Redwings . . . In The Mist

 

 

The forecast finally offered up some easterly winds, so a week on Gary and i returned to Burnham Ovary Dunes hoping for a better haul of migrants. Driving through fog from Norwich it got thicker and thicker, we wouldn't see anything.

How wrong we were, it was raining Thrushes, a quite unbelievable fall. The birds just seemed to magically appear through the gloom. Other highlights included a Long-eared Owl and large numbers of Robin and Brambling. Below are the counts for the birds we could see through the fog, who knows what we missed?

Burnham Overy Dunes Count:
5500 x Redwing, 3300 x Fieldfare, 340 x Blackbird, 155 x Robin, 63 x Song Thrush, 79 x Brambling, 75 x Goldcrest, 26 x Ring Ouzel, 10 x Chiffchaff , 10 x Meadow Pipit, 2 x Mistle Thrush, 2 x Crossbill, 2 x Woodcock, 1 x Redstart, 1 x Blackcap, 1 x Redpoll, 1 x Long-eared Owl.

We then headed for Stiffkey Campsite Wood to see a stunning Red-flanked Bluetail. Which showed really well, sadly i didn't have my camera. We also found another 500+ Redwings on the campsite along with a few Fieldfare and Robin. A probable Yellow-browed Warbler was also calling amongst a tit flock.