4 Lifers in 2 days - London to Norfolk

Sunday midday I set off to Rainham Marshes - well an industrial site nearby a clocked up a

BLACK REDSTART (Lifer #266)

Then off to Norfolk - Waverley Forest in fact in search of 'the mound' that looks over the marshes. Eventually found said bit of forest and in great light spotted a ROUGH LEGGED BUZZARD (Lifer #267) with a fellow birder- at real distance but the Zeiss scope showed the features really well, and then it flew across the field showing the long white tail very nicely. Also two SHORT EARED OWLS patrolling, a MARSH HARRIER and a STOCK DOVE (year ticks)

Stayed at Travel Lodge in Norfolk (curry mess on the towels whoops) and then awoken at 4:40 by a motorbike!!

Got up and out at 6:06 and off the Wolverton , and after going down the first corner, turned right up the next and wallop - two beautiful GOLDEN PHEASANT (Lifer #268) showing nicely on the side of the road. I showed a couple of cars where they were, had a better view then off to the Norfolk coast by 7:30. Great start. 

Then to Salthouses where 4 SNOW BUNTING and about 20 TURNSTONE (year ticks) were so close to the car in the car park great views of stone turning with an audience of buntings!

Then to Cley- down the beach track to the Eye Pool where a solitary PURPLE SANDPIPER was showing nicely (Lifer #269) as well as a couple hundred DARK BELLIED BRENT GEESE (year tick) 

I met Red at Cley, and offered him a lift back to the snow bunting and inwards to Titchwell. No luck on the bunting but we saw a barn owl hunting on the way.

Red (O'Hara) then showed me a great spot opposite Twitchwell where a shed load of yellowhammer were hanging out by the farm barn.

Titchwell was showing a fantastic SPOTTED REDSHANK on one of the lakes as well as some great BRAMBLING views by the feeders -  also AVOCET on the main 'lake' and some KITTIWAKE on the sea, and OYSTERCATCHERS a plenty, BLACK TAILED GODWIT and SKYLARK singing and one sitting on the ground (where Twite are sometimes seen) - all year ticks . 

I hope to meet up with Red in Norfolk again - top bloke and real local knowledge. 

3 hour ish drive back to Hemel to meet up with Anna and see the solicitor , the latter being a stressy experience . Waitrose therapy of lots of nice things to eat rounded off the day at home nicely.

Four lifers in two days and on my own steam - awesome!!- and with limited phone / bird guides due to beer induced power cable disaster after Lamb Golf beer experience. 

Quite a few days. 

Other pics to be added iPad can't handle this much info!!

Black Redstart at Rainham Ind area 

Rough Legged Buzzard on the marshes at Waverney Forest 

Golden Pheasant at Wolferton 

Purple Sandpiper at Cley Eye

A pair of Golden Pheasants

Snow Bunting at Salthouse car park 

4 Snow Bunting - taken from car window 

Spotted Redshank at Titchwell

Hundreds of Dark Bellied Brent Geese at Cley

Pintail at Titchwell

Avocet at Titchwell 

Female Brambling at Titchwell

Male and Female Brambling

Purple Sandpiper 

Black tailed  Godwit

Spotted Redshank (Good light!)