NORTH NORFOLK: Sheringham & Beeston

30th August 2011

Entering the last week of the holidays Tuesday seemed the only day that may be good for a few seabirds on the North Norfolk coast (barring Monday and its Yelkouan of course). Adam & I got the first train to Sheringham, where we were met by Gary, and headed to the shelters. The past few times I've been here there has been no room to sit, so the fact they were empty was an ominous sign.

Settling down there was a steady passage of Sandwich Terns heading east, and a trickle of small groups of Gannets were also passing. Eventually a few Arctic Skuas passed by, and a Red-throated Diver flew East. Small numbers of Great Skuas flew past fairly close in, and we almost missed a Razorbill flying just past the end of the groynes. Eventually we saw a lone Fulmar and another Red-throated Diver, before the slightly odd sight of 12 Canada Geese flying east. Once it died down we walked east and had another look from a higher vantage point, seeing a close-in Great Skua.

Rather than go straight back to Norwich we went up Beeston Bump (almost stepping on someones Racing Pigeon on the way) and then searched the area of scrub between the coast and railway line. We turned up a few Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat, but not much else really. The paddocks between the railway line and main road held corvids and gulls, but not even a returning Wheatear.