My dad and i set off for an early start to norfolk with nothing in particular to bird, first stop was titchwell. The wind was stronger than i thought it would be and blowing in on the coast so we headed straight to the beach. Besides which the view of the freshmarsh first thing just silhouettes everything with the rising sun.
I left my dad at the dunes edge whilst i headed off to try and photograph the waders along the shoreline and hopefully something in close due to the winds. On approach i noticed an eider sat up on the rocks, he wasnt in too much of a hurry to get on the water.
The exposed mussel beds attracted quite a few waders mostly knot, turnstone and curlew. After a short while they became accustomed to my presence and provided some close views. The curlews kept themselves to their own small patch and chased any newcomer away. I singled out one or two knot and waited to catch an image when it arose, with them happy about my proximity it was a case of waiting. 
Every now and again small flocks of gannet would come soaring and gliding through. A mixture of young and adult birds. The turnstones are always confiding and blended in so well amongst the mussel beds you dont pick them out till your almost upon them.
On one occasion a pair of young gannets flew along the shoreline and provided a great chance for a few close up shots, it looked like they were about to land as they circled the beach but decided to carry on. A few great crested grebes were on the sea and stood out with their prominent white markings when flying past.
We moved up to holme off the golfcourse and on heading through the dunes picked out 3+ wheatear. We headed down to the shoreline and with the dog walkers and horses out of the way traced our footsteps back with the rising tide. I got the chance to keep an eye out for birds flying past and to photograph one of my favourite waders, the sanderling.
I never tire of watching them and their speedy antics. And keeping ahead of them gives you the chance of close encounters as they move along the beach. One in particular was happy to stay and feed in and out of the surf just feet from me.I was concentrating on it so much with my eye to the camera i didnt see the tide washing over my feet until i felt the wetness soak through, by then it wasnt worth moving in a hurry.
There were a few brent geese moving along the shoreline, one group was accompanied by a cormorant flying alongside them. A large group of geese flew in from the sea distantly which gave a reminder of the huge flocks to come very soon. And heading back to the car now the weather had turned dull, we found the wheatears still flitting about the dunes edge.
