10th March 2024 – Winter & Brecks, Day 3

Day 3 of a 3-day Winter & Brecks tour today. After two days of nice weather, it was perhaps no surprise that today was different – grey, damp and rather breezy. Thankfully, the rain was only light, spitting with drizzle on and off and only up until 11am this morning after which it stopped, and the wind was nowhere near as bad as forecast. And we had a very successful day, despite the weather, to wrap up our tour.

With the forecast of rain, we headed over to Titchwell this morning, where we would at least have the benefit of the hides if we needed shelter. We cut across inland and as we dropped back down towards the coast, lots of birds flew up from a wild bird seed crop behind and landed in the hedge beside the road. We pulled up and could see they were mainly Brambling, including several smart, black-headed males, with smaller numbers of Linnet and Goldfinch too.

Song Thrush – in the car park

When we arrived at Titchwell, the car park was unusually quiet – probably something to do with the weather today! A succession of Mediterranean Gulls flew over calling as we got out of the minibus and a Song Thrush flew up from the middle of the car park and perched obligingly on a branch on the edge. As we walked up towards the Visitor Centre, we scanned for Woodcock under the trees but it was all rather along wet here today and we then had to pick our way round the flooded path to get past the Welcome Hub.

There weren’t many birds on the feeders today, so we carried on round onto Fen Trail. More scanning this side finally produced a single Woodcock hiding under the sallows. It froze, watching us, relying on its camouflage, while we got it in the scope. It was a fill-the-frame view! Obligingly it waited just long enough for everyone to get a look at it through the scope before it finally decided it had had enough and scuttled off further in.

Further on along Fen Trail, the Tawny Owl was in its usual tree again but today we could at least see more of it. From the first place we set up the scope, we could just see its breast and belly feather, marked with dark streaks. We adjusted position and after a couple of attempts found somewhere we could see a half its face and a dark eye staring back at us from between the ivy leaves.

Tawny Owl – hiding

We continued on round to Patsy’s Reedbed. A couple of Common Pochard were diving over towards the far corner, a couple of Tufted Duck were out in front and a Little Grebe was lurking in the reeds at back. There was a pair of Gadwall too – we got the drake in the scope to admire its intricately patterned plumage. A single Common Snipe was hiding in the cut reeds, before it flew off. There was not much activity out over the reedbed, not a surprise given it was still spitting lightly with rain, although a lone male Marsh Harrier did come up briefly at one point but quickly dropped back in

We walked back round and out via Meadow Trail to the main path. It was windy out when we got out of the bushes and the rain seemed to be getting heavier again. We made our way quickly on to Island Hide. There were not many birds on the Freshmarsh again today. A few Avocets were trying to feed up to their bellies in the deep water. A small group of Black-tailed Godwits was feeding further back, and at one point three flew in and landed closer in front of the hide. Three Dunlin were picking round the muddy edge of the nearest island.

Avocet – wading

There are not many ducks left on the Freshmarsh either. We did find a pair of Pintail upending over towards the back, along with a few Teal and Shoveler. Gull numbers are down too, at least on the islands closest to the hides, with just a few Black-headed Gulls on the nearest compartment, although a pair of them were displaying.

We braved the weather and walked quickly round to Parrinder Hide. A Scandinavian Rock Pipit was bathing by the bricks as we walked into the hide, then flew up on top briefly before flying off. Then another dropped in right in front of the hide and, after hiding behind a small alexanders plant growing out of the mud, worked up the courage to walk down to the water’s edge to bathe. Nice to see it up close, the Scandinavian Rock Pipits are starting to get pink on the throat and breast, more like a spring Water Pipit and a pitfall for the unwary.

Scandinavian Rock Pipit – starting to turn pink

There were a few more gulls on the islands over on the back compartment, including several smart adult summer Mediterranean Gulls with the Black-headed Gulls. We got them in the scopes, admiring the more extensive jet black hoods and thicker white eye-liner on the Mediterranean Gulls, along with their heavier red bills and white wing-tips. There were a couple of Dunlin on the mud in front of the hide and two Knot dropped in to bathe in front of Avocet Island.

It had stopped raining again, so we headed out to brave the path on to the beach. A large flock of Brent Geese was feeding out on the saltmarsh and several Redshanks, Curlews and a couple of Grey Plover were on the muddy channel on Volunteer Marsh.

Grey Plover – on Volunteer Marsh

The tide was out so there were no waders on the Tidal Pools, but we did stop to admire several close Pintail, which even started to display at one point. There was a pair of Red-breasted Merganser here too, the male preening on a tiny island before going to sleep and the redhead female diving along the far edge.

Pintail – a smart drake

Out at the beach, we got ourselves into the shelter of the dunes. There were a few waders down on the shore – several Bar-tailed Godwits, Sanderling and Turnstones. A small raft of Common Scoter were just offshore, but kept disappearing in the waves. One of the volunteers was seawatching and got a message on his radio to say that there was a Spoonbill on Thornham saltmarsh. We couldn’t see it from here but as we made our way back, we kept scanning and picked it up when we got to the Freshmarsh, feeding in one of the saltmarsh pools. It was hard to see, feeding most of the time with its head down, but we got it in the scope, and it lifted its head from time to time so we could see its bill.

Further back, we stopped to look for some Pink-footed Geese which had been reported on Thornham grazing marsh, and quickly found three of them in the grass. We could compare them with some Greylag Geese in the same field too. We turned the scope on a Chinese Water Deer out on the saltmarsh as well.

We were just saying that it was not a good day to look for Bearded Tits, it was too windy, when we heard them calling and turned to see four climbing up the reeds just behind us. They were moving quickly along the back edge of the borrow pits, but we had great views of them out in the open, particularly when one of the males stopped to climb up a reed stem and perched in full view for a few seconds, giving us a good chance to admire its black moustache.

Bearded Tit – despite the weather

Back at the Visitor Centre, we were planning to have an early lunch on the picnic tables, but we found that the picnic tables by the Centre were standing in water and the picnic area was flooded too. We decided to head back east and find somewhere else. We had a quick stop at Brancaster Staithe first, adding Ringed Plover to the list, and getting closer views of Bar-tailed Godwits. We watched the Oystercatchers picking through the discarded mussels, and Turnstones running around the car park too. A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull was standing on the mud with three Herring Gulls.

Mediterranean Gull – a 2nd winter

Continuing on, there was no sign of any Cattle Egrets in the fields at Burnham Norton, but a quick look from the layby at Burnham Overy Staithe revealed several closer Pink-footed Geese in with the Greylags by the road. We had a much closer view now and could see their pink legs! Further on, seven White-fronted Geese were in the field by the road at Holkham today, so we stopped and got out. Again, it was a much closer view compared to yesterday. Three Barnacle Geese flew in again too.

White-fronted Goose – much closer today

We stopped at Lady Anne’s Drive and walked up to The Lookout for a later than planned lunch. At least we could get out of the chilly wind, even if it wasn’t raining any more. Afterwards we drove round to Wells beach car park. We thought it might be very windy out on the edge of the harbour today, looking out to the east, but it was actually not as bad as expected. There were a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover and a Curlew on the near edge of the channel and lots of Oystercatchers on the sand beyond.

Two male Red-breasted Mergansers came swimming quickly up the channel, one chasing after the other. The chasee swam on, and then started displaying to itself, while the chaser eventually turned back and joined up with two females which had appeared behind.

Red-breasted Merganser – a drake displaying

Round at the old lifeboat station, there were more waders on the mussel beds and mud opposite – a distant flock of Knot and Dunlin was feeding at the top of the beach, along with Ringed Plovers and Grey Plovers, and a flock of Bar-tailed Godwits whirled round the other side of the channel and landed again, but we couldn’t find any Greenshank today.

Back to the minibus, and we still had time for one last stop this afternoon. The Glossy Ibis had been seen on the flood east of Stiffkey village for the last couple of days, so we decided to have a look for it. We parked in the layby and crossed the road onto the permissive path the other side of the hedge. We were just walking down the path and turned round to answer a question from one of the group when we noticed a large bird of prey flying over the trees behind us. It looked big for a Buzzard and then we realised – it was a juvenile White-tailed Eagle!

White-tailed Eagle – the Dutch-ringed juvenile

We watched it fly across the road and out over the field the other side, stopping to do a quick circle, before it then continued on inland. Over the wood beyond, it flushed all the corvids and a Common Buzzard came up too for a nice size comparison. The White-tailed Eagle really was huge!

This bird is a Dutch-ringed juvenile White-tailed Eagle which was born in 2023, and then taken into care following a collision with a wind turbine and ringed, before being released. At some point it crossed over to the UK and spent most of the winter in Suffolk, before setting off north a couple of weeks ago. It has since been wandering the North Norfolk coast, though often disappearing inland. We had hoped to see it this weekend, but there had only been a couple of brief sightings of it flying over different places on the last couple of days so we were very lucky to catch up with it here now.

We continued on down to the corner of the footpath to view the flooded grazing marshes. As we came out of the trees, we realised the Glossy Ibis was very close, feeding in the pool right by the path. We edged out slowly, being careful not to spook it or all the other birds feeding on the pool and then we were able to watch it feeding in the shallow water. It caught a stickleback, washed it and then swallowed it. Then it flew slightly further back.

Glossy Ibis – with stickleback

The flood waters have started to recede a little now, and there were lots of waders here enjoying the fresh mud. Lots of Black-tailed Godwits included some smart rusty ones getting into breeding plumage already. There were groups of Ruff too, one striking bird with a buff head was probably a white-headed bird which had somehow stained its feathers. There were lots of ducks as well, Wigeon and Teal, and a couple of Pintail asleep further back.

With everyone heading off this evening and with long drives ahead, it was time to head back now. It had been a great way to wrap up, with a White-tailed Eagle and the Glossy Ibis, and it had been a very enjoyable three days with lots of good birds.

15th July 2023 – Summer Tour, Day 2 & Nightjars

Day 2 of a three day Summer Tour. Less rain forecast today – more thundery showers – but the problem in the forecast was the wind, which was predicted to be gusting up to 50+mph. Thankfully, once again, even though it was very windy it wasn’t as bad as we thought it might be and we managed to make the most of the day.

As the wind hadn’t yet picked up, we stopped at Wells first and had a quick look on the pools there. They looked quiet when we arrived, but we set up the scopes and started to scan. Five Spoonbills were asleep on the island on the back of the pool east of the track. There were several Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits roosting here too, and a couple of Ruff closer to us, on the mud nearer the track. Three Green Sandpipers were feeding on the mud behind the islands – they kept disappearing from view, but eventually everyone got to see them.

Spoonbills – asleep

Lots of gulls drop in here to drink and bathe from the nearby pig fields. They were mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Black-headed Gulls, with a smaller number of Herring Gulls in with them. Looking through, we picked out a slightly larger gull, still immature, a fourth calendar year, with a beady dark eye and darker mantle. It was an immature Caspian Gull, a nice bonus.

Moving on, we drove west. We were heading for Titchwell, where we would have the benefit of hides to get out of the wind. We checked out the harbour at Burnham Overy on our way past, but there were no terns in the channel today. As we drove through Brancaster Staithe, a Sparrowhawk flew off over the houses ahead of us, carrying something in its talons.

As we arrived in the car park at Titchwell, a Song Thrush was feeding on the grassy verge by the toilet block and another was singing from the trees nearby. The sallows were rather quiet as we walked along the path to the Visitor Centre and the bird tables beyond had just a couple of Woodpigeons, plus a Moorhen on the pond, so we headed straight out along the main path. Stopping to scan the Thornham grazing meadow, a female Marsh Harrier flew past along the near edge of the grass.

Marsh Harrier – a female

Out from the trees, and a Sedge Warbler was singing and songflighting up from the reeds on the Thornham side of the path. A couple of Reed Warblers were singing their more metronomic song the other side, with several flitting in and out of the reeds around the borrow pits. A Common Tern was hovering over one of the pools in the reedbed beyond and a Gadwall was in the channel. Two Little Grebes were over towards the back of the larger reedbed pool, where small rafts of Shoveler and Teal sailed out from behind the reeds too.

Just before Island Hide, we stopped when we heard Bearded Tits calling, and had a glimpse of one dropping down to the base of the reeds below the path, out of view. There were several Ruff, of various colours and various different stages of moult, on the mud just beyond the reeds and a smart Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit in rich rusty breeding plumage with them. Further back, we could just make out two Spotted Redshanks with the Common Redshanks on the far compartment. An adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gull were loafing around the bricks, with the Black-headed Gulls and a family of Common Terns.

Ruff – moulting

We went into Island Hide, to see if we could spot any Bearded Tits from there, along the edge of the reeds. Two close Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits were feeding right outside the hide, along with a couple of Avocets, giving nice close views. A single Little Ringed Plover was on the bank to the left of the hide, so we could see its golden eye ring in the scope. A couple of closer Common Terns were on the near island, where we could get a good look at the length of their tail streamers.

Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit – in breeding plumage

Scanning along the base of the reeds to the right of the hide, we eventually picked up two juvenile Bearded Tits working their way along the edge of the water. We had some lovely views of them in the scope.

Back out onto the main path, and we could see dark clouds approaching from the south west now, so we headed straight on round to Parrinder Hide. We had slightly closer views of the Spotted Redshanks from here, along with a Continental Black-tailed Godwit, of the nominate limosa subspecies, sporting colour rings which showed it had come from the Ouse Washes and a single Dunlin.

Continental Black-tailed Godwit – subspecies limosa

Then the rain swept in and for a few minutes it was very heavy. We watched the birds standing with their bills pointing upwards, allowing the water to run off. An even closer Spotted Redshank appeared briefly on the island with the Continental Black-tailed Godwit, and we could see its very thin, needle fine bill tip. The rain quickly cleared through on the brisk winds and blue skies returned. A Ringed Plover appeared on the grassy island in front of the left part of the hide and several Mediterranean Gulls landed in front of the other side of hide to preen and dry out with the Black-headed Gulls.

With the sun back out, we decided to walk out and have a look at the beach. It was windy, but not as bad yet as the 50+mph gusts which were forecast, and we found a little bit of shelter in the lee of dunes. There were a few waders on the mussel beds, including a nice Bar-tailed Godwit next to a Black-tailed Godwit for comparison. A Common Seal was hauled out on the beach just beyond, with several Grey Seals in the water just offshore. We could see lots of Sandwich Terns flying past over the sea, along with a few more distant Gannets.

We made our way back for lunch, and it was sheltered on the picnic tables in the trees by the Visitor Centre. After lunch, we drove round to Snettisham and out to the hides, where we figured we could still do some birding out of the wind, which was starting to pick up more now. It was not a big tide today, and not high tide until 6pm, so there was still lots of mud out on the Wash when we arrived. Several Oystercatchers were sheltering behind the vegetation on the seawall.

We stopped in at Rotary Hide first – we planned to work round from shelter to shelter. Flocks of Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank were constantly flying in over the pit, a good early sign, suggesting there would be some birds on the pits despite the current stage of the tide. A Common Sandpiper was feeding along the back edge opposite. Lots of Common Terns were nesting on the near island and flew up calling as a Great Black-backed Gull flew over. A couple of Sandwich Terns flew in over the pit too.

Sandwich Tern – flew past the hide

Moving on down to Shore Hide, there were Linnets and Pied Wagtails in the grass on the seawall. From the hide, we could see five Spotted Redshanks in between the rocks in the middle of the water, patchy black and white now as they moult into non-breeding plumage. There were several Spoonbills here, but they were hiding out of view in a dip on the top of the bank opposite, presumably sheltered from the wind. A scalloped juvenile Mediterranean Gull was begging to be fed by its parent on the island below the hide.

Mediterranean Gulls – adult & begging juvenile

More waders were starting to gather on the edge of the island by the bank to the north of the hide. We could see several Knot here, mostly still in rusty orange breeding plumage, along with a few Dunlin still sporting their summer black bellies, all in among the legs of the larger godwits – mostly Black-tailed Godwits but with a few Bar-tailed Godwits in with them. There were more Redshanks on the tip of the island and another Spotted Redshank in with them. More waders were arriving all the time, a particularly big flock of Black-tailed Godwits flew past at one point, all dropping down to land around the southern end of Pit.

We pressed on further, down to South Screen to check out the waders at that end of the pit, and it was very blustery now. Nine feral Barnacle Geese were in with the Greylags on the grass as we passed. From the Screen, we noticed a White-fronted Goose swimming with the Greylags on the Pit, presumably another feral bird as the wild birds would be in Russia at this time of year.

Barnacle Geese – a small feral group

We scanned through the gathering of waders on the bank, lots of Black-tailed Godwits in particular, along with smaller numbers of Knot and Dunlin, a very impressive sight but we couldn’t see anything different in with them. We were watching carefully as more dark clouds approached over the Wash and at first they looked to be missing us, the skies going increasingly black off to the north, but when it looked like we might catch the edge of the rain, we decided to head round to the big hide where we would be more sheltered.

Little Stint – dropped in

When we got in the hide, one of the group spotted a Little Stint which dropped in on the island right in front, stopping to bathe and preen in the edge of the water, tiny next to the godwits. A Whimbrel appeared on the front edge too and we had great views of the godwits and Knot. Then the rain arrived, and for a short while it was very heavy, whipped across in the blustery winds.

Whimbrel – dropped in too

The rain cleared through quickly on the wind, but it was still spitting for a bit, so we waited in the hide until it stopped. Most of the smaller waders had disappeared, but the Spoonbills now flew out and landed on the islands right in front of the hide to preen and dry out. We counted twenty eight, including eleven juveniles with short ‘teaspoon’ bills.

Spoonbills – some of the 28 here

Two Little Terns flew in and round over the water, but didn’t land. There had been no sign of any Sandwich Terns before the rain, presumably they had all been out on the mud, but now they came in, and a good-sized flock gathered on the shingle island opposite.

When the rain stopped, we made our way back. It was probably too windy for the Turtle Doves to be feeding along the seawall today, and there were none on the wires by the Coastal Park either as we passed, but as we drove out of the village, two Turtle Doves flew over the road ahead of us, and off over the fields to the south.

Nightjar Evening

The weather was far from ideal for seeing Nightjars this weekend, but tonight seemed to represent our best chance. At least it was dry, but we had never tried to see them in gusts up to 40mph before! We met again just before sunset and drove over to one of the local heaths. As we walked out, the trees were thrashing around in the wind. A family of Stonechats appeared briefly in the gorse by the path, but were keeping down out of the wind tonight.

We stopped in the middle of one of the Nightjar territories and waited. It didn’t feel very encouraging, but on cue about twenty minutes after sunset we heard one call and had a glimpse of it as it flew through the edge of the trees. It went quiet and for a minute we thought that might be it, then the male Nightjar started churring on the edge of the trees briefly. It flew out and round in front of the trees, before landing on a dead branch which it often uses. We got the scope on it, but unfortunately, it didn’t stay long and only a couple of members of the group managed to see it through the scope.

The Nightjar flew out into the middle of the heath, where it churred again from the ground, a bit half-heartedly. There is a small path out in that direction, so we set off to walk out to see if we could find it. Before we had got very far, it flew back back in and started churring more strongly now in a big oak right next to the main path. We stopped to listen to it. It took off again and became more active, flying back and forth past us several times, at one point coming right over our heads, and then joined by a second Nightjar, lovely close flight views.

We would happily have settled for what we had already seen and heard, given the weather, so when it seemed to go quiet again, we started to walk slowly back. We hadn’t gone far when we heard another Nightjar call and another male flew in and hovered right above us for several seconds, flashing the white in its wings and tail. Amazing! It flew round, then came back to check us out a second time. As we continued on, in the gathering gloom now, we stopped to listen to yet another different male churring on the edge of the trees.

The evening had already significantly exceeded all expectations, given the strength of the wind. Then, as we drove back, we noticed a Tawny Owl perched on a sign by the road. We pulled up slowly where it was illuminated in the headlights, and it stayed there staring at us for a while before it eventually flew up into a nearby tree. A great way to end the day.

19th April 2023 – Spring Private Tour, Day 2

Day 2 of a 2-day Spring Tour in North Norfolk today. After a cloudy start, it cleared mid morning to blue skies and sunshine, but once again there was a very blustery ENE wind.

Our destination for the morning was Holkham. As we got out of the minibus at Lady Anne’s Drive, we could see a few Greylags, a pair of Egyptian Geese and one or two Curlew on the grazing marshes. A Mistle Thrush was out on the grass too and as we set up the scope for a closer look, we noticed two Fieldfare just behind, presumably stopping off to feed rather than attempt the return crossing to Scandinavia in the strong headwind.

Mistle Thrush – on the grazing marsh

A Spoonbill flew over the road and we watched it head off across the grazing marshes towards Decoy Wood. Three geese flew over our heads, with a mixture of low honking and higher pitched yelping calls – two Pink-footed Geese and a Greylag. As they headed off away from us, we could really see the size difference, the Pink-footed Geese noticeably smaller.

We had a look to see if we could find the Grey Partridges out on the grazing marsh the other side, but there was no sign of them now. We checked back on the west side, back along the hedge where it was more sheltered – there was no sign of the partridges there either, but we did find a Whimbrel now out on the grass, which then flew off east. A Red Kite drifted over the marshes behind the Lookout.

As we walked through the pines out towards the beach, there were a few tits in the bushes. A pair of Long-tailed Tits were hiding in the brambles at the top of the boardwalk. A couple of Meadow Pipits were displaying out on the edge of the dunes, flying up and parachuting down to land on the fence. There were four Brent Geese feeding out by the Gap and several Shelducks on the saltmarsh as we made our way east, along with a couple of Oystercatchers.

Thankfully, there was a bit of shelter from the pines this morning, as we got down to the cordon. A Skylark fluttered up singing. The wind had carried a lot of sand off the beach onto the far end. Scanning across, we quickly located the Shorelarks down on the edge of the sand so, after a quick look through the scope from here just in case, we then walked down for a closer look.

We had a great view of the Shorelarks now as they fed in the shorter vegetation, we could see their yellow faces and black masks. Even better, they gradually worked their way towards where we were standing on the path, eventually coming much closer. There are only four Shorelarks left now (there had been a maximum of 14 over the winter), but they often leave before the end of March to start making their way back to Scandinavia for the breeding season, so these four are already here later than we would normally expect to see them. Very nice that they stayed for us!

Shorelark – showing well

Shorelark – 1 of 4 today

Shorelark – very smart

It looked very windy out on the beach and unpleasant with all the sand blowing across, so we decided to walk back. While we stopped to use the facilities, we had a quick scan of the grazing marshes. A Common Snipe was feeding in the bottom of one of the shallow water channels. A couple of Brown Hares were sunning themselves further back, where a family of Egyptian Geese with some already well grown goslings were feeding on the grass. We heard a Grey Partridge call, but we still couldn’t find it – it sounded like the call came from the long grass on the bank somewhere. A Swallow was flying around the building.

We made our way west along the path on the southern edge of the pines now, where we figured we should be able to find some shelter from the wind. A Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs were singing in the trees and just beyond, we stopped to watch a pair of Treecreepers feeding on the trunks of the poplars. We could hear a Willow Warbler singing now, and a little further on we found it perched higher in one of the trees and got it in the scope. There were a few Coal Tits in the pines and a couple of Long-tailed Tits flitted ahead of us. There were a few butterflies out here enjoying the sunshine now – several Speckled Woods and a Holly Blue flew round beside us.

Treecreeper – one of a pair

Continuing on, we stopped first for a quick look at Salts Hole, where a couple of Tufted Ducks were diving out in the middle, then again to scan from the gate before Washington Hide. There were several Meadow Pipits and a Linnet down in the grass and Marsh Harriers out over the marshes beyond. We could see some hirundines over the reeds which when they dropped down we could see were two House Martins, our first of the year. Two waders flew past, another Whimbrel together followed by a Bar-tailed Godwit.

There were more butterflies around the flowers by Meals House, a couple of Orange Tips and a Green-veined White, and a Brimstone flew past. A Green Tiger Beetle was on the bare ground just beyond. A Redpoll flew over calling, but we couldn’t see it over the pines. Then on to the crosstracks, where we turned down towards Joe Jordan Hide. The hide has been closed as it was unsafe, so we stood below and scanned the marshes over the wall. A Spoonbill was collecting nest material on the edge of the pool out in the middle and a Great White Egret came up from the reeds the other side of the old fort, flew round and then dropped down behind the hedge.

Orange Tip – out in the sunshine

It was a nice place to relax in the sunshine today and have a quick rest, before we set off back. But a new hide here would be nice! On the walk back, a Sparrowhawk shot across the path just beyond Meals House and up into the pines. As we got to Salts Hole, we could hear a Green Sandpiper calling and as we stopped to look, it flew up from the reeds and disappeared off west. A Siskin flew over calling too.

Back at Lady Anne’s Drive, we collected our lunches from the minibus and dropped off the scope. We commented that, if we didn’t take it with us we would stand a much better chance of seeing the Grey Partridges and sure enough, as we walked back to the Lookout the Grey Partridges were back out on the grazing marsh. Thankfully they were close enough that we didn’t really need the scope!

Grey Partridge – the pair still here

After lunch, we drove over to Titchwell, thinking we might be able to get some shelter from the wind in the hides and see if anything had dropped in. A Song Thrush was singing in the car park when we arrived and as we walked along the path towards the Visitor Centre we could hear Blackcaps alarm calling and stopped to watch first a brown headed female and then a black capped male in the sallows.

There was nothing around the feeders today apart from a couple of Woodpigeons, so we continued on to the main path and out onto the reserve. There were lots of hirundines over the reedbed including several more House Martins, and a few Sand Martins and Swallows. We stopped to watch and could see the square white rumps of the House Martins as they swept low over the bank. A Great White Egret came up out of the reebed and flew round in front of us, before dropping down again behind the reeds.

Great White Egret – circled over the reeds

A Reed Warbler was singing from the reeds, but keeping well down out of the wind. A Marsh Harrier hung in the air over the back of the reedbed. We could see a couple of Common Pochard on the reedbed pool but they disappeared behind the reeds at the front and we found them again from a little further up, sheltering in the channel.

We could see some Avocets feeding right in front of Island Hide, so we decided to brave it. The worst of both worlds, the hide was facing into the into wind today and inside we were out of the warmth of the sun too. There was a very good view of the Avocets from here, although they were struggling in the deep water which was being whipped up by the wind.

Avocet – from Island Hide

There were a couple of Ruff on the closest island too, feeding between the Black-headed Gulls, and we had a nice view of them in the scope, already starting to moult into breeding plumage and very different colours from each other! Several Turnstones had presumably come in off the beach to seek shelter on the Freshmarsh and were picking around the edges of the other islands and there were one or two Dunlin with them too.

After a good look round from here, we headed back out into the sunshine and round to the south side of Parrinder Hide where we would be out of the wind. A few Teal were feeding in the water just below the bank, the drakes looking stunning in the sunshine in their smart breeding plumage. A small group of Brent Geese flew in from the saltmarsh and dropped down onto the water.

Brent Goose – flew in

From Parrinder Hide, there were more waders.A line of Black-tailed Godwits, several in bright rusty breeding plumage, were roosting on one of the islands too and there were several Ringed Plovers around the edges. A couple of Little Ringed Plovers were on the mud in front of the other side of the hide, and through the scope we could see their golden yellow eye rings. Behind them were four Dunlin, two already moulting into breeding plumage and starting to get their black belly patches.

There were good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls with the Black-headed Gulls on the islands on the far compartment and two Sandwich Terns appeared too. They flew off before we could all get a look at them, but when they came back again there were four, and the next time they did it there were six Sandwich Terns – we could now see their shaggy crests and yellow-tipped black bills.

Sandwich Terns – and Mediterranean Gulls

We decided to brave the wind and head out towards the beach – and thankfully, when we got outside, it seemed like it might have dropped a little. A Curlew was feeding in the vegetation close to the bank on the Volunteer Marsh and there were a couple more Curlew and several Oystercatchers in the channel on the far side. More Oystercatchers were roosting on the Tidal Pools and we found a lone Grey Plover with them, although it was at the back and asleep so not the best of views.

The tide was coming in out on the beach, pushed in by the wind too, and the water was already well up onto the sand. There were several silvery-grey Sanderling running in and out of the breaking waves. There didn’t seem to be anything moving offshore, so having paid homage to the sea, we turned and headed back to get out of the wind.

There were still a couple of notable moments on the walk back. When we got back to the Freshmarsh, we could see a group of godwits on the compartment closest to the path and a quick look confirmed they were 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, including several males in bright rusty breeding plumage.

On their way north, significant numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits had been displaced inland by the wind over the last couple of days, turning up in several land-locked counties. Several flocks were seen elsewhere in Norfolk too and these had obviously just dropped in and were busy preening and bathing. After packing up the scope, we looked back and they had flown off already. As we got back to the reedbed, a Whimbrel flew high east, another wader on the move, real migration in action today.

Unfortunately, we were out of time, so it was straight back to the car park and time to head for home. It had been a fun few days, and despite the chilly wind we had seen a great variety of birds.

18th April 2023 – Spring Private Tour, Day 1

Day 1 of a 2-day Spring Tour in North Norfolk today. It was a lovely bright and sunny day, but chilly in the blustery NE wind, coming in off the cold North Sea, and warm out of it.

Our first destination for the morning was Cley. We parked below Walsey Hills and as we got out of the minibus we could hear Little Grebes laughing maniacally from Snipe’s Marsh and Little Egrets bubbling in the wood beyond. A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over the road and out across the grazing marsh.

It was windy up on the East Bank. Our first Spoonbill of the day appeared over the trees briefly but disappeared back in, whereas a couple of Little Egrets flew out. A Grey Heron flew in over the reeds. A Reed Warbler was singing still from somewhere deep in the reeds, but the Sedge Warblers here seemed to have gone quiet this morning. The chill in the wind was probably not helping. Three Lapwings were displaying out over the grazing marshes.

A male Marsh Harrier flew in over the reedbed carrying something in its talons. We watched and waited for the female to circle up but she barely got above the height of the reeds before the male dropped the food to her. The same thing happened again later – presumably they were keeping down lower today due to the wind.

Further on, we stopped to listen to a Cetti’s Warbler shouting from the reeds just across the ditch below the bank. It flicked along into a nearby sallow, where it perched briefly deep in the branches. We could hear Bearded Tits pinging, and despite the wind had several flight views of them zipping back and forth over the tops of the reeds. Further up, a Sedge Warbler was singing now and we had nice views of it perched in the top of a small elder, swaying around in the breeze. Two or three Reed Buntings flew in and out of the reeds too.

Sedge Warbler – singing

There are fewer ducks on the grazing marsh now, as birds have departed north and east for the breeding season. We did find a few Shoveler and Teal still around the edges of the Serpentine. An Egyptian Goose flew in over the reedbed, showing off its big white wing patches.

There were several Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets on the Serpentine. We got the scope on a male Ruff feeding on the mud on the edge of the water, a rather dark male already well advanced in its moult to breeding body plumage, even if too early for it to be starting to get its ornate ruff yet. A Little Ringed Plover flew in displaying and landed briefly on the mud, before flying off towards Arnold’s Marsh.

Ruff – moulting

We continued on over the main drain and got out of the wind in the lee of the shelter. Scanning the brackish pools, several Pintail were upending, the drakes showing off their long pin-shaped tails. A Turnstone was feeding on the muddy edge at the back, along with a couple of Ringed Plovers, and another Ringed Plover appeared much closer along the far edge. A Whimbrel flew over the path and away west over the reedbed.

There were two Mediterranean Gulls on one of the small islands on the brackish pools, both 2nd summers with jet black hoods and black spots in the their wingtips. A male Marsh Harrier drifted over from the reedbed at one point causing all the gulls to scatter, but it wasn’t long before they were all back again.

Mediterranean Gulls – two, with a Black-headed Gull

A large flock of Curlew flew in over the brackish pools and over the path, landing further back on Arnold’s Marsh. We got the scope on them, and then looked through the rest of the waders out there. There were lots of Redshank and Dunlin, but we couldn’t see anything else in with them this morning. A couple of Linnets were feeding down on the saltmarsh at the front.

We decided to brace the beach. Setting off again, we paused to admire a Meadow Pipit which landed in the alexanders on the edge of the path ahead of us. A pair of Teal dropped in onto the smaller pools just below the bank, the drake looking particularly smart now in the sunshine.

Teal – a smart drake

We had a quick look out at the sea but there was nothing moving offshore today. It was very exposed out here, so we didn’t linger today and turned to head back. A Curlew was now feeding right below the path on the edge of the brackish pools.

Back past the reedbed and we saw more Bearded Tits zipping back and forth over the reeds. A Common Buzzard hung in the air over the fields behind North Foreland plantation. Back to Don’s Pool, a Coot swam across with its bill full of nest material. We had great views of a Little Grebe which was diving in the water just below us. A Spoonbill flew out of the trees, and we watched it disappear off over the hides and drop down into the Glaven channel beyond the West Bank.

Little Grebe – on Don’s Pool

Looked across the road from below Walsey Hills, we could see lots of young Great Black-backed Gulls now on Pope’s Pool. A Bar-tailed Godwit came up from the grazing marsh and we watched it flying away, dropping down towards Arnold’s Marsh. We drove round to the Visitor Centre to use the facilities quickly, then continued on to Morston.

We parked in the National Trust car park down by the harbour and walked up onto the seawall. There were several Oystercatchers and Redshank in the harbour channel but we couldn’t see any sign of the Whimbrel which has been lingering here. A small group of Brent Geese were bathing in the water and there were lots more on the saltmarsh beyond. As we walked east along the path, a Chinese Water Deer was feeding out on the saltmarsh too.

By the paddocks, a quick scan across the grass revealed the Ring Ouzel half way down the field over by the fence. When it turned, we could see its distinctive white gorget. Stopping off on its way to its Scandinavian breeding grounds from North Africa, where it probably spent the winter in the Atlas Mountains, this one has been here for a couple of days now. A nice spring migrant to catch up with here.

Ring Ouzel – still in the paddocks

Once we had all had a good look at the Ring Ouzel, we turned to walk back and immediately spotted the Whimbrel in the channel, between the boats. We had nice views of it through the scope, preening, and then feeding on the muddy bank just behind. Smaller than a Curlew and with a shorter bill, we admired its humbug-striped head pattern.

Whimbrel – in the harbour channel

Back at the car park, a Red Kite drifted over and out across the saltmarsh, flushing all the Brent Geese from the harbour. It was lunch time now, so we decided to make use of the picnic tables here today. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the hedge beyond, our first of the year, and a Greenfinch flew round over the toilet block, singing and displaying. Four Swallows appeared, swooping round over the kiosk and the harbour channel several times, before disappearing off over the field behind the hedge. Some spring migrants were still on the move, despite the cold wind.

After lunch, we drove back to Cley and called in at the Visitor Centre to get permits for the reserve. As we walked down the boardwalk towards the hides, we could hear more Bearded Tits calling in reeds, but despite a quick scan from the gate they were clearly keeping their heads down this afternoon. We could see a Spoonbill asleep on Whitwell Scrape, so we headed in to Avocet Hide first. It was only a short walk along the boardwalk through the reeds but by the time we got there, it had flown off. Very annoying of it!

Round to Daukes Hide, the Long-billed Dowitcher was asleep in the grass on one of the islands with the Black-tailed Godwits when we arrived, although we could see the new orange-striped feathers in its upperparts. Suddenly everything spooked and the waders flew round, half the godwits landing in the water in the middle, but the other half flew up to the far end of the scrape, the Long-billed Dowitcher with them. It disappeared behind the island, but started feeding and eventually worked its way further back and out into view again. Now we could watch its distinctive feeding action, rapid bursts of probing into the mud. It has been here for six months now and it will be interesting to see if it leaves us to head north in spring.

A single Bar-tailed Godwit was feeding out in the water in the middle with some of the Black-tailed Godwits. A smart adult male in breeding plumage, the rusty colour of its underparts extended right down under its tail. A Little Ringed Plover appeared on the mud over in the far corner, and we could see its golden yellow eye ring in the scope. A small flock of Dunlin was on here too and kept flying round, jumpy in the wind. We picked up a Common Snipe on the bank on the edge of Whitwell Scrape before it disappeared back into the reeds and we could just see its head.

Gadwall – in front of the hide

A pair of Gadwall were feeding in the channel right in front of the hide, and we had a great view of their intricate plumage details. A small group of Common Gulls were sheltering on the water in the lee of the reeds at the back.

Two Spoonbills flew in and landed at the back of Pat’s Pool so we walked round to Teal Hide for a closer look. One was still awake when we got in, preening. We could see its nuchal crest blowing in the wind, and the yellow tip to its black spoon-shaped bill. Then it walked over to join the other Spoonbill and went to sleep too.

Spoonbills – landed on Pat’s Pool

A Lapwing was on the bank right in front of hide, and looked stunning in the sunshine, its metallic green upperparts with highlights of purple and bronze on the shoulder. There were several more Ruff on the islands, in various different colours and stages of moult. The most confusing wader! A Redshank was feeding along the front edge, much plainer grey upperparts by comparison.

Lapwing – stunning

A pair of Wigeon were on the mud bank along the edge, the only ones we had seen today. The others which spent the winter have departed already for their breeding grounds in Scandinavia or Russia. There were lots of Sand Martins and a couple of Swallows now hawking out over the water.

There were a few large gulls on the islands but when another flew in and landed in the middle of the scrape, it immediately caught our eye. With a persil-white head and small eye, streaked collar, and very pale mantle with restricted black markings, it stood out – a 1st summer Caspian Gull. A nice bonus.

Caspian Gull – flew in

We still had time for one quick last stop so we made our way back to the car par and drove round to Kelling. It was quiet at first as we walked along the lane, just a couple of Chiffchaffs calling in the hedge. On the edge of the Kelling Estate, there were perhaps unsurprisingly lots of Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges. We stopped to admire several Brown Hares sunning themselves out in the fields too.

Brown Hare – enjoying the sun

Down at the copse, the edge by the path was sheltered and in the afternoon sunshine. A Blackcap was singing ahead of us, and flew a little further down where it perched in the bushes preening and we could get it in the scope. A Long-tailed Tit flew in and landed above it. A Chiffchaff was flicking around in the hedge in the sun too and was chased by a second. A Holly Blue butterfly fluttered round over the ivy.

Chiffchaff – in the hedge

From the gate just beyond, we looked out across the grazing marsh. A pair of Egyptian Geese were dozing in the grass and another pair of Red-legged Partridge were on the edge of the rushes just beyond. There were several more Hares in the field behind. A single Swallow hawked back and forth overhead.

Down to the Water Meadow pool, there were a few ducks on the water and a single Little Grebe. One Sand Martin flew over, but there were not so many here today. Perhaps they were the birds we had seen earlier at Cley, which had moved along to feed there in the wind.

From the crosstrack, we stopped to admire a Green Sandpiper feeding on the mud in the freshly cleared beck channel. Another spring migrant stopping off on its way north. A Stonechat hopped up briefly on a fence post distantly on the edge of the field beyond.

Unfortunately we were out of time, and had to head back. It had been a successful and enjoyable first day, and we were looking forward to another day out tomorrow.

1st April 2023 – Early Spring Tour, Day 2

Day 2 of an Early Spring 3-day tour. The weather forecast for today was really terrible – either heavy rain all morning and light rain all afternoon, or the other way round, depending on which half of the Met Office forecast you wanted to believe (nothing like hedging your bets!). Other forecasts were similar, it was definitely going to rain all day. At least there is one reliable thing about the weather forecast though, and that is that it is regularly wrong. As it turned out, it was grey and damp all day, with a cold NNW wind, but it barely rained at all!

There was some light drizzle when we met first thing, but by the time we got up to the coast it had stopped. We headed first for Wells and walked up from the beach car park towards the new lifeboat station. There were lots of gulls on the grass island beyond the outer harbour, mainly Herring Gulls but quite a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls in with them.

Out towards the beach, there were several Brent Geese feeding along the near edge of the harbour channel. We could see several Red-breasted Mergansers in the water distantly further up, then three appeared in the channel right in front of us. We had a very good view now in the scope. They were swimming against the falling tide, diving, but that meant they were back on to the wind. Red-breasted Mergansers look like they are having a bad hair day at the best of time, but it was on a new level now!

Red-breasted Merganser – bad hair day

There were a couple of Common Seals on the sandbar in the middle of the channel and lots of waders on the sand beyond. Lots of Oystercatchers were scattered liberally around and a huddle of Sanderling were sheltering in a small depression in the sand. Several Bar-tailed Godwits were feeding in the edge of the water and we got the scope on them for a closer look. Round the corner, we managed to get out of the wind behind the groynes. There were more waders here – Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plover and Ringed Plover.

Common Seals – on the sand

It was staying dry, so we walked back round to the minibus, and drove on to Holkham. Out on the grazing marshes by Lady Anne’s Drive we could still see quite a few Wigeon, but again numbers are dropping here too. There were plenty of Greylags, but no sign of any Pinkfeet here now. A couple of Grey Herons where sheltering in the lee of the brambles. Scanning the grass from the top of the drive, the resident pair of Grey Partridge were quickly located. A Red Kite drifted over and we stopped to look at a Mistle Thrush in the trees.

Grey Partridges – by Lady Anne’s Drive

It was windy as we came out of the pines the other side. We walked briskly down towards the cordon, just stopping to look at several Meadow Pipits out on the saltmarsh. There had still been five Shorelarks here yesterday, despite it getting late for them here now, but there was no sign of them today. It had rained a lot overnight and it was blustery out here. We walked down to the far end scanning, which produced another pair of Grey Partridge which flew out and a couple more Meadow Pipits. It was too windy out on the beach, so we just paused for a quick scan through the gap as we walked round the end. There was no sign of anything on the sea but it was very rough.

As we walked back, one Skylark was up and singing now. We scanned out across the beach and the Gap – the beach warden was very busy, zooming up and down the saltmarsh in his ATV telling people to put their dogs on leads, after they had just walked past the big signs which have been put up to say dogs must be on leads from today! We did pick up a pair of Stonechats flitting around the low vegetation on the far side of the Gap path. There were more Meadow Pipits here too, but we couldn’t find a Rock Pipit today. Back through the pines, it was more sheltered and remarkably, we had stayed dry. As we got back to the minibus it just started to spit with very light rain. Perfect timing!

As we drove west, we noticed lots of geese in the field by the road so we pulled up to check. They were mainly White-fronted Geese, at least a hundred, a nice comparison with a smaller number of Greylags alongside, though unfortunately there was nowhere to stop here and get out. Lots of Egyptian Geese were gathered in the field on the other side of the road.

White-fronted Geese – by the road

We headed over to Titchwell for lunch and the rain had quickly stopped on the way so we could eat out on the picnic tables. A Treecreeper was singing in the trees behind and a couple of Long-tailed Tits appeared in the alders above our heads.

After lunch, we walked out onto the reserve. There were a few geese on the Thornham grazing marsh, so we set up the scope to check through. Four Pink-footed Geese were still in with the Greylags, smaller with dark heads and darker more delicate bills. A couple of Marsh Harriers circled out over the reedbed and a Common Buzzard in the dead trees at the back was mobbed by another Marsh Harrier. A succession of Mediterranean Gulls flew overhead calling. A few Tufted Ducks and Common Pochard were diving on the reedbed pool.

We headed for the shelter of Island Hide to get out of the wind. There was only one Mediterranean Gull on the near islands. It was asleep, but we got it in the scope and admired its white wingtips and jet black hood. More Mediterranean Gulls were on the islands in the next compartment further back, and several were awake, giving us a good comparison side by side together with Black-headed Gulls.

There was a nice selection of ducks still on the Freshmarsh, including several Pintail and more Common Pochard. A large flock of Brent Geese flew in and landed on the water right at the back. There were not so many waders today. The water in the near compartment was very high and the Avocets which were trying to feed here were up to their bellies. A Black-tailed Godwit was asleep with some more Avocets on the mud beyond the near bund, sheltering behind the mound.

Avocet – up to its belly

As we made our way round to Parrinder Hide, we looked out over the saltmarsh to see a Chinese Water Deer running across. From the hide, we could see a couple of Ringed Plovers on the grassy island. A flock of Dunlin flew in behind them, feeding actively, and as they came alongside we could see they were similar sized. Two Turnstone dropped in too, and ran out to the middle where they started flicking small clods of dry mud over – should they be Turnmuds? A Common Snipe was tucked down on the near edge, preening, before it walked back into the vegetation. Another Common Snipe flew off right, then back left and landed where it was just about visible down along the near edge.

A lone Ruff was feeding in front of the other side of the hide. We set the scope on a close drake Gadwall, to admire the intricate patterns of its feathers. There were a few smart Teal on here too.

Ruff – in front of Parrinder Hide

We had a quick look in the side of Parrinder overlooking the Volunteer Marsh, but it was too windy to open the windows, and there were just a couple of Oystercatchers and a Curlew on the mud. At least the weather was remaining dry still, so we decided to brave the wind and walk out to the beach.

There were just a few Redshanks and Curlews on in the channel on Volunteer Marsh as we passed, but the tide was coming in now and the water was rising rapidly. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Tidal Pool but there were only a few Oystercatchers in to roost on the islands today. A lone Little Egret was feeding in the water at the back. Out on the beach, the tide was in. There were still lots of Sanderlings on the sand running in and out of the waves like clockwork toys. The sea was too rough to see much offshore, but we did pick up a single Sandwich Tern flying past.

We turned and headed back, out of the wind. As we cut round on Meadow Trail there were several Chiffchaffs singing, and we stopped to watch one in the bare trees before Fen Hide. Out on the tank road, a flock of Greenfinches and Goldfinches flew over, but there was no sign of any Bramblings this side.

We had a quick look at Patsy’s reedbed – there were lots of Gadwall on the water, a few Teal and a Little Grebe along edge of reeds. A couple of Marsh Harriers were enjoying the wind over the reeds and several Cormorants were loafing in the dead trees at the back. This can be a good spot to watch visible migration, and hirundines will often stop to feed here, but perhaps unsurprisingly there was no sign of any migrants coming through today.

Marsh Harrier – enjoying the wind

Back along Fen Trail, there were a few Chaffinches around the feeders at the back of the Visitor Centre. On the path towards the car park, we finally found a female Brambling in the sallows and stopped to watch it feeding on buds. As we got back to the minibus, a Blackcap was singing in the bushes in the car park, our first of the year. We watched it flitting around in the ivy. While we stopped for a last chance to use the facilities before the drive back, a tit flock appeared in the trees above us, including a Goldcrest and a Treecreeper.

It was time to head back now and as we drove inland it finally started to rain. We had been lucky with the weather today, and managed to stay dry. Hopefully the forecast looked a lot better for tomorrow, our last day.

13th March 2023 – Winter/Early Spring, Day 1

Day 1 of a 3 day Late Winter/Early Spring tour. It was a very windy day, with sustained winds around 30-40mph and gusts up to 62mph, which always makes life more difficult. Thankfully, after a brief drizzle shower early morning it remained dry, the clouds cleared and the sun came out at times. We persevered and had a very productive day’s birding, despite the wind.

Given the forecast, we headed first to Titchwell, where we could at least get out of the weather in the hides. We had a quick look in the overflow car park, but it was very windy here. A pair of Goldfinches were getting in to the spring spirit, the male displaying in the bushes. As we walked towards the Visitor Centre, we stopped briefly to look at the Scarlet Elf Cup fungus beside the path. There were a few birds coming and going from the feeders, mainly Blue Tits, Great Tits and Chaffinches, and lots of Goldfinches in the alders.

Scarlet Elf Cup – by the path

Out on the main path, we stopped in the lee of the last of the trees to scan the marshes. A Marsh Harrier was out over the reeds towards Thornham and as a gaggle of Greylags flew in to the grazing marsh, we noticed six Pink-footed Geese in with them. They landed but promptly tucked their heads down in the grass. Most of the Pink-footed Geese which spent the winter here have already left, so it was good to see a few still here. Two Mediterranean Gulls flew inland, showing off their translucent white wingtips. It started to spit with rain, so we hurried along to Island Hide.

A single bright pink Black-headed Gull was in with the whiter ones on the island nearest the hide – presumably something it had been eating – and there were six Mediterranean Gulls on the next island over. We got the scope on them and admired their jet black heads and excess of white eye liner. A young Spoonbill flew in across the back of the Freshmarsh and dropped down out of view in the far corner.

A pair of Pintail were on the islands too, trying to sleep but splashed with spray, and a few Shoveler and Teal were scattered around out on the water. Several Common Pochard were diving continually out in the choppy water in the middle. A large group of Brent Geese flew in and landed on the water briefly, chattering.

There were a few waders on here too. A couple of Turnstone and a single Ruff were on the islands, along with a few Lapwings. Several Golden Plovers were hunkered down on the bund in front of Parrinder Hide, some starting to get their black summer bellies already, and a small group of Dunlin were running round on the islands beyond. There were lots of Avocets further back.

The rain had eased and the sky had brightened, so we braved the wind and headed round to Parrinder hide. As we got back up onto the bank, three Spoonbills flew past, adults this time, and landed out on the saltmarsh ahead of us. A rather smart Black-tailed Godwit, already well advanced in moult to its rusty breeding plumage, was feeding in the water on the further compartment of the Freshmarsh just below the bank.

Black-tailed Godwit – turning rusty

From the shelter of Parrinder Hide, we had a view of the Mediterranean Gulls from behind now, and could see the way the black hood extended further down the neck compared to the Black-headed Gulls. Four Ringed Plovers were on the island in front of the hide, sheltering behind some rocks and even displaying briefly, before running off over the mud.

We could see the juvenile Spoonbill over in the far corner of the Freshmarsh now. Three swans flew over the bank at the back – two Mute Swans followed by the single Whooper Swan which has been lingering here for most of the winter. They swam across in front of the Spoonbill – an odd combination to see with a Whooper Swan here – then stopped to preen below the bund before crossing to the other side and flying off again.

The group of three adult Spoonbills flew in now and landed in front of the hide, hurrying over to preen and feed briefly in the lee of the bund. We had a great view of their shaggy nuchal crests blowing around in the wind, before they flew off again, just as the juvenile Spoonbill worked its way along the edge towards them.

Spoonbills – landed on the Freshmarsh

We had nice views of a small group of Dunlin feeding on the mud right in front of the hide here and a Common Snipe feeding in the grass right below the window. A Ruff dropped in at one point, a Grey Plover was sheltering from the wind on the bund and a Curlew was feeding in the vegetation on the bank.

Common Snipe – in front of the hide

A little group of Teal were chasing round on the water close to the hide, the males occasionally displaying, throwing their heads back and flicking their tails up. A pair of Gadwall were on the bank too and several Wigeon out on the islands.

We had a quick look in the other side of Parrinder Hide, out at the Volunteer Marsh, but it was mostly devoid of birds – a small group of Brent Geese feeding right over by the far bank and singles of Grey Plover and Redshank. With the tide just going out, we thought it might be worth a quick look in the channel at the far end of Volunteer Marsh, so we went back out into the wind and walked a short way up the main path. There were a few Black-tailed Godwits and Redhanks on the mud, but nothing different.

The Spoonbills had now flown out onto the saltmarsh opposite and gone to sleep, the three adults now joined by the juvenile. The nuchal heads of the adults were getting blown back over their heads – a bad hair day! The sea looked quite rough and it was very windy out on the bank so we decided against walking on to the beach and, heads down, hurried back to the shelter of the trees and the Visitor Centre.

Spoonbills – bad hair day

We made our way back east next, stopping first at Brancaster Staithe to scan the harbour from the shelter of the minibus. A Grey Plover, a Turnstone and a Ringed Plover were feeding on the near edge of the water and several Oystercatchers and more Turnstones were picking around the discarded mussels further up. A Bar-tailed Godwit was in the shallow water in the middle and as the tide receded and the sandbar emerged, four Brent Geese battled in against the wind and landed deftly on the wet sand.

Several Black-headed Gulls were roosting in the shelter of the muddy bank to one side and a single adult Mediterranean Gull was in with them. The Mediterranean Gull had a white colour-ring on one of its legs, so we took some photos and looked up the ringing scheme when we got back later. Thankfully we got a very quick reply to our email from the ringers in Belgium: it was ringed as a nestling in June 2018 near Antwerp, and has been seen subsequently in various parts of UK, in Spain and back in Belgium. It will be interesting to see if it joins the colony on nearby Scolt Head.

Mediterranean Gull – from Belgium

Our next stop was at Holkham. Lady Anne’s Drive was closed today, due to the wind, so we stopped to scan the grazing marshes in the lee of the Park. There were not so many geese out on the marshes today, and mainly Greylags, but we did eventually find a few White-fronted Geese, several were hiding in the lee of the old fort but four were out in the middle with a couple of Greylags. Another group was behind the reeds right over the back, in front of the pines. A Great White Egret was over to the left, in front of the small wood and several Grey Herons were hiding in the rushes. A green tagged Marsh Harrier was hunting over the marshes but too far away to read the tag.

Scanning with the scope, we picked up a Sand Martin battling its way west. Unfortunately it was distant and impossible for anyone else to get onto. We had just been talking earlier about when the first spring migrants with start to come through, but this was the first one we had seen, and one of the earliest Sand Martins we have seen here. Not what we were expecting given the conditions, although the wind was a warm one from the SW. A Goldcrest shot across past us and disappeared into the hedge the other side.

We made our way round to Wells beach car park next and stopped for lunch in the warmth of the minibus today. Afterwards, we went out to take a look at the harbour. It was sheltered on the beach side of the lifeboat station and warmer in the sunshine now. There were four Red-breasted Mergansers distantly in the outer channel and a single Common Seal hauled out on the beach.

We scanned through the waders on the sands opposite, lots of Oystercatchers scattered liberally and small roosting groups of Sanderlings and Bar-tailed Godwits hiding in between the sand ridges. More Sanderling were running around on the sand and more godwits feeding in the shallow water. There were a few Dunlin here too.

From further down, towards the site of the old lifeboat station, we could see a few Knot higher up the beach, several Grey Plover and Ringed Plover, and a larger group of roosting Dunlin. There were more Red-breasted Mergansers, six of them, three drakes and three redhead females. They were much closer here and we had a great view of their punk haircuts in the scope. One of the males even started to display, throwing its head forward and up and then flicking its rear end up. It was too windy to walk on round further here, without getting sand blasted, so we turned and made our way back the way we had just come.

Red-breasted Merganser – in the harbour

There seemed to be lots of Black-tailed Godwits on the flood at Stiffkey today, as we passed. We stopped on the road briefly to have a quick scan, but couldn’t see anything with them. There is too much traffic to linger here, so we parked a bit further on and walked back down along the footpath. The Long-billed Dowitcher has been seen here with the godwits at times, but despite scanning the flood with the scope we couldn’t see it with them today. It was hard viewing from here though, looking into the wind and the sun. There was a tree down across the footpath so we couldn’t go further, so we turned round and headed back.

We carried on east to Cley and got out of the wind in Bishop Hide. We were hoping for a Water Pipit, but there was a Pied Wagtail along the front edge of the scrape again which has been chasing everything off. A Grey Wagtail did drop in several times and fed on the bank right in front of the hide. Scanning further round, we eventually found a couple of Water Pipits in among the lumps of mud on the bank right at the back, along with a Meadow Pipit for comparison.

Grey Wagtail – in front of the hide

There were three drake Pintail in the far corner when we arrived and they gradually worked their way over towards us, upending continually and showing off their long pin-shaped central tail feathers. When they arrived in the corner in front of the hide, they were repeatedly chased by a rather aggressive drake Shelduck.

Pintail – smart drake

There had been another Sand Martin reported flying west through Cley earlier, after ours at Holkham, so when we picked one up flying low over the tops of the reeds at the back, we presumed it was most likely the same one lingering. Now everyone got a chance to see this one. It mostly went round and round over the same line of reeds but once or twice made forays out over the scrape and at one point came round behind the hide and then flew back out in front. Do two Sand Martins make a summer? It certainly didn’t feel like it today!

Sand Martin – our second of the day!

There was a nice selection of waders on the scrape, several Ruff, Lapwings and Avocets, and some small groups of Dunlin. A Marsh Harrier kept coming in over the reeds to the edge of the scrape. It was nice sitting here in the hide out of the wind, but it was now time to head back. We had a remarkably good day today, considering the wind. More (though hopefully less wind) tomorrow.

13th March 2022 – Winter, Brecks & Goshawks, Day 3

Day 3 of a three day tour in the Brecks and North Norfolk today. It was originally forecast to rain all morning but instead it stayed dry – although cloudy most of the day it was generally bright with a nice sunny spell either side of midday, and although there were some very dark clouds later afternoon thankfully they passed overhead without producing any rain. It was rather breezy again, with a fresh southerly wind. We spent the day in North Norfolk today.

Our destination for the morning was Holkham. We parked at Lady Anne’s Drive and got out to scan the grazing marshes, which are still full of birds. There were lots of ducks around the pools – Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal and a few Gadwall. Further back, several hundred Pink-footed Geese were mostly sitting down in the grass at the back but we got the scope on a couple which were standing up. We could see their pink legs, if not their feet!

Common Snipe – on the grazing marsh

There were waders too. We trained the scopes on several Common Snipe roosting on a small bank, and further up we found lots hiding among the molehills. There were Redshank around the pools and a few Curlew and Oystercatchers out on the grass. A large flock of Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlin flushed from the marshes further to the west and whirled round in the sky.

Several raptors were up enjoying the wind. Occasionally a Marsh Harrier would buzz the marshes, flushing all the ducks. Several Red Kites and Common Buzzards circled up too. We couldn’t see the Grey Partridge in their usual spot this morning, but we figured they would be hiding somewhere out of the wind, which was gusting in across the open marshes. We made our way on and out over the boardwalk towards the beach.

There seemed to be a few birds on the move today – a small flock of Chaffinches whirled over the north edge of the pines and a small flock of Starlings and then seven Fieldfares came in over the beach.

The Shorelarks had been feeding on the saltmarsh west of the Gap the last couple of days, so we walked out that way first. There were lots of Meadow Pipits on the edge of the dunes which flew up ahead of us as we walked west, as well as several Skylarks. A passing dog walker told us that he had seen the Shorelarks along the southern edge of the saltmarsh but there was no sign of them over that side – we weren’t sure whether he was just winding us up or mistaken. We assumed they had gone back to the cordoned-off area further east today. We continued on west.

We stopped to scan the sea and could see lots of Common Scoter scattered over the sea beyond the beach. We had a look through, but couldn’t see anything with them at first. There were a couple of Ringed Plover out on the beach.

We found another small flock of scoter offshore further west and this time we could just make out 2-3 Velvet Scoter in with about twenty Commons. They were diving constantly and distant, but we could see the Velvet Scoters were a little bigger, with smaller, more contrasting white spots on the face. Occasionally one flapped and showed off the white in its wings.

White-fronted Geese – still good numbers here

We cut through the dunes and pines to Joe Jordan hide. Down on the grass below, we could see several groups of White-fronted Geese, but we were looking into the sun. Another twenty or so were a bit more distant around the pools to the west of the hide but were perfectly lit – showing off their white blazes around their pink bills and distinctive black belly bars.

A Great White Egret flew in over the grass and flushed another from one of the ditches, the two of them flying across the old fort with exaggerated deep wingbeats. They landed separately on the marshes where we could get them in the scope and have a better look. There were a few Avocets out on the pools here too.

Great White Egret – one of two here

The big white bird we were really hoping to catch up with here was Spoonbill, as the first birds have already returned to the breeding colony. At first, we just saw one or two fly up and round over the trees at the back and got the scope on a white shape perched deep in the branches.

Then one Spoonbill flew out of the trees and dropped down onto the pool in front of the hide, where it proceeded to start feeding, walking around in the shallow water sweeping its bill from side to side and occasionally snapping it upwards when it caught something. We could see the yellow tip to its bill, its shaggy nuchal crest and mustard wash on its white breast, all indicating an adult coming into breeding condition.

Spoonbill – feeding in front of the hide

Some other people arrived so we decided to free up space in the hide and walk back. There were several Chiffchaffs singing in the trees by the track and we stopped to watch one flitted around in the branches. A Peacock butterfly flew up from the edge of the track past us. The sun was out now and it felt distinctly spring-like out of the wind.

We stopped briefly at Salts Hole. A Peregrine drifted east along the edge of the pines. A single Little Grebe appeared out of the reeds. We got the scopes on a couple of Fieldfare in the grass at the back and a pair of Mistle Thrushes, one of which posed on a fence post.

Sure enough, we had a message to say the Shorelarks were indeed back in the cordon. After a brief stop at The Lookout, we set off for a quick walk down to look for them. When we arrived, there was no sign out in the middle where they had apparently been a few minutes earlier but scanning across we realised they were on the edge, right by the path out to the beach.

Shorelark – nice horns

We walked a little further towards them and set up the scopes. The Shorelarks were ‘dust’ bathing in the bare sandy patches just beyond the fence, which was great to watch. Afterwards, they stood up in the top of the low dunes to shake off and preen. We had great views of them now, their yellow faces perfectly lit in the sunshine. Stunning!

The Shorelarks gradually worked their way further back away from us and then took off and flew down to the very far end of the cordon. They may not be with us for too much longer now, before they head back up to Scandinavia for the breeding season, so it was good to catch up with them. Having enjoyed great views, we set off back for lunch.

We stopped for lunch at the picnic tables outside The Lookout. Looking down from a different angle from here, we could see the pair of Grey Partridges now, hunkered down in the lee of the molehills where they weren’t visible from the Drive. After lunch, they had come out a bit more and we watched them as they fed in the grass.

Grey Partridge – in the molehills

The Red-breasted Goose had reappeared this morning in the Eye Field at Cley, where we had failed to find it yesterday afternoon. We decided to have another go and as we pulled up in the beach car park we had spotted it out with the Brent Geese right in front of us before we even had a chance to get out of the minibus! There were noticeably more Brents here than there had been yesterday.

We got out and got the scopes on the Red-breasted Goose. It had its head down at first, feeding, and was harder to pick out although blacker than the Brents with more white stripes on its wings. Occasionally it stopped and lifted its head, calling. We could hear the Red-breasted Goose’s distinctive squeaky call above the subdued chattering of the Brents.

Red-breasted Goose – calling

There was a single Pale-bellied Brent in with the regular Dark-bellied Brents too strikingly paler on the flanks. We had planned to spend the afternoon at Titchwell, but it was well worth the diversion over here to see the Red-breasted Goose. We still had a bit of time left, so we decided to make a quick dash back west.

It was nice and sheltered in the trees at Titchwell. We had a quick look for the Water Rail but we couldn’t find it in the ditches today. Once we got out of the trees, we were back out into the wind but it seemed to have dropped a little. Coot was an addition to the trip list in one of the channels and there were a few Tufted Duck and a single Common Pochard out on the reedbed pool.

We stopped in Island Hide, where several Avocets were busy feeding in front of the hide and a Common Snipe flew off from right below us and landed on the edge of the reeds with a couple of others. A Turnstone flew in and landed on the edge of the nearest island and a large flock of Dunlin whirled round before landing over in front of Parrinder Hide. A few Black-tailed Godwits were busy probing in the grass at the back, on the old Avocet Island.

There were lots of gulls on one of the islands and we quickly got the scopes on several adult Mediterranean Gulls in with the commoner Black-headed Gulls. They are looking very smart now, with their jet black hoods and contrasting white eyeliner, deep red bills and white wingtips. We could hear their yelping calls too.

Mediterranean Gulls – looking very smart

A smart pair of Teal were dabbling right in front of the hide too and a few more Common Pochard were diving out beyond the islands. We really wanted to try to get out to the beach quickly, so we made our way back out to the main path. We could hear Bearded Tits calling in the reeds but couldn’t see them – they were staying well down in the breeze. A lone Grey Plover was on the Lavendar Marsh Pool opposite.

There were just a few Redshank and Curlew on Volunteer Marsh but we stopped at the Tidal Pools to look at a pair of Red-breasted Merganser diving out in the middle. The drake was looking very smart with its punk haircut. We could see dark clouds approaching from behind us now and rain falling away to the west, so we hurried out to the beach, fearing the worst.

There was a nice selection of waders out on the beach. Several Bar-tailed Godwits were feeding along the shoreline and small groups of silvery Sanderling were running in and out of the waves as they broke on the sand. There were more Grey Plover and Oystercatchers here too. A single Great Crested Grebe was asleep on the sea just beyond the breakers.

Unfortunately, we were out of time. We made our way back, as the dark clouds thankfully passed overhead without dropping any rain on us and we made it back to the car park dry. A whistlestop visit to Titchwell, but a nice way to round off the day and the tour.

4th June 2021 – Early Summer, Day 1

Day 1 of a three day Early Summer Tour today. It was bright with some sunshine to start, clouding over through the morning and starting to rain early afternoon. The rain was only light though, not heavy as was the forecast, so it didn’t stop us.

We headed over to Snettisham for the morning. A Sedge Warbler was singing noisily from the brambles nearby as we got out of the minibus. A Greenfinch was wheezing from one of the gardens as we walked up the road. we made our way in on the path in through the bushes. We could hear a Lesser Whitethroat rattling over to one side, so we walked round and had a couple of glimpses of it flicking around in the brambles. There was a selection of other warblers, singing here – Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, and a Cetti’s Warbler shouting. We listened to the metronomic song of song of the Reed Warblers vs the mad chatter of the Sedge Warblers.

A Turtle Dove started purring nearby, deep in the dense bushes. We walked a bit further along to see if we could find an angle to see it, when it flew up and broke into a long gentle glide back down, its display flight. We saw where it landed this time, high in a pine tree, and got it in the scopes, although it was partly obscured by branches. It purred from there for a while, then flew up again, gliding over the path above us, before landing in the top of a large hawthorn the other side. It was a better view through the scopes now, we could see the rusty edges to the feathers of the upperparts.

Turtle Dove – in display flight

The Turtle Dove then flew back over the path again, this time landing in a large willow out of view. We could hear it but couldn’t see it. The next time it flew out, it headed off north away over the bushes out of sight.

We continued on, up onto the outer seawall. The tide was quite a way out still, but we stopped to scan the mud of the Wash. There were lots of waders out on the distant shoreline, predominantly Oystercatchers, plus one or two Curlews. A single lingering Brent Goose was out there too – most of the remaining birds seem to have departed in the last week or so, back to Siberia for the breeding season.

Dropping back down, we walked on up through the middle of the bushes. There were lots of Linnets here, some smart males with pinky red flushes on their breasts, and some brown streaked juveniles now too. A male Stonechat appeared on the top of a bush on the seawall. They bred here and sure enough just a little further up we found a couple of streaky juveniles too. A Meadow Pipit feeding on the short grass nearby was the first of the day.

Linnet – a smart male

There was a nice selection of butterflies here again, despite a fresher breeze today – a couple of Wall, a Brown Argus, a Small Heath. A Mother Shipton, a species of day-flying moth, landed briefly in the grass but was off again before we could really see the supposed likeness of the 16th century witch on its wings, after which it is named.

Two more Turtle Doves flew past heading south, presumably a male and a female. A little later, we saw a male coming back the other way in display flight. We saw it land in the top of a large bush, where it started purring, so we took advantage to have another look through the scopes.

The tide was slowly coming in and we now and a succession of small groups of Oystercatchers flew in off the Wash, heading in to roost on the marshes just inland. We climbed up onto the outer seawall again, by the crossbank. There were more Curlews on the mud now and two Bar-tailed Godwits in the shallow water. We could see their slightly upturned bills, before they tucked them in and went to sleep. Two different Ringed Plovers were hunkered down on the top of the beach, incubating in the roped off cordon nearby. They were very hard to see, well camouflaged against the shingle.

Ringed Plover – nesting in one of the cordons

We walked across at the crossbank and climbed up onto the inner seawall to scan the marshes. We could see some distant Little Gulls on the pool away to our left, so we walked a short way further up for a better look. There were at least three, all immature (1st summer/2nd calendar year) with the black ‘w’ pattern across their wings. We could see lots of Black-headed Gulls nesting, and lots of 2nd calendar year Common Gulls roosting further back, along with a mixture of immature Herring Gulls of various ages and a single young Great Black-backed Gull. A Common Tern flew in, and landed on one of the islands.

There were a couple of waders on the small pool the other side, on the grazing marsh. We had good views of a very close Black-tailed Godwit, a bird with a limp which always seems to be on here. It didn’t look particularly well today.

Black-tailed Godwit – with a limp

A lone Avocet on the mud looked to be incubating. At one point the other member of the pair flew in calling, and the first got up. It looked like they were performing a nest changeover but we couldn’t see an egg in the shallow scrape.

Avocet – changeover time

There were more Avocets and Lapwings out on the marshes. About fifty Black-tailed Godwits were roosting, Icelandic birds in various stages of moult, presumably mostly young birds which have not migrated back to Iceland to breed and not moulted fully into breeding plumage. A large mob of Oystercatchers was now roosting at the back, with more still flying in from the Wash. Two Spoonbills were mostly fast asleep (doing what they like to do best!), waking up and flashing their bills only briefly

Spoonbills – typically asleep

One or two Marsh Harriers flew over occasionally, attracting the ire of all the breeding gulls and waders, which chased up after it calling noisily. A Red Kite drifted over high.

There was a nice selection of ducks out here too, including a single lingering drake Wigeon, on the far bank with some Tufted Ducks. A pair of Mute Swans with just one cygnet swam out of the reeds in the channel below us. As we started to walk back, we scanned through the big flocks of geese – Greylags with lots of goslings, Canada Geese and a few Egyptian Geese – but all we could find different here today were three escaped Swan Geese (which don’t count unfortunately!).

Another Spoonbill was feeding actively in one of the pools among the geese, but disappeared into the rushes before we could get the scopes on it. It would have been nice to see one properly awake, but when we looked back it had climbed out onto the bank and gone straight to sleep! There were several Little Egrets, and two or three Grey Herons out here too.

It was just starting to cloud over now and lots of Common Swifts were hawking for insects low over the bushes, occasionally sweeping low past us, over the bank. A few House Martins appeared too, hard to tell if they are still migrants on the move or just local birds come for the feeding. A couple of Swallows were in with them too.

We headed over to Titchwell for lunch in the picnic area. Thankfully the rain held off. A Blackcap was singing in the trees nearby, and we could just see it flitting around. A Reed Warbler was singing in the sallows – it obviously hadn’t read the book!

After lunch, we decided to have a walk out on the reserve. It was forecast to rain, and we would have the option of shelter in the hides when it did. A smart male Marsh Harrier flew in over the reeds out at the back of the old Thornham grazing marsh pool. A Spoonbill flew in high over the Freshmarsh but carried on away over the west bank and the saltmarsh beyond

We stopped to listen at the reedbed, to see if we could hear a Bearded Tit. We didn’t, but we did see several Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers flying back and forth. A Bittern boomed, but just twice before going quiet again. There were a few Common Pochard in the reedbed channels and a single Great Crested Grebe on the reedbed pool along with lots of Greylags and Gadwall.

It still wasn’t really raining much and there were lots of people in Island Hide already, so we scanned the Freshmarsh from the bank. We could see a small group of waders distantly in front of Parrinder Hide, several Ringed Plover and a lone Dunlin with them. A Little Ringed Plover was up on the back of the island just beyond, but it was hard to see any detail at this range, and it was very well camouflaged against the dry mud.

A couple of drake Teal were new for the day – another duck which is common here in the winter but not many remain right through the summer. A single adult Mediterranean Gull dropped in briefly to bathe. They seem to be much scarcer here this year, for some reason.

Mediterranean Gull – just one briefly

While the rain was holding off, we decided to head straight out to the beach and come back to the hide. There was nothing on Volunteer Marsh, so we carried on to the Tidal Pools where we found several Turnstones picking around the islands. A pair of Shelduck swimming across the water were followed by several shelducklings.

Out at the beach, the tide was coming in and was already half way up the sand. Scanning out to sea, we spotted a Little Tern away to the west, close in, just beyond the breakers. It was flying away west all the time and getting increasingly hard to see against the grey water, but then thankfully turned and came back, giving us a good view now as it flew east past us, just beyond the sand. A few minutes later, another Little Tern flew out over the beach carrying a fish and disappeared off over the water towards Scolt. One or two Sandwich Terns were offshore too, but rather more distant.

With the tide in, there was not much on the beach, but we could see a small flock of Sanderling on the sand half way to Brancaster. They were running around in front of the waves breaking on the beach, in typical Sanderling fashion, but were very different from the silvery grey and white birds we see in winter, being much darker now in their breeding plumage. A pitfall for the unwary!

It was spitting with rain now, so we turned and headed back. A Spoonbill was on one of the pools out on the saltmarsh now, feeding. It climbed up out of the pool it was in and walked slowly across the saltmarsh amongst the thrift to another one a little further over. Nice to finally see one properly awake!

Spoonbill – nice to see one awake!

When we got back to the Freshmarsh, we turned down the path to Parrinder Hide. Just before we got in, we looked across to see a wader fly up from below the bank and land again on the island in front of the hide. A Common Sandpiper, a migrant here, possibly a late bird heading north or perhaps an early returning bird already which had failed to breed successfully. From the shelter of the hide, we watched as it worked its way right down to the front on the mud.

Common Sandpiper – in front of the hide

There were several Ringed Plovers out here still too, we counted twelve now. They came close in too, feeding on the mud right below us. They looked quite small and dark compared to our resident breeders, presumably migrant Tundra Ringed Plovers (of the subspecies tundrae) stopping off on their way north.

Tundra Ringed Plover – stopping off

It was raining a little more heavily now, so we decided to sit it out and admire the waders. A male Redshank was displaying to a female further back, which was not showing much interest. A group of four Avocets gathered for a squabble in front of the hide.

A group of Black-tailed Godwits was busy feeding in the deeper water beyond the islands, mainly 1st summer Icelandic birds which had not gone north to breed. One was on its own a short distance from the others and looked noticeably bigger and longer-billed. It seemed to have a more contrasting pale face and the pale orange on its breast was not as deep as a full adult Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit. We got it in the scope and on closer inspection, noticed it was colour ringed and tagged. This was enough to confirm that it was a Continental Black-tailed Godwit, of the nominate limosa subspecies, rather than the islandica Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits which are more common here.

A quick check with one of the locals who collects colour-ring combinations from here and he was able to confirm immediately that it was one of the very small number Continental Black-tailed Godwits which breed in the UK, on the Ouse Washes. Apparently it failed in its breeding attempt this year, and has already moved to Titchwell to feed and moult. It seems like the UK Continental Black-tailed Godwits, which are already teetering on the edge, have suffered from flooding on the Ouse Washes this year after all the rain in May.

Continental Black-tailed Godwit – of the subspecies limosa

We had come to Parrinder Hide particularly hoping to see the Little Ringed Plover a bit closer, but we hadn’t seen it again yet. We had a careful scan round where it had been now and eventually found it hiding behind the bricks. It was preening, presumably taking advantage of the rain to have a shower. Eventually it came out and ran along the island over to the edge of the reeds, where we could get it in the scopes. Now we could see its golden yellow eyering properly.

The rain had helpfully eased off again now. It was time to head back – it had been a good start, but we had another busy day ahead tomorrow.

2nd May 2021 – Warblers & Waders

A Private Tour today, in North Norfolk. It was a bright morning, cloudier in the afternoon, but the weather gods were kind to us and the showers held off until after we had finished. Still feeling rather cool for the time of year, in the brisk N breeze.

Our destination for the morning was Cley. With the hides still closed for the foreseeable future, we set the scope up in the picnic area to scan Pat’s Pool first. Out on the islands, we could see plenty of Avocets, a couple of Black-tailed Godwits and a single moulting male Ruff. A Marsh Harrier circled out over the reedbed beyond and there were at least three Common Swifts zooming back and forth over the hides, along with a selection of Swallows, House Martins & Sand Martins.

We couldn’t hear the Grasshopper Warbler from up in the picnic area this morning, so we walked across the road to The Skirts path to see if we could find it. Several Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler were singing in the reeds and Little Egrets were flying back and forth.

We walked a short way up along the path and now we could hear the Grasshopper Warbler reeling ahead of us. It sounded distant at first so we carried on, then realised we had walked past and it was now behind us. It was reeling quite quietly, and we managed to locate it very low down in the nettles and reeds close to the path. It perched nicely where we could see it and we had a very good view just a few metres away.

Grasshopper Warbler – reeling by the path again this morning

The Grasshopper Warbler stopped reeling and crawled down into the vegetation out of sight. When it came up again it was a bit further back, and it reeled again briefly from low in the reeds. Then it disappeared further back still, out of sight. We walked on, but we could still hear it reeling on and off behind us.

There were more Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers along here – the former easy to see, but the latter typically keeping well down out of view. A Cetti’s Warbler shouted from the blackthorn across the road and a Common Whitethroat sang from the top of hedge above.

Sedge Warbler – singing along The Skirts path

Up onto the East Bank, we noticed we had just missed a message about a White-tailed Eagle over the reserve. We scanned the sky, but there was no sign now – apparently it had gone through very quickly. Three Common Buzzards were circling very high above us. A Little Grebe was down on Don’s Pool, below the bank.

There were a couple of families of Lapwings, each with three small, fluffy chicks – little more than balls of fluff on legs. We heard a Yellow Wagtail call and looked over to see it land briefly among the cows, a smart canary yellow male. It didn’t stay long, but took off and carried on its way west. Yellow Wagtails used to breed along the coast here, but these days are just passage migrants.

Lapwing chick – a ball of fluff on legs

Further up, we stopped again to scan the Serpentine and Pope’s Pool. There was a good selection of ducks still, including several Wigeon and Teal, plus a scattering of Shoveler and Gadwall. We got a drake Gadwall in the scope to admire the complexity of its delicate patterning.

There were more Lapwings displaying here, along with several Redshanks, and two distant Bar-tailed Godwits in the longer grass further back. The islands on Pope’s Pool were adorned with the usual selection of loafing immature Great Black-backed Gulls and Cormorants.

There were lots more Sedge Warblers on the edge of the reedbed from the East Bank, and finally a Reed Warbler put in a brief appearance too. There were several Meadow Pipits in the grass and a steady passage of hirundines over, mainly Swallows and a few House Martins.

Up at the brackish pools, a Little Egret was feeding close to the path. A couple of smart drake Pintail were upending out on the water further back, showing off their long, pin-shaped tails. There were lots of Dunlin roosting around the edges of the islands on here too.

Over the other side of the path, there were more Dunlin on Arnold’s Marsh and several Ringed Plovers with them. A Turnstone dropped in on the shingle islands. Further back, we could see several more Bar-tailed Godwits and Curlews.

We had heard two Mediterranean Gulls calling as we walked up and they had appeared to drop towards the brackish pools, but there was no sign of them with the Black-headed Gulls here now. But when we heard more Mediterranean Gulls calling, we looked up to see four smart black-hooded adults flying in straight towards us. They came right overhead, their white wingtips translucent against the blue sky.

Mediterranean Gulls – these four smart adults came right overhead

Continuing on to the beach, there were quite a few Sandwich Terns flying back and forth, with some quite close in today. We could even see the yellow tip to the long, black bill on one of them. A Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage was more of a surprise – they do spend the winter on the sea here, but are less common offshore at this time of year.

As we walked back along the East Bank, we heard a Bearded Tit calling, and looked down to see a female briefly on the edge of the ditch below the bank. It flew up, and out over the reedbed, its long tail dipping behind it, before dropping deeper in. Two more Yellow Wagtails, this time females, were out among the cows now – a miracle they don’t get trodden on as they look for insects around the cow’s feet and noses.

Back along The Skirts path, two Marsh Harriers were displaying over the reedbed, the female towering up high, the male twisting and turning below before diving down into the reeds. A Common Buzzard came low overhead.

Common Buzzard – came over The Skirts

We went back to the Visitor Centre to make use of the facilities, and then decided on an early lunch out on the picnic tables in the sunshine. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing its rattling song just across the road, and when it flew over to the brambles in front of us, we could see it had been bathing and was still drying out.

After lunch, we drove west to Wells. We scanned the pools from the parking area first. We could see several Little Ringed Plovers and a moulting male Ruff on the pool west of the track. Two Brent Geese were out on the grass and more Lapwing chicks were hiding in there too.

As we walked down the track, we could see a Common Snipe in the rushes on the pool to the east. Stopping to scan, we found one of the lingering Jack Snipe too, in the rushes a bit further out. Smaller, shorter-billed, and with a different head pattern, lacking a central crown stripe compared to its commoner cousin. A very distant Common Sandpiper flew across and landed on the edge of the water over in the very furthest corner. A Grey Heron was lurking in the rushes close to the track, presumably eyeing up the ducklings and Lapwing chicks.

Grey Heron – lurking in the rushes

As we walked through the bushes beyond, a Sparrowhawk zipped through and a Red Kite drifted overhead. A Whimbrel flew over the seawall, heading out towards the harbour beyond. Scanning the western pool from the low bank, we could see another Common Sandpiper and another moulting male Ruff, before they were chased off by one of the Lapwings.

We climbed up onto the seawall for a better view. There were lots of Avocets nesting on the island, and more feeding on the saltmarsh the other side of the seawall. Three Avocets were having a disagreement on the mud, two were obviously a pair and engaged in some synchronised jumping between chasing after the third bird together. There were several Oystercatchers on the mud too.

Avocets – arguing on the mud

We could see a distant Spoonbill further out on the saltmarsh, although once it dropped down into one of the muddy channels to feed we could then just see its head and neck occasionally when it looked up. There were more Brent Geese out here too.

A male Marsh Harrier drifted in over the bushes and we could see it had something in its talons. The female circled up with it and we expected to see a food pass. But the male dropped down and landed in the grass and the female drifted off over the fields beyond. The male took off again and flew out over the fields too, and it was looking as if it wasn’t going to share what it was carrying until finally the female came close again and the male dropped its prey for the female to catch.

On our way back to the car park, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the bushes. A Spoonbill was now on the pool west of the track, a much better view than the one we had seen earlier, we could see the yellow tip to its black bill, its shaggy nuchal crest and the mustard yellow wash on its breast.

Spoonbill – on one of the pools on our way back

Our final destination for the remainder of the afternoon was Burnham Overy, hoping to catch up with some Ring Ouzels which had been here for the last few days. As we walked down the track towards the grazing marshes, we could hear a Common Whitethroat singing and a couple of Long-tailed Tits were in the hedge beyond.

A couple of Red-legged Partridges ran out from the grassy margin into the cultivated field on the way down. Beyond the stile, we stopped to scan the grazing marshes and the first thing we noticed were a pair of Grey Partridges trying to hide out on the short grass, looking rather like a couple of large clods of earth.

Grey Partridges – a pair on the grazing marshes

While we were looking at the Grey Partridges, we realised the Ring Ouzels were further back in the same field, just over a ridge and largely out of view. They were only briefly visible to the taller members of the group, before disappearing altogether into the dip in the ground. From further up along the track, we could look back and had a better view of the dead ground. Now we could see there were three Ring Ouzels, two males with bright white gorgets, and a duller browner female.

Ring Ouzel – one of the white-gorgetted males

There were quite a few geese out on the grazing marshes, mainly Greylags, but looking through them carefully we found one lingering Pink-footed Goose. With most of the other Pinkfeet having long since flown back north on their way to Iceland for the breeding season, a few birds which were shot and winged during wildfowling here are largely unable to fly and will have to remain.

Three grey-backed White Wagtails were round the small pools further along by the track, and there were a few Skylark out on the short grass. On the other side, we could see a female Pochard and a Little Grebe. A nice close Little Ringed Plover here meant we could see its distinctive golden-yellow eyering through the scope.

We continued on and just up onto the seawall. The tide was low now, and we could only see the regular Avocets and Redshanks in the harbour. It was cold up here in the wind now and with our day almost at an end anyway, we set off back. A flock of at least 21 Whimbrel in the grassy fields by the stile now was a nice way to finish the day.

8th Mar 2020 – Winter, Brecks & Goshawks, Day 3

Day 3 of our three day Winter, Brecks & Goshawks tour, our last day today. It was a rather blustery morning, with the winds dropping in the afternoon, and mostly dry and bright – we managed mostly to dodge the showers. We spent the day up on the North Norfolk coast.

Holkham was our destination for the morning. As we drove up along Lady Anne’s Drive, we could see lots of ducks out on the floods on the grazing marsh, mainly Wigeon, with a scattering of Shoveler, Teal and one or two Gadwall. We parked at the north end and as we walked up towards the pines, we stopped to admire a smart pair of Grey Partridge feeding very quietly right by the fence behind the parking attendants’ hut.

Grey Partridge – this pair was feeding by Lady Anne’s Drive

There was a blustery wind blowing, so we elected to go round to the hides first, rather than out onto the beach. As we walked west along the track on the inland side of the pines, there were a few tits calling in the trees. We stopped briefly at Salts Hole, where four Little Grebes were diving out on the water. A pair of Mistle Thrushes were out on the grass beyond.

Diverting up onto the boardwalk by Washington Hide, we spotted a Great White Egret out on the grazing marshes. Its large size was immediately apparent and through the scope we could see its long yellow bill. Way off in the distance, we could just make out a few White-fronted Geese over by the road, behind the hedge, but we hoped to see some closer from the next hide.

A Chiffchaff was calling in the bushes by the track the other side of Meals House – it would be nice to think it might be an early spring migrant, but it was just as likely an overwintering bird here.

The first thing we saw when we got into Joe Jordan Hide was the lone Spoonbill asleep down on the pool below the wood, bright white in the morning sunshine. It did wake up at one point and flash its spoon-shaped bill, revealing that it was an immature bird – it also lacked the shaggy crest of the breeding adults. It then hopped into the shelter of the rushes on the edge of the pool. It was the only one we saw here today, the others possibly hiding from the wind in the trees.

Spoonbill – asleep on the pool from Joe Jordan Hide

There were two more Great White Egrets out on the grazing marshes from here, feeding together out in a particularly thick clump of rushes. It was amazing that such a large white bird could completely disappear in the vegetation at times.

There was no sign of the large flock of wintering White-fronted Geese on the old fort today. Most of the Greylags were sleeping out on the marshes and scanning carefully through we did manage to find six White-fronted Geese in with them. They didn’t hang around though, for no apparent reason waking up and flying off, presumably to find the rest of the flock.

Before everyone got too comfortable, we decided to move on. As we walked out earlier, a runner had mentioned there had been a Short-eared Owl out on the beach, so we thought we would check in case it was hunting along the north side of the pines. When we got out into the dunes, there was no sign of the owl, but we did find three Stonechats flitting around in the bushes, the single male singing quietly, and several song-flighting Meadow Pipits fluttering up and parachuting back down.

The large raft of several thousand Common Scoter which has been in the bay all winter was directly offshore from here today, so we stopped for a quick look through them. The tide was out so, despite them being not too far offshore, they were distant from the dunes and it was very choppy. We did manage to pick out a Velvet Scoter in with them, but it was impossible to get everyone onto it in the conditions. More surprisingly, a pair of Pintail and a drake Shoveler were in with the scoter flock too.

It was more sheltered on the north side of the pines, so we decided to walk back through the dunes. It was a good call as it gave us the chance to scan the beach and saltmarsh on the way. We picked up a pair of Ringed Plovers roosting on the shingle, perhaps not for long given the number of dogs running round loose on the beach. Then we picked up five small birds flying round out on the saltmarsh in the distance. As they turned we could see they were fairly pale with contrasting black tails – Shorelarks!

We had a quick look at them from where we were – there was a spaniel running around out on the saltmarsh and heading in their direction and we worried they might fly off. Then we hurried over for a closer look. The Shorelarks were feeding in the low saltmarsh vegetation, but still remarkably hard to see until they lifted their heads. Then their canary yellow faces and black masks gave them away.

Shorelarks – two of the five which were feeding out on the saltmarsh

When the Shorelarks are not feeding in the cordoned-off area at the other end of the beach they can be hard to find, so it was great that we had bumped into them. By the end of this month, they will probably be off to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia.

Snow Buntings were on the target list for the day too, so we walked east to the cordon to see if we could find them there. Some people we passed had said they were on the beach at the far end, so we headed over there first. There was no sign of them on the beach and it was very windy and sand-blasted here. A quick scan of the sand bars produced a few Sanderling running around on the beach.

Another person further back on the inland side of the dunes waved to us, and as we started to walk over we realised he was watching a small group of Snow Buntings which were feeding between us in a sheltered gap in the dunes. We had a good look at them as they fed. There were six of them at first, but gradually they ran up and disappeared into the dunes.

Snow Buntings – six were feeding in the shelter of the dunes

It was then heads down for the walk back, into the wind. It was a relief to get to the Gap and the shelter of the pines. It was time for lunch now, so we took advantage of the Lookout Cafe to get a welcome hot drink and some food, and use the facilities.

The wind seemed to have eased a bit after lunch. It was bright and sunny now and we commented how there was no sign of any of the forecast showers – indeed the forecast had changed and was now not predicting any until mid afternoon. We set off west, but stopped where we had seen the White-fronted Geese very distantly from the other side early this morning.

There were lots of Greylags and Egyptian Geese in the field, and in with them were still at least 50 White-fronted Geese. We parked and got out, being careful not to spook them, and got them in the scope. We could see the white surround to the base of their bills and distinctive black belly bars.

White-fronted Geese – there were at least 50 still in the field this afternoon

Thankfully, we had all had a chance to get a really good look at the White-fronted Geese when it started to spit with rain. How ironic, given the change to the forecast! We could see some dark clouds now out to the west, so we hopped back into the minibus and drove through a sharp shower and back out into the sunshine.

As we drove through Titchwell village, we noticed a Barn Owl hunting the grassy field by the road. We had just pulled up and were about to get out to watch it, when a young Common Gull which was flying over swooped down straight at it. The Barn Owl dropped sharply, clearly as surprised as we were at this act of unprovoked aggression! It then turned and made a zig-zagging beeline for the hedge, where it dropped down under the bushes in the bottom, looking round nervously. After convincing itself that the coast was clear, it flew out of the back of the hedge and straight into the back of the wood beyond.

Barn Owl – hiding under the hedge after being attacked by a Common Gull

Carrying on past Titchwell, we stopped next at Thornham Harbour. There was no sign of any Twite around the old coal barn. A Black-tailed Godwit in the harbour channel was our first of the weekend and a Curlew was feeding on the saltmarsh opposite. With the wind having dropped, we decided to have a quick walk up to the corner of the seawall to see what we could see.

There were plenty of Common Redshank out in the muddy channels and one or two more Curlews. A small group of Linnets kept flying up from the vegetation in front of us and a Little Egret was on the edge of the saltmarsh just below the bank. Scanning further out in the harbour channel, we picked up a much paler wader. Through the scope, we could confirm it was a Spotted Redshank in silvery-grey non-breeding plumage. We could see the prominent white supercilium bridging the base of the bill, which was long and needle-fine at the tip.

Spotted Redshank – in the harbour channel at Thornham again

Spotted Redshanks winter in very small numbers here – they are mainly passage migrants, passing through in spring and autumn. There have been two commuting between Thornham and Titchwell this winter, but they disappear into the tidal creeks and can be very hard to find at time. Looking further out, we could see a few Knot and Grey Plover on the tidal flats and a pair of Red-breasted Merganser in the outer channel through the sands.

We headed round to Titchwell next, to finish the afternoon. As we got out of the minibus and stopped to use the facilities, we heard the distinctive calls of Mediterranean Gulls and looked up to see a succession of birds flying in and out overhead.

Checking in at the Visitor Centre, there had been no sign of any Woodcock today but we were told that there were three Red-crested Pochard on Patsy’s Reedbed. We went that way first and quickly found them out on the water. The two drakes were already looking resplendent in the afternoon sun, but then they started displaying to the female, with their bright orange punk haircuts raised. One of the males was more successful, and we watched the pair mating while the second drake played gooseberry!

Red-crested Pochard – displaying and mating on Patsy’s Reedbed

Otherwise, there were not many other ducks on here today. Two or three Marsh Harriers were hanging in the air out over the reedbed or over towards Brancaster. A Chinese Water Deer appeared on the edge of the reeds briefly.

Back round on the main path, there were a few Common Pochards on the reedbed pool. A Cetti’s Warbler shouted from the bushes in the reeds. The water level on the freshmarsh is very high again and there was no sign of the shallow islands which had started to be exposed a couple of weeks ago.

There were lots of Avocets trying to find any shallow water in which to feed and most were gathered right in front of Island Hide, so we went in for a closer look. They were right up to their bellies in the water and either swimming or could just get their feet onto the bottom to kick themselves up to try to reach the mud with their bills.

Avocet – trying to feed up to its belly in the deep water

There was very little else on the Freshmarsh apart from the gulls, which have taken over the large ‘Avocet Island’ again this year, where the Avocets are supposed to nest. We walked round to Parrinder Hide for a closer look at some Mediterranean Gulls. Another group of Avocets flew in over the saltmarsh, presumably feeding at the moment out in the harbour channels at low tide, and more were roosting in the water where one of the islands would normally have been.

Inside the fenced-off ‘Avocet Island’ we could see lots of gulls, mostly Black-headed Gulls, claiming the ground ahead of the breeding season. In with them we counted at least 40 Mediterranean Gulls, all adults coming into breeding plumage with white-speckled jet black hoods contrasting with bright white eyelids, bright red bills and white wing tips. It was good to compare the two species side by side.

Mediterranean Gull – there were at least 40 this afternoon on the Freshmarsh

Otherwise, all we could find here today was a single Knot which was roosting on one of the few taller bits of island which were above the water. There was no sign of the Water Pipit again, perhaps not a surprise with so little of the water’s edge exposed. We decided to head out towards the beach.

The tide was in now and with a bigger tide today, Volunteer Marsh was under water. As we walked past, we noticed a couple of little groups of Teal next to the path. The drakes were looking stunning in the afternoon sun and they were calling and displaying.

We walked out to the Tidal Pool to see if we could find some more waders. There were several godwits on here – mostly Black-tailed Godwits, with some starting to show some brighter rusty feathering as they begin to moult into breeding plumage.

Black-tailed Godwit – starting to moult into breeding plumage

We managed to find a single Bar-tailed Godwit feeding on the edge of the mud – paler and more heavily streaked above that the Black-tailed Godwits – but surprisingly there were not more roosting here given the tide was in. On the spit where they normally gather there were just two Grey Plovers today. There were still quite a few Oystercatchers on the island, together with several Turnstones.

The tide was right in and there was next to no beach left. We had a quick scan of the sea, but all was quiet here – a lone seal and a single distant Great Crested Grebe. As we started to make our way back, a Skylark was dust bathing on the path. It was very confiding and seemed reluctant to stop what it was doing to make way and let us come past.

Unfortunately, we had to get back now, so those with longer journeys back could get away. As we made our way back east along the coast road, a Barn Owl was hunting where we had seen the one earlier, but this time a different paler bird.