Whilst checking out a suitable area of clearing for Woodlarks yesterday, Norfolk birder Peter Colston stumbled upon a ROLLER perched on a stump just 50 yards from the road. He had just 8 minutes of views before the bird duly flew and disappeared out of view. He immediately notified local birders and RBA but after an initial search, the bird could not be relocated. Then, about an hour later, Robert Smith relocated it, about half a mile away east of the Dragonfly Pond, on the opposite side of the road. It was then kept on, by a procession of Norfolk birders, from early evening until dusk, flighting between the two areas.
It followed the same modus of operandi today - moving between the clearing of Heath House Woods to the open heath half a mile east behind the Dragonfly Pond - and rarely allowing approach of less than 250 yards. I spent the day with the bird, my best photographic efforts being published above.
The location is just north of Edgefield on the B1149 - at the south end of Holt Country Park. There is ample parking for around 60 vehicles on the east side of the road, the bird showing best on the stunted trees in the clearing directly opposite.
Elsewhere in Britain today, the singing male GREENISH WARBLER continues at Turton Golf Course in Egerton (Lancashire), singing regularly from the Beech plantation bordering the third tee - park on Cox Green Road close to the entrance of Great Stones Close, taking the footpath adjacent to the sheep field until you reach the golf course.
The first-summer BONAPARTE'S GULL is also still to be found - either loafing with non-breeding Black-headed Gulls on Oare Marshes' East Flood or in Faversham Creek adjacent.
Singing male MARSH WARBLERS can be found in Uig village, on the Isle of Skye (Highland Region) and in Lochmaddy, North Uist (Outer Hebrides), as well as at 30 or so other locations between East Yorkshire and East Sussex, whilst a female RED-BACKED SHRIKE is near Easington (East Yorks).
