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Twitching versus finding

I had put aside Sunday for a full day in the field, so when news broke of an Isabelline Wheatear at Burnham Overy on Saturday morning I wasted little time in getting the usual bits together and made the trip up to the north coast. I join the crowds perhaps twice a year these days, but this was to be a lifer and with plenty of eyes, hopefully more decent stuff would be located near by. 

I've said enough about the parking elsewhere on social media, needless to say it was atrocious from some but no need to repeat myself here. The walk to Burnham dunes is always a long one, but with restless Brent and Pink-footed Geese feeding either side of the track, there was always something to look at. Finally arriving at the end of a long line of birders, the Isabelline Wheatear was easily picked up as it fed amongst the sparse vegetation. The black alula contrasted with a sandy wing and back, almost like the bird had been through a dust storm and never bothered to tidy up its appearance. Posture notably erect, even more so than other Wheatears I have watched. Whilst the group were watching the Wheatear/searching for a reported Pallas's Warbler, 2 Waxwing dropped in. My first of the season and a delight for the assembled masses. In addition, a Shorelark had pitched down just east of where we were, so before trudging back I spent some time watching this bird. Not been a great past couple of Winters for Shorelark, hopefully they will be making a strong comeback this year (28 reported from Holkham today, a real throwback). The twitch had paid off- lifer, and jammed in on a couple of scarce bits as I had hoped I might. It looks like a Desert Wheatear was nearby too, and today a Radde's Warbler. I wonder if you took that crowd, and plonked them at Wells, or even Waxham. Would the same quality of birds be discovered?

With that thought very much in the forefront of my mind, I made the short journey to Wareham Greens and parked along Garden Drove. Initially, I had the place to myself but other birders did start to trickle in with the same idea. The Pit was quiet save a few Redwing and Fieldfare passing through, and the hedgerows held plenty of Goldcrest but nothing beyond that. A female Blackcap was the source of some takking, and as the light began to fade I headed home. Bird finding hadn't gone quite as well as the twitching, today anyway.

Yesterday, I made an early start and walked the new coastal path between Waxham and Horsey. Little point in giving a blow-by-blow account here, suffice to say I did not see much! Lesser Redpoll were undoubtedly the bird of the day, with flocks numbering from 10-30 moving overhead and never settling. Siskin were not far behind, and other birds of note included 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Swallow and a Blackcap. Happisburgh was similarly quiet, and the holy site of Whimpwell Green was hiding a few Goldcrest but nothing to set the pulse racing. Again, bird finding not proving massively successful, but you can't beat being out on the coast in October, easterly winds afoot, not knowing what is round the other side of the next bush. 




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