Another visit to Norfolk with Paul and Brendan. Our target bird was the "mega" Rufous-tailed Robin that had been reported friday afternoon. We arrived at Warham Greens just before 08:00 and joined a few hundred other birders to look for the Rufous-tailed Robin, however, after a couple of hours it was clear the Robin had moved on, probably overnight. Whilst at this site we did connect with a couple of flocks of Pink-footed Geese and a handful of Redwing.
From Warham Greens we made our way to Stiffkey Fen. Here we connected with the following; Brent Goose, Curlew, Brambling, Yellow-browed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Little Egret, Stonechat, Bluethroat. The Bluethroat sighting was particularly pleasing as we and most people on site had all but given up seeing it. Then I was looking at a Stonechat through my scope and the Bluethroat flew in to join it! Brendan put the sighting out on his pager and about 30-40 other birders were soon on the scene. The Bluethroat had moved further out onto the marsh but to my knowledge they were all able to connect with the bird.
Next stop was Holme Dunes; We first searched for the recently reported Red-flanked Bluetail but along with many other birders we could not connect. We decided to have a walk through the dunes, whilst in the dunes Brendan spotted a distant raptor. On closer inspection it turned out to be a Rough-legged Buzzard and luckily for us it drifted our way. Soon after we had seen the Rough-legged we decided to have another look for the Red-flanked Bluetail. We positioned ourselve's close to a wire fence and after a few minute's the Red-flanked Bluetailed popped up right in front of us. It soon disappeared and after some searching by about 40 birders it was re-located nearby. Then lost and re-located again, so the term "elusive" is very apt for this bird. Also noted at Holme was two fairly large flocks of Pintail, in flight over the dunes and a Red-breasted Merganser over the sea.
Next stop was Titchwell Marsh; Cettis' Warbler, Pintail, Red Throated Diver (on the sea), Sanderling, Knot, Turnstone, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Brent Goose, Little Egret, Siskin, Chiffchaff, Short-eared Owl (in the dunes). The Short-eared Owl had flown in off the sea and appeared completely exhausted it was really hard to see in the tall grass and looking directly into the sun.
Paul's pic below; Pink Feet at Warham Greens, some of the many birders at Warham Greens including the "Blue Flash", Bluethroat at Stiffkey Fen, Stonechat at Stiffkey Fen, Pintail over Holme Dunes, Rough-legged Buzzard over Holme Dunes, Golden Plover at Titchwell, Kestrel near Holme Dunes visitor Centre.
We also managed two sightings, one at Warham Greens and another at Stiffkey of Baron von Lapstroppe.
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