Monday 10 November 2014

Desert Wheatear Fest continues at Gorleston

A lunchtime pop down to Gorleston Beach today Monday 10th November at 1.20pm, just 5 minutes away in the car. I walked down under the ornate bridge and ravine and the excellent female Desert Wheatear was on the beach showing really well. The light was perfect with the sun fairly low giving a lovely yellowy glow which we normally only get during the golden hours (first or last light). It was good to see Paul from Dereham on a lunch break from work he was carrying out at Gorleston. She was initially by the wall catching black flies and skirting around us just feet away and we were both taking full advantage with our respective camera gear. She was exceptionally confiding at times and ran towards me on several occasions and often she was only 3 feet away and too close for the camera, I just savoured the incredible experience of a visitor who'd come all the wall from North Africa or the Middle East being so close. She favoured the area by the submerged groyne frequently perching on the posts. Later on mealworms were scattered here by another birder/ photographer on the post and she returned to feed. Later she became a bit more wary when she flew towards the middle of the beach on the red triangular end piece to a groyne almost completely submerged in the middle of the beach. From here, she later flew to the tideline. After an incredibly enjoyable 50 minute lunch break (and pictures in the bag and well satisfied) I returned to work.

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