Roger, Steve and I set off for
West Norfolk at 06:30 in the hope of seeing some scarce migrants. There had been a number of desired species
along the coast yesterday and we felt we should start at Burnham Overy Staithe
as there were several good birds yesterday.
We arrived at the harbour car park at around 09:45 although there was as
yet no news regarding any of yesterday’s birds.
There was a light north east breeze and it was quite murky and even
drizzled at times as the mist swirled around.
As we walked along the sea
wall Steve picked up some Grey Partridge in the first field and it wasn’t too
long afterwards when what we thought might be a Willow Warbler was heard
calling in the hedge. After some time
looking for the bird we eventually saw it and it turned out to be a Redstart,
although it was pretty illusive. A
Sparrowhawk then flew low over the field and a Marsh Harrier and seventeen
Little Egrets were observed over the marsh.
It was low tide and there were quite a few waders feeding on the exposed
mud but they turned out to be virtually all Redshank with an odd Curlew amongst
them. As we approached the bend close to
the large pool there was a Kestrel and we had at least three Marsh Harrier to
the east, one of which showing green wing-tags similar to the bird seen
yesterday at Rutland Water and was possibly from the same brood.
There were sixteen
Black-tailed Godwits feeding on the large pool and several more Redshanks and
Steve picked up two Snipe and then two Bearded Tits feeding at the base of the
distant reeds. A Black-necked Grebe was
on the lagoon and a single Greenshank was also present.
We continued along the bank
seeing a Wheatear on a fence post just before we turned and headed out to the
dunes. As we approached the bushes on
the right of the boardwalk we found a Lesser Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler
and another birder drew our attention to a Pied Flycatcher. We could see the apple tree that the
Yellow-browed Warbler had been reported and then noticed some birder activity
just beyond it. We quickly joined them
expecting to see the Yellow-browed but they were watching a Red-breasted
Flycatcher, which was most likely a newly arrived bird.
Wheatear
Wheatear
Wheatear
We continued to watch the
Red-breasted Flycatcher as it fed from the wired fence and also seeing another
Wheatear. Another birder was then
observed taking photos and on joining him we had nice views of a bright
Yellow-browed Warbler as it fed at the top of the bushes. News then percolated through that the Barred
Warbler was still present and had been seen in the rose bush about 400 meters
into the dunes.
We decided to give it a go but
as we walked out towards Holkham it soon became obvious that others looking for
it were unsure of its location. As we
were trying to find the appropriate rose bush a ring-tailed Hen Harrier made an
appearance and three Siskin flew over. I
obtained some information from two other birders that it was being looked for
yesterday further down the track and so we walked back towards the
boardwalk. As Roger and I were looking
on the other side of the fence, which is where Dave had seen it earlier in the
week, Steve said he thought he had it.
We turned around and he gave us directions saying it was still
there. I looked and saw some movement
and managed to get my scope on the bird and yes it was the Barred Warbler, well
done Steve. However, not surprisingly it
dropped and seemed to move behind the rose bush out of sight. We walked around the other side to join another
couple of birders and after a few minutes we saw it fly back close to where we
had first seen it but it dropped out of sight.
Steve then re-found it and Roger managed to get his scope on it before
it disappeared again. Roger later found
it in the same area and was also then able to get it in the scope as did Steve
but again it dropped out of sight. A few
minutes later it flew further left and Roger eventually got on it and I also
picked it up again and watched it as it fed on some berries. The Hen Harrier also put in another
appearance whilst we were looking for the Barred Warbler. Quite a crowd had formed and most had still
not seen it but we decided to head back for some lunch.
As we walked back to the
boardwalk we saw another couple of Wheatear and on approached the apple tree
there was quiet a crowd and although we didn’t see the Yellow-browed Warbler
again we did have further views of a Red-breasted Flycatcher, apparently there
were now two, the Pied Flycatcher, two Garden Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat and
a Whitethroat.
Pied Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Red-breasted Flycatcher
There were now more waders in
the harbour as the tide rose and there were two Grey Plover, five Knot and
seven Turnstone as well as plenty of Curlews and Redshanks. After some lunch
and with no further news we felt Titchwell was the best option.
The weather was still pretty
much the same with a swirling mist and occasional drizzle as we made our way
down the west bank. There was very
little on either the Thornham or the Reedbed Pools although we did hear and see
a Cetti’s Warbler in flight. As we
approached the island hide it started to drizzle and so we entered the hide to
take shelter. There were seven Little
Stints and two Curlew Sandpipers feeding amongst several Ruff and there were
two Spotted Redshanks, one being quite close to the hide. I had left my camera in the boot of the car
but was now regretting it and eventually I cracked and walked back to get
it. The round trip took me almost twenty
minutes but the Spotted Redshank was still present when I got back and I had
seen a fly over Yellow Wagtail on my way back to the hide.
Adult male Ruff
Spotted Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Spotted Redshank
There was a small mixed party
of Ringed Plovers and Dunlin as well as four Bar-tailed Godwits on the fresh
marsh, although surprisingly we couldn’t find any Pintail amongst the
wildfowl. We eventually moved on towards
the beach seeing more Ruff and a third Spotted Redshank on the fresh marsh and
also a fly over second-winter Mediterranean Gull. The channel on Volunteer Marsh contained
numerous Redshank and both Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits as well as a
Knot and a Turnstone. There were more
Black-tailed Godwits on the Tidal Marsh but other than a Little Egret very
little else.
On reaching the beach the tide
was beginning to go out and there were few waders with just a few Oystercatchers
and a dozen Sanderling. Steve found a
nine Common Scoters and six Eiders and we all eventually managed to see at
least one Great Crested Grebe. The mist
was still swirling around and viewing was not easy but it did seem very quiet,
although seven Gannets flew east during one period when the visibility
improved. There was also a couple of
Sandwich Terns and a single Common Tern observed off shore and six Knot landed
on the shoreline. Twenty Swallows were
observed over the beach and at least three Wheatears were observed and were all
perhaps signs of visible migration.
As we walked back there was
another Wheatear on the edge of Volunteer Marsh, again perhaps suggesting birds
were arriving. Further scanning of the
Fresh Marsh did produce a Whinchat and another Yellow Wagtail and there were
five Golden Plover on one of the spits.
There were two female-type Red-crested Pochard along with a Pochard on
the Reedbed Pool as we walked back and we could hear a Water Rail calling. With the weather getting no better we left
Titchwell at 17:20 but called at Choseley Barns on the way home. We found a single Red-legged Partridge and
four Grey Partridge and two Marsh Harriers, one being a male, quartered the
fields.
On route home I had added
three species new for the day, Common Gull, Stock Dove and Jay, which took my
daily tally to 105. It had been an
exceptional day’s birding with a good selection of birds, including some nice
scarce migrants.
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