Blakeney

After a morning looking at binoculars at Cley Spy, with persistent rain the whole time, the afternoon gradually brightened up a bit and I decided to try and find the long staying Lapland Buntings at Blakeney Freshwater Marsh.  Mike Collard kindly gave me directions over the phone and sure enough, two birds were still present. In checking Birdguides I see that Lapland Buntings have been present in the same area since just before Christmas, with over 10 being reported at times.  I presume most have now left to their breeding sites much further north.

Avocets - Good numbers present. 

This pair were fairly close to the path, while others were rather distant.

Lapland Bunting - This male is not yet in breeding plumage but on the way there.

It was feeding fairly close to the female.

Lapland Bunting - This female had a problem with it's right leg as can be seen in the photo below.  The long hind claw seemed to be caught up in the undertail coverts.  It did not stop the bird from feeding but may explain why the pair are still at Blakeney.

There were plenty of other birds to be seen including a good number of Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Redshanks, Oystercatchers and at least one Turnstone.  A Marsh Harrier was hunting further out over the sea wall.