rayrochesbirdng diary: Autumn round-up

The Great Northern Diver pictured above,the only Diver of any species I have seen on the Broadwater, was another 'first' in what has been an outstanding Autumn at Holme. The few minus points have included picking a dead Short Eared Owl off the main road from Hunstanton , and not managing to connect either with a yellow Browed warbler this year, or the Juvenile Pallid Harrier seen at Holme. Against this the Arctic warbler stayed long enough to give excelent views, and where better to see another 'lifer'! The Red Flanked Bluetail and the Wood Warbler were Norfolk ticks, and the long staying Red Necked Phalarope completed a double, having seen the previous bird in 2005. Icterene Warbler Barred Warblers and Wryneck all posed in the hand and were supported by good numbers of Redstarts,Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Winchats and several Ring Ouzels and a Great Grey Shrike.Short Eared Owls hunted the marsh and 2 were seen far out to Sea on 1 seawatch, as well as a peregrine passing rather closer in.The sea has offered close views of little Auks on several dates, an amazing 1 day passage of Kittiwakes and many other hours spent in the Dunes with Skuas, Shearwaters and Gannets all passing by. All 4 Suas obliged, including Spooned Poms and a Juvenile Long Tailed in the tally. A Sabines Gull passed close inshore, and all 3 Divers have appeared. It must have now moved on to winter as Velvet Scoters and Long Tailed Ducks have been picked up on more recent seawatches.