Another Heat Wave

 Wednesday July 8

Having a car with efficient aircon made a day out feasible.  With the sun roof and windows closed, and the temperature set to 20C, we were comfortable. With a single stop at Sculthorpe Mill in the vain hope that a Spotted Flycatcher had turned up, and another to check on the non-appearance of the Abbey Farm Little Owl, we arrived at Snettisham an hour before a not very high tide.

It was good to see some water within sight, several groups of white birds scattered along the incoming shoreline. Closer inspection through my scope found many terns amongst the mainly Black-headed Gulls.



Most of the terns were Common, but there were a few punk-headed Sandwich Terns to give us a year tick. Best were two summer plumaged Spotted Redshank. There were probably more, a group of waders flew just as I got to them. Two Redshank were the only other waders apart from the ubiquitous Oystercatchers. 



 Mediterranean Gulls are becoming more frequent here too, their jet black hoods and deep red beaks standing out amongst the Black-heads.


 One of the Sandwich Terns carried a fish around, offering it to many others but never actually letting go of it.

 


I found a single Ringed Plover on the stony beach, no sign of any inside the protective nesting cages. 

Apart from a few Cattle Egrets, a Marsh Harrier and Spoonbills at Holkham , more Spoonbills at Wells North Pools, we were distinctly lacking a decent bird total, we only managed 40. I hope this doesn't sound disappointing, I really enjoyed my day.


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