With very little showing in Cambs, and after a visit to Welney last week, last Tuesday, 6th, I drove to West Norfolk  to see if there was anything of real interest available. Short answer, again, was nothing so it was again a case of trying to take interesting shots of the common birds to replace the older ones in my library.

First call was at Holme Dunes NWT. The tide was far out and so were the birds so I tried the hides where a Jack Snipe had been reported. it had shown earlier but was spooked by a Marsh Harrier and was back in the reeds so no show for me. On the way out, a Curlew showed well.

so I moved on to Thornham harbour which is one of my most productive sites. This time the tide was high so nothing there so I moved on to Brancaster Staithe The usual Turnstones showed well

and several Black-tailed Godwits were feeding in the channel

but, disappointingly that was it so I decided to drive back, calling in at Thorham again where the tide had receded.

Both Godwit species were feeding and not bothered by me.

but the surprise of the day from a common Redshank. How many times do you see something of interest and ignore a Redshank only for it to rapidly fly away, calling loudly and putting up everything else? Well, this just stood and looked at me allowing a full frame shot before slowly wandering off.

A Herring Gull was perched on one of the harbour uprights and dropped onto the water behind the bank and then emerged with a crab, taking it across the stream to dismember and eat it.

Several Black-headed Gulls were also perched on the harbour mooring posts but doing nothing. Being a beautiful afternoon with little wind, I sat in the car to enjoy a coffee and an apple, deciding to liven things up by throwing the apple core for the gulls to feed, getting the camera ready for some flight shots.

Several minutes of chaos before one finally won the battle, took the apple core, spat it out and gave me a dirty look, as if to say 'thanks for nothing'!!!

End of day out.