Wednesday 15 March 2017

Big Weekend - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Part I)

Before we embark on the rather belated 3 Part Series, which is the account of a recent visit to Norfolk, there is an item of news from yesterday when we recorded our First 'True' Migrant of the year.
 SAND MARTIN
 We use the word 'true' to distinguish between those which have most
certainly just arrived from afar and those, such as Blackcap, Chiffchaff etc,
that could possibly have overwintered in out area.
Another most enjoyably and educational weekend away with our friend
Dave Foot,
we had left Dorset at 04:30 (recording a collective Tawny Owl + c6 Barn Owls on the way) before crossing the Norfolk border, close to the town of Thetford, spot on daybreak and headed directly for a rather run down industrial estate in the heart of the conurbation where 
MOST UNUSUALLY 
it was me who first spotted the
 GLAUCOUS GULL
(centre at outstretched right wing-tip)
 and the largest Gull
in these other images.
 However, it was just a little less than a nanosecond before Mr Foot
redressed the balance by finding c2 unexpected
 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLs
 (one directly below the Gull perched on the ridge)
and the c2 together with darker mantle and upper wings.
 With one Year Tick in the bag from there it was a full hour before we reached the
first of the major Nature Reserves on the North Norfolk Coast
 and quickly donned our waterproofs.
 Walking the main pathway (bottom left-hand corner, diagonally northish)
 it was no surprise that first up, and heard well before it was seen, came
REDSHANK
then in company
REDSHANK and CURLEW
before reaching the hide.
CURLEW
In total we recorded c5
MARSH HARRIER
before connection with the next 
First for the Year
KNOT
(KNOT and DUNLIN)
before a small party of
DUNLIN
flew in to join them.
There was also a solo 'ring-tail' (female)
HEN HARRIER
before the most delicate of the lot, the wonderful
AVOCET
hove into view.
Next to show was a single but equally contented

BAR-TAILED GODWIT
Other than that it was left to 
'displaying'
and 
'feeding'
SHELDUCK
Mid-afternoon, and as a result of a thus all too quiet 'tweet', we headed further
inland to make our 'first bid' for a Pallid Harrier that has been frequenting the
area for some time now.
It was disappointment all the way as far as the Raptor
was concerned but spirits were lifted when once again it was Dave
who spotted, at quite some distance (above), an early flying
BARN OWL
 This constituted not only our first 'stills' ever of this beautiful creature,


 but also our first videos footage, which we hope to improve upon!
 GRREEEAAAAATTTTTT!
BARN OWL
 In the evening we visited the
 WASH and TOPE
Public House
and could not fault it in any way, a fantastic end to our first day!
 PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT INSTALMENT!
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