Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Brilliant day at Cley started with a pied flycatcher at Walsey Hills. We then found a red-backed shrike, which annoyingly flew off immediately. A flock of 8 curlew sandpipers dropped in to join 6 on the ground. We also had 16 little stints, 4 greenshanks, a knot, sanderling, turnstone and whinchat. 0161
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 27/08/2026A spotted crake at Titchwell this afternoon was in exactly the same spot as they used to be when they were regular autumn migrants here 15 to 20 years ago. 0141
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Germany losing on penalties. The reason the word schadenfreude was invented. 130
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 28/06/2026Double whammy in the garden last night. Hummingbird hawk moths are always great to see, but this one was eclipsed by a garden tick - a broad bordered bee hawk moth, both feeding on lavender. 050
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Spent the morning at Cley watching family parties of bearded tits, reed buntings, reed and sedge warblers. Also a glossy ibis. Highlight though was the mothing session at the visitor centre. You get some idea of the size of this privet moth. 1180
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 12/06/2026Full house of herons at Cley this morning: great white, little and cattle egrets, grey heron, spoonbill, bittern and glossy ibis. Returned home to find a red kite very low over the house. 0200
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 10/06/2026Blood dripping down my leg turned out to a cut from a CD case (don't ask). Then a massive scream when my achilles went going upstairs. Putting veg in the wok, the fat spat and I got a badly burnt belly. Whilst holding an ice pack to my gut, I got hot chilli sauce in my eye. Not the best of days. 250
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026Haydn's music is always described as 'witty' (insert 'cliché' or 'lazy journalism' as you wish). I don't know anyone who has even raised so much as a smile, let alone a chuckle. 110
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 30/05/2026An early morning visit to Titchwell was rewarded with a female golden oriole flying in front of us as we drove into the reserve. Also had our first little stints and spotted flycatchers of the year. 1211
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 29/05/2026Cley tonight: gull-billed tern, glossy ibis, spoonbill, greenshank, 4 cattle egrets and barn owl. Fox killed an entire brood of shelducks. Nearby, we heard 3 nightmares, and saw a long-eared owl and a dead polecat. All this plus a fabulous blue moon too. 3130
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 22/05/2026Watching a programme of various artists doing Dylan covers at the BBC. Thought that Lulu's Mr Tamborine Man was the worst thing ever on TV (and she had the gall to do the same routine a few years later). But no! I give you Cliff Richard and the Nolan Sisters, performing Blowin' in the Wind. No words 020
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 20/05/2026Just watching Mahler 2 on Sky Arts. There is an ad break after the 3rd movement. I kid you not. 130
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 09/05/2026Took a trip to foreign parts today, well, Suffolk, looking for nightingales. 8 noted including one bird sitting out in the open for several minutes. Then on to Weeting where 7 weird and wonderful stone curlews were on show. 060
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 04/05/2026After our trip to Scotland, we went to Cley this morning for a bit of quiet birding. Within 10 minutes, we had seen a wryneck and red-rumped swallow. An hour later, we drove a short distance down the coast to Sheringham, where a hoopoe was our 200th species of the year. 0140
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 02/05/2026Coming back from a successful Scottish holiday, we pulled into a layby at random near Berwick for a coffee break. Trying to find a gannet seen by Chris, I saw some dorsal fins. Assuming that we had dolphins, I was more than a tad surprised to see a pod of 6-8 orcas passing close inshore. Wooooooo! 2621
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 26/04/2026Headed north yesterday for our Scottish holiday, staying at Strathpeffer. At least 5 wood warblers new in at Killiecrankie. Also four nuthatches, 2 dippers and a goosander. Pairs of displaying merlins, peregrines and golden eagles in Strathdearn, also 5 wheatears, and a ring ouzel heard. 1150
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 11/04/2026Managed to find a couple of garganeys at Titchwell this morning. Reed warbler and common tern were new for year. Also 200 sandwich terns, 30 swallows, 15 sand martins, a wheatear, and half a dozen each willow warblers, chiffchaffs and blackcaps. 090
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 23/03/2026Great morning as ever at Cley despite dipping hen harrier, bittern, 13 twite, 2 glossy ibises and a short-eared owl 🤬. Did see our first four lizards of the year though. 0130
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 21/03/2026We had our best ever views of four Dartford Warblers on Kelling Heath, Norfolk this morning. Absolutely stunning birds. Then heard news of DWs being deliberately disturbed on Westleton Heath, Suffolk this evening. What is wrong with some people? 1122
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 10/03/2026We are lucky enough to have the Swanton Novers raptor watch point within 10 minutes of where we live. After several bad weather days, the birds were showing well today, and we logged 5 goshawks, including one female flying in front of us for 5 minutes. Also 14 buzzards, 2 sparrowhawks and a kite. 0190
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 08/03/2026Spring is definitely springing at Cley. First singing chiffchaff and little ringed plover of the year. Summer plumaged black tailed godwit and golden plover. Skylarks singing and snipe displaying. Mute swans rubbing their chests together and Mr teal seemingly attempting to drown Mrs teal. Ahem. 0151
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 18/02/2026Good day: 7 hawfinches and displaying goshawks in the Brecks. Bad day: 13 assorted deer, 3 badgers, 1 tawny owl plus sundry pheasants, squirrels, rats, pigeons, and unidentifiable bits of roadkill. Survival instincts seem to disappear when the hormones start raging. 1142
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 14/01/2026We were enjoying close up views of a male hen harrier this afternoon when a merlin appeared from nowhere, in hot pursuit of a meadow pipit. The harrier followed it and so, within the space of 5 seconds, we were watching both birds over the bonnet of the car parked next to us. Mind blowing. 2181
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 25/12/2025Merry Christmas one and all. Nice present from Santa in the form of a cracking male Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham. Seen down to a few feet, and also a car tick! Also peregrine, kingfisher, Jack snipe, turnstone, 20 avocets, 25 black tailed godwits, a guillemot and 12 gannets at Cley. 2180
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 21/12/2025Highlight at Cley this morning was a woodcock in-off the sea, pursued by a marsh harrier. Supporting cast included a very obliging jack snipe and kingfisher, plus three stonechats. A peregrine beat the place up in full attack mode, before flying off and spooking 2000 golden plovers over Blakeney. 0151
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 06/12/2025Sometimes you forget just how small crests are. At Titchwell this morning, we had a flock of 6+ goldcrests and 2+ firecrests straight out their roost, fossicking around 2-3 feet in front of us. They are seriously tiny. Magical experience. 0231
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 07/11/2025Just returned from leading a birding trip in Speyside. Highlights included a hen harrier mobbing a sea eagle, ring-necked duck, green-winged teal, 3 little gulls, flocks of 60 purple sandpipers and 20 bullfinches, plus all the usual suspects. As usual on these trips, dipped dipper 🤬 2120
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 07/11/2025Saw my first house festooned with Christmas decorations today, at the same time as they were letting off bonfire fireworks. Come on guys, make your minds up. FYI, xmas decorations should not go up before Xmas eve. 🤣🤣🤣 080
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 15/10/2025A great day with a dusky warbler, 2 yellow-browed warblers, 3 crossbills, and a large passage of chaffinches, bramblings and redwings at Walsey Hills, a barred warbler, another ybw, and 6 glossy ibises at Blakeney, and a pomarine skua with full spoons and a red-breasted merganser at Cley 0230
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 01/10/2025Any techies out there? My emails will not download to Outlook. I can get them on my phone, or on my BT Web page, but not where I want them. Any ideas? Am currently trying to reinstall Outlook. Thanks in advance. 210
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 09/09/2025Brilliant evening @rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social -red-necked phalarope, glossy ibis, pectoral, wood and curlew sandpipers, 4 little stints, greenshank, spotted redshank, 35 spoonbills, 5 cattle egrets, great white egret, 30+ dunlin, golden plovers, and 1,000+ starlings 2200
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 26/08/2025Highlights at Cley this morning included a male crossbill that dropped in for 2 seconds, an influx of snipe, a curlew sandpiper, wheatear, and an early flyover pink-footed goose. There were good numbers of juvenile chiffchaffs and willow warblers for comparison purposes. 0200
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 26/08/2025If you are in the area tomorrow, and fancy a bit of a laugh, I am giving a talk entitled 'Molotovs and Merlins', a light-hearted look at the trials and tribulations of writing a 'Where to Watch Guide'. The Assembly Rooms in Swaffham at 7.30pm. £4 for non-members. 000
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 09/08/2025Brilliant morning at Cley. Osprey low over our heads. Wood sandpiper and water rail right in front of us. Spotted redshank, raven, yellow-legged and Mediterranean gulls, 5 green sandpipers, 16 ruff, 2 dunlin, 34 curlews, Sandwich tern, 3 spoonbills, all 3 egrets etc. Plus a clouded yellow butterfly 1201
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 07/08/2025Oh the irony. I had a bad headache and went to take a couple of ibuprofen. Managed to slice my finger open on the plastic packaging as I popped the tablets out. #worstpapercutever 160
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 27/07/2025A gentle seawatch at Cley this morning, but it did produce my first two arctic skuas and manx shearwaters of the year. Autocorrect wrote seawater, arctic squash, and many shearwaters. Ho hum. 091
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 20/07/2025Felt like the start of autumn passage at Cley this morning, with the first few waders starting to trickle through - whimbrel, golden plovers, greenshank, green, wood and common sandpipers all noted. A couple of flypasts by a bittern were a nice bonus. 22 cattle egrets in the air at once. #ukbirding 0181
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 13/07/2025Green sandpipers were on the move at Cley this morning, with 11 counted. Also saw my first white wagtail of the year, together with the usual array of spoonbills, cattle egrets, marsh harriers, etc. Seven male ruff in various states of moult are known locally as scruffs. 56 species seen. #ukbirding 0180
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 02/07/2025Best thing at Titchwell this morning was a full 'broken wing' display from a ringed plover, as it lured an oystercatcher away from its nest. Other highlights included a turtle dove and spotted flycatcher among 70 species seen. #ukbirding 0180
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 26/06/2025Watching City - Juventus on DAZN. Unfortunately, the commentary is out of sync with the pictures by about 2 seconds. So, for example, I knew that Doku had scored before he had received the final pass. Not good. 510
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 25/06/2025A day of flocks at Cley, starting with a sky full of egrets - 14 cattle, 4 great white, numerous little, and 4 spoonbills Then 336 bar-tailed godwits, plus both races of black tailed godwit. Finally, over 200 sand martins appeared from nowhere, hawking low over the scrape. #ukbirding 0190
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 23/06/2025Female Chinese water deer with a fawn in tow at Cley yesterday and Titchwell today. 140
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 22/06/2025Just found a night heron flying west at Cley. Also 214 barwits, 85 blackwits, 12 knot, 26 med gulls, 4 spoonbills, 2 cattle egrets etc. #ukbirding 0190
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 21/06/2025First garden record of a hummingbird hawk moth. Whooooo! 0210
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 21/06/2025Just witnessed a mid-air collision between a meadow pipit and an emperor dragonfly at Cley this morning. No casualties. #ukbirding 0230
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 11/06/2025I've just started The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre. 'Give it all the awards now...the most original crime novel of the year', says top crime author Mark Billingham in the blurb. Mmm, sounds good. Then I see that the book is dedicated to a certain Mark Billingham. Hmmmm. Naughty publishers. 130
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 10/06/2025A close encounter day at Hickling Broad. Sitting in Bittern hide (appropriately), a bittern flew towards us, practically within stroking distance, closely followed by one of many marsh harriers. Then a swallowtail butterfly flew between my legs! #ukbirding 0110
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 06/06/2025Avocets are the world's worst parents. At Titchwell this morning we watched birds viciously attacking Pied Wagtails, Little Ring Plovers, Shelducks and a Spoonbill. All because they were too close to the Avocet chicks, and all of them posing precisely zero threat to the youngsters. #ukbirding 0100
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 06/06/2025Sometimes you just get lucky. Checked my WhatsApp messages to discover that there was an adult Rose-coloured Starling just two minutes walk from our house. A lovely pink individual, attracting attention from pretty much the whole of the village. 0170
Gordon Hamlett @gordonhamlett.bsky.social · 05/06/2025Help needed please. Outlook has stopped working. Instead of my emails, I got was a screen asking for the password to be re-entered. That didn't work, nor did resetting my password and starting over. Possibly connected, there was a Microsoft update yesterday. Can't connect to helpdesk yet. Any ideas? 111