While traveling home from Norwich in slow moving traffic a caught sight of a GLOSSY IBIS flew in flying first along a dyke and then landing in it. Just unlucky that it would not be visible where it was. Also large flock of GOLDEN PLOVER just West and North of Stracy Arms.
North Dene's: Not much about but gave a diminutive CORMORANT a good look. never seen such a variation in size, but after a good look I relaxed somewhat. Just one OYSTERCATCHER and 10 TURNSTONE. Also 10 LINNET, 1 JAY.
Spent 2 hours on sea front on North Shore and managed a good day with absolutely brilliant views of a pair of ROCK PIPIT, she being much lighter than he I assume. As he was still holding much colour. I also had a BLACK THROATED DIVER flying North, it being close enough to confirm. Also 9 RED THROATED DIVER, with some on the water drifting South. But best sighting was an adult male VELVET SCOTER with 2 immature birds in tow. The other bird of note but no id was a far distant shearwater which turned hihj in the sky before decent showing good sillotte with lined white wing. Also good numbers of CORMORANT moving North and GANNET South. Only one flock of 10 starling in off.
Carlton Marsh Only 1 SNIPE, 1 MARSH HARRIER and 1 COMMON BUZZARD. LITTLE EGERET and fly over flock of PINK FOOTED GEEDE around tqo hundred. Also a flock of 10 REDWING.
Regular call in with new arrivals in the shape of a pair of EURASIAN WIGEON which is our usual visit. Also over flying COMMON BUZZARD with some tail moult. GADWALL still in but coot gone already. No small stuff but KINGFISHER could be heard.
Short rime out at this site, a bright day with be among autume sunshine. Better than August. Not much about, just the normal ROBIN, BLUE TIT and plenty of BHG feeding nehind the plough. But above us flew three COMMON BUZZARD.
Wednesday is my usual afternoon as volunteer, so good just to meet with people. People are fantastic and I am amassed even over 70 years old at people. Humanity is a wonderful thing and those who love the world and value what is in it are people of real class.
The count for the afternoon was 12 SNIPE, 6 LITTLE EGERET, a few fly over MEADOW PIPIT and a scattering of duck as well as a pair of MARSH HARRIER and a single COMMON BUZZARD.
An hour call in with still WILLOW EMERALD , EMPORER and COMMON DARTER still flying around. It was also good to see the return of a single COOT which seems to always turn up. The GADWALL was still in as well.
Still struggling to get things down in the blog. Out of the habit. Some habits can be broken but I still bird whenever I can which if possible is every day. Best bird over the last few days was a calling FIRECREST which only gave the briefest of views buy its call was a sure giveaway. Found it in low scrub just before the bridge, if that's what you call it along the bridle path from Blocka Road. through the back end of Fritton Lake. Also GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, and a GREEN WOODPECKER. The pnly other birds of significant was a pair of CHAFFINCH and two calling COMMON BUZZARD flying overhead and a KESTREL on telegraph wires.
