High tides meant that early afternoon would be the best time to look for the Olive-backed Pipit at
Stiffkey, so Laura and i started off at
Holme. Walking the dunes towards the Warden's house there was an obvious fall of Song Thrush and
Brambling with birds in nearly every bush. I also saw my first
Fieldfare of the autumn and
Richard's Pipit was briefly seen on an area of short turf.
At least 2
Lapland Bunting flew over the dunes and Thrushes continued to come in-off. Around the Warden's House i saw 2
Redstart and a
Black Redstart, before Laura found a
Yellow-browed Warbler in a clump of
Buckthorn. A Great Grey Shrike had been seen on the grazing marshes but looking from the hide we could see little. From the footpath to
Thornham the
Great Grey Shrike could be seen, albeit distantly. By the time we walked further down the footpath the bird had gone, first flushed by a Magpie then Sparrowhawk. A juv.
Montagu's Harrier flew through, but we couldn't be bothered to walk further so returned to the car, and then had lunch at 'The Hero' in
Burnham Overy. It was about 2.30 when we parked by the campsite in
Stiffkey, cars were everywhere and i could see a line of birders distantly across the very muddy
saltmarsh. Before setting off i made a phone call to check if the bird was showing, it was but an
Isabelline Wheatear had also just been found in
Lowestoft. Before even getting my boots on i had decided to leave the Olive-backed Pipit and go to
Lowestoft. After a frantic drive across the whole of Norfolk we eventually arrived at North
Denes. The
Isabelline Wheatear was showing
extremely well at close range, with little need for a scope, it was a shame the camera was at home. In the early evening sun the pale tones and posture of the bird along with it 'pot-belly' appearence distinguised it from a Northern Wheatear near by. We headed back to Norwich, mud free and rather content at seeing a stunning bird, leaving
Stiffkey was probably a good call.
Was Laura going to go with you across the mud or was she planning to stay in the car?! It was very slippery, even in the afternoon. Did you tell anyone at Holme about the Richard's Pipit? I don't think there's been a twitchable one yet this year in Norfolk.
ReplyDeleteLaura was going to slide out to the OB Pipit with me, we had the wellies etc with us, but didn't get to put them on. I reported the Richard's Pipit to the info centre, and that it had flown inland. The guy on the desk was a bit weird though, i asked if the Great Grey Shrike had been seen and he told me 'No it's just a Grey Shrike!'
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