30/3/09 Brecks and mid-Norfolk

A day out with Ray started in typical fashion, with good views of 2 Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers, 1 male and 1 female, by 8:00am, although there was far less activity than in recent visits. 3 pairs of Marsh Tits, 4 Nuthatches, 4 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 5 Siskins, 2 Redpolls and 10 Redwings were also noted.

Next was an unsuccessful search for Stone Curlews in north Brecks, but 3 Tree Sparrows were seen. Moving onto an undisclosed large woodland site in mid-Norfolk we were rewarded with 2 Goshawks, with prolonged views of a male (in display for a short time) and an immature (probably a 2nd calendar year) female (grappling with Common Buzzards). 3 Sparrowhawks, 8 Common Buzzards (including a striking pale bird with a completely white head and a white rump which provided a couple of seconds of panic through bins!) and a single Common Crossbill were also recorded.

The day was concluded at Pentney gravel pits. 2 Mediterranean Gulls (both adults) were eventually located on the front sandy spit, while a smattering of summer migrants consisted of a Swallow, 2 Little-ringed Plovers, 4 Sand Martins and a Wheatear, while 3 Pink-footed Geese were a surprise.

26-29/3/09 Yorkshire Dales

A 65km gold D of E expedition in the Yorkshire dales produced a few bits and pieces. Best was a superb Dipper which showed very well on a close exposed rock for a long time on the final day. 4 Red Grouse were also very noteworthy including excellent views of a bird on the deck. Other sightings included 11 Wheatears, 9 Grey Wagtails, 6 Goosanders, a breeding pair of Peregrines and 11 Red Kites on the journey home.

22/3/09 Sheringham and Cley NWT

A family mother's day outing produced a few sightings of note! 2 Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks by the promenade at Sheringham, in front of the Beach Hut Cafe, as was a Rock Pipit. A scan of the throngs of dark-bellied Brent Geese along beach road at Cley NWT produced a single pale-bellied Brent Goose.

21/3/09 TF62

A good morning out locally. The day started with a calling adult male Golden Pheasant holding territory. Although it was var. obscurus (with a dark-green throat) it looked fine for a pure bird in all other respects and a smart bird regardless. The Great Grey Shrike was still showing well by the boardwalk at Dersingham Bog NNR and 2 Woodlarks were singing in the area. 15 Crossbills were flying around calling, while 2 Woodcocks were flushed from a roadside verge in quick succession. Other sightings included 100+ Siskins, 120+ Redwings, 6 singing Chiffchaffs and a Stonechat.

The Golden-type Pheasant situation in the area is a complex one. The two 1st year males that have been present and well-watched throughout the winter have been pronounced in some quarters as Golden Pheasant x Common Pheasant hybrids. Green-throated birds (var. obscurus) have been present in the area now for at least several years. This could either be the result of a natural mutation (the theory most generally accepted at the moment and perhaps as a result of a narrowing of the gene pool) or perhaps an indication of Lady Amhersts Pheasant genes (although where this would have come from nobody knows). Alas nobody really knows either when the last bird that looked pure in all respects was seen, although some of the outlying birds have not really been seen well enough to assess this. It seems clear the population of birds in the area is declining, but this may be amplified by the fact that birds seem to be spreading away from the former stronghold of the triangle, possibly in connection to heavy scrub clearance in this area last spring. This year, leaving aside the 1st year males at the triangle, at least two, probably three males have been confirmed as holding territories. All appear to be var. obscurus. Pictures of some of these birds and a good summary of the situation can be found on Dave Appleton's photo page for this species here

An Orange Underwing moth was flying around by the 'John Denver' seat and 3 species of butterfly were on the wing, with Small Tortishell, Comma and Brimstone all noted.

misc sightings

A couple of notable sightings from this week. On the 17th a 1st-year male 'Golden-type' Pheasant was right at the start of the southern road of the Wolferton triangle and on the 19th 3 Siskins flew west over Dersingham village.

14/3/09 Brecks

Another successful trip into the Brecks today with Ray R. Started of as per last week and was rewarded with stunning views of 3 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. On getting out of the car we could hear drumming and we quickly located the female responsible, but all too soon it flew of high down the river. Soon we got onto another female but this flew high in the same direction! Fortunately we managed to located a pair a little while later and we gained excellent flight views of the two as the began chasing each other around and we were eventually rewarded with superb views of the female, presumed to be one of the earlier birds, drumming and calling at close range. I even managed slightly better shots of the female - my primary aim of the morning - and I was able to confirm I have seen 4 birds here in the last fortnight (2 males and 2 females).

Other species noted here included 4 Green Woodpeckers, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Nuthatches, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Marsh Tits, 120 Redwings, 40 Siskins and a singing Woodlark.

The next couple of hours were spent searching for Goshawk. Although the sun occasionally threatened to break through the breeze was always strong and the weather was never really good enough. The escaped Red-tailed Hawk showed very well, while 25+ Common Crossbills and 20 Siskins flew around overhead.

A walk through a deeper part of the forest produced singles of Treecreeper and Marsh Tit. At Lynford Aboretum 5+ Hawfinches showed well in the paddocks, with a male feeding a female, presumably as part of a courtship display. 10 Siskins and 50+ Redwings were also seen. At Great Cressingham 30+ Tree Sparrows was an unexpected surprise in a roadside hedge.

A planned meeting in the afternoon failed to materialise, meaning I was able to end the day in north Brecks, where a wait in a layby at the end of a secluded wooded lane produced 4 male Reeve's Pheasants. After an hour or so waiting they showed well.

7/3/09 Undisclosed site and Holme NOA/Dersingham Bog

Dad and I started the day at an undisclosed site. Arriving on site at dawn we were soon treated to numerous bouts of drumming and a brief view of the male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker from the riverside walk. Things went quiet for a little while but at about 7:45am a superb period of activity began. For the next hour the birds showed superbly at fairly regular intervals, with both a male and a female drumming at close range for prolonged periods. Particular highlights included a male chasing a female in the wing-quivering 'butterfly' display flight and a male sat right on top of a tree preening in the full sunshine for a couple of minutes. Overall 3 Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers were present, with an obvious pair and an unpaired drumming male. Below are some pics from throughout the morning (male top two images, female bottom)

Also noted at this site were 5 Nuthatches, 4 Treecreepers, 10 Siskins, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Bullfinches, 5 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Green Woodpeckers and 2 Marsh Tits. Overall a good selection of woodland birds and it was a delight to hear such a variety of species in song, a sure sign of spring! It was good to meet Steve Rutt and dad at this site.

Next, after a fairly uneventful cross-country ride (punctated by a fried breakfast), dad dropped me of at Holme. Although it was relatively quiet a singing male Cetti's Warbler was around the carpark and a female Crossbill was in the west end of the pines.

Dad, meanwhile, went to Wolferton. He had excellent views of the pale Rough-legged Buzzard from the church, where he also had a Peregrine and a ringtail Hen Harrier.

1/3/09 North Wootton area

Further searching of the North Wootton area came up trumps this morning as I finally saw the second, paler, Rough-legged Buzzard. I enjoyed very good views of this striking bird sat on top of a bush at relatively close range in the drizzle. For pics of both birds on the deck and in flight see here (pics by Ash Banwell). Nearby a Green Sandpiper flew out of a ditch and 5 Bramblings and 2 Tree Sparrows (both males) were seen.

The paler Rough-legged Buzzard is a cracking bird, with an almost completely white head and shoulders, as well as large and extensive areas of white flecking on the mantle, and just a small amount of dark brown on the belly (with very few markings on the underparts in general), while the darker bird, although still fairly pale, is more typical, with a grey wash to the head and nape, extensive dark brown on the belly and small amounts of white flecking on the mantle. Both have a fairly similar uppertail pattern.