On Monday I collect James from Norwich for our regular half-term bird watching catch up. With two new birds for Norfolk in the Weybourne/Salthouse area we knew where we were heading. Weybourne's Brown Shrike of the previous day had not been relocated so we first stopped at Salthouse. Parking by the Duck Pond we soon found ourselves looking at the probable Stejneger's Stonechat, if a little distant. Over the next 15 minutes the bird showed well in the scope but never came to close, perching in the reeds and sheltering from the worst of the blustery wind. A Wheatear also flitted about the marshes. We decided to move onto Weybourne despite no news on the Brown Shrike, parking up we were met by a stream of returning birders. No only had the bird not been re-found but access to the core of the site had been temporarily at least revoked. It is a military and tank demonstration area so I guess you don't want to get in the way! James and I spent a short while looking in from the periphery, but after further news the finder had given the site a good walk though decided, it had probably moved on over night and we moved on to.
Gun Hill - 22nd October
James and I decided to head towards Holkham always a hot spot for migrant, parking up on the Coast Road we headed down towards Gun Hill. Surprising the hedgerows alongside the track often bristling with Thrushes held few birds, but a few Pink-feet and Brent Geese head in the meadows. By the board walk a Stonechat was chirping and we could see a few birds along the saltmarsh margins. Made up of Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting the little group came and went when walkers passed by, but among them one bird drew our attention. With strong chestnut head colours and quite a clean breast a juvenile bunting had us debating Rustic Bunting, unable to get a photo and on balance we decided it was most likely a Reed Bunting. A late Whinchat uncharacteristically skulked around the sueada, before perching up as we had a snack lunch. A few Redwing flew over and a Chiffchaff was the only migrant warbler seen as we walked West. Walking back along the seaward side, we spent time looking for specialist dune fungi and insects.
A quick stop at a favoured site for Tree Sparrow was fruitless, with extensive development on site likely to moved the birds on. Also the nearly set a side fields, often full of wintering birds as yet seemed quiet.
Paston Cliffs - 28th October
With the clock changing we dove to Great Yarmouth along the coast waiting for the shops to open. Between Hickling and Potter Heigham a pale looking buzzard flew over the car and pulling over we could clearly see it was of the Rough-legged flavour. While shopping I heard of a King Eider at Sea Palling, a bird I've missed a couple of times and it looked like I would be missed again as it had flown off by the time I returned home.
I decided to call in at Walcott in the hope the King Eider may still be in the area. The waves were still rolling in and I soon realised with my low elevation by the sea wall I was probably missing many birds between the waves. Gannets steamed through and a few auks were seem cutting through the waves, I was about to leave when I saw a small bird disappear behind a wave, I was surprised to see a Leach's Petrel emerge, an not the half expected Little Auk.
Despite this success I still packed up the scope and headed to Paston Cliffs in the hope of finding a migrant Owl perched up. Upon arriving I could see a heavy shower hanging offshore and heading my way, so I stayed in the car, and sea watched from the back seat! This higher elevation made seeing the bird much easier and I could see large numbers of Gannet, Guillemot and Razorbill passing distantly, also smaller numbers of Kittewake and Red-throated Diver. A Great Northern Diver was my first of the Autumn, before I got very lucky. The King Eider earlier seen at Sea Palling flew through heading North and to help with identification was followed 5 minutes later by a group of 17 Eider, a mixture of juvenile and adult bird. 2 Little Auk also flew through close to the breakers completing a rather hectic 40 minutes or so of sea watching. A quick lap of the scrub and holiday camp gave up little, the hoped for migrant owls were not seen but the sea watching more than made up for that. A group of 12 GBB Gull on the beach were of note along with c600 Starling new in. Just before I left a Rainbow appeared out to sea, slowly drifting toward the cliffs with a rain shower and appeared to pass right through me!
Paston Cliffs - 3rd November
A late afternoon walk offered little bird life in the quickly gathering dusk. The resident Linnet and Dunnock bar a few gulls the only birds until 3 Redpoll flew over calling. As I left a mass of corvids gathered by the windmill ready to roost.
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