Roller at Horsey and Blue Winged Teal at Ouse Washes RSPB

I drove the Jims to Horsey this morning in the hope we could find them a lifer in the form of the European Roller that's been hanging around in the area this week. We parked up near the Nelsons Head pub and walked the track to the dunes where we walked a further half a mile south of the track and managed to get straight on the target which pleased the Jims no end. Lots of juvenile Kestrel were feeding in the area and on the beach a group of Common and Grey Seals entertained us whilst an Arctic Skua came in over the shore line although it remained quite high in the clouds.

Bloody Common Seal

Common Seal

Common Seal

Bull

Grey Seal 

Grey Seal

Arctic Skua

On the walk back we found a pair of Yellowhammers nest building (everything seems to be a little thrown by the weather this year)

Yellowhammer nest building in August!

We headed from Horsey up to the north Norfolk coast where a coffee at Salthouse fuelled our journey along the A149 to Titchwell where we chatted with Paul Hackett and enjoyed views of Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Green and Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Bearded Tit, Black Tailed Godwit, LRP and RP, Golden Plover and large numbers of Avocet to name but a few.

Juvenile Kestrel

Lapwing

On the way home news broke that the Blue Winged Teal had been seen again at Ouse Washes so we detoured and by 4pm we were sitting in the hide with three other birders scanning for the Blue winged visitor from overseas. Lot's of Garganey and Teal were seen along with Wigeon, Shoveler and Mallard. Three Common Cranes and a Marsh Harrier were located along with large numbers of Ruff and a single Dunlin and   over the next hour the hide began to fill as it seems common knowledge that the bird has been easier to find in the evenings. In truth we were struggling as a group to find anything that fitted the spec until the shout went up "I think I have it!" we all got on the bird in question and started the ID routine, Plumage, bill, legs etc etc and we're all agreed we have the beast but if any slight doubt existed the bird then gives Jimmy a full wing flash and he let's the hide know.....100%!!!! that's our bird. tick 266 for 2013.