Afternoon light

Had a day out in Norfolk, to look for colour-ringed wading birds. It was a horribly early start - I woke up at 4.15am! - and it was raining when we arrived on the coast for 7am, but it turned into a beautiful but cold day.

On the shore at Heacham we found some Turnstones which had been ringed by the Wash Wader Ringing Group (as seen on TV). Next we popped into Snettisham, where there were loads of birds, but not the ones we wanted. Then it was Holme, where there were lots of people, but also waders and some beautiful Snow Buntings.

After that it was time for a pub lunch, where moules marinieres with copious amounts of cream were consumed. We ended the day at Titchwell, where this photo was taken. We saw a Hen Harrier, Kittiwake and tons of Brent Geese, Ruff, Golden Plover, Pintail and Shoveler. The star of the show was supposed to be the Pallas's Warbler which was flitting around the sueda on the saltmarsh. But it was hard to see, and I'm afraid I found the hunting Short-eared Owl much more entertaining.