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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