I did a quick trip to north-east Norfolk with Nick Moran for a couple of hours this afternoon. The weather was cold with grey skies, a biting north-easterly wind and a few snowflakes. I was not expecting to see anything: I have chased White-tailed Eagles in the past before and have often been disappointed. One usually has to put in 6 or 7 hours waiting before any kind of success. Indeed it took me seven attempts before I saw my very first one. After several stops and false alarms, we decided to go back to a stretch of road that looked suitable with an all round view. I decided to scan a field looking west, the direction no-one else was looking in. Whilst scanning with bins I picked up an odd 'eagle-shaped' lump perhaps over a mile away, that was conveniently positioned in a gap in a distant hedge from just the tiny mound that I was standing on. I kept on looking - it did look good, but I could not be sure without a telescope. There were a couple of birders nearby neither of whom had scopes, so I put them on it and told them to stay looking at it whilst I ran back to the car to get my 'scope. By the time I'd got back there were lots of smiling and happy people as someone with a scope had quickly turned up and confirmed what I was seeing. All very fortunate really. After about ten minutes the bird suddenly took off and did a few circles, flying towards us on occasions. It then landed further south, out of view. I did get the watercolours out and put a few washes on in the bitter cold; my hands were pretty numb by the time I'd finished. Not long before dusk the bird flew over one last time flying over a distant wood and then towards Houghton Park to roost. Other birds seen included a pair of Grey Partridge, a brief flyover Woodcock, a female Hen Harrier and a Barn Owl. Not a bad collection for such a brief trip!
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