Sunday 6 January 2008

Norfolk Day 2 - Lapping it up

First, a blatant plug for my 'homely' B&B in Sheringham - 'Pentland Lodge' where mine hosts Janette and Jeff find nothing too much trouble and conjured up this amazing breakfast to fuel any birder throught the day! If you want contact details, let me know and tell them where the recommendation came from!







My first port of call was Salthouse and a bit of photography involving those most delightful of subjects - Snow and (hopefully) Lapland Buntings! I could tell be the line of birders that they were already obliging. After a couple of full 2Gb cards and frozen fingers, I decided to call it a day.

Here's a few examples of just how obliging they were!!
















And the Lapland Buntings - 3 were seen














Plus a Dunlin briefly...







Cley reserve was amazingly quiet with virtually no waders but four Marsh Harriers were busy working the reed beds.

I always seem to bump into Pete Simpson in Norfolk (Blue Sky Birds) and he tipped me off regarding a pair of very obliging Shag in Wells harbour. They really were good subjects and I got some nice 'bathing' action shots. Always makes an interesting conversation piece when you casually mention to someone that you've just had a Shag in the harbour - well it was a nice session!















The afternoon fizzled out with no good finds and the elusive, distant Smew at Holkham Hall had to be scoped - no Lesser Spots to oblige either.

A second call at Cley visitor centre for the Water Pipits again drew blank but at least the pools were now occupied, large flocks of Wigeon, Pintail, Golden Plover, Avocet (25) etc. but nothing earth shattering.







There was no sunset either, the Wyndham Arms did have a nice rump steak to offer though! Now, I wonder what might turn up tomorrow........