Sheringham Bird Observatory

Having not visited my local coastal patch for ages, I took a chance and had a wander down here this morning. A cool north-easterly breeze was about par for the course for me when I have weekdays off during the spring, which resulted in little of interest. Summer migrants were represented by a dozen Swallows west while on the patch itself there were a number of Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler singing at the pool and a fly over Whimbrel. In Aylmerton a Marsh Harrier (shock,horror!) flew west over fields mid morning.

Whimbrel


Skylark

Easter Grott

Apart from Good Friday, the Easter period has been somewhat grotty here to date, with a persistant mist every morning not clearing to well after lunch time. The Swallow has finally been joined by another and the Barn Owl has been regular again after a couple of weeks absence. Raptors have been few and far between, with just 4 Common Buzzards on holiday Friday and a distinct lack of Marsh Harriers. No doubt it will all happen next week when I'm off to Poland!!

FoTS!

A pre-work look in at West Runton cliff this morning produced a couple of 'First of the Spring for me in the form of at least 4 Sand Martin and a Wheatear, during a chilly and breezy 10 minutes.

Sand Martin

Wheatear

Monday

With an appointment in Neatishead, I took my morning break at Barton Broad, hoping to see any Scaup that were reported over the weekend. In fact there were very few wildfowl on the broad, but they seemed to have been replaced by a nice group of c25 Little Gulls, hawking over the waters surface 'dip' feeding. Back in Aylmerton this evening 10 Fieldfare flew east over the house

Little Gull

Classic April Aylmerton

With a light, warmish southerly and hazy sunshine, it felt 'good' today and it didn't disappoint, with some classic April fayre! The predictions for today were spot on albeit rather lame, as they were always gonna be nailed on certs!

Common Buzzard c 7 - (all presumed local birds)

Red Kite 1 - seen over Felbrigg Park 0935 and appeared to drift off south.

Cormorant - 6 E

Coal Tit- 1 west along hedgerow

Grey Heron -2

Blackcap - 1 still singing fro hedgrows opposite house

Swallow - 1 still in village.

Common Crane - 2 drifted in from the east and spent a good 10 mins continuing west, coming directly over the garden on a couple of instances.

The Red Kite situation was somewhat disappointing as we had three birds either side of us but just the single was seen, a bit sneaky at that! The Cranes came on the pager at Trimingham, but by the time I got to the front of the house they were up over Felbrigg and heading our way!

Also in the garden among the bees, a Bee-Fly briefly paid a visit before quickly exiting again!

Bee-fly

Common Crane

Saturday

A cold, murkey start to the day didn't promise too much, and delivered about the same. Three Common Buzzard were see in the together around lunch time and the Swallow and Blackcap are still present. Plenty of bees in the garden later in the afternoon sunshine and a flock of c500 Golden Plover could be seen distantly wheeling over East Beckham.

Common Buzzard

Sparrowhawk

Another Migrant

Whilst cleaning the windows this morning the warbling sounds of a Blackcap could be heard fro the pond, through the pea-soup fog!

Cometh the month.....

April's here, my favorite month of the year, and this morning kicked off with a new-in Swallow flying up and down the street, the first of many!