Autumn 06

August was quiet September never realy lived up to expectations and October was worse than the 2 combined... Quality rather than quantity. To be honest August was so far back I carnt remember much about it, a sprinkling of Barred Wablers along the coast (including one that I found at Holme NOA) and a self found Pacific golden Plover out on the mud at Snettisham are the 2 events that immediately spring to mind. Apart from the small arrival of RBShrikes, RBFlys and Wrynecks that arrived over a weekend at the start of september, the falls of common migrants that we all hope to see along the length of the coast failed to happen. No Icterine Warblers, no Greenish, no Radde's, no Pallid Swifts... you get the picture. A Wryneck in the hand at Snettisham was my 4th for the patch, with Redstart and Pied Flycatcher also being caught over the autumn. After shocking views of the last Norfolk Pallid Harrier the Juvenile at Winterton was a most welcome sight and lifted the guilt of the "tick" provided by the bird at Warham greens, unfortunately we had missed our chance to see the nearby Rose coloured starling...



Great grey shrike at Burnham Ovary





Red-backed Shrike at Burnham Ovary

I found this gull on September 13th roosting with Herring and Great black backed Gulls on the beach at Old Hunstanton just south of the track between Holme golf course. I though at the time that it was a Yellow legged (Michahellis) though others have questioned weather the bird could in fact be a Caspian (Cachinnans). Any ideas anyone?

In case you hadnt allready worked it out, this is a picture of the moon... This was taken at Snettisham during one of the realy high spring tides, where I spent an evening sat on the beach watching flocks of waders, gulls and geese against the fading sky staying untill the light had gone.... fantastic

Taken on the church roof opposite the youth Hostel in Wells, part of a quick trip to Norfolk for the benefit of our coastal management. A well timed trip to Blakeney Point produced stacks of Song Thrush and Redwing with the odd Goldcrest and Robin. Red throated Divers and Guillemots were seen close to the boat on our journey to the Seals, with the best birds of the day coming in the form of 2 Ring Ouzel and 4 Black Redstart. A pity we only had an hour on the point (half of which was taken up with survey work) what else was out there waiting to be found?! Thanks to the courtesy of 2 flat tyres, I was able to escape to Wells woods for a morning where I found a Yellow-browed Warbler giving great views in the sycamores at the top of the steps. A bonus Woodlark flew east along the beach whilst I was watching the bird. The woods themselves were devoid of birds, with remarkably few birders looking (no wonder more rarities are found around the area on a weekend!)

Mallard and Pintail at Holme Marsh