Here is a selection of photos from the first part of my birding in and around Norfolk over the autumn (in roughly chronological order). With so many good birds around and lots of uni work to do, I struggled to find much time to post my photos on my blog. Instead I’m going to try and sum it up over three posts in the next few days...
One of two Red-backed Shrikes at Waxham in September.
A flyby from 9 Cattle Egrets on the marshes at Burnham Overy. One darker-billed juvenile can be seen in this image.
The first of two Lesser Yellowlegs during the autumn giving a nice flyby at Runham Mill.
A Red-breasted Flycatcher along the south side of The Dell at Wells Woods.
One of a group of five Yellow-browed Warblers together in Holkham Pines.
Juvenile Purple Heron in a tree at Ormesby Little Broad.
Brown Shrike at Warham Greens. I had better views than the photos suggest and it was one of my highlights of the autumn.
There were good numbers of Lapland Buntings on the Norfolk coast with this showy individual being on Blakeney Point.
Holy Island was our destination this morning, and the highlight was managing my first-ever self found Red-breasted Flycatcher on the Snook - a bird which proved a bit elusive, but did show well with patience.
At Snook House the Icterine Warbler appeared again for us, first in the plantation and then singing in the house's garden. A Pied Flycatcher was also in the Snook plantation, while a Spotted Flycatcher in the pines was our third flycatcher species of the day.
The rest of the island was quiet, and sadly we had to leave due to other commitments in the afternoon, so we did miss out on a couple of things seen later on, but we were still really pleased with our morning.
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher
Icterine Warbler - possibly the worst ever photo on my blog!?
Saturday proved to be one of those classic days on Holy Island with loads of common birds and a few more interesting species. We arrived before the sun had risen so waited in the car for a while before looking around the village. As soon as it got light the large numbers of Goldcrests and Robins on the island were impressive, and we soon heard our first Yellow-browed Warbler and Brambling of the day. On reaching the Vicar's Garden another Yellow-browed Warbler was showing and a late Sand Martin flew over.
After this we walked down the Straight Lonnen, seeing an extremely smart Great Grey Shrike and 2 Black-tailed Godwits just to the east. My dad also found a mobile Red-breasted Flycatcher in one of the elders beside the path. We kept on walking and another Red-breasted Flycatcher was in the willows at the north end of the Straight Lonnen, with this bird being much more obliging, showing down to just a couple of metres and calling a lot. A Short-eared Owl also flew over.
We had a thorough search of the dunes around the Quarry and Excavations but were unable to find yesterday's Little Bunting. However another Yellow-browed Warbler was feeding in some tiny hawthorns, 2 Redstarts were around Chare Ends and a Goldcrest landed on my tripod leg! We then heard news of a Pallas's Warbler in the Vicar's Garden so headed there next.
On arrival the garden was a hive of activity with numerous Goldcrests, several Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler. It took a while, but eventually the Pallas's Warbler was relocated and we got some brief but good views of this stunning bird. We waited another hour to see if the bird reappeared with little success but two Yellow-browed Warblers appeared alongside each other. We headed back to the car but decided to stop at the Snook on our way out.
This proved to be a great decision as on reaching the Snook House Plantation my dad got a brief view of a wing-barred phyllosc which he assumed was a Yellow-browed. However, I soon got onto the bird and noticed a very distinct central crown stripe. I told my dad that I thought it was another Pallas's Warbler, who quickly realised I wasn't joking when it flitted upwards revealing a striking bright yellow rump! A great bird to add to our self found lists!! Another Yellow-browed Warbler joined the Pallas's, with a further 2 YBWs on other parts of the Snook, along with a Redstart, Short-eared Owl and Merlin. Here's our final migrant totals...
2 Pallas's Warbler - hadn't had a decent view of one before today so nice to see two well in a day, and even find one!
2 Red-breasted Flycatcher
1 Great Grey Shrike
7 Yellow-browed Warbler
165+ Goldcrest
125+ Redwing
45+ Blackbird
50+ Song Thrush
2 Fieldfare
70+ Robin
1 Barn Owl
2 Short-eared Owl
15+ Chiffchaff
6 Blackcap
4 Brambling
1 Sand Martin
2 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Black-tailed Godwit
3 Redstart
1 Garden Warbler
1 Merlin
c.1000 Brent Goose
50+ Barnacle Goose
2 Little Egret
Self found Pallas's Warbler at Snook House
Pallas's Warbler in the Vicar's Garden
Red-breasted Flycatcher in willows at north end of Straight Lonnen
With yesterday's Pallid Harrier at Holy Island that was our first port of call this morning. There was no sign of our target although a showy Red-breasted Flycatcher in the Half Moon Slack was good compensation. A Yellow-browed Warbler was also here. Other birds on the island included 4 Whinchats, a Redstart, 3 Chiffchaff and a Wheatear.
From Holy Island we headed straight to Whittle Dene Reservoir where we had more success with the Franklin's Gullas it was picked up in a field at the south end. The bird lingered for about an hour, giving some good scope views although the light and heat haze ruined any photos. 2 Greenshanks were also around the lakes along with a Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail and several Grey Wagtails.
After all the easterlies last week, I have been hoping to have a trip up to Holy Island, and when Saturday came round I was hoping some of the birds seen on Friday might still be there.
We started on the Snook and eventually we found a Yellow-browed Warbler and 2 Redstarts at the Half Moon Slack. At the Snook House a Barred Warbler showed briefly.
As pulled up in the main car park, we got news that the Siberian Stonechat was still at The Lough, so we made our way there via the Crooked Lonnen, where a juvenile Hen Harrier did a nice flyby. On reaching The Lough we found the great first-winter male Siberian Stonechat on view, and before long it was joined by the Red-backed Shrike, which at times sat right alongside the Stonechat. From the hide a stunning Firecrest was showing just outside the hide windows. 2 Whinchats were also on the same fence as the Siberian Stonechat.
We continued round to the Straight Lonnen, where two more Redstarts were in the willows at the north end, with another at Chare Ends.
The Vicar's Garden was a hive of activity with at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher and plenty of phylloscs in it.
On the way back to the car another two Pied Flycatchers were in the village along with a calling Yellow-browed Warbler and a Brambling.
Here's the full counts from Holy Island...
1 Siberian Stonechat
1 Red-backed Shrike
1 Firecrest
1 BarredWarbler
2 Yellow-browed Warbler
1 Hen Harrier
2 Whinchats
5 Redstart
3 PiedFlycatcher
3+ SpottedFlycatcher
1 Brambling
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Whitethroat
3 Song Thrush
2 Blackcap
1 Reed Warbler
4 Willow Warbler
2 Siskin
5 Wheatear
7 Goldcrest
8 Robin
10 Chiffchaff
On the way home we stopped at Low Newton where a very active and vocal un-ringed Red-breasted Flycatcher was behind the Tin Church. Unfortunately I managed to mess up what could have been a decent photo of this bird.
Siberian Stonechat (with Red-backed Shrike and Reed Bunting!)
Before today I had seen three Red-breasted Flycatchers in Britain, and if you totalled the time I'd spent watching them it would come to about five seconds, so I was keen to see another.
I got back from school and saw that the bird at Druridge Pools had been photographed, so that was our target.
We arrived at the plantation and there it was. We got some very nice views of the first-winter Red-breasted Flycatcher over the next five minutes, but unfortunately the light was terrible, so I'll have to make do with this record shot...
Also a Greenshank flew over and a Barn Owl hunted in the dunes.
