First trip of year to Norfolk gets me 21 year ticks.

With us all being free for the day, we decided to take our first trip to Norfolk to add to our tick list for the year.  

So off before six am on a dark, rainy morning. First stop was Hunstanton, knowing that we would tick Fulmar, we also got Red-breasted Merganser, so it was a good start.

Off now to Titchwell, first up, we check if the Tawny Owl is still in the Ivy-covered tree on 

The first boardwalk from the visitor centre, to our surprise, we spot it straight away, tucked up behind the Ivy, on the walk up to the beach. Jimmy and I got a few ticks, two Pintail, and some Curlew, Avocet, and Pinkfoot flew over.

Up at the beach, the tide was in, and waders were in low numbers. Out on the waves, we see three Long-tailed ducks, a Red-throated diver, and then two drake Eiders pass through.

We also tick Sandeling and see hundreds of Oystercatchers, all needed for year ticks.  Off to have a look in at Brancaster Staithe, three ticks here in Bar -tailed Godwits, Turnstones, and Grey Plover. 

We hear about Glossy Ibis at Stiffkey floods, so we set off to find them, on arrival we hear gunshots and people walking back tell us the Ibis had flown off. We are told that two Ibis had been seen at Morston Quay, so we set off to get them. We park for free, as it is a National Trust and I am a member. A short walk soon gets us another year tick when we see two Glossy Ibis not too far out, and a single Greenshank is seen. 

Off to Salthouse looking for Twite, but no sign of them, but got lucky when thirteen Snow Buntings flew over our heads. 

Brian asks if we want to go see the Eastern-Black Redstart, but it's not a bird we can tick, but we want to see it anyway. Brian had seen the bird when he came here on his own, so we went to an alleyway where he had seen it, and there it was, high up on a windowsill.

It flew down to a wall and was mobile as it kept flying up and down and back to the windowsill.

A great day out with the boys, now for the drive home.  With another twenty one tear ticks on the list.

                                                          

Turnstone

Oystercarcher

Greenshank

The non-tickable Eastern black Redstart.

Nice looking bird.

Curlew

Bar-tailed Godwits