Images from today, all taken by Mark Stirland and all at Hunstanton - Turnstones, Common Chiffchaff and of course the stunning ALPINE SWIFT
On The Trail of the Alpine Swift - WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH
The mid theme continued with the southerly winds inducing temperatures of 14 degrees C. After a rather grey start, the skies eventually cleared to give way to a really typical spring day and at Hunstanton in the afternoon, the temperature actually climbed to 17.5 degrees C.
Tuesday 23 March had seen two Alpine Swifts give themselves up in North Norfolk and both had performed until late in the day indicating that they had almost certainly roosted. After still recovering after my London and Berkshire near-misses this year, today I felt was an ideal opportunity to maybe rectify the situation.
After writing until 2am Tuesday, I seriously struggled to raise myself early on Wednesday and as it was, I did not actually get away until 5am. This was to prove fatal, as right on cue, the Cromer overnighter disappeared at 0730 hours, well before the time I could have arrived. At the opposite end of the county, the Hunstanton bird flew from its roost at 0830.........
FOXHOLE HEATH (SUFFOLK)
A noisy STONE CURLEW was loudly wailing from a crop field opposite the heath and affording excellent views. It was my first of the year (222).
A pair of Eurasian Curlew was also on territory, and 2 Mistle Thrushes were feeding.
HUNSTANTON CLIFFS (NORTH NORFOLK)
(0900-1027 hours)
After missing out on the Cromer Alpine Swift, I decided to try my luck with the Hunstanton bird, but after spending 90 minutes in the area, I decided that the warm SW winds had moved it on its way. After all, there was much evidence of diurnal migration at the cliffs. Meadow Pipits were constantly passing overhead, and passage migrants included 3 SAND MARTINS through to the west and 2 Linnets.
COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS were very conspicuous on the clifftop with at least 4 in the spartan top scrub, whilst on the cliffs below, 15 occupied Northern Fulmar nest were located.
There was a major arrival of Dark-bellied Brent Geese on the shoreline, with 270 counted, with 3 Great Crested Grebes on the sea, and a further congregation of 37 Fulmars. Turnstones in small groups were showing very well on the grass by the lighthouse.
REDWELL MARSH, HOLME (NORTH NORFOLK)
A Ring Ouzel had been seen here earlier but on my brief visit, just a single Black-tailed Godwit was on the marsh.
TITCHWELL RSPB (NORTH NORFOLK)
Most surprising was a TREE SPARROW frequently visiting the feeders by the Information Centre - my first in the county this year and a scarce bird these days. A few House Sparrows were also visiting, along with many Chaffinches and the odd Great and Blue Tit.
A female RUDDY DUCK was on the new marsh to the left of the main track less than 100 yards along, whilst wildfowl on the Freshwater Lagoon included 3 Pintail and small numbers of Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Common Shelduck.
At least 1 Marsh harrier was back on territory, with 2 RUFF on the lagoon, as well as 28 Pied Avocets.
The reedbed supported several BEARDED TITS (2 seen) and 1-2 calling CETTI'S WARBLERS. At least 2 Common Chiffchaffs were singing from the Willows.
BURNHAM NORTON (NORTH NORFOLK)
Both Neil Alford and his close friend Neil Stocks were on site and they had spied both Spoonbill and Merlin. I scored neither but did see 2 Marsh Harriers altercating with a PEREGRINE over the reeds, Little Egret, 15 Pied Avocets, 2 Mistle Thrushes and another Common Chiffchaff.
HUNSTANTON CLIFFS (NORTH NORFOLK)
Admitting defeat on Alpine Swifts for the day, I decided to drive south towards my home county where the 5th-ever North American Green-winged Teal had been discovered at Linford Reserve by Paul Moon. I got down to about Lakenheath when Neil Alford 'phoned to say that he had just been watching an Alpine Swift at Hunstanton over the pine belt by Old Hunstanton at 1338 hours. I could hardly believe my ears but I had to go back.
I turned around at Barton Mills roundabout and made the 44 miles back to the site. Neil had seen the bird just once more before leaving for King's Lynn to drop NS at the railway station. There was a small crowd gathered at the clifftop car park upon my return (very different to the morning when there were just 5 of us searching) including both Mark and John Stirland from Nottingham who had photographed it.
At 1445 hours, the ALPINE SWIFT loomed high in the sky (223), distantly flying over the golf course - relief !
Over the next 30 minutes, it was to drift in much closer, eventually wheeling back and forth over our heads and making a circuit of the cliffs, lighthouse and conifer belt. It was an excellent bird, with quite labouring flight and deep wingbeats, Mark eventually acquiring an excellent selection of images (see above). Soon, Neil Alford reappeared on site, as well as Les Holiwell and others.
I was terribly excited at finally catching up with this aerial vagrant, so much so that I made a terrible mistake when leaving........
Charging south for the Linford Teal, I finally realised that I had left my 'scope and tripod on site as I reached Downham Market and after frantically trying to contact Mark and his dad, Les and others that I had seen there, eventually spoke with Will Soar who confirmed that Trevor Davies and Mike Sidwell had intercepted it. Thank God the Alpine Swift lingered in the car park.........
As it was, I ran out of time for the Teal - traffic on the new Bedford-M1 bypass project put paid to that
The mid theme continued with the southerly winds inducing temperatures of 14 degrees C. After a rather grey start, the skies eventually cleared to give way to a really typical spring day and at Hunstanton in the afternoon, the temperature actually climbed to 17.5 degrees C.
Tuesday 23 March had seen two Alpine Swifts give themselves up in North Norfolk and both had performed until late in the day indicating that they had almost certainly roosted. After still recovering after my London and Berkshire near-misses this year, today I felt was an ideal opportunity to maybe rectify the situation.
After writing until 2am Tuesday, I seriously struggled to raise myself early on Wednesday and as it was, I did not actually get away until 5am. This was to prove fatal, as right on cue, the Cromer overnighter disappeared at 0730 hours, well before the time I could have arrived. At the opposite end of the county, the Hunstanton bird flew from its roost at 0830.........
FOXHOLE HEATH (SUFFOLK)
A noisy STONE CURLEW was loudly wailing from a crop field opposite the heath and affording excellent views. It was my first of the year (222).
A pair of Eurasian Curlew was also on territory, and 2 Mistle Thrushes were feeding.
HUNSTANTON CLIFFS (NORTH NORFOLK)
(0900-1027 hours)
After missing out on the Cromer Alpine Swift, I decided to try my luck with the Hunstanton bird, but after spending 90 minutes in the area, I decided that the warm SW winds had moved it on its way. After all, there was much evidence of diurnal migration at the cliffs. Meadow Pipits were constantly passing overhead, and passage migrants included 3 SAND MARTINS through to the west and 2 Linnets.
COMMON CHIFFCHAFFS were very conspicuous on the clifftop with at least 4 in the spartan top scrub, whilst on the cliffs below, 15 occupied Northern Fulmar nest were located.
There was a major arrival of Dark-bellied Brent Geese on the shoreline, with 270 counted, with 3 Great Crested Grebes on the sea, and a further congregation of 37 Fulmars. Turnstones in small groups were showing very well on the grass by the lighthouse.
REDWELL MARSH, HOLME (NORTH NORFOLK)
A Ring Ouzel had been seen here earlier but on my brief visit, just a single Black-tailed Godwit was on the marsh.
TITCHWELL RSPB (NORTH NORFOLK)
Most surprising was a TREE SPARROW frequently visiting the feeders by the Information Centre - my first in the county this year and a scarce bird these days. A few House Sparrows were also visiting, along with many Chaffinches and the odd Great and Blue Tit.
A female RUDDY DUCK was on the new marsh to the left of the main track less than 100 yards along, whilst wildfowl on the Freshwater Lagoon included 3 Pintail and small numbers of Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Common Shelduck.
At least 1 Marsh harrier was back on territory, with 2 RUFF on the lagoon, as well as 28 Pied Avocets.
The reedbed supported several BEARDED TITS (2 seen) and 1-2 calling CETTI'S WARBLERS. At least 2 Common Chiffchaffs were singing from the Willows.
BURNHAM NORTON (NORTH NORFOLK)
Both Neil Alford and his close friend Neil Stocks were on site and they had spied both Spoonbill and Merlin. I scored neither but did see 2 Marsh Harriers altercating with a PEREGRINE over the reeds, Little Egret, 15 Pied Avocets, 2 Mistle Thrushes and another Common Chiffchaff.
HUNSTANTON CLIFFS (NORTH NORFOLK)
Admitting defeat on Alpine Swifts for the day, I decided to drive south towards my home county where the 5th-ever North American Green-winged Teal had been discovered at Linford Reserve by Paul Moon. I got down to about Lakenheath when Neil Alford 'phoned to say that he had just been watching an Alpine Swift at Hunstanton over the pine belt by Old Hunstanton at 1338 hours. I could hardly believe my ears but I had to go back.
I turned around at Barton Mills roundabout and made the 44 miles back to the site. Neil had seen the bird just once more before leaving for King's Lynn to drop NS at the railway station. There was a small crowd gathered at the clifftop car park upon my return (very different to the morning when there were just 5 of us searching) including both Mark and John Stirland from Nottingham who had photographed it.
At 1445 hours, the ALPINE SWIFT loomed high in the sky (223), distantly flying over the golf course - relief !
Over the next 30 minutes, it was to drift in much closer, eventually wheeling back and forth over our heads and making a circuit of the cliffs, lighthouse and conifer belt. It was an excellent bird, with quite labouring flight and deep wingbeats, Mark eventually acquiring an excellent selection of images (see above). Soon, Neil Alford reappeared on site, as well as Les Holiwell and others.
I was terribly excited at finally catching up with this aerial vagrant, so much so that I made a terrible mistake when leaving........
Charging south for the Linford Teal, I finally realised that I had left my 'scope and tripod on site as I reached Downham Market and after frantically trying to contact Mark and his dad, Les and others that I had seen there, eventually spoke with Will Soar who confirmed that Trevor Davies and Mike Sidwell had intercepted it. Thank God the Alpine Swift lingered in the car park.........
As it was, I ran out of time for the Teal - traffic on the new Bedford-M1 bypass project put paid to that
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