Holme and Scolt Head Island!!!

Sunrise from Redwell Marsh Hide, NOA, Holme.

Got up at 4.15am! As I drove along the A149 coast road, it was difficult to see at times as the early morning mist was very thick in places - stunning sunrise this morning!

Arrived Holme 6.20am - parked car by Redwell Marsh Hide - I was the first person in the hide this morning and had awesome views of the Red necked Phalarope at 6.30am whirling round in the water with the mist hanging heavily over the water and the sun streaming through! It was rubbish for photography though, looking straight into the sun. Two Yellow wagtails flew over.

Red-necked Phalarope at sunrise from Redwell Marsh Hide, NOA, Holme.

Reparked car at the toilet block at 7.40am and walked the outer dune ridge east from the main beach gap, to Gore Point, back over the dunes, then along the path behind houses through the village carpark to car. Had a massive argument with an arrogant, rude, lady dog owner with two out of control, vicious black labradors! Didn't see very much really apart from a Stonechat and Whinchat, but at 9am had awesome views of 2 Turtle doves over my head that had flown in off sea, opposite NWT pay hut.

Cobwebs early morning, Holme.

Harebells, Gore Point, Holme.

Holme Beach - very different now with scene on horizon!


Holme Beach.

Moved car to carpark half way down the Firs Road and walked the NWT Forestry at 10am. A garden warbler was seen along with my third Turtle Dove this morning at 10.40am which exploded out of a bush and went south. 19 curlew flew overhead. Text from Connor to say RBS and BW were both showing between the Forestry and the Firs House - walked across to where people were standing and at 10.55 I watched A Red backed Shrike and a Barred Warbler together in one bush!!!!! along with a good number of other birders! Didn't even get as far as the Firs and Observatory today!

Black-headed Gull in lagoon at Gore Point, Holme.

Left Holme and visited parents for a very short time and then drove along the coast road east and after a boat crossing arrived on Scolt Head Island at 2.20pm with Connor, Simeon and Billy to find a Mega!!!! It was wonderful being back on this island as not been here for at least a year. Birds seen: 16 Turnstones, 4 linnets, little egret, marsh harrier, 14 Cormorants, 6 wheatears, 1 *whinchat and (*not see by me), 2 stonechat, *2 common whitethroats, 4 willow warbler, 2 reed buntings, 1 wren, 1 chiffchaff, 4 grey partridges. It was lovely watching one of the Reed Buntings drinking from the small pond, which is situated in the centre of the island. Ok no megas! but a lovely walk in the sunshine with no bl**dy dogs/owners around!

Pond in the middle of Scolt Head Island.

Willow Warbler, Scolt Head Island.

Cormorants, Scolt Head Island.

Back on the mainland! I drove to Holme to photograph the Red necked Phalarope again, but decided first to go to NOA carpark to look at the RBS again. I decided to have a little nap as felt exhausted and ended up having a very long nap, so long, that it was too too late to photograph anything!!!