Norfolk. 24th November 2010.

My Dad and I headed off to Norfolk for first light. We started at Wells Wood first and hoped for a glimpse of a Northern Bullfinch. But despite seeing 2 male of the British race there were no female Northerners to be seen. There were plenty of Coal tits and Goldcrests around though but after two and a half hours we decided to move on along the coast. Next stop was Burnham Overy Marshes, on arrival a Merlin flew over the road and then a Barn Owl was still hunting the fields adjacent to where we parked. The light was not perfect by any means, surprise surprise, and the day was emerging into a non photographic day and more akin to a good old day out in Norfolk birdwatching. The next sight to grace us was a flock of around 12 Waxwings, that I picked up flying across the marshes. They landed in bushes along the track leading to the dunes giving us some brief but welcoming views. There were skeins of geese flying inland continuously, we had no sightings of any Harriers or Buzzards and so moved onto Burnham Norton and further along, always hoping to glimpse the 'possible Northern Harrier'. News came through of a Rough legged Buzzard where we hadn't long departed from and so we about turned and headed back in time for my dad to connect before it sat up out of sight. News of the 'Northern Harrier' came through on the pager, seen at Titchwell then flew inland. Frustratingly the sighting was an hour and a half ago, which would of given a chance to search around the fields nearby if it had come out when seen. We headed off towards Titchwell as the light was already beginning to fade and it was definitely getting colder. We drove around the surrounding farmland sighting a couple of Common Buzzards, I then parked up overlooking the marshland west of the main footpath at Titchwell. Three Marsh Harriers were getting up every now and again and then in from the east a 'Harrier' appeared and proceeded further out over the marsh. With its orange breast and dark upperparts it hunted over the marsh for a few minutes before going to ground, with a line of watchers viewing from the main footpath and a few joining us by the roadside it wasn't long before the pager was showing ' probable Northern Harrier' at Titchwell, the bird then flew around the marsh before moving east over the pathway ( if only I had been standing there I thought ) and further along the coast. But we were both happy to of connected with this Harrier, it was my second attempt, and if it hangs around, which it should do for a while longer, then I may try to connect again and hopefully get a photo. Time to go home....