A couple of weeks later a full size family trip took a picnic out to Wells and an afternoon walk along the seawall beneath cobalt skies and diamond sharp light to Holkham Gap. Waders and Geese in gorgeous light were a treat. After hot chocolates and a good hack around the beach we returned as the slow softening drift to dusk fell across the marsh. The Brent Geese flew across the moonrise and a habitual scan through the small flock feeding on the football pitch revealed a very smart Black Brant, a nice little find and a Short-eared Owl tussled with a Barn Owl on the marsh beyond.
The following weekend we rented a cottage in Thornham. A strong Northerly at dawn meant a rough sea at Titchwell early doors. I hoped for a Little Auk or two but the cold and the viewing conditions made it difficult to find much, a few divers, scoters and 2 Red-necked Grebes the highlights.
Next morning dawn at Titchwell was much better. A mill pond flat sea made it easy to pick out the goodies dotted across the bay. Long-tailed Ducks numbered 7 including 2 very smart and close drakes. A Black-throated Diver showed well too and 40+ Red-throats and a single Great Northern were moving out of the Wash. Red-breasted mergansers reached 45 and 70+ Eider passed through in groups of 20 . The Red-necked Grebes were still present and a pied Slavonian Grebe bobbed up and down between dives. The return along the seawall was full of birds, waders were plentiful pushed onto the marsh by the particularly high tide. thousands of Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and assorted plovers swirled around indecisive about a return to the slowly emerging sands and mud. The wind had turned to the East overnight and I checked optimistically through the small birds in the willows with my eye on a sprite, revealing just a couple of crests and Chiff-chaffs.
After a coffee and some ceremonial opening of my birthday presents we packed the car and headed to Thornham Harbour where I could enjoy some close up views of a dozen strong flock of Twite and a fearless Little Egret while the girls got to enjoy some close up views of Disney films on the I-Pad.
I had been waiting for too long to find the opportune time to take up Will B's recommendation of the pies at The 3 Horseshoes in Warham. We tucked into a stupendous feast of meat, pastry and gravy at noon and then headed to the beach. Checking the Geese I was surprised to find a different Brant although I hear Ben's concerns that it is a hybrid on the basis of the reduced white flank markings and the head shape.
Still with the autumn on my mind I checked The Dell for passerines, a teeny thing buzzing around the treetops on the other side of the clearing caught my eye, as it hovered and dashed back into the canopy. I followed it trying to convince myself that it was just an excitable Goldcrest, I had no further views and decided to move on after ten minutes (later at home I checked t'internet news - of course a Pallas's Warbler had been in the dell most of the afternoon!!!) I looped around the pines and onto the beach watching a flock of 25 Shore Lark swirl off the sands and onto the marsh, to be deluged by a brief but intense rain storm minutes later. I met up with the girls on the beach and headed for the woods to play on the tree swings in the gloaming. Passing the Dell in the half light we disturbed a Long-eared Owl from a path side roost which glided silently past my ear and off into the trees. All lovely stuff but I sense it is time to get back to some birding closer to home.
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