The weather continued to behave during the rest of our Norfolk trip with some long periods of sunshine and only a brief shower on Sunday morning to spoil things.
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| Dee managed a record shot of Spoonbill as it drifted overhead. |
A walk down to the beach at Titchwell Saturday morning for a sea-watch before breakfast produced
Slavonian Grebe, rafts of
Common Scoter, several
Goldeneye and three
Red-breasted Merganser. Later we parked up on the A149 and walked out across the fields and marshes to Gun Hill. We were well aware that the recent
Shore Larks hadn't been reported for a few days but our cup is always half full and it's a very enjoyable walk. Two
Red Kite and two
Common Buzzard and as we were halfway across a
Spoonbill flew directly overhead, did a few circles and then carried on towards Holkham fresh marsh. As expected no sign of
Shore Lark but a lone
Guillemot close inshore, probably exhausted with several gulls pestering, was a year tick, so too
Red-throated Diver. On the walk back a detour located the
Great White Egret on Holkham fresh marsh and a final look at the
Pink-footed Geese before they head off!
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| Unlikely to be back in Norfolk before summer so a final look at the Pinkies! |
A stop at Blakeney fresh marsh for Dee to take a look at the
Lapland Buntings proved difficult, especially with photographers in the exact location I'd seen them on Monday! We did manage two individuals, along with
Meadow Pipit,
Skylarks and a single
Rock Pipit, no sign of
Twite this time!
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| Snow Buntings |
On to Cley for a cuppa and a walk past Arnold's Pool to the seashore produced little of note but the several
Snow Buntings along the shingle were worth the effort. At least four
Red-throated Diver offshore and unbelievably on route back to the car a second
Spoonbill of the day, heading north before disappearing from sight. The Titchwell harrier roost produced three 'ringtail'
Hen Harrier and a
Barn Owl out towards Thornham.
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| Brambling at RSPB Titchwell |
Sunday was a more leisurely day and a little time at RSPB Titchwell before heading off for lunch in Hunstanton. A sea-watch produced more
Goldeneye,
Common Scoter and
Red-breasted Merganser and the centre feeders still had three
Brambling and male
Siskin. Another look at Choseley Drying Barns produced a couple of boxing
Hares, probably the same two I had Monday, plus a Norfolk first, when two
Raven flew north cronking away!
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| Lots of Fulmar in residence at Hunstanton |
A walk below the cliffs at Hunstanton gave us the opportunity to see the
Fulmar colony, with many in residence. While here a
Kittiwake drifted along the cliff face before heading back out to sea.
Species Seen:
Mute Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Graylag Goose, Shelduck, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Fulmar, Cormorant, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Knot, Sanderling Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Ruff, Lapwing, Dunlin, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Kittiwake, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Guillemot, Rock Dove!, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Barn Owl, Kingfisher, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Reed Bunting, Lapland Bunting.
