Route Patch, with no Work!

A stop at Guist was rewarded with 6 Common Buzzards in the air together and 5 Mandarins, which flew from the E side of the Bridge and out of sight the the W. A pair of Little Grebe were on the river, the first of the year for the route!

I continued up to The Cley area, hoping to find the Whooper Swan - although I couldn't find it to begin with! 8 Ruff were actively feeding in the field the swan had been in, but there was little else of note.

A return W to look at the Brent flock was rewarded with 4 Pale-bellied birds, including one first year.

As usual, I couldn't resist more time with the Snow Bunting flock, where this well marked Common Gull was present.

A continued search for the swan had me walking down the Iron Road, to be greeted at the N end with 3 hunting Barn Owls. I watched perplexed as all three birds (two darker and one light) quartered back and forth, seemingly using me as centre point! An added bonus here was a male Merlin that shot through west. An Oystercatcher was on the Sea Pool, a bird I still haven't seen from the Route!

Two Great Black-backed Gull were at Salthouse and one of the Barn Owl flew over inland.

Finally the juv Whooper Swan was found in the field it was in y'day!! I seriously believe (hope?!?) it had been hiding in the reeds!

(See here: http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=243654&d=1266514472 for a much better pic by John Furse)

Two Barn Owls were seen at Guist on the Route home.

Norfolk Bird Info to:
E-mail: ruralchill@live.co.uk
Mobile: 07749779149

Norfolk 364 BOU, 376 UK400, Year 158, Route 93, Sp 72, SM 78, SF 34