We started the day in the dunes at Holme, there was a small passage of birds overhead, mainly Meadow Pipit, a few Rock Pipit, but Brambling, Redpoll & Siskin were all noteworthy, plus 2 late Swallows.
There were lots of Brent, Pink-feet & shorebirds visible from the dunes, plus an adult Mediterranean Gull.
Further along the shoreline a Peregrine came screaming through the flocks of shorebirds & eventually grabbed dinner - a Knot or Dunlin seemed to be the unfortunate victim. The Peregrine was still present some 20 minutes later feasting on the prey, before a Merlin came in & buzzed him twice before speeding off eastwards!! 2 Days with virtual repeat performances of these two superb raptors!
With blue skies & hardly a breath of wind, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk & Marsh harriers were all noted soaring over the marsh.
We saw some nice flocks of finches in the dunes, plus a group of 11 Bearded Tit in the scrub, before exploding skywards & heading off south!!
Up at the Observatory, they were also catching finches & we were treated to the processing of several Greenfinch, before we took a break for tea & scoured the skies, more raptors were noted including 2 very high migrant Marsh harriers.
Offshore we were treated to close inshore 20 Eider, plus a few Common Scoter. Although over 400 Common Scoter were further out, the Little Gull passage was lighter but birds were still passing east in smaller numbers. Distant Red-throated Diver & 2 Great Skua were also noted. Wigeon were passing in small groups & a male Scaup was a surprise with one group.
We lunched at Thornham, watched in wonder as 2000 Golden Plover rose above the horizon & another 2nd Peregrine hunted along the shoreline.
We birded in the afternoon at Titchwell, the 2000 Golden Plover massed just in front of the hide, forming smoky waves regularly as they took to the sky. A partial albino bird amongst them. There was masses of birds on the scrape, all the usual stuff, plus Little Stint, 3 Spoonbill, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, 100+ Ruff, 70+ Black-tailed Godwit, great close-ups of Snipe & more Bearded Tit.
Out on the beach, a few more Little Gulls & a distant but smart breeding plumaged Red-throated Diver sat on the sea, several more Eider & Common Scoter.
94 Species/ Day 2 running total 105
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