Devil Birder

The second and final day in Norfolk and I had the iternary finely planned out in my head; Lakenheath then Weeting Heath followed finally by the secret Montagu's Harrier site...though it didn't quite work out that way.

We left for Lakenheath Fen RSPB at just after 0900 and arrived shortly after 1000. The helpful staff at the visitor centre refreshed my mind on the key areas and I set off like a speeding bullet to the prime Golden Oriole spot, as I was limited on time. I knew I was near when I saw a group of people watching the 2nd plantation keenly and I heard my first British Golden Oriole, a male singing away. I didn't manage to locate it perched but did get one or two brief views of the bird in flight and heard at least one juvenile calling too. At least one Cuckoo was singing away in the plantation, too, and I hardly ever see one so was keen to locate it, needless to say I failed and had to press on to the next viewpoint where I was told I'd just missed one of the adult Common Cranes poke its head up...bugger. I had about half an hour left before I needed to head back to the car so was optimistic that at least one would show, even if only briefly and partially, in that time but by the time I had to leave none of the 15 or so people at the viewpoint glimpsed them again. Nethertheless I saw two or three Bitterns in flight and several Bearded Tits as well as 2 or so Marsh Harriers. I haven't seen much of the former two this year so it was a shame that the excitement that would normally surround a sighting was overshadowed by the need to see the Cranes and get them on my year list. A brief search around the car park failed to produce any Grasshopper Warblers.

Next up Weeting Heath NWT. We found the site eventually and met my uncle and his girlfriend there. While they had a drink with my parents at the visitor centre I made my way over to the West Hide where after a couple of minutes of scanning I located a single, fairly distant Stone-curlew, my first ever. The heat haze and distance didn't make for quality viewing but when it clouded over the views were improved and the photos slightly so. This is my 242nd British bird, 202nd British bird this year and 261st World/West Pal bird ever for me.

Dad made it quite clear that he was no longer willing to go to the Montagu's Harrier site, much to my frustrated disappointment. I can't complain really though, because he has promised to go up again in 2 or 3 weeks to see my uncle,  the Montagu's Harriers and the Cranes.

We left and had a quick dinner at a Little Chef where the mini-flying-silverfish of Norfolk attacked once again. We were inundated with these strange creatures back at Welney. They don't look like they should be able to fly, but they can and make good use of it! We set off for home after finishing off a maple syrup pancake and got back at 2000.

A good although quick-paced and rushed trip. I would have liked to have seen more of Golden Orioles, Cranes, Montagu's Harriers, James +Simeon Grundy and Connor Rand though.