Sunday 11 October 2015

Isabeline Shrike at Beeston Regis

So we're birding in Norfolk this morning. Barn and Little Owls were seen before we made Titchwell.
Geese are about in large numbers already and a walk to the beach and back gave great views of Curlew Sandpiper, Snipe, Sanderling, Eider, Common Scoter, Marsh Harriers, Golden and Grey Plovers ETC ETC ETC.
We searched for a reported Yellow-browed Warbler without success and then made a short stop at Brancaster to enjoy the Turnstones, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers.

The pager bleeps:  Radde's Warbler Holkham! and reluctantly we decide to let the pager ruin a good days birding a chase the tick but before we're half way along the track at Holkham news breaks of an Isabelline Shrike at Beeston Regis so we're back in the car and chasing the tick abandoning the Radde's for what we thought would be an easier chase and so it was as we pulled up opposite the common and within a few feet we were looking at a lifer as the Shrike sat out in a Hawthorn bush.

The Shrike
So just as we're packing up to leave for the two hour drive home a local tells us of a Pallas's Warbler showing on the golf course at Sheringham so he head a couple of miles down the road and within minutes of arriving we're on the little gem as it feeds in short Oak trees along the edge of the golf course with several Goldcrest.

Pallas's Warbler
Pallas's Warbler

Now with the lifer and a bonus year tick bagged we finally head home after a cracking days birding in Norfolk.

Year list now 259 Life list now 363  (The Shrike is thought to be a Daurian Shrike)

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