Norfolk DEFINITELY birding

Myself and Mike-PCC left early on Sunday Morning destined for Norfolk.  We arrived at 8:00am at the Wolferton Triangle hoping to see Golden Pheasant but this time were not fortunate.  However, we saw a nice view of a Muntjac as it ambled across the road in front of the car and a very handsome looking Jay.

A cross country drive then brought us eventually to Salthouse beach car park where we hoped to see Snow Bunting.  In fact, I was SO certain we would see them that I said I would eat my hat if we didn't - Fortunately, Mike-PCC did not make me eat my hat......  Despite the lack of Snow Buntings, we managed to clock 4 Gannet, 2 Razorbill and 2 Guillemot on the sea and a passing Kittiwake and Red Throated Diver.  The marshes held Pink Footed Goose (a lifer for Mike), Little Egret and Barnacle Geese.

A quick drive to Cley and purchase of permits soon had us on the reserve where we managed close views of Bearded Tits and a Cettis Warbler on the way to the hides along with Brent Geese.  Despite looking for the juvenile White Rumped Sandpiper that had been reported there we just could not find it and walked back to the visitor centre for some ID tips and a possible location.  After securing that information, we marched back to the hide and I soon managed to locate the Sandpiper on Pat's Pool on the edge of an island (another lifer for Mike).  Other birds of note were Pintail, Dunlin and many Wigeon.  Another quick drive took us to Cley Beach car park where we did some further seawatching and saw more Guillemots and Gannets.

After a brief lunch we then drove over to Titchwell.  Two immaculate Bramblings were on the feeders along with Goldfinchs and Greenfinches.  A very quick stroll to beach to warm ourselves up gave us a few waders en route, including Redshank, Avocet, and Black Tailed Godwit.  The beach had Bar Tailed Godwit, Knot (surprisingly another lifer for Mike) and Sanderling and the sea provided Long Tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebe, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Red Breasted Merganser and Red Necked Grebe.

On the way back from the beach, we popped into the main hide and observed the gull roost which contained a large white headed gull which after discussion could have been an adult Caspian Gull but I am not 100% sure - One of my unseen birds finally possibly seen but then possibly not.........

Today, we visited Holme dunes and found a cracking Shore Lark (another lifer for Mike) and thankfully managed a flock of distant flying Snow Bunting - so I did not need to eat my hat after all!

We tried for Corn Bunting at Choseley Drying Barns but there were no finches around at all.  There were however great skeins of Pink Footed Geese in the sky and the surrounding field held Grey Partridge and Red Legged Partridge and a Hare.  Another quick visit to Titchwell (before heading home) gave us more Long Tailed Duck and a Red Throated Diver.