aPalling Birding

Here's a run down of the birding as it happens - I've used a few photos that I've found on the net. Haven't had time to contact the photographers but if you see something you'd like me to remove just say so.

Below are hyperlinks to my month-by-month birding diary. Just click on the month you want to view.

January   February  March  Wedge-billed Wren Babblers!  April May June July  August  September  October  November December

Go here for a 2007 Patch List

Sun Sept 30th. A red-letter day in Sea Palling. Found Radde's, Red-backed Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Yellow-browed and a Sabs over the weekend.

Late December birds of interest seen since moving include a single Pale-bellied (hrota) Brent Goose with a bernicla inshore of the reefs which gave excellent views for several minutes., accompanied by a Woodcock. Nine Shoveler heading shouth and a small party of Bewick's Swans heading inland. Cranes were encountered several times in various locations but were always thrilling. Best of all though was a real local patch blocker in the shape of a Ring-necked Parakeet, first heard calling over the village then seen mingling with Starlings from the front of the house...almost! Thrushes seemed to be in very short supply with only the odd Redwing an Fieldfare seen. The occasional Barn Owl has put in an appearance, particularly around Waxham Barn.

Jan 1st
Bright and breezy start to the new year, fairly quiet at Sea Palling during our walk on the beach. Lovely sunlight, dog thoroughly enjoying his new life and very few townies. On the sea a few Red-throated Divers, Guillemots etc, mostly heading south. A few Eiders loafing around the reefs. Back home for a quick cuppa, (no sign of yesterday's Ring-necked Parakeet in the village) then out on the bike and down to south Horsey. a few 1000 pinkfeet still in the east fields but only two bernicla Brents with them, aside from the Greylags. No sign of the previously present Eurasian Whitefronts. A couple of cranes feeding in the fields, Little Egret, 50 or so Skylark near Walnut Farm. Spent the end of the day at the raptor roost from the Horsey side as I was feeling rather anti-social and didn't fancy pointing out ringtails to dudes and crane twitchers. Had the bank to myself and scored well with stunningly close views of a ghostly male Hen Harrier and two ringtails - the male perching up for a few minutes. The journey there and back on the bike was a bit lively and i nearly ended up in the dyke on a few occasions...


Jan 6th
Down to Horsey Gap with Holly and Ben, pissed it down. Managed a look at a few young seal pups, again several Red-throated Divers and Guillemots etc. Had a wander round the mere but it just rained even more heavily. The new Berghaus was mighty comfortable though and stood up a lot better than the poxy Nikon ED 78. Wonderful optically but about as waterproof as tissue paper.

Spent an hour in the afternoon up at Walcott watching three 1st-winter and one adult Med Gull at close quarters on the beach. About 40 or so each of Turnstone and Sanderling feeding on the beach and around an outlet pipe that probably came straight from the sewers. Niiiiiice. Small numbers of the commoner gull species.

Jan 7th
A morning walk around the fields north of the village turned up the large feeding flock of finches. Mostly Linnets and Greenfinch (probably well over a hundred of each) with smaller numbers of Goldfinches, Chaffinches and a Reed Bunting. 20-30 Woodpigeons and Stock Doves feeding in the stubble on the west side of the road. Had a bite to eat an a quick cuppa then off to Stubb Mill for the roost. Fairly quiet with only 9 or so cranes in before the light went and only one ringtail. Ben was very popular and enjoyed a lot of fuss from several very pleasant folks. Nice to see Tom Gray there too...

Wandered back to the car park and had to be pushed out of the mud by some kindly souls - nice one gents!


Jan 8th
Stunning blue sky this morning and wonderful to see skeins of pinks going over Sea Palling, Waxham and Horsey- a real pisser on a workday...

Jan 9th
Very blustery morning today, quick walk on the beach and just as i was getting into the car a few hundred pinks came scudding over. Several more groups as I drove through Horsey. Took Ben for a run on the beach tonight, and was overflown by a couple of thousand pinks all strung out across the darkening sky - magical...

Jan 11th
Ben flushed a Woodcock from the landward edge of the dunes this evening. Good numbers of pinkfeet going over. Red-throated Divers on the sea.

Jan 13th

Holly was cleaning the house today in advance of her newly adopted cat turning up so I took Ben out for the day. Started off at Barton Broad for the Great Northern Diver but there wasn't really anywhere for the dog to roam so we drove the short way to Catfield and had a look at the Bewick's; somewhere around 120-135 were knocking about. Also bumped into a huge flock of Golden Plover and Lapwing - possibly getting on for 800 GP and 500 Lapwing. Despite scanning for ages and noting a very grey individual there was nothing vaguely American Golden Plover like. Small groups of Linnets and Pied Wags made up the numbers.

Moved on to Horsey Mere and immediately upon getting to the mere five Cranes overflew the water - stunning close views in reasonable light. Several hundred Teal and lesser numbers of Wigeon, Gadwall and Shoveler with the odd Tufted Duck. A few Marsh Harriers over the back.

A few Red-throated Divers on the sea, several Common Gulls moving south. Very little else bar a few Mipits.

Jan 14th
Lovely and bright today. Took a walk around the back fields and had a look through the finch flock in the stubble fields. A few Reed Buntings and several Goldfinches in the main flock of Linnets. Greenfinch numbers were much  lower than last week - not much more than single figures.

A walk on the beach turned up 12 Snow Buntings on the beach at wonderfully close range. Nine Yellowhammers in the dunes. On the sea was a large number of Red-throated Divers - at least 40 in the stretch just north of Sea Palling towards Eccles. Several others moving but no obvious movement occuring. Dave Showler popped over for some stuff on Sri Lanka and we had another walk down to Waxham but there was little of note

Jan 15th
Huge numbers of pinks coming off Hickling Broad area and heading towards the coast at Horsey and similarly large numbers heading inland around Winterton.

Jan 16th
Still around 20 Red-legged Partridges just before Winterton in the fields east of the road..

Jan 19th
A few pinks overflew our five a side tonight (won by 2)

Jan 20th
After a couple of days of gales and heavy rain, often waking me up, it was nice to get out into the fresh air again. It was extremely windy and watching the geese down south of Horsey Mill wasn't easy. I met Dave and Jacqui Bridges from Cley and it wasn't long before we had two Tundra Bean Goose at not too distant range, amongst the large numbers of Pink-footed Goose. There seems to be  more pinks in the area over the last few days - possibly due to beet running short on the north coast?. A pair of cranes just opposite from the mill and a few cranes were just around the corner but no sign of the Barnacle Goose and Rough-legged Buzzard from yesterday...

The wind was too much eventually so I took Ben for a trot around Neatishead and to Barton Broad. Bumped into Phil Benstead and Charlotte and spent a pleasant 30 mins yakking until the Great-Northern Diver appeared. A leisurely stroll back to the car along the quiet country roads and then back with Ben to introduce him to Holly's new cat. And then the rest of the day was spent trying to stop him from getting hold of the cat and turning it into dinner.

Jan 21st
The wind was still extremely strong and mostly westerly but turning round northerly a little. The geese were very unsettled, to the point of it being impossible to find any on the deck, in sight. Spent an hour or so watching the harriers including a lovely male Marsh. Stopped at the Waxham south track and had a wander in the dunes. Only a few Red-throated Divers on the sea but one passerine that appeared to be coming  in-off heading north, had the tail-less impression of a Woodlark but not the typical bounding woodpecker-like flight. Took the bike out for a ride in the afternoon around the back roads to Eccles. A couple of flocks of Lapwings around the 200 mark with much smaller numbers of Golden Plover and Turnstone. Reasonable numbers of Black-headed and Common Gulls still in the general area. The finch flock couldn't be located but there were at least two Bullfinch there. A Barn Owl at close range rounded the cold but clear afternoon off nicely

Jan 22nd
turning colder, the wind having veered distinctly more northerly. Several hundred pinks in fields south of the mill and west of the road but no time to stop and scan...

Jan 23rd
Stopped off on my way home to work to have a look at the pinkfeet flock from yesterday. Almost the two closest birds were a pair of Tundra Bean Geese (adults). Typical bill pattern of a thin orangey band, the bill slightly more elongated than the pinks' bills. Otherwise nondescript, but with a thinner terminal white band on the tail than the pinks? and the body appearing darker brown on the neck, throat and mantle. Only viewed through my old Zeiss...

Jan 27th
Went down to Horsey Mill area to try and turn up the potential Rough-legged Buzzard. Glorious morning again, lovely and clear. Checked the mere and came across huge numbers of Teal again, along with lesser numbers of Shoveler and Gadwall etc, along with a small group of Long-tailed Tits. The pinkfeet were all over the place so I decided to try the B1159 again. Dave Holman and Baz pulled up and before long we'd found 8 Whoopers, a pinkfoot with the Greylags at West Somerton (no sign of the two reported Tundra there though. Baz went for a quick trawl through the plantation by the rubbish dump and attempted to move the geese closer but still no Tundra. Later on I eventually relocated Dave's cracking adult Little Gull.  Large flock of Lapwing and Golden Plovers again marvellous to see wheeling about in the wind. No sign of the Lanner seen by Barry Jarvis yesterday (took a Golden Plover!)

After lunch took Ben for a run on the bike. Not much, but the usual Barn Owl around the back of Palling was as cool as ever.

Jan 28th
Very windy in the morning, some cloud cover but cleared later. The Little Gull was still in the field just past the plantation but again no Tundras. Two Cranes set up in the flooded field east of 1159 so I phoned Stu and put them on RBA. Spent a good 30 mins watching an imm. Sparrowhawk plucking a Woodpigeon while the Cranes doodled around in the background. Whoopers had moved on. Plenty of Marsh Harriers wheeling around in the wind again.

Feb 2nd
Large numbers of pinks right by the road near the mill this morning. No time to stop though.

Feb 3rd
Last night in Norwich at Dave Edward's do Dave Farrow talked me into going for the Pacific Diver at Farnham. I talked Rich Moores and Busta Symes into accompanying us and set off nice and early from Sea Palling to pick up the crew. Rich and Busta couldn't be raised - too much beer in Mercy or Time I expect. Still, Faz was on the ball and we headed north at a fair lick. Roads were clear and we arrived about 08:10 and parked up. The bird was happily swimming about on the smallish boating lake and we enjoyed at least two and a half hours viewing.

A lovely bird and a real birders' bird. Smallish, sleek and sitting low in the water. No flank line visible, thin chinstrap and a vent strap visible on occasion. The bill was rather thin, especially against the pale water when the upper mandible appeared to almost disappear at times. The scaling on the back was prominent and the head and neck were rather pale smooth powdery grey with a darker line down the mid-nape. The edge of the nape showed a nice black edge but at no time was a white flank patch visible. World tick. Nice!

Guernsey Dave has created a little video with ID features highlighted

We then cocked the day up by driving across Yorkshire at a snails pace an ending up with the muppets 'looking' for the American Robin. Best glossed over. Another quick journey back and a celebratory meal of tuna and squid on a rocket salad with pitta and lemon humous / feta. Washed down with a cracking bottle of red. Aren't I posh?

Feb 4th
Woke up to a blanket of fog. Gambled on the north coast and ended up at Titchwell. Beautiful and clear with hardly a cloud in site. Ben enjoyed a trot on the beach but birds were in very short supply.  Nice pasties though and I managed to pick up a Norfolk Bird Report leaving me only needing one for a full collection back to 1963... and a pair of warm woolly gloves for the coming cold weather. Oh yeah, and there were some birds too.

Feb 6th
Horsey Mill area on way home from work. What a place! Just gorgeous tonight. Geese all over the place and nice and close to the road. Two Little Gulls on Somerton Holmes and then the Ross's x Blue Snow Goose hybrid flew in with the pinks. Only seen in flight though. A fantastic male Marsh over the road and a few Barn Owls quatering around to the backdrop of bugling Cranes with no one else in sight was so pictureesque and summed up the appeal of this area for me. I feel so lucky on days like these.

Photos from GYBC site by Andrew Grieve and Steve Smith

Feb 10th
Very little around today, raining most of day. er... got some painting done.

Feb 11th
did the roost from a quiet spot - not Stubb Mill - and was treated to a couple of Merlins and an absolutely stunning ringtail at very close range. The cranes came in late - about 25 or so, the first two dropped in no more than 20 yards from the cut where i was standing. They proceeded to start calling - ear splitting volume, gave the dog a fright. Closest i've managed cranes here.

Seems to have been an influx of Common Gulls - a few reasonable flocks feeding in the fields today.

Feb 12th
Nice an clear to start with. Headed out to Heigham Holmes in search of the whitefronts. Birds were in small flocks but there was at least 200, and possibly a lot more, Eurasian (Greater) White-fronted Geese. No sigh of the Red-breasted Goose but 16 feral Barnacle Geese were kinda nice. Lapwings were prevalent with several hundred on the water. Five cranes passed over in the morning sun. Even the Cetti's were showing.

Headed back and got some coursework marking done. Set off about three for the American Wigeon at Buckenham but stopped off at West Somerton to grill the 1000-1500 pinks east of the road. One Barnacle and one White-front in there. Then it pissed down. A lot. Most of yesterday's Common Gulls appear to have moved on only a few here and there now. Met a really nice guy - the Chairman of the Peterborough Naturalists' Society. Gave me a brief run down on farming in the area in the past. Maybe try for the Wigeon. tomorrow...

Feb 13th
Took a steady drive over to Buckenham with Holly and Ben; checked the geese in Horsey on the way - single whitefront and Dark-bellied Brent. Not too many folks at Buckenham, Barry Jarvis and Dave Farrow skulking around. Had a quick look thru Dave's Swarovski and showed Holly. A little tricky to pick out initially but once you'd picked up the plummy flank colour it was easy. The peppered grey head and blackish eye mask were quite noticable but the white head flash wasn't all that conspicuous.

Little else of note - feral Barnacles, whitefronts but no Water Pipits. Stunning Barn Owl right at the roadside past Waxham track. A few others in evidence too. Couple of cranes.

Feb 14th
Too wet for birding - broke my London Calling poster glass, spent ages trawling thru Yarmouth supermarkets and Homebase, B & Q in vain for a replacement.

Feb 15th
Heigham Holmes with Ben and Holly. Geese too distant but nine White-fronted Geese came over. Sizeable Lapwing and Golden Plover flocks. A few Cetti's singing and a pair of Stonechats starting to get amorous. Couple of pinkfeet flocks around Horsey but long grass precluded searching for Tundras. One Dark-bellied Brent. A few Red-throated Divers on the sea but not a deal else.

Feb 16th
11 White-fronted Geese south past Sea Palling on a seawatch late morning and 52 Cormorants in two loose flocks was quite unusual?


Feb 17th
Holly picked up two cranes on call from miles away and was well pleased with herself as they slowly came our way and eventually flew almost directly overhead - awesome views against a blue sky. Several Stonechats, a few mipits, Marsh Harriers

Feb 18th
Morning jaunt with Ben. Two cranes were noticed from the Horsey / Martham track feeding across the B1152. Stayed there for over 2.5 hours. Met a nice couple and had a good old chat about cranes, birds and teaching. then a muppet turned up, asked about the cranes, showed his wife, and then pissed off without a hello, thank you or goodbye or anything... where do these ignorant fuckers come from? Two Water Pipits flushed from the flooded fields, both called and zoomed off over the cut. About 3-4 Stonechats on show and the Marsh Harriers were still courting. A few geese flocks but nothing huge.

Feb 20th
About 1200 pinks around Horsey. Nothing in with them though. Wet and drizzly but still nice to get out after school.

Feb 23rd
Still several Common Gulls in the fields south of Sea Palling.

Feb 24th
Went for a morning walk around the loop path at Horsey, hoping to see the Water Pipits again. No luck but while walking the straight stretch Ben started sniffing at the reed edge and seemed rather interested in something. I was letting him have a good sniff when he suddenly bolted forward and there was a bit of a commotion - he reveresed back out of the reeds with what i thought was a Pheasant for a split second until i realised it was a fucking Bittern!!! I shouted and he dropped it immediately. It sat on the grass and ruffed up all it's neck feathers and opened its bill. It continued this threat display while we watched for about a minute. It then crashed back into the reeds and out of sight. A stunning experience and a real surprise. I had been wondering about seeing a Bittern on that stretch but not in a strip of reeds about five feet wide. Makes you wonder how many might winter in the area in a good year.

Feb 25th
A few cranes this morning, sky dancing harriers, Cetti's Warblers and large numbers of starlings, lapwings, gulls and corvids in loose flocks. Seems to have been another minor influx of gulls with many Commons moving north past Sea Palling. Geese numbers have reduced drastically. Rest of day produced a Kittiwake north past Sea Palling, three Great-crested Grebes on the sea and a few Med Gulls at Walcott. Dog returned a blank today.

March 2nd
Quick stop at Somerton didn't reveal the Lesser White-fronted Goose. A walk on the seafront at Walcott saw lots of Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls, the odd Lesser Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull but strangely no Meds but the tide was right up. I did mange to get quite a soaking by being a smart arse and trying to beat the tide. The dog wasn't amused.

March 3rd
Horsey with the dog and Holly. After a walk around the loop track turned up several harriers, A Sparrowhawk, Cetti's and Stonechats, we wandered on to Somerton to see the Lesser White-fronted Goose. A lovely dinky little bird dwarfed by the 100+ Greylags. The bird had a smallish triangular white blaze going to a point on the forecrown. The eyering was inconspicuous from a distance, the mantle and wing feathers were hardly edged with white at all and the terminal white tail band was short while the black tail band was quite deep. The black markings on the underparts became quite solid to the rear of the bird in the undertail area. And nice orange legs. Kool bird. In the afternoon had a short seawatch off Sea Palling that produced a couple of porpoises and about 40 Red-throated Divers heading south in something under an hour

March 4th
Nothing much doing on the main Horsey road so i parked up at the start of the Nelson Head track and went for a wander. Before long i managed to find the Carrion x Hooded Crow hybrid furtling around in the trackside fields. An interesting bird, less grey on the back than normal and less on the belly. The grey also appearing slightly darker at most times than normal. Moved on to Barton Broad where the Great Northern Diver was still pootling about, presumably waiting for it's wing moult to finish. A Kingfisher livened up the scene a bit. A few gulls and a gypo goose didn't. On to Cley. Bad move. Norfolk drivers and pissing rain spoilt the afternoon.

March 6th
nothing much out of the ordinary this evening around Sea Palling but several hundred gulls have massed offshore this evening. Too distant to id with bins though. 20-30 Mipits and a couple of Stonechats. Few Pied Wags going over hinting at movements soon to come...

March 8th
Managed really poor views of the Dartford Warbler at Waxham again this evening but mega skulky. Met Richard Thewliss there, not seem him for a fair old while. A few cranes bugling away cut a nice backdrop.

March 10th
Five or six Little Gulls currently around Waxham in the ploughed field near Shangri-La. Bit quiet today otherwise, no sign of the Dartford and only a couple of cranes.

March 11th
Black Redstart at Waxham Pipe Dump. And five Little Gulls in ploughed field and also getting onto the sea at times.

March 12th
Black Redstart on the school roof this afternoon was a nice tonic. Seen from the stairs just below science. Harriers dancing away in the evening


March 14th

Had a peacock yesterday in the dunes and a Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral during the last few weeks. Quite a few moths too but i haven't got my lamp sorted yet...

Whooper over the house early morning, Curlew, Egyptian Goose and Common Scoters heading north today. No albas yet though. Out every morning and evening now... it's great.

March 16th
Managed to pull in Garganey on the local patch ( if you can call Eccles - Winterton a patch) at Horsey. A fine drake on the large pool north of Nelson Head track.

March 17th
Bloody windy today - out at the local spots with Ilya, Holly and Ben the dog. A walk up to the dunetops gave us enough height to finally get good views of the Garganey (there over a week now) and 3 or 4 porpoises, plus Chiffchaff. As an aside, it's amazing how many people use the information services but don't put info out. Several people turned up to see the Garganey, yet there's only one report today. If i hadn't put it out last night, there'd have been no one there this morning i expect. Not a bad idea.

March 18th
Garganey still, quite a few Gannets heading north into the wind. 5-6 Little Gulls giving great views at Waxham. Plus the Hooded x Carrion Crow. Didn't half get chilly this afternoon.

March 25th
had a visit from Chris (Norfolkbirder) and Jax. Lovely walk down from Sea Palling to the Nelson's Head at Horsey, Chris and Jax scored with stunning views of cranes. I only scored fish and chips and some cracking Nelson's Revenge. Pretty birdless apart from the regular stuff. Went out on the bike tonight and had 60+ Pied Wagtails going through... everyone a yarrellii. Field tested the ED50 and it's every bit as good as you could imagine. Reckon the ED78 will be away until seawatching season. Northern Bullfinch trapped at Ormesby this afternoon.

March 26th
had a very nice walk around Horsey and Waxham tonight with the greyhound; lovely sunset, Stonechats and harriers performing well and Mistle Thrushes getting amorous. No migrants in evidence today. Will miss the longer evenings over the next three weeks while in India - I love it out here now, so quiet and such a fantastic place for birds. Must make the most of tomorrow evening. Although Fire-tailed Myzornis and Wedge-billed Wren-babblers are a mighty attraction, east Norfolk on a beautiful spring evening or a drizzly October day full of migrants, with the dog and lady in tow runs it very close these days... not to mention stopping off at the Nelson's for a beer...

March 27th
Two Purple Sandpipers at Sea Palling this afternoon (thx Chris). Dipped. Arsing bollocks. Loadsa Turnstones. Double arsing bollocks.

March 29th - April 16th
ARUNACHAL PRADESH, ASSAM and NAGALAND

http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=4&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=2830&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1

Check it out

Probably one of the Cachar Wedgies Frank found while in the process of breaking his arm...

No time for a report but imagine:

Fire-tailed Myzornis

http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=8&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=1495&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1

Ward's Trogon (one of the actual individuals we saw) 

http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=2&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=352&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1

Sikkim Wedgie 

http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=3&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=1546&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1

Beautiful Nuthatch

http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?p=3&action=searchresult&Bird_ID=2614&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1

and a host of other birds that i've wanted to see for about fifteen years and you get the picture

April 18th
Three Ring Ouzels in the village still today - village tick. Rouzels at walking distance from home. Heaven. Three Ring Ouzels in the village paddocks tonight - looked gorgeous strutting about on the short turf...plus three White Wagtails at Waxham. Lovely and gleaming white unders and flanks; obvious at some distance.

April 19th
Ring Ouzels all over the village! Fantastic! Also a fair few around Horsey etc and Rouzels in the south of the village still tonight

April 21st
14 Rouzels now in the village. Peregrine at Waxham, Gropper, Wheatear and a few wags. Barn Cafe now open. Tea and cakes delicious and loads of Rouzels (19) reported between Nelson Head and Winterton. Gonna take a walk down there after a swift pint later.

April 22nd
Still lots of Rouzels around here. Walked down to Horsey and saw several again, along with a dozen Wheatears, Groppers, Fieldfares etc and a couple of cranes. Had eight cranes go over the back garden while i was enjoying my coffee and croissants.


April 25th
12 Rouzels in one field in the village last night. Plus 10 Wheatears, two Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Whimbrel and two cranes feeding in a roadside field. Couple of Montagu's reported at Horsey and Spoonbill in-off at Waxham today too

April 26th
Monty's out east again today, plus a few Rouzels still and several Wheatears...and a couple of pints in the Nelson's Head.

April 28th
Walked from Nelson's Head to north of Sea Palling this morning then around the village in late afternoon. 16+ Ring Ouzels, a dozen or so Wheatears, a few Lesser Whitethroats, four Groppers and a steady stream of hirundines heading north all morning. Lots of flowers out now, several Small Coppers, Small Whites etc and some Odonata too.

April 29th
Sea Palling to Nelson's Head... Rouzels still quite abundant. Four Cranes, 10 Wheatears, swallows still streaming north, no martins today
etc plus two Hairy Dragonflies, Holly Blues, an Orange Tip in the garden. Spent a pleasant late afternoon (after an unpleasant spell assembling a garden table) sitting no more than three feet under our Collared Dove, watching the comings and going and waiting for a Bee-eater to fly over... plus there was a 'free party' at Horsey Gap. Big sound system, lots of nice, middle class people playing at dropping out. Dogs all over the place and an absolute tip, full of lager bottles, cans and rubbish. Told em what i thought. Police arrived a bit later unsuprisingly, hopefully ensuring the place was left in reasonable order. Would've been ok if it wasn't such a mess. Don't wanna spoil peoples fun but...you know..!

April 30th
Arctic Tern, Little Gull and several colourful Bar-tailed Godwits at Hickling earlier on and a Cetti's near the house this morning

May 1st Up the workers!
Took a walk after work in Waxham area with Holly and Ben; produced four Rouzels, three Whimbrel over, five Barwits over and a few Wheatears. Green Hairsteaks out now. No sign of Sunday's Hairy Dragonflys though. Still double figure Rouzels in the village.

May 2nd
14 Ouzels north of the village this morning. A grand total of around 20 still in the area. A few Whinchats too but no sign of the Serin from yesterday. Andy also had perhaps 500 Barwits passing Eccles.

May 4th
Around 20 Ring Ouzels in the village paddocks this morning.

May 6th
Walked down to Nelson's Head with Holly and Ilya, then back along the road; lots of Whimbrels (c.20), Yellow Wagtails, a Short-eared Owl and Ring Ouzel of note.

May 7th
Yesterday and today, only a few Rouzels left now, Whimbrel numbers down. Lots of Swallows heading north all morning yesterday along with a few martins. Small passage of crows yesterday with perhaps 50 heading north past Waxham. Six pairs of Stonechat between Horsey and Nelson Head track is signs of perhaps a very good breeding season. Made a schoolboy error and went to look for the Black Kite this afternoon. That was fun.

May 8th
No Rouzels this morning (for the first time since i returned from Arunachal Pradesh on 16th April) and no sign of the Dotterel at Waxham between 4 and 6 this evening - searched high and low in suitable fields but only turned up a small number of Golden Plovers. Was also looked for later but again no joy. Couple of Swifts but not much else...Three cranes were as enjoyable as ever though and a Red-necked Grebe seen by Andy off Cart Gap this morning.

Weds 9th
couple of beers in the pub then we walked back from Horsey to Sea Palling in the pouring rain. Absolutely soaked, dog totally bedraggled. Quite a few Whimbrels still knocking around and the odd Wheatear. Couple of Common Terns in-off. Two Reed Warblers singing in the village this morning

May 10th
Tree Pipit over the village this morning while we were at the north paddocks; several Common Terns this evening and a passage of Swifts north

May 12th
Quite a reasonable day so far in east norfolk - long walk this morning - a few Whimbrel moving through, 14 Wheatears, a late Fieldfare was a real suprise. Missed the two Spoonies over the village this morning but a chance meeting with a friend who identified the Boney's this morning saw me take the 10 minute drive to Rush Hill. Nice first-summer - same tail pattern as the Farmoor bird, so i guess it's the same bird. The Swift and hirundine passage was still going on this morning, great to see Swifts continually bombing north for several hours. Photos by Andrew Grieve from GYBC.

May 13th
A few Whimbrel locally and plenty of Swifts and hirundines brought down by the rain.

May 14th
Male Garganey on Rush Hill this evening, several Little Gulls and nice views of a Tawny Owl.

May 17th
Many Swallows heading north this evening - 200 per hour perhaps. Six Wheatears, and a couple of new village birds: flyover Blackwits and a Grey Plover. Hairy Dragonfly also.

May 18th
Couple of Yellow Wagtails at Waxham on the way to work this morning. Birders' curry this evening...

May 19th
Disaster - forgot to get Graham's mobile number last night and the bugger found a female Red-footed Falcon through Sea Palling. Then moved on to Eccles where Andy saw it etc. And a stunning Alpine Swift over the dunes at Waxham. Coming down very low and often flying directly at you. Had to almost prostrate myself on one occasion when it came so close and fast that all i could see was 'Alpine Swift brown' in the bins... Met Alex and he skored some great video of it... didn't manage it from the house though. Finished off with Cranes in the evening and a magnificent orange sunset at Waxham.

Here's Alex's video of the bird as it was zooming around over the dunes

May 20th
Managed to refind the 1st-summer Bonaparte's in ploughed fields near Sea Palling tonight. Exceptionally good views too. Near Lound farm. The bird has moulted a couple of its tail feathers on its left (2/3rd?) creating quite a distinctive pattern. Also had a large-billed and sizeable Dunlin that dwarfed the other Dunlin there (presumably alpina) on Rush Hill. Hairy Dragons and a sleep in the sun at Waxham... top weekend.

May 21st
Happy Birthday mother! Had a great evening's birding with Ilya. No Boner but xxxxxxxxxx started calling at Rush Hill as the evening wore on. Listened to it for a fair old while. Beardies and a Bittern booming etc. Stayed out for a Spotted Crake but no joy.

May 22nd
Back at Rush Hill with Pete Dolton and Chris for xxxxxxxxxxx. Boner came in while we were there and Ilya turned up to eventually catch up with this bird that had given him such a runaround. Guernsey Dave and a few others there too.

May 25th
A good hour at Rush Hill early evening produced a brief sighting of the Bonaparte's but only briefly, plus a Temminck's Stint, Little Stint and a Curlew Sand and it was very nice to meet Gordon and Susan who were down here for the week and share a beer with them in the Nelson's last night. Great people!

May 26th
Foul

May 27th
Foul but managed a pint with Chris and Jax

May 28th
absolutely grim out here today; even the Horsey village fete was called off due to the rain - but we did manage to skor a ginger and lemon cake at Horsey Church; very tasty. Only thing for it was to cheer the mighty Rams on to victory in the play-offs so i'm extremely pleased this evening.

May 29th
Rain finally eased around midday. Went down to Waxham about two where Graham had found an Icterine Warbler. He'd only seen it briefly and it was proving mega-elusive. We only managed very brief flight vies of what was probably he bird - a huge warbler with a hint of olive as it flew off south, circled and returned to the dense cover south of Shangri-La. Was extremely wet by then. Andy and Mick turned up but despite a couple of interesting glimpses nothing was happening. I stuck at it and two hours later it sat out for a few seconds showing the bright orange lower mandible, yellow and green tones to uppers and unders, peaked crown and a crackingly obvious wing-panel. Stonking patch tick...

May 30th

Had a very pleasant day's birding around Sea Palling with Chris Norfolkbirder
Fieldfare, three Turtle Doves, two Yellow Wagtails, a few Lesser Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatcher, six to seven Little Terns and two Wheatears. On to Waxham where we found a Montagu's Harrier, 200 Swift, Yellow Wagtail, maybe around c. 40 Whitethroats.

May 31st
Three Garganey this evening at Rush Hill. Couple of pairs of Dartford Warbler earlier in the day on Kelling Heath along with a Turtle Dove.

June 7th

Fulmar over the village; good numbers of Little Terns nesting and a very few Manxies passing. Hairy Dragons, Norfolk Hawkers and several Four-spotted Chasers recently along with a few interesting plant species. No Swallowtails but weather has been a tad grim in last two days...

June 10th

a very nice adult dark-phase Arctic Skua on Waxham beach for a short while this afternoon. Some of the best views I've ever had of this species. Eventually flew off over the dunes and inland.

June 11th

Fieldfare still in the village today and couple of Turtle Doves, Little Owl, Little Terns still seem to be doing okay... sea mist still persisting - for about the tenth day on and off.

June 12th

Fantastic views of a Bittern as it flew low right over the hide at Rush Hill after a terrific rainstorm and a couple of Hairy Dragonflies and the most amazing display of Marsh/Spotted Orchids I've ever seen, in a field at Hickling.

June 17th
Min. of 200 Swifts feeding just north of the village last night after rain. Seemed very quiet today so pottered around the north-east looking at a few plants, managed a pint at Salthouse. In the evening: Little Owl, Hobbies, Turtle Doves around Sea Palling village, imm. Gannets heading south, spent a pleasant evening watching the Little Terns and Ringed Plovers on the beach

June 22nd

had a look at the local Nightjars tonight; pleasant evening's stroll, a few birds present, including some seen perched up and one on the deck. Lots of churring and wing clapping as well.

June 23rd

Arctic Skua and a few Gannets heading south this afternoon and me and Ilya managed a Norfolk Hawker very close to my house today...

June 26th 

Couple of Arctic Skuas south past Waxham on Sunday with Ilya,one pale phase, one dark phase. Three Sand Martins south at Eccles / Sea Palling. Had an amazing c.800 Swifts (in ten minutes!) heading south through Sea Palling and Waxham ahead of heavy cloud and rain.

July 2nd

Terns beginning to appear on the reefs now, Common, Little, Sandwich and the odd Gannet and Scoter offshore. 300+ Swifts moved south to feed over Waxham dunes tonight. Curlews over the house this afternoon. Walked up to Happisburgh and back on the beach, Sunday. Couple of pints at the Hill House and 40 Kittiwakes the highlights.

July 4th

pleasant evening at Cley tonight with Chris Norfolkbirder and a couple of the Cley chaps. We went specifically to have a look at the 'first summer' Arctic Terns - a plumage not often seen. Also 1st summer Yellow-legged Gull, 30 or so islandica Blackwits, a few Spotshanks, Med Gull over etc.

July 8th

Curlews over the house a.m.

July 9th

Had a lovely evening walk on the beach with the greyhound tonight to view the terns and gulls on the reefs with the dog. Emperor Dragons in the dunes and a few Brown Hawkers etc. Little, Common, Sandwich Terns, four Common Scoters, Kittiwakes etc... Found lots of rather large Jellyfish washed up tonight on the beach at Sea Palling.

July 14th

Roseate Tern on the beach yesterday (Sea Palling) seen by Andy. Little Gull reported this morning. Been a few Manx and Arctics passing last few days, along with Gannets, good numbers of Sandwich Terns etc and the odd Kittiwakes and Fulmars. Whimbrel passed by this evening - sat on the beach with a bottle of wine, Holly and Ben as the sky slowly turned blood red.

July 15th

obvious passage of Sand Martins south this morning and early afternoon. Seemed to be coming through in little bursts - no sign of 'possible' Dark-eyed Junco at Waxham, seen by Rod. Sandwich Terns numerous now at Sea Palling and the first returning Sanderlings on the beach tonight. Couple of Kittiwakes, few Gannets, 17 Common Scoters north. Only a couple of Common Terns and no sign of the Roseate this evening.

July 16th

during an evening jog and seawatch: three Barwits south, two Redshank south, lovely ad summer Little Gull on the beach, several Gannets south and several Pied Wagtails over sea, probably just off to roost. The regularly showing Little Owl again just south of the Stalham / Happisburgh / Sea Palling juncton. Usually on telegraph poles by the farm.

July 17th

Several Gannets north this morning, eight Common Terns on beach, lots of Sandwich. No sign of the Little Gull from last night.

evening:

Common Tern 18 south
Barwit 6 south
Sanderling - 2 in pretty good breeding nick still
Gannets
Razorbill 1 north
Red-throated Diver 1

July 21st

early morning seawatch

Common Scoters 7
Sanderling 2
Barwit 1
Dunlin 4 south
Little Tern 15 south
Common Tern 18 south
Gannet 100+
Arctic Skua (1 north, 2 south)

Shoveler 6-7
Swift 5

Swallow 2 in-off
Kittiwake several
and a dark falcon sp in-off that was out of range to id
Guillies/Razorbills 4

July 22nd

0600-0700 till heavy rain

Sandwich Tern 50 (good numbers of juvs)

Common Tern 30 loafing on beach this morning

Little Tern 10+
Arctic Skua - 7 south, 1 north
Great-crested Grebes 3
Common Scoter north 4
Gannets passing closer today, about 1 per min average, mostly south
Harbour Porpoise 1

east coast seawatch of five hours produced a total of 20 Arctic Skuas yesterday, mostly south

July 23rd

Arctic Tern 1 south
Whimbrel 6 south
Shag 1
Common Scoter 18 north
Gannets 30 per hour north
Little Terns a few
Common and Sandwich Terns commuting up and down

Guillemots 3
soon as i sat down on dunes today four quarelling adult Arctic Skuas passed by very close - three pale and one dark, couple more adult Sanderlings

July 24th

morning and evening seawatches yesterday:

morning
Gannets 50+ south
Arctic Skuas 5 south
Common Scoters 20+ north
Kittiwakes 40+
Shelduck 1 north
Guillemots 3 south
Dunlin 2
Shag 1- same bird as previous day

evening
Med Gull 1north
Common Scoter 19 north
Whimbrel 7 north
Gannets 70+ north

Arctic Skuas 7
Turnstone 1

July 25th
two Whimbrels over the house

July 26th

One group of 50 Kittiwakes  this afternoon off Sea Palling, very few terns today. Did have four fantastic Arctics together, from the beach, just prior to the evening pint...

July 27th

Too much DIY and gardening today but did manage to snatch a few minutes on the beach on the way back from the tip and had a lovely adult Med Gull float past; also a few Guillemots, Gannets and a couple of Arctic Skuas south

July 28th

Whimbrel and Greenshank at Rush Hill. Purple Hairstreak and Norfolk Hawker near the hide and also White Admiral

July 29th

just Gannets and a few Kitties etc past Waxham. Ended up at the Dun Cow, Spoonbill and Monty's etc...

July 30th

Good numbers of Arctic Skuas passing by this morning, and a few Whimbrels and Barwits. Adult Little Gull north past Sea Palling this evening, couple of Grey Plovers, couple of Fulmars, 60+ Sandwich north, Little Tern, a handful of Commons but only two Arctic Skuas this evening. Gull-billed Tern reported past Eccles 30 mins after I left for home this lunchtime... not Andy thankfully...

July 31st

Arctic Skuas 17 past in two hours this morning
Gannet 90+
Common Scoter 22
Dunlin 5

Little Tern 5

August 7th

5.15 - 7.15 a.m

just two Arctic Skuas past Sea Palling this morning
Gannets 110+
Common Terns 35+
Little Terns 8
Sandwich Terns 15
Dunlin 5
Redshank 1
Barwit 1

121 Common Terns south past Sea Palling this evening and a single Arctic Skua and Kittiwake

August 9th

Nine Whimbrels heading south past Sea Palling at 2.30, nine Sanderlings, five Turnstones last night and three Common Scoters; seven cranes flying in against a red and orange sky at Horsey tonight. And four Common Scoters past Waxham

August 11th

This morning 06:30 - 08:45
Arctic Skuas 4
Gannets 43
Common Terns 105+
Sandwch Terns 45
Little Terns 11
Blackwits 2
Teal 7

August 12th

Eight Arctic Skuas past Sea Palling before 8.30 today, seven Arctic Skuas past Sea Palling / Waxham this evening and a fantastic rainstorm and an amazingly bright double rainbow on Waxham track. Also saw 81 Little Gulls reported from the south of the county - an exceptional number for early August.

August 13th

Sea Palling this morning 7:45 - 9.15
Arctic Skuas 3
Ruff  2 (village tick!)
and the usual terns, Gannets and Kittiwakes etc

802 Common Terns reported past Eccles ths morning (Andy) - an exceptional number without northerly winds and almost unprecedented with northerly winds. Coupled with last night's Little Gull movement, all rather unusual. Can't find reference to anything similar at this time of year.

An hour on the beach this evening
Arctic Skuas 5 north
Razorbill 1
Dunlin 1
Common Terns 40 north
Sandwich Terns 30 north

August 14th

much colder today, cloudy and stronger westerly wind

Sooty Shearwater 1 north
Arctic Skuas 5 north
Gannets 120
Common Tern 50
Sandwich Tern 40
Whimbrel 1 south
Curlew 1 south
Redshanks 10 south
Common Scoter 2 north
Turnstone 5 south
Kittiwake 2
Teal 4 south
Pintail 2 south

August 15th

Sea Palling / Waxham 06:15 - 07:45

Arctic Skua 3
Guillemot 9
Gannet 150+
Dunlin 1
Redshank 9
Oystercatcher 11
Sanderling 1
Turnstone 5
Grey Plover 1
Little Terns 2
and some uncounted Kittiwakes and Sandwich / Common Terns

Swallows and martins bundling south on and off, more Herrings in today,

August 17th

Two Arctic Skuas north past Sea Palling / Waxham 07:00 - 08:00 and three Teal, several terns and gannets but not a deal else

August 20th

northerly wind was really getting up this evening so i put on the waterproofs and spent an hour seawatching 7:00 - 8:00 until the mist and rain closed in

Arctic Skua 4
Common Scoter 4
Teal 13
Grey Plover 7
Knot 3
Oystercatcher 11
Dunlin 1
Golden Plover 1
several parties of terns bombing through, mostly Commons and Sandwich and several Gannets. And an unidentified skua.

August 21st

Seawatching from Waxham this morning 06:30 - 08:30

Sooty Shearwater 6
Manx Shearwater 3
Black Tern 3
Great Skua 2
Arctic Skua 9
Teal 101
Eider 1
Common Scoter 30
Shelduck 8
Grey Plover 11
Curlew 1
Whimbrel 1
Knot 3
Dunlin 3
Wigeon 2
Oystercatcher 12
Fulmar 1
Kittiwake c.25
and Gannets in good numbers, Common and Sandwich Terns, Pied Fly in the village

August 22nd

Pretty good seawatching yesterday, pretty poor this morning. Arctics passing yesterday morning at about 7-8 per hour. Single Sooty plus Whimbrel and a few Curlews. Two Wheatears at Sea Palling y'day and four at Waxham plus Garden Warbler
Very little this morning... 30 Knots, 15 Grey Plover, two Whimbrel of note and a single Spotted Flycatcher in the village

August 23rd

Pied Fly and two Wheatears on Clink Road

August 24th
The day started with low cloud and intermittent fine drizzle after yesterday's ferocious north-easterly winds. Not the earliest of starts given the conditions but I plumped for a start at Sea Palling track. Two Whinchat and a couple of Mipits and then on to Waxham... nothing much until i reached the end of the first stretch of bushes. The area was alive with migrants and before long I'd clocked up several Whitethroats, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats, a few Willow Warblers and a couple of Chiffchaffs. After 30 mins or so a large Sylvia flew across the open area and show some white in the tail. Barred! was the feeling and i soon picked it up again and it obligingly showed seeral features rather quickly. The tertial edgings stood out at a distance and the  duller than Garden Warbler coverts with markings were also evident. Subsequent views highlighted the faint wing-bars and covert edgings and slightly peaked crown etc... Only a Reed Warbler of note afterwards

Left for home and coffee and toast at about 11. Watched Hot Fuzz DVD and quite enjoyed it suprisingly. Back out early afternoon round the back of Sea Palling. Small numbers of commoner migrants again and the building flock of Greenfnches. Eventually reached Eccles and made my way up into the dune scrub near the seawatching hide. Nothing much at first but after a few minutes a movement cught my eyes and i lifted my bins. Full vew of a Phylloscopus with a decent wingbar (with a faint yellow tinge. Clocked the wing - lots of heavy green edgings and then the face - long pale super and a long dark eyestripe set against a pale throat and underparts - GREENISH!!! Awesome and on the local patch too! The bnird hung around for a short while enabling Andy, Neil, Dave Holman and a few others to see it. Had a final foray after the Red-backed Shrike but the directions were odd to say the least. Spotted Fly in the south Chalets...

Aug 25th
Much better weather today (for tourists), clear blue skies, hot and sunny. Started off at Waxham again but after a couple of hours very little doing apart from Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and a flyover Yellow Wagtail. Had a break in the middle of the day and then just popped out to see the Red-backed Shrike juvenile in the paddocks. Ilya came over later on and had a Greenish and Barred at Waxham. We moved on to Eccles but were pushed for time so called it a day. Couple of Wrynecks also in the village today.

August 27th
chump city on the north coast so soon headed for home. Met up with Ilya and had six Arctic Skuas and six Sooty Shearwaters north past Sea Palling this afternoon and early evening.

August 28th

12 Arctic Skuas and 10 Sooty Shearwaters past Sea Palling by 10.00 a.m.

August 29th

Six Wheatears at Waxham, juv / 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull at Sea Palling and Cranes calling.

August 30th

Four Brents past Sea Palling (mega early!) and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats

August 31st

Yellow Wagtail and Whimbrel at Waxham, Lesser Whitethroat

Sept 2nd

Three Arctic Terns north, Whimbrel over, 25 Common Terns, Little Gull

Sept 3rd

Arctic Skua, Hobby, Sooty Shearwater and Guillemot. Two Red-throated Divers

Sept 5th

Three lovely adult Little Gulls and five Arctic Skuas past Sea Palling this morning.
Teal 100+
Wigeon 20
Shelduck 4 
Gannet 150

In the evening Wheatear, Whimbrel over and a large Arctic Skua. Four Sanderlings on the beach at Waxham

Sept 9th

50 stonking adult Little Gulls dropped in just offshore at Sea Palling last night. What a sight!...and a few Arctic Skuas, Whimbrel, Wheatear etc...

Sept 10th

Had the odd sight of two Wood Sands on the sand in front of the reefs tonight, Dark-bellied Brent goose (second rec. of autumn after the four 10 days ago) and plenty of Gannets.

Sept 11th

Was out at first light, sea right up to the sea defences, Kitties on the last inches of sand etc... pretty good seawatching for the all too short spell I could manage with some excellent close views but no Great Shears...

Sept 14th

Barred Warbler at Winterton was just amazing. Waited until all the chumps had gone and enjoyed just about the best views you'll ever get of one of these.

Sept 15th

Sea Palling
poss Pom Skua, Puffin, two Bonxies, 100 Pinkfeet 100, Little Gulls numerous, Reed Warbler and Cettis Warbler

Sept 16th

Pink-footed Goose 300
Cranes 20+

Sooty Shearwater 1
Arctic Skua 2

Little Gull 10
Gannet good numbers
Lesser Whitethroat

Many auks incl several Razorbills and numbers of starlings and gulls building up

Sept 17th

This morning: Pinks over the house, four-five Yellow Wags in the ploughed field along village road and an Avocet north along the beach - village tick!

Manx 5 passing close in
Arctic Skua 5
Bonxie 1
auks, c.30 both Razors and Guillies
Little Gull c.30
Arctic Tern 1

lots of Sandwich, Common, Gannets etc

Sept 18th

This morning only managed a short watch but Sooties and Manx etc. Steve found a Red-breasted Flycatcher around midday - much to Andy's annoyance, he didn't see it!

Sept 19th

Hobby south through Sea Palling early this morning, in the evening 20 cranes, Wheatear, Arctic Skua and a cracking ad. Arctic Tern on the beach.

Sept 20th

This morning during a brief seawatch, a few Arctic Skuas and Little Gulls, four Red-throated Divers and a handful of Guillies and Razors.

Sept 23rd

24 Cranes this morning and three Arctic Terns at Horsey giving a great display. Pecs were still at Hickling in the afternoon and a Little Stint; lots of Razors and Red-throated Divers but only a few common migs like Yellow Wagtail etc..

Sept 24th

Couple of Arctic Skuas this evening and shedloads of Gannets. Not a deal else apart from a Snipe coming in-off and 19 Common Scoter.

Sept 25th

Three Cranes this morning in a roadside field, in wonderful early morning sunlight, gave stunning views on the way to work.

Sept 26th

nice Buff-breast at Happisburgh!. Had a look at the pager as i pulled onto the drive to be greeted by a message announcing a Buff-brested at Haoppisburgh. Bingo! Bombed off and managed to be first on the scene with Neil and Phil and we managed to relocate the bird found by Robin Abel in the huge field after a few mins, with three Ringed Plover. A great bird in a very picturesque setting. Was almost flushed early on by an over eager type but a loud shout or two from Phil saved the day. Seawatching good this morning but had to leave for work before the really good stuff - a Leach's and a Sabs have been past the patch... hope there's still some stuff moving after work.

Arse, no time.

Sept 27th

loads of Goldcrests in at Waxham tonight. Met Terry who promptly then clocked a Leach's going past the dunes whilst i was in the sycamores... arse.

Sept 28th

What a storming weekend:

never left the patch, all on foot or by bike and had a blinder.

This evening was looking good. Opted for a bit of seawatching and despite the inclement weather as i headed towards the seawatching hide I caught the back end of a Grey Phal going north just inshore of the reefs. And a truly stuning gingery juvenile Arctic Skua on the beach at close range. Phil was in the hide and we spent an hour seawatching but only a few Little Gulls and the odd Arctic Tern passed of note. On the walk home a Redstart in the road by Castle Farm, Goldcrests seemingly everywhere and a few Redwings hinted at what was to come.

Sept 29th
Up at the crack of dawn and off out. A few Redwings here and there, a Little Gull or two over from inland and a Golden Plover. Opted to do some seawatching and have breakfast in the hide. After 30 mins or so a stunning juvenile Sabine'sGull came past heading south. The white triangle was blinding! Quick check on the back - concolourous browny etc.. Fantastic a self found patch tick. Rang it in immediately and phoned Andy to get him on it. He was too far away but had just found a Yellow-browed in a private garden. While I was looking for this i got a text about another Yellow-browed close by. While waiting for the second bird to show an adult Red-backed Shrike appeared in bushes just by Gerry's place and showed itself off to both of us for a few mins before heading into the conifers.

Biked down to Waxham and refound the Great Grey Shrike and then back straight away to Sea Palling. Not much extra in the afternoon bar the odd Redstart, Chiff and Willow etc... but it felt good still.... About five p.m. I rounded a corner on my bike and came face to face with another Great Grey Shrike on roadside wires just before Niel's. Had a good look and headed off home very happy...

Sun 30th

Sunday dawned with high expectations again. As I biked slowy north, a steady stream of Siskins and Redpolls south showed things were moving. After a bit of bush bashing i stopped off for a bit of a rest at the top of the Sea Breeze track and immediately heard a tacking sound. I recognised it as either a Dusky or a Radde's Warbler - both species i have experience of in Asia and I've found one Dusky before in the UK. I responded to it by tacking back and it instantly clambered up the reedy stems in the rank grass where it was. The back was olive toned but a very dark earthy brown. It was a sulphury-yellow below with a prominent dark eyestripe and good yellow-toned super. The call was less emphatic than a Dusky and it appeared a good bet indeed for a Radde's. Unfortunately it fell silent and after two hours and some help from Andy I gave up.

After another great day and finding the same Red-backed Shrike and the Great Grey Shrike again, i decided to give it one last blast with the 'Radde's' but nothing. Then Andy called - he was watching the bird with Tim a hundred or so yards to the north... after some initial confusion when i thought he was on about the Great Grey, I got over there pronto as the bird made its way rapidly inland, through Neil's garden calling constantly, eventually disappearing to view. Views of the bird were enough to confirm my initial Radde's suspicion and we all left for home happy, having a fly over by the Great Grey Shrike to cap a fantastic weeekend.

Oct 3rd

Pulled onto the drive this evening and as i got out of the car a flock of tits / crests was moving through the bushes. I lifted my bins and the first bird i got onto was a Yellow-browed Warbler. What as fantastic garden bird. Just the thing I moved out here for. Living the dream. And all that crap. Plus a Pied Fly behind the house. Wheatear by the beach and a forlorn looking goldie on the beach as 20 Brents went through north.

Oct 4th

a few Bramblings and several Siskin this morning.

Oct 6th

Had a visit from Ilya this weekend; a fairly quiet late afternoon on Sat at Waxham then off to hammer the local yoof at pool, drink a few beers and listen to some indulgent pub rock guitar band.

Oct 7th

Sun morning and up and out quite early. First Yellow-browed found within 30 mins in the village around the willows near Lingalonga, two more followed shortly after in the pines, met up with Andy for a comic quarter of an hour discussing various norfolk gossip and then Ilya spotted a distant Great Grey Shrike back over towards Hempstead marshes- possibly the one from last weekend, maybe not. Siskins were everywhere, two Grey Wags over and my first Kingfisher in the village. Black Red, another Yellow-browed and a Firecrest (Andy) added to the mix.

Up to Happisburgh and four Wheatears in the large field nw of the car park, no Snow Goose but another random chancing upon a Great Grey Shrike around the Grub Street area - they're following me. Rounded the day off with a couple of punks, a few Lap Buntings including one stunning close range bird and a pleasant chat with Mick

Cracking day's birding.

Oct 8th

Found another Red-backed Shrike in Sea Palling village last night along the marrams again - still there today. Turns out it's the previous bird returning. Where's that been then? Photos by Matt Green

Oct 9th

Rouzel and Laps at Paston. Grim weather again but top quality chips from Bacton. The nice lady ran out to our car with the crispy bits. Only in Norfolk.

Oct 10th

Had a bit of spare time before open evening so me and Terry popped up to Caister Road Cemetary for an hour or so. Found another Yellow-browed and a few Redwings, Willow Warbler and Goldcrests.

Oct 11th

Second installment of open evening. We plumped for Great Yarmouth cemetary tonight. Bugger all really. Just a few Long-tailed Tits, Redwings and the obligatory drunks. Kool.

Oct 12th

Red-backed still present

Oct 13th

Got a call from Graham Sat lunchtime about a probable Fudge Duck he had found at Martham Broad. Popped down there later on and had reasonable views eventually. Also a ringtail Hen Harrier, male Greater Scaup and three cranes flying against a scenically superb backdrop. What a place. 

Oct 14th

Beers at Reefs with Ilya and then out earlyish Sunday morning. Walked the Marrams towards Eccles from Sea Palling. About 7 or 8 Bramblings, at least 7 Tree Sparrows a Ring Ouzel and a Black Redstart. I picked out another Yellow-browed on call and we finished off the morning by relocating the Red-backed Shrike I found earlier in the week. Also 3 Little Egrets and a Grey Wagtail.

After breakfast (almost at lunchtime), we went to look for the Fudge Duck. No sign, but I picked out yet another Yellow-browed on call in tall trees around the staithe. From there we walked from Horsey to the Waxham pipe dump, which was totally devoid of birds but we did get a close fly-by Black-throated Diver. On the way back to the car, we had nice views of a pair + juv cranes flying over, which proved to be the last good birds of the day, although we did spend the last of the daylight trying to find some Purple Sands seen on the reefs near Eccles.

Oct 15th

Managed to finally locate the Purple Sand in evening at Eccles and Redwings shooting over in the night

Oct 16th

Goldcrest in-off this morning. Tawny Owl calling from conifers in evening but foul weather.

Oct 17th

A few cranes on way to work and two Poms seen off Eccles by Andy along with good numbers of Little Gulls and three Arctics

Oct 18th

The seven Whoopers flew off from Horsey at around 5.25. I also scanned the at least 800 Golden Plovers for an AGP - there were some rather pale and lightly marked birds that could confuse but nothing worth a decent shout yet... Also Cranes and a Bar-tailed Godwit and a couple of thousand pinkies present. A lovely autumnal Norfolk evening with a definite nip in the air...120 Little Gulls off Palling at dusk in one flock.

Oct 19th

Great White Egret reported today from Eccles

Oct 20th

Six SEOs in-off per Neil

Oct 22nd

Strange day...

spent most of it walking to Happisburgh and back - single Bewick's Swan over calling it's one note, Woodcocks, couple of gorgeously close Snow Bunts, Chiffchaff etc but nothing much. At the end of the day I spent at least 20 mins at Waxham with Andy and Mick looking at an incredibly difficult bird (at close range!). We were stumped despite having experience of many confusion species before - very Radde's / Arcticy but a couple of things were, and still are, perplexing. Still researching it and we will try again at dawn...

Oct 23rd

Well, me, Mick, Phil and Andy checked first thing and no sign of the mystery bird.

Appeared most like a Radde's / Artcic - The Radde's I found three weeks back was a first winter and fairly straightforward. Yesterday's bird perplexed us all despite excellent views. Had the long super upturning at times, white behind eye and diffuse and sullied faintly yellow in front, faint dark line above super. Brown olive tone above with olive wing edgings. Mottled ear coverts. Largish looking eye. Most striking were the very bright yellow / faintly orange legs and feet - not really thick enough for a Radde's but still prominent. Had very pale whitish underparts with a faint yellow wash. It did the knock-kneed Radde's thingy on occasion too. Quite a low belly on it.

Problems were the bill which often appeared too spiky for typical adult Radde's but was pale yellow orange with a darker tip and the underparts were very pale with only the slightest yellow wash on the undertail. Never called once, fed constantly and even hovered at times. Both Arctic and Eastern Crowned Warbler are also possibilities although the lack of wingbar and the fact that it wasn't perhaps green enough and too large rules out ECW. The crown strip is very hard to see at times but i think it would have been visible...?

As for Arctic, well it fits in large parts - wing bar worn off? the pale yellow wash fits a few Arctics but it did appear to have a yellow tone in front of super a la Radde's. And then there's the hovering! It didn't appear as manic as an Arctic can, nor perhaps as 'green' although some birds can look decidely brownish / dull green in poor light. The legs were so bright though... it did the knock-kneed thing and it did appear to have quiet a plain wing with only the faintest green edgings... After a few weeks i'm still puzzled and you could make a case for Arctic particularly with the hovering and pale unders but would the legs ever be so bright, the eye appear large, dark line over the super, slight sullied tone in front of the eye etc?

It's being submitted as a Radde's - a very pale washed out bird!? What a mystery... never want one of those again. One of the weirdest birds I've seen. I'm familiar with Dusky and Radde's and have seen lots overseas along with congeners like armandii and others like Arctic and ECW... you wouldn't think Radde's and Arctic could be confusion species but it's easy at a computer... much harder in poor light at the end of the day at Waxham in the sycamores...

Lots of Siskins over today, a few Redpolls, Woodcock, Purple Sand etc but not really bothered with all that at the moment!

Oct 24th

Little Gulls and Eider past earlier Sea Palling, few groups of bernicla Brents etc. Andy had a Little Auk and two Sooties this morning. SEO in-off.

Oct 28th

Biked to Happisburgh and back this morning. Pretty grim weather. Soaked. Three Snow Buntings, three Purple Sands and a Black Redstart at North Gap

Oct 30th

The Lesser Snow Goose continues to be elusive while the cranes are becoming more visible... wonderful sunset over Brograve last night with cranes trumpeting away and owls and geese calling

Nov 3rd

Good numbers of Poms passing today; at least nine past Sea Palling and Eccles before lunch and a couple of Little Auks. Arctic Skua and Bonxie too. Also a good passage of auks and Kittiwakes south. Two more Poms in last hour of light at Waxham and David Bradnum had a Little Auk just before i arrived. Four Shags this afternoon. Missus.

Nov 4th

Spent the day around Sea Palling, Eccles and Waxham: at least 16 Poms, one Arctic and eight or so unidentified skuas a bit too far out to be sure of; couple of Little Auks, one Sooty Shearwater, four Purple Sands, nine Eider, two Goldeneye, a few Mergs, couple of Shags, at least 500 Common Scoters north, 200 bernicla Brents, several wigeon, Gadwall and two possible Scaup but again too far to clinch. Eight Whoopers. And Ilya had a male Hen Harrier near Sea Palling. Good numbers of divers - all Red-throated Diver

Nov 9th

FLOOD WARNING!

After being sent home from school last night as the flood warning began to escalate in seriousness, we readied ourselves in the usual British way - several pints in the beach bar with Pete, George and Dave etc just yards from the raging sea! Was quite funny stood up at the flood gates with pints in hand trying to make out the level of the water...

took a nervous look out of the window this morning and was rather relieved but not really suprised to see everything going on as normal. Bombed out to the hide and had a good couple of hours seawatching. The sea was ferocious and quite an experience: 13 Poms, three adults, the rest juvs, Bonxie and Arctic, 4 cars, three dogs and a house. Very rough seas though and not much chance of following Little Auks through the swells. And 25 Snow Bunts north. The sight of a fully-spooned Pom and two juvs close in over the raging sea as the sunlight hit them was rather awesome! Someone had a Leach's and a Sabs at Horsey - not recorded elsewhere in Norfolk today.

between 1:45 and 3:15
Little Auks 40 south
Grey Phalarope 1 south
Purple Sandpipers 5
Black-throated Diver 1 north

Nov 11th

Past Sea Palling and Eccles well over 100 Little Auks, Storm Petrel, seven Purple Sands, seven Snow Bunts, Black-throated Diver. Large numbers of Shelduck passing north in the afternoon, several hundred Common Scoters, also a few Eider and Gadwall and a few Goldeneye. Little Auks were getting tired with several well over the beach and a couple totally knackered hunkering down, trying to avoid a sand-blasting. And the Lesser Snow Goose was at Waxham but no sign of the AGP. 

Photo by Andrew Grieve from GYBC.

Nov 12th

Lesser Snow Goose still at Waxham

Nov 13th

AGP reported again and a Great White Egret reported flying over too...

Nov 16th

Four cranes this morning on way to work btw Sea Palling and Waxham

Nov 17th

Had a good look for the AGP today but no success. A few birders out today for a change. The AGP was reported from the dunes but there was a subsequent report claiming it as definitely stringy. Had excellent views of a ringtail Hen Harrier, 25 cranes, Peregrine around Brograve, Tree Sparrow, several Ruff and seven distant Whooper Swans on Brograve level.

Nov 18th

Late morning out to Waxham area. On the way down the road out of Palling noticed a large flock of cranes heading towards Brograve. Bumped into Steve and Matt watching 19 cranes shortly after at Brograve.  No sign of the plover again although the grey golden was around.

Velvet Scoter at Eccles per Matt and Steve

Nov 24th

Not up so early feeling a bit knackered after too much football this week. Went up to the beet fields a few miles further north around Bacton and Edingthorpe and found the Ross's that had been seen flying over Sea Palling and Eccles by Andy, early morning! Met Mick and he graciously escorted me to the best viewing spot and after sorting my misted scope out i enjoyed some distant views of the bird looking not much bigger than a Mallard. The neck appeared much more duck-like than goose-like. Also a Pale-bellied Brent in the Pinkfeet flock but it was too cold to linger for that! A gorgeous salmon pink Goosander in the scoter flock on the sea off Eccles but i missed Andy's Slav by seconds...

Nov 25th

Headed down to Horsey at daybreak, none to cold today. Quick walk out to the end of the track and a quick scour of the area revealed no Desert Wheatear but there were several seals hauled out on what remained of the beach at high tide. Met Andy and Barry and before long a few folks arrived. Mark popped his head over the dunes and announced he had the bird just a little way further north. After a short trot through the dunes we clapped our eyes on the bird. Very tatty-looking at first, flitting around the seawall and in and out of the marrams. A first-winter male sporting a prominent supercilium behind the eye and a small pale central throat area. All dark tail and slightly creamy rump. The upper breast was slightly warmer peachy/apricot colour. Flight feathers dark and edged creamy-white.

Pete was also there and Phil and several other familiar faces. Couple of Snow Buntings overflew and a Pom past by. Five Goosander were the last birds of note before I returned home for my Champagne breakfast with Holly on her birthday - passing the Barnacle Goose at Waxham on the way.

After a thrilling visit to Lathams I managed an hour at Eccles notching up the 2 Velvets and the Long-tailed Duck seen by Andy that morning. Pretty grim at times in the dunes - the 8-900 scoter flock rolling with the choppy waves...

A great day and a new East Norfolk patch bird!

Dec 1st

2007 East Norfolk Patch List