Monday 27 September 2010

No Pain No Gain - Flycatcher sp. Blakeney Point

Yankee Flycatcher sp. (thanks Shaun for pic)

Walking the three arduous miles of Blakeney Point with Shaun in driving rain and gale force winds was extremely hard work but worth it for this yankee rarity, although I must admit I will be quite pleased not to have to do that walk again for a while. A single Brambling was also present in the plantation. Two hours after setting off from a flooded Cley beach car park we were heading back, soaked to the skin but very happy. The return leg was made easier along the beach, and we were rewarded with Arctic Skua and Grey Phalarope flying along the beach and within 20 feet over or heads.
Hopefully some clever clogs will be able to decide if it's an Alder, Willow, Least, Yellow Bellied etc, so until they do Flycatcher sp. goes on the list (#373)

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Return of the Dip Monkey

Two days, three dips. Three times I've twitched East Yorkshire, three times I've dipped. This time Brown Flycatcher, previously it was Pechora Pipit and Brown Shrike. On Sunday I dipped an Icky (my 5th Icky dip) at Landguard and the least said the better about the Brown Fly and subsequent R B Fly dip day yesterday. Some pics from the weekend: