Birds at a Distance

 Sunday January 28

We drove straight to Snettisham, without any of our usual birding stops. Maybe then, we would be near enough to this morning's high tide for the birds to be close enough to identify easily. It wasn't and they weren't. The usual mind-blowing mass of birds on the tideline, others scattered widely on the mud, appearing from, and disappearing into, the myriad deep creeks and gullies. Such a lovely day, it was a pleasure to be there. Warm - not the 19.7 in Kinlochewe - little wind, and waders. It's the best chance for us to view a variety of the latter.

I eventually identified: Knot, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew and Oystercatchers. Accompanied by Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck and a few Pintail. A small group of Greater Black-backed Gulls stood out amongst the diminutive feeders. Unexpectedly, no Golden Plover nor any of the heron family about.

Despite careful inspection of all three pits, we did not see any other birds of note, apart from a solitary Coot, and a group of Goldeneyes and Tufted Ducks, all of which which were year ticks. Nothing small on the beach behind the Yacht Club either, apart from a flight of Linnets.

A little disappointed, we made our way back through the chalet park. A movement on the concrete track in front of us turned out to be a dear little Sanderling, scurrying towards us, head down. It passed by my door close enough to be touched, still running. One of those interludes which lodge in the memory.

Leaving the chalet park, I checked BirdGuides. An earlier message said that the duck had been seen 'on the pit behind the chalets' a half hour previously - and the Buntings on the beach behind the Yacht Club. How annoying, were we losing our touch. Pam turned round. This time, we viewed the first pit from Shepherd's Port track, which gives an almost unimpeded view of the water - and the sun is behind one. Still nothing. Chalet Park again. Reaching the north end of the second pit, we saw three birders looking down into the water from the causeway. Why? Then Pam noticed a photographer in camo gear sitting at the very edge of the pit, his long lens poking out from the greenery. As I looked, a Diver appeared below him. Waw, he must have had a good view, especially as the sun was behind him and lighting the bird. I managed two distant shots of this Red-throated Diver before moving on to the reserve entry gate, stopping on top of the hill to look back at the pit. 

 

All four scopes/cameras/ bins of the others present were trained on the far corner. Up popped the male Long-tailed Duck. For only a second or so, before diving again. This was to be the pattern.  I think it had ADHD. The bird never spent more than three seconds on the surface. This was my usual view and photo.

I managed a few shots, before we turned so that Pam could have a go. All against the light unfortunately, its long central tail feathers hardly discernible. The bird gradually made its way west, hidden by bushes. When we saw it flying strongly past us in the direction of the reserve pit, we left. What a lovely little duck, hard to separate from male Smew as my favourite.

 

Now for the beach behind the Yacht Club again. Pam is uneasy about this as the track is marked private - but the clubhouse is open to the public and this is their car park. That's my interpretation anyway. The concrete slope enabling dinghies to be launched onto the beach gives good views of the shore. Just as many feeding birds as seen from the reserve, but nearer. Enjoying the sun and the peace, a flock of about thirty Snow Buntings flew along the near shoreline, disappearing around the corner. Success.

Pam saw a Waxwing on top of a roadside tree near the turnoff to Holme Village. We couldn't stop and it had gone by the time we returned.

Burnham Ovary garage has incredibly cheap petrol. Pam had deliberstely not filled up elsewhere so that we could do so here. £1.29.9  a litre - £1.40 at Tesco in Hunstanton. We also had a celebratory, and very welcome, ice-cream, Double Salted Caramel Magnum for Pam and a Solero for me. 

Holkham gateway already had three parked cars, we had to motor on to Lady Anne's Drive. That place is always heaving, many of them birders  today as Norfolk's first Black Scoter had been identified amongst a large flock of Common Scoter in Holkham bay. We had a quick look but did not see the Green-winged Teal reported present. We met David N at Stiffkey and he hadn't seen it either. Stiffkey is the site where a Glossy Ibis has been seen for at least a week.Friend P had told me that there was a small pulloff opposite the Red Lion pub, from which the pools now being frequented by the bird could be seen. We identified the place on the way through then returned to largely pull off the road whilst viewing the Glossy Ibis feeding on the wet marsh beyond the pools. Yes, distant again. The marsh was full of birds, the Ibis not easy to see as the sun had gone from the valley. Well done my camera in getting anything at all.

 

Time to drive home for Man U's cup match against Newport (4-2) after our first 'full' day out since November. What a lovely and successful day. 14 year ticks and some good sightings. 

And, England won the first test match against the mighty India. I was astonished when P alerted me to that. I had tried to find out using my phone but hadn't succeeded. From our performance in the first three days, I could only see a biggish loss. Well done those men.