Back To Norfolk - 29.3.26

I again joined Brendon this time back to Norfolk. Our first stop was Baldock model aircraft to look for Wheatears that’d been present for the week but they’d gone but great views of Corn Bunting were nice to see.

A quick stop at Cavenham Heath produced 2 Stone Curlew then it was on to Santon Downham where we walked along the river path. Good numbers of Redpoll (at least 30) including some nice pink males, 2 pairs of Mandarin and year ticks of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer were noted. After a while we joined a small group of birders and quite quickly got onto a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a few Crossbill and a nice Marsh Tit.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

We then headed to Horsey Gap where after a stroll through the dunes to the north of the car park where we met some departing birders telling us that the Glaucous Gull had gone but the Iceland Gull was still about. After a few minutes I picked it out with other gulls in amongst the seals. This was my first since 2018.

Out at sea were 30+ Red-throated Diver and most surprising of all a summer plumaged Black-throated Diver that was some way off but eventually took flight as it headed south.

Iceland Gull

Once back at the car park we told some new arrivals of where to go and they reciprocated telling us of 2 Cranes in a field just south of Horsey Windmill. We found them quickly at the far side of the field and as we headed for home I noted a Great White Egret on the other side of the road.