A Grand Day Out

 My brother David and I ventured out into the wilds of North Norfolk today, we enjoyed decent weather and even better birds as we stopped at several spots along the coast. A Merlin seen from the car near Kings Lynn was an excellent way to kick things off, I just don't see enough of these little falcons so every one is appreciated.

Pink-footed Geese and Raven

Our birding proper began at Holkham where we parked the car along Lady Anne's Drive. Plenty of Pink-footed Geese were frequenting the area and they were accompanied by good numbers of Wigeon. Both Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits were feeding in amongst the geese and we were put on to a covey of six Grey Partridges by some other birders. Stand out bird here was a Raven which was my first ever sighting of this species in Norfolk. Some good birds had been reported from the sea here recently so we wasted no time in heading off in that direction. On our way to the beach another Merlin was noted harassing a flock of Linnets, clearly lightning can strike twice! Our efforts from the beach were rewarded as David picked out first a drake Long-tailed Duck and then a Red-necked Grebe. Other species seen on the sea included twenty plus Red-breasted Mergansers, some Common Scoters and some fly-by Red-throated Divers. Returning towards the car we stopped to enjoy a small flock of Shore Larks feeding in the roped off area, Snow Buntings had also been reported in the area though we didn't manage to catch up with them.

Grey Partridges and Shore Lark.

Encouraging news regarding the reported Long-eared Owl at Glandford decided our next course of action. We arrived at Cley Spy to find both the owl and a hoard of admirers in place. The Long-eared showed very well as it preened in the winter sunshine before settling down for a snooze. Next stop was at the East Bank at Cley where we attempted unsuccessfully to find the Long-billed Dowitcher which was apparently spooked just before we arrived. Sadly the bird did not return in the time that we spent there though I gather it reappeared a little later on. On our return drive along the coast we stopped briefly at Holkham to enjoy views of a flock of White-fronted Gesse feeding in a field near the A149.

Long-eared Owl

Final port of call was at Brancaster where a Hume's Warbler has been present for some time. By now the sun had disappeared behind some clouds and a stiff breeze was blowing, things were not looking too encouraging. Many would be warbler spotters began to drift away before I heard an unfamiliar call which led me to find the warbler feeding in waterside sallows. It disappeared before the few remaining diehard birders could see it but our patience was to be rewarded. Some twenty minutes lapsed before the bird called again but this time the bird was relocated and showed well if rather distantly. This was my first ever sighting of this species and proved to be the icing on what had been a very tasty cake! All in all one of my better birding trips recently, it's certainly going to take some beating!

White-fronted Geese