Moving onto December at Trimingham.

 As November ended I had added a few more species to my new patch list at Trimingham, unfortunately Shorelark and Lapland Bunting did not put in an appearance for me but Snow Bunting was a consolation. Golden Plover numbers were increasing throughout the month. Best bird was obviously the Glaucous Gull.

 December is upon us now and a lovely sight to see, a few days running now, are the Grey Partridge. Seeing them in the fields and along the lower cliff slopes, when viewing them in the beet field I noticed a few young in one group. The Glaucous Gull is still hanging around and I saw it along the front today (4th Dec), before flying towards Mundesley. A welcome sight today also, after not being seen for a few months, were a pod of harbour Porpoises off the front feeding. 

Glaucous Gull Trimingham.

 As soon as I got to the clifftop I decided to scan the gulls below on the beach and sea groynes as I normally do, they're not always present here preferring to rest up further along towards Sidestrand, mind you there are so many large gulls along this stretch that they inevitably break off into smaller groups. 

I scanned and immediately picked up on a flying white winged gull, and moments later it landed on one of the groyne posts...GLAUCOUS GULL!  Since moving to Trimingham in July this year this bird was my 100th patch species, what a great one to take that number too. 

Searching the "Surf". Trimingham. 30th Oct 2017.

 With strong N/W winds bringing birds in closer to the shore at Trimingham I have been searching the waves over the last few days. Large movements of Guillemots and Razorbills, then large numbers of Kittiwakes next and today brought Scoter and Eider. But by far the best was a Surf Scoter. Checking through my hundreds of images after the report came through at Overstrand just along the coast, I realised I had managed to get a shot of it amongst the multiple groups of birds passing by!

( SECOND FROM LAST BIRD)

Yellow Browed Warbler. Trimingham.

  First time out in a couple of mornings, I checked the thrushes along the hedgerows behind the church then headed to the clifftop to scan the sea and scrub, whilst scanning the gulls along the shore I heard the call of a Yellow browed Warbler close behind me. Frantically looking for movement I picked up on this little gem of a bird as it flitted around feeding.

Fall of Redwings

 Managed to get out on a few mornings over the last week, been busy getting the new studio up and running with Sarah's help. Lots of Blackbirds around and a few Chiffchaff's along with the pair of Blackcaps and Goldcrests mingling in with the local Long tailed tit posse!

 On the 19th Oct there was a heavy fog when I woke, I didn't exactly rush out but I was glad I did venture out as there were birds everywhere. My last residence was nowhere near the coast and I never experienced a fall of birds like this before, there were Redwings moving all over the place, downed by the fog they proceeded to refuel whilst grounded. Along with many Blackbirds, mostly 1st winter birds, and a handful of Song Thrush I picked out a solitary Fieldfare at the back of someones garden.

 I checked along the clifftop paths after a tip off about possible Greenland Wheatear along at Sidestrand, cheers Andy. I found just the one Wheatear feeding in the field and managed to get some decent shots of it. The thrushes continued to put on a show all day and at one time I counted 50+ Redwing from the back garden in the adjacent paddock! 

Barred Warbler Trimingham.

 There have been some nice birds around over the last week with quite a few Brambling and a couple of elusive Yellow Browed Warblers but by far the best bird was a Barred Warbler, very elusive but I was glad I managed a few record shots. 

Terrific Trimingham.

 Early morning from Trimingham, my usual starting point when I head out birding. There has been a few misty evenings and mornings which only made it more wonderful being out. And there has been plenty of new patch additions, alongside meeting some great people/birders and exchanging numbers and information my new home has got me buzzing to say the least.

 Never seen so many Red Admiral butterflies around! Plenty of Large White caterpillars in the garden, not gonna be many plants left at this rate!

 Love the early morning when the gulls just glide past at eye height, and a bonus was when I added Med Gull to my patch list, no doubt the same one that was at Overstrand, and whilst chatting to fellow birder Greg, he pointed out Harbour Porpoise! I frantically scanned and couldn't find them......aarrrghh

 Thankfully I picked up on them feeding just a few hundred yards off the coast, awesome and a first for me. Sarah wasn't too pleased that I didn't inform her straight away, instead I carried on walking and chatting to Greg, only when I departed to head home and noticed that they were still off the front did I then call Sarah and let her know, she desperately ran round to the cliff top bench and I met her there......yep you guessed right they didn't show again! I was not in her good books.

 My next morning excursion and I headed out in the hope of something but was chuffed to bloody bits when I found a Yellow Browed Warbler....yeessssss :-)

It moved around somewhat and eventually moved off and I couldn't relocate it ( message on the pager later from someone else put it a stones throw away on the other side of the road) there were plenty of willow/chiff warblers around, some really fresh bright colours. Upon moving back towards the cliff tops I turned around to find a Wheatear loitering on a park bench!

 Late afternoon/early evening whilst watching the sea for porpoises with Sarah, after her departure I stayed to watch just a tad longer and as the light began fading I too decided to turn and head home only to be confronted by a lovely Spotted Flycatcher flitting around the air insect catching, with no camera and just bins I stayed and watched for a decent amount of time, also turning to glance out to sea I picked out a distant porpoise, informing Sarah by phone, I will not repeat her reply! 

Unfortunately the Spotted Fly' was not there the next morning.

 With Grey Plover, Song Thrush and Red Throated Divers being seen I am being kept busy waiting for the new addition, just need the wind to blow in the right direction. And as for Harbour Porpoises, well Sarah and I saw a pod close in to shore at Overstrand giving good views to all those that were informed, in fact over the last few days we have had sightings every time we have looked, how cool.