A long weekend in Norfolk with my good pals Magnus A and Christian C was a fine way to sign May, and effectively the spring, off. Over June and July I'm going to take things a little easier, recharge ahead of the autumn and sort out a few things that have brushed aside over the last few weeks! Highlights of our trip included
Marsh Warbler at Lakenheath,
Savi's Warbler at Hickling,
Wood Warbler at Brandon and a singing
Quail of our own finding at Icklingham, along with marshland birds such as
Cranes,
Spoonbills,
Bitterns and
Grasshopper Warblers. Titchwell provided goodies such as
Little Stint,
Little Gull, male
Ruff, a late
Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a count of six
Red-crested Pochards. Several
Little Terns were seen and further wader action included two relatively late
Greenshanks at Cley. Other moments to savour, and to reflect on, included encounters with
Grey Partridge,
Turtle Dove and
Corn Bunting. On the way back, we finally tracked down
Stone-curlews in the Brecks.
 |
| a purring Turtle Dove at Titchwell on Saturday |
 |
| my first in far too long... a Grey Partridge near Stanhoe |
 |
| loud Marsh Warbler keeping out of the limelight at Lakenheath on Friday |
 |
| Avocet at Titchwell on Saturday |
 |
| Red-crested Pochards at Titchwell on Saturday... where do they come from? |
 |
| an endearing brood of Shoveler at Titchwell on Saturday |
121 species were noted on the trip, as follows:
Mute Swan,
Greylag Goose,
Canada Goose, Brent Goose (Dark-bellied),
Egyptian Goose,
Shelduck,
Wigeon,
Gadwall,
Teal,
Mallard,
Shoveler,
Red-crested Pochard,
Pochard,
Tufted Duck,
Common Scoter,
Quail,
Red-legged Partridge,
Grey Partridge,
Pheasant,
Fulmar,
Cormorant,
Bittern,
Little Egret,
Grey Heron, Spoonbill,
Little Grebe,
Great Crested Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk,
Buzzard,
Moorhen,
Coot,
Crane,
Stone-curlew,
Avocet,
Oystercatcher,
Grey Plover,
Lapwing,
Little Ringed Plover,
Ringed Plover,
Black-tailed Godwit,
Bar-tailed Godwit,
Turnstone,
Knot,
Ruff,
Sanderling,
Dunlin,
Little Stint,
Greenshank,
Redshank,
Little Tern,
Sandwich Tern,
Common Tern,
Kittiwake,
Black-headed Gull,
Little Gull,
Mediterranean Gull,
Common Gull,
Lesser Black-backed Gull,
Herring Gull,
Great Black-backed Gull,
Rock Dove (feral),
Stock Dove,
Woodpigeon,
Collared Dove,
Turtle Dove,
Cuckoo,
Tawny Owl,
Swift,
Kingfisher,
Green Woodpecker,
Great Spotted Woodpecker,
Kestrel,
Hobby,
Magpie,
Jay,
Jackdaw,
Rook,
Carrion Crow,
Goldcrest,
Blue Tit, Great Tit,
Coal Tit,
Bearded Tit, Woodlark,
Skylark,
Sand Martin,
Swallow,
House Martin,
Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Wood Warbler,
Chiffchaff,
Willow Warbler,
Blackcap,
Garden Warbler,
Whitethroat,
Grasshopper Warbler,
Savi's Warbler, Sedge Warbler,
Marsh Warbler,
Reed Warbler,
Wren,
Starling,
Blackbird,
Song Thrush,
Mistle Thrush,
Robin,
Stonechat,
Dunnock,
House Sparrow,
Pied Wagtail, (yarrellii), Meadow Pipit,
Chaffinch,
Greenfinch,
Linnet,
Goldfinch,
Siskin,
Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting,
Corn Bunting
