Saturday 17 July 2010

Norfolk

 Sam Tom and dead Gull

Sandwich TernFamily day in Norfolk. Early start to get the 10am boat from Morston quay to see the Seals and Sandwich Terns on Blakeney Point. Only Common Seals were seen on this occasion though we had a shorter time actually with the Seals as we landed at the coast-guards. Not much extra was seen during our enjoyable hour walk around the point, though the Sea Holy looked nice and scenery was wonderful.

Five Little Terns were also noted during our visit, as well as a couple of Dunlin in amongst the Seals, and several pairs of Oystercatcher.

Oystercatcher

Sea Holly

After lunch myself and the boys went to Swanton Novers were we played football in the raptor viewing area, before eventually seeing a couple of Common Buzzards, then our target Honey Buzzard.

A drink in the Victoria before a walk along the beach at Holkam (twenty Crossbills), fish and chips at Wells, and finally ending at Titchwell at dusk. Unfortunately the Buff-breasted Sandpiper seemed to have left at lunchtime, and all we could muster were three each of Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit (plus numerous Black-tailed Godwit), about forty Ruff, and a Whimbrel amongst the Curlew. There were also a very large number of Starlings (c. 75% juvenille) and Tom took a great picture…

Starlings