However, on 10th May I was due down in Green Tye for a friends 60th birthday and had to leave here at midday. I was just sorting my bag out at 10.45 when i got a call from Jen to say that a Citril Finch had been seen at Holkham. Checking Birdguides and her information was correct that one had been seen at 9.45 at Holkham Pines.
Dilemma - do I try and see this mega but know I only have an hour and a quarter or risk waiting until Monday evening which would be the next chance I would have. I went for it!
The bird was right at the end of the pines almost at Burnham Overy which meant a good half hour walk from Lady Anne's Drive.
Subsequently, I did not actually get to that area until 11.25 and I knew I only had 10 minutes max before I had to leave!!
Fortunately the bird flew and landed deep in the pines. The briefest of glimpses but still counts!
I power walked back and made my party on time!
On the Monday after work I nabbed a good year lister in Temmincks Stint at Titchwell but this was almost at the furthest island so no photos.
A period of non birding followed until Saturday when I had a good half day all to myself.
First stop Titchwell where I bumped into Alan (a volunteer warden) who was paging through that there was a White Faced Whistling Duck on an island on the freshmarsh. He pointed it out to me and although it was not ringed, it was almost certainly an escapee. Out of focus record shot below.
Behind a Chinese Water Deer showed well too.
We walked down to the beach which was generally quiet but Little Terns were close in giving another year lister soon followed by another! The sea had a fair swell but I noticed a couple of unusual blobs a fair way out. It was actually easier for Alan to use my scope than try and tell him. He immediately called Guillemot which is unusual for this time of year.
After a thoroughly pleasant couple of hours I decided to call on my way back home for lunch at Choseley Drying Barns as Turtle Dove has eluded me and they are regularly seen there. No luck but great views of Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer.
I had not planned to go back out after lunch but glanced at my phone at 2 to see that a Red Necked Phalarope has been seen on and off all morning at Cley on the North Scrape.
Having done my chores I decided to give it a go.
It was distant and has this unbelievable behaviour of spinning round in a circle feeding. It looks like water draining out of a plug hole. If you can ID the bird from the record shots below well done!
It was now a lovely afternoon so ambled up to Kelling Heath. Jono had given me the low down on where to find Dartford Warbler but although I had no joy, it was stunning with great views and lots of Linnets and more Yellowhammers.
A good day and still earned brownie points too!
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