Birds at Brancaster Staithe and wildlife at Holkham Hall during my last day in north Norfolk - 9th March 2024

I walked along to Brancaster Staithe on my last day in north Norfolk to catch a quick glimpse of the birds there during the early morning low tide before getting the bus to Holkham.

A Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage was searching for breakfast in the mud

The Godwit was joined by an Oystercatcher

A Curlew was also searching for breakfast

Brent geese were on the move

 After the quick birding search at Brancaster Staithe, I got the bus to Holkham and walked along Lady Anne's drive to the coast.

View of Holkham Gap from the boardwalk leading down to the beach

I was unlucky this time and didn't see any Snow Buntings in the roped-off area near the beach.  Other people were looking for them too.  Apparently they had moved on to the other side of the Gap.

I then walked up to Holkham Hall and walked round the grounds where I saw a lot of deer

Three Tufted ducks and a leaping Little Grebe were visible on the lake

Two Muntjac deer were wandering along one of the paths

The Coke Monument towered above me

Female deer were gathered together

A stag stared at me

More deer were scattered around the park

I was intrigued to discover that a group of Oystercatchers were visiting the park too

Mediterranean Gull at RSPB Rye Meads nature reserve - 20th May 2021

 Yesterday my camera and I went to RSPB Rye Meads nature reserve in Hertfordshire - our first visit since September 2019.

It was a very windy day so the birds that I had hoped to see, including Kingfisher and Kestrel, did not put in an appearance while I was there.  However, I was not disappointed as I had the pleasure of my first sighting of a Mediterranean Gull.  There was only one adult present and it was lurking about in the grass on an island in the lagoon in front of the Draper Hide and was with lots of Black-headed Gulls (which really have brown heads).  The Mediterranean Gull was easy to spot as it really did have a black head!