25/4/09 Holme NOA and Titchwell RSPB

A decent start to the day on the patch failed to turn into anything other than a solid spring day. A single Wood Sandpiper was still on Redwell Marsh, with a Spotted Redshank, a Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 10 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Snipe also present. 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls were circling over the paddocks and the west end of the dunes, calling and giving good views. Corvid movement was obvious from the outset with 12 Rooks west, as well as 31 Jackdaws. Gore point produced a handful of grounded migrants, with a male Wheatear, 2 Fieldfares and a Cuckoo noted, while overhead passage throughout the day produced 15 Woodpigeons west, 21 Swallows west, 8 Yellow Wagtails west, 3 Greenshanks east and out over the marsh, as well as 18 Siskins and 3 Redpolls east and around the pines. Seawatching produced a sub-adult Gannet east, as well as a Fulmar e, 7 Great-crested Grebes (5 east, 2 on sea) and 3 Common Scoters east. Probably the highlight of the day was a Short-eared Owl in off the sea at the observatory, giving good close views as it flew north-east inland. A single Sparrowhawk also came in off the sea at Gore point. 3 Grasshoppers Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler were scattered around the NOA reserve.

Having arrived home after a reasonable morning in the field I received a call (thanks, I owe you!) about the probable Black-headed Wagtail at Titchwell RSPB. I'm a big fan of Yellow Wagtails and all the delightful sub-species so for me this was a must-see bird, especially considering how rare this race is in the U.K. Having arrived at the gate a short-wait amongst the assembled crowd produced good views of the stunning 1st summer male BLACK-HEADED WAGTAIL (Moctacilla flava feldegg).

Certainly from my views in the field and looking at the photos it looks good for a pure bird, looking very similar to other accepted birds (such as the bird on the Isles of Scilly in May 2003). Presumably the white upper-throat, the suggestion of a necklace and the greenish flecking on the nape can be attributed to age, with the bright green upperparts and deep yellow underparts looking spot-on.

If accepted this would be just the second record for Norfolk, following a male at Cley from 23rd July to 11th August 1983.

The previous evening (the 24th) a late evening walk along the inner bank at Snettisham Coastal Park produced a cracking adult SPOONBILL on Ken Hill marsh that Ray R. had found earlier (many thanks). It showed well, wading and feeding on the edge of the main channel. Grasshopper Warbler and Cuckoo were also heard, while on the 23rd 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Wheatears and 2 Lesser Redpolls south were noted.

15/4/09 Brecks

A trip into the Brecks produced 2 Willow Tits along a stretch of the river Little Ouse. Although they were elusive for the duration of my stay I eventually managed to obtain reasonable views and they were vocal at times. Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Great-spotted Woodpecker and 15 Siskins were also noted.

14/4/09

For the last few days I have been snowed under with revision but the garden has produced a few bits of interest. A male Marsh Harrier flew south on the afternoon of the 13th, while 2 Siskins have taken up residence in the pine tree, with the male readily singing and the female calling back. Doing revision while listening to them chittering away has made it slightly easier! I have also seen the male performing what I assume is courtship display, fanning it's tail, stretching its neck, raising it's wings and singing at the female. So overall it looks good so far for a nesting attempt, which would be the first for 4 years.

From a little while ago I forgot to mention a surprise ringtail Hen Harrier north on the 5th.

11/4/09 Hunstanton Lighthouse and Holme

An early start at Hunstanton lighthouse was a bit dissapointing, with 2 Yellow Wagtails S, 35 Siskins (3 S, 32 N), 1 Redpoll briefly grounded in lighthouse garden bushes then N, 188 Meadow Pipits S, 11 Pied Wags (8 N, 3S), 42 Swallows (35 S, 7N) 3 Linnets S, 13 Goldfinches (2 N, 11 S) and 2 Greenfinches S in 1.5 hours early morning and 0.5 hours later in the day. The lighthouse gardens promised much for the coming day with 2 Black Redstarts and a cracking male Redstart seen over two attempts, while the pitch and putt course was again full of birds, with 250 Meadow Pipits, 7 Pied Wagtails, 3 White Wagtails, 14 Yellow Wagtails and a pretty classic male 'flava' Blue-headed Wagtail (I blame the light yesterday evening for my initial doubts and hesitant manner!)

Next I gave the recording area at Holme a good bash. Highlights included a reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the dunes and a singing Cetti's Warbler in the carpark, as well as 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 female Wheatears, 1 Redpoll W, 50 Siskins and a Fieldfare W. Reasonable numbers of common migrants included 21 Chiffchaffs, 11 Willow Warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 60 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins W and another 240 Meadow Pipits (70 on marsh, 100 west, 20 in dunes and 50 around golfcourse).

10/4/09 Snettisham, Heacham, Hunstanton

A few migrants still filtering few today. In Snettisham Coastal Park a Cuckoo was seen, with 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Yellow Wagtail south, 1 Wheatear, 4 Sedge Warblers, 30 Swallows south, 5 Chifchaffs, 5 Willow Warblers and 4 Blackcaps noted. Next, at Heacham south beach, 9 Wheatears and 2 Yellow Wagtails hopped around the crowds on the short grass near the green hut. Finally at Hunstanton pitch and putt course 350 Meadow Pipits were on the short turf, as well as 3 Yellow Wagtails and a male Blue-headed Wagtail. At first I thought the latter was perhaps a 'Channel'-type Wagtail but on looking at literature and pictures on my return home I feel it is within the variation shown by 'flava'. 40 Swallows flew south along the edge of the cliff in the drizzle as well.

4/4/09 Snettisham Coastal Park and Heacham north beach

Finally a few migrants beginning to trickle through today! Snettisham Coastal Park was fairly productive with smart female Black Redstart 200 yards south of the concrete walkway, while a Willow Warbler and 3 Chiffchaffs were singing, 3 Wheatears were pottering about just north of the carpark and up to 5 Common Buzzards were circling over Ken hill wood. Moving onto Heacham north beach the stunning male Redstart showed well at the Saltings nature reserve 200 yards north of the carpark and other sightings of note included 2 House Martins south and at least 4 Swallows.

3/4/09 TF62

A dawn walk around the Sandringham area meant I finally heard a male Golden Pheasant that has been holding territory for a few weeks, but alas no chance of seeing it. 10+ Siskins, a calling Little Owl and a Treecreeper were also noted in the misty conditions!

2/4/09 TF62 and Brecks

A dawn walk around a local woodland produced another calling male Golden Pheasant holding territory, although unfortunately this one was not seen (and thus it is unclear whether it is var. obscurus). 2 Redpolls, a pair of Nuthatches, a singing Marsh Tit, 4 singing Treecreepers and 10 Siskins were also seen. I then moved into the Brecks with my nan and grandad and was delighted to be able to show them a drumming male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker fairly quickly, while a Swallow, 9 Nuthatches, 3 Green Woodpeckers, 4 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Treecreepers, 15 Siskins and 4 Chiffchaffs made it a productive walk.