Whitlingham (14)

23rd April 2009

Having been at work all week I took advantage of a warm evening to get down to Whitlingham. The brood of 4 Egyptian Geese are all still alive and well, but the Mallard ducklings were down to 3! Walking round there were another two broods of Egyptian Geese (3 & 9), a brood of 4 Coot and a Moorhen nesting 6 feet up in a tree! The pair of Grey Wagtails were also around the Little Broad beach.

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Moorhen in a tree. According to the guy I was talking to, the Moorhens have to climb up the branches rather than fly in to the nest!

The Great Broad was fairly quiet, 13 Sand Martins and a singing Lesser Whitethroat were the highlights. Scanning the old workings produced one Shelduck and around 30 Tufted Ducks. Again my timing was off (next day Sandwich and Little Terns seen), but the walk was pleasant and had a good chat with one of the locals.

Whitlingham (13)

17th April 2009

Dragging myself out of bed, I made my way down to Whitlingham about half-pace. Along the Little Broad a Lesser Redpoll was singing in the alders and giving good views. A singing Reed Warbler was only seen briefly, and took a call recording for me to be confident it wasn't sedge! I must find some way of learning bird calls properly. The Egyptian Goose fledgelings have all survived so far, and a brood of 8 Mallard chicks had joined them. Both broads were devoid of ducks (6 Tufted, 9 Gadwall), but thats not too surprising considering the amount of dogs running around off leads. I imagined the following conversation, although it probably happens regularly. "Shirley, does that Conservation Area, Dogs On Leads sign apply to us?" "Don't be daft Bobby, we own a goat" "Oh yeah hur hur, silly me"

I counted five singing Cetti's Warblers, and four Sedge Warblers (seeing my first of the year). Hearing dogs barking loudly, I looked across the river where police were talking to the owners of the houseboat with the out of control dogs on it. I wonder if people have complained about them? A scan of the new workings turned up the missing 100-odd Tufted Duck, along with four Shelduck. Still no sign of any LRP though.

Continuing round, a flock of 15ish House Martins, 2 Swallows and a Kestrel flew over, a Grey Wagtail flew along the shore and the pair of Black Swans were on the slipway. A Gadwall looked like it may have a few farmyard mallard genes in it. A Blackcap was eating insects out of Blackthorn flowers, and a couple stared at me for taking pictures of a Treecreeper that they obviously couldn't see. I came home and had one of my Scottish beers, Harviestoun's Black Engine Oil. Described as viscous, chocolatey and bitter. Oh yeah.

Species list 173 species.

Whitlingham (12)

7th April 2009

Seeing how busy Whitlingham had been the day before, I planned an evening visit to avoid the crowds. Walking across Trowse Common a Kingfisher flew in a wide arc around the river. Some of the Tufted Ducks were already putting their heads into their wings, so I probably got there a bit late! There was a good range of ducks (no Garganey though); Pochard 6, Teal 2, Shoveler 4, Gadwall 12 and 140+ Tufted Ducks, along with a group of 5 Little Grebes. 5 Cetti's Warblers were singing, one of which we got a glimpse of. A lone Swallow flew over the east end of the broad. By the time we got to the far end, the sun was beginning to set. As we walked past the little Broad, four small bats (probably Pipistrelle) were hunting insects over our heads.

Whitlingham (11)

6th April 2009

Seeing that the country was being flooded by Little Gulls, I went down to Whitlingham in hope rather than expectation. As I'd suspected, the country park was full of families and dog-walkers, suffice to say no sign of any Little Gulls. As it was, 14 were reported from Colney GPs, so I wasn't far off. The day wasn't a complete failure, the first brood of Egyptian Geese chicks were on the Little Broad, and the 2 Black Swans were doing a brief courtship of head raising and bobbing. Further round I found a hybrid goose that me & Adam first saw last year. We think it's parentage is likely to be Lesser Whitefronted Goose x Barnacle Goose.

Around the back of the broad the Willow Warbler that started singing a week ago was still in the same group of trees, and back in Trowse a Kingfisher flew out of a buddleia and downriver. The next day I found to my despair that after I had left, a pair of Garganey were located that evening at Whitlingham by one of the punks. Darn it!

Thorpe Area

4th April 2009

A number of local sights visited, starting with Rosary Cemetery, where we saw two Nuthatches. Lion's Wood gave up another Nuthatch and a few Chiffchaffs. Carey's Meadow was quiet, give it another couple of weeks and it should be heaving with warblers. Finally we ended up at Thorpe Marshes, where I failed again to see any LRPs. Ample compensation was an Avocet, sitting on the shingle spit and occasionally being chased by gulls. This was the first one I've seen around Norwich, and a notable Whitlingham area tick.

This duck was smiling, isn't that nice?

Mousehold Heath

Feeling guilty for staying at home doing nothing, me & Cathy went to Mousehold Heath. Nothing out of the ordinary about, GS Woodpecker, Chiffchaff etc. Whilst I was there I got a call and offered a job! Hoorah. Two and a half months is quite enough unemployment for me! Three flyover Fieldfares were probably heading back north. We went to the Playhouse on the way home for a celebratory pint (Oak Grain).

In the evening I headed out again with Adam, walking the local stretch of the Wensum. Little about, three Chiffchaffs holding territories, and three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, including one in the middle of a park. I located them all by call, at this rate I'll be able to find everything like this in 60 years! We called in at the Fat Cat on the way back, which was absolutely packed. I had a pint of Wild Cat, then we wandered home.

Thorpe Station Marsh

31st March 2009

I braved the dogs to check out Thorpe Marshes again, hoping to see the Little Ringed Plover. Again I was unsuccessful, despite scanning every bit of mud and gravel I could see! If anyone knows exactly where to look, do share ;-) I did manage decent views of a Green Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Kingfishers before the long walk back.

Whitlingham (10)

30th March 2009

The latest in my Whitlingham extravaganza. Not surprisingly, there was a similar range of species to the 27th, although I dipped a reported Goosander, continuing my poor luck at finding this species at Whitlingham. The Siskin flock was down to 2 birds, the Black Swan had moved to the Little Broad, and five Shoveler had re-appeared. The first birds of note were two Sand Martins that flew over high, and I had a run of Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff around the conservation area. The bird of the day was a singing Willow Warbler, which I think is my earliest record.

Year list 156 species.

Whitlingham (9)

27th March 2009

Ignoring the weather forecast I went down to Whitlingham again, determined to find a migrant! Along the Little Broad a Mealy Redpoll was with the Siskin flock, showing a deep pink on the breast. Unfortunately the light was too poor for decent photos. At the edge of the Little Broad two Grey Wagtails flew along the bank, the third consecutive trip I've seen GW in the past few days, maybe new arrivals?

The conservation area was quiet, a Kingfisher along the river and three Little Grebes of note. Around the front the drizzle set in, but a nice bonus was a Black Swan gliding along. Having brought my camera, I was looking to get pictures of the geese, and had a look at a domestic-type goose, only to notice the two geese with it had Swan Goose-coloured necks. The beaks recall birds I saw last year, which I put down as Swan Geese. As they had knobs on the beak, internet research suggests it may be more accurate to say they were Chinese Goose (a domesticated form of Swan Goose) and the birds pictured are likely to be Chinese Goose x Greylag Goose. Interesting birds, and whilst looking at them, a hybrid Canada x Greylag swam into view as well.

Thorpe Station Marsh

25th March 2009

Following an interview in the morning, I decided to have a look round Station Marsh, on the offchance that some migrants actually fancy coming near me this spring. Omens were good, a Grey Wagtail flew from boat to boat on the river opposite the station as I walked through the city, my 2nd in successive days. Unfortunately the marsh didn't live up to my optimism, 4 gull spp, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Coot, Tufted Duck, Egyptian Goose and Mute Swan being the only species visible. Careful scanning of every available bit of gravel viewable from the path failed to give up Little Ringed Plover or Rock Pipit, both regular species when it was still a working gravel pit. Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler called, and brief compensation was a Common Buzzard (only my 5th record for the Whitlingham/Thorpe area), which flew over then quickly soared upwards into the clouds.

Norwich (Wensum walk)

24th March 2009

An afternoon walk along the river as far as Sweetbriar. My first Little Egret around Norwich was a nice surprise, seen in flight being mobbed by crows. We also saw a Grey Wagtail just past the inner ring road, and heard several Chiffchaffs. Whilst having a pint of Wherry, I saw 16 species from the Gibralter Gardens pub garden!

Wherryman's Way

19th March 2009

Fancying a walk, and still trying to find my own Garganey (it's fine, I've given up now, I'll wait until August and twitch one at Cley ;-0) I roped Adam into getting the bus to Rockland and walking back to Norwich. The day started well, 3 Chiffchaffs singing in the car park, creating a slightly disorientating atmosphere. I managed to home in on one singing from a conifer. A Kingisher called as it flew across the staithe. Not much about on the broad, although we obviously missed a treat as the sightings board had "a shark chasing another shark, wow awesome" as a recent entry.

A walk around Wheatfen was pleasant, we had a chat with David Nobbs the warden, who directed us to some good examples of Scarlet Elf Cup fungus. I finally got my Cetti's Warbler, with one shooting across the path. A walk around Surlingham Church Marsh was fairly birdless, 20-odd Teal and 2 Shelduck the only wildfowl. Through Bramerton and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker called and then flew out of the top of a tree, a surprising find. At the top of the hill, the resident Lapwing were calling occasionally. Whitlingham was disappointing, a Little Grebe was probably the highlight.

Scarlet Elf Cup

Year list 151 species.

In the evening I managed to drag my aching limbs to the Horse & Dray, where we won the pub quiz, with the aid of intelligence-giving Adnams Explorer.

Whitlingham (7)

13th March 2009

A trip to Whitlingham to look for spring migrants. No Garganey or Sand Martins, but I did clock up a long overdue Lesser Redpoll. In the conservation area a Kingfisher shot past, and I was taunted by at least three Cetti's Warblers (still haven't seen one this year). Of note were three sinensis-Cormorants and five pseudo-scaup female Tufted Ducks. Part of the broad was being dredged, so I couldn't get all the way round. A number of Chiffchaffs were reported today, so a first sighting shouldn't be far away!

Year list now 142 species.

Siberian Thrush

No, I didn't see it. Balls. And whats more annoying is that starling with the strange long claws that I had started painting eyebrows on with my Poundland white paint has gone missing too.

Read all sorts of conspiratory nonsense here:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=135553&highlight=Norfolk+Birding

3rd March 2009

Cathy's birding education continued with a visit to Titchwell. The hides produced the usual stuff, 200+ Avocet, decent numbers of Pintail and some grotty Herring Gulls that I couldn't turn into Caspian. Scrutiny of the saline marsh yielded 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover and 2 Black-tailed Godwit. A prolonged seawatch was ultimately disappointing, a diver I squinted at for 15 minutes turned out to be Red-throated, and there was a distinct lack of Eider or Long-tails. A few Goldeneye & Red-breasted Mergansers later I called it quits. On the way back to the visitors centre the brent flock settled on a large pool, and I managed to find the Black Brant. On the way back I was able to see a Slavonian Grebe & 2 Little Grebes in Wells Harbour.

Year list 139 species.