Star Bird

Tuesday February 8

Our first ever was seen in Norfolk, at Brancaster in the late 80s I believe (may be wrong date). I was the first to report another, in the east Wells area in the 90s. Two adult birds in Wells Harbour delighted us all. Although often needing to be proved not to be escapes from wildfowl collections, the designer looks, film star bird which is Red-breasted Goose not infrequently turns up in flocks of Dark-bellied Brent Geese, swept up and gathered into their migration flights.

An adult bird arrived in Cley on Thursday February 3, subsumed into a large flock of Brent Geese. The Eye Field at Cley was a sure winner for the birder fans. We were at home, deciding not to go for it as it would probably be gone by the time we got there. As, indeed it had. It spent the next few days either on Blakeney fresh marsh, North Pool Cley, or the Eye Field. The only possible place for us was the Eye Field.

Yesterday, Monday, armed with a book to read and lunch, we parked at Coastguards at about 10.40.a.m. By 1.45, we had seen it (well, the flock)  make  WhatsApped flights from Blakeney to North Scrape and back again to Blakeney.We all agreed that picking out this colourful bird against the light in a flock of Brent was nigh on impossible. No-one managed it. The doughty walked to North Scrape.

Shortly before 2 p.m. we left. As we got home, the dreaded message appeared. The goose had landed in the field at the start of Beach Road at 2.20. Bother.

As usual, we went to Natural Surroundings this morning, to meet the moth-ing group. We left before mid-day, driving to Cley - again - where the bird had been reported back in the field at the start of Beach Road. We squeezed the car in near the gateway, everywhere was full. I peered through the gate and past the birders leaning on the gate, scanning until the Red-breasted Goose came into brief view at the back of a large flock of Brent. Pam got out to take some photos, including a few with my camera.  

Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, the whole flock burst upwards into flight, wheeling away in a shoosh of wings, towards Blakeney. The flock split, many of them seeming to turn round, flying back east over west bank. We drove to the beach. There was a sizeable flock on the Eye Field. We parked roadside and found the RBG amongst the group., way back and rather distant, obscured much of the time.After a few hopeful shots, ever obliging Pam drove to the car park, turning round to park roadside, so that I could rest my camera on the car door. The goose played hide and seek in the flock but I managed some satisfactory shots. 

 

 

 

There have been some excellent photos published on Facebook and Twitter.

Pam loves wildfowl, Red-breasted Goose is her number 1 favourite. In 1994, DS Farrow was a UEA student, earning a little extra painting birds onto baseball caps. Barn Owl masks were his trade mark. I have one, very worn now, with a flying Barn Owl on the front, looking as fresh as the day it arrived - the cap is faded and threadbare. Pam's cap has not been worn very much at all.