The Biggest Twitch enjoys the Daurian Shrike at Horsey, Norfolk
With news of the Daurian Shrike still showing at Horsey, this had to be the first place in Norfolk that we headed on Friday with our weekend birding group. We marched out as fast as we could to the dunes at Horsey where the Daurian Shrike was sitting up in a tangle of bramble.
Daurian (Isabelline) Shrike perches up obligingly for photos
This charismatic little bird, a rarity from the east, sat up in full view on top of the bramble bushes, moving from its post only to fly even closer to the enthralled watchers. Several times, it flew up into the air to grap a passing wasp which it then impaled on a bramble thorn.
Daurian the Impaler
We watched the bird for ages taking plenty of photos which we'll share with you in a separate blog. Then we celebrated our shrike success with an ice cream from the National Trust kiosk by Horsey Mill.
The picturesque mill at Horsey
We drove westwards following the coast, stopping frequently to enjoy the views of Pink-footed geese flying in to roost, here past a more modern kind of windmill.
Pink-footed Geese arriving in huge numbers in Norfolk
We stopped at the East Bank at Cley NWT where against the backdrop of a setting sun, we encountered a Short-eared Owl flying low across the marshes. More geese flew overhead in straggling skeins of birds while at our feet Cetti's Warblers exploded their songs unseen from the depths of bushes and a few lingering Bearded Tits pinged from the reedbeds.
The sun sets of the Cley marshes
Daurian Shrike! What an amazing start to our Norfolk birding. We couldn't wait to see what excitement the next day would bring.