Norfolk for three days

THURSDAY
Travelled to Norfolk for a few days staying in Thornham. The journey was the worst for years taking four and half hours. There were roadworks on the A47 with the traffic jamming up the Island causing the delays.

When we eventually arrived we spent the afternoon at Titchwell seeing a good variety of species the highlights of which were: four Spotted Redshank, two Little Stint, one Ruddy Shelduck, one Water Pipit and a fly past Bittern.

FRIDAY
We went to Burnham Overy Staithe walking out to Gun Hill. On the way we saw quite a few species, mainly in flight, as a woman dog walker lost complete control of her dog which spent the subsequent hour chasing the waders and wildfowl across every corner of the salt marsh!

In the dunes at Gun Hill we came across a group of six Grey Partridge and then nearly stood on a Short-eared Owl. There were small groups of Chaffinch heading along the coast and there was at least one Brambling in with them. We met another birder and as we were talking to him something caught my eye on the sea. It was a Leach’s Petrel and it was really close, we ran towards the edge of the dunes to get a better look but lost it in the waves! We then saw another or the same Short-eared Owl and a couple of Bonxies and Red-throated Diver. We made our way back but apart from Red Kite and distant Marsh Harrier we left the highlights behind us.

In the afternoon with no news on any birds of note we caught the bus into Hunstanton and walked the coastal path back to Thornham. It was quiet but we still chalked up over 60 species, including seven Greenshank, 40 Fieldfare, 1one Brambling and back at Thornham a Woodcock.

SATURDAY
Had intended to go to Snettisham RSPB but whilst birding at Hunstanton the cold wind put me off that idea. Joy wanted to get home early as she had a big week at work so we headed back via Welney where there was a large flock of Tree Sparrow. Some of the surrounding fields held unto 200 Whooper Swan but there were not many Geese to be seen.