Norfolk Weekender

 Yet more county treachery to report I'm afraid as I've just spent the weekend doing a spot of birding in Norfolk with  Alan Shorrock  The winds and sometimes the weather were not perhaps the best for a visit to the east coast but we made the most of it and saw some decent birds. From our base in Heacham we ended up visiting Titchwell on all three days with just a trip to Holme NOA to break the monopoly. This morning we journeyed back quite early and managed to squeeze a quick visit to Eyebrook in before I returned home.

Pectoral Sandpiper, R-n Phalarope and Spoonbill

On Friday our visit to Titchwell produced reasonable views of a Pectoral Sandpiper and a rather more distant one of two juvenile Red-necked Phalaropes. A large flock of almost fifty Spoonbills provided something of a spectacle, decent numbers were present on the coast this weekend. Other good waders noted were three Little Stints and at least one Curlew Sandpiper as well as the usual coastal selection. Wildlife other than birds that attracted our attention included Wall Browns, Willow Emeralds and Chinese Water Deer. On the following day a return visit started well with distant views of an Osprey at Thornham and also similarly poor views of both Redstart and Whinchat. Sea watching was quite productive too, a steady stream of mainly juvenile Gannets were passing and Red-throated Divers showed well too. Alan saw several Arctic Skuas harassing Sandwich Terns in the distance and I saw a Black Tern just offshore. A relatively close in Razorbill was another highlight, I don't often see this species away from the colonies where they breed. 

Ruff, Marsh Harrier and Curlew Sandpipers

On storm Sunday we chose to visit Holme though the area around the observatory was quiet, a couple of Stonechats and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth were the highlights. On the sea things proved to be more lively in the hour before and after high tide. Once again Gannets were the commonest species and there was another Razorbill with a juvenile in close attendance. Several Arctic and one Great Skua were seen, the latter was seen to knock a male Marsh Harrier into the sea but the harrier somehow managed to rescue itself and make good its escape. Also noted on our vigil was a flock of Common Scoter and two Spoonbills flying in from the other side of the Wash. Two Hobbies were watched menacing a large flock of House Martins and we had great views of two Cattle Egrets on our way out. As the weather was by now clearly deteriorating we opted to pop back into Titcjwell and shelter in one of the hides. Three Curlew Sands and a distant Water Rail were the main highlights though both the Pec and one of the phalaropes were seen for the third day running.

Wall Brown, Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Cattle Egret

Today it was back to familiar territory as we diverted to Eyebrook on the way home hoping that something might have been blown in by the strong winds. A Common Sandpiper was seen from the island bunker, at least three more and a Green Sand were present around the res today. The bay to the north of the island hosted a Garganey as well as both a Redshank and a Ruff. I missed a Marsh Harrier that Alan saw but did manage to see both the juvenile Black Tern and the Spotted Redshank that he picked out. We were treated to very good views of the Spotted Red from Stoke Dry car park and this was our last sighting before a pint in the 'spoons brought the weekend to a close.

Spotted Redshank, Garganey, Ruff and Redshank