A beautiful, sunny if b****y cold day saw me setting off west for a full day birding the coast. First stop Wells where a redhead Smew had been joined by a redhead Goosander, while a flock of blobs on the football pitch along the entrance road turned into Grey Partridge, an unexpected bonus!
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| Curlew, Wells |
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| Smew in sunshine |
Stopping at various sites along the main road produced Buzzard and Brambling but no Rough legs. Burnham Overy Staithe was quiet but Brancaster Staithe was much livelier with a few year tick waders such as Barwit and Ringed Plover as well a a bevy of photographers with lon lenses. Having decided not to get a 500mm lens last year I am happy with my Sigma 150-500, accepting that the results won't really compare, but then I only photograph birds when there's nothing better about so that's OK.
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| Young Ringed Plover |
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| Bar-tailed Godwit |
An Iceland Gull at Thornham proved irresistable but ultimately elusive but the Northern Harrier flew through as did a flock of Twite while Blackwit and Spot Red showed well in the creek.
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Spotted Redshank |
After a couple of hours the prospect of hot soup at Titchwell got the better of me, so stopping only to admire the adult Whooper Swan near the entrance track I managed to find both a parking space and a seat for long enough to finsih before news of the Iceland came through again, this time at Brancaster. Still no sign though but a distant Rough-leg over Scolt Head was a bonus, even if views were brief through bins, as was a fly-through ringtail Hen Harrier for sub specific comparison. After that, back home in the fading light with stacks of Pinkfeet over the road at Holkkham. Not a bad day especially with 71/2 species of raptor under the belt!
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