Holme - 7.40am
Driving from King's Lynn in fog!!!, I came through Ringstead and saw 14 yellow hammers! Arrived at Holme and parked by toilet block and walked across golf course. Quite foggy still, but managed to see 4 red throated divers, 2 guillemots and 5 gannets through the mist. A skein of pink feet flew over the beautiful morning sky, calling as they went. 2 lots of dog walkers out already, putting up the waders:C Had 1 black cap in gorse on main beach path, 2 goldfinches on bushes on golf course, heard a green woodpecker, 1 robin, 2 house sparrows. Picked car up and went down Firs road and had a quick look in Redwell hide and saw 6 egyptian geese. Then carried along road and saw 2 chiffchaffs by Sandyridge (just before payhut), 1 blackbird and then parked by 5-bar gate. Stood on bank overlooking saltings and walked left behind bunglows (paddocks) and saw 2 more blackcaps (female), 1 whitethroat, 5 little egrets, another 50 pinkfeet adorned the skies, 1 wren. Walked through village carpark and back round along Firs road, saw 12 greenfinch in a hawthorn bush, 8 chaffinches, 2 blue tits, 1 mistle thrush. In forestry 10.10am (just after Mr jammy Connor
flushed a short eared owl!!!! and shortly after that saw a clouded yellow!!!!), 7 hedge sparrows, met up with Chris M, saw 2 sparrowhawks, 100+ golden plover, then Connor joined us, bril views of garden warbler in the sunshine and then suddenly Chris said in a raised voice 'Clouded Yellow' and had brief but lovely view!!!!!. 2 seperate lots of dog walkers with several dogs off leads bounded in the forestry area, Chris politely pointed out to them where the main coast path was and that they should be on leads! 2 curlew flew over, another 92 pinkfeet (yes I counted every one!), a weasel scurrying by the deep set pond. 5 redpolls flew over, 2 great spotted woodpeckers and 1 greenshank calling. We all parted and went different directions and I saw from coastal path along with 2 other birders, 1 dark phase and 1 light phase arctic skuas chasing terns relentlessly along the shore. Other butterflies today, comma, tortoiseshell, red admiral, 2 speckled woods and lots of dragonflies. Took car down to NOA carpark and had short lunch and then walked directly over bank opp. carpark and was absolutely amazed by the number of gannets and razorbills on the sea - I counted 185 gannets and 147 razorbills just in a small area between two lots of pines just to left of NWT steps down to beach (from coastal path)!!!!!!, also 5 sanderling. I have never in all my life seen this many birds just sitting on the sea, which was almost like a mill pond today. I carried on up to the observatory and shortly after that Jed, Sophie, Connor and some other people went and seawatched. I couldn't be bothered to count anymore, (see NOA website) but there were hundreds of gannets and guillemots, the sight was something I will never forget, also one Med gull. 1 little grebe on broadwater and 8 goldfinches near NWT feeders.
Went on to Titchwell to see if I was lucky enough to see the LBD a 2nd time, but not lucky! I did not hear/see anything about a white rumped sandpiper!!!!! (see Connor's post today 2005) The carpark was still packed at 5pm! Walked round the Fen Trail, but it was quiet now, couple of chaffinches, pair marsh harriers from Fen Hide. In the first field at beginning of main beach path was at least a 100 lapwing which was beautiful to see. Walked along main path, tons of waders including avocets, little egrets, gulls, wigeon, red shank, curlew sands, lapwing etc etc. On the beach, again loads of birds including oystercatchers and gulls, few smart grey plover, turnstones, sanderling, ringed plover etc etc in a feeding frenzy by tideline. 3 eiders on the sea and TONS of midges!!! Walked back along bank. No one had seen the Long Billed Dowitcher - some had had distant views. A very nice man (who I know) helped me put my new digi-scoping bits and pieces together, so will be practising next week in my holiday. Working tomorrow all day, so something good will turn up somewhere!
Best Wishes Penny:girl:
