But I did edit the photos when I got in on the 1st.
Not the earliest of starts, we left at 5.45 a.m. on a lovely sunny morning. A common Buzzard was warming up perched on a roadside tree, a couple of hundred yards from the house.
The journey to our first stop, Harpley and Sculthorpe Mill, was unremarkable, common birds ticking along nicely. The lane to Sculthorpe was birdless but a Spot Fly graced a fence post in the car park. Having picked up Tree Sparrow, we made for Abbey Farm Hide.
As we turned into the path to the car park, a delightful family of two adult Grey Partridges and seven well grown young, scurried along in front of us. Not a good viewing spot on a sunny morning, looking directly into the sun. Not many birds either, apart from two Turtle Doves perched on wires and the usual motley collection of ducks and geese. A Kingfisher was in the book for even earlier that morning.....No Little Owls to-day.
A 7.1 tide at Snettisham meant that even an hour before high tide, the Wash was full. It gave us a new experience yet again. The shore was full of thousands of Dunlin, spread in large flocks wherever there was shingle exposed.
A few Turnstone and Ringed Plover amongst the first groups.
Down the concrete ramp to view the hide pits where there were unbelievable numbers of birds. Tens of thousands of Dunlin, Knot, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits and both Common and Sandwich Terns. Every island and edge tightly massed, no room to move. Waw. Couldn't distinguish individual birds, especially in the distant groups.
On the return journey on a receding tide, I was able to photograph some of the Dunlin.
An occasional,and unknown, alarm sent the flocks skittering into the air only to land again in the same place.
An hour in the Broadwater NOA Hide at Holme was rich in Raptors - they take some working for though. We saw Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Marsh and Montagu's Harriers and Kestrel, including at least two young of the latter. A Greenshank slept on one leg, beak under wing, throughout our stay. A single Spoonbill glided in and fed avidly for the last ten minutes.
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| Worn adult Sanderling (thanks James) |
Our first Grey Plover for a couple of months, resplendent in full summer plumage, was the only wader at Thornham.
Nothing at Choseley.....explained by the nearby corn harvesting with full trailers arriving regularly in the yards.
After a difficult entry - a procession of cars and boat trailers leaving and parked cars on the left - we found ourselves alone on the Mound at Brancaster Staithe. Shame we didn't add any birds !
As we left, my pager bleeped. There was a White-rumped Sandpiper at the far end of the pit at Snettisham whilst we were there !! It would have flown by now as the tide receded, we didn't go back for it.
It seemed like a good idea to sit on the beach at Cley Coastguards in case anything flew by, we were a bit short of species. Fortunately muy suggestion was successful, sea-watching is not Pam's favourite occupation but I think she's gradually warming to it.
After an hour enjoying the warm sun, a balmy breeze making it very acceptable, we'd added: a Guillemot, two Arctic Terns, Gannets and Little Terns. Excellent.
What would be at Daukes to-day?
No sign of Water Vole from the bridge.....
Daukes held three very garrulous men, only mitigated by their obvious love of birds. All visitors to the area, the photographer was the self appointed 'expert',he hardly drew breath. The one next to Pam was a total beginner but he was lovely, asking her for help with ID in a very pleasant way. Despite their intrusive presence, the birding was good enough to ensure we stayed (me anyway, Pam was further away and helping her neighbour). Nine Spoonbills slept throughout the hour we stayed, two Green Sandpipers made intermittent visits - as did a single Common Sandpiper - a juvenile Little Gull floated through and eventually three Spot Reds turned up. Even more Ruff than on Sunday and a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls again. A young Marsh Harrier spooked the waders and a flock of 30 Dunlin flew in. Small potatoes after Snettisham! Scoping the flock produced a single, red, adult Curlew Sandpiper.
Pat's Pool was much fuller than on Sunday and we met Bernard directing the long loader containing the diggers etc, leaving the marsh.
We missed some very usual birds to-day including Egyptian Goose, ending with a total of 86 species. A visit to Gunton would have added GC Grebe, the Egyptian and Tufted Duck at least but it was time for home and to watch the post tea-time session of the Test Match. India anhilated again with a day to spare.
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