Getting Dad a grip back

Dad had missed out on Black Winged Kite on a few occasions now, firstly it didn't show when he came with us to Horsey Mill and wasn't with us the day after when Jim and I got it. Last year I went to Ludham bridge and saw the Kite again but Dad couldn't make that trip so for fathers day I committed to take him for another go and that's what we did. After the long trip for the Reef Heron the two hours to Sea Palling didn't seem so challenging  and we arrived at 7.30am parking at the amusement arcade we checked for directions before setting off. Dad found a couple of dog walkers who happened to know were people had been watching the kite and said we could have parked for free a mile further down the road but having now paid |£4.50 we set off to walk the mile or so down the road to the "metal gate" which is the second metal gate down the road to be clear. Within seconds I'd picked up the target bird hovering in the distance before it settled on the overhead wires and then later dropping to catch something and rest at the top of a bush to eat it. Dad was delighted to get this one back on us and after watching it for a while we popped up onto the beach to see the Little Tern colony. Jim and Dad walked a short distance down the beach to scope the colony whilst I walked a bit further stopping a good distance before the rope that has been set as boundary for dog walkers and lies a few metres outside of the fenced off area too so it keeps a decent area outside the actual breeding ground. I reckon I saw more Little Terns here than the total I've seen in my life time with numbers approaching a thousand birds by the end of the fledging season last year. (270 pairs raised 455 young) Ringed plovers must breed here too as there were five walking about on the beach and Jim picked up a fine drake Scoter in the small bay. 

Stone Curlew at Weeting heath

Sedge Warbler at Sea Palling

Common Scoter at Sea Palling

Common Scoter

Little Tern

Little Tern

Little Tern

Ringed Plover

With this success and having had a terrific morning we headed for home with a short break at Weeting heath to allow Dad to pick up a year tick with the Stone Curlews. From one hide we saw the old pair that are unable to produce eggs now and from the other hide we saw the younger pair with one of their two chicks on show. We found three of the four Spotted Flycatchers present before calling it a day. Happy fathers day Dad 

Year list now 222