26th June 2023 – Targets Acquired!

A Private Tour today. It was a nice bright day, not as hot as it has been in previous days and with a stronger W/WNW wind – comfortable conditions for birding. We had some specific targets to find, so we started in the north Brecks, headed up to the North Norfolk coast, and then went out again in the evening for Nightjars.

We met in Swaffham as the rest of the group were on their way up from the south this morning. We had a particular target to find a Tree Pipit, so we headed out into the Forest and parked by a convenient clearing. It was quiet when we got out of the minibus, apart from a Yellowhammer singing in the distance. We set off down the path through the middle of the clearing, and had gone no distance when a Tree Pipit started singing behind us. We turned to see it flutter up and fly over our heads, before landing in the top of a tree next to us, where we got it in the scopes. A good start!

A Yellowhammer flew in and swooped at the Tree Pipit, landing on a nearby branch. The Tree Pipit continued singing unperturbed but after a while, launched into another song flight, fluttering up and parachuting down into the next tree down. We had an even better view of it now, side on.

Tree Pipit – singing in an oak

The first of our targets acquired in no time, we decided to move on. Back to Swaffham, we picked up the car we had left there and drove north up to the coast at Cley. There had been an American Golden Plover here for over a week, but it had disappeared from its favoured North Scrape for most of yesterday before reappearing on Simmond’s Scrape in the evening. It was apparently back on North Scrape this morning, and would be a new bird for the group, so after a quick check in at the Visitor Centre, we headed straight round to the beach car park.

As we walked along the shingle, there were lots of gulls offshore in a feeding frenzy, we could see the fish splashing on the surface. Looking through, we picked out several Mediterranean Gulls and a couple of Sandwich Terns in the throng. There were a few Curlews moving offshore too – strange to think they are coming back already, their breeding season over.

When we got to the screen overlooking North Scrape, we could see the American Golden Plover on the mud close to the front. We found somewhere we could see over the reeds with the scope and had a good look at it, noting the long primary projection and bulging white on the sides of the breast.

American Golden Plover – back on North Scrape

The second of our targets in the bag, we had a scan round the rest of the scrape. A single 1st summer Little Gull was wading around in a small pool, looking particularly small between a couple of Black-headed Gulls, and there were more Mediterranean Gulls roosting with a small group of gulls on the dry mud. As well as Lapwings and Oystercatchers, we found a single Little Ringed Plover too. A pair of Linnets landed in the gorse right next to us.

Linnet – landed next to us

As we walked back to the car park, there were several Meadow Pipits song-flighting, fluttering up and parachuting down, so we stopped to listen and contrast their much simpler song to the Tree Pipit we had heard earlier. There were Skylarks singing too, and one perched obligingly on a fence post close to the path for us to admire.

Skylark – on the fence

We drove back round to the Visitor Centre and with a bit of time before lunch we walked across the road and out to Bishop Hide. Along the path through the reeds, we could hear Bearded Tits calling and saw a couple fly back and forth across the path, though it was a bit too windy for them to perch up today. From the hide, we could see lots of Spoonbills and Little Egrets on the nearest island in front of the hide. There were several juveniles off both, the young Spoonbills sporting short teaspoon-bills.

Spoonbill – a ‘teaspoon’ juvenile

There were several Ruff feeding on the mud. The males take no part in raising the young and once the lekking season is over, they leave the breeding grounds. As soon as they get here, they start to moult, rapidly losing their ornate ruffs. They look very scruffy at this time of year, and the variation is bewildering – no two are alike! There were lots of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits and several Little Ringed Plovers on here too, and we could hear a Greenshank calling from further over. A few Teal have already returned too and a female Shoveler swam past in front of the hide.

Ruff – a scruffy moulting male

It was a good time to break now for an early lunch. Scanning from the balcony at the visitor centre afterwards, we could see a Marsh Harrier out over the reedbed and some Sand Martins distantly out towards Arnold’s Marsh. A Ringed Plover flew in and landed briefly on Pat’s Pool.

We walked out to the central hides for a quick look at the other scrapes next. The Greenshank we had heard earlier was still on Simmond’s Scrape, along with a single Dunlin. Two more Little Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull and a Common Gull were dozing on the mud. The water level here has dropped very rapidly in the recent warm weather, and the warden appeared in the hide, as he wanted to go out to open the pipes and let some more water on. He waited while we finished scanning, then we decided to walk back and let him get on with it.

Our final destination for the afternoon was up on the Heath. A pair of Bullfinches landed briefly in a bush in the car park, before flying off calling. A male Stonechat perched on the top of the gorse and several Linnets flew in and out calling. There was some high cloud this afternoon, and it was still breezy, but when the sun came out we found several Silver-studded Blue butterflies.

Silver-studded Blue – showing its silver studs

We were hoping to find a Dartford Warbler, but we drew a blank in the first two territories we walked through. They can always be tricky in the afternoons and are often easier to find in the mornings, but we had other priorities this morning. Then just as we were walking up to the next territory, we heard a male Dartford Warbler singing, and turned to see it in song flight. It then flew in and landed right in front of us and we realised there was a female here too, collecting food. We stood quietly where we were and watched the two of them, completely unconcerned at our presence – great views.

Dartford Warbler – great views

We were just walking back when a Woodlark flew over our heads singing. It seemed to be dropping towards a favoured feeding area which we had just come past, so we walked back to see if we could find it. We stood and listened, but there was no sign at first, so we thought we would try the other path back. We had only gone a short distance when we heard a Woodlark calling from the long grass and as we stopped to look we noticed another on the track right in front of us. More great views. Eventually one flew up out of the long grass, and was followed by four more, including the one from the path, a family group.

Woodlark – on the path

As we resumed the walk back, we stopped to watch lots of tits in the trees by the road, along with several Chiffchaffs. Then it was time to call it a day and give everyone a chance to get something to eat.

We met again later, and headed out first to look for Barn Owls. We had a quick drive round the marshes where they like to hunt, but there was no sign of any owls out yet, so we stopped to scan. A Grasshopper Warbler started reeling across the road, so we walked over to see if we could find it but it must have been tucked down out of view. A couple of Sedge Warblers flew back and forth. Then we turned to see a Barn Owl flying across the road behind us. We thought it would hunt a nearby fields but it flew straight over, over the reeds and disappeared straight into a bush, back in to roost. It was obviously not having to feed hungry youngsters!

Back up onto the bank, we watched a distant Marsh Harrier over the marshes and an even more distant Barn Owl. It appeared to drop down, so we drove round to have a look and see if we could find it, but there was no sign. A good start, with two owls briefly, but we still had a little time to see if we could find more. We set off to drive back round to where we saw one the other night, and hadn’t got that far, when we noticed a Barn Owl hunting the field by the road. We stopped to watch as it quartered over the field, a coming right round in front of us. It dropped into the grass a couple of times, but didn’t come up with anything – it stayed down for a while, so may have eaten something itself. Then it landed on the roof of a nearby barn, where we got it in the scopes.

Barn Owl – out hunting

We had another appointment to fulfil still tonight, so we had to tear ourselves away from the Barn Owls. We drove up to the heath and walked out, positioning ourselves in the middle of one territory. We didn’t have to wait too long before the first Nightjar started churring. It was distant, but then another started up much closer to us, from somewhere down on the ground. As the light faded, they started to fly round – a couple of times, the resident male came in to check us out, flying over our heads, flashing the white in its wings and tail. We had the scope set up on its favourite perch, but when it flew in it changed its mind at the last minute and didn’t land on it tonight. A female flew past too. We stood and listened for a while, a wonderful sound on a summer’s evening. Then we decided to head for home.

As we walked back, a Nightjar flew round and landed on the path a short distance ahead of us. It appeared as it it may be dust bathing, so we got it in the scope and had a good look in the last of the light. We couldn’t get round it, so in the end we had to walk on – the Nightjar kept flying up and landing again further along the path ahead of us, until we were almost at the edge of the heath! A great way to end a very successful day’s birding.

14th June 2023 – Nightjar Evening

An evening tour to look for owls and Nightjars. It was a lovely evening, clear and bright, although there was still a slight chill to the E wind, even if it was lighter now than earlier in the day.

We met in Holt in the evening and headed down to the coast to look for Barn Owls. A drive along the main road drew a blank, so we stopped and had a walk down across the marshes. It was rather cool out here, and perhaps that was why it all felt a bit subdued – a couple of Reed Buntings were still singing and a distant Marsh Harrier drifted over the bank in the distance. There were a few Common Swifts over the village, but not screaming about like they often do in the summer. Three Little Egrets flew past, heading off to roost. And no sign of any owls.

We decided to try a little inland, to see if they were out hunting where we had seen one the other night. As we drove through the village and out the other side, we spotted a Barn Owl hunting over the meadow by the road. We pulled up in a convenient layby, but by the time we had got out the Barn Owl had flown across the road and over the hedge the other side. We checked from the gateway next to us and there was the Barn Owl hunting over the grass.

Barn Owl – out hunting

We watched it now as it made several circuits around the grassy field, at one point flying straight towards us and seemingly only seeing us at the last minute and veering away. It disappeared over the hedge at the back but came back just a moment later and resumed its circuits. Great views.

Barn Owl – lovely close views

Eventually, having caught nothing, the Barn Owl flew back over the hedge and back over the road. We watched it now hunting the meadows in the distance. It dropped down into the grass, but came up without anything again. Then it disappeared through the trees at the back.

We drove on down to the bridge to see if we could refind the Barn Owl, but it had gone. Still, it was a lovely spot to stand and scan. A Marsh Harrier quartered over the meadows in the last of the evening sun. Then it was time to head up to one of the heaths for the evening’s main event.

The sun was just setting as we walked out onto the heath. We stopped to admire watch a pair of Stonechats perching on the top of the gorse bushes. We got ourselves in position in the middle of one of the Nightjar territories and we didn’t have to wait long before the first Nightjar started churring. They were early tonight!

The first Nightjar was rather distant, back the way we had just come, as was the second which was out in the middle of the heath. Then a third Nightjar started up from the trees a bit further on, so we walked a little further on to listen. An amazing, other-worldly noise, it is easy to hear why these birds would be the source of so many old myths and legends.

The male Nightjar whose territory we had positioned ourselves in earlier now started churring close behind us, so we turned and hurried back to our earlier spot. We were hoping it would come out to a nearby dead tree, but perhaps we were a bit too visible now and it flew out and headed out over the heath. Thankfully some of the group saw where it landed in a large oak tree and we were able to get it in the scope through a gap in the leaves. We could see it churring.

Nightjar – landed in an oak tree

The Nightjar didn’t stay long enough for everyone to get onto it, and dropped down into the gorse. Thankfully only a minute or so later it flew back up and landed on the same perch. The scope was still on it, and it stayed longer this time, so everyone could get a look. Eventually it flew off again.

We stood and watched for a while, several times Nightjars flew round in front of us, males with white flashes in their wings and tails and darker females. We could hear several churring, with others calling as they took off and wing-clapping.

Nightjar – a male

The light was starting to go, and the Nightjars on this part of the heath seemed to go a little quiet, so we began to make our way back. We stopped to listen again further on, where another Nightjar seemed to be churring particularly persistently. A Tawny Owl hooted in the distance too. Then it was time to call it a night.

11th June 2023 – Early Summer, Day 3

Day 3 of a 3-day Summer Tour, our last day. It was a hot & sunny day, with the temperature touching 30C in the afternoon, such a contrast to our first day. We headed down to the Brecks today.

We travelled in convoy for the first past of the journey, leaving cars in Swaffham for those who would be heading off tonight so as to save time later. Then all aboard the minibus, we headed into the Forest. We parked at the start of a ride by a clearing and as soon as we got out of the minibus we could hear a Tree Pipit singing. We could see it song flighting over the far side, fluttering up and parachuting down to the young trees.

Tree Pipit – singing from the top of a pine

As we walked round for a closer look, a Yellowhammer flew across the track in front of us. When we got to the other side, the Tree Pipit was singing from the top of the pines on the edge of the clearing. We found an angle from which we had a clear view, but we had only just got it in the scope when it parachuted back down into the grass and disappeared. It was not long before it flew back up again, singing, and up to the top of the pines again. Again, it didn’t stay long enough to get everyone on to it in the scope, but thankfully when it flew up a third time, this time it stayed there singing and we all got great views of it. Then when it dropped down again, it landed on the top of a small tree in the clearing, where we had a nice look at it face on, getting a good view of its creamy yellow streaked breast and cleaner white underparts.

We could hear a Woodlark singing quietly, and looked over to see two fly up out of the clearing and off over the trees. A Coal Tit and a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew over. A Siskin flew out of the pines fluttering its wings in song flight and a second flew over calling. We could hear a Cuckoo calling in the distance too. One of the Yellowhammers was singing from the top of the pines on the corner of the block as we walked back.

Yellowhammer – singing from the top of a pine

From here, we drove on down to Weeting Heath. Having checked in at the Visitor Centre, we made our way straight out to West Hide. Four Stone Curlews were out on the cultivated area in front of the hide, the two adults with their almost fully grown juveniles. Apparently they were officially due to fledge in the next couple of days. We watched them walking round in the open before the juveniles decided to shelter under the trolley with the batteries for the nest camera! Great views.

Stone Curlews – seeking shade

There was a pair of Oystercatchers in the cultivated area too, one appeared possibly on a nest, along with several Lapwings. Scanning across the heath, we noticed a fifth Stone Curlew, another adult, much further back. We could hear a regular (non-Stone) Curlew calling from somewhere behind us.

Out of the hide, we stopped on the path to look and listen but there was no sign of any Spotted Flycatchers – they have been tricky this year so far. We continued on down to the end, and looked out over the road from the gate, where we could see the head of a Curlew sticking out of the long grass. We had a look in at the Woodland Hide – a Yellowhammer was down in the grass when we arrived and a succession of tits and finches flew in and out to the feeders or to drink and bathe in the small pool.

Our destination for the rest of the day was Lakenheath Fen. We parked in the car park and as we walked up towards the Visitor Centre, we stopped to listen to a mixed-singing Willow Warbler, throwing in bits of Chiffchaff into its song. A Common Whitethroat perched in the top of one of the birches singing.

It was getting very hot already, so we had a rest at New Fen Viewpoint, looking out across the pool and reeds. A Little Grebe swam across and a Coot was feeding its young down on the water in front of us. A couple of Marsh Harriers circled up distantly over West Wood. Continuing on, it was very humid along the path through the reeds. The warblers were a bit subdued in the heat of the day – we heard snippets of Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler. A female Marsh Harrier circled over the reeds closer now and a lone Cuckoo flew over. There are normally a lot of dragonflies along here but there were surprisingly few today – maybe the impact of the recent cold weather.

Little Grebe – swam across

We pressed on to Joist Fen, stopping to admire a few Great Crested Grebes on the pools, including two well-grown, stripy-headed juveniles. It was time for lunch when we arrived at the viewpoint, so we sat down to eat in the shade. There were several Marsh Harriers circling up further back and at least three Hobbys, one for a while hunting over the pool in the middle of the reeds. A Cuckoo was calling in the distance.

Hobby – one of at least three

Several Reed Warblers flitted back and forth around the pool in front and a Cetti’s Warbler flew across. A Kingfisher flashed out from behind the trees to the right, over the reeds and disappeared into the channel before flying back again a few mins later. A pair of Cranes flew in over the railway, but turned and flew away from us, dropping down in front of the distant trees.

Eventually we saw a Bittern fly up, only briefly, across the track behind us before dropping down again, but there was rather little Bittern activity this afternoon – they are normally busier at this time of year, with the females making regular feeding flights. We had just finished lunch, when another Bittern came up from the reeds at the back of the small pool right in front of us. It had obviously been hiding in there all along! We watched it flew off away over the reeds. We waited a bit to see if it might come back in to feed, but there was no further sign.

Great Crested Grebe – adult feeding juvenile

We decided to start making out way slowly back. We broke the journey at Mere Hide, where it was nice out of the sun, with a gentle breeze through the open windows. A family of Great Crested Grebes was on the pool, the two juveniles initially with the female in the weeds while the male was diving on its own off to our right. After a while, the female swam with the juveniles towards the male, catching small fish and them copying her diving. The male swam over and took over childcare duty, while the female swam out into the pool and started fishing, coming up with an enormous fish. We didn’t know how it managed to swallow it!

Great Crested Grebe – with big fish

There were more dragonflies here, flying back and forth over the water in front of the hide, several Four-spotted Chasers and a couple of large electric blue Emperors, and a male Scarce Chaser perched on the reeds. Lots of damselflies too, including a few Red-eyed Damselflies – we could see their red eyes when they landed.

Red-eyed Damselfly – with red eyes

There had been a Kingfisher on one of the posts earlier, apparently, but there was no sign now. But a photographer in the hide spotted a Bittern flying in from the left and we had a great view as it did a long flypast, right across in front of us, before disappearing off to our right.

Bittern – long flight past

We could have spent more time in the hide, but it was time to head back now. We were hot by the time we got back to the Visitor Centre and we stopped for another very welcome ice cream break – several flavours were sampled again! We had thought we might have a quick look at the Washland, but we met someone who had been out earlier and had seen nothing. The water level is still very high apparently. Everyone was tired out after the walk too, so we decided to call it a day.

It had been a very enjoyable three days (and an evening!), with some great birds, and interesting butterflies and other wildlife.

10th June 2023 – Early Summer, Day 2 & Nightjar Evening

Day 1 of a 3-day Summer Tour. What a difference a day makes! Today was bright and sunny, and much warmer, up to 20C already by 9am and a maximum of 22C in the afternoon, despite a freshening east wind. We spent the day down in the Broads and then went out again in the evening to look for Nightjars.

Our destination for the morning was Hickling. As we arrived in the car park, a Willow Warbler was singing. One of the wardens was just setting up for a children’s moth morning in the car park and kindly gave us a couple of his surplus moths to look at – the Reed Leopard was much rarer, found only in the UK in the Norfolk Broads and a couple of other restricted sites, but the Poplar Hawkmoth proved more popular!

Reed Leopard moth

We went to try and check in at the Visitor Centre as the door was open, but we were told they were actually still closed and the door was promptly shut. We thought we would go out for a walk first and check in later. Then we were just walking past when someone came running out chasing us for permits, despite the fact that the Centre was not actually due to open until 10am. It was then very slow to process everyone through and we should probably have gone out and focused on birding first.

We eventually got away, and walked down towards the Stubb Mill track. A Swallowtail butterly flew over the path ahead of us but disappeared straight over the hedge the other side. Still, a good omen to see one on the wing already.

At the first pool, we could see a Spoonbill feeding at the back, but it quickly disappeared into the vegetation. We could hear Common Cranes bugling, but couldn’t see well from here due to the bushes lining the track, although we eventually managed to see one flying round and dropping into the reeds through a gap.

Great White Egrets – four with a Little Egret

There were four Great White Egrets together on the back of the next compartment. We had a better view of them when we got to the first platform and could look over the bank, feeding together with a couple of Little Egrets and a Grey Heron for size comparison. There were a few waders on here too – a single Greenshank with some Redshank, a Common Snipe, lots of Black-tailed Godwits, a couple of Avocets and a few Lapwings, but there was no sign of the Black-winged Stilt which had been here earlier. There was a nice selection of ducks to – another Wigeon, a couple of Teal, plus several Shoveler and lots of Gadwall.

As we continued on along the track, there were several dragonflies flying now in the sunshine – Four-spotted Chasers and our first Norfolk Hawkers of the year (in Norfolk at least!). Damselflies included nice views of Variable Damselfly.

Variable Damselfly

When we got down to the corner, we discovered that the Black-winged Stilt had just flown off. We had only missed it by a few minutes, so we would probably have seen it if it hadn’t taken so long in the Visitor Centre! There were several Tundra Ringed Plover on the scrape still and we had nice views of a Little Ringed Plover in the scope. We could see several Spoonbills in the trees beyond. A Hobby circled high over the middle of the reeds, catching insects on the wing, but drifted off away from us. Two more Cranes flew in from beyond the dead trees, but dropped down out of view.

There was no sign of the Stilt returning, so we set off back along the track. We hadn’t gone far before two more Cranes circled up over the reeds. They were trying to find a thermal so we had much better views now, as they gained height, before eventually heading off to the north, over the track ahead of us and away over the wood beyond.

Common Cranes – circled up

Back at the junction, we turned left and walked out along the Whiteslea Track. A Garden Warbler was singing from the back of the overflow car park as we passed. We had a look back at the first compartment of Brendan’s Marsh from the viewing mound, but we couldn’t see anything we hadn’t seen earlier. We were hoping for more Swallowtails now but it was a bit breezy here, and then a couple of people said the Swallowtails showing very well along the path past the Lodge, so we carried on down towards the Broad.

We stopped briefly by Bittern Hide where we heard a Bittern booming. We were surprised we hadn’t seen any feeding flights, as we normally do at this time of year, though possibly the breeding season is behind schedule this year due to the cold spring weather.

Along the path towards the Observatory tower, we found a couple of people watching a Swallowtail. It was resting on a thistle at first, with its wings up, but then flew round and landed on a grass stem right beside the path. There are not many flowers out after the recent cold weather, no nectar sources, so it was interesting to watch this one feeding on grasses.

Swallowtail – nectaring on grass

We had a quick look from the Observatory, so we could see the Broad. Two Common Terns flew round and landed on one of the posts marking the channel. There were lots of Mute Swans on the water beyond, along with Coots and a couple of Great Crested Grebes, typical of the deep water broads. Further on, a Grasshopper Warbler reeled briefly. We stopped to listen, but unfortunately it had gone quiet.

Further round, once we got into the lee of the trees, we found several more Swallowtails, another 3-4. One was wanting to come down to feed on a Flag Iris by the path, but was possibly put off by all the admiring people and landed on a reed stem a little further out.

A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers called from the wood and we watched them flying through the trees and landing briefly. As we turned back along the path towards the Visitor Centre, we could hear a Bearded Tit calling, but it went quiet. At the mention of lunch, the walking pace accelerated notably and only the laggards heard more Bearded Tits, and had a couple of brief flight views. At the pond dipping platform, a Willow Warbler was singing in a willow above our heads.

It was time for lunch, so we set in the picnic area – it was so warm and sunny, we even sat in the shade. How different to yesterday! The Garden Warbler was still singing in the trees beyond and another Hobby zipped over just above us. The ice cream at the Visitor Centre proved particularly popular today, with the rhubarb & ginger a personal favourite although various flavours were tried by the group! We were just finishing lunch when another Swallowtail flew in around the bushes in the picnic area.

We had walked a good way already today, and probably couldn’t manage a lot more in the heat, so we headed down to Potter Heigham Marshes to see what we could find on the pools. It was a good day for Swallowtails – as we found another one nectaring on vetch by the track as we arrived and then had several more fly over. They had clearly emerged in numbers in the warmth.

Four-spotted Chaser

Up onto the bank, we had a slow walk along, scanning the pools. There were lots of ducks, including more Wigeon and several Common Pochard, but no sign of any Garganey this afternoon. We noticed a Cuckoo in the trees and got it in the scope. When it took off, it flew across the path in front of us and out into the reedbed, where it landed in a small alder tree. A flock of Avocets flew past, there were a couple of Cetti’s Warblers calling and several Reed Warblers in the reeds.

We walked down along the edge of Candledyke, but once we got out of the shelter of the trees, it was very windy. We were hoping we might find Bearded Tits here, but there was no sign of any now and they were probably hiding in the bottom of the reeds. As we were heading out again this evening, we had to be back in good time today, so with a long drive back to base we decided to call it a day.

Nightjar Evening

We headed out again after dinner, driving up to the coast, past the barn where the Little Owls were last year but which is now almost completed development into a house. Sad. There was no sign of any Barn Owl activity along the coast road, but a Spoonbill flew out of the trees at Cley and dropped down towards Snipe’s Marsh, where it appeared to flush a second Spoonbill up from the pool, and they both flew off. There was no sign of any Barn Owls the other side of Cley either. A Kestrel was still out, and landed in a dead tree.

We decided to try our luck inland, and hadn’t got far when we spotted a Barn Owl disappearing behind some trees. From further up, we could see it again, flying back behind us over the field. We turned round, and tried to follow it, turning down a side road which would take us down to where it was heading, but by the time we got there it had disappeared.

It was already time to be heading up to the heath, so we drove on. We parked in the trees and walked out onto the open heath. We could hear Stonechats calling and spotted a couple perched on the gorse in the gloom, a male with a couple of streaky juveniles. We had not been here long before the first Nightjar started churring – they were early tonight. It was rather distant, right out in the middle, but we stopped to listen.

Another Nightjar churred briefly much closer, so we walked over just in time to hear it call and see the male flying round, flashing the white in wings and tail. One landed on a branch, and although it was hard to see against the dark trees we managed to get it in the scope. Thankfully it stayed for a minute or so, so we could all get a look at it.

Nightjar – perched on a branch

When it took off again, there were now at least three Nigthjars flying round, a couple of males and one female without the white flashes. The original male was still churring out in the middle on and off, and another male started churring further along. It was nice now to just stand and listen. A Tawny Owl hooted in the distance, and we could hear Roe Deer barking too.

Nightjar – a male with white wing flashes

As we stood and listened, we had several more flight views of Nightjars overhead and hunting for moths around the trees. Then as it started to get dark, it was time to head back. We bumped into one of the locals, a regular on the heath, who monitors the Nightjars, and he related the story of a recent egg theft of one of the nests. Shocking that such practices still occur.

On the drive back to base, another Tawny Owl flew over the road and landed on the wires as we passed. Then it was time for bed for a few hours – we were going to be out again tomorrow.

9th June 2023 – Early Summer, Day 1

Day 1 of a 3-day Summer Tour. It was cloudy but dry all day, with a very cold and blustery ENE wind which kept temperatures down noticeably on the coast (little did we know how much that was about to change!). We spent the day along the North Norfolk coast.

The Bee-eaters which bred here last year had returned to Trimingham a couple of weeks earlier, so we decided to head over there first thing this morning to see if we could catch up with them. As we got out of the minibus it was decidedly cold in the wind – not ideal weather for Bee-eaters! We walked through the hedge onto the footpath and stopped to scan the wires in the distance and there were two Bee-eaters, quickly joined by the third. We got them in the scope and enjoyed good, if more distant views from here.

Bee-eater – one of the males

We were then met by one of the locals who has been keeping an eye on the birds while the watchpoint was being set up, and we walked up to the next field. We were closer here, and had great views of the Bee-eaters on the wires, flying down and catching bumblebees in the quarry below. We watched the pair courtship feeding, the male presenting bees to the female, and even mating. The other male kept trying to get involved, but when it landed next to the female with a bee, it was chased off by the primary male.

Bee-eater – one playing gooseberry

There were Linnets and Goldfinches flying around and landing on the wires too, and a Common Whitethroat singing from the bushes. In the cold wind, several Swallows and Sand Martins were hawking low over the grass trying to find any flying insects. A Kestrel circled over the quarry and a Common Buzzard flew over the field beyond.

Having drunk our fill of the Bee-eaters, we drove back to Cley and parked at the Visitor Centre. Having arranged our permits, we set off to walk to the hides. A Hobby shot in over the car park and disappeared straight off over the Centre, but a Kestrel was more obliging, hovering over the Skirts path. We could hear Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers singing, but they were keeping down out of the wind, whereas a male Reed Bunting was perched precariously on a swaying reed stem singing.

We went in to Teal Hide first. There were lots of birds on Pat’s Pool – several Tundra Ringed Plovers and Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Avocets though with few chicks seemingly left now, a single Black-tailed Godwit and two Dunlin in breeding plumage but no sign of the Little Stint which had been here earlier. We heard Greenshank calling on our way out, but there was no sign of them now either, just Redshanks. A Marsh Harrier patrolled over the reeds beyond.

Teal – one of several

Amongst the regular ducks on the scrape were some more unseasonal wildfowl – including several Teal, presumably mostly returning failed breeders, and a female Wigeon swam past right in front of the hide. A pair of Swallows kept coming into the hide and we realised they had a nest on one of the rafters – they were perched just a few feet away from us!

Swallows – nesting in the hide

It was warm out of the wind in the lee of the hides on the boardwalk as we walked back out. One of the group spotted a Drinker moth caterpillar on a reed stem and we then found a tiny Diamond-back Moth nearby (amazing to think that it had possibly migrated here from foreign climes!). An impressive-looking Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn beetle was on the vegetation here too.

Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn beetle

We had a quick look in Dauke’s Hide. The water level has been raised on Simmond’s Scrape and there were not so many birds on here today – three Oystercatchers being the only notable addition, and there was no sign of the other waders on here either. When we heard everything alarm calling over on Pat’s Pool, we looked over to see the Hobby flying through again, before disappearing off over the reedbed beyond.

As we made our way back to the Visitor Centre, a Red Kite drifted in from the fields beyond and past us over to the reedbed. Despite the wind, we could sit on the picnic tables to eat our lunch. A couple of Spoonbills now flew in and out of Pat’s Pool and a nice male Marsh Harrier flew in across the near edge of the reeds. A smart male Greenfinch was singing, and landed in the big hawthorn bush just the other side of the road.

Marsh Harrier – a male flew past

After lunch, we made our way along to Kelling. It was breezy even in the lane today, and apart from several Goldfinches coming down to bathe in the beck at the top of the lane, a couple of Speckled Wood butterflies, and an impressive Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), there was not much of note until we got down to the copse, where a couple of Blackcaps were calling. Looking out from the gate, a Brown Hare was on the Water Meadow but ran behind the bushes as we walked up. A Kestrel flew over and there were two more Teal on the Water Meadow pool.

Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria

A Common Whitethroat was singing in the brambles by the track and perched up nicely briefly. We stopped to watch a family of Stonechats on the crosstrack, male, female and one or two streaky juveniles. There were also a few Linnets, Sedge Warbler singing and a Reed Bunting perched up in the bushes. Continuing on down to the Hard, there were more Linnets and Stonechats in the brambles and several Common Blue butterflies in the grassy area behind the beach.

Stonechat – one of the males

We took the permissive path up the hill and stopped to look out to sea. Three Sandwich Terns flew past, and one of the group noticed two drake Common Scoter on the sea, quite close in, which we got in the scope. Up at the gun emplacements, the Wheatear was still present around the pill box below the weather station, but there was no sign of yesterday’s Black Redstart nor Whinchat. As we walked back down, we stopped to look at a lone Bee Orchid which one the group had noticed on the way up.

Bee Orchid – by the path

There had been a Rose-coloured Starling at Titchwell the last few days, but it could be elusive at times and had been reported to have flown off west this morning, so when it reappeared in its favoured garden in the village this afternoon, we decided to head over and see if we could see it. It was a chance to get out of the wind, and we had done a lot of walking already today. When we arrived, it had disappeared into a garden and a small crowd had gathered on the pavement, looking across a field at the bushes on the edge. We joined them and waited a short while.

There were lots of Starlings coming and going, several juveniles, and lots of common garden birds. A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew in and out repeatedly. We watched for about 45 minutes, before we had to call time – enthusiasm was waning and we had to get back for dinner. By the time we got back to base, we could see it was another 25 minutes after we left before the Rose-coloured Starling finally reappeared. We had thought we might get the chance to have another go on another day, but it was the last time it was seen that evening. Still, lots of other birds for us to see instead!