At this precious time of year, thousands of birdwatchers flock to the coast to search every promontory, every bush and every standalone tree. They bring huge cameras, arriving usually before dawn, and fervently rush around in the hope of something happening. Because, after all, this is autumn, and autumn is a season of immense change.

Millions of birds are erupting from their arctic breeding grounds and flying thousands of miles to equatorial wintering areas, searching for solace from the icy winter to come. Our eastern position in Norfolk sets us up as the prime spot for migrants and, depending on wind direction and distribution, anything from 10 to 500 species can appear each autumn.

This year so far has been absolutely INCREDIBLE due to a strong easterly breeze which has swept thousands of rare birds onto Norfolk's beautiful coastline. Despite the biting cold setting in, now is the time to leave the shelter of your homes and become a rarity finder!

Yellow-browed Warbler

This species has had a COLOSSAL year in the British Isles, with many hundreds of individuals recorded all along the east coast.

In October, the majority are found within a stone's throw of the sea, as they have only just reached us after a long North Sea flight. They have by far been this year's most numerous vagrant, and as we transition from the crisp blue sunny evenings of October to icy November mornings, more are trickling slowly inland. These birds are sprawling across our country: spreading their wings, if you will.

Yellow-browed warblers are not always restricted to rural areas - happily vying for small groups of trees and bushes. This autumn I have found 4 individuals far inland, two of which were in central Norwich. It's been a joy to watch the steady expansion of these little birds, and I really hope I'll see more of them next year.

How to find them:

I know I'm supposed to be impartial but this is my favourite warbler by miles! My best suggestion to find one is to go to a local patch of sycamores, willows or birches (favoured on migration) and listen for the distinctive call. I liken it to a soprano pied wagtail: a high, soft, "peu- twee!" Often the birds are extremely vocal, the call-notes constantly see-sawing back and forth through their scrubby habitats.

Once located, they are easily recognised by a beautiful medley of colour. Yellow-browed and sporting a silky white underside, a moss-green back, and pale yellow stripes over each eye - hence the name. The two pale bars across each wing add to the stripy and complex look of the birds. I urge you to search for these delightful little bundles of fluff if you get the chance!

Asian Desert Warbler

This bird is in a whole other world of rare. In mid October, the 14th record of this species in Britain was found at Winterton Dunes, and it remained there for just two days. In that short period, hundreds of hardy birdwatchers came to see this Middle Eastern gem, before it disappeared on the night of the 7th. It spent most of its visit feeding in the outer branches of scrubby birches on the inland dell of the dune system. However, it was elusive at times, spending a long while deep within the bushes, much to the irritation of twitchers! But in any case, this was a fantastic bird to see!

This is a handsome warbler, blending into its open sandy habitats with a bleached pale brown plumage. This is complemented by a gem-like lemon eye, and fiery red tail lightly streaked with black and white. It doesn't encounter many humans in its homelands of baking Arabia so was remarkably tame. During the two hours I spent watching it the bird consistently flew strikingly close to me and the wall of jaw-dropped enthusiasts observing - at one point even attempting to land at our feet! It's genuinely been one of the highlights of my birding autumn, and I salute whoever managed to pick it out.

Eastern Stonechats

Now, this taxon (or not) has spent decades as an enigma to geneticists and bird listers alike. For years on end it has rocked back and forth from 5 species, to one, to subs, and so on in a medley of confusion. A conclusion has seemingly emerged though, classifying the group under 2 species across 6 subspecies. These are Siberian stonechat (saxicola maurus) and Amur stonechat (saxicola stejnegeri). All are very similar, but some bear their own specific characteristics.

This autumn I was lucky enough to capture an adult male at Weybourne Camp. It showed quite well for a couple of minutes before disappearing, like a puff of smoke, eluding me for a further hour. For the precious time I saw it, I captured enough snaps to identify it as a Siberian stonechat. It was in a marvellous plumage, displaying a deep black mask, peach-washed breast and intricately striated crown and mantle. I was privileged to find it myself after it had been missed in the morning. Also, while I was there I briefly found a 1st-winter female Amur stonechat, showing striking supercilia and white throat; this was a BRILLIANT day for eastern stonechats!

How to find them:

The best way to search is to walk along scrubby eastern coastlines in early autumn. If you catch a glimpse of a pale rump or white throat, always give it a second glance.

Self-finds can be one of the most fulfilling ways to birdwatch, especially in autumn when almost anything can appear off the sea. This handful of rarities are just a few of my favourites. Keep your eyes wide and I wish you all a very merry migration season!