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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JWN Andrewes" data-source="post: 3381340" data-attributes="member: 7131">3rd AprilA early start and an easy run through mid Wales, the midlands and onto the A14, decided on a whim to stop by Grafham on the way past, recalling a Red-necked Grebe had been being reported there up until a few days ago, at the dam end. Dam was easy enough to find, as was an easy spot to park and gain access, whereupon the fine summer plumage Red-necked Grebe was second bird checked after a Goldeneye duck. We enjoyed excellent views of it diving in the dawn sunshine, and were then on our way again after a pleasingly efficient detour. A few miles further east a trio of Cranes heading south over the A14 just past the Burwell junction provided welcome padding for the notebook(!) as well as some recompense for enduring the seemingly arbitrary 40 mile an hour limit imposed by the Highway cretins as the road passed Cambridge. A little after eight we pulled into the car park at Weeting, and as we scoped a couple of Roe Deer in the field across the road we  could hear wailing from beyond the hides. Signs were good. As it turned out the views of Stone Curlews were typically distant, but it was nice to see as many as five, indulging in actual behaviour, flying about and bowing to each other with heads tilted upwards and tails raised.We stopped for lunch just south east of Norwich, and then made our way to North Cove, where we finally managed to find a Chiffchaff that was sufficiently obliging for the boys to get their bins onto, and then after a long and uneventful walk up to and then along the river we got close enough to the still somewhat distant Cattle Egret to nail its salient features. At least the weather was good.Early afternoon saw us arriving in Southwold to visit relatives for a couple of days, with the only other norteworthy bird being a flyby Marsh Harrier as we walked to the beach for an ice cream.</blockquote>

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