Everything comes to he who waits, is a saying that I have come to like over the year`s. Being a birdwatcher/ twitcher you must keep trying to see some of the rarer species that occur on our island. After dipping or generally missing out on Pallas`s Grasshopper Warbler a few times, the above saying could well be applied. After a long days birding around Spurn on Sunday the news of the Locustella being found at Burnham Overy Staithe, Norfolk got me thinking about going.
Monday morning dawned and negative news on the bird seemed to put an end to my idea`s. Now with Bob K and Kevin C already on Red alert the welcome news that the bird was still present has us all dashing around to meet at Kevin`s at 10-30am. The journey to Norfolk along M62, A1, and A17 was littered with tractors, wagons and a particularly slow Triumph Herald. We reached Burnham along the picturesque coast road at 2-10pm, well drove Kevin. As we parked on the harbour carpark the tide was well out and in the distance a gathering of birders could be seen. We hurried along the sea wall at pace, but the news that the bird had not been sighted for a while was not good. After a three hour wait a sudden surge forward, the bird had been glimpsed by someone!
At around 5-20pm the bird became more active, probably helped with the large gathering of flushers & pishers, that were moving up and down the small reed fringed stream. None of us really expected the bird to be sat out and posing for pictures as this species specializes in skulking, so the only way to see it, is to encourage it to show itself! I got in the line of birders and was lucky enough to see the bird fly onto a reed stem and perch out for a full second before dropping back into the low vegetation. The birds tail was very striking, later seen fairly well in a few of its low flights past us all. This behaviour of flushing the bird seemed a bit harsh but it really was the only way to get this species to show itself to the admiring birders. Bob and Kevin also got reasonable views of the bird and we all felt happy at what we had seen. At about 6-45pm, a lady said there are a few cars on the harbour car park that may get caught on the incoming tide. Time to go we thought, as it was going quite dull by now. Sure enough Kevin`s car was about 6 up to his tyres on the car park, Bob took a photo of the car`s plight. Kev waded to his car and bravely drove it into dry land! We left the scene and headed for home, reaching Rochdale around 10-30pm. Quite a memorable day really.
