There was a multiple arrival of scarce birds, found just after the weather improved following a few days of rainy easterlies. The rarest was a first summer male or female Trumpeter Finch on Blakeney Point 31st. This was the first ever to be seen in Norfolk. The second most rare was a female Citrine Wagtail at Titchwell RSPB 27th-28th. Other scarce birds included a Red-throated Pipit on Blakeney Point 27th and a Greenish Warbler at East Hills 30th.

Other goodies form the continent were Icterine Warblers at Cley 27th, Wells 27th, Sidestrand 27th, Blakeney Point 28th, Burnham Overy Dunes 28th, Holme up to three 28th, Eccles 28th, Thornham Point 29th and Holkham NNR 31st. There were five Red-backed Shrikes including males at Muckle Hill, Cromer 27th, Kelling Heath 28th and Snettisham CP 30th and females at Snettisham CP 29th and Cobholm 28th. A Common Rosefinch was at Weybourne Camp 29th and Subalpine Warblers were on Blakeney Point 29th and Warham Greens 29th. A Marsh Warbler was at Snettisham CP 31st. The easterly blow over the late May bank holiday period also produced several Blue Fulmars around the Norfolk coast.

Earlier in May other male Subalpine Warblers were on Blakeney Point 5th, Sea Palling 7th and Burnham Overy Dunes 15th. A Great Reed Warbler was at Cley NWT 21st.

A Bee-eater flew west over Burnham Overy Marshes 3rd, another over Beeston Bump 7th & 10th, one flew north-west over Holkham Freshmarsh NNR 17th and one was reported over Scolt Head Island. A Richard’s Pipit was at Kelling 1st and a Red-throated Pipit was at Burnham Overy Dunes 15th and a Tawny Pipit at Waxham 22nd-31st at least. Up to at least three Grey-headed Wagtail were between West Runton & Beeston Regis and two were at Blakeney Freshmarsh NT.

A summer plumaged White-winged Black Tern was at Hickling Broad NWT 22nd. A Roseate Tern flew past Sheringham 26th. An adult Long-tailed Skua flew north over Great Yarmouth North Denes 25th.

A male Golden Oriole flew south over Winterton 3rd. A Hoopoe was at Burnham Overy Dunes 15th-18th. An early Common Rosefinch was at Walsey Hills, Cley 4th. A Wryneck was at Burnham Overy Staithe 8th and another on Blakeney Point 17th-19th. The only migrant Wood Warblers were at Great Yarmouth cemetery 7th and Pretty Corner 9th. One was on territory at Bodham Common.

An adult female Red-footed Falcon was at Thorpe Marshes 21st and at Haddiscoe Marshes 24th, a female was at Waxham 22nd and an adult male was at Upton Fen NWT 23rd-28th.

Montagu’s Harriers away from their well known breeding site included a ‘ring-tail’ west at Titchwell RSPB 2nd, a male at Burnham Overy Dunes 3rd-5th & 19th, one flew west at Incleborough Hill 10th, Weybourne 23rd and a male south over Waxham and Winterton 31st.

A Rough-legged Buzzard flew west over Stiffkey Fen, Titchwell RSPB, Holme 3rd, flew east over Aylmerton 4th and one flew north over Hickling Broad NWT 5th.

A Honey Buzzard flew over Pentney 4th, Hickling Broad NWT 4th, Wallington Hall near Downham Market 11th and one north-west over Kelling 15th. One returned to the breeding area at the Wensum Valley watchpoint Great Ryburgh 10th. A female Montagu’s Harrier flew past Incleborough Hill 10th, another flew east at Holt 11th and a female flew south-east at Weybourne 23rd.

A female Red-necked Phalarope was at Heacham 26th. Up to seven Dotterel were still at Choseley 1st-16th. Up to four Temminck’s Stints were at Cley NWT on and off 4th-18th, with up to three were at Stiffkey Fen 4th-26th, two at Burnham Norton 5th, one at Titchwell RSPB 10th-28th, up to three at Salthouse 11th-13th and two Hickling Broad NWT 23rd. A Stone-curlew was at Salthouse briefly 17th.

Two Common Cranes at Boughton Fen 7th and two east over Langham to Beeston Regis 7th. Four flew along the north Norfolk coast from Incleborough Hill to Holme where they flew out across the Wash. One was at Holme 26th and another, perhaps the same, flew west at Titchwell RSPB 27th. One was at Kelling 28th and presumably the same was seen over Cromer and Salthouse 28th.

A Cattle Egret was again at Burnham Norton 10th-11th, one flew east at Titchwell 17th and one at Holkham NNR 18th-21st. The sightings may refer to one bird. A Great White Egret was at Bintree Mill 9th.

A Green-winged Teal was found at Salthouse 2nd-6th. A Spotted Crake was singing at Strumpshaw Fen RSB and a Black Brant still at Blakeney until 10th.

This article was written & compiled by Robin Chittenden from Birdline East Anglia. Anyone can listen to the latest bird sightings by phoning 09068 700 245

He is available for private bird, wildlife or photography tours. For more information please look at the news page at www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk and view his photographs at www.harlequinpictures.co.uk

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