A twitching we shall go

I was out with Mark Sunday morning and the original plan was to photograph the Dotterel at Danby Beacon then probably go on to Teesside, we had started at Sutton Bank car park as some Turtle Doves had been reported from there in the week, there was a lot of activity around the visitor centre including several showy Garden Warblers and eventually I heard a Turtle Dove start “purring” but I inadvertently flushed it as I tried to find where it was calling from, then Marks pager went off “MEGA” in Norfolk, a Citril Finch had been seen in Burnham Overy Dunes but it was being elusive with just mainly flight views, it seemed a long shot but we knew we would only regret it if we didn’t try, a couple of phone calls later and we were meeting up with Paz and Dave Ousey at Fairburn Ings, the twitch was on. It was a good drive down just a few caravans to contend with along the A17 but nothing major and pager reports became more positive, we parked up at Lady Anne’s Drive, Holkham and set out on the one and a half mile walk (or should I say route march) to the end of the Pines and the area of Dunes the bird was favouring, we timed it just right, after being missing a while it had just been relocated and showed really well for 40 mins or more as it fed in a little gulley totally unfazed by the mass of birders surrounding it, a superb adult male it looked really good, my first tick of the year. The walk back was a more leisurely affair and a few Butterflies were noted including Holly Blues and Green Hairstreaks plus a pair of Egyptian Geese were showing well near the car park. We then headed up the road to Choseley Drying Barns where we caught up with some Dotterel, not close enough to photograph though. We ended the day with a quick visit to Titchwell, it was fairly quiet but a summer plumaged Little Stint was nice, a Bittern boomed and we observed the Marsh Harriers making a food pass, an excellent day.

Willow Warbler at Sutton Bank

and Garden Warblers but even though they were showy it was still difficult to get a clear shot

what a little gem, well worth the trek South

Green Hairstreak on the way back

and a pair of Egyptian Geese near the car park

Monday 11th  

After not being able to go for the Derbyshire Red Throated Pipit last weekend it was quite ironic that another got found on Seaton Common, Teesside on Sunday afternoon where we would have probably been if we hadn’t gone to Norfolk, however the bird was still present today so I nipped up to see it this evening, another cracking Spring bird but distant and with it being dull and very windy I only managed a few poor record shots, also a drake Garganey on a nearby pool.