Norfolk Day 2

Saturday and after breakfast it was decided to start at Burnham Norton then work back, we called in at Wiveton enroute where a Golden Oriole had been heard singing this morning, must have moved on though as there was no sight nor sound of it, a female or immature Broad Bodied Chaser was seen in a nearby meadow. At Burnham Norton we walked out through the marsh to the sea wall to view some pools where the star bird, a female Red Necked Phalarope was still present although it remained fairly distant, other birds in the area included a singing Quail, some Little Terns fishing, a pair of Egyptian Geese plus some late Pink Footed and Barnacle Geese flying around. We went to the Montagu's Harrier site near North Creake next, the birds were supposedly present but had not settled this year so were a bit hit and miss, we gave it an hour or so but only had Buzzard and Kestrel so we headed back to Cley. There had been some good birds here over the past couple of weeks but unfortunately they had all moved on, highlights this afternoon were a Whimbrel amongst other waders on Arnolds Marsh plus one or two pairs of Mediterranean Gulls there and a Stoat dragging a duckling across in front of one of the hides, Marsh Harriers and a Hobby hunting over and a few Bearded Reedlings flitting about the reedbed, a late Shore Lark was at the end of East Bank although it was difficult to pick out in the shingle and a Cetti's Warbler was singing near Walsey Hills. Late afternoon we ended up on Kelling Heath looking for Dartford Warblers which have bred there for the last few years but none were showing this evening, good views of a Muntjac though.

Broad Bodied Chaser

fishing Terns

the distant Phalarope

Stoat with duckling prey

more Avocets

and Lapwings

blending in with the shingle

Muntjac on Kelling Heath