Great Day in Norfolk Birding.

Jimmy and I meet with Brian at 5.30 on a cold morning to set off to Norfolk. A Glaucous Gull

has been seen on Old Hunstan Beach. Two& a half hours later we parked just off the beach near the golf club and took the path up to the beach in search of the dead seal where the Gull had been seen feeding.

Brian had wellies on so he got over the water before us and got a quick view of the Gull before it flew off not to be seen for another two hours. We got our sighting of it when we spotted it standing with a few Oystercatchers near the water's edge about 60 yards away from the seal for an excellent view of it. 

Shorelark was next on the list and we found three, not too far away up the beach, A couple of birders we met told us that they had just seen a flock of them a long way down the beach, so maybe about 8 in total.

While here we added to our year list with a large flock of Turnstones, Sandling, Fulmar, knot, and a Peregrine Falcon that landed on the beach near the dead seal.

Bar-tailed Godwit,Red-breasted Merganser, and a flyover of Pink-footed Goose plus Brent Goose. so a good addition to the list.

A short ride to Stiffkey for the Glossy Ibis. Parked up in the car park by the Red Lion pub and a walk across the road to sport the Ibis within minutes, so back in the car it's off up the road to Holkham stopping on the way at the gate to tick White-fronted Goose and then off to park in Lady Ann's drive where we speak to a fellow who asked us if the bird he had in his scope was the Long-billed Dowitcher, and how lucky is that when Brian confirms it is indeed the bird another good year tick plus Snipe seen while there.

Off now to Titchwell on the walk up to the beach Jimmy and I hear and then see Bearded Tit. A fellow birder tells us that a Tawny Owl was in a tree with Ivy just around the boardwalk, so that's where we head, the tree is easily found as a board is in place to tell us where it is, so an easy tick. An escaped Black-winged Stilt is seen as a Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Grey Plover, Avocet, and Common and Velvet Scoter.

Off home now and on the way we spot a large flock of Whooper Swan in a field somewhere also Red-legged Partridge seen. A really lovely day birding with the boys adding 28-year ticks taking the year total to 124.

Glaucous Gull

Peregrine

Long-billed Dowitcher