297 Isabelline Wheatear at Cley

At this time of year new birds are hard to find so with an Isabelline Wheatear being reported at Cley yesterday and with the overnight weather on our side we set off this morning to find the bird. Arriving at 7.30am we walked along the Eastbank and then walked east along the fence line of Arnolds Marsh to look for the bird but by 8am we'd not connected then another birder said he'd seen something drop off a post so I walked back along the fenceline and at 8.30am had found the Wheatear out on the marsh just below the fenceline. The bird flew closer and gave good views before flying to the top of the dunes at which time I walked up and positioned myself a good distance away in the hope that the bird would come along the dunes and I got my reward as it did indeed walk along the ridge and came quite close before taking flight back onto the marsh.

Isabelline Wheatear at Cley

Isabelline Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear

On the walk out we had a quick look on the pools and found a single Long-tailed Duck and on the shingle a small group of Snow Bunting added to the day.

On our way along the coast road we stopped between Wells and Holkham and eventually found the Rough-legged Buzzard a bird which I always enjoy and this one showed well at distance flying along Lady Anne's drive and over the new visitor centre.
Also here we had Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard.

Rough-legged Buzzard over Lady Annes Drive

Rough-legged Buzzard

Tick 297 of 2019

Something about Wheatears......

The year list moves another notch closer to the 300 and now sits at 297

Three to find but a quick look at the news services will show that there's not much out there I haven't seen. There's a few I've missed but not many to go after as this map of todays reported birds shows. (as at 5pm)

 I can't see me making the monster trip for the Eider or the questionable Pipit but the Titchwell Bittern might be a target later in the week or even the Stonechat as I search for the final three ticks to hit my target.