BWK - My Tale

No regrets about my original decision. I'm getting sensible in my old age. I hoped justice would be done...but as we know, there is no justice in Life...the vast majority of the time! 

Yesterday...

9.59am: Norfolk BLACK-WINGED KITE again on East side of Horsey Road

I was back in the crazy game! This was a VERY pleasant surprise after yesterday's report from further North suggesting the Bird had moved on?  Circumstances were in my favour this time...and Bud was sorted. Google told me it was under 200 miles BUT the roads are poor and I was looking at 4/5 hours depending on traffic. A few updates helped as I headed South. However, reports then dried up as I approached Sleaford. Time for Lunch and a think. What to do? I was still 2+ hours away. Light wasn't a problem but another 5 hours round trip with no further reports was testing my resolve. It was now 2.30pm. I continued to wait. Then at 2.48...another report. Onward!

***If I hadn't have received this message I'd have turned back***

Thankfully there were no major hold ups and I arrived at Horsey around 5.30. Encouragingly there were plenty of Birders still around scattered far and wide. A few conversations suggested that the mid-afternoon sighting was questionable? A decent chat with a couple of chaps from Essex put me in the picture. Anyway I was here now and I was staying till dusk...if only for a rest!! The forecast of a sunny evening wasn't looking good...

After a while I decided to head up to the Mill car park on yet another rumour. In these situations you simply don't know what to believe. Plenty of stories from locals and Twitchers alike...you pays yer money...

The ominous clouds had thankfully dissipated and it was a lovely evening. Lucky. A few familiar faces were present but everyone was...pre-occupied! I paid my dues at the NT car park with the help of a kind Birder from Norwich who gave me a quid to make the £4. He was heading for the Site where the Bird was initially seen on Tuesday morning...found by Dan Pointon apparently. He has an impressive track record of major finds. I first became aware of him running up the Quay on St Agnes in October 2008 as we ran for the ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. He kindly sent me a message late Monday which was very much appreciated.

As I walked the path I was torn between continuing and returning to the car park. The reason for this being I was reluctant to go too far from the car in case the bird was seen somewhere else in the area...as time was now getting...tight. After around 600 yards I turned back as I didn't know how much further I had to go. As I approached the car park I saw a couple approaching, it was Simon Slade and his Wife. I've known Simon for many Years, having twitched the CAPE MAY WARBLER with him on Unst in 2013. He's also a Scilly stalwart in October. We had a brief chat and this convinced me to turn around and head back to the viewpoint with them. Significant moment right here...a twist of fate?

The viewpoint turned out to be c800 yds from the car park. Around a dozen Birders were present.Viewing was difficult looking through the reeds but it wasn't too bad for me being tall...

Some locals pointed us to the roost area were it was seen on Tuesday morning. It was now approaching 8.  I'd heard some Cranes calling and sure enough just before 8pm they headed off to roost...

A fine sight!

Everyone continued to scan. I checked in with the Boss but I was still searching in all directions...

The sun briefly poked through again

It was now 8.25.  I was now contemplating where I would kip in the car and briefly considered a B&B/Motel. Then...some movement, a Birder was excitedly talking on his phone, his mate was looking at it from Stubb Hill!!! We all started to scan the area...and there it was...in the same group of trees it was seen in initially...

The above photo was taken at 8.30pm at a distance of c400yds. For me, it sums up the Twitch perfectly; an evocative view of a superb Bird in natural settings, late on a Summer's evening. Bliss...and WHAT A RESULT!!! I had great views through the scopes present. This is my 540th (542 really with the "Covid 2") Species for Britain...and to think I was happy getting to my initial target of 500!

I said goodbye to Simon and his Wife and strolled back to the car park...Euphoric!

A group of people were chatting by a boat and asked me if I'd seen it. I told them I had but they understandably didn't "get it". No matter...I/we do.

I passed the Mill...

Glad I went to Horsey not Hickling. Another twist!

...and headed home returning by 2.30am shattered but extremely happy. I still love all aspects of a Twitch...especially when it's successful!