randombirder

It's a long drive to Norfolk.  A long way to the North Norfolk coast from here.  It took a massive three and a half hours and with daylight now a precious commodity, time was at a premium. The first stop, Sheringham, for the eclipse drake King Eider seen distantly, drifting slowly west, on a calm sea.  Sheringham is a lovely place. Then onto Salthouse, where the 'eastern' Stonechat of Eastern Russian descent was seen, again distantly, extremely twitchy, flighty, and at times atypically elusive. The constrasting pale underparts and dark under-wing coverts were fortuitously captured, the possibility of  Saxicola stejnegeri. A quick trip to the Coastguards at Cley produced a single Little Auk flying west but the sea was generally quiet.  I headed back to Salthouse. The sun was brilliant, the south-west breeze keen, the expanse of a blue Norfolk sky stretched out over the sea, folding back onto the horizon.  It is a fabulo...

Today was a moderately frustrating one yet infinitely better than being stuck in an office on a Monday. The morning started with interest at Morning Point on the Garrison with a Lesser Whitethroat that popped out of a path-side laurel bush and the continuing 1st year male Common Redstart that was typically skittish within the bracken. The news of an Aquatic Warbler caused contention, never being firmly confirmed as views were extremely limited as it skulked deep within the bracken at Porthmellon beach.  The juvenile Sedge Warbler which it is purported to be when one appeared late in the day (or perhaps a different bird?) will provide enough disagreement and discord to make unequivocal confirmation difficult. These Turnstone and Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach at Porthcressa were unfeasibly confiding.

A really productive day despite the Phalarope's short stay at the reservoir on Friday.  A particularly spirited arrival on site where the morning sun blazed across the open water. An initial count of 17 Black Tern then turned into 21.  By late morning more had arrived increasing to 31.  By midday this had risen again to 36 birds, frequently seen clustered together in a group as they rose up from the water only to return back down to continue their elegant undulating flight across the water. Black Tern Seven Common Swift were wheeling over the south basin with reasonable numbers of House Martin . A winter plumaged Black-necked Grebe drifted across the north basin.  There were five Common Sandpiper hugging the margins. An adult winter Sandwich Tern flew low over the causeway and continued on north.  Ten minutes later, two Turnstone flew a circuit around the reservoir and again failed to settle. A Hobby was seen flying slowly th...