Yesterday there were some good
birds on the east coast and in particular Norfolk and so Dave, Roger, Ken and I
decided to go over for a day’s birding.
As we approached Kings Lynn the only bird of note was a Pallas’s Warbler
near the toilet block at Holme and so we decided to head there first. When we arrived there was just one other
birder present but shortly afterwards there was quite a crowd but there was no
sign of the reported Pallas’s or Yellow-browed Warblers. Another birder then informed us that there
was a Pallas’s Warbler showing well on the reserve and so we drove down to the
pines. We parked up and after paying we
stood overlooking a group of Sycamores.
There were quite a few birds in the trees but initially everyone
appeared to be a Goldcrest but then we saw a Chiffchaff. After a fairly brief wait the Pallas’s put in
an appearance and we had some very nice views as it fed on the edge of one of
the Sycamores. I also saw the
Yellow-browed Warbler briefly and then again as it flew into the conifers.
A Great Grey Shrike had also
been reported and so Dave, Roger and I went off in search of it without
success, although we did see a couple of Sparrowhawk, eight Redwings and a
Stonechat. A brief sea watch produced
very little with a single Gannet and circa forty Common Scoters being the
best. A tweet regarding a Great Grey
Shrike at Thornham sent us in that direction, which is next village east along
the coast.
There was no sign of the
shrike and other than three Gannet and eight Little Egrets there was little
else although there was a concentration of waders and gulls on the rising tide.
There was still no news on
some of the better birds from yesterday and so we decided to call in at
Titchwell to see if a Grey Phalarope was still present. Dave went into the centre to find out whilst
we parked the car. We had a quick look
over the end field whilst waiting for Dave but saw very little. When he came back he thought we might be looking
for a Great Grey Shrike that had been seen on a telegraph pole. After discussing what was about it became
apparent that the shrike was probably on Thornham Marsh and so we went to the
west bank to look for it. As we
approached the area beyond the trees two other birders said it was still
perched on the single telegraph pole.
However when we reached the area it had disappeared but it wasn’t too
long before Dave had found near the old concrete building. It was rather distant but we had reasonable
views before it dropped out of sight. We
then found it back on the telegraph pole and it then flew further south and
settled on top of a bush where it stayed for some time. With a shower approaching and it being near
lunchtime we went back to the car for lunch.
On checking the information on
local birds it was not good news as both the Radde’s Warbler at Brancaster and
the Red-flanked Bluetail at Stiffkey had not been seen and a second Radde’s at
Wells had only been seen briefly by one observer and so we decided to stay at
Titchwell. As we walked out towards the
sea it appeared as though there were fewer birds than our last visit but we did
see a couple Blackcaps, two Stonechats and a Wheatear on Thornham Marsh as well
as a couple of Spotted Redshank. There
were plenty of Golden Plover on the fresh marsh and there were also Avocet,
Grey Plover, Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew,
Redshank and Turnstone as we made our way to the sea.
On reaching the beach the tide
was still quite high and other then Oystercatcher and a few Turnstones there
were no other waders. The sea was also
disappointing with just a single Red-throated Diver, four Eiders and a few
Common Scoter being observed. News came
through that there was a Grey Phalarope at Thornham Point but after a brief
discussion we decided not to go as it wasn’t clear exactly where it was. We did go back to Thornham in the hope we
might see it from there but the tide had gone out too far to give us a chance. We found out later that it had been seen on
the sea with gulls and that it was seen flying by Titchwell early
afternoon. However it was a mistake not
to walk to Thornham as there were a couple of Shore Larks on the beach and we
had also missed a Rough-legged Buzzard and Twite whilst we were at Titchwell.
Winter Black-tailed Godwit on Volunteer Marsh at Titchwell
Our final call was Choseley
Barns but we saw nothing of note and set off for home.
Perhaps the day had not
produced the wealth of birds we had hoped for but getting a Pallas’s Warbler
always makes the journey worthwhile.
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