Monday 7 March 2016

Lapland Buntings at Blakeney Freshmarsh

Another trip to Norfolk this morning, kicked off with a stop at Blakeney Quay. From within the car the outside temperature was showing 4 degrees. However stepping out of the car the temperature felt well below. that, and with the wind blowing directly into our faces it was freezing. We headed off along the sea wall making our way towards the bend and the National Trust gate. Arriving at the gate the biting wind was soon forgotten when a small flock of Twite flew in to feed close by and these were soon followed by several Lapland Buntings. It was good to spend some time watching these birds at close quarters rather than catching a glimpse of a calling bird as it flew overhead.

Lapland Bunting (B Anderson)

From here we headed off towards the shingle banks North of Arnold's Marsh. I decided to scope the pools and shingle from the new shelter along the coastal path, while dad and Brian headed off in search of Snow Bunting. The pools held good numbers of roosting Dunlin along with Redshank, Wigeon, Teal and plenty of Brent Geese. 





After a fairly long walk along the shingle banks dad and Brian had managed to locate the Snow Bunting flock.  I managed to get reasonable scope views of the birds as they flew around the shingle feeding.

With no sign of the Red-necked Grebe at Brancaster Staithe we headed for Hunstanton Cliffs and quickly found several Fulmar circling around the cliffs to add another year tick before heading for home.

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