Another good day at Holme today, although slightly disappointing in terms of grounded migrants considering the reasonably promising conditions. It started on route at Hunstanton, when a Peregrine flew over the car. A seawatch of Gore point produced a cracking Red-necked Grebe close inshore, with a flock of 14 Snow Buntings on the beach and a Kittiwake east. Sewatching of the NOA for several hours was poor in terms of quantity but good in terms of quality, with a Black-throated Diver, first found yesterday, just offshore before it flew east towards the mouth of Thornham harbour and a drake Velvet Scoter west with a group of Common Scoters, as well as 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Fulmars and 6 Eiders. Grounded migrants were very thin on the ground, with a Firecrest on the NOA reserve, 50 Robins, 80 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrushes and 4 Redwings, while 3 Lapland Buntings showed well in 'the usual area', amongst a large group of Skylarks, part of 100+ in the recording area. The Short-eared Owl was still hunting over the marsh, again giving excellent views. Overhead passage picked up noticeably in the afternoon, with 20 Siskins, 4 Bramblings, 7 Rock Pipits, 1250 Starlings and 375 Woodpigeons west in the day. 3 Tawny Owls were also recorded during the day.
Meanwhile dad made the trip to Lakenheath Fen RSPB, where the GREAT-WHITE EGRET performed well on the Norfolk side of the river. Unfortunately what was presumed to be the White-rumped Sandpiper reported in the morning was in fact a Curlew Sandpiper.
