and I noticed white on the rump and thought Hen Harrier. But something wasn't right, the jizz was all wrong. As the bird came closer, I followed it along and noted it was a heavier looking bird with deeper wingbeats. It was heading west and it banked and I could now see a lot better. Not a white rump, but a white tail with a single band. Light belly with a dark patch and carpal underwing patches. Yes! A Rough-legged Buzzard!! I think this was a first-winter bird as it had a buff tinge to the underparts. I couldn't believe my luck. Also here I had two ringtail Hen Harriers, one Marsh Harrier and 6 Little Egrets.

Anyway, sorry for all the waffle, I guess this is what happens when you don't post for a while.

Yanks in Norfolk

Holiday time at the moment and I'm in Norfolk. I was itching to have a go for the Northern Harrier that's been knocking around Thornham, but then a stone's throw from my accommodation loomed the chance of a lifer, American Wigeon. So there I was on Cley's famous East Bank first light on Saturday morning.

Luckily the Wigeon flock were feeding fairly closely and as the light picked up it was fairly easy to pick out this handsome drake. The field also contained a small flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a few Pink-footed Goose.

So, first lifer of the year under the belt before breakfast, but a hearty fry-up meant missing the Northern Harrier fly through Thorham Harbour. Oh dear. I did more than make up for this yesterday however, with spectacular scope views of the Northern Harrier over Thornham Marshes in the morning and later from Titchwell shortly after midday, where it even came over the main path before heading out east.

When you see this harrier well, it certainly is a distinctive bird with its orangey-rusty underparts, dark hood and very dark upperparts. The most distinctive ID feature for this particular Northern Harrier is what my fellow Midlands birders might well term a 'gammy foot', the bird has a damaged foot that dangles down conspicuously in flight. There you go, technical stuff.

Spent a lot of time around Titchwell RSPB on Saturday and Sunday. Now I must mention this new Parrinder Hide. It's awful. From the outside it looks more like an air traffic control centre than a bird watching hide, inside its smart, but completely impractical for birding. The dudes seem to like it, its warm and insulated. The glass window panes slide open using a weird pully system, incidentally most of the types in the hides didnt like them opened!! View is also quite restricted for scope usage, so I soon gave up and set my scope up on the path. Most other birders were also voting with their feet doing the same, which caused a lot of congestion along the path. I wonder if birders were consulted at all in the design process?

Anyway, moan over, the birding at Titchwell was fantastic over the weekend. The long list of highlights as follows; Northern Harrier, Water Pipit, a Whooper Swan feeding with Mutes on the fields left of the access road, a flock of 25-30 Twite feeding on the Brackish Marsh, a few over-wintering Marsh Harriers and a Water Rail.

The sea was good and I managed to pick out the following on a brief seawatch; 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 100's of Common Scoter and a few Eider and Goldeneye. The juvenile Iceland Gull flew over the beach on the 8th.

Of course the usual array of waders were in attendance, the best being this Spotted Redshank. Also plenty of Ruff on the islands of the fresh marsh.

Barn Owls seem to be all over the place at the moment and can be encountered frequently along the roadside along the A149. Saw one catch a vole within two feet this morning.

Today was another good day of birding, mostly spent around Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea. The outstanding highlight were two Rough-legged Buzzards that could be seen over Burnham Overy Staithe dunes at 11:15am. They were rather distant but the light was good and the white tails, light underside and dark carpal and belly patches could be seen. Tried to get a bit closer but they were drifting west (later reported at Scolt Head) so it didn't feel like I was getting any nearer to them. Pleased with the lifer though and if I'm lucky maybe I'll get a better view before I go back to Brum. Other raptors included 2 Common Buzzards, ringtail Hen Harrier, several Marsh Harriers and 2 more Barn Owls.

From Joe Jordan Hide there were many White-fronted Geese, Pink-footed Geese and 2 Grey Partridge. At Wells, there were two redhead Smew on the boating lake by Wells Wood, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a few Goldeneye feeding in the harbour and the Black Brant remained with the flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese on the pitch and putt.

Bombycilla-tastic

Firstly, greetings of the New Year to anyone who's still awake. I'll post a bit more this year, I promise...

Not too much birding news as yet, I'm saving myself for a biggie down in Norfolk, beginning on Friday afternoon. News on that should follow shortly.

I'd hoped to find some Waxwings before the turn of the year and had put in a lot of time wandering the suburbs and mapping out the berry bushes. However a bout of seasonal (and suspected swine) flu put paid to that. Waxwings were reported nearby as I lay on my sick bed and I couldn't even summon the strength to go and see them.

Rather find my own anyway and on New Year's Day I wandered down to Shirley and checked a berry bush I've had my eye on, on Shakespeare Drive, where Waxwings have been seen in previous years. Two Waxwings were present - hurrah and Happy New Year to me!

Unfortunately it was a very dull day, so the photos are rubbish. The Waxies allowed me very close to the tree, so I wish the light had been better but you can't have it all. Watched them for 20 minutes until a Mistle Thrush saw them off.

Happy Birding in 2011 to all.

Twitches, ditches and dips

The next morning (10th) and tons of common migrants (especially thrushes) were still on the move during a walk round Warham Greens. Also a sighting of Warwickshire birder John Harris!

As soon as the tide had receeded sufficiently, I was off after the Olive-backed Pipit. Across the marshes to the small patch of gorse where the bird had been showing the previous day. Tensions were running high and one pleasant chap was shouting abuse and threatening other birders. Mind you, the numpties walking right into the gorse were unbelievable. After about an hour and a half all I'd had were brief (and untickable) flight views, however the pipit then began to work its way across the the bottom of the gorse near where I was standing and eventually I was able to see it out in the open from 5ft away. Lifer. Hurrah!

Argy-bargy at the OBP Twitch!

This patch of gorse was something of a mini migrant trap, with a female Redstart, Chiffchaff, Brambling, Wheatear and several Goldcrest also noted here.

Birdguides reports stated 'wellies recommended'. I had none with me so returned very muddy indeed after falling a few times and traipsing through ditches. Who cares though; as two birders I met later in the Titchwell car park so eloquently put it; 'if you come back from Norfolk looking like that, you know you've seen a good bird'.

It was a day for twitching and Titchwell was soon abandoned as news came of a report of an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Wells Wood. Arrived on scene to find frustrated and disappointed Norfolk birders combing the pines. The finder was now nowhere to be seen and people weren't exactly sure where to look for the bird (a potential first for Norfolk). Very odd.

Again migrants were abundant here, including Brambling. This female was feeding on the path and didn't flush when birders passed or paused to take her picture. Exhausted no doubt.

The 11th was a very good morning's birding Another lifer in the form of a stunning Pallas's Warbler at Burnham Overy Staithe. This bird showed well as it flitted around the bushes near the boardwalk. Also here a Short-eared Owl came in high over the dunes, 2 Lapland Bunting over, Brambling, Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Marsh Harrier as well as the now ubiquitous Goldcrests and Redwings. Seawatching produced 2 Great Skuas and a Manx Shearwater.

Pallas's Warbler twitch

Little Egret

A later walk near Kelling produced an unexpected sighting with this Long-eared Owl sitting in a meadow! Not too much else here of note though, apart from 3 Wheatear and a Marsh Harrier.

On the 12th the morning was spent around Cley. The undoubtable highlight here was the 5 Shore Lark on the shingle ridge above Arnold's Marsh. Super little birds, it was fantastic to watch them feeding on the bank at close quarters. Also here a nice Curlew Sandpiper and a group of Ruff feeding on the muddy field.

The final day and a half it did go a bit quiet again, although there were still smaller numbers of thrushes, Goldcrest and Brambling etc passing through. Attempts at trying to find my own rarity at Holme, Stiffkey and Warham never worked out, but was enjoyable birding all the same. The final highlights included Rock Pipit, Garden Warbler, 4 Grey Partridge and a Sparrowhawk catching an unfortunate Goldfinch.

More Norfolk

A large proportion of Wednesday 6th October was spent deliberating over a binocular trade-in. Although never any doubt over quality, my trusty Swarovski SLC 8x32s, never gave quite the magnification and field of view I required. After much umming and arring, I struck a deal with the extremely helpful and patient folks at Cley Spy. I came out heavier around the neck and much lighter in the purse, with a pair of 10x42 SLC HDs. I have to say the improvement has been staggering.

Spent the rest of the next day or so testing them around Titchwell and Cley. Titchwell held a fair selection of waders; Greenshank, Ruff, Golden and Grey Plover, Snipe, Sanderling, Dunlin etc, however the place seemed generally quiet with the ongoing work causing some disturbance.




Notable sightings from the Cley area included 2 Spoonbills east over Arnold's Marsh (6th), 3 Whinchats in the reedbed from East Bank, Wheatear, 2 Spotted Redshank on Arnold's Marsh (7th) with other waders including Ringed Plover, Ruff, Knot and Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit. Hunting Barn Owl, Peregrine and 4 Marsh Harriers with 8 Buzzards circling high over the distant church roof. At sea, plenty of Gannets (mainly juvs), Guillemot, Red-throated Diver and Brent Geese. A Tawny Owl was accidentally flushed at Wolsley Hills. Bearded Tits continued to show well.

A flock of 20 or so Snow Buntings were present at Holkham and seemed to be favouring the west of the beach.

By the afternoon of Friday 8th the easterly winds at last began to bear fruit. A cracking juvenille Red-breasted Flycatcher turned up in the pines at Holme NWT and a female Black Redstart hopped around the roof of the visitor centre. There had been a massive fall of Goldcrests and tons of thrushes were passing overhead, with some dropping in; mainly Redwings and Song Thrush but also quite a few Blackbirds. Also a few Chiffchaffs, Wheatears and Siskins around and it was very surprising to see a Cuckoo. Apparentely the latest Cuckoo record for Holme.

The next morning Holme continued to be good. This Pectoral Sandpiper put in an appearance on the marshes NE of the golf course. The long walk out there and the resulting missing of a few other good birds was worth it for the views of this confiding wader.

Also here 3 Common Redstart, 5 Chiffchaff, many Siskin and every bush in sight crawling with Goldcrests. The movement of thrushes continued with 100's of Redwings and smaller numbers of Song Thrush (official counts from Holme included 400 Siskins, 500+ Goldcrests, 1000+ Redwings, 400 Song Thrush and 70 Blackbirds. See here for more sightings from Holme). A Kingfisher was on the marshes.

News came through of an Olive-backed Pipit at Stiffkey, however by the time I got back , the tide was coming in and filling up the channels on the very boggy marsh. I didn't fancy getting caught out overnight so had to wait and hope the Pipit would remain till low tide the next day.

To be continued......

Phalaropus Trios

My spiritual home, the north Norfolk coast. I'm currently holed up in the village of Cley-next-the-sea birding away the remainder of this year's annual leave entitlement (which expires 1st November!).

Sunday 3rd October

First stop had to be a walk of the East Bank down to Arnold's Marsh. Plenty of Bearded Tits pinging about and flitting over the reeds. (they are dead easy there at the moment). Unfortunately no sign of the earlier reported Spoonbills and there didn't seem to be anything particularly unusual about. 15 Little Egrets were noted, along with Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, the odd Knot etc. Out at sea 2 juv Gannets, 2 Sandwich Tern, Razorbill and a distant diver sp.

Next down the road to Gramborough Hill to look for the Barred Warbler, a bird I've dipped before. It continued to elude me as I waited hopelessly for an hour in strong southerly winds. Two Wheatears, lots of Meadow Pipits and Egyption Geese were all that was about.

It was now raining, not heavily, but persistently during a visit to Burnham Overy Staithe. The reported Grey Phalarope was nowhere to be seen, however things were suddenly on the up with a flyover Spoonbill heading NNE and a ringtail Hen Harrier quartering the fields. Also here; Peregrine, Kestrel, Wheatear, lots of Dunlin and Redshank with the odd Grey Plover and Black-tailed Godwit, also 5 Little Egret.

Final stop for the day was back at Cley Marshes, where a Red-necked Phalarope could be seen swimming and spinning around the gulls at the back of Simmond's Scrape. Also around 15 Avocet here.


Monday 4th October

Southerly winds, rain and fog at Cley this morning, so I headed inland to Welney WWT where a first-winter Wilson's Phalarope had already been present for a couple of days. A bird I first met on the famous day of 23rd September 2007 at Upton Warren. Older, supposedly more wiser and definitely more jaded and cynical these days, it was nonetheless great to get reacquainted with this superb little bird. I never tire of watching Phalaropes and the Wilson's has so much character.

Seriously stretching the term 'record shot' here....if you squint you can just see a light shadow near the centre of the photo, near the end of the peninsula. That's the Wilson's Phalarope. Honest.

This very enjoyable visit to Welney also included sightings of 2 Little Stint, several Snipe and Ruff, a Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and 3 hunting Short-eared Owls, 2 Barn Owls and a Marsh Harrier. Surprisingly Swallows were still nesting inside the Lyle Hide with the unfledged young being fed.

Finally a visit to Hunstanton Cliffs to catch up with a Wryneck, another bird I've not seen for a while. The Wryneck was very active and confiding, a super bird.





Tuesday 5th October

Scaling the dizzy heights of Gramborough Hill once again, this time the goods were produced with a sighting of the Barred Warbler (lifer!). The large warbler showed well on the brambles, but not for very long. Also here a Whinchat, 3 Wheatear and many Meadow Pipits.

A seawatch from Cley Beach produced a distant Arctic Skua, Guillemot, Red Throated Diver, 4 Sandwich Tern, a small raft of Common Scoter, Eider, Gannet and a Great Crested Grebe.

Two Spoonbills were on Cley's North Scrape for most of the morning and other birds I saw around the reserve that morning included a ringtail Hen Harrier, Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier and the expected range of waders and ducks.

Later on, I heard the Grey Phalarope was back at Burnham Overy, so decided to complete the hat-trick of Phalaropes. The third Phalarope in as many days, the Grey Phalarope showed well in a small pool in the cattle fields just south of the dunes.

As the day drew to a close, skeins of Pink-footed Geese could be seen coming in, a Short-eared Owl quartered the fields at close range, with at least 3 Barn Owls and a Marsh Harrier were also out hunting. Three Wheatears were on the barbed wire fence and a number of Swallows gathered overhead.

Migration is clearly happening, although a bit more slowly than I'd like. The constant southerly winds mean that migrants are a bit thin on the ground, but with winds set to swing round to easterlies by the end of the week, my hopes are high for this weekend....

Cumbria and Lancs

This posting is beyond late, but I feel it’s time to get the old blog rolling again. A recent trip to the northwest began at Haweswater in Cumbria on 14^th August. No prizes for guessing what for. It was surprising to see a day-flying pipistrelle bat on the walk up to the Eagle viewpoint. Wheatear, 4 Ravens, Curlew, Meadow Pipit and 4 deer (including a young stag) were noted whilst waiting and hoping for an Eagle sighting. The Golden Eagle suddenly appeared around 4pm and perched reasonably close to the viewpoint, before being mobbed by 3 crows and chased by them breathtakingly close to the viewpoint (good work corvids!). Eventually he settled higher up on the mountain, where he could be scoped. Back down at the reservoir a Spotted Flycatcher flitted around the conifers and 5 Goosander were on the water.

The next day it was a visit to Lake Bassenthwaite to see the Ospreys. This is where I first saw Ospreys (probably about 7 years ago?) when I was here in the capacity of a tourist, not a birder. Seeing birds like this had been the catalyst reigniting the YOC member in me and leading me down the path of ‘adult’ birding. Anyway, I digress...3 Ospreys were seen well from Dodd’s Wood Viewpoint, perching, in the air, mobbing Buzzards etc. Also several Siskins and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers visited the feeders, c70 Goosander on the lake below and a Raven over. However, it was packed with Lakeland dudes, kids and wood wasps. Time to move on.

Heading to the coast, Walney Island was a place I’ve wanted to visit and I would certainly recommend it, however it would be nice to see at different times of year. From the hide at the tip of the island an incredible number of Oystercatchers, must have been 1000’s, the shingle was coated black with them. On the island, I also noted 1 Greenshank, many Redshank, Turnstone, Dunlin, 2 Wheatear, Stonechat and Eider and Grey Seal on the sea.

Hawfinch are often seen from the car park at Sizergh Castle, however a later stop there drew a blank.

On 16^th August, a visit to Leighton Moss RSPB. Again, not the best variety at this time of year, but always a great reserve to visit. A quick look at the sightings book in the visitor revealed that a White-tailed Sea Eagle was seen the day previously (dude with a sense of humour, one imagines..). Two Raven over, 4 Greenshank from Public Hide and small numbers of wildfowl also a Water Rail and 5 Black Tailed Godwit. From the Eric Morcombe Hide an impressive 35 Little Egret were counted and a Spotted Redshank and 8 Greenshank mingled with a larger number of Redshank. A Peregrine was seen in a skirmish with 2 Buzzards.