Me and Dianne started our three day birding break in Norfolk with a quick stop off at Willow tree fen reserve in Lincolnshire where a first winter male Bluethroat has been showing well since the beginning of February.We didn't have to wait long before the bird appeared by the path.
BLUETHROAT
The Bluethroat showed really well as you can see from the images above.
DIANNE ENJOYING THE WINTER SUN AT WILLOW TREE FEN
Moving on from here we dropped our bags off at the B and B and headed for Holkham.As we were driving past Holkham marsh we got great views of a Marsh Harrier perched up by the side of the road and a distant Great white egret.
MARSH HARRIER
GREAT WHITE EGRET
There were also 5 Spoonbills on the marsh and well over 500 White fronted geese.
WHITE FRONTED GEESE
Arriving at Holkham gap we started to walk west along the beach and after about a mile we connected with the 34 Shorelarks that have been around this area since late November last year.
SHORELARKS
After stunning views of these great birds we left them in peace and headed back to the car as it had started to rain.The final bird of the evening was a Barn owl near Stiffkey which we watched from the car hunting over some fields.
BARN OWL
A great end to the first day of our hoilday which was followed by a nice Indian meal and a few beers.
