North Norfolk (again)

[Chris Hawes]

I know there's been many posts about this area already, but I am visiting this weekend and was wondering if anyone knew of any particularly rare or unusual sightings around at the moment? I am particularly interested in photography, so if anyone knows of any good spots where I can get close enough to anything (rare or otherwise!), for a decent shot or two, I'd be most grateful to hear from you.

I see from other threads that there was a confiding flock of snow and lapland buntings at salthouse? Does anyone know if it is still around?

Many thanks

Chris

[rainmaker]

There was a flock of Twites in the very middle of the stroll from Cley to Blakeney. Dunno if that's rare, per se, but oeoeoeoe very pretty to watch.

There was a Marsh Harrier in the reeds just out from Cley too!

[Jolanta Zofia Nowak]

A tip.

If you're specifically interested in twitching, visit this site:

BirdGuides Login Page

... and sign up. All the latest sightings.

[pheonix]

The Buntings are still present around Salthouse, though Lapland not so frequent recently. Shorelarks at Cley. Twite as above. All the usual raptors such as Marsh harrier and Barn owls. Water pipits fairly regularly at Cley.

And of course there's the White crowned sparrow ;-) ;-)

Gareth

[Hobjob]

Is the white-crowned sparrow still around in Cley ?

Very close to the snow buntings (+laplands if they are still there) at Slathouse.

Have you seen the massive flocks knots and oystercatchers in the morning at snettisham?

[Chris Hawes]

Thanks all. Looks like I have a busy weekend ahead of me - I just hope the weather holds out!

[Chris Hawes]

Thanks everyone for the tips - I had a great weekend, with 80+ species and a few new ones for me. Here are a few pics...

First up, a distant shot of a hunting barn owl:



Here's a shot of the confiding Spotted Redshank at Titchwell:



The Salthouse flock of Snow Buntings (including two Lapland Buntings):



And here is one of the most famous sparrows in the world:



My favourite shot of the weekend was this redshank, which kindly walked past me after a couple of freezing hours spent lying on the wet sand, waiting for the tide to come in and push the waders toward me.

[RobinP]

OK, you've got me there, which ones are the Lapland Buntings? Can you put a red circle round them or something? Also how many birds are there in the flock in total?

P.S. Great pics.

[Chris Hawes]

Here you go RobinP. They're not easy to make out unless you know where they are. They are the more streaky brown of the birds, and don't have any white on them. It doesn't help that they are so small in the frame. Now, if I had a bigger lens...