Paul Matson's Birding Blog: Friday September 6th

As with the same time last year, we had a couple of days in Norfolk to start the month. Leaving home rather later on Tuesday morning to assess the aftermath of Adie's 21st birthday on Monday night. To be fair there was little of concern . It did mean arriving on the north coast later in the afternoon was limited to a walk around Holt rather than any birding spot.

Wednesday 4th September,

Pre-breakfast I went to Cley, firstly for a walk around Walsey Hills, where there was little evidence of any migrants other than Chiffchaffs and then a walk to the end of East Bank. A Kingfisher flew past me as I started the walk then then a few Bearded Tits, Reed Buntings Reed and Sedge Warblers were seen in the reeds. The pools were not exactly teeming with wildfowl but a couple of Snipe and a Common Sandpiper showed themselves. Arnolds Marsh was almost impossible to view as it was directly into the low morning sun, but I could make out Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Ringed plover and Avocet amongst the roosting Sandwich Terns. There were 4 flyover Great Egrets together followed by 8 Little Egrets then 2 Spoonbill, which was a nice display and small flock of Golden Plover were roosting on the wide expanse of shingle known as the desert,

The only surprise walking back to the car was a Whinchat sitting out in the reed bed on a tall stem. Thinking this might be a sign of a few passerines moving I went to Salthouse to check Granborough Hill, but the only birds seen were a Stonechat a Wren and a number of Goldfinch and Linnets. I did have a warbler sp, fly directly over my head and dive into a bramble patch but never revealed itself again, my initial thoughts were Garden Warbler, but I will never know.

After breakfast we went to Wells Woods were I spent a couple of hours walking around the Dell area and with the Tit flocks picked up c 5 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Redstart, 3 Garden Warblers, 4 Blackcap and plenty of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

We diverted to Creake Abbey, and then Burnham Market before a late afternoon visit to Titchwell. I knew there had been a White-rumped Sandpiper seen in the last few days but was surprised when I walked out towards the Island hide that the first bird I found people looking at was an American Golden Plover, still in a summer plumage. I must have timed it perfectly as the waders there showed really well including the White-rumped Sandpiper, as well as 2 Little Stints, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 30+ Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, and there was also a Black-winged Stilt at the back near the reeds, which I was reliably informed was thought to be an escape, although I could not see that it had been ringed.

Thursday 5th September

The weather was blowing a strong north-easterly this morning so the only option pre-breakfast was to do a sea-watch from Cley Coastguards. I had plenty of Terns all flying east close to shore with over 150 Sandwich Terns and 15+ Common Terns. 5 Arctic Skua and a single Great Skua were the highlights of the morning. I have seen very few Great Skuas this year following the devastation of the HPAI effects of last year.

After breakfast we went for a walk at Holkham along the beach as far as the start of the Burnham Overy dines and then back through Holkham pines. The weather was awful, as well as the strong North Easterly, there was a thick mist which meant visibility was very poor. I didn't see a single bird long the dune edge, and very little on the walk back through the pines with perhaps a Great Egret, Greenshank and a few Lapwing being noted.

We spent some time at Holkham Hall including a walk around the impressive Walled Garden and mid-afternoon ended up at Titchwell. The worsening weather had depleted the waders on site, but I still managed to find the White-rumped Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints, but nothing new from yesterday.

I also ended the day with a rotten cold and we were on the road back home fairly early in the morning having had a good break and just over 100 species in the 2 days.