18/09/2017 Twitching again!

Monday 18th September 2017

I received a text from Alastair last night enquiring about going twitching today.  After walking the dogs, we were on the road to Norfolk by 07.30.

• Fist stop was Burnham Overy to look for the Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler.  When we arrived there must have been 50 or so birders looking for the bird.  It had been seen earlier but for a nanosecond as it had flown a few feet from one area to the next. There were groups trying to flush the bird and the general situation was not one to be proud of.  After a while, we decided to move on and await further news.

• At Wells Woods, we joined 30 or so birders watching the Arctic Warbler flitting around in the canopy of the trees.  With patience, I was able to get several good views in my binoculars. Not a "lifer" but a relatively rare bird - so pleased.

courtesy of Steve Cantley on Twitter

On our way down to Essex, we called in at the pig farm just south of Swaffham where we saw 5 Stone Curlews.  Not the 55+ I saw with Marcus a couple of months ago, but, nevertheless well worth stopping to view.

• At Hornchurch Country Park in the Ingrebourne Valley, we had spectacular views of the Spotted Crake as it moved around the reeded, swampy area less than 10 metres from us.  We were so lucky - the birders present hadn't seen the bird for over 2 hours yet we got it within minutes of arriving.  The bird didn't seem to mind our presence or that of the 3-4 cows that were trudging through the deep mud nearby.

courtesy of Alastair Grey

A good day out with just rewards!  In spite of the heavy showers, we kept to our schedule and didn't get wet once.  It was disappointing to miss the Pallas's Warbler but from all accounts, the views would have been very brief and not befitting a first ever sighting of such a rare bird.  One for another day.

Thanks Alastair!