White - crowned Sparrow

Phil Lee · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:20 am

I would advise any Lincs birders going to see the White - crowned Sparrow at Cley to go on a weekday. Sat and Sun could prove very interesting due to the restricted viewing. I went Tues 8th. You are viewing a curved driveway about 10 feet wide from the far side of a narrow road that has about 6 feet of grass at its side. You need to be straight in line with the driveway to see the bird. The bird showed well for a couple of minutes after a wait of 45 mins. Once you had seen it you were urged to move to allow others in. Tempers were often frayed and tripods and photographers were made about as welcome as a python in a lucky dip !

Not all bad then !

Alastair Carr · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:02 am

Could you tell me the exact grid reference, please as I am not familiar with Cley-next-the-Sea.

Thanks

Alastair

Phil Lee · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:17 pm

TG 047 431

John T Goy · **Joined:** Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:30 pm **Posts:** 2385

Sounds as if a brush cutter would come in handy.

Alastair Carr · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:11 am

Max wrote:

Sounds as if a brush cutter would come in handy.

Don't you mean a bush cutter?

Roy Harvey · **Joined:** Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm **Posts:** 956

Monday viewing was absolutely chaotic but things had quietened down at my second visit on Thursday. Patience is required as the bird can be missing for up to 45 minutes at a time and then when it does appear, may only be on show for about 30 seconds.
But it's a little beauty!

Roy

Hugh Middleton · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2008 6:52 pm

Went on Tuesday and had a brilliant day. Was nearly put off by the comments of the crowds etc on some web sites but always enjoy Norfolk.

Was at the site from 10- 15 to 11. Had a good but brief view, Decided to hang around for a better one which I got. I put two ladies nearby into my spot so they could see it too. Was nice to be thanked by one of the husbands.

It is a cracking bird and there was no hassle at all - just a good crowd who I seemed to meet up with throughout the day.

The snow and lapland buntings at Salthouse were a delight as was the spotted redshank I found. Usual marsh harrier and avocets. Skeins of brent coming over which I love.

The icing on the cake was the water pipit behind the visitor centre at Cley. Two hours scoping a ploughed field in the bitter cold but was worth it.

Hugh

John T Goy · **Joined:** Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:30 pm **Posts:** 2385

Alastair Carr wrote:

Max wrote:

Sounds as if a brush cutter would come in handy.

Don't you mean a bush cutter?

No, I mean a brush cutter. That's what we called them when I used to do the ordering for the CPA back in the mid-eighties. Today a smaller version is called a strimmer.

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

White - crowned Sparrow

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