The First - on the Second

Tuesday September 2

Pam was insistent that we do a day's birding despite her viral upper respiratory infection. The doctor pronounced her chest clear yesterday! Despite this, she has a dreadful cough. If she stood near the sea-lion enclosure at the zoo, the keeper would throw her a fish. 

Abbey Farm had plenty of water and 30+ Teal in addition to the usual Coot, Moorhen, iffy Mallard and one Little Grebe. Not even any Greylag.

At Snettisham, the tide was receding fast with plenty of the usual waders scattered on the mud, all feeding avidly - apart from the flock of Golden Plover which just sat there in a tight huddle.

Pam thought she could manage a walk at Titchwell, we got as far as the bench overlooking the Freshwater pool. Here we added 10 Spoonbill, witnessing one big youngster begging for food, one Little Stint, a Curlew Sandpiper, Pintail, Gadwall, Shoveller, 30+Avocet, Reed Bunting and four of our first Dark-bellied Brent flew over. A sharp 'chevit' alerted us to the presence of a Spotted Sandpiper on a Thornham Marsh pool. We added 16 birds to our list in a pleasant temperature. The wind was starting to increase as we made our way back.

The only picture I took all day. This Beetle sp was bumbling along the path verge. What is it?

Why were several birders viewing Thornham Marsh through a gap in the trees near the Centre? Three Whinchat were zipping about on the large bales in a hay field. Our first this year. Too early in Scotland and we'd missed the passage in Norfolk. Lovely surprise bird.

No Ibis at Salthouse but Egyptian and Canadas were day ticks, as were the Red-throated Divers and Gannets seen from Cley Beach.

We saw three House Martins at Thornham and a single Swallow at Titchwell, no other hirundine to-day. We also missed Little Egret (!) and Skylark which we usually expect, other 'misses' often are.

To-day's total was a pleasing 83, all but 16 from the car..........