Fowlmere Bullfinches Wildlife Explorers trip to Thetford Forest for Stone Curlews and Nightjars. I went early (late afternoon) with Tom to Lakenheath to try and see Golden Oriole and Common Crane, whilst Sam went on the mini-bus.
Unfortunately the weather let us down. A strong, cold, northerly wind and heavy rain meant that the BTO pulled out of the Nightjar ringing. It also made Lakenheath difficult.
In the end, we had to settle for hearing two male Orioles, and left the Cranes as access was difficult without disturbing the breeding birds. We noted two Hobbies mobbing a Sparrowhawk, about twenty Marsh Harriers, a large number of Swifts, and a vixen Fox.
Meeting the others at Weeting, myself and Tom were lucky enough to see a single Stone Curlew. Though distant, Tom did manage a digiscoped record shot.
Unfortunately the mini-bus party arrived just as it walked out of view. We therefore decided to try nearby Mildenhall, and fortunately scored here before moving on to just north of Elvedon to try for Nightjar (though obviously without ringing.) As suspected, it was hard going, and only myself and Tom saw a single bird briefly. The only other notable sighting was of a couple of Roe Deers.
