Spurn

Went hunting for Red backed Shrike today as there had been 5 reported there yesterday and Dave still needs a male. Sadly only one was found, a female but still great to see and we had excellent scope views. We also had fleeting views of a Red breasted Flycatcher but no other rarities of note

Wryneck, Black Redstart and Great Grey Shrike

Excellent birding weekend with Wryneck at Spurn and Black Redstart plus the returning Auks at Flamborough. Today bagged the local Great Grey Shrike at Watergrove reservoir.

Barred Warbler and Red necked Phalarope

Saturday 18th. August had myself and Dave off to Spurn nice and early. We stopped off on the way at Bank Island in Wheldrake where a Red necked Phalarope had been seen the previous day. No joy but a cracking spot consisting of some water and flooded fields. It was alive with Snipe and a Spotted Redshank was on view. Also several Greenshank and Green Sandpipers.
Onto Spurn we saw Reed Warbler, a cracking Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler and a lovely female Sparrowhawk. The main target though was a Barred Warbler and after a lot of waiting around we had two brief flight views of the elusive bird confirmed by a couple of expert birders including Steve Webb who is allegedly "number one" bird spotter as he proudly told one of the Spurn staff birders!!
We were about to sack the day when the bird messenger came up with a Red necked Phalarope at Frampton. So off we went. What a superb site it is too. Hundreds of Black tailed Godwits, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff, Dunlin, Wood Sanpiper, Ruddy Duck and a fantastic adult Red necked Phalarope. A great day with two lifers for me and five for Dave.

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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