The North-east wind doth blow...

On Saturday Gen and ourselves went to Lynford Arboretum to try to catch up with the elusive Hawfinch. Sadly we were not there when the single Hawfinch was sighted later in the day but we did get good views of Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Coal Tit and heard a Tawny Owl calling.
From there we made our way to Cley for lunch and then went looking for the Shorelark which were reported to be found between the East Bank and North Hide.We were in luck as far as the birds were concerned but the weather had turned to fine rain which did nothing to enhance our view through wet lenses. The poor Shorelark were looking a sorry sight when we caught up with them, there were 10 altogether.

 

We decided to leave a rather bleak Cley and see what was about at Titchwell. On our way there we spotted a couple of Buzzards flying above a stand of trees to the west of Holkham, we stopped long enough to get good but distant, views of a juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard. Unfortunately the second Buzzard didn't stay around long enough for us to check it out. As we drove towards Burnham Overy we passed a couple of birders who were watching 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 males and a female as they patrolled the skies.

At Titchwell we were told there were Snow Buntings on the beach so we went directly there, expecting to spend some time searching. They were actually only 4 or 5 metres from the end of the boardwalk busily searching in the sand for anything worth eating and only moved away when walkers got too close.

While we watched the Snow Buntings, with a very chill wind in our faces, this Sanderling dropped by to see what was going on.

A quick look at the lagoon from the new Parrinder Hide revealed the usual wader species - Dunlin, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Lapwing plus some very smart Pintail.

Of course the weather had improved dramatically by the time we left, driving into a rosy sunset.