Caspian Tern, Breydon Water

Having been present for several days already, this morning, I decided to go and have a look for the Caspian Tern, at Breydon Water. As is the norm for this site, the bird was distant on arrival and heat-haze had already begun to effect visibility. I had to walk a considerable way along the north wall before getting acceptable views and a couple of grab shots. It’s been nearly thirty years since I last saw this species in Norfolk.

A couple more shots of this relatively scarce bird in Norfolk

Great Knot, adult in summer plumage, Titchwell

Having ignored the news of the Great Knot ‘showing well’ at Titchwell for 24 hours, I finally decided, given that the weather was not conducive to ‘dragon hunting’, to have a go. When I got to Titchwell, there was a dense sea fret hanging over the fresh marsh, the last reported location, making viewing near-impossible. Apparently the bird had just flown off towards the beach anyway! As I was on a tight time-table I decide to try my luck on the shore. Thankfully, the adult, summer plumage, Great Knot was in the flock of several hundred ordinary Knot, roosting on the tide-line. I managed brief and distant glimpses, through dripping optics before, eventually, the flock returned to the fresh marsh and I could watch it, albeit at some distance and still in the mist, from Parrinder hide. Altogether though, much better views than the Breydon bird of a couple of years ago.

A couple more shots of this lovely bird – shame about the weather!