Norfolk

Rach n I headed once again for North Norfolk, packing the tent just incase there was room at Kelling Heath.
Firstly we spent the morning at Hickling broad and we covered part of the Weavers way. A nice selection of birds including the Cranes, 9 Whimbrel, Ringed Plover 22 Dunlin, Reed warbler, Sedge Warbler and my first Gropper of the year. Lesser Whitethroat and another year tick Garden Warbler. Bittern was heard booming and a Hobby showed very nicely. Lastly a few Avocets and 2 Common Tern.
We then proceeded to Salthouse and Cley but it was rather quiet so finished off at Kelling Heath where luckily there were a few free pitches.

 

It was then a case of nip of for something to eat then back to relax.
Next morning it was out very early but the weather was really poor with rain constantly so it wasn't looking good for spotting anything really, but a short break in the weather had me spotting Woodlark, Dartford Warbler and 3 Turtle Dove. I did get the camera out for the dove briefly but gave up as everything was getting wet.

The heavens really had opened now so got back changed into some dry clothes and headed for Chosley Barns where a few Dotterel had been seen, Id hoped the weather would have got better by now but how wrong was I it had only got worse so I sat in the van for 10 min being lazy whilst I let some other birders try to find the Dotterel. They didn't find them so I had to get full waterproofs on and  go sort em out and managed to find 6 of them distantly but goodish scope views.
Back at the van I scoped a single Corn Bunting, another year tick.
As birding was slow we did some touristy stuff for the remainder of the day until the sun came out late afternoon and made everything warm up but still very few birds at any of the sites we visited. Best was a Little Tern at Burnham Overy, 1st Summer Shag at Wells, 5 Yellow Wagtails and a Swift with Swallows at Salthouse.
This morning I awoke to the sound of the Woodlark displaying and the weather was much more appealing and birds easier to see including the Dartfords again. The heath was looking stunning.

 

However birding was slow still so took some pics of Thomas and chums at Weybourn station :-).

We sat outside for lunch at Kelling heath and had flight views of Common Crossbill, Siskin and Redpolls all nice additions to the list before dipping on Wood Sandpipers Nightingale and Wood Warbler at Salthouse, did see a Green Hairstreak however.
All in all a very nice bank holiday weekend away.