Slow bird day

Today was the first sunny day after some really gloomy and damp weather. Having being successful with the great grey shrike at Lowestoft, North Denes on Sunday, we decided to try there again today. Unfortunately, the shrike had gone and so, it seemed, had most other feathered creatures of any note. However, walking back along the sea wall towards the car we spotted this black redstart (which had been reported on Birdguides) posing nicely amongst the caravans.

It is often easy to mistake common birds for something more exciting or unusual so I was surprised when, instead of another juvenile gull, the bird I saw flying over the sea turned out to be a short-eared owl. The bird continued to fly out to sea being mobbed by gulls and disappeared into the distance - not the usual behaviour for an SEO by any means. Sorry about the photo but it was quite distant.

Also in additional photos are one of the great grey shrike (Sunday) and a couple from Minsmere yesterday - wren and stonechat.