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Welcome

You have found us. We are a secret group of crack birders who have turned our backs on the machismo, corruption, and backstabbing greed that constitute today's birding scene, and have united together to follow the True Path of non-competitive, collaborative and generally lovely birding-as-meditation-and-spiritual-growth. Consequently, we never see anything. Birds that land right in front of our noses, and which we can identify with our observer book, are written about here. Oh, and they have to be seen in - or from - the parish of Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk, or on the walk round past East Somerton Church ruins and up the concrete track to Winterton Holmes (because it's a nice walk which we all do).

Tuesday 31 May 2011

30th May 2011.

South dunes,2 Cuckoo,1 Whinchat,1 Spotted Flycatcher,1 Reed Warbler, Tim.

Friday 13 May 2011

13th May 2011

Friday 13th proved to be very lucky for myself as a charming and confiding Short-toed Lark was watched for five minutes in the hummocky dunes about 300m south of the Beach Cafe. Sadly, it must have soon slipped away as it was not seen again inspite of a couple of Collective members arriving within 10 minutes.

Unfortunately, although this news was phoned in as usual it did not seem to make it onto the various news services. Probably just as well though given its rapid disappearance.

Also a Hobby was seen over the village.

12th May 2011

Two Hobbys over the North Dunes in the morning. One definitely seemed to be chasing the other away so maybe it was trying to establish a territory. Also six Golden Plovers on farmland just inland from the dunes.

In the evening Colin found two Spotted Flycatchers in the Valley.

Sunday 8 May 2011

7th May 2011

They're Back ! Part 2

Yes, after an absence of several weeks it was good to see several Black-headed Gulls back in the Parish. In fact there were 28 altogether, all moving south but appearing to have initially arrived from more of a north-westerly inland direction so it is possible they may have been visiting from a nearby colony. However, as the majority were 1st Summers, I prefer to think they were genuine migrants but who can tell with this enigmatic species?
Hobby high barn farm this afternoon Tim.

Friday 6 May 2011

6 May 2011

After an anxious week, the Swifts are here, four of them materialising this evening around the house and across the garden at the tip of a long scream, then settling higher in the sky to feed.

"They've made it again,
Which means the globe's still working..."

They are a week later than last year, when they arrived on 30th April. What brilliant birds!


Meanwhile, earlier today, another delightful annual Winterton ritual was played out as a Red-rumped Swallow passed briskly through heading south.

Monday 2 May 2011

2 May 2011

A Whinchat was braving the gale next to Beach Road this morning.

From 2011-05-02

Sunday 1 May 2011

1 May 2011

Pete re-found the Hoopoe in the paddocks this morning, feeding contentedly in a far corner. Note that there is a new link on the right to Tim's Winterton migration counts, so for a fuller picture of what's about you should also check his blog.

From 2011-05-01

The Hoopoe. The broad, rounded 9th primary tip so obviously visible here clearly shows this bird is an adult.