I knew that it would be manic with tourists and fellow bird watchers so opted for a 4.30 am start.
Looking at which spot to visit, I decided on Burnham Overy which I had passed before but never tried. There had been reports flooding in all Sunday and I arrived at 6.15 raring to go. I was not sure exactly how to access the site but there was a layby and two other cars parked there so guessed this would be the right place. Fortunately, as I was getting my gear together, another car pulled in and a birder got out who was much more purposeful than I so I tagged along with him.
It turns out that he is a warden at Holkham which encompasses Burnham Overy. He was unable to visit on Sunday so had a 2 hour window before starting work. This proved to be a fruitful couple of hours!
He knew the site well and our walk down was interesting and informative. He pointed out a nesting family of Lesser Whitethroats and a selection of normal tits, finches and warblers. As the path opened out to the marshes and inlets (with magnificent views) we noticed a bird flitting between the bushes. It was a female Redstart and although it was too jumpy to get good photos we did get decent views. This was one of my target birds as only a brief glimpse of the Amwell bird meant I had not seen a Redstart well before - great start!.
Towards the dunes the path becomes a broadwalk and we had now spotted another couple of birders some 300m away. We decide to walk towards them and examine the scrub bushes as we went.
By now it was really apparent that there had been a massive fall and over the course of the next two hours, we saw 15+ Winchat, 20+ Wheatear, Spotted Flycatchers, Whitethroat and a mass of Warblers which (I thought) were Willow and Chiffchaffs.
We scanned the bushes and with so many warblers it was difficult to find rarities. I was watching a bush when a 'whitethroat' popped up on a twig. It did not have such a prominent white patch but had some chestnut on its wings or back. However, just as I was musing whether it was a Whitethroat, I heard a call for Greenish Warbler so went over the 30m to where the warden had spotted the bird. It skulked in the bushes for half an hour which gave me fleeting glances though the two wing bars were quite vague. First lifer!
It was now time for the warden to go back to work so I started to walk back with him when I glanced across at the bush I had originally been viewing. I asked the warden if he could just spare 5 minutes to confirm the bird I saw earlier. It reappeared and he immediately said Booted Warbler! I tried my best to get photos but there were always branches in front giving me out of focus shots. By this time the two other birders had arrived and etiquette meant I could not risk approaching for fear they would not get any views. Second lifer!
I decided I would walk back to the car as I was thirsty and had left food and drink there.
By this time there were more birders and dog walkers arriving.
A huge flock of Golden Plover left the marshes and a solitary Meadow Pipit catching an insect enhanced my already euphoric mood!
However, I learnt a valuable lesson. As I approached the broadwalk, I noticed two Willow Warblers in a bush immediately next to the path. One was larger than the other and the smaller one flew. The larger one did not have such a strong yellow breast and did not look 'right'. It buried itself in the scrub and although it made several short appearances I could neither get enough detail or take a record shot.
I think I was in such a state of euphoria (Graeme like almost) that I gave it up as a bad job and walked back to the car.
Whilst enjoying my coffee and rolls I got my first text on my innovative free pager service - known as Jono Bird Alert!
He texted that both rare warblers were at Burnham Overy and I was chuffed to text back that I had seen them!
As I had to be home by 4pm and it was already after 10, I ignored my gut instincts to go back to down to the reserve and head over to Beeston Bump to see the Red Backed Shrike that Jono helpfully told me had been reported.
On the way there, I kept an eye out for Glamborough Hill at Salthouse and as I approached the beach road I noticed a few birders on top of the hill. I swung the car into Beach Road, managed to find the only parking space and walked towards them. As I got closer, I noticed that there were a group of birders on top of the hill and a few below. I approached one of them and asked what they had seen and he said that there was a Wryneck in view on the shingle. I could not locate at first but the kind chap found it with my scope. Fantastic!
This is a bird that I have always wanted to see in the UK and now, after having two lifers already now had another for the UK! The bird was a long way off so digiscoping was the only option. I stayed for half an hour and got a few record shots with the best one below.
I arrived at Beeston Bump knowing that I only had an hour or so before I needed to leave and apart from a nice Wall Brown, did not see the Red Backed Shrike or any other bird except a Dunnock! Oh well, you cannot have it all!
The postscript to this day happened when I arrived home and found that an Icterine Warbler had been seen at Burnham Overy in exactly the place I had seen my dodgy Willow Warbler. Having seen photos I am even more certain that I had seen this and kicked myself for not taking more time or going back as my gut told me to do.
Nevertheless, a marvellous day which I will never forget and many thanks to my new pager service for keeping me informed all day of events.
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