Common Scoters

12 Common Scoters present om Castleshaw lower reservoir yesterday. Condition cold, dull and windy.

Golden Oriole and Stone Curlew

Where do are start. Norfolk and Suffolk again provided an incredible day's birding. Myself and dave Evans drove down to Suffolk Friday 11th. May and stayed at the Swan Inn b and b so we could have an early start. We were up at 5 on Saturday and went to Lakenheath Fen. This is a truly magical site. Shortly after arrival we could hear Golden Oriole, booming Bittern, Cuckoo and Cetti's warbler all at the same time! We were quickly rewarded with 2 sightings of Golden Oriole, one in the black poplar plantation and another as it flew out of the trees and was mobbed by a Cuckoo! Other highlights were Hobby, Kingfisher in flight and 2 Cranes which flew by.
We then went onto Weeting heath and saw 2 Stone Curlew which sadly were a bit distant. Then onto Abbey farm at Flitcham where we saw Red-legged Partridge and another  Kingfisher. We then went onto the coast and visited Cley, Tichwell and Snettisham. Highlights were Cetti's warbler and Temmincks stint at Cley, Whimbrel and Red-crested Pochard at Titchwell and a summer plumage Grey Plover at Snettisham. Other notable species included Avocet, Marsh harrier, Grey Partridge ,Spoonbill, Whinchat and Egyptian Goose. In total we saw an amazing 92 species. We need to go back soon though and bag Montagu's harrier, Honey buzzard and the elusive Turtle Dove.

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