WHITLINGHAM: January 2025 birds

January 2025

There were two birds of particular note at Whitlingham during January, firstly a Red-necked Grebe first seen on St Andrews Broad at Thorpe Marshes, which moved across to Whitlingham Great Broad where it remained until the end of the month. This was the first 'twitchable' bird here since February 2010 (there was a report from 31st Dec 2013, but it wasn't present the next day and no further details about it ever emerged). The second notable record was a White-fronted Goose, a rare species locally although wintering annually in the mid-Yare valley. Several were seen flying over on 19th Jan, but one landed and spent some time on the meadow south of Whitlingham Lane before moving onto the Great Broad. The highlight of the WeBS count was a couple of Goosander.

WHITLINGHAM: Patch tick Iceland Gull

22nd January 2023

Whilst getting ready for lunch a message came through that Robin Chittenden had found an Iceland Gull resting on a frozen part of the Great Broad. Fortunately we didn't have plans for the afternoon so I was able to pop down, where a small group of local birders were in place watching it. The gull had spent much of its time face on, which would have made it difficult to pick out, but whilst I was there it turned side on for a bit and then flew up and round before going for a bathe in a bit of open water, allowing good spread wing views. It was aged as a 3rd-winter bird rather than a full adult. Also on the Great Broad were four Goosander, although when I walked past only three were visible. Iceland Gull was a new patch (and Norwich) bird for me. 

WHITLINGHAM: Trowse Whooper Swans

Early November 2022

There was an unexpected patch tick for me when two Whooper Swans spent the day on the flooded Trowse Meadow, visible from Whitlingham Lane. I'd not seen either wild swan at Whitlingham before, although there was a Bewick's Swan on the river near Bishopgate for a while a few years back and I've seen a couple of flocks over the south of the city too.

WHITLINGHAM: January WeBS and a second patch tick of the year

23rd January 2022

The first WeBS count of the year, and I spent some time around the slipway ring reading, managing 13 Mute Swans, one Greylag Goose, one Barnacle Goose and three Black-headed Gulls. All ringed here or across the river at Thorpe, but at least the sightings are gradually building up a picture that will hopefully be added to when some of them disperse in spring.

Duck numbers were mostly quite low, although 55 Teal was a decent count. Otherwise there was the regular drake Mandarin, 87 Gadwall, 88 Mallard, 10 Shoveler, 4 Pochard and 188 Tufted Duck. The recent Goldeneye and Shag appeared to have departed. There were a few bits and pieces that I hadn't noted on my first couple of patch visits here this year, including a brief snatch of Cetti's Warbler song, a Kingfisher and a Lesser Redpoll.

Of later I have been doing my wildfowl counts in the afternoon rather than the morning so that I can wait until dusk in the hope of seeing a Ring-necked Parakeet that sometimes roosts on the island. I was in position again, and noted how white some of the trees on the island looked (presumably Cormorant guano, which although in some parts of the world is used as a fertiliser, here appears to be killing the trees). At about 16:05 I heard what sounded like a distant Parakeet call. A second call reassured me that it wasn't my imagination, and I managed to pick up the Ring-necked Parakeet in flight and track it as it flew across the island and into the top of a spindly tree. Once perched up it remained silent - had I been distracted or it been a bit noisier I would have probably missed it again, but as it happened I didn't, and I had my second patch tick of the year before the end of January (the pessimist in me says that this just cancels out the two Redpolls that appear to be primed for removal from the IOC list sooner rather than later...).

As with the past couple of years I expect that much of my wildlife recording will be carried out around Norwich in 2022, so I intend spending some time on my more neglected groups including Mosses and lichens. With this in mind I photographed a nice foliose lichen on a willow tree on my way round but haven't yet identified it. It's rather like a dark Punctelia subreducta, but I don't think the underside should be this dark a shade of brown if its that species.

WHITLINGHAM: Still no parakeet but a Phalacrocorax bonus

3rd January 2022

I had planned to make an afternoon visit to Whitlingham in the hope of seeing the Ring-necked Parakeet fly in to roost, but the visit was given extra interest with news that Drew had found a Shag on the Great Broad. I arrived to the dreaded words "it was on the broad over there, but I've not seen it for about 20 minutes now..." but fortunately after a quick scan of the far end I noticed it perched up on some cut trees, just off the edge of the island. Shag was a patch tick for me (#156), with the only other one I've seen in Norwich back in February 2013 when I found one along the river in the city centre one morning. Whilst scanning I picked up a couple of birds I'd missed on 1st Jan, Pochard and Great Crested Grebe.

After spending a bit of time watching the Shag I decided to take a slow walk around the meadow, and found a couple of new species in the form of a (relatively!) large springtail, Pogonognathellus longicornis and a lichenicolous fungus, Unguiculariopsis thallophila. I then called in at the slipway and read some more Mute Swan rings before heading back into position near the island. A few Redwings called as they flew over, and a Siskin was in one of the remaining Alder trees that had survived the rather dramatic looking cutting. I watched around 220 Jackdaws swirling about before they settled down to roost, but yet again there was no sign of the parakeet, which has firmly cemented itself as my bogey bird here. Still, one new patch bird in the first week of the year is still a positive start.

THORPE MARSHES: Late Nov Red-breasted Merganser

Late November 2020

As a month of staying within a few miles of home drew to a close there was a final flourish, with a drake Red-breasted Merganser on the broad at Thorpe. A rare species inland, this was only the fourth local record in the past 30 years, so it was fortunate that it turned up on a weekend.

WHITLINGHAM: October WeBS, patch tick Crossbill and some great fungi

 18th October 2020

After a fairly quiet series of WeBS counts, this one had a good variety of species if not large numbers. A Water Rail squealed from the edge of the Little Broad, whilst on the Great Broad three Wigeon, six Pochard and a Goldeneye were present along with 16 Gadwall and 72 Tufted Ducks. Five Little Grebes and 58 Coot completed the winter fare. I'd not been there long when I heard a Crossbill calling overhead as it flew west, and later on a second one flew over, a long overdue patch tick. Whilst checking the picnic meadow for fungi I also heard some chacking calls and looked up to find a flock of Fieldfare (and a few Redwing) perched up -  a bird I usually only see flying over.

As well as the birds, it was also a good visit for fungi, and despite only taking a brisk walk along part of the woodland edge I found a nice range of species, several that I'd not recorded at Whitlingham before such as Sulphur Knight. On the meadow by the barn I also called in to see the White Saddles found a week or so previously by Keith Sowter.

Crested Coral

Porcelain Fungus

Purplepore Bracket

Sulphur Knight

White Saddle

WHITLINGHAM: PATCH TICK 150! Garganey

28th March 2019

I'd not taken my phone to work, but wasn't particularly bothered as I don't get many calls anyway. Arriving home and checking for messages I found a missed call and a message to say there was a pair of Garganey at Whitlingham! My patch nemesis, and if they were still present then my 150th patch bird. After a gibbered explanation (and a reassurance that no, nobody had died) I set off for Whitlingham, cursing the late night shoppers that were adding to the usual rush hour traffic.

The Garganey had been viewed from the east end of the Little Broad, near the pagoda, so I headed straight there and scanned the Little Broad. They were nowhere to be seen. Had they gone to roost, flown off or just moved? I went across to the Great Broad and scanned as much as I could see. Nine Wigeon were present, the temporarily resident drake plus a group of eight near the island, but on this occasion I wasn't impressed. There was no sign of the Garganey.

Moving back to the Little Broad I decided I would give it ten minutes before having to return home to sort our food. Scanning across I noticed two small ducks swimming across the broad. The light was beginning to dim so I got them in the telescope and hoorah, it was indeed the Garganey! I headed to a better vantage point and was about to digiscope myself a record shot when they flew up and after a coupele of laps of the broad they disappeared from view. At one point they appeared to be being chased by a Mallard, but by the second lap they were chasing it. Fortunately for people arriving later they relocated to the Great Broad and were also present on the day after, although often elusive. 

My 150 patch birds has taken a whopping 13 years since my first visit here in 2006, and there are probably ten or so fairly common 'flyovers' that I would hope to add at some point (e.g. Bewicks & Whooper Swans, Curlew, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer...). Many thanks to Justin Lansdell who found the birds.

THORPE MARSHES - Wheatear!

21st April 2018

I'd just returned from Mannington, and with Cathy & Rose out I made myself a cup of tea and sat down to check my emails. A few minutes later I saw a message from Gary on Twitter to say he had just found a Wheatear at Thorpe Marshes. Wheatears are just about annual locally, but typically only one or two a year and staying a few hours. I'd never seen one at Whitlingham or Thorpe, so with a baleful look at my cup of tea I grabbed my bag and headed back out.

Once on site I called Gary to ask whereabouts he had seen it last, and found out that a family was currently walking down the path where the Wheatear had been. I walked over to the middle of the marsh, stopping briefly for a chat with Susan who had just completed a lap. There was no sign initially on the paths or in the dead tree nearby, but turning round I spotted the Wheatear on a gatepost. Hurrah! The first Wheatear of the year is always a bit special, but to see one here was much more so.

I watched the Wheatear for a while before it hopped down and walked off through the rushy grassland. Gary appeared and we heard a Grasshopper Warbler reeling distantly near the railway line. The Wheatear then reappeared on the gate and we got excellent views. It was quite confiding, so in a rare burst of photographical acumen I laid on the gravel path so that I could see a nice blue background behind it instead of the cluttered marsh or trees. 

This sighting brought my patch list up to 149 birds, tantalisingly close to my medium-term target of 150. Possible 150th species that might be possible this spring include Garganey, Osprey, Crane, Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Ruff or Yellow Wagtail, but it could just as easily be something completely unexpected. A big thanks to Gary for finding the Wheatear and letting me know about it. This year I have less time to spend birding, so having an excellent network of local birders is much appreciated.

There was a final bonus sighting for the visit, as after crossing the footbridge and walking back towards Thorpe St Andrew I spotted a solitary bee on the road. It was still alive so I picked it up to move it to the side so it didn't get squashed, and noted sime pale grey hairs on the lower parts. At home I managed to identify it as Andrena nitida. At the time I thought it would be a new species for me, but consulting my records I did see one at Whitlingham in 2016, when it became my 998th patch species!

WHITLINGHAM: Arctic Redpoll and a new arrival

A bit of a compendium post, this one.

On Saturday 24th Feb I headed down to Norwich waterworks where on two of the past three days the Glaucous Gull that has been seen periodically around Norwich had called in mid afternoon. Beforehand I had a look along the river and cut up through Sycamore Crescent Wood. At the waterworks reservoir, which is only partly visible through the gate, there were the common four gull species but no sign of the Glauc. Craig Robson joined me and said that there were less large gulls there than the past few days so it was probably somewhere else. I did check Wensum Park where there was a good gathering of gulls (220+ Black-headed, and a handful of others) but no luck there either. Thetford gets lots of gulls on the roofs of a business park - does anyone know of any equivalent areas around north Norwich where large gulls go to loaf?

On Sunday morning I got a text from Gary to say he had found a drake Mandarin on the river near Whitlingham. This would normally be the sort of thing I'd go and have a look at, but I didn't, because Cathy had just gone into labour! I drove her to the hospital in the sunshine and we had a baby daughter the following day. Whilst in hospital the 'beast of the east' struck, but the midwives were a hardy bunch with many battling the conditions to get into work or staying to do extra shifts - a big thank you to them all. I don't intend to remodel the website as a parenting blog, but I mention it here as undoubtedly having a young child will affect the amount of time I spend in the field, the places I visit and who knows, perhaps even my outlook on some things.

Whilst in hospital I rationed my phone battery (it already doesn't connect to the internet) and on one of the occasions I turned it on I had a text from Justin - he had found a Coues's Arctic Redpoll at Whitlingham! Whilst I was delighted for him and pleased that a new species had been added to the site list, I did feel a pang of longing to go and see it. Still, I had more important things to worry about.

Come Saturday 3rd March and with the redpoll still present Cathy encouraged me to pop out in the afternoon to have a look. When I arrived a small group was watching the redpoll flock, but the poor light was silhouetting the birds and it was a struggle to be nail down all the relevant features. Part of the flock flew off, so I went to look for them before returning to the favoured area of Alders. By now everyone else had left and the birds came down lower. I got good views of the Coues's Arctic Redpoll, at least two Mealy Redpoll (I think three, but I never saw two similar looking birds together) and at least 10 Lesser Redpoll. My attempts at photos were even worse than normal - there will be some good ones about though, for example keep an eye on James Lowen's blog). This was my 148th patch species, so my medium-term target of 150 is within striking distance. Two from Garganey, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Osprey or Firecrest would do it - let me know if you find any of those please! Whilst scanning the Alders I saw several Treecreepers, including one singing loudly. A Smew was present but I didn't see it on a quick scan and was eager to head back home. This was an excellent end to an exciting but exhausting week.

THORPE MARSH: Bearded Tit at last

22nd December 2017

Having been birding a fair bit in the last few days my intention was to stay in on Friday, but a call from Justin telling me that a Bearded Tit was currently showing at Thorpe Marshes changed that. I headed to Thorpe and made for the reedbed, where predictably there was no sign of it, but Justin was still on site so he came round to show me where he had seen it. After a short while a stunning male Bearded Tit appeared in the reeds. It showed well, although its constant movement meant that my attempt at photos were largely of different bits of it obscurred by reeds. I did get one photo that I was happy with (the 2nd one here) - it isn't particularly sharp or detailed, but captures the moment well I feel. This was my second new patch bird of the year (Hawfinch was the first) and my 147th Whitlingham and Thorpe bird overall. Whilst standing near the reedbed a Grey Wagtail flew over and the flock of Siskin moved along the Alders, but I returned home rather than do a full lap.

WHITLINGHAM: Vis-mig 2 with added Hawfinch

29th October 2017

On Sunday I decided to forego the extra hour in bed caused by putting the clocks back and head once again to Whitlingham before dawn to look for migrating birds. It was a slow start with not much on the move, although I was pleased that the wind was still mostly westerly as the forecast strong northerly winds would have probably held most of the birds up.

Around dawn I saw Gary approaching. He asked me if I had seen the Hawfinch that flew out of the willows behind me and across the little broad a few minutes earlier. Ha ha I thought, until I realised that he wasn't joking. Even worse, I had seen a finch or bunting fly across as I scanned round, but as I hadn't heard it call I hadn't thought about it. Gary said that it hadn't flown high, so it might still be around, leaving me torn as to whether to stay and listen for passing birds or to try to relocate his Hawfinch.

Gary then set off for a walk around the site, starting with the south side of the Little Broad, so I stayed at my watchpoint for a bit. With just a few Redwings and Siskin flying over I decided that the best thing to do would be to check out the trees between the Little Broad and the river. After ten minutes or so I was rewarded as a Hawfinch called and I managed to pick it up as it flew off across the Little Broad. It had presumably been perched unseen in one of the trees nearby.

Filled with a mixture of delight and relief I decided to try to see if the Hawfinch had landed again. With no sign of it along the Little Broad I carried back along Whitlingham Lane, checking out the isolated trees in the grassland to the west of the broad, then on to Trowse Meadow. Here I encountered a problem, notably the river had burst its banks and flooded the meadow. There was no way I was going onto the meadow without wellies, so I headed back to the country park.

I decided to have another 20 minutes or so of migration watching before heading home, and had only been sat down a few minutes when I got a text from Gary, telling me another Hawfinch had just flown west past the conservation area. I still had my phone out when it flew past, straight in front of me and slightly above the treeline. Before leaving I again checked out the trees along the river, where an obliging Twin-spot Centurion was resting.

WHITLINGHAM: Velvet Scoter on Great Broad

8th November 2016

This afternoon I received a phone call from Justin to tell me that he had found a Velvet Scoter at Whitlingham. Whilst Common Scoters turn up fairly regularly inland, Velvets are much less frequent away from the coast, and I'm not aware of any previous Whitlingham records. Unfortunately for me I was still at work, but once I had finished I was kindly allowed to go a bit early, and as a result I go to Whitlingham just after sunset. Luckily the Velvet Scoter was still present, and there was still enough light to see it just to the west of the island, swimming about and doing the distinctive diving action that they are known for. Hopefully it will still be present tomorrow to give more people the chance to see it.

WHITLINGHAM: A patch Whimbrel

3rd May 2016

On Tuesday evening I'd got home from work and seen a message from Drew about a nasal-saddled Tufted Duck at Whitlingham. This was doubly interesting, firstly in that hopefully we can find out where it was ringed (somewhere in France) but also it shows that there is a turnover of birds going on rather than the same Tufted Ducks that wintered lingering. 

Shortly afterwards I got another message, this time to say that Drew had found a Whimbrel. They are just about annual at Whitlingham, but most records are just of birds flying over. This one had landed out of sight across the river at Thorpe. Going to Thorpe Marsh would give me the best chance of locating it, but the rush hour traffic would delay me getting there. Instead I headed to Whitlingham, carried on to the woodland car park and headed up to the viewpoint. From here you can see much of Thorpe Broad, however bits are masked by the trees. Fortunately I managed to find an angle to look through the trees and located the Whimbrel resting on the shingle edge of the broad. It remained there for about another 10 minutes, before calling repeatedly and presumably flying off. This became my 143rd patch bird - many thanks to Drew for finding it and letting me know.

THORPE MARSH: Patch tick - Whinchat

21st September 2014

This year so far has not been a classic for birds at Whitlingham, and it was more than a year since I had seen a new patch bird. Of the commoner species I am yet to see locally Whinchat seemed the most likely as there had been a large influx at the start of September. One had been seen at Thorpe on the 6th, and another one this Wednesday, so when a local birder asked if there was much about, I told him to keep an eye out in case. I thought no more about it until I got a message from Joe, telling me that he had just seen two Whinchats at Thorpe. Cathy supportively agreed to delay the shopping to allow me to go and have a look.

I arrived at Thorpe and met Joe coming back towards the railway. He kindly turned round and walked back along the footpath to the marsh to show me where he had seen the Whinchats. On the way we stopped and watched several Snipe flying low onto the scrape. When Joe had last seen the Whinchats they had gone into an area of scrub near the middle of the marsh, so we stood on the footpath nearby. There was no sign of anything perched up on the bushes, but then we noticed the two Whinchats fly up and then continue high over the railway line towards the paddock on Bungalow Lane. Having made sure they weren't just looping round we headed back, on the way getting a fleeting look at a damselfly that was probably (but not conclusively) a Willow Emerald, a species which has been seen here for the first time last week. Many thanks to Joe for passing on news of his sighting, my 141st patch bird and 802nd patch species in total.

WHITLINGHAM: Patch tick!

13th April 2013

A count day at Whitlingham, and some glorious sunshine too. A flock of around 30 Redwings were in the trees along Whitlingham Lane, my latest patch record (although I wouldn't bet against beating it again on my next visit!). The two surviving Egyptian Goslings were on the main slipway, and a Chiffchaff, the first of six, was singing nearby. There were gulls spread out across the Great Broad, and I set about checking them for Med Gulls. I counted around 380 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Common Gulls, 6 Lesser Black-backs, 2 Herring Gulls but best of all, a Kittiwake!  An excellent inland bird, and interesting to see near the other gulls to compare the structure. It flew further along the broad showing off the black legs, but a motorboat then went the length of the broad, putting all the gulls into the air.

Continuing around the broad I heard, and with a bit of patience saw, a Sedge Warbler. Interestingly this is about the time I would expect Sedge Warbler here, although birds like Willow Warbler and Blackcap would normally be in first. This suggests that the early spring migrants are backed up, but mid-to late spring migrants may well now arrive roughly as expected. On the broad a couple of Pochard lingered, and a summer-plumaged Little Grebe was diving near the island. There was no sign of any hirundines, although I have been told that Swallows have been seen on the past two days. A Peacock butterfly was my second butterfly of the year.

THORPE BROAD: Slavonian Grebe

15th December 2012

I hadn't been home that long after returning from Whitlingham when I looked at BirdForum and noticed that Steve had found a Slavonian Grebe at Thorpe. Slavonian Grebe was the only one of the five commoner grebe species that I hadn't seen locally, so I set off hoping that it was still around. Luckily it was, and showed nicely, swimming along the southern shore of Thorpe Broad. This was my 110th patch bird of the year, equalling my best tally from 2010. Will I manage a record-beating 111th bird in the final two weeks of the year? Stay tuned...

WHITLINGHAM: Year tick hat-trick

9th August 2012

It turns out that instead of looking for waders at Thorpe, I should have been looking for ducks at Whitlingham.  Luckily Daniel was, and he found a drake Common Scoter on the Great Broad.  I walked down in the morning to check if it was still around, however I was delayed somewhat on Whitlingham Lane as I found a group of five Mistle Thrushes on the recently cut meadows, a long overdue year tick, equalling last years total of 106.

Once I got up to the island, the Common Scoter was obvious, floating serenely in the middle of the broad.  I watched it preen and stretch its wings, and eventually it drifted closer to the north shore and began diving.  It was excellent to get prolonged views in the sunshine, my only previous views of Common Scoter here was an evening bird at Thorpe three years ago.  Bird 107 for the year!

As I began to walk home down Whitlingham Lane I stopped to get a drink out of my bag, looked up and saw a Red Kite soaring over the meadows!  A rather tatty one, but nonetheless a patch tick, and bird 108.  I now have the rest of the year to see three new birds and break my year list record of 110 from the 2010.

THORPE MARSH: Wood Sandpiper

24th June 2012

Following some heavy rain I went down to Thorpe Marsh to see if any passing waders had been deposited.  With no sign of any birds on the scrape, I walked past the cows and onto the riverside path.  The rain had completely saturated the long grass that has bent across the path, and accordingly this moisture was transferred to me.  By the time I had reached the bird screen my trousers were soaked.  By the time I had completed my lap enough water had collected to run into my socks.  The accompanying grass pollen had set off my hay fever, so by the time I had gone round to the cattle compound for a second look I was sneezing, wet and rather peeved. A couple of Lapwings had flown noisily onto the scrape, so I decided to wait a while longer, and I was rewarded with a Wood Sandpiper, which emerged from behind some rushes.  Shortly afterwards it flew up and out of view, and despite checking the shingle spit and river edges in case it had doubled back, I couldn't re-find it.

WHITLINGHAM: Local Mega - Nightingale

3rd May 2012

A red-letter day at Whitlingham, with the arrival of a singing Nightingale.  It was heard on a dawn chorus walk in the morning led by Peter, and also heard by several others throughout the day.  I'm particularly grateful to Ron, who mentioned it on Birdforum.  To maximise my chance of locating it, I waited until around seven, and headed down to Whitlingham.  On my way I heard some Sedge Warblers and saw my first Reed Warbler and Whitethroats here this year.  A Cuckoo was calling constantly, moving between the island and the willows along the North shore of the broad.  I heard a small bit of Nightingale song, and as it got darker it began to sing more.  At one point I moved around the broad and could still hear it, carrying across the water.  Over the river a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling at Thorpe.  An excellent evenings birding, and hopefully the Nightingale will stay for a while.