tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641288652227497849.post3688673464094043836..comments2024-01-11T19:41:41.180+00:00Comments on Birds and Beer: WHITLINGHAM: Owl watchingJames Emersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04895693455349558444noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641288652227497849.post-21820636614760524532011-11-10T19:30:43.104+00:002011-11-10T19:30:43.104+00:00Hi James
Thanks for your reply and clearing up my...Hi James<br /><br />Thanks for your reply and clearing up my Snipe query. They were moving pretty fast and it can be hard to get a sense of scale. The Owl certainly spooked them when he was over them!<br /><br />Regards<br />PaulPaul Davidsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641288652227497849.post-17945675376354589382011-11-10T16:27:57.144+00:002011-11-10T16:27:57.144+00:00Hi Paul.
Thank you for your update, its great news...Hi Paul.<br />Thank you for your update, its great news to hear that the SEO is still around. They are marvellous birds to watch. Jack Snipe do occur at the marshes, but only occasionally. There has been up to nine Common Snipe there in the past few weeks, so its much more likely it was them. Behaviour is probably more like Common Snipe as well, Jack Snipe have a reputation for only flushing as you're about to stand on them!<br /><br />All the best,<br />JamesJames Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895693455349558444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641288652227497849.post-90974056986875360282011-11-10T15:47:49.434+00:002011-11-10T15:47:49.434+00:00Managed to get away early from work today and arri...Managed to get away early from work today and arrived at Thorpe Marshes around 2.30pm. Wandered around more in hope than expectation of seeing the Short Eared Owl. Suddenly it flew up in front of me! I then watched it for at least 20 minutes as it proceeded to wheel around the marshes hunting and scattering all in it's path. What a magnificent sight! It's upper plumage almost took on a gold colour in the late afternoon sunshine. My bird ID skills are not in the same league as most people that read this blog but I did carefully check and consult a reliable bird guide as soon as I arrived home. Definately a Short Eared Owl! Out of interest as he flew over the marsh he scattered a couple of what looked like Jack Snipe. Is this a reasonable assumption for this site?Paul Davidsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641288652227497849.post-71910600877874878372011-11-04T08:37:12.519+00:002011-11-04T08:37:12.519+00:00I think you're right. The entry is actually f...I think you're right. The entry is actually for 35 Little Grebes! On my visit a few days before I didn't see any, and the week after I saw 1! I don't think I've ever got double figures at Whitlingham and the Birdtrack record is only 16 (from 1998). <br />February was the period of huge G.C.Grebe numbers, consistently 30-40, and I (double!) counted 49 on the 6th.James Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895693455349558444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641288652227497849.post-86561509872587874962011-11-03T23:10:02.517+00:002011-11-03T23:10:02.517+00:00Great bird James - must try to get down some time ...Great bird James - must try to get down some time soon.<br />P.S. Surely that 30 Little Grebe count must be an error? Unless anyone knows better, I'd guess it was submitted in error for GCG.Andy Musgrovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05105588316743620086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641288652227497849.post-57231095959677347452011-11-01T07:04:31.345+00:002011-11-01T07:04:31.345+00:00Cheers guys. It was seen again last night around ...Cheers guys. It was seen again last night around the same time (as reported on Yare Valley Website), so that's a minimum of 4 days its been present.James Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04895693455349558444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641288652227497849.post-35449209394411179562011-10-31T22:34:30.103+00:002011-10-31T22:34:30.103+00:00greatbird to have on the patch James, well done, w...greatbird to have on the patch James, well done, wish i had one all this time out in the field and haven't seen one yet this Autumn!Pomskuanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641288652227497849.post-59629226469962775762011-10-31T18:42:56.830+00:002011-10-31T18:42:56.830+00:00Wow- what a patch bird! Might have to have a look ...Wow- what a patch bird! Might have to have a look next weekend if it sticks. A dusk watch from the ruins at Surlingham on Sunday proved fruitless. I too noticed the sightings in the bird report,one at Surlingham last year in November.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07440756100318972524noreply@blogger.com