Up early to head up to Cromer in Norfolk, that should take us just over 2 hours but the M11 is shut for nighttime maintenance and as a result, the trip takes us 4 hours.
On arrival at Water lane West Runton we park the car and after a battle with the parking machine we pay & set off on the short walk to where a small group of birders tells us the Lark has been seen.
We are up high overlooking the beach & the wind is blowing hard making it hard to keep the scope still & the eyes were watering, and only Brian got a quick view of the bird.
Nearly an hour before Jimmy and myself get on the Lark but we then get some great views of another lifer for Jimmy & myself. This is 400 British ticks for Jimmy so a real milestone for him, I am on 384 now so a bit to do still.
After we had our share of the Short-toed Lark we head to Cley & get a year tick when a Great Skua passes by as we scope from the beach shelter, not too much else about so we set off to pop in at Holkham for the Shorelarks & get rewarded when we spot 4 birds walking about inside the roped-off area.
We don't hang about long as we all feel a bit cold.
So after a bad start to the day, we end up with a lifer & a couple of year ticks, and of course Jimmy's long-awaited 400th tick.
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| Short-toed Lark at West Runton |
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| Shore lark |
