Century scored

A full day in Norfolk, leaving 4.30 a.m. and returning at dusk gave views of precisely 100 bird species. Nothing outstandingly rare, but some good birds mixed in with the regulars along with one or two birds found in strange surroundings or odd time of year. In all, 12 year listers.
First stop was Hunstanton clifftop car park where, in the morning light goldfinches, siskins, lesser redpolls etc were moving west in large numbers. Good numbers of meadow pipits, too. A few sanderling, oystercatchers and sandwich terns were also recorded as we scanned the sea and sand.
On to Choseley barns were we scored with singing corn buntings, numerous pheasants and red legged partridge. Also, grey partridge pairs were viewed in several fields before we landed at Titchwell. With showers promised we thought we'd check the sea first and use the hides if it rained. Upon arrival brambling and other finches were noted on the feeders and a water rail adjacent to the path.

Choseley Barn corn bunting

goldfinch

obliging blackbird

brambling at Titchwell

skulking water rail, Titchwell.
 

We arrived at the sea, Gary, Dave and myself and quickly noted very little. A solitary great crested grebe, some distant wigeon and common scoter moving west and some in off curlews and godwits. Back in the hides, usual suspects were noted along with little ringed plover, white wagtail and grey plover. Along the path, a harrier, but this time not a marshie, a male hen. Good bird. This was followed by brief views of a whinchat which refused to emerge from its bush. The wind was strong and most birds were keeping a low profile. A few reed buntings were braving the gusts to sing from their song bushes.
After the boys finished their lunch (8.30a.m.) we popped into Holkham and Lady Anne's Drive but not too much to add and we didn't get to the lake, so no Egyptian goose. We stopped off at Wells Harbour, but the tide was in so all we got were 3 sticks of rock. A good sugar hit! Dave waxed lyrical about their various merits. Gary and I were unable to speak due to our teeth being glued together with rhubarb and custard flavour!
Off to Warham Greens where no migrants apart from a willow warbler were noted. The wind being southerly was spoiling our plans of newly arrived summer stuff, but never mind, on to Cley for more coffee.

little egret

male ruff

Titchwell ruff

summer plumaged spotted redshank

black tailed godwit

At Cley a few things were about, so we went in search of the (ex) long staying purple sandpiper. Gone. A walk in stiff breeze to the Swarovski hide gave views of skylark, meadow pipits, wheatear and not a lot else apart from 100's of brent geese in off. Weather was messing up their migratory flights. Then off along East Bank where a surprise awaited in the form of a female goosander on Arnold's Marsh. Not too much else so off to Salthouse beach where a troublesome pipit was relocated after an initial sighting. A rock pipit in a small puddle! Good bird. A count now revealed we were in the mid 90's species wise and the hunt was on. A grey heron made it 99 and so off to West Runton for hoped for fulmars. Nothing! A search through flocks of wood pigeons and starlings for ring ouzel and stock dove. Nothing. Off to Sheringham clifftops for more of the same. Nothing! Off to The Lobster for a pint and chips for the boys. Tick. Off to the Wyndham Arms for another pint. Tick. By this time the early start was beginning to tell so we set off for home. Near Fakenham a large bird of prey overhead. A red kite. The century bird. Great result and then home, stopping for a double espresso at The Swan, Hilborough. Dave too full of chips and rock to get out of the car. Home by last light, with a possible, but not counted hobby rapidly over the road a few miles from the village. Off to check on this at the weekend.
A super day out and a great bird list. Plenty we could have added had we searched new sites, as we did at Kelling Heat, but no warblers.

Complete Species list

 

great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, mute swan, greylag goose, canada goose, brent goose, shelduck, mallard, (10 sp) gadwall, shoveler, wigeon, teal, pochard, tufted duck, common scoter, goosander, red kite, marsh harrier, (20 sp) hen harrier, common buzzard, kestrel, red legged partridge, grey partridge, pheasant, water rail, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher (30 sp) avocet, little ringed plover, ringed plover, grey plover, golden plover, lapwing, sanderling, turnstone, dunlin, redshank, (40sp) spotted redshank, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit, curlew, ruff, black headed gull, common gull, herring gull, lesser black backed gull, greater black backed gull (50 sp) kittiwake, sandwich tern, wood pigeon, collared dove, barn owl, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, skylark, sand martin, swallow,( 60 sp) house martin, rock pipit, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, white wagtail, yellow wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, wheatear,( 70 sp) whinchat song thrush, redwing, blackbird, sedge warbler, reed warbler, cettis warbler, willow warbler, chiffchaff, great tit (80 sp) blue tit, long tailed tit, magpie, jay, jackdaw, carrion crow, rook, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch (90 sp) brambling, linnet, lesser redpoll, goldfinch, greenfinch, siskin, bullfinch, reed bunting, yellowhammer, corn bunting (100sp)

 

Salthouse black headed gull

Titchwell song thrush

Titchwell avocets.

 

The ones in bold are year listers, taking my none twitching year total to 156. For another version of this trip, giving more details of Dave's dietary requirements please visit Gary's site:
http://hairybirders.blogspot.co.uk