Day Off

NW 2 murkey with sunshine remaining cool 0700-0945

Had an enforced day off today so popped down to SBO first (ish) thing. Bit of bird movement and a couple of FotS but nothing unexpected- Linnet 281w, Goldfnch 25w, Mipit 10w, Swallow 8w, Pied Wag 3w, Yellow wagtail 1w, Carrion Crow 6w, Common Scoter 50w, Eider 17e, Shelduck 2e, Sandwich Tern 10w and Common Tern 1w. Present on the patch were Wheatear 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Barn Owl and a brief Merlin.

Back home the Little Owl is still ranging along the hedgerow but with an incresed northerly it neither felt or looked like it was going to be a big bird day.

Fared alittle better on the moth front last night with some distinctive, enigmatic species starting to occur now.

Clouded drab 8

Common Quaker 2

Small Quaker 2

Purple thorn MYL 15

Great Prominent 2

Engrailed 1 MYL 16

Sallow Kitten 1 MYL 17

Pebble Prominent 1 MYL 18

Nut-tree Tussock 1 MYL 19

Hebrew Character 4

March Moth 1

Early Grey 1

Engrailed

Purple Thorn

Nut-tree Tussock

Sallow Kitten

Pebble Prominent

Sheringham Bird Observatory

Down here this morning, bright but chilly with a keen south-westerly breeze. Things were fairly quiet until Rob Lee and Dave Appleton rang to say that between our position near the cliff and their's on the opposite side of the field was a Red Kite flying towards us! Sure enough one of my favorite British birds drifted by close going west but alas looking into the sun, but still a great sight whatever. Other birds of note:

Merlin- 1 seen on a couple of occations including siting in a field (though distant)

Eider- 10 east

Great-crested Grebe 1 west

Ringed Plover- 2 west

Red Kite courtesy of Rob Lee

In the afternoon a walk up the track found the newly ploughed field to be heaving with gulls (Black-headed and Common) about fifty Starling, 20 Lapwing and 7 Pied Wagtail. In with the later were at least 2 White wagtail, one a handsome (presumed) male, I had unforgivably left my camera at home, typical! Whilst grilling the wagtails a Common Buzzard moved west and like the Kite appeared to be a genuine migrant.

Sheringham Bird Observatory

Very quiet down here this morning with just a handful of Red-throated Divers at sea and 4 Teal going west. The three Little Gulls were still present feeding on the fields.

Little Gulls

Sheringham Bird Observatory

Sheringham Bird Observatory is my local coastal patch and has been for the past ten years. Situated between Sheringham and Weybourne the 'patch' consists of private fields, a small wood with no public access and the coastal footpath. The area is birded by a small, dedicated group, who for the most part have an enduring passion for bird migration. I have spent many a Saturday morning there (although rather sporadically of recent)and this morning, was no different.

SBO recording area looking south-east

SBO recording area looking east along coastal path

Wind Force 1-2 W-SW Bright Sunny Visibility 5km

0800-1145
It was a glorious morning weather wise being mild, almost warm, with little wind and a sea like a mill pond first thing. Birds were present in enough numbers to keep interest levels up too!

Merlin -2nd c/y Single seen on two occasions, once chasing a Skylark until it took shelter in a pill box

Ringed Plover -4

Eider- 29 east

Mediterranean Gull -ad

Little Gull- 3 (2 2nd c/y + adult type) feeding on newly ploughed fields

Stonechat- 3 Taking advantage of ploughing tractor, along with hundreds of Black-headed Gulls!

Red-throated Diver- c 70 loafing in total with 26 on sea during one 'scan'

Great Tit- One west just in from cliff top

Glaucous Gull - The first winter type seen last week was scoped from here, it was on the beach at Salthouse!

Stonechat- Another species taking advantage of Tractors ploughing

Little Gull... 2nd c/y.....

...and an adult showing the distinctive dark underwing, just!

The morning ended on a sad note however on the discovery of this Badger on the southern border of the recording area that had obviously been in a collision with a car last night or early this morning. Would have loved to seen him scampering up one of the hedges rather than like this. :(