The discovery of a Rufous-tailed Robin in Norfolk last night saw me planning an early night, determined to be there for first light. After a call from fellow Dorset birder Steve Smith, however, wiser counsel prevailed, and we agreed to go only if the early morning news was positive. By 1400 this seemed like a very good call as the Robin had not been relocated. While it was a relief not to have travelled in vain, there was still a sense of disappointment. Just as my enthusiasm for photographing Northern Wheatears at Stanpit was fading, the pager wailed another 'mega-alert'. Unlike the Robin, this one - an Isabelline Wheatear - was within relatively easy reach in East Sussex. I met Steve at Rownhams services and we arrived at the National Trust's Crowlink Down shortly before 1730. A few minutes later and we were watching a new British bird for both of us.
I'm not sure I would have been confident about calling this bird at the distance we were watching it initially, but eventually all the key features became apparent, especially when it hooked up with a Northern Wheatear. The Isabelline was a shade larger and longer-legged, consistently stood more erect, and the black alula, while not always visible, could be seen from time to time. The bill was more robust and the upperparts were a paler, more even, sandy colour than Northern. There was less black in the flight feathers and a wider black band at the tip of the tail, leaving a more square looking white patch at its base. Only about 10 other birders were present, a very modest twitch for such a rare bird, explained in part by the fact that most of Britain's hard-core twitchers (reportedly 800 of them) were presumably still in, or on the way back from, Norfolk. Few, if any, would have time to get to Eastbourne before dark.
The sun had just set by the time we decided to leave, but as we turned to go we could see a lone birder heading our way from the car park. By the time he reached us we had lost sight of the bird: 'I've just come from Norfolk for this' he said. Fortunately, we managed to relocate it in the fading light.
The discovery of a Rufous-tailed Robin in Norfolk last night saw me planning an early night, determined to be there for first light. After a call from fellow Dorset birder Steve Smith, however, wiser counsel prevailed, and we agreed to go only if the early morning news was positive. By 1400 this seemed like a very good call as the Robin had not been relocated. While it was a relief not to have travelled in vain, there was still a sense of disappointment. Just as my enthusiasm for photographing Northern Wheatears at Stanpit was fading, the pager wailed another 'mega-alert'. Unlike the Robin, this one - an Isabelline Wheatear - was within relatively easy reach in East Sussex. I met Steve at Rownhams services and we arrived at the National Trust's Crowlink Down shortly before 1730. A few minutes later and we were watching a new British bird for both of us. 
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