Isabelline Wheatear at Burnham Overy.

An early morning pick-up by Brian and Norman saw the three of us enjoying a large flock of Brambling (100+) at Felbrigg Hall car park. The other two had hoped to take some autumnal shots of the avenues of trees, but they hadn't turned colour yet!

We carried on along the coast to Burnham Overy Staithe, where a brisk walk along the mist-shrouded seawall took us to the beach behind the houseboats. There were only a couple of birders in sight, none of whom seemed to have seen the Isabelline. We split up and, surprisingly quickly, I relocated this charming little waif feeding on the strandline. Joined by Brian and Norman, I watched the bird for around twenty minutes, before carrying on round the point to the houseboats, where a Desert Wheatear had recently been seen. Despite taking a lengthy (and cold!) lunchbreak, huddled in the dunes, we didn't add this bird to our daylists.

The walk back gave us distant views of the returning Black Brant hybrid, a cute little Earth Star fungus and a few Stonechats, but little else. We drove to Cley for coffee and scones, where we were told of a Long-tailed Duck in front of the new Babcock Hide. After a brief - and fruitless - session in Bishop's Hide, we drove east, parked and were soon enjoying somewhat distant views of this delightful little female. And so home! A great day out for the 'Summer Wine Crew'!

 

Bramblings by Brian Tubby