Stiff North Westerlies this morning, good for sea watching? The accompanying torrential showers put us off going until early afternoon. We paid for an hour's car parking at Winterton Beach before driving to the raised section near the shed, turning the car so that I could scope from my window. One other birder sat in the lee of the shed, someone we know as Honda man ! We first met him at Holden Honda in Norwich.
During the next hour when we had two more heavy showers, we saw about 16 Gannets, 5 Dunlin, a Cormorant, 6 Common Terns and.......a Red-necked Grebe and a Storm Petrel. It was whilst trying to ID the grebe in a heaving swell that a small dark bird with rounded wings, a very white rump and a square tail flew through my scope. I followed it, closely hugging the waves, in my scope for about 30 seconds. Unfortunately, Pam didn't get on to it as it was quite close in and out of view for her. Now, Keith tells me that it's a reportable bird in Norfolk ! I must consult J and D on Friday as to how and who.
There were also 3 Arctic Skuas flying north, one of them zooming up to hassle a Tern - which was empty- beaked.
Tuesday August 19
Another hour spent watching the moth traps being opened at Natural Surroundings near Holt. We almost aborted after the heavy overnight rain and the torrential shower as we were due to leave. Apart from arriving 20 minutes late - it was 9.00 not 9.30 opening - it was worth going. Four traps containing very few moths but a couple of new ones for us and a lovely Frosted Orange and a fresh Green Carpet. One can learn so much from the experienced moth-ers present.
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