Can't See Everything Every Time!

Can't See Everything Every Time!

We arrived at 6.45am at a private site for Golden Pheasant. We started wandering in the woods, looking for them. After a bit of searching, we saw one in someone's backyard, there was no netting in the yard. We were lingering around the garden to see if it flew or was ringed and we were going to knock on the house when we heard someone talking in the garden we had just seen the Golden Pheasant in. We walked towards the noise and saw a man calling something over. We asked him whether the Golden Pheasant was his pet or a wild bird and he then tells us that it is indeed his pet, who he had raised at put in his garden. He said its name was Cocky and he was trying to call it over to feed it. He also told us about how he had raised many Golden Pheasant in the past, but when he put them in his garden, they just flew off. This was because he didn't ring or clip his birds. After realising we were searching for plastic, we ended up leaving and looking for Dartford Warblers instead.

We arrived at Dunwich Heath and asked the visitor centre where the best place to view Dartford Warbler was. They circled two parts of the heath on a map, which they gave us. We took the trail leading to one of the circles when we saw a couple looking at something. Assuming they had seen Dartford Warblers, we went to where they were and asked if they had seen anything. One of them said they had seen a possible Dartford Warbler dip down. We waited for a bit but to no avail and went back to try one of the other circles for the Dartford Warblers, when it suddenly started raining. The downpour did not seem to be ending and we knew that they would be less likely to show themselves in the rain. We ended up giving up and leaving the site. On our way out, a Woodlark started belting out its song and flew right over us!

We then made our way to the Dutch black-ringed White Stork in Kessingland. We had a look where it was last seen, when a report made earlier today (which we didn't see) said it was still in the dead tree before it flew west, meaning it had gone!

Disappointed, but still hopeful for other lifers, we then met up with a fellow young birder named Toby at around 1pm and decided to go to Carlton Marshes for the Eastern Yellow Wagtail.

Toby had seen the bird before so we followed him to Peto's Marsh (where the bird was showing). Once there, we spotted three Chinese Water Deer on the marsh, which were a lifer for me. A few minutes later, we spotted a Pied Wagtail flock, with one White Wagtail within them. We continued birding and spotted two Avocets and two Great White Egrets. After searching for a bit longer, we couldn't see any sign of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail, so we said goodbye to Toby and set off to try and grab one lifer.

Before Toby left, he recommended a road for Cranes went from Horsey to Sea Palling. He then said if you don't see them there, try the raptor roost at Hickling Broad NWT, in the evening, to see them roost. With this advice, we drove down the road, that we were recommended, at around 3.30pm and ended up at Sea Palling. Not seeing any Cranes, we headed to Hickling Broad NWT (seeing a ringtail Hen Harrier along the way on Stubb Road). We asked two birders where the raptor roost was and they pointed along the track that took you there. We made our way there and as soon as we arrived, I spotted three huge Cranes coming in to roost. There were also a few Red Deer stags, as well as a few Muntjacs in a field opposite the benches. We then saw another five Cranes come in to roost, with one flying fairly close, making for a great record shot. We also saw a few Marsh Harriers as well as a ghostly Barn Owl before calling it a day.

Overall, a wonderful trip with two dips (Dartford Warbler & Eastern Yellow Wagtail) and one wanted lifer (Cranes)!