Brian and I met early and drove north west to Stiffkey Fen. Despite a full layby, for ten minutes there were no other birders looking for yesterday's Wilson's Phalarope. Following a good search from the pathway and sea wall, it seemed likely that the bird had flown during the night. As a small crowd began to assemble we left for Cley.
After a somewhat unproductive visit to Bishop's Hide and coffee and cheese scones, we spent a few minutes enjoying the Auk assembly at the Coastguards, which was joined by two Red-throated Divers.
With plenty of the day left, we headed westwards to Wells North Point Pools. Controversy! After a thorough scan of a large Wigeon flock, the eight other birders present eventually agreed that they'd found the long-staying juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper with a group of Ruff. One guy kindly let me use his expensive binocular telescope - an amazing bit of kit! I was perfectly happy that I was looking at the Pec, as was everyone else. At this point a new-comer called the bird as a juvenile Dunlin. For some reason everyone bowed to his opinion: I asked him if he'd come across a Dunlin with mustard-coloured legs before: he replied that he couldn't see them! Other birds at the Pools included a big flock of Golden Plover and three or four Red Kites.
We intended to finish the day at Titchwell, but the car park was competely full: we carried on to Holme, where a sign at the entrance forced us to park and walk the remaining mile or so. This was fortunate, because we were among the few people to see a flock of twenty one Cattle Egrets as they relocated on the marsh. A brief seawatch added Arctic Skua to the year list (finally!) as well as a group of plunge-diving Gannets. A few more Red Kites and Buzzards, Great White and Little Egrets completed the day's tally.
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