Glaucous Gull: Old Hunstanton, Norfolk

This morning was our first full-day birding of the new year. We headed for Norfolk, the first stop being Old Hunstanton. We were hoping the Glaucous gull that had been present since the 11th of December would still be present. We parked near Hunstanton Golf Club and took the permissive footpath crossing the fairway towards the beach. I'd checked the tide times before setting off, it was low tide when we arrived, but I hadn't thought about the channels running from the sea straight up the beach to the dunes! Brian had wellies on so the channel was no problem, Dad and I only had walking boots on and didn't fancy wet feet all day. I  found an old plank of wood and put it across the channel which was enough to allow us to cross. We joined Brian, who had already seen the Glaucous Gull, but it had flown off in the direction of Holme! All we could do was wait and hope it would return. We scanned the shoreline and had views of Oystercatchers, Turnstones, Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Knot. A seawatch only produced Fulmars and a pair of Red-breasted Merganser. Brian had walked further along the beach and called to say he had found a flock of six shorelarks. There was still no sign of the Glaucous Gull, so Dad and I  walked back to scan through the gulls resting on the beach. Several scans later there was no sign, and then suddenly its head popped up above the shingle ridge. Another birder joined us and said he had watched it fly in while walking towards us.

Old Hunstanton Beach looking back towards the Lighthouse

Glaucous Gull

Brian had walked back towards a dead seal hoping to photograph the gull on the carcass, while waiting he called to say there was a Peregrine resting on the beach.

Peregrine

We stopped briefly at Lady Anne's Drive, Holkham. We walked over to three birders who were looking for the Long-billed Dowitcher. They were checking birds in the distance when one said "I don't know much, but could that be it" It was, and it was right by the fence!

Long-billed Dowitcher

Stiffkey was only five miles away, we parked behind the Red Lion pub and walked across the road to view the flood. We scanned the flood from the roadside and found the Ibis immediately. The l Glossy Ibis was first seen here on the 5th of November 2023 and it's been almost ever-present since that first sighting. 

We spent the remainder of the day at Titchwell, enjoying views of Tawny Owl from the boardwalk. Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Grey Plover, and four Red-breasted Mergansers were all seen on the Tidal marsh, and Common and Velvet Scoter were seen from the beach.