On an ebbing tide, Snettisham produced the expected waders, huge ribbons of Knot leaving their pit-side roosting beach in squadrons of several hundred. Spectacular always. A male Wheatear flew across the path, posing on a rock to be admired.
Holme produced a singing Sedge Warbler and our first flock of Pinkfeet for the month.
Leaving the lull of the tree- lined path at Titchwell, the north easterly brought an unwanted glow to the cheeks. A chance meeting with John who was with us in Brazil, a mothing chat with the Geesons and a pair of Red-crested Pochards on the Freshwater pool before a rapid departure for the sanctuary of the car.
A and B wished to visit Sculthorpe Moor, one of our favourite places. We walked to Whitwell Hide first, settling to watch the feeding table activity. A handsome pair of Bullfinches, Tits - including Coal - and one fleeting visit by a Marsh, a horde of Chaffinches, and one pair of Reed Bunting kept us more than happy. A single Common Buzzard soared over the marsh, a Marsh Harrier actually landed on a visible mound in the reeds.
Two tiny Bank Voles kept darting out - apparently legless - from the reed bed, snacking on dropped seed and disappearing rapidly before repeating the performance. Mesmerising.
On leaving the hide a Treecreeper did its thing on a nearby birch but we saw nothing else before reaching Jarvis Hide where we heard a Golden Pheasant's, need of WD40 skreek, from the holly thicket outside. Eventually he showed himself in all his strutting splendour - apart from the very worn tail end feathers which drag on the ground.
More than happy with the day's outing, we said our goodbyes and made our seperate way home.
Lovely pics of the Golden Pheasant, Linda
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