HARDCORE BIRDING - MEGA AWESOME DAY!!!
Arrived on a track on the Salthouse road at 6.30am to try and see/hear Wood Warbler. Pouring very heavily with rain. Walked up the track to top field where I last saw a whinchat and the area of bushes that was there is now a ploughed field! 6.40am On THIS ploughed field I saw what I thought was a thrush going by the size - on closer inspection is was in fact a LARGE lark with a crest, very upright stance, 2 patches of dark streaking on breast, at least a third bigger than a skylark - the most interesting thing was it bobbed up and down like a dipper!!!!!??? It then took off and flew high north towards Walsey Hills direction, gave info to RBA in case anyone else saw it - I was just hoping and praying that an eagle eyed Cley birder would pick up later but alas no one has yet!!! 7am Turtle Dove purring away, nightingale singing along with Cettis' Warbler and chiffchaffs. Could not hear the Wood Warbler so nipped round to Walsey Hills NOA but couldn't find anything apart from Willow Warblers, chiffchaffs, robins and whitethroats. Went back to listen for Wood Warbler (still no luck) BUT had in ONE tree!!! a pair of bullfinches, 2 garden warblers and a female pied flycatcher briefly landed on a branch!!
Blakeney Point - 9.45am
Riddled with Reed Buntings on every suada bush - at least 100+, several meadow pipits, few hedgesparrows, 12 Gannets flew west, 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Whitethroat. Walking in the pouring rain is NOT fun when you are not seeing what you expect to see!!! I made an extra effort to go down all the little paths, through suada etc etc. Got to the Plantation and collapsed on a wet tussock for lunch in the rain (oh what fun!) I was so pleased I had bought a big flask of coffee! Willow Warbler, reed warbler and common whitethroat, not even the spot fly that Josh had yesterday was to be seen!!! A wheatear was nearby. Walked out to near, mid and far point (well as far as you can, because its understandably roped off for the terns at the moment) - I walked and walked in desperate hope and excitement of a bluethroat. A few wheatears dotted about, 10 ringed plovers and usual waders, terns, brent geese adorned the mudflats and pools. The skies above me I realised looked pretty horrific.... they got blacker and blacker and for one moment a spiral started and I seriously thought a tornado was developing!!! I was a long way from Tern Hide for shelter and suddenly (very suddenly) the skies opened and belted down hailstones and rain, thunder and massive fork lightening - aghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! Got next to a dune and sat with my head down and shut my eyes!!!! I sat there laughing, because I couldn't believe I was sitting there in all of this!!! Eventually it stopped and the sun came out - I stood up and was soaked through even my waterproofs (obviously need to get some new ones!) Good I thought - that must have dropped some goodies out of the skies! Made my way back to the Plantation where there was NOTHING new! Met up with Simeon who I walked back with to Cley Beach Carpark - before we started the trudge back Simeon spotted a Whinchat in the lupins at 3.30pm. Walked back at leisurely pace (in case we had to go back!), as we had left Josh still at the plantation and I hate leaving that plantation as something always comes up after I have left! At Halfway house we stopped and had a refreshment stop and then carried on - the hut on the carpark seemed to be in our sight forever - EVENTUALLY we got there! There was virtually no birds on the way back at all and very few reed buntings. We kept our eyes peeled for raptors there were being seen from Cley, Osprey, Black Kite Titchwell, honey buzzard but saw none!
Weybourne - Salthouse
Followed the track at Muckleborough to try for the Wood Warbler. Narrow, hilly little path that eventually came to a clearing, we had not stood here for more than 5 minutes (heard nothing) when Pete S. phoned me in an urgent voice 'you haven't looked at the pager have you?' 'OMG what' I said - 'Collared Pratincole' Salthouse Beach Carpark' - well that was it, Simeon and I charged down that path (really must lose weight, puffing and panting like an old lady, ridiculous!) like a bull was after us, shot up the road and joined the throngs of tripod legs to view an AWESOME Collared Pratincole in the grassy field in the sunshine 6.50pm - it doesn't get much better than that - all the locals got there in minutes. It was great to be so close at the time and thank you Pete:t: NWT Cley Visitor Centre will be MEGA busy tomorrow!!!!!
Left here to try for Wood Warbler in a different place and then Simeon and I madly decided to go to Great Ryborough for the Hoopoe. We didn't make it - it had gone to bed and so I am! So you all tomorrow!!!!
Best Wishes Penny:girl: