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Happisburgh

Went out looking for raptors and rouzels. Located neither, but nonetheless a fulfilling afternoon.
A short walk to the coast watch point and today the paddocks held some birds, 2 Skylark (one spring bird minus crest that had me going) and a Pied Wagtail. Where was the Yellow Wagtail I had hoped for? A Chinese Water Deer had somehow remained hidden and shot off on noticing me. 2 Sand Martins breezed over the paddocks as I headed back to the car. My first of the year.
The cliffs were devoid of birds, although there were a number of large flocks of Woodpigeons in the lighthouse field. The gulls on the groynes gave me a headache, so onto Doggetts lane. The outward leg of the walk produced little, 2 Meadow Pipits and 1 White Wagtail. However, the return journey held 3 Wheatears right at the end of the lane back near the clifftop walk, and 6 Mipits feeding together suggested a small fall. Accompanied by Skylark song the whole way, the Wheatears capped off a nice trundle about.
Butterflys today- a Brimstone at Little Melton this morning and a Peacock at Happisburgh.

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