Impromptu Norfolk for Alaskan Insurance

With Jono over from France for his annual family visit, we had already planned a day of spotting on Friday 3rd January. Andy had intended to join us, but unfortunately had a knee problem (a terrible case of Stella knee I believe) so sadly had to cancel. 

As Monsieur Williams rarely birds the UK these days there were plenty of things that he’s not seen in ages scattered all around, so I threw the floor open to him. We could go anywhere(ish). Would he chose black grouse in the Welsh Hills, offshore scoter flocks in Wales or goose hunting in Lancashire? Nope, he's still very much a filthy UK twitcher at heart despite now being an official Frenchman. Norfolk was of course bird-filled, but the real lure of a trip over was the possibility of a rare UK tick for him (and another insurance policy for me, pure coincidence). However in the evening we couldn’t face the early start so decided on goose-chasing in Lancashire instead. I headed over to Jono’s mums house at the crack of 8.30, we got in the car and immediately had a ‘sod it’ moment. Our plans reverted and we set off for a Norfolk afternoon. Shameless tick-mongering.

First stop was Sedgeford for Jono’s UK tick and aforementioned insurance. This potential future split is the far eastern form of Eastern Yellow Wagtail, which itself I'd only seen last September on Anglesey. Apparently it has good split credentials (as do the two forms of Citrine Wagtail). DNA birding continues unabated so there we were like two little tick hungry lambs. The Blue-headed Eastern Yellow Wagtail (form tchutschensis) was on show immediately, albeit more distantly than hoped for. I understand this is the first record of an adult male which aided identification, although there are apparently vocalisation differences between this and other EYW forms. The reality is that it is so far from a split that the form doesn’t even have a settled English name yet - it is also referred to as Alaskan Wagtail (which is a terrible name given only a tiny part of its range is Alaska).

EBH Wagtail.  As usual I didn't take this photo (Sean Gray, Birdguides)

EBH Wagtail by Robert Dowley (Birdguides)

Range map of tschutschensis. A long way from a Norfolk dungheap 

With limited daylight in the offing we decided to head to Wells-next-the-Sea, where the smart juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard showed superbly in the evening light after a rather long and cold wait. A cracking bird and my first in many years. Whilst we waited there was entertainment in the form of a showy Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Marsh Harriers, Pale-bellied Brent Geese, overflying Pinkfeet and commoner waders. The Holkham Estate really is bird-filled and I wished we had more time. Must return soon!

Rough-legged Buzzard. Top two photos by Steve Hart

Short-eared owl

Barn Owl

We headed off home around dusk and were in the pub with Malc for 9pm. An excellent afternoon, although with hindsight perhaps we could have set-off earlier and seen a few more birds. Will we learn? Doubt it.

On Saturday morning (7th Jan), and feeling slightly worse for wear, I took Jono back to his mum's via Ashton's Flash on the patch where the Eastern Stonechat showed superbly (and yes I didn't have my camera). It seems to be now spending more time on the dryer bund wall and so the locals managed to obtain a faecal sample on 5th Jan, top work. Hopefully it will be sufficient to contain DNA and prove the ID (surely it's a Siberian maurus though). We also flushed a bonus Jack Snipe from the water's edge.