Skuas and a Shrike!

17/7/08 Sea Palling - James and Simeon
Dad was going to Norwich for the day, so we drove onto Sea Palling after dropping him off! The Red-Backed Shrike showed well eventually but it took a bit of finding (in the rain). See gallery for pictures. We then did some seawatching the other side of the dunes from the Shrike and had 3 Arctic Skuas past in about 30 mins.
So we moved to Waxham to get a better vantage point. The total in 2 and a half hours was 25 Arctic Skuas, including some really close birds - one flew right over Simeons head! Most were adult pale morphs but there were a few juvs and one or two dark morph adults. Other birds of note on the sea were; 1 female Eider, 50+ Guillemots (including several young birds) and a single adult Razorbill along with 13 Gannets.
Whilst standing in the dunes a male Kestrel and a beautiful Hobby went over. Just before a masive raincloud came in, a large passage of hirundines included 70+ Swift and 40+ House Martin.
It was a really good day, despite the rain, and allowed us to get back on seawatching form in time for Wales... (5th-13th August)