Thursday 30th April

Canada Geese flying west over Cromer pier this morning – a ‘Lockdown List’ tick

Day 38 of the lockdown. Heavy overnight rain gave way to clear skies with a moderate southerly wind as the cold front moved away at the start of my morning exercise. A new male Wheatear was on the cliff-top at the east end of the golf course and there was a Lesser Whitethroat singing madly from deep cover on the under-cliff. I couldn’t see it and was reluctant to wait around for it to show. I counted about 20 Swallows moving west, along with 3 Sand Martin and a couple of House Martin. I’d just reached North Lodge Park on my return when I noticed two Canada Geese, flying off-shore, heading west. It took them exactly ten minutes to fly 5 miles to the west end of Sheringham golf course, where they where picked up by Andy – that’s a steady 30 mph! The people count today was: 12 dog-walkers, 5 joggers & 3 exercisers.

Another in my series of photos of common birds – what’s not to like about Starling?

Wednesday 29th April

At least the crab boats were attracting some birding action

Day 37 of the lockdown – I think. Thanks to Andy for helping me get back on track with the correct chronology – I have to confess it’s all begun to blur into one temporal haze. I now get it why captives scratch ‘five-bar gate’ counts on the walls of their cells – to remind them that ‘out there’ there is another reality where time is still moving on. I went out this morning in the vain hope that the over-night rain might have grounded some migrants. If it did, I didn’t see them! In fact, apart from the now constant summer sound-track of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat & Chaffinch, playing in the background – the only birds of note were a single Swallow heading east and the ‘resident’ Fulmar along the east cliffs. The rain gradually subsided into light drizzle but, as a consequence, my camera never came out of it’s expensive waterproof case – a supermarket carrier-bag. Sometimes I wonder why I bother, and then I remember – the exercise is good for my mental & physical well-being! The people count was down too: 6 dog-walkers – including a ‘dog-jogger’, 2 joggers & 3 miscellaneous exercisers / shoppers

Tuesday 28th April

‘Exercise Prize’ today was three Whimbrel heading east towards Overstrand

Day 36 of the Coronavirus restrictions. It was forecasting heavy rain (95%) when I left home for my daily exercise this morning. Sometimes you get good birds at migration time, running ahead of bad weather. Today I didn’t really get the weather (still dry by the time I got back home) and no birds to speak of either. No notable ‘bush birds’ and the only beach action was a pair of Oystercatcher with assorted gulls, half way along the golf course. ‘Bird of the day’ came in the form of 3 silent Whimbrel, which appeared over the ridge, before flying east over Overstrand. People count today: 7 dog-walkers, 2 joggers and 8 miscellaneous exercisers / shoppers / workers.

Monday 27th April

Sanderling and one of the pair of Ringed Plover – on the beach far below the turf slope

Day 35 of the lockdown. The weather was better than forecast for my daily exercise this morning, although it did cloud over later and the wind was cool from the north. Birds punctuated my route, to the end of the golf course and back. Most interesting were some waders on the beach below the turf slope. Unfortunately, at that height and with no scope, positive identification of one bird had to wait until I could load the record shots on to the computer. A pair of Ringed Plover, accompanied by a rather lethargic Sanderling – lockdown ticks 76 & 77. A couple of Swift flew west along the ridge, with a steady trickle of Sand Martin & Swallow over the cliffs. Five Skylark west and a new pair of Wheatear on the turf slope added interest. Yesterday, around lunchtime, there was a small movement of Buzzard – I counted around a dozen together with a distant Marsh Harrier. A big surprise came when the Hooded Crow, with three Carrion Crow, flew directly over the garden, heading towards the golf course. It took me completely off guard so I failed to get a shot. Several nice butterflies though, including Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Brimstone and… Peacock

Distant Swift this morning

.. and one of yesterday’s migrating Buzzard – at least a dozen flew east

Nearly forgot. The people count this morning: 7 dog-walkers, 4 joggers and 8 miscellaneous but including one of our hero Ambulance men! Thank you NHS, Emergency Services & essential workers for continuing to keep us safe and supplied.

Sunday 26th April

Wheatear in the middle of Cromer

Day 34 of the lockdown. A lovely morning to be out in the fresh air. The daily exercise routine got off to a good start with a Wheatear running around on the grass in North Lodge Park – just a stone’s throw from the town centre. I’ve seen Wheatear in the park these past few years. I’d delayed my departure by an hour in the hope that there might be a repeat of yesterdays morning raptor movement – but apart from three local Buzzards and a pair of displaying Sparrowhawk – there was nothing of note. But there were plenty of other birds on the move – the sort of day when, in other circumstances, you could sit on the cliff-top and take in the spectacle of visible migration. Plenty of Swallow, Sand Martin and my first Swifts of the year. Best and most surprising perhaps, all four common wagtail – Pied, White, Yellow & Grey – the latter being a Lockdown List tick. The people count was also significant up: 17 dog-walkers, 4 joggers and 9 miscellaneous exercisers.

Record shot of one of my two Lockdown List ticks this morning – Grey Wagtail

Saturday 25th April

Record shot of Woodlark over Cromer golf course early morning

Day 33 of the current Coronavirus restrictions. It was overcast, with a cool on-shore breeze, at the start of my morning exercise but there were patches of blue sky appearing by the end of my walk. Very little happening until I reached the turf slop, when a distant passerine caught by attention. First impression was that it might be a Tree Pipit ( I still need it for NENBC!) but it had too short a tail and broad wings. It flew with hesitant bounding flight in a wide circuit over the centre of the golf course before finally disappearing over a ridge to the west. It wasn’t there on my return. I was pretty certain that it was a Woodlark at the time – although it never called – the record shots, viewed latter at home, confirmed it. When I reached the lighthouse, three distant birds flying east turned out to be Grey Heron. ‘Lockdown List’ additions 71 & 72 respectively. The people count was: 10 dog-walkers, no joggers – though I did see someone on a mountain bike riding across the golf course & a surfer – and 5 miscellaneous exercisers / shoppers / workers. Is it just my impression or are people becoming more lax with regard to restrictions?

Grey Herons heading east over the lighthouse

Friday 24th April

Intriguing light patterns on the sea this morning brightened my daily exercise routine

We enter our second month of lockdown restrictions. It was colder this morning for my daily exercise routine – overcast with a cool on-shore breeze. The light patterns on the sea were interesting though. Very few birds about on the outward section. No sign of yesterdays Whinchat, just a few Swallows heading west and there did seem to be a few more Whitethroat about. In contrast to previous days Jay numbers were up significantly – I saw at least nine with seven together in one flock. It’s too early for family parties so I’m guess these might be late departing winter birds. I was just on the downhill stretch to NLP when I spotted a couple of duck flying west off-shore. With yesterdays Mallard experience fresh in my mind I consider that the most likely identification but it was only when I checked the record shots that I realised that they were young Eider – ‘Lockdown List’ number 70. People count this morning: 9 dog-walkers, 2 joggers and 7 miscellaneous.

Best birds of the walk – record shot of two young Eider heading west

A small increase in Whitethroat numbers / activity this morning

Thursday 23rd April

‘Exercise prize’ this morning – a stunning male Whinchat on the golf course

Day 31 of the lockdown. I decided to revert to my usual timings for my daily exercise today. With barely a breath of wind and the early morning sun evaporating the over-night heavy dew it was a superb start to the day. After the excitement of yesterday it was pretty quiet on the golf course. Most of the usual stuff was around, busy going about their daily business. A pair of Mallard caught my interest as they circled the totem pole before finally dropping in to the deep bracken litter – could they be prospecting. They’re certainly daft enough! The pair of Fulmar continue to patrol the length of the east cliffs. On my way back passed the turf slope I found my first Whinchat of the year – a splendid male sat on top of the earth mounds. A ‘Lockdown List’ tick. People count today: 7 dog-walkers, 4 joggers and 5 miscellaneous. Off now to put the finishing touches to the virtual Family Quiz Night.

These lovely birds seem ever-present along the East Cliffs at the moment – Fulmar

Wednesday 22nd April

Consolation prize for missing the harrier – a smart Yellow Wagtail on Cromer golf course

Day 30 of the current restriction. I’d decided to vary my exercise routine by going later in the morning – I was curious as to how many people might be about and if it had any impact on the birds. The Grand Plan came crashing down however when I got a message to say that there was a ‘Ringtail Monty’s Harrier west of Sheringham, heading my way’! I gulped down my tea and headed out the door – more out of hope than expectation, I have to say. I hot-footed it up to the golf course, from where you get a reasonable view inland. From previous experience, a lot of the larger migrants cut the Cromer corner off when heading east – so this was my best chance. I saw nothing, but further up the trail I bumped into Dave, who told me he’d seen a ‘rakish looking harrier sp.’ ten minutes before flying east, but had lost it over Overstrand. Bugger! As we stood there (suitably social distancing of course) we watched the Whitethroat in the process of nest-building and a pair of Shelduck flew inland – a Lockdown List tick. No more surprises before the turn – just a dozen or so Swallow heading east – and then as I reached the last fairway before the lighthouse I noticed a pale bird on the short turf. Assuming it would be the Wheatear, it turned out to be a fabulous male Yellow Wagtail. Another Lockdown List tick. Some compensation for missing the harrier I suppose. The people count was: dog-walkers 9, 3 joggers and 9 miscellaneous – only counting people who I had to socially distance from. Meanwhile, the playing-field above Happy Valley, looked like something out of Crufts – with dogs and owners seemingly everywhere!

Post Script: The Harrier, also seen earlier at Weybourne is now considered to be a Pallid – double-dip!!

The other Lockdown List tick this morning, bringing my total to 68 – a pair of Shelduck

Tuesday 21st April

Dunnock – Cromer golf course

Day 29 of the Coronavirus restrictions. There was a touch of deja vu about this mornings daily exercise. The bright and breezy conditions continue, with easterly winds gusting to 40 mph on occasions – this weather pattern looking settled for the next week or so. There were a few more Swallow heading east – I counted 7, 3 Sand Martin, the usual Chiffchaff, Whitethroat & Blackcap, along with the other local residents. The dwindling Linnet flock was feeding along the fairways and I eventually disturbed (unintentionally) the Wheatear from the path close to the lighthouse on my return journey. I watched it fly off east, nearly reaching the far end before it dropped out of sight. A couple of looks out to sea produced only a few Fulmar and a single Gannet. None of the Kittiwake passage reported by NENBC members yesterday. People count today: 6 dog-walkers, no joggers and 7 miscellaneous exercisers / workers / shoppers – & one rough-sleeper on the bench near the band-stand. It must be super-tough for them in these difficult times.

The dwindling Linnet flock feeding on the fairways – Cromer golf course