At last a visit to the coast after 14 months.

The week started with a local visit to the Lea Valley where we first hear the wonderful song of the Nightingale & then get to see at least 2 for a good year tick.  It is always such a thrill to hear the first Nightingale of the year.     Later in the week, we make the decision for the 3 of us to take our first visit to Norfolk for 14 months due to covid restrictions.    This is a trip to try to get the year ticks up, first up we head to Hunstanton where we are guaranteed a Fulmar &  it only takes a couple of minutes before we get our first tick of the day.      Off now to the main destination of the day in the hope of seeing the reported Jack Snipe at Titchwell, on arrival we head to Patsy's pool & start scanning the edges of the pool for the Snipe, it was not an easy find & as we heard a Grasshopper Warbler down the track at the side of the pool we had to go to find it.  It was an easy find & a right bonus when we find the Gropper sitting displaying at the top of a bush for such a great view & we get to hear at least 2 more on the walk around the reserve.  Back at the pool, a fellow birder had found the Jack Snipe it was remarkably only a few yards from the viewing screen but it was so hard to find.  A Green Sandpiper dropped in for a good year tick. On the walk up to the beach, Brian got a tick when he saw Bearded Tit & Jimmy & myself picked up a tick when we spot a flock of Brent Geese.    On the beach, it is horrible & hardly a bird in sight. We only stay for a short time but get 2 ticks with a Knott & a sign of the times when we tick our first Gannet of the year.   A quick look in at Brancaster was very disappointing with no birds anywhere apart from a few Oystercatchers.    The road to Thornham was blocked off so instead we try Wells north pool & are soon rewarded when a couple of Wood Sandpipers show,  nothing else is seen that we needed so a quick run-up to Choseley to look for the Dotterel, that was a no show but a Whimbrel was found & loads of yellowhammer gets us to more ticks.   Off home now but on the way, we pay a quick visit to Lynford where Brian got a Marsh Tit & Jimmy got, at last, another tick when a Coal Tit showed.   The final bird of a great day birding was a very nice show from a Firecrest. So nice for the 3 of us to be out together after such a very long time.

The Grasshopper Warbler

Wood Sandpiper

The very hard to find Jack Snipe