Burnham Overy Dunes!

Yellow-browed Warbler at Burnham Overy Dunes 

An extremely elusive bird

 

With SE winds last night and today, I decided there may be a chance of some late migrants. I decided to walk Burnham Overy Dunes – parking up on the main road at Burnham Overy just after lunch, I could see Ashley Saunders was already here, always a good sign! The walk out was not as fun as I expected, I felt like I was in a line of marching ants – dog walkers behind and in front of me and two lots of loud conversations going on! No peace and quiet here. I hadn't expected it to be so busy on a dreary, dull day in November! I bumped into Ashley S. and Nick, who had found a Yellow-browed Warbler a little earlier, in the first scrub lined hollow east of the boardwalk. On route, I saw small flocks of Starlings, Blackbirds, Robins, Hedge Sparrows and Greylag Geese.

I eventually reached the end of the boardwalk and walked down to the lower path, leaving the line of ants to continue to the beach! Around the apple tree and the scrub, I only saw Robins and Hedge Sparrows. Starlings were feeding just east of the farm gate and a big flock of Linnets were perched on the brambles just east of here.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Burnham Overy Dunes

 

 

I headed east to look for Ashley's Yellow-browed Warbler. I spent ages looking in the hollow where it was seen, I sat, walked around, waited, several times, nothing at all, nothing heard. Only Blackbirds, two Robins and two Wrens here. Gave up and walked further east. Checked out all the scrub east of here and then returned to the first hollow – I refused to give up! Again, I spent ages looking and was just about to leave, when two Wrens chasing each other, flushed the YBW out of an elder! At last! Then it vanished. It took a while, but then it decided to show itself, just enough to get some record shots. It was constantly on the move, feeding and not playing ball for the camera! I was so pleased I had seen it, I had almost given up, but perseverance paid off.

 

I wandered back as the sun was setting and saw a Stonechat perched up in some brambles near the apple tree and more flocks of Starlings. There seemed to be more Blackbirds along the hedge-lined track near my car, than when I had walked out to the dunes. Two Cetti's Warblers burst into song. Hundreds of Pink-footed Geese flying over and landing on the east side of the marshes. A beautiful end to the afternoon. 

 

 Sunset at Burnham Overy Dunes