North Norfolk - Friday 25/07/2008 - Monday 28/07/2008

A lovely weekend birding - as it happened probably the best weekend weather-wise of the whole summer so far (although two lunchtimes were marred somewhat by sea mist rolling in with the strong wind). Very relaxed throughout - no chasing about.

Friday July 25 2008

This included Hunstanton cliffs and beach and Titchwell RSPB. Views below of Fulmar, Sandwich Tern, Avocet, Water Rail, a juvenile Little Gull and a couple of very distant Curlew Sandpipers.

Saturday July 26 2008

Saturday saw us at Salthouse beach and Titchwell. A relaxed day by any standards. We sat on the beach at Salthouse from 1030 until 1730, just jumping up occasionally to scope anything interesting that appeared or to get something from the car. Excellent views of Arctic Skuas harrying Terns here (although the photos are not great). We had a swift walk along the East Bank at Cley up to the beach, along for a closer view of Arnold's Marsh and then back again to the car at Walsey Hills. We had at least six individual Marsh Harriers here, along with a good selection of waders, as well as a Little Grebe quite close on the pool near the Walsey Hills lookout.

Sunday July 27 2008

A day of walking at Holkham - west through the pines as far as the dunes, and east to Wells beach. Few bird photos taken - here are a few of landscapes, flowers and insects.

Monday July 28 2008

The last day of the break saw us make a second visit to Titchwell. Sea mist made things very difficult at first, but the atmospheric views of Spotted Redshank, Avocet and a distant view of a Pec Sand made up for it. As we got to the beach the visibility improved, with good views of obliging waders (Ringed Plovers, Turnstones, Sanderlings). We then went on to Snettisham, where fortunately enough it was high tide. This gave us brilliant views of wheeling flocks of tens of thousands of Knot, Godwits, Dunlin, etc. - nothing like it! We also saw another Marsh Harrier, showing the increasingly good population of this species in Norfolk.