New UK lifer!

Due to the in laws coming over from France, opportunities for birding have been thin on the ground!

Three short visits in nearly two weeks have left me a bit frustrated but I did make the most of them.

Last Saturday Jen asked if I could nip to the Co-Op in Wells to pick up some bits. I told her as leaving that i would nip to Cley and before she could say no was gone!

I made for rhe beach car park and walked along the shingle to the screen in front of the North Scrape. A familiar face was already in situ - Mr Lee GR Evans no less.

He said hello and we both looked at the White Rumped Sandpiper that could not be further back from us if it tried! To be honest, Jono and I had much better views of the one we found at Titchwell last year. This was so far away that photos were not viable but a useful year lister nevertheless and back home within an hour and half!

Nothing else seen on my way back though a confiding Meadow Pipit on the fence posts was pleasing.

Sunday was given over to housework though I managed to sneak to Sculthorpe but apart from a Nuthatch (one of my elusive year listers!) only a Muntjac appeared.

The week drifted by and I never got out of the house. Saturday was shopping with the In Laws but we finished at 2.30. They were tired and just wanted to watch telly and i was so frustrated at being indoors again that i managed to persuade Jen to let me have a couple of hours out.

All week I had been keeping tabs on a long staying Marsh Warbler at Narborough - about half hour away from me. I checked again and it had been seen in the morning so off I went.

I had heard one (and briefly seen) in Turkey and remembered the amazing song.

The area along the Nar Valley Way was easy to find and a couple of other birders were their too. As per my normal routine, it had been seen and heard only 5 minutes before but has then vanished. 15 minutes went by and nothing. Bearing in mind my limited time I prayed that it would sing and show before I had to go!

Eventually after half an hour the amazing song was heard in a nearby elder bush and a couple of minutes later it flew into the reeds on the opposite bank. Sadly, it did not climb the reeds then vanished again for another 15 minutes so heard but not seen properly!

Finally it flew back in the reeds a bit higher this time. I did get some half reasonable views and a couple of record shots for another UK lifer! Though not great I was pleased considering how hard it is to get any sort of photo shooting through reeds.

Hopefully, I will have a whole day to myself next weekend!

Saturday day out

Sophie was helping Jen at Holme on Saturday but only for a couple of hours.

I agreed to pick her up so, left at the same time and was at Titchwell by 8.45.

The reserve itself was quiet with only the usual waders and ducks though the Little Gulls were still on the freshmarsh.

However, sea watching was excellent with numerous Common, Sandwich and Little Terns, Gannets feeding and, even though the seas was choppy, the tide was in. This gave me excellent views of a pair of Razorbills - year lister for me.

I made my way to Holme and had a bacon roll and coffee but Jen was really busy and Sophie wanted to stay for another hour to help out further so I took a stroll. Apart from numerous Whitethroat, this too was quiet.

Butterflies were better with Wall Brown, Orange Tip, Common Blue and Painted Lady with the latter two giving decent views.

After dropping Sophie home and having a quick coffee I decided to try Sculthorpe which is only 10 minutes away from me.

I paid my 'voluntary' £4 and walked the complete reserve. I must say how enjoyable it was. Paths and cleverly positioned feeders made woodland watching easier and I got excellent vies of Bullfinch and fleeting views (obstructed sometimes-see photo!

In fact part of my reason for visiting was to add some common birds such as Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker to my year list - yet they eluded me there too! It seems strange to have Citril Finch yet not have these!!

The reserve opens out to fen and a narrow stretch of the Wensum. Only the normal ducks, nesting Lapwing and loads of Reed Bunting here but pleasant nevertheless. Walking back, I just entered the woods when a brown flash shot by and perched. Good views of a Spotted Flycatcher.

A very nice reserve and one I will revisit regularly.