Incredible Norfolk Day

Another day to spend wandering around North Norfolk. I left at 4.30 and soon came across thick fog as from Ely to Hunstanton. A mixed blessing as it may well have caused a good fall of migrants, but if it did not lift early on then birding would be somewhat hampered. As it was, it lifted as I arrived at Titchwell before 6.30 and immediately was into good birds. On walking along the footpath several sedge and reed warblers were amongst the bushes. After recent days, all worth checking. 21+ curlew sandpipers and 3 little stint were amongst several thousand waders on the Freshwater. A  check for Yankee sandpipers drew a blank so off to the beach. Several superbly plumaged grey plover and a few skua sp far out but apart from these just the regular sanderlings, gulls and assorted waders. Back to the car, via stopping off to have a look at the moth traps. A splendid canary shouldered thorn amongst a reasonable haul of usual early autumnal moths. Only other sighting of note: a chinese water deer  in the vegetation on the west side of the footpath.
In the car park met with 3 Stortford birders. We exchanged stories before they set off for the reserve.

lifting fog, Titchwell 6.30a.m.

Pheasant greeting on entry

gadwall

grey heron

curlew sandpiper

curlew sandpipers

Freshwater



chinese water deer

Wheatear, Titchwell beach

little stint and dunlin

ruff

linnet

reed warbler

incoming greylags

After Titchwell, I headed for Burnham Overy where many unusual warblers had been seen over the weekend. No news today, but still worth checking. In the dunes plenty of wheatear, all females or 1st years, with a couple of redstarts and a whinchat. News of an icterine came through so some clever so and so thought he would shout it out to all and sundry. Great, I was just about to get a good redstart photo. Not happy and as the warbler was over a mile in the other direction it was of no interest to me at that time. I was enjoying where I was. I wandered back to the car wishing I had given him a piece of my mind, but, as it happened, I kept that for later. How I love twitchers who just chase birds around that have been found by others! My pleasure is in finding them, although I will go to see a good bird if local.
Chiffchaffs, lesser whitethroat, pied flycatcher and assorted tits went on to the list before I set off for the Glandford red backed shrike. Rather distant behind Cleyspy, but good to see. A year lister. Then, off to Salthouse car park for the wryneck at Gramborough Hill. I found this reasonably easily and immediately the big lens boys turned up. They must have walked straight past it. Very briefly the wryneck showed well on the shingle before disappearing into undergrowth. At this point, you could still study it with binocs and/or telescope but it wasn't playing ball for the camera. I was horrified when not one, but three of the photographers (not birders) got out their mobile phones and played, at great volume) wryneck calls. The bird looked around, stopped feeding and wandered out in search of a fellow migrant. This happened twice by which time my patience was stretched and I let rip with  diplomatically put comments on the fact that all birders should respect the welfare of the bird and that by playing calls the migrant was not feeding and using up much required energy in looking for a fellow wryneck. This bird had arrived Sunday and had probably been bashed around Saturday in windy and wet conditions. It needed a break and chance to refuel. However, they got their photos!

 

wryneck

looking for a fellow wryneck

calling for a fellow wryneck

spot the wryneck?

Anyway, before I vented anymore of my spleen, I left. 2 birders commented "well said" as I did so. Off to Sheringham for a peaceful spot of individual sea watching. I arrived to be greeted by thick sea mist, so left and parked at Weybourne beach car park. The stretch between here and Kelling often throws up good birds and affords sea watching opportunities. Wheatear, another whinchat and another pied flycatcher were noted along with a large party of pied wagtails. With the recent influx of citrine wags I thought it was worth checking through them. Not easy as there were 20+ and mobile. However, one was frequently being chased by others and then went up and called. Sounded similar to yellow wagtail, but clearly wasn't. A citrine! First for me since one at Kelling Water Meadows many moons ago. I met up with a local birder just as a couple walked over the Muckleborough Collection land. Never seen anyone birding here, but this chap, Moss, had permission. He had also got onto the citrine and we watched it for a while. It appeared to have a ring on the right leg, a very worn and dull ring, strange as it appeared to be a 1st year bird! Anyway, news folk were notified and within 20 minutes people were wandering along the beach. Once we had shown them where it was I left. I had forgotten that the car park was pay and display and I had only put on an hour. £25.00 owing to NNDC! Worth it as I also added stonechat, fulmar, arctic skua and gannet to the list. By now it was getting on for 5p.m. so I thought I would finish off with a walk down the East Bank to Arnold's.



heat haze and distance don't lend themselves to crytsal sharp shots. Honestly, a citrine wagtail.

camera shy whinchat.
 

As I walked along the east bank I watched 2 very dark 2nd year marsh harriers along with regular fare. However, at Arnold's were good numbers of wader including bar tailed godwits and a greenshank. Highlight was, after missing out on the dunes at Burnham Overy, a most confiding redstart by the sluice. Also here, an inquisitive weasel. I couldn't help but fire off loads of shots of the redstart as I just sat still on the bank.

female redstart

All in all a fantastic day, finishing at gone 7pm. A meal in The Swan at Hilborough en route home meant I was back indoors just after 10pm. A long but most enjoyable trip, with 3 year listers taking my total to 189. Hopefully, a few days at Portland Bird Obs next week may see me past the 200 mark as I am fairly sure, shag, balearic shearwater and raven will be easy along with some decent migrants. Just need to keep an eye on the weather and hopefully, will need to pack my waterproofs..
Species list:
little grebe, fulmar, gannet, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, spoonbill, mute swan, greylag goose, canada goose (10 sp) shelduck, mallard, gadwall, wigeon, teal, marsh harrier, common buzzard, kestrel, red legged partridge, pheasant (20 sp) moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, ringed plover, grey plover, golden plover, lapwing, knot, sanderling (30 sp) turnstone, dunlin, curlew sandpiper, little stint, common sandpiper, redshank, spotted redshank, greenshank, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit (40 sp) curlew, whimbrel, snipe, ruff, arctic skua, black headed gull, common gull, herring gull, lesser black backed gull, great black backed gull,  (50 sp) common tern, sandwich ter, wood pigeon, stock dove, collared dove, wryneck, skylark, sand martin, swallow, house martin (60sp) meadow pipit, pied wagtail, citrine wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, redstart, wheatear, whinchat, stonechat (70 sp) blackbird, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, sedge warbler, reed warbler, willow warbler, chiffchaff, pied flycatcher, great tit, blue tit (80 sp) red backed shrike, magpie, jay, jackdaw, carrion crow, rook, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, linnet (90 sp) goldfinch, greenfinch, reed bunting, yellow hammer and, finally, near Lakenheath, flyover tawny owl. Total 95 species. Excellent.