Norfolk in Autumn

A few days pre-booked in Norfolk in mid-October, and promising easterlies..... and waking to amazing news on 18th the finding of a Rufous Bushchat at Stiffkey, a mythical bird and only half an hour away! I headed there and found a crowd gathering and rapidly swelling, being careful to socially distance. The bird had flown out from the coastal wood to the saltmarsh, where fortunately the tide was dropping. The bird was relocated in some sueda and gave good views on and off, the distinctive upturned cocked tail and buff/rufous coloration being distinctive. A great start to the week! A supporting cast of waders including Grey Plover and Spotted Redshank. Later that day a walk at Holkham Beach gave nice views of a very active flock of Sanderling along the tideline. The following day the very obliging Pallas's Warbler remained at Thornham, and performed fantastically well in coastal bushes - then on arrival at Titchwell a superb Bittern circled in flight, and an excellent variety of waders were along the tideline on the beach - the waders here are used to birders and people, and are fairly confiding amongst the rocks and pools - includong Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Grey Plover and Curlew. Brent Geese were already arriving for the winter, and raptors included Peregrine and Marsh Harrier. A Norfolk day at its finest! After a non-birding holiday day, the following morning saw a visit to Holkham Pines and the probable Stejneger's Stonechat was still performing at the western end, fairly distantly but showing the distinctive eyestripe and rump. As a finale, a stop at the Sculthorpe Moor produced a pair of Bramblings at the feeders. A very productive fews days.