A walk round the patch Tuesday produced the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year at East Runton, where there was also a Ring Ouzel and another male Redstart. A pair of Gadwall were on the reservoir which were the first I've recorded there, and also present were two Common Sandpipers which brought the patch year list up to a respectable 142.
Birds noted on Wednesday included a Whinchat and a few Wheatears along the golf course, a couple of summer-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits on the beach by the pier which are a notable occurrence this end of the coast, and the presumed released Whooper Swan was still on Felbrigg Lake.
The first Sedge Warbler of the year was found on Friday with one singing in Happy Valley. A walk round Felbrigg produced 2 drake Mandarins on the recently created water meadow, a Common Sandpiper on the lake, a few Swallows, Swifts and a House Martin feeding overhead and a Barn Owl hunting the meadow to the south of the lake. However the surprise of the day came in the shape of a White-fronted Goose which was by the lake with a few Greylags, and whilst it was maybe of feral origin, it quickly flew off and it will be interesting to see if it reappears in the future.
