Bawdsey

Whilst much of the english bird watching scene fapped itself off, in front of up to seven policemen, on a salt marsh in north Norfolk - a few, pioneering vikings plagued the second homes, public houses and sueda of the Bawdsey peninsula.

Rufous Bush-chat? Never heard of her.

Mal and me consulted with our astrologist; Sir Robert of Yaxley. Seeing as the Ipswich was up the Wuhan, in the third cycle of the moon and the winds had a whiff of east in them - we decided to avoid crowds and head for East Lane and the Bawdesy peninsula. To learn some birds a lesson... 

We didn't cause an actual mega alert, super-spreader, twitter breaking meltdown... but we had a great day, in the field trying our best to shake down a goodun.

I have no regrets. My life list is languishing in the middle to late three hundreds and I don't think I will threaten 400 this side of 40 - but I still like to try. I mean, I dreamt of finding a Sociable Plover in a flock of Lapwing last night. As it happened, we only saw two Lapwing all day - in a way it was the Lapwing's fault we didn't find a Sociable Plover... 

Mal and me arrived at East Lane just after dawn. Literally the first birds I saw upon existing the vehicle were two Barnacle Geese heading south. Highly elite. Shortly thereafter a Great White Egret went south too. 

We checked the wildfowl on the lagoons, then walked north, enjoying; Redwings, Cetti's Warbler and plenty of Meadow Pipit. Whilst watching Swallows, we picked up another Barnacle Goose also going south. Which then settled on the lagoons - with less salubrious local geese... 

Wild Barnacle Goose - East Lane - October 2020

We then walked the coast path, as we headed north, a photographer ahead of us flushed a Short-eared Owl. Result!

We kept our distance as the photographer stalked the location he perceived the owl landed. He may never know - but he overshot and flushed the bird our way - it flew south along the seaward side of the shingle, then flew inland to roost in a ditch. Awesome bird and a privilege to see... *

Short-eared Owl - East Lane - October 2020

Short-eared Owl - East Lane - October 2020

Short-eared Owl - East Lane - October 2020

*Possibly the bird of the day - after or before Barnacle Goose and a drake Brambling. 

Joined by Norfolk's favourite son, astrologer extraordinaire and botanist Sir Robert Yaxley. We hit up Bawdsey Quay - Rob promised us we would see a Yellow-browed - because the Evans was up the Stiffkey in the third trimester of Saturn. Despite the stars aligning, we never did see a Yellow-browed. On the upside we did some other sweet s#%t. En route to quay we got aces view of a local Little Owl...

Little Owl - Bawdsey - October 2020

A Mediterranean Gull flew out to the Deben as we walked out of the Quay car park. As we levelled with the river a Sandwich tern flew out to sea too. The sueda didn't deliver the promised Yellow-browed, but we enjoyed a Chiffchaff and checked every Robin, Dunnock and Blue Tit which flitted into view. We then skirted then coastline around Bawdsey Manor. At no point did we utilise the closed footpaths or collapsed, dangerous, sections of cliff. The habitat was awesome; Flamborough-esque - vegetated 'cliffs' with brambles, migrants traps and hollows. In easterly winds and favourable conditions this would a heinous rare-spot! Circumstance may not have coincided today, but we did encounter a smart drake Blackcap and an intense drake Brambling in shoreline habitat - very cool...

Brambling - Bawdsey - October 2020

Actual, real, rare-mongers - Bawdsey - October 2020

On top of which - the mornings southerly Great White Egret was bettered by a north-bound duo...

Great White Egrets - Bawdsey - October 2020

All in we had 65 species, walked 10 miles, didn't give anyone the Covid, gave no s#%ts, maintained undisputed attitude and basically smashed it.

This is birding 2020...