27th July

Luckily for me I didn’t miss much in the park.

A flock of 5 Crossbills flying south east and a Nuthatch that has been present since early last week being the star birds.

Today

Common Sandpiper: one was on the shore of area 8 this morning.

Norfolk could have been a little better, although there is always something to see. The weather was just to warm and we escaped most of the thunderstorms. I was gutted when I realised that I had left my camera at home and had to make do with digiscoping which can be okay if the birds are still and reasonably close. I even had to contend with a misty morning, which was frustrating as that day the birds were closer to the hides on Cley’s NNT reserve.

My highlights are listed below.

Red-throated Diver: an adult flew west past Cley.

Spoonbill: birds were present in a channel to the east of The East Bank every day. Birds could be seen flying in across the reserve, early morning and evening be good times to see them in flight.

Booted Eagle? there were reports from fairly reliable sources that dark morph bird was being seen around a nearby refuse tip and wood. I visited the area one afternoon and saw a broad, straight-winged raptor thermaling on level wings over the wood and not once in 8 minutes of thermaling did it show the u-shaped upward angled wings of a Common Buzzard. There  were also several Red Kites and over 14 C.Buzzards in the air when I scanned the skies. 

Common Scoter: flocks were heading west most days, possibly joining others off the coast of Titchwell. Here a large flock gathers, the only trouble is the fact they are normallyso far from shore.

Arctic Skua: 2 flew west, one very close in shore, just rubbing salt in to the wounds, that it would have been a great photo opportunity.

Wood Sandpiper (4), Green Sandpiper (at least 12 on reserve), Curlew Sandpiper (1), Spotted Redshank (2), Little Stint (2),

Two-barred Crossbill (Kelling Heath): several birds arrived in the UK last week. I had a choice of 4 birds 50 miles away or a single bird 26 miles away. I chose the latter, finding the car park from which you have to walk from wasn’t easy. However once found the site the trees the bird sometimes frequents was a short walk away. I had a 20 minute wait before the bird showed, the views and light were not the best. The location is am old railway cottage by a level crossing, in the middle of a heathland. It is a re-opened stretch, that runs from Sheringham to Holt. The annoying thing was that they sound their horns when approaching the crossing. Not knowing the train timetable, I was looking at the crossbill as a train approached the crossing and yes you’ve guessed it on hearing the horn the bird scarpered. Never mind it wasn’t the most attractive of birds.

Common Crossbill: There were 3 with the Kelling Heath called Two-barred Crossbill and one and others heard at Lynford Arboretum a site that held 4 Two-barred’s which has now dropped one bird. I called in on the way home but only saw a Common Crossbill.  

 

The week started with a beautiful moon in clear skies, however when I awoke at 4.40am on the Monday I was greeted by mist that took until 9.30am to clear completely.

 

Not the place you would normally expect to find a Swallow perched.