Monday 10 August 2020

An afternoon in the Broads...

Yesterday morning we were planning on heading to the Broads to look for waders, but when news came through of a Caspian Tern at Hickling Broad we changed our plans and set off quickly. I have had several near misses with Caspian Terns over the last few years so it was a relief when the smart adult individual was still present on Rush Hill Scrape when we arrived. 

We enjoyed some good scope views through the heat haze, and it was sometimes viewable in the same field of view as a Little Stint. A Great White Egret and several Marsh Harriers were flying around too. 

We left mid-afternoon and I picked up an interesting looking raptor while walking back towards Potter Heigham Village. I suspected that it was a Honey Buzzard, and it soon flew right over heads giving us a really good view and confirming the ID. The views didn't stop there as it started circling over the fields and was mobbed by a Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard before it drifted off north-east. A really nice way to end a great afternoon of birding in the sun.







Adult female Honey Buzzard

Caspian Tern through the heat haze

Great Egret

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