Medical Blvd., Sarasota FL, 03/Jan/2025

Yesterday’s lifer White-faced Ibis at Medical Blvd, Englewood FL.
Unexpected twitch after breakfast so only had my bins & not ‘proper’ camera; phone record shots taken tho.
2025 off to a great start, & last day of a lovely break. pic.twitter.com/KRit2BeSbT

— Marcus (@aucarius) January 4, 2025

eBird Checklist:

Friday 3rd January, Medical Blvd., Sarasota FL USA.

May 2019

First outing this ‘Magic May’ was back to the traditional nightingale haunt at Lee Valley with Isabelle. Unfortunately the satnav took me a different car-park and from there I didn’t know how to get the same spot as last year! However after a longer than usual walk we found our way to the familiar area near Bittern Hide, but we ran out of parking time, and legs, to get to the same place we’d heard nightingales the year before.

Neverthless we heard two Cuckoo and saw one in a tree as we had lunch by one of the creeks. We also saw plenty of Garden Warbler at 70 Acres Lake near the footbridge, a great place for them.
The second and last outing was to RSPB Rainham Marshes for pond-dipping with Isabelle again and after that a walk around about a third of the reserve. We found greater pond beetle, dragonfly nymphs and lots of back-swimmers during the dipping, and on the mini-beast hunt, mosquitoes found us!

Birds heard and seen at the Woodland Discovery Centre, while we were pond-dipping, were Lesser Whitethroat, Song Thrush (I also found a snail anvil with lots of broken snail shells), Chiffchaff and the first of several Cetti’s Warbler (I even saw one later).

On the way back from the pond-dipping, we took a detour through the cordite storage area because of a singing Cuckoo, but we, and others there, did not see it.

During lunch we sat on a bench overlooking the marshes and saw plenty of activity, including Redshank with chicks, a couple of Sand Martin and House Martin, Swift, Kestrel and one or two Water Rail grunting and squealing from nearby reeds.

Friday 24th, Lee Valley Regional Park, Hertfordshire, UK.
Thursday 30th, RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex, UK.

May 2018

Only one outing, but for a couple of ‘magical’ May birds.

During my first spell in London (2005-2011) Lee Valley Park was a good place for Nightingales and Cuckoos, amongst others. On returning to London in 2016, I took my eldest daughter during half-term to see if they were still there and we were treated to the amazing song of a nightingale during our lunch. A couple of Kingsfishers were also piping while zipping up and down one of the creeks and a cuckoo called from the other side of the lake.

I also recorded returning Swift from the garden on the 25th.

Saturday 5th, Lee Valley Regional Park (70 Acres Lake), Hertfordshire, UK.

May 2017

Only a couple of outings for this 'magic' May. After a family move back to the UK, birding time was hard to come by. The first of the month I was out to the occasional patch at Tyttenhanger where I saw over 50 species, the most notable being Peregrine Falcon. Also both Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, and plenty of warblers including Garden, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, as well as site speciality Tree Sparrow.

Towards the end of the month, during a family outing to a horse sanctuary, I saw a Hobby scaring the Barn Swallows.

Monday 1st, Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, Hertfordshire, UK.

Sunday 28th, Redwings Horse Sanctuary -- Ada Cole, Essex, UK.

Titchwell Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, Norfolk, GB, 27-Dec-2012

2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: Xmas holiday walk with Kim as we neared the end of our time in Norfolk. We walked to the beach & back.
Weather: overcast, breezy & cold.
32 species

Pink-footed Goose X
Greylag Goose X
Brent Goose X
Mute Swan X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Northern Pintail 1 male on freshwater marsh.
Eurasian Teal X
Little Grebe X
Little Egret X
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier X
Common Moorhen X
European Golden-Plover 100 + on freshwater marsh.
Eurasian Oystercatcher X
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Ruddy Turnstone X
Black-headed Gull X
Common Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Collared-Dove X
Common Kestrel X
Great Tit X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
European Starling X
Common Chaffinch X
Brambling 1 feeding on the feeders at the visitors' centre. It was a stand-out bird, very dapper in its distinct plumage. A really nice & unexpected one to see since my last one was nearly 20+ years ago in Scotland!
European Greenfinch X
Common Linnet 8 approx.
House Sparrow X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13623690

Audubon Celery Fields, Sarasota, Sarasota, FL, USA, 19-Nov-2012

10:55 AM - 3:00 PM

Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Another day out with father-in-law for a long walk around this fantastic site which have me some wonderful life birds. Weather: bright, sunny, warm; breezy. <br />Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.2
32 species

Mottled Duck 2 over; darkish all over, a distinctive duck of the region. Life-tick.
Wood Stork 6 total; two or three seen flying around on the approach & from the carpark, then a few more in the smaller pools at the far end from the carpark.
Double-crested Cormorant X
Anhinga 2 , a couple on a bush next to a narrow, creek-like section of the largest pond adjacent to the mound.
American White Pelican 1 with the spoonbills, stork & ibises in the small pond near to Coburn Road. It also flew to an island to in the middle of the main pond when's mower disturbed the area.
Great Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret X
Little Blue Heron 2
Tricolored Heron 3 total; first one seen towards back pond. Blue plumage with white underwing, distinct size allowing id. Life-tick.
Cattle Egret X
White Ibis X
Glossy Ibis X

Roseate Spoonbill 14 total; at first a few seen with some wood storks as we approached the Coburn Road side. I took photos of their beautiful plumage as they eventually moved away out of sight. As we continued on, more were seen on a larger pond with other species reaching good numbers. A mowing machine then caused them all to take flight & move to the middle of the big pond allowing an accurate count. Unmistakable bird: life-tick.

Turkey Vulture X
Osprey X
Northern Harrier 1 ringtail over the sides of the large pond away from the rest of the reserve.
Bald Eagle 3 overhead at various points.
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 total; the first one perched on a birdhouse in the middle of the main pond. Smaller than red-tail but distinctively a buteo. Later another appeared & their call along with mottled chest identified them. This couple then perched atop one of the high floodlights on the road next to the reserve where they stayed until we left.

Common Gallinule 2 in the ditch between the elevated path & the end of the reserve on the Coburn Road side. A brief look but unmistakable. Life-tick.
American Coot X

Limpkin 6 total; first one seen grazing by the side of the creek-like section of the first pond. It was 20ft away & carried on for 10-20 minutes occasionally vocalizing. It moved gradually away & eventually took wing. 4 more were seen later in flight from the carpark as we waited to get picked up. Easy to identify: life-tick
Laughing Gull 12 at Ackerman Lake visible from the elevated path at the back of celery fields.
Forster's Tern 1 or 2 roving over the ponds.
Belted Kingfisher 4 total; 2 near the large back pond, then 2 more towards the Coburn Road side.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 perched in small trees in the small meadow between the mound & main pond. It moved between the trees as if hunting but I saw no spiked prey. It then suddenly flew off. At one point I had it & the re-sighted meadowlark almost in the same binocular view!
Fish Crow 2 visible from the elevated path at the Coburn Road park.
European Starling 1 as we waited to get picked up.
Palm Warbler X
Savannah Sparrow X
Red-winged Blackbird X

Eastern Meadowlark 1 seen from the path coming down the mound in a small grassy area adjacent to creek-like section of first pond. Its head was just above the grass & as it moved its brilliant yellow couloir was also revealed. It staying still for a while before moving out of sight. On the way back I saw it again in more or less the same spot for closer & longer looks with photos. An amazing looking, beautiful bird. Life-tick.
Boat-tailed Grackle X - one & twos, & a group of approx. 20 at the end as we waited to picked up.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13477728

Allen's Pond--Quansett Trail, Bristol, MA, USA, 29-Sep-2012

12:35 PM - 1:55 PM

Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: After Gooseberry I made a quick visit to Allens Pond & walked part of the trail to the first viewpoint on the Quansett Trail.
Weather: cold, overcast, drizzle on & off.
19 species

American Black Duck 8 in total; 2 initially then a group of 6 later.
Mallard 3
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant X

AMERICAN BITTERN 2 in total, but one seen at first as it flew up above the reeds. Then two rose up from the same area the first went down & flapped around for a several seconds before disappearing again in the reeds; they then did it again. Very distinctive flight & appearance, very similar to bitterns in the UK I had seen, & it really couldn't have been anything else. Life-tick.

Great Egret 6 minimum on the pond.
Snowy Egret 2 on the pond amongst the great egrets.
Osprey 1 over, from carpark.
Northern Harrier 1 ringtail, perched then flew off, on the far-side of the pond, near to the sea.
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Herring Gull X
Northern Flicker 2 flew off towards the house that adjoins the path; the first one had a white rump.

Merlin 1 flew across rapidly across the side of the pond on which I was standing. Small size & falcon-like flight identified it even though, as usual, I only saw it for a few seconds.

Carolina Wren 1 seen briefly near the swamp sparrows.
American Robin X - several into the tree behind where I was observing the swamp sparrows.
Grey Catbird 4 + including a noisy few that scolded me as I stood on the boardwalk.
Northern Mockingbird X
Song Sparrow X

SWAMP SPARROW 3 to 6; dark brown, double crown, grey back neck/mantle, pale bib, light-streaked chest, scatty tail, dark eye stripe, two malar stripes/mustache. All these field marks allowed me to identify this species of sparrow from song sparrow. They moved around low to the ground & at one point one came very close allowing excellent view of its markings. Also plumper & greyer in general than song sparrow. A life-tick.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13380635

Great Meadows NWR--Concord Unit, Middlesex, MA, USA, 16-Sep-2012

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Quick visit after Dunback Meadows to a location I had read lots about. It was hot & I was tired & hungry so I didn't stay long.
Weather: warm, bright & sunny.
5 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose X
Mallard 3
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret 3
peep sp. X - small flying flock up & down from the water foliage.
Grey Catbird 1 at the restrooms.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13333998

New England Biolabs, Essex, MA, USA, 17-Aug-2012

6:00 PM - 6:35 PM

Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: After a visit to nearby Crane Beach, Kim & I stopped off here to look for a reported red-headed woodpecker. A lovely site but no woodpecker unfortunately.
Weather: hot & humid.
9 species

Double-crested Cormorant X
Downy Woodpecker 6 total.
Great Crested Flycatcher 1 flew up to a tree along the path next to the pond.
Eastern Kingbird 2 , a couple, around the back of the pond & over the main swamp.
Tree Swallow 1000 approx., fluttering around the dead trees in the main swamp.
Eastern Bluebird X - flitting under trees next to carpark.
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle 20 flew in to displace some of the tree swallows.
House Finch X - flitting under trees next to carpark.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13325317

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 7-Oct-2011

5:50 PM - 6:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: An evening walk around the resort; a modest effort that did not disappoint.
Weather: cloudy but very warm & humid; dusk.
12 species

White-cheeked Pintail 4 at the far-side of the resort on the other side of the fence on a small marsh. Red on bill with white cheek. A life-tick.

Pied-billed Grebe X
Great Egret X - all around the creek.
Green Heron 1 perched near side of creek.

Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 over; large dark-coloured, as I neared my room. Landed under bridge then flew off.

American Kestrel 1 dashed over room buildings, east.
American Coot 1 showing smaller white area, dark tip to bill than Caribbean coot.
Mourning Dove X - several over.
Belted Kingfisher 1 over at 4:50pm as Kim & I walked for photos.
Grey Kingbird 1 atop building.
Greater Antillean Grackle X - many calling from roost in reeds near to main building.

Hispaniolan Oriole 2 in tree near to pool. A life-tick.

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve, Havering, UK, 7-Sep-2011

1:45 PM - 4:05 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: A final pre-emigration visit to a productive place close by my London home. On the trip home the satnav took me the wrong way via the centre of London past the Houses of Parliament! It wasn't a particularly productive visit either.
Weather: overcast, windy (W), cool.
34 species

Mute Swan X
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Eurasian Teal X
Common Pochard 2 males.
Tufted Duck X
Common Pheasant X
Little Grebe X
Great Cormorant X
Grey Heron X
Little Egret X
Common Kestrel X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
Green Sandpiper 1 from Ken Barratt hide.
Black-tailed Godwit X
Black-headed Gull X
Herring Gull 2 over.
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 1 immature over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Collared-Dove 6
Common Magpie 2
Carrion Crow X
Sand Martin X
Common House-Martin X
Great Tit 5 approx., together.
European Starling X
Meadow Pipit X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Titchwell Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, Norfolk, UK, 4-Sep-2011

8:10 AM - 12:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Another lengthy outing & some good time spent seawatching.
Weather: bright but cloud increasing from the west; cool.
65 species (+1 other taxa)

Greylag Goose X
Mute Swan X
Common Shelduck X
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Eurasian Teal X
Common Scoter X
Long-tailed Duck 1 female on the sea.
Diver sp. 1 flying at sea. Most likely a red-necked.
Great Crested Grebe X
Northern Gannet 6 + distantly at sea.
Great Cormorant X
Little Egret X - on Thornham Marsh.
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 1 male.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
Grey Plover X
European Golden-Plover X
Common Ringed Plover X
Eurasian Oystercatcher 20 +
Pied Avocet X
Spotted Redshank 5 from the Parrinder Hide, with red lower mandible.
Common Greenshank X
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Black-tailed Godwit X
Bar-tailed Godwit 10 approx. flying west.
Ruddy Turnstone X - on saltmarsh.
Sanderling X
Dunlin X

Curlew Sandpiper 4 from Island Hide including one right in front of the hide; later 3 or 4 from the Parrinder Hide.

Common Snipe 1 up from the saltmarsh with a squawk!
Black-headed Gull X

Mediterranean Gull 1 from Parrinder Hide. An excellent spot swimming amongst black-headed my another birder in the hide.

Common Gull X
Herring Gull 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull X
Common Tern X - 2 to 6 at rest on the beach with sandwiches & oystercatchers.
Sandwich Tern X - from the beach.

Arctic Skua 3 at sea mobbing other gulls & terns. Dark with a direct swift flight, sometimes they came quite close (for the scope). Life-tick.

Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker X
Bearded Tit X - heard.
Barn Swallow 6 + along the beach.
Common House-Martin X - over the car-park as I ate my sandwich after the walk.
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X - feeding party.
Eurasian Wren X - heard.
Cetti's Warbler X - heard.
Common Chiffchaff X
European Robin X
Eurasian Blackbird X
European Starling X
Dunnock X

Western Yellow Wagtail 2 on saltmarsh, close to the path; one apparently a female & the other a juvenile. Yellow under, pale head & supercilum & one very pale all over.

Pied Wagtail 2 juveniles.
Meadow Pipit 120 in total, first c20 over inland, then c100 up from bank by the Parrinder; a nice bit of 'vis-migging'.
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Titchwell Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, Norfolk, UK, 15-Aug-2011

10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: Nice half-day & a nice relaxed search around the reserve.
Weather: bright & sunny, wind (W).
55 species

Greylag Goose X
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Common Shelduck X
Gadwall 2 , a pair.
Mallard X
Common Pochard 1
Common Pheasant 2
Great Crested Grebe X
Great Cormorant X
Grey Heron X
Little Egret X
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 2 , one juvenile initially, then a male later over the freshmarsh.
Common Kestrel 1 out over the beach.
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing 20 + from Island Hide.
Grey Plover 1 on the beach.
Common Ringed Plover 6 approx.
Eurasian Oystercatcher 2
Pied Avocet X
Spotted Redshank 1 on freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide.
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Black-tailed Godwit X
Bar-tailed Godwit 6 approx. on the beach.
Ruddy Turnstone 5 approx. on the beach.
Red Knot 50 to 30 on the beach.
Dunlin X

Curlew Sandpiper 3 on freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide.

Ruff 12 + from the Island Hide.
Common Snipe 1
Black-headed Gull X
Common Gull X
Herring Gull X
Common Tern X
Sandwich Tern X

Common Guillemot 1 spotted from the viewpoint on the beach out towards Thornham Harbour. I walked out along the beach to confirm the identity & get views as it was close-in to the shore. An unexpected site-tick for Titchwell.

Common Wood-Pigeon X
Eurasian Collared-Dove X - on the feeders.
Carrion Crow X
Bearded Tit X - heard.
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
Common Chiffchaff X - heard.
European Starling 2
Pied Wagtail 6 approx.
Meadow Pipit X
Reed Bunting X
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X
Common Linnet X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Titchwell Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, Norfolk, UK, 31-Jul-2011

12:25 PM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: With Kim, mum, Emma & the boys, mainly for the beach.
Weather: bright, sunny, t-shirt weather.
37 species

Greylag Goose X
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Common Shelduck 3 including 2 juveniles.
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Great Crested Grebe X
Great Cormorant X
Grey Heron X
Little Egret X

Eurasian Spoonbill 1 flew over from Thornham Marshes & headed right over the reserve & up the coast. First in a long time at Titchwell.

Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 3 - one early on, then later two flew out over the beach.
Common Kestrel 1 over freshmarsh.
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
European Golden-Plover X - a small flock flew in onto the freshwater marshes as we walked back to the car.
Eurasian Oystercatcher 5 approx. on the beach.
Pied Avocet X
Eurasian Curlew 6 approx. on the beach.
Black-tailed Godwit X
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Sanderling 6 +
Ruff 4 approx.
Black-headed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Magpie X
Barn Swallow X - over.
Great Tit X
Eurasian Reed-Warbler 3 - 1 adult feeding 2 juveniles.
Pied Wagtail X
Reed Bunting 2 , a pair.
Common Chaffinch 1 female on feeders.
European Greenfinch X - over.
European Goldfinch X
Common Linnet X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Titchwell Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, Norfolk, UK, 30-May-2011

12:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out with Kim & Ben for the usual stroll around Titchwell.
Weather: cloudy, drizzle, increasingly heavy rain, which eventually brought our day to a premature conclusion!
40 species

Greylag Goose X
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Common Shelduck X
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Northern Pintail 4
Common Pochard X

Great Bittern 1 at 12:45pm as we walked the path, it flew low out over the Freshwater marsh near to the island hide & back into the reedbeds. Before we started out Ben had stated that he always saw bitterns & he is evidently very lucky as he has seen a couple at Titchwell now!

Grey Heron 4 flying over wildfowl marshes.
Little Egret X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Eurasian Oystercatcher X
Pied Avocet X
Wood Sandpiper 1 near to the island hide.
Common Redshank X
Red Knot X
Black-headed Gull X
Herring Gull 50 +
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Swift X
Common Magpie X
Eurasian Jackdaw X
Carrion Crow X
Barn Swallow X
Common House-Martin X
Great Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X - heard.
Cetti's Warbler X - heard.
Sedge Warbler X
Eurasian Reed-Warbler X
Blackcap X - heard.
European Robin X
European Starling X
Pied Wagtail X
Meadow Pipit X
Common Chaffinch X
Common Linnet 2

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Lakenheath Fen RSPB Reserve, Norfolk, UK, 29-May-2011

5:00 AM - 9:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out as close to the dawn chorus as I could muster, hoping for as many of the wonderful species that reside at Lakenheath as possible, & I was not disappointed.
Weather: Overcast, blustery (SW).
50 species

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Gadwall 1
Eurasian Wigeon 1 male on the reservoir.
Garganey 2 , a pair out of the water on the mud on the side of the reservoir. They settled down with heads tucked in but not before I got nice views & was able to point them out to a tour-lead group.
Tufted Duck 3 over.
Common Pheasant X
Little Grebe X
Great Crested Grebe X
Great Cormorant X

Great Bittern 3 flying around over the New Fen marshes. They were out in the open for a remarkably long time & went quite high up the air in some sort of display or dispute flight at times it resembled a dog-fight. Strange behaviour to observe in a normally secretive species but not completely unheard of apparently. A nearby chatty RSPB guide commented that he had seen it happen a few times, presumably as they establish territories & compete for mates. It was just after observing the bitterns that the golden oriole popped out on its branch causing quite a bit of excitement.

Grey Heron X
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 1
Common Kestrel X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Black-headed Gull X
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 over.
Common Tern 1 only, on the reservoir.
Stock Dove 1 over.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Cuckoo 2 heard at first from the car-park. Later a couple were flying around near the poplar copses & one obligingly perched at the top of a tree by the side of the path allowing excellent views & some good photos as I waited, with others, for a golden oriole.
Barn Owl 1 hunting over the marshes.
Common Swift 8 approx.
Great Spotted Woodpecker X
Green Woodpecker X

Eurasian Golden Oriole 1 finally seen after the usual frustrating search amongst the dense poplars. At 5:30-5:45am I heard that sounded very close, but I didn't see it. At 8:15pm as I begun to make my way out I hung around with a large-ish group loitering on the path at the Trial Wood plantation trying to find one. All of a sudden there was a flurry of excitement as a wonderful bright male had come out into the open. A few, including me, ran to the spot where it could be seen & I got a great view for about 30 seconds as it briefly preened, & I even got a couple of record shots. It then flew back to the poplar canopy. Easily my best view of this bird, & always well worth the effort & patience required to find one.

Eurasian Jay X
Common Magpie X
Eurasian Jackdaw X
Rook X
Carrion Crow X
Bearded Tit 1 male, perched close by on some phragmites allowing a good look at its neat bright plumage.
Sand Martin X
Common House-Martin X
Great Tit X - heard.
Eurasian Wren X - heard.
Common Chiffchaff X - heard.
Sedge Warbler X
Eurasian Reed-Warbler X
Blackcap X - heard.
Garden Warbler 1 heard - a nearby RSPB guide picked out the song from the more prevalent blackcap singing nearby.
Common Whitethroat X - heard.
Eurasian Blackbird X
Song Thrush X - heard.
Mistle Thrush 1 over, carrying food.
Pied Wagtail 2 , adult & juvenile.
Reed Bunting 1 singing male.
Common Chaffinch X
European Goldfinch X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Cley Marshes, Norfolk, UK, 28-May-2011

4:20 PM - 5:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: A quick visit, whilst Kim & mum waited in the visitors centre, on returning from a coast drive.
Weather: overcast, windy (W), rain showers.
38 species

Greylag Goose X
Mute Swan X
Common Shelduck X
Gadwall X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Common Pheasant X
Little Egret X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
Common Ringed Plover 6 +
Little Ringed Plover 3 approx.
Eurasian Oystercatcher X - over then 2 in field.
Pied Avocet X
Common Greenshank 1
Common Redshank X
Black-tailed Godwit X
Dunlin 6 +
Black-headed Gull X
Little Gull 3 juveniles & well worth the stop-off to view them, wading in the scrape & occasionally flying around as they fed.
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Swift X
Common Magpie X
Eurasian Jackdaw X
Carrion Crow X
Skylark X
Sand Martin X
Barn Swallow X
Common House-Martin X
Blue Tit X - one flew down to reeds where two sedge warblers briefly fought.
Sedge Warbler X
Eurasian Reed-Warbler X
European Starling X
Dunnock X
Pied Wagtail X
Reed Bunting X - heard.
European Goldfinch X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Titchwell Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, Norfolk, UK, 27-Feb-2011

12:20 AM - 3:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: To finish Sian's Norfolk weekend a trip to a NW Norfolk birding mecca, with Kim also.
Weather: bright, sunny, cold; no wind.
61 species

Brent Goose X - over Thornham.
Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Common Shelduck X
Gadwall 2
Eurasian Wigeon X
Mallard X
Northern Shoveler X
Northern Pintail 5
Green-winged Teal X
Tufted Duck X
Common Eider X
Velvet Scoter 2 picked out their white wing panels from amongst the common scoters on the sea.
Common Scoter X
Common Goldeneye 1
Common Pheasant X
Little Grebe X
Great Crested Grebe X
Little Egret X
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 1
Northern Harrier 1 ringtail spotted over the Thornham marshes by several birders who had been diligently searching for it near the new Parrinder Hide. This individual was a long-staying bird identified as an excellent candidate for a true North American harrier. It was certainly much bolder than British hen harriers I've seen & the finer points of its plumage had also been well discussed.
Common Kestrel X
Common Moorhen X
Eurasian Coot X
Northern Lapwing X
European Golden-Plover X
Common Ringed Plover X
Eurasian Oystercatcher X
Pied Avocet X
Spotted Redshank 2 in pool on Thornham marsh.
Common Redshank X
Eurasian Curlew X
Black-tailed Godwit X
Ruddy Turnstone X
Sanderling X
Dunlin X
Ruff 3
Common Snipe X
Black-headed Gull X
Common Gull X
Herring Gull X
Common Wood-Pigeon X
Common Magpie X
Carrion Crow 2
Skylark X
Great Tit X
Blue Tit X
Long-tailed Tit X
Eurasian Wren X
European Robin X
Stonechat 2 flitting on the Thornham marshes.
Eurasian Blackbird X
European Starling X
Dunnock X
Meadow Pipit X
Snow Bunting 10 flitting along the dunes on the beach.
Common Chaffinch X
European Greenfinch X
European Goldfinch X
Twite 20 feeding on the salt marshes in a nice group before taking flight. I picked up on them as we watched the stonechat, confirmed with the birders who had spotted the stonechat.
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Hickling Broad, Norfolk, UK, 26-Feb-2011

4:20 PM - 5:40 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Final stop with Sian for the raptor roost & hopefully cranes, another Sian had not seen before.
Weather: spits & spots, clear otherwise.
9 species

Pink-footed Goose X
Northern Shoveler 4 over.
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier X
Hen Harrier 1 male.
Common Crane 2 flew in, a satisfying end to a great day.
Coal Tit X
Great Tit X
Fieldfare 20 flew past & into some distant trees.
Common Chaffinch X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Hickling Broad, Norfolk, UK, 2-Jan-2011

3:50 PM - 4:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Out with Kim to see the winter raptor roost, also known for its cranes.
Weather: cold, cloudy, spots of rain; dusk.
5 species

Pink-footed Goose X
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier 20 approximately - all over the marshes from the viewpoint. Raptor watch-point living up to its billing.
Hen Harrier 2 across the fen. One ringtail & also a probable male but difficult to see for definite in the fading light.
Common Crane 20 flying into the fen in smallish flocks, some calling others quiet. Apparently a good afternoon for them, some others at the viewpoint mentioned that it's not unusual to see none!
Barn Owl 2 seen, one distant over the marshes, one closer from the viewpoint.

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)