Sunday 23rd August and a trip to the North Norfolk coast was in order. A good move as this visit, to one of my favourite areas of the country, kick-started my autumn birding. A visit to Titchwell provided the usual array of waders including, 4 Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshank, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Sanderling, and Avocet to name a few. Six Spoonbill in two flocks of three, flew in from the west and settled down on the fresh marsh. A Marsh Harrier was quartering the salt marsh briefly and there was the usual scattering of Little Egret all round the reserve.
I picked up an Arctic Skua at sea, harassing the Sandwich Terns and some very obliging Sanderling posed well for my camera. Late morning and news broke that the Booted Warbler, that was present from Saturday, was till showing at Gramborough Hill, Salthouse. along with a Wryneck and an Icterine Warbler. So we decided to make our way back to the car and head-off East. We arrived at Gramborough Hill around 1pm and there was a very strong South Easterly wind blowing, making viewing conditions rather difficult. The small scrubby area, where the birds were located, was well and truly disturbed by the wind. Eventually I located the Icterine Warbler, which showed for about a minute. I managed a few record shots, good enough to tell it was an Icterine Warbler. Then around 2pm the Booted Warbler appeared very briefly, too brief in fact and disappointingly no chance of a photo. So not a bad day all in all, I’ve had much worse. The Year List moves on to 221.
Icterine Warbler – Gramborough Hill – a record shot – you can clearly see the blue-grey leg colour and the obvious wing panel on the bird – Tony Davison©
Sanderling – Titchwell Beach, Norfolk – above four images – Tony Davison©
Spoonbill – Over Titchwell Fresh Marsh, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
Little Egret – above four images – Titchwell Fresh Marsh, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
Ruff – a male in winter plumage – Titchwell, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
Avocet – above two images. The top image is of an immature and the bottom of an adult – Titchwell, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
