!!!!!Latest Additions!!!!!

~ VELVET SCOTER, JACK SNIPE December 18th... ~ EGYPTIAN GOOSE December 8th... ~ WHOOPER SWAN, EIDER, LITTLE AUK December 1st... ~ GOLDENEYE November 28th... ~ COAL TIT November 11th... ~ TWITE October 27th... ~ SABINE'S GULL, SHORELARK October 26th... ~ LAPLAND BUNTING October 6th... ~

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Saturday, December 26, 2009

Current total = 152

Species in RED have not been seen by myself but I consider the sightings to be reliable.




Whooper Swan ~ a 19 strong herd was seen coming in from the sea December 1st.

Bean Goose ssp 'rossicus' ~ 3 were on sugar beet tops with c600 Pinks just south of Walcott Green on January 24th. Unfortunately, the field they were in was just the wrong side of the boundary so they can't yet go on the parish year list. Not included in species total.

Pink-footed Goose
~ the last Pinks in the first part of the year were heard flying north-west after dark on February 28th. It was 199 days later, at 11:00pm on September 15th, when I next recorded Pink-feet
as some could be heard calling overhead as they flew south-eastwards.

Greylag Goose ~ uncommon in the parish, a singleton flew east over our garden early morning March 31st. Three birds flew north-west then later south-east along the coast on the morning of April 21st. It later transpired that they had been seen a little further up the coast, again passing in both directions. A single bird flew south heading inland the same morning.

Ross's Goos
e ~ the adult white morph (of unknown origin) that has frequented east Norfolk during the winter flew north-west, viewed from the garden, with c60 Pink-feet at 8:40am February 24th. Late morning the following day a presumed adult white morph Ross's Goose was observed with a flock of Pink-feet flying north distantly offshore from Eyemouth, Borders; it seems most likely to have been the same bird. Perhaps the same again was with Pinks at Loch Leven late morning February 27th. Not included in species total.

Brent goose
~ 19 west at Walcott October 1st were my first of the autumn.


Egyptian Goose
~ following a few late summer/autumn sightings of an individual of suspect origin, a single bird flew purposefully south-east over School Common Road at 8:30am December 8th.


Shelduck ~ a pair were resting in a field just east of Mill Farm April 23rd.

Wigeon

Teal


Mallard


Pintail

Shoveler

Tufted Duck ~ one flying north offshore September 3rd.

Eider



This female Eider was coming in on the high tide at Walcott to feed on mussels on the breakwaters there. Photograph taken early December by Bob Cobbold.

Common Scoter ~ two very distant flocks, totalling c80 birds and flying north June 23rd, were a typical summer record. Circa 30 were quite distant offshore from the Decca site November 18th.

Velvet Scoter ~ three were off Walcott on December 18th.

Goldeneye ~ a male was seen sitting on the sea before flying south November 28th.

Red-breasted Merganser ~ a single 'red-head' was seen flying west at Walcott on October 1st and 4 flew north in one hour viewed from the RNLI early morning October 17th.

Red-legged Partridge

Grey Partridge
~ two flew out of rough grass near the Decca site April 4th. Hopefully they are a pair.


Pheasant

Red-throated Diver ~ the first returning autumn birds I saw were flying south off the village September 9th.

Fulmar
~ 2 flew west offshore April 20th and one was seen offshore a couple of times late in late June. During a 4
5 minute seawatch September 3rd 11 were noted flying south.

Sooty Shearwater ~ singles flew north September 4th and September 13th with another north October 17th.

Manx Shearw
ater ~ a party of six flew east in rather autumnal north-westerlies at 7:00am July 18th and in August two were reported passing Walcott on the 29th. In strong westerlies during the afternoon of September 3rd over 1,000 were seen flying west at Sheringham. Lesser numbers were counted further east and 30 were seen, most quite distantly and flying south, watching from the RNLI between 4:30pm - 5:15pm. Another movement took place in blustery north-westerlies on September 13th; several small groups and individual Shearwaters were noted flying south very distantly, of which 7 or so were close enough to identify as Manx. The following morning Manxies were much closer and 39 flew north prior to 8:00am.

Leach's Petrel ~ one was watched flying south from the RNLI at 4:43pm September 13th. For part of its passage it was harassed by 2 Kittiwakes.

Gannet
~ my first of the year flew east March 31st. A very brief scan in a stiff onshore breeze April 17th saw 10 head eastwards. Over 250 were seen flying south during the aforementioned seawatch September 3rd with greater numbers mostly south September 13th; in a day long watch at Eccles/Sea Palling the observers counted c. 5,000. Up until 08:00am at least on September 14th Gannets were continuously streaming past southwards, most of them very close inshore.

Cormorant ~ seen throughout the year, usually in small numbers, larger flocks of 40+ and 24 were seen early morning on July 26th and 27th respectively, both flying to the north-west. They were probably heading out on a feeding foray from a Broadland roost site.

Shag
~ an adult flew north through the surf September 14th.

Little Egret
~ one was sitting beside the drain that runs across the paddocks at the north end of School Common Road mid-afternoon on January 18th and remained in the area on and off until February 28th at least. Two birds were watched quite distantly from the village as they headed along the coast towards Sea Palling mid-afternoon November 7th. At 12:20pm December 23rd all too poor views were had of an Egret as it flew south-east over School Common Road towards Lessingham. In the few seconds I saw the bird, it appeared too large, too 'wingy' and with too slow a wingbeat to be a Little Egret; the bird's jizz made me feel it may well have been a Great White Egret.


Grey Heron ~ the odd single bird seen occasionally during the year with 2 passing through to the north-west September 1st and one high heading south September 28th probable migrants.

Red Kite
~ an untagged adult was majestically circl
ing just south of the village at 10:50am April 5th before it departed to the north-west. Another was seen from the western parish boundary, looking west, as it flew north from East Ruston into Ridlington at 1:35pm the same date. It's apparent tattiness may have been an illusion caused by wing tags although it was too distant to be sure. One that had come on the pager as passing east at Incleborough Hill at 10:40am and then south-east at Overstrand at 11:00am was seen heading south-east from the garden at 12:25pm April 10th. Another adult flew south-east at 10:55am April 30th.

Marsh H
arrier ~ a female/imm. type bird flew low westward through the south-west of the parish on February 26th. At 6:00pm April 4th an adult male flew high in from the south-east and then westwards south of Happisburgh Common. A female, April 5th, was gaining height over fields at Happisburgh Common just prior to the second Red Kite sighting, hence I didn't see in which direction it departed! Also in April was an adult male slowly heading south-east over fields April 16th and a female/immature type which flew high west over the village, having possibly flown in from the sea, mid-morning April 21st. Another female flew south-east at 7:00am April 25th. A female with much more prominent white forewing patches than is usual (perhaps a sign of an older bird) flew south from the village, circled Happisburgh Common a couple of times then continued south at 10:10am May 1st. Sightings in the summer period were of a male June 1st and 11th, a well marked individual which was quartering fields near to School Common Road, and August 1st when a juvenile headed low north from Lessingham before gaining height and joining what was almost certainly another Marsh Harrier already at great height. Both birds then continued on a north-westerly course along the coast. In the autumn a female/immature flew south September 29th and a male flew low west October 19th.

Hen Harrier
~ a 'ring-tail' was in the meadows by Lower Farm before flying north-west mid afternoon March 24th. It showed some rufous tones to the the under parts and upper wing coverts so was presumably in it's 1st or 2nd calendar year. A series of sightings in early April began with a browner, more adult loo
king female soaring just south of the village at 4:10pm April 6th which didn't gain much height before heading west in a slow descending glide. Another bird, with plumage more akin to the one seen March 24th, slipped past the garden almost undetected at hedgerow height 2½hrs later and what was probably the same bird again slowly quartered northwards at Happisburgh Common at 11:30am April 9th.

Sparrowhawk ~ several birds seen during the spring were probably mostly passage migrants.

Common Buzzard~ 2 were seen at 11:30am March 30th. Initially picked up gliding in quite low from the Eccles direction they soon picked up a thermal just south of the village, being joined by a Sparrowhawk. The 3 birds then circled higher, the Sparrowhawk eventually returning to earth, before the Buzzards reached what seemed an almost stratospheric height and headed away towards the north-west. Another drifted south-east following the line of the cliffs mid-morning the following day and a medium phase adult flew high south-east at 10:30am April 30th. Two, possibly three, birds headed west early afternoon September 21st and although the timing was prime for passage birds, these are perhaps more likely to have been wandering local birds. The same can probably also be said of the juvenile that flew north-west over our garden at 4:50pm October 4th. The early afternoon of December 12th saw a different, darker phase, juvenile being harrassed by a Carrion Crow over our garden before it flew off west.

Kestrel

Hobby ~ one just south of Lower Farm June 17th was my first of the year in the parish. Maybe the same individual as the bird seen here frequently last year, it came 4 days later than my first sighting of 2008. June 23rd, early afternoon, saw one over the garden upsetting the Swifts, Swallows, House and Sand Martins for the first time this year. Subsequent sightings were over the garden July 12th and 25th (twice) and 29th when a 1st summer bird, with buff coloured 'trousers', was watched chasing Swallows and Martins over the paddocks at the top of our lane. August sightings came on 8th, 11th, 13th, 19th and 30th. In September singles were seen on 5th and 6th whilst 2 juveniles soaring slowly southwards over the garden together made a wonderful sight at 3:05pm September 7th. One appeared over the garden mid afternoon September 26th putting on a good show as it tried hard to catch one of the few remaining House Martins.

Peregrine ~ a male, judging from it's small size, drifted low over the paddocks along School Common Road at 3:30pm March 27th. It continued towards the main village causing pandemonium amongst the local Starlings, Woodpigeons and Ferals. What was most likely the same bird circled slowly southwards over our garden at 1:05pm March 29th. Another sighting over the garden came at 1:25pm April 6th as one flew north-eastwards. This was presumably the cause of panic amongst a flock of Woodpigeons as I was driving homewards a few minutes earlier. A young bird was over the southern edge of the village November 7th trying hard to catch a Woodpigeon but without success.

Moorhen

Oystercatcher

Ringed Plover
~ a party of 6 were with 14 Turn
stones on the large field south of the east end of Upton Way March 28th.

Dotterel
~ a male and a female were briefly in fields south-east of the lighthouse April 26th until they flew north-westwards at 10:10am. Three, including 2 obvious females, were seen and photographed (click & scroll down) on a sugar beet field north-west of Cart Gap early morning May 13th before flying south.

Golden Plover ~ flocks of 45 winter plumaged birds March 17th and 88 (containing several birds in advanced summer plumage) March 28th in the Cart Gap area were notable spring gatherings. A party of 12 flew south-east over here April 6th with a single bird though to the south April 27th. During November a notable flock of c.200 birds were on the fields between the lighthouse and the Decca site with c.150 over School Common Road December 12th perhaps coming from the same flock.

Grey Plover

Lapwing


Knot

Sanderling
~ Regular in the first winter period along the seafront at Walcott. Two, still in partial summer plumage, were with 3 Turnstones on the beach at Walcott July 27th.

Purple Sandpiper
~ a juvenile was with Turnstones at Wa
lcott on September 10th. Another bird was with a Turnstone on the sea defences below the RNLI shop September 30th with presumably the same bird just east of Cart Gap on November 5th and again from the RNLI shop November 7th. Perhaps the same bird again found some company as 2 were on the groynes near the Decca site before flying to the sea defences by the village November 28th.

Dunlin


Jack Snipe ~ two were with a wisp of 11 Common Snipe overflying the grass fields along School Common Road December 18th. Undoubtedly a regular autumn/winter visitor to the parish they are difficult to find and I'd never seen them in these circumstances before. Another was reported west of the village near 'The Forge' with c.50 Snipe on December 20th.


Common Snipe ~ often seen and heard during the winter months. Two presumed migrant Snipe were seen passing north-westward along the cliffs September 13th and the freezing spell in mid December saw Snipe become very apparent as they fed along the edges of roads, in fields and other open places. Their numbers may well have been boosted by immigration from continental Europe where temperatures were even lower than we were experiencing here.

Woodcock
~ there were a couple of sightings in the first winter period but one which flushed from a roadside hedge April 12th was perhaps an outbound migrant. One which was inadvertently flushed at very close range at the Coast Watch October 27th was almost certainly newly arrived from the continent. Another was flushed from 'underfoot' near the Coast Watch on November 1st and at 7:45am the same morning another was watched coming in and making landfall at the same site having probably made an overnight journey from Scandinavia flying just a few feet above the waves. In the snowy conditions leading up to Christmas, four were seen along School Common Road during a mid-afternoon walk on December 22nd.

Bar-tailed Godwit
~ a 'brick red' male on the beach April 26th had been colour ringed. This bird, 'Y7RYYB', was caught on May 5th 2005 at Castricum which lies to the north-east of Amsterdam, Netherlands. This sighting is apparently the first report of it since it was trapped and marked.

Whimbrel ~ returning birds first noted April 25th and 3 April 26th.

Curlew ~ an early returning bird, perhaps a failed breeder, flew west offshore June 28th.

Redshank
~ three were seen during a one hour seawatch August 10th. A party of 21 flew east along the shore early morning August 13th with another group of 5 east during the early evening same date. Odd single birds were noted towards the end of the month culminating with a flock of 7 during a short evening s
eawatch on 29th. In September a single bird was on the beach along with an Oystercatcher late morning on the 30th.

Greenshank ~ one over, calling, north of Cart Gap early evening August 13th.

Common Sandpiper ~ one was on the beach by the Decca site August 2nd. Spooked by a dog it flew, calling, and took refuge on top of a groyne post. What was presumably the same bird was seen at the same location during the evening of August 4th. Another overflew here early evening August 13th.

Turnstone
~ present throughout th
e winter, their antics can be enjoyed along the seafront at Walcott. Forty birds still remained here April 27th.

Pomarine Skua
~ an adult complete with 'spoons' flew south September 4th.



An adult Pomarine Skua clearly showing the twisted , spoon shaped central tail feathers.
© Arthur Grosset

Arctic Skua
~ my first of the year, a dark plumaged bird, flew east July 18th. A party of 4 dark birds flew east during the evening of August 29th. Nine flew south September 3rd with 6 south in 20 minutes the following day and 8 passed southwards September 13th.

Great Skua
~ 5 south September 3rd with 3 south and 2 north September 14th, 12 south and 1 north September 15th and 6 south September 16th.

Mediterranean Gull
~ an adult bird was on the beach at Walcott January 24th with perhaps the same again July 11th. Possibly Norfolk reared, 2 juveniles were with an adult on the beach and seafront at Walcott on July 26th.



A superb portrait of one of the juvenile Mediterranean Gulls at Walcott photographed by Bob Cobbold.

Sabine's Gull ~ a juvenile was seen to fly inland at Cart Gap on October 26th where it briefly joined some other Gulls feeding behind a plough before flying off towards the village.

Black-headed Gull

Common Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Yellow-legged Gull
~ an adul
t was with a large flock of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls in fields south of Happisburgh Common September 10th - 11th. Once regarded part of the Herring Gull complex they are now wholly specific in their own right.



An adult Yellow-legged Gull. Careful scrutiny of flocks of large Gulls can often reveal one or more, especially during late summer. © Arthur Grosset

Herring Gull
~ a bird of the year was offshore August 24th in close attendance to a racing/feral Pigeon which somehow managed to find itself ditched in the sea. The pigeon appeared unable to take off and the Herring Gull was doubtless awaiting its demise.

Great Black-backed Gull

Kittiwake
~ a juvenile flew west o
ffshore August 24th. Incredibly, this was my first of this normally easy to connect with species this year. Late afternoon of September 13th saw quite large numbers passing south offshore.

Sandwich Tern
~ although recorded in the county from late March I didn't see any back at the favoured groynes off the Decca site until April 29th. Adult birds were accompanied by this years young from mid-July. A group of 10 were loafing and fishing just off the village September 26th.

Common Tern
~ a presumed pair posturing to each other on the sea defences near the Decca site May 7th were my first of the year.


Arctic Tern
~ a juvenile flew south September 4th. On October 1st an adult and a juvenile flew south together at 10:45am.

Little Tern
~ one flying offshore from the Decca site May 7th was the first I saw this year. A party of 9 were offshore from Cart Gap May 10th.

Guillemot

Little Auk
~ one was briefly seen on the sea off the village on December 1st.


Puffin ~ one flew north quite close inshore September 16th.

Stock Dove

Woodpigeon


Collared Dove

Turtle Dove
~ one was singing along School Common Road on several occasions from May 10th. It or another was singing again June 9th.

Cuckoo
~ a male overflew the garden and landed nearby where he started to call on May 7th. A female was heard to give her bubbling call May 9th. A male was again calling around our home area June 17th.


Barn Owl

Little Owl
~ one was enjoying the morning sunshine not far from our house April 21st. It or another was calling nearby at dusk on October 10th even putting in a brief appearance atop the telegraph pole in our garden.

Tawny Owl
~ heard on several occasions in January, my first actual sighting wasn't until February 2nd.

Swift
~ the first of the year was back over the village April 25th and during the summer up to 18 were often superb entertainment as they chased, screaming, around our house often passing close to ones head. Swift numbers diminished
rapidly from late July following which 3 were noted over the garden August 11th, another stopped briefly to feed amongst the House Martins here August 16th and one flew south along School Common Road August 29th. The House Martins again attracted another to their feeding party during the evening of September 5th.

Kingfisher
~ one was seen flying low across a field close to our home early evening June 11th. It was most certainly one half of a pair that are nesting close by, just outside the parish. Whilst 'planting out' in the front garden June 15th a Kingfisher call was heard and I looked up to see one sitting on the overhead power lines before it flew off; a good addition to my garden list. Several more sightings of a single bird were made over subsequent days, the successful fledging of the young hopefully being the reason that sightings ended. A single bird was seen along School Common Road August 23rd. During September I was speaking to a chap who lives very close to where the Kingfishers nested and he was able to confirm that at least 2 youngsters fledged successfully.

Green Woodpecker


Great Spotted Woodpecker
~ a pair successfully fledged their noisy youngsters from a Willow at the south end of School Common Road.

Skylark

Shorelark
~ two were seen near the Decca site on October 26th. Presumably the same two birds were seen just west of the Coast Watch on November 1st.

Sand Martin
~ 15 were back at the colony along the cliffs by the morning of April 1st. My last sighting was of one along the cliffs September 5th.

Swallow
~ the first of the spring flew west by the Coast Watch March 31st and a short while later another was seen near the Church. Stragglers were noted October 11th when 5 were seen along the cliffs.

House Martin ~ one over the garden April 10th was the first of the year here. At least 9 occupied nests were on the small group of houses along my lane. Two adults were seen feeding a young bird on one of the rooftops here on October 6th, the last sighting of 'our' birds here being on the 9th.

Meadow Pipit
~ an often abundant passage and winter visitor that breeds in smaller numbers. A nest containing 4 beautifully marked brownish eggs was found beside a busy footpath during May.

Rock Pipit
~ two parties, a 3 and a 2, were seen on the rocks and cliff just east of the village late morning September 30th.

Yellow Wagtail
~ the first of the year flew north cal
ling to the west of Grubb Street April 5th. On May 10th a male of the Scandinavian race 'thunbergi' , Grey-headed Wagtail, was feeding along the grassy edge of the clifftop just west of the Decca site before flying off west at 6:25am. A very agitated bird was seen close to the clifftop late in July, it's angst probably sign of a nest nearby. Additionally, 2 juveniles were feeding on the paddocks by the Coast Watch track August 25th with another 2 heading north-eastwards over the garden August 31st.

Grey Wagtail
~ an early autumn migrant flew north-west at 9:30am July 2nd.

Pied Wagtail
~ during late February - March several seemed to favour the ploughed fields east of the lighthouse. The peak count I saw here during this period was 42 on March 14th which were accompanied by a fine male 'alba' White Wagtail. A flock of 22 on a harvested pea field September 12th was notable locally.


Wren

Dunnock

Robin

Black Redstart
~ a splendid male was photographed in the village
by Robin Abel on May 15th. Click here and scroll down the page to view.

Redstart
~ one was in a hedgerow that runs west from Lower Farm early morning on September 12th with another along School Common Road September 15th and at least 5 were in the trees and hedgerows near Laurel Lodge on September 18th with 2+ the following day.

Whinchat
~ one was feeding along the fence
by the drain that crosses the meadows south of Lower Farm September 1st.

Stonechat
~ a female was between the lighthouse and Upton Way January 31st. Two were feeding along the fence that runs across the meadow behind Lower Farm September 22nd, the warm sunshine and the endless supply of flies stirred up by the Gloucester cattle no doubt the attraction. One remained until the 24th at least. A walk out to the Coast Watch September 26th turned up a 1st winter bird in the weedy corner of a sugar beet field. It showed well for a while before flying off towards Ostend.

Wheatear
~ a male was on the big field south of the east end of Upton Way April 4th with 3 birds seen near the Decca site April 6th. Another male was near Ostend April 18th with 2 males by the Coast Watch April 20th and another male near The Forge April 22nd. Five were in the area April 25th including a long-winged and larger looking bird with a brownish cast to the upperparts, broad white supercilia and rich fulvous unde
rparts, all features of the 'Greenland' race leucorhoa. In May a nominate female was at the Coast Watch on the 10th. The first returning bird of the the autumn was near Rollesby Way August 15th and 7 were counted along the clifftop fields August 29th. In September 3 were on the paddocks by the Coast Watch track on the 17th with a single on the beach below the Decca site September 23rd and 2 near the lighthouse September 30th. Of the latter, one appeared to be a male leucorhoa. One was seen along the cliffs on October 11th.

Ring Ouzel
~ one flew north along School Common Road April 11th and one was along Doggetts Lane April 25th - 28th at least.

Blackbird

Fieldfare
~ the last in spring were a party of 11 on the paddocks at School Common Road April 14th. The first returning autumn bird was seen over the garden October 13th.


Song Thrush

Redwing
~ a male was in song near the paddocks at School Common Road early morning April 20th. The last in spring was seen there April 21st. The first returning bird I saw was at the same site in the afternoon of October 10th.

Mistle Thrush
~ a family party of 5 were noted late May/early June.

Sedge Warbler
~ one was disturbed from rank grass along the clifftop east of the Coast Watch August 29th.


Blackcap ~ a male was singing from a garden along School Common Road during the afternoon of April 16th, my first of the year. A cycle ride around the parish April 20th located at least 4 singing males.

Garden Warbler
~ none in the spring but 2 feeding on blackberries September 18th were typical autumn records.

Lesser Whitethroat
~ the first spring birds were singing males near Coronation Close and at the southern end of School Common Road April 20th. Definite successful breeding took place at the south end of School Common Road, confirmation coming from a family party of at least 4 birds June 17th.

Common Whitethroa
t ~ one was briefly in song between Moat Farm and College Farm April 20th with another along the East Ruston road April 20th, the first spring arrivals here.

Yellow-browed Warbler
~ a very vocal individual was located close to Laurel Lodge at 5:50pm October 2nd, finally showing itself on October 4th in much less windy conditions. When seen on the latter date it called much less which had me wondering whether the reason for it's original vocal excitement was because it was actually just making landfall. It was seen and heard again at the same site at 3:30pm on October 6th. It or another was heard calling here again on October 22nd-23rd when on the latter date a silent but quite showy second bird was also present.

Chiffchaff
~ the first of the year was in the grounds of Laurel Lodge on March 20th, the first day of Spring, where it remained singing for several days. The next individual was along the track to the Coast Watch March 31st. From April 5th they were seemingly everywhere. Birds were noted almost daily during the Autumn migration period, the peak occurrence being similar to that of Willow Warbler. Two birds present on October 19th were notable in that one had unusually pale legs and the other showed characteristics of one of the eastern races.

Willow Warbler
~ singles were at the Decca site and near the paddocks along School Common Road April 14th followed by
another at Manor Farm April 20th, on which date one was singing in our garden from mid-morning. Subsequently, a singing male was heard in Sallows south of Lower Farm July 4th, and a juvenile, again in some Sallows, was opposite our garden July 15th, an early sign of the return migration perhaps. Autumn migration peaked mid-September with 4+ birds seen together near Laurel Lodge on the 19th.

Goldcrest

Spotted Flycatcher
~ none were noted in the Spring but a single migrant bird was feeding along a hedgerow at the paddocks south of Whimpwell Green August 10th - 11th with single birds noted nearby August 23rd and 29th. Another was along School Common Road September 6th with up to 3 together close to Laurel Lodge September 18th-22nd.


Pied Flycatcher ~ one was in the village September 17th and another was at the top of School Common Road on the 18th-19th.

Long-tailed Tit
~ successful breeding must have taken place nearby as family parties were noted early summer along School Common Road and near the paddocks south of Whimpwell Green. A large, mixed Tit flock passed through our garden July 5th and as well as several Blue and Great Tits, I counted a minimum of 32 Long-tailed Tits as they flew overhead between bushes.

Coal Tit ~
two were at feeders in a neighbours garden during the morning of November 11th. One was called up after a few minutes persistent 'pishing' behind Laurel Lodge early afternoon November 14th; perhaps this is to where the birds from the 11th had relocated.


Blue Tit

Great Tit

Jay

Magpie
~ a common resident species, a party of 10 'tree-hopping' slowly westwards from School Common Road September 25th may have been migrants.

Jackdaw


Rook


Carrion Crow

Hooded Crow
~ seen by some as a controversial 'specific split' from Carrion Crow, one was with other Corvids on fields south of the Lighthouse before flying north-west with some Carrion Crows at 9:15am April 22nd. It was later relocated in the field south-east of the Coast Watch.



A 'Hoodie'; likely to get chased after by year-listers these days.
© Ron McIntyre

Raven
~ whilst checking for a Red Kite heading this way around midday April 10th I was astonished to see a Raven circling and approaching from the direction of Lessingham. It was with 2 Carrion Crows, which soon left it, and it continued heading north-west passing almost directly over the garden frequently giving a distinctive 'grrrook, grrrook, grrrook' call.

Starling

House Sparrow

Tree Sparrow
~ one was in the hedge by the RNLI in the village before flying east early morning May 10th. A migrant perhaps? Another was first heard and then seen flying westward near Rollesby Way on November 28th.

Chaffinch

Brambling
~ one was near Laurel Lodge March 30th. In the autumn, occasional birds were noted from October 11th.


Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Siskin
~ 2 flew west along the clifftop March 2nd, another flew north-west over our garden March 28th and one was over the cricket ground March 31st. A male was in song as he flew over the garden April 4th. Several more were noted passing mostly northwestwards during April. Several were seen flying over during October.

Linnet

Twite
~ 3 were present feeding along the grassy clifftop path west of the Coast Watch late afternoon October 27th.

Lesser Redpoll
~ no sightings until April 23rd when one flew west, calling, near the cricket club. One or two Redpoll sp. were noted flying over in October.

Bullfinch
~ a male and female perched briefly on power lines along School Common Road before flying off west October 23rd may have been migrants. Another apparent pair were close to Moat Farm November 26th and two splendid males were just a bit further up the lane December 11th - 12th.

Lapland Bunting
~ one was present near the Decca site from October 6th - 7th at least. A winter plumaged bird, perhaps a male, was in the same field as 2 Shorelarks west of the Coast Watch November 1st.

Snow Bunting
~ a lone bird was consorting with Skylarks in fields east of the lighthouse February 28th. In Autumn an adult male was watched on the ground close to the Coast Watch September 17th. Shortly after 2 were seen flying towards the village; an obvious male with much white in the wing and a female/immature with much less white in the wing. On September 23rd a party of 4 were observed coasting north-westwards along the cliffs. In October a party of c.25 were seen on 11th and 25th whilst c.35-40 flew north along the beach near the RNLI on the 17th. A single was overflying the beach, having been disturbed by walkers, near the Decca site November 25th.

Yellowhammer

Reed Bunting
~ two that were seen briefly August 2nd in sugar beet south of Upton Way appeared to be female/juveniles but better views of a single August 8th showed that it was a recently moulted male. Since all Reed Buntings undergo a late summer body moult, ageing it on field views would be much more difficult than determining its sex as a male. Two more, one a male, were by the track to the Coast Watch August 25th. One seen by the cabbage field at Moat Farm December 11th will hopefully settle in for the winter.