Red-Breasted Flycatcher, Norfolk

At last, the year list moves!

News of a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Warham Greens in Norfolk on Friday sees us heading towards the site early Saturday morning.

Yet another stop off at Lynford Arboretum in search of the elusive Two-barred's. After another two hour search still no sightings of any Two-Barreds.

Plenty of Common Crossbills were seen along with many annoying Chaffinch and Siskin and the odd sightings of Coal Tit and Goldcrest.

So it's another dip on the Two-barreds, I make that Four visits and four no-shows now. Here's hoping they will stick around now throughout the winter and give me yet another opportunity to try to see them. 

So off towards Warham Greens hoping for better luck with the target bird. Heading along Stiffkey Road, Brian quickly finds the track. (Garden Drove). The sign at the entrance to the track is not encouraging "Unsuitable for motors"  I would imagine in bad weather or winter this would be a sign to take notice off, but it's a fine October day and the track causes no problems other than avoiding a few potholes.

Parking up at the end of the track, it's a short walk down the narrower track to the left and within five minutes of arriving, I've had my first view of a Red-breasted Flycatcher. Granted it was brief and in flight but it was a view, I wouldn't have been pleased if that was the only view I was to get, but luckily it wasn't.

Within a few minutes, the bird flew back left and landed in full view. I left the site much happier having had some good views of the bird.

At last the year list can move again, and with it so can the life list!

From here it's off to Titchwell, where we spent a relaxing afternoon wandering around the reserve. At Pat's Pool, I managed to locate a Jack Snipe, which showed well for a short time along with good numbers of Common Snipe.

News came through of a Yellow-browed Warbler having been seen around Meadow Trail, but we failed to see or hear it during our searches.

The small pools within the Meadow Trail were alive with Dragonflies, and the camera came out to grab a couple of shots.

Scanning Freshwater Marsh from Island hide produced a single Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper along with good numbers of Dunlin, Ruff and Golden Plovers. Another scan of the marsh from the pathway and a second Little Stint is found a short distance from the first.

Little Stint

Volunteer Marsh which has been very quiet on our last couple of visits, produces superb views of two Greenshank and three Spotted Redshanks plus both Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew and Grey Plover.

Greenshank

Back at Freshwater Marsh, and more views of the Little Stints and Curlew Sandpiper were had, that was until a Peregrine came visiting looking for an easy meal. But after several passes, it leaves the area without any reward.

On the drive, home news breaks of a Lesser Grey Shrike found at Capel Fleet. It's too late today to divert, but having missed the bird at Leiston in Suffolk early this year I'm keen to try for it tomorrow if it has stuck overnight.