22nd–30th August

Norfolk

I have just returned from 8 days in Norfolk which involved a bit of painting, some gardening and if possible at least a couple of hours of birding most mornings. The earlier part of the break saw more migrants on the move but numbers gradually dropped of once the wind had moved around from the SE to the SW.

The main highlight for me was seeing a Booted Warbler that turned up at Grambrough Hill, Salthouse, as this was a lifer for me. I visited the sight twice and on both occasions the bird would only show for a few seconds at a time. I saw the bird quite a few times but never once long enough to obtain a photo. A juvenile Red-backed Shrike that I found at Winterton Dunes, showed well through the scope but would not allow me to get closer than 50 metres.

Below are a few photos that I managed to take.

DSC_6600

DSC_6602

DSC_6632

DSC_6511

DSC_6845-001

DSC_6767

DSC_6853

70+ Swifts came in off the sea early morning at Cley on the 27th.

DSC_7028

There were good numbers of waders at most sites with exposed mud and shallow water. The RSPB’s Titchwell reserve offering the better views, with an impressive 12 Little Stints showing in front of one hide.

DSC_7053

Can you spot the Little Stints?

DSC_7121

DSC_7191

DSC_7141

DSC_7094

DSC_7096

DSC_7145

DSC_6471

DSC_6474

DSC_6552

DSC_6692

DSC_6734

DSC_7178

DSC_7180

DSC_7073

DSC_6690

DSC_6910

DSC_6536

If the whole scrape takes to the air it normally means that a bird of prey is going through. The flock in the top photo were flushed by a Sparrowhawk and the birds below were spooked by a Hobby.

DSC_7200

DSC_7230

20150822_074104

Looking east from Cley beach.

20150828_065213

Horsey Beach and its seals

DSC_6988

DSC_7013

20150825_102327

Winterton Dunes

20150828_113322

When my parents were alive this was one of their favourite walks it is a place that my wife and I visit at least once a year. It is Dersingham Bog, an area that has gone from one with banks covered in Rhododendron and a much of the rest pine and Silver Birch. It was always a place to see Nightjars and Goshawk but now has Woodlark and Stonechat and Tree Pipit.

20150828_120641

DSC_6566

DSC_6599

These 2 birds are puzzling me, does anyone have an opinion? The top one was taken on Grambrough Hill, Salthouse and the other at Winterton.

DSC_6576

DSC_6578

Comments

Arjun Dutta said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Arjun Dutta said…
Male Whitethroat?
Hi Arjun.

Thanks for commenting on the whitethroat sp; the legs are the wrong colour for Common Whitethroat and there is a lack rufous on the wings.
Joe Beale said…
Top -Garden Warbler, Lower two- Lesser Whitethroat (don't ask me what subspecies)?
Hi Joe.

Thanks for that the thing about the Garden Warbler is the overall body colouring fits that species but the leg and lower mandible colours do not. Not that it is obvious and even though I only ever saw it in cover, its shape was more like a phyllosc than sylvia type. The Lesser could be a very warn adult but it didn't strike me as that of birds I normally see, particularly during the autumn. I never see many spring birds in London and most other sightings are when birds are migrating.