Paul's Birding Diary

Friday 16th - Saturday 17th November 2012 Black-bellied Dipper at Thetford I spent a fantastic couple of days in Norfolk on Friday and Saturday with Mark, basing ourselves in Sheringham. Our adventure started at Thetford on Friday morning, where the BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER was showing well by the old Bridge Pub, a cracking bird and a first for us both. Little Auk at Cley We then headed for NWT Cley Marshes. Highlights on the main reserve included a Marsh Harrier and 1000+ Brent Geese (all the Brents we saw were the Dark-bellied form). The star bird I found at the beach though, a LITTLE AUK , which was feeding close in for most of the time; also a lifer for us. Also Red-throated Divers , a Razorbill , a flock of  c200 Chaffinches came in off the sea containing at least one Snow Bunting , six Blackbirds flew in off the sea and immediately landed behind the beach, plus two Grey Seals . Little Auk again A further view of the Little Auk It was then time to head for t...

Sunday 11th November 2012 Snow Bunting The Snow Bunting was still at Aylburton Warth this morning, and showing nicely in the sunshine on a cracking, still and clear morning. No sign of yesterday's Lapland Bunting, but a Lesser Redpoll , two Rock Pipits and four Pied Wagtails were among the morning's list, also two Brown Hares . I stopped off at Hawling this afternoon where a Short-eared Owl was perched on a wall, also c600 Jackdaws and c100 Carrion Crows were going west to roost at 4.40pm. In the garden, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker has been a regular visitor (and a male has also been seen recently on one occasion), and a Coal Tit is now a regular. Chaffinch number build as the Autumn marches towards Winter, with 18 yesterday and seven Greenfinches . A pair of Blue Tits were investigating the nest box yesterday, hopefully they'll use it in the Spring.  My garden Spindle , Euonymus europaeus , looks spectacular this Autumn, the best it has ever looked ...

Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th November 2012 Brambling - always nice to have in the garden Garden visitors today in the rain included a Brambling , coming to the feeders throughout the day, also five Greenfinches , seven Chaffinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker . Another shot of the Brambling After a quiet start at Coombe Hill on Friday morning in overcast and damp conditions, I went to WWT Slimbridge following news that James had found a YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER . The sun came out for the rest of the day and the YB showed nicely in Willows near South Lake hide, then disappearing for several hours before showing again later in the afternoon when I saw it again. The Long-billed Dowitcher was on the Tack Piece with the Godwit flock, also a Little Egret , and three Lesser Redpolls were around the grounds; c180 Dunlin and five Golden Plover were on the Top New Piece. Long-billed Dowitcher on the Tack Piece Little Egret in front of Robbie Garnett Hide On a sunny Saturday, wi...

A report on my trip to Menorca in October can be viewed here .