On the spur of the moment with a good weather forcast I decided on friday eve to go to Lakenheath and then on to Norfolk. Checking Birdguides Saturday morning the Savi's Warbler was still at Lakenheath so left about 10.30am with the caravan and getting set up at Mildenhall I was on Lakenheath RSPB by 4.00pm. A quick walk to the far end of the reserve passing several calling Cuckoos, stopping and viewing a calling Grasshopper Warbler I arrived to join the 40 or so twitchers hoping to see the Savi's. Chatting to a couple of birders who had been there since 9.00am and hadn't seen or heard it wasn't looking promising. An hour later a faint call and a brown blob was in a bush where the experts agreed that was it. 10 seconds later it was gone.
The only pic I got was an empty bush but I had at least seen it.
Another half hour passed and no further sign so I set off to Weeting Heath. In the hide several other birders I recognised from Lakenheath put me onto a distant Stone Curlew.
We also found another sitting on a nest but only the head appeared - will try tomorrow for another look.
Early Sunday morning I set off to North Norfolk and on approaching Wells I got a B.G. text to say the Bluethroat was still there. and by 8.00am I was watching it with about 20 others. Showing really well in the sunlight through the scope but sadly too distant for a reasonable pic.
While watching it flit from bush to bush, dropping into the reeds and back again all the birds went up including the gulls as an Osprey went over our heads.
The Bluethroat dropped down into the reeds again, so I set off to walk towards Blakeney point to try to find the Short-toed Lark reported yesterday.
Eventually finding a few Skylarks I was looking for one a bit smaller and no streaking on its chest. The best I could come up with was this one but I have my doubts.
Considering the habitat looking for one bird was a needle in a haystack
Having walked for 2 hours past the halfway house and around the hood I headed back to the carpark seeing the nesting Little, Common and Sandwich Terns, Oyks and Ringed Plover plus numerous Reed Buntings
And Linnets
With no new news from from Bird Guides I headed for Titchwell seeing a pair of Red Crested Pochard, from the hide a Spoonbill
Avocet
5 Little Gulls
Plus summer plumage Knot, Bar-tailed Godwits, Sanderling and Dunlin. On the reedbed pool were a pair of Garganey
A drive around North Creake in hope of spotting a Montys was a waste of time and ended up back at Weeting Heath hoping for a better look at the Stone Curlews but all I could see was the head of the one on the nest.
Up early on Monday am before heading for home I went back to Lakenheath hoping for an Oriole but neither sight or sound of them. Heading for the Savis Warbler I heard several Cuckoos, passed the reeling Grasshopper Warbler arriving at the Savi's site with no one there didn't look promising. Ten minutes passed and I heard him call and then he popped up to the top of the reeds.
For the next 15 minutes he called and showed well, though mobile.
A good end to a great weekend with perfect weather and my own company.
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