A Private Tour today in North Norfolk, focused more on photography and on visiting sites which could be worth spending more time at over the coming days. With a cold and blustery NW wind, it was a decidedly chilly and unspring-like day, but we managed to dodge the showers and stayed dry.
After our last visit, the number of Shorelarks at Holkham had dropped to one since and there had been no sign of that yesterday, so we thought it might have gone too. Then it was reported again first thing this morning, and since Grey Partridge was also on the target list, we decided to have a look there first.
As we arrived at Holkham, some dark clouds were just pushing inland and we could see blue skies approaching from the north. We parked on Lady Anne’s Drive and set off towards the pines. The pair of Grey Partridges were in their usual place on the grazing marsh, though not as close as they can be at times, and we found a spot where we could some shots. A Willow Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs were singing in the sheltered side of the pines and a Sedge Warbler was display flighting from the brambles.
Grey Partridge – the first of several
It was breezy the other side of the pines and the wind had obviously pushed the tide in over parts of the saltmarsh as it was quite wet looking out at the Gap. A small flock of Brent Geese were feeding out in the vegetation and a couple of Oystercatchers were feeding on the edge of the path. We set off east, and the Beach Warden in his ATV flushed several Shelduck and the Oystercatchers from the path ahead of us.
The sun was out now. There were a few Meadow Pipits on the saltmarsh and ahead of us we noticed a Wheatear too. We stopped to look, and realised there were more Wheatears further up. We counted at least seven in the end, northbound migrants presumably dropping in here to feed rather than heading on out over the sea into the strong headwind. They looked particularly smart in the low sunshine, so we stopped to watch them for a while.
Wheatear – stopping off
Continuing on to the cordon, there was no sign of the Shorelark now (as of the time of writing, it still hasn’t been seen again). There were a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks feeding in the vegetation and a couple of Ringed Plovers down at the far end around the sandier patches. We had a good look, but drew a blank, so we decided to head back and get out of the wind. On our way, we heard a Greenshank calling and looked over to see it drop down on the pools now at the beach end of the Gap path. Another migrant stopping off in the wind.
We were going to have a walk at Burnham Norton, to look for Yellow Wagtails, but when we arrived we could see rain approaching. The cattle were right over by the seawall, so it would be very wet and windy out there shortly. We decided to try something else. There were lots of Avocets and a few Lapwings out on the grazing marshes, a Marsh Harrier quartering out over the grass, and a Spoonbill flew over.
Yellowhammer was another target species, so we headed inland in the minibus to see if we could find any. The weather was not ideal to find birds singing today, but at the first place we visited we heard one as we drove up. We found somewhere to stop and got out, just in time to see the Yellowhammer drop off the wires and down into the field below, behind a high hedge. As we walked back down the road to see if we could see in to the field, it flew out and landed in the hedge the other side of the road, beyond where we had parked. As we walked over to look for it, it came up into the top of the hedge, just enough time to get a few shots, before it flew back to the field where it had been earlier. A pair of Grey Partridges flew across the road and landed in the crop the other side.
We tried another couple of sites for Yellowhammer, but the first was quiet, the seed strip now looking quite bare, and at the second we could hear one calling as we pulled up but it went quiet when we stopped and we couldn’t find it. It was a bit too windy – a project to revisit over the next few days. We decided to head over to Cley.
We drove down to the beach car park first, to look for waders in the Eye Field. There were a couple of Ruff around the pool as we drove down the road and as we drove on towards the car park we realised too late that there were two more, males moulting into breeding plumage, in the near edge of the field immediately beyond the fence. Unfortunately, as we pulled up in the minibus they were too close to the road and spooked.
We could see the flock of twenty or so Bar-tailed Godwits further back in the field, so we parked in the car park and walked up to the fence at the back of the overflow parking area. They were a bit far for photography, but there was no way we could get much closer to them without spooking them, so we had to content ourselves with some more distant flock shots. There were some nice rusty summer males in with them. It was time for lunch, so we drove back to the Visitor Centre. A Lapwing posed for photos on the grass by the road as we left the car park.
Bar-tailed Godwits – in the Eye Field
It was too windy to use the picnic tables, so we sat on the back of the minibus in the shelter of the bottom car park. We had been intending to spend an hour or two in the hides here this afternoon, hoping to catch up with the long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher plus any other close waders and possibly a Spoonbill dropping in. There had been no news on the dowitcher all morning, so we already feared the worst and speaking to staff in the Centre confirmed that it had not been seen today. It has been here for over 6 months, so perhaps it has finally decided to move on. Time for a change of plan for us.
We drove down to Kelling for a walk down the lane towards the Water Meadow. One of the fields at the top of the lane was just being cultivated, so there were no Brown Hares in there today and none in the weedy field opposite either. There were few warblers singing here too, as we walked down to the copse, possibly due to the cooler weather. Looking across from the gate, we could see lots of Hares more distantly on the field opposite still and then we found at least seven hunkered down in the next field by the path. There was a quick burst of boxing activity from two of them, but mostly they were keeping down out of the wind. Another pair of Grey Partridge were in the field here too.
From down at the crosstrack, there were a few commoner ducks on the Water Meadow. A Common Whitethroat flew across but disappeared into the alexanders and brambles on the Quags. A couple of 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls flew over, one called several times and did a quick circuit round over the pool. A Stonechat perched up on the top of the brambles down the lane towards Salthouse.
As we drove back west, we diverted down to the beach car park at Cley again, to see if the waders were any closer. The Bar-tailed Godwits had moved further back, so we turned round and headed on to Morston. There had been a few Ring Ouzels here over the last few days, more migrants waiting for suitable weather conditions to continue on to Scandinavia.
As we walked down the footpath, we could hear a Ring Ouzel calling in the trees and had a brief glimpse of one as it flew out and back in again. We carried on down to the end and installed ourselves by the gate, to wait for them to drop down into the field to feed. They were not particularly accommodating today, and for some time we had glimpses of them flying in and out, and one perched briefly in the bushes.
Redstart – a female
We noticed some movement at the bottom of the hedge across the end of the field, and a flash of red. It was a Common Redstart, a female, a scarce migrant here in the spring. We watched it as it kept dropping down to the ground to feed and then flicking back up into the hedge. There were two more Grey Partridges here too – it was a good day for those today!
Eventually the Ring Ouzels did drop down into the field. Two males fed on the grassy edge for a minute or so, before moving out into the middle with a Blackbird. They didn’t linger long though today, and soon flew back up into the trees. They had been showing really well here with patience in previous days, so another one to try again when the wind dropped later in the week.
Ring Ouzels – eventually dropped down to feed
A Whimbrel flew over and dropped down towards the saltmarsh. We lost sight of it behind the bank, so we walked up and had a look on the pools to see if it was there. There was no further sign of it, although there were a few Brent Geese out on the saltmarsh.
Round at the harbour car park, we found another Whimbrel feeding in the harbour channel. Using the minibus as a mobile hide, we were able to position ourselves for great views of it down on the edge of the water, before it disappeared back into the saltmarsh beyond.
Whimbrel – in the harbour channel
A nice way to end the day. We had some mixed fortunes in the wind, but there were now several places to revisit and lots of things to follow up on over the coming days.
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.
Day 3 of a four day Spring Tour in Norfolk. The wind had dropped today and it was a gloriously bright and sunny day, with just enough high hazy cloud at times and light breeze to stop it getting too hot. We spent the day down in the Broads.
It was a long drive down to Hickling Broad, but as we got out of the minibus in the car park the bushes were alive with birds singing. Walking out from the car park, a Blackcap was singing above our heads and then we stopped to admire a Willow Warbler singing in the top of a tree. We could hear a Cuckoo but way off in the distance.
Willow Warbler – singing in the top of a tree
We turned onto Whiteslea track and walked up towards the viewing mound. As we passed the wood, a couple of Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies were hawking for insects around the trees and one perched nicely on the reeds in the ditch by the path.
Four-spotted Chaser – hawking around the trees
Scanning Brendan’s Marsh from up on the viewing mound, the first bird we saw was a very smart summer plumage Bar-tailed Godwit, very rusty underneath with the colour extending from the head right down to underneath the tail. There were really good numbers of Ringed Plover and Dunlin here too, though mostly asleep, and a Greenshank just behind the line of reeds in the next pool.
A Common Crane came up out of the reeds, and circled round in front of the dead trees. It never gained much height though, and quickly dropped down again out of view.
Common Crane – came up out of the reeds
One of the wardens stopped to catch up and told us where the Temminck’s Stints had been earlier, viewed from over the other side of the marsh. So we walked back to the corner and turned down along the track towards Stubb Mill.
From up on the platform we could see the two Temminck’s Stints. They were close in, on the nearest sandy spit, but partly obscured behind the reeds. Still we had a good view of them in the scope. One of the scarcer spring passage waders here, this is the peak time so it was good to catch up with a couple.
Temminck’s Stint – one of two
A Common Sandpiper was nearby too. There is only space for two people on the platform, so we took it in turns. But there were more people waiting to come up now, so we descended and scanned the marsh from the path below. We could see a Greenshank now in front of the reeds at the back and a very smart Spotted Redshank dropped in, looking its absolute best now in its jet black breeding plumage with silvery spotting.
Walking on, we scanned the next field on the other side of the track and quickly located the male Ring Ouzel on top of a straw bale on the corner of the hedge. We had a look at it in the scope and then it dropped down to feed in and out of the long grass around the base of the trees. Most of the Ring Ouzels which pass through in the spring have gone north already but there are often one or two stragglers, so another nice bird to catch up with here.
We carried on to the far end and up onto the bank. The Black-winged Stilts had been here but there was no sign of them now. Scanning around the marsh we did see another Greenshank and a single Common Snipe feeding in the vegetation. The Spotted Redshank flew past us calling and disappeared off east towards the coast.
Eventually a couple of Black-winged Stilts came up out of the reeds, circled round calling and dropped back in out of view again. A good start, but we really wanted to see one on the ground. While we waited to see if they would come out, we walked up a little further to look at a Wood Sandpiper on another smaller pool. We had a nice view in the scope, but we were distracted then.
First a Bittern came up in the distance, back towards the Whiteslea track. It flew up high and towards us, but rather than dropping in quickly it flew high all the way across the reeds and over the dead trees, before turning and heading out towards Horsey Mere. It brought up another Bittern from the reeds below it and the first turned back, back past the dead trees before finally dropping down. An unusually long flight for a Bittern here at this time of year, but speaking to the warden it seems to be a bird which is wandering widely around the Broad (it has a distinctive feather missing in its left wing).
Bittern – on its long flight
While we were watching the Bittern, the first Hobby of the day appeared, and flew low across over the reeds the other way. And the Stilts came up again at the same time and dropped down towards the scrape. We didn’t know which way to look! Unfortunately the Stilts flew straight back into the reeds again.
We stood for a while and watched, hoping the Stilts would come back again. Another Crane came up over the reeds behind us. There were a couple of Hobbys up now up, and one drifted high overhead. Two Common Buzzards circled up over the trees. The second Bittern was booming from the reeds now, presumably stirred into action by the interloper flying over.
By the time we turned our attention back to the Wood Sandpiper, it had disappeared in all the excitement earlier, before everyone had seen it. We walked back to the viewing platform, where there were meant to be a couple of others. A male Marsh Harrier circled over the path ahead of us. The Ring Ouzel was now out in the middle of the field, next to a Stock Dove, but there was more heat haze now.
Marsh Harrier – circled over
Before we got back to the platform, we spotted a Black-winged Stilt now sat down on a sandy spit out on the marsh. We got it in the scope, a female with a mostly white head and browner back. It was spooked by a Dunlin, and stood up, showing off its extremely long pink legs. It stood and preened for a second or two, then flew over and landed much closer, right behind bank. There was no one on the platform now, so we had a great view of it from up there.
A Wood Sandpiper emerged from the dense clump of rushes in the middle of the marsh now and while we were watching it a second Wood Sandpiper appeared nearby. Everyone managed a nice view in the scope this time, without any distractions!
As we made our way back, there were several Azure Damselflies and Blue-tailed Damselflies around the bushes and more Four-spotted Chasers. A Grey-patched Mining Bee landed on the path and several Flavous Nomad Bees buzzed around the gorse.
Blue-tailed Damselfly – on the way back
We had planned to walk back round to the mound on the Whiteslea track, as we had been told there was a Black-winged Stilt there, but we had already had good views of one now. However, one of the group had left a camera there earlier, so we went back round to look for it. We were glad we did!
There was a male Black-winged Stilt now further back, blacker and with a black patch on its head, where the female had been earlier in front of the viewing platform. Then we heard calling and looked over to see the female on a spit much closer. It took off and flew straight towards us, landing down on the edge of the water right in front of us and then proceeded to pick its way even closer. Great views!
Black-winged Stilt – great views eventually
Six Common Cranes came up in the distance and flew round. A couple of Little Grebes swam across behind the line of reeds. Then it was time to head back for lunch. We cut back along the path through the wood. There were more Four-spotted Chasers here and a Small Copper butterfly landed on the path. A Common Whitethroat was singing in the top of a dead tree.
Almost back to the Visitor Centre, something flicked out of the oaks up in the canopy. A Spotted Flycatcher! It flew again and disappeared back deeper into the trees. A scarce bird here and presumably just a migrant stopping off. Unfortunately, not everyone saw it before it disappeared so we waited to see if it would come out again. There was no further sign, but we had nice views of a Treecreeper on the tree trunks.
We had lunch on the picnic tables in the sunshine, listening to Willow Warblers singing and with Cranes bugling in the distance. We had been thinking about going somewhere else this afternoon, but while we were eating someone walking back told us that there were several Swallowtails out by the Broad, showing very well. We decided to try for those next.
As we made our way round, we had a quick look at the Broad. A single Great Crested Grebe was out on the water, as well as lots of Mute Swans. A Hobby raced in over the Broad, and disappeared back the way we had come. Another circled high over the wood behind us. Along the path towards the Observatory, a couple of Green Tiger Beetles flew up from the path ahead of us.
We hadn’t gone too far before we saw a Swallowtail flying out over the reeds. It landed on a reed head, wings open, basking in the sunshine, but we were looking at it from behind and it was hard to get an angle to see it front on. A good start, but we knew they had been showing better than this earlier. We carried on to the Observatory and looked out over the Broad. There were a couple of Common Terns out over the water. We sat down in the cool for a rest and another Swallowtail flew past over the reeds.
We walked back the way we had come, hoping for a Swallowtail on the path and found some people watching one basking high on a sallow on the other side of the track from the reeds. It was a much better view now, with the sun behind us. Having only just emerged, the Swallowtails are absolutely fresh and pristine.
The Swallowtail then fluttered round and landed on a hawthorn bush right in front of us, only a metre or so off the ground, where it nectared on the flowers. Stunning! It kept flying up and round between us, gliding back in to the flowers, or up onto the sallow in the sunshine. It almost landed on someone’s head at one point! We stood and watched in awe.
Swallowtail – stunning views
The Swallowtails are out early this year and there are not many flowers out yet. The hawthorns are about the only things in flower, which is why they are nectaring on the bushes. Lucky for us, as it meant we were treated to such an amazing display. Eventually we had to tear ourselves away and walked back round towards the Visitor Centre. The first Swallowtail was still basking on the reeds as we passed.
We stopped to watch one of the Hobbys again, high over the scrapes, when it suddenly turned, folded its wings back and plummeted vertically, disappearing behind some trees. When it came up again it was eating a dragonfly. From a little further round, we could see the Hobby zooming back and forth repeatedly low over the scrape. It seemed to be doing well, catching a dragonfly on every pass. Great to watch.
Hobby – catching dragonflies
We had another quick look in the wood, but there was still no further sign of the Spotted Flycatcher. We had heard one calling earlier and we did now see a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the dead trees. Then it was back to the Visitor Centre for an ice cream before the long drive home.
Nightjar Evening
We met again in the evening. We hadn’t prearranged a Nightjar Evening for this tour, but the first Nightjars are back so by popular demand we headed out to see whether we might be able to find one.
As we drove out of the village, we noticed a shape on the roof of an old barn. Little Owl! We stopped and manoeuvred the minibus so everyone could get a look without disturbing it. It stared down at us disapprovingly, the went back to staring out at the fields across the road. These barns are in the process of being developed into houses – some of them are already being converted now – so it may only be a few more months before this Little Owl loses its home.
Little Owl – stared at us
We drove over to one of the local heaths with a beautiful sunset in the sky to the west. As we walked out onto the heath, a couple of Roe Deer were feeding in the field next door and we flushed a Muntjac from the path which ran out past them.
We stopped to look at a female Stonechat, perched on the gorse alarm calling in the gathering gloom. We caught the back end of a Woodcock, unusually silent, disappearing off away from us.
We had only just got ourselves into position when the first Nightjar churred from the trees right behind us. It was obviously churring from where it was roosting, and there was no sign of it. It churred again and then called and we saw it fly up over the treetops hawking for insects. It came past us again, a male with white flashes in the wingtips, and then disappeared out over the heath.
Another Nightjar started churring further away, with possibly a third further off still. The first Nightjar then started up again, this time out in the middle of the heath. We were hoping it might come back in towards us but it stayed out in the middle of the heath for some time before it eventually did so – it came in low over the gorse, flashing its white wing flashes and up into the trees behind us. Unfortunately, it was too dark to see where it landed and it didn’t stay too long before it was off again.
It was lovely standing here on the heath listening to the Nightjars. The Woodcock reappeared a couple of times, flying over roding. A Tawny Owl hooted from the trees. It was getting dark now and we decided to call it a night. We had another day’s birding to look forward to tomorrow.
A Spring 1-day Tour up on the North Norfolk coast today. It was forecast to rain, but it didn’t (no surprise there!). It was cloudy in the morning, but bright and warm, and progressively brightened up with some sunny spells in the afternoon.
Our destination for the morning was Burnham Overy Dunes. As we set off down the track across the grazing marshes, we could hear Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing in the hedge. A Goldfinch in the trees ahead of us was joined by a male Yellowhammer which flew in. There were several Shelducks out on the grass from the first gate and we could hear a Cuckoo calling off in the distance over towards the village.
Over the stile and out into the open, we scanned the grazing marshes beyond. A male Marsh Harrier was preening on the top of a bush on the edge of the reeds and another was flying round behind. Out on the grass, we picked up four Whimbrel and while we were watching them a single Bar-tailed Godwit appeared with them. We could see the rusty colouration of the godwits underparts extending right down under its tail. With the improvement in the weather and change in wind direction, birds are on the move now and we watched as they all flew off east.
Whimbrel – on the move today
There were lots of Sedge Warblers singing all the way along the track now and we had great views of one perched up in a hawthorn, which stayed in the same place long enough for us to even get the scope on it. A Cetti’s Warbler shouted from the bushes.
Sedge Warbler – singing from a hawthorn
The smaller pools on the grazing marsh are drying up fast now, but the larger pools still have quite a bit of water. We could see several Lapwings, Redshanks, Avocets and Oystercatchers here. We put the scope on a smart male Lapwing. A pair of Egyptian Geese were picking around on the mud, a Canada Goose was an addition to the list down in the grass at the back, and there were a few Teal, Shoveler and Coot too.
Talking to one of the wardens who was on his way back from an off-duty visit to the dunes, a Spoonbill flew over and disappeared off towards the colony. We could hear Mediterranean Gulls calling high overhead on the way out and one flew past now at eye level, a smart adult with jet black hood and clean white wing tips.
Mediterranean Gull – flew past
By the far gate, below the seawall, our first Reed Warbler of the day was singing in the reeds. It’s more rhythmic song was noticeably different from the Sedge Warbler singing nearby (which seemed to have included an impression of a squeaky toy into its varied repertoire!). We could actually see the Reed Warbler perched up in the reeds, noticeably plainer than the Sedge Warblers.
Reed Warbler – singing in the reeds
Up onto the seawall, the tide was out now. There were a couple of Grey Plover on the mud below, one getting into its smart breeding plumage, and several Black-tailed Godwits, plus lots more Avocets and Redshank. Further up, we could see lots of lingering Brent Geese out on the saltmarsh.
A Bittern boomed from the reeds behind us. We turned to scan the reedbed pool, which held a lone Great Crested Grebe. A Great White Egret flew past, showing off its long legs and black feet, and another Great White Egret was distantly out on the grazing marsh beyond. Several Common Pochard were swimming round in a small pool in the reeds further up.
Great White Egret – flew past
There had apparently been lots of Yellow Wagtails on the move along the coast this morning, so we stopped to look at the cows out on the grazing marsh beyond the reedbed. Most of the cows were lying down, but we could see at least one bright Yellow Wagtail around the feet of one which was standing. They were hard to see here though, as the cows were in the longer grass on the edge of the reeds..
Further out, we stopped to scan the harbour from the seawall. Two Little Terns were out fishing over the water in the distance, and one landed on one of the shingle spits. Our first Little Terns of the year, just returned for the breeding season.
Continuing on to the dunes, we bumped into one of the locals who told us he had just seen two Ring Ouzels to the west, so we walked out towards Gun Hill. We couldn’t find any sign of the Ring Ouzels now, although they can be very mobile out here. There were a few hirundines trickling through all morning, migrating west, mostly Swallows, but we saw a couple of House Martins and one Sand Martin with them.
A male Wheatear was perched on the rope fence down by the houseboats, but there was no further sign of the Little Terns in the harbour now. As we cut back round through the middle of the dunes, we came across a pair of Stonechats, the first of several, a big flock of Linnets and a few Meadow Pipits
Stonechat – several in the dunes
We had a message now to say the Ring Ouzels had just been flushed by dogwalkers in the dunes further east, so we made our way back past the boardwalk. Another Wheatear flushed ahead of us flashing its white rump and tail base.
As we came over a crest in the dunes, we could see a female Ring Ouzel distantly in the top of a bush beyond the fence. We had a good view of it through the scope, its pale crescent noticeably off white. It seemed to be catching insects in the top of the bush, hopping round through the branches. A brighter male Ring Ouzel appeared briefly in another bush beyond, so we decided to walk down for a closer look.
Two Red Kites chased each other over the dunes and hung in the air, one a very tatty young bird, moulting its wings. A Kestrel was circling low nearby and scanning the sky we picked up a more distant Hobby hawking for insects over the grazing marshes by the west end of the pines. A male Marsh Harrier was displaying miles up into the sky, little more than a dot unless viewed through the scope.
Ring Ouzel – the male landed in a bush
The male Ring Ouzel flew in and landed in a bush in front of us now, and we had a good look at it through the scopes, blacker than the female with a whiter crescent on its breast. The female dropped in with it, then they both flew off over the dunes.
There was no news of anything else interesting turning up further down towards the pines, so we turned round to head back. As we walked back through the dunes, there were two Wheatears now which flicked along the line of fence posts ahead of us and then out into the dunes – a smart male with black face mask and a browner female without.
Wheatear – a male
There were a few butterflies out in the dunes too, now that it was a bit warmer. In particular, we saw several Wall, our first of the year today.
Back along the seawall, there were more cows and calves now, and even better they were standing up and feeding. There were more Yellow Wagtails too, and the more we looked the more we counted. By the end, we had seen at least 15 at the same time and there could have been more. There were some very smart bright yellow males, and we watched as they fed in and out of the cows feet and round their noses. Amazing they don’t get trodden on!
Yellow Wagtail – and cows tail
Back along the track over the grazing marshes, another Spoonbill flew over, heading off west this time. Then it was time for lunch, and we drove round to Holkham to The Lookout. It was nice there, sitting out in the sunshine on the picnic tables, even if a bit too busy. Over lunch, we counted at least twelve Pink-footed Geese still on the grazing marsh by Lady Anne’s Drive. Several Whimbrel flew back and forth and a few raptors of various shapes and sizes drifted over. A Mistle Thrush was out on the grass at the back.
After lunch, we headed on through Stiffkey. There were several Roe Deer feeding in the field next to where we parked. As we made our way down through the copse, we could hear Blackcaps singing. Down by the river, there were a couple of people looking for the Dusky Warbler, but there had been no sign all day. It was the middle of the day now though, and perhaps a bit busy along the path. We did have nice views of a Chiffchaff above us and we heard a Lesser Whitethroat singing along the path ahead of us.
The tide was out now in the harbour. We could see a large mob of Sandwich Terns distantly out on Blakeney Point which flushed and swirled round in the sunshine. A single Whimbrel was feeding in the harbour channel.
Turning our attention to the Fen, there were quite a few Black-tailed Godwits and two Ruff. A single Little Ringed Plover was hiding behind the reeds and not easy to see. A White Wagtail was feeding around the edges of the islands with several Pied Wagtails. There were a few ducks, most notably a lingering drake Wigeon out on the water.
A Spoonbill flew in over the seawall and dropped down onto the Fen. It started feeding briefly, walking around and sweeping its bill side to side through the shallow water. Then it decided to have a bath, splashing and whipping up showers of water, its bushy nuchal crest flapping around as it did so. We could see the yellow tip to its bill too, and the mustard wash on its breast, an adult in breeding condition.
Spoonbill – bathing
A male Marsh Harrier was feeding on something in the reeds at the back. It was flushed by a female, but didn’t want to give up its prey, landing back down on the ground. It was then the turn of a Grey Heron to see if it could get a free lunch, but the harrier took off and took its lunch with it.
We had a slow walk back along the permissive path, but there was still no sound of the Dusky Warbler. So we decided to move on and made our way back to Wells. There were a couple of Grey Partridges in the field opposite where we parked. It was definitely a day for Yellow Wagtails, and we could hear more calling now. We looked across the other side to see another four with the cows out on the grazing marsh.
Scanning the pools, there were lots of Common Snipe, but we couldn’t find the Jack Snipe today – it was presumably hiding somewhere in the dense rushes. One Lapwing had a couple of small chicks. As we walked down the track, a Spoonbill appeared on the far edge feeding. A few Swallows came over, birds still on the move this afternoon. A Marsh Harrier was displaying overhead and another circled low above us.
Marsh Harrier – circled over
A Little Ringed Plover was out on the mud – much better views here compared to the one at Stiffkey, we could even see its golden-yellow eye ring. It was lovely here in the afternoon sunshine, we could have stayed for hours, but unfortunately we had to be heading back. Home time.
A Spring group day tour in North Norfolk today. It was bright & sunny in the morning, before clouding over in the afternoon, feeling quite warm in sheltered spots but cooler in the wind, which veered from ENE round to N in the afternoon.
Our destination for the morning was Burnham Overy Dunes. We parked at the top of the lane and set off to walk down, stopping for a quick chat with Paul, one of the wardens who was just walking up to the road. Just beyond, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing its distinctive rattling song in the hedge. It flew across the track ahead of us and we could just see it through the branches through on the sunny side. The first we have seen this year, newly returned from spending the winter in West Africa.
There were a couple of Chiffchaffs and a pair of Blackcaps in the hedge too. A Holly Blue butterfly fluttered around the alexanders by the path. A little further down, a Yellowhammer was calling but we couldn’t see it. A Kestrel was hovering overhead.
Holly Blue – on the alexanders
We couldn’t find any Ring Ouzels in the fields here today, but six Wheatears were out on the grass. Migrants stopping off to feed up on their way north. A couple of Marsh Harriers swirled round over the reeds beyond, several Linnets perched on the gorse bushes and flew in and out of the hedge and a Brown Hare was grooming itself out in the field.
From the next gate, we could see lots of Greylag Geese out on the grazing meadows, but a smaller goose with a darker head and bill was a lingering Pink-footed Goose. Most of the birds which had spent the winter here have long since departed, on their way back to Iceland for the breeding season. There are normally a handful which spend the whole year here though, typically inured birds which cannot make the journey north.
There was a succession Sedge Warblers singing in the brambles and reeds by the path, as we continued on. They seem to have divided up the path into various territories between them, each one singing and song flighting to advertise its own patch. One or two perched up nicely for us to have a closer look. A Cetti’s Warbler had not read the manual – rather than lurking deep in the vegetation it came out to sing perched right in the open on a briar stem. Unusually good views of this normally very secretive species.
Sedge Warbler – perched up nicely
Stopping to scan the pools, there were several Avocets and we turned the scope on one of the Lapwings for a closer look – such stunning birds! A couple of Black-tailed Godwits were sleeping further along, and a Common Snipe flew up from in front of us and dropped back down out of view. There were a few ducks here too, and a Little Grebe lurking in front of the reeds.
From up on the seawall, we could see the tide was in and the saltmarsh was largely covered with water. There were a few Common Pochard and Tufted Ducks on the reedbed pool and we could hear our first Reed Warbler of the day singing its more rhythmic song down in the reeds below us. There were a couple more Reed Warblers further up, more recent arrivals back from the summer just in the last day or so.
Scanning the remaining exposed area of saltmarsh from a bit further along, a Curlew was roosting between a couple of Oystercatchers and then we found a Whimbrel also asleep nearby – a nice opportunity to compare the two species, even if only the Curlew woke and flashed us its longer bill.
Whimbrel – roosting on the saltmarsh
A male Ruff, already moulting its body feathers but yet to get its oversized spring ruff, was feeding round one of the pools on the grazing marsh behind us. A lone Brent Goose was in with the Greylags beyond. It was cool in the breeze up on the bank, so we pushed on towards the shelter of the dunes. A Skylark fluttered up into the blue sky singing and a pair of Reed Buntings were down in the suaeda below the bank.
When we got to the boardwalk, we turned east into the dunes. There were lots more Linnets here and several more Wheatears on the short grass which flicked off ahead of us flashing their white rumps. There were one or two Meadow Pipits here too. A smart male Stonechat perched up on the bushes the other side of the fence, with food in its bill – presumably it had young in the nest somewhere nearby.
Wheatear – in the dunes
As we came over the next ridge, we could see several Ring Ouzels on the grass below us. There was a dogwalker coming towards us though and the Ring Ouzels flew up into the dunes before we could get the scope on them. We walked down and refound them a little further in – again they were very flighty but three landed on the slope ahead of us where we could finally get them in the scope, two browner females and a single male with a bright white gorget.
Ring Ouzels – two of the four plus today
A fourth Ring Ouzel disappeared round behind the next dune. As we walked on, it flew across and landed on the top of a bush the other side of the fence. One of the other Ring Ouzels flew over our heads to join it – two females again. It was hard to tell exactly how many there were here, but there seemed to be fewer than recent days. Perhaps some had left overnight, continuing on their way north up to Scandinavia.
A Grasshopper Warbler reeled briefly from the bushes a bit further along, but we didn’t hear it again, as we continued on through the dunes to the end of the pines. A pair of Mediterranean Gulls flew over calling and disappeared off towards the beach. We had a look around the feet of the cows out on the grazing marshes beyond the fence, but most of them were out of view in the vegetation. We couldn’t see any sign of the Cattle Egrets from here, but we could see that there were more cows further along, north of the pines.
There was a nice selection of invertebrates and plants here in the dunes too. A couple of Small Copper butterflies were notable. Towards the edge of the pines, we found a few bees – several females of the scarce and localised Early Colletes (Colletes cunicularius) still, going into their holes in the sand, and a swarm of smaller male Sandpit Mining Bees (Andrena barbilabris) – plus a single Hairy Sand Wasp (Podolonia hirsuta). The Norfolk Everlasting Pea shoots are just coming up.
Sandpit Mining Bee (Andrena barbilabris) – female
We could just see a Spoonbill in the trees in the distance, but there was a lot of heat haze and it was little more than a white blob from here. Everyone seemed happy to walk further, and have a later lunch when we got back, so we pressed on towards Joe Jordan hide. As we headed towards the pines, a Common Whitethroat was singing in the bushes beyond the fence and we could see it in the very top of a large hawthorn.
Along the path by the pines, a couple of Willow Warblers were flitting around in the sunshine in a sycamore which was just coming into leaf, one singing its lovely sweet descending scale of a song. The sound of spring! There were a few tits and more Blackcaps here, as well as a Speckled Wood butterfly.
From up in Joe Jordan hide, we got the scope on a Spoonbill which had flown down to bathe in one of the pools and was now busy preening, shaking its shaggy nuchal crest and showing off the yellow tip to its black bill. A second Spoonbill was feeding in a small pool beyond, sweeping its bill from side to side as it walked through the shallow water. One or two more circled in and out of the trees. Much better views from here, than the one we had seen earlier!
Spoonbill – better view from the hide
A couple of Cattle Egrets were stalking around the feet of the cows on the far side of the grazing marsh to the west. Through the scope, we could see their yellow bills and some orange colouring on their heads and backs. Hopefully they will stay to join the other egrets and herons in the colony. Three Grey Herons were hanging around with the cows too. A pair of Egyptian Geese were down on the marshes in front.
Cattle Egret – one of two with the cows
After a short rest in the hide, it was time for the long walk back. A different Willow Warbler by the path was doing a bit of ‘mixed singing’, adding in a little bit of Chiffchaff to the regular Willow Warbler song, presumably just something it learned when it was young. Surprisingly, on our way back through the dunes, we didn’t see any further sign of any Ring Ouzels.
With the tide out, there were more Brent Geese now feeding out on the saltmarsh. A Bittern boomed just three times from somewhere deep in the reedbed and after hearing Bearded Tits calling we had a brief view of one in the tops before it flew off back over the reeds.
It had been a long walk this morning but a very good one. We made our way round to Titchwell now, for a rather later than planned lunch in the picnic area. A couple of Bank Voles were creeping around the bee hotel behind us as we ate. After a welcome sit down and refuel, we headed out to explore the reserve. It had clouded over now and was feeling much cooler in the fresh breeze, so we made our way quite quickly up to Island Hide.
There were lots of gulls on the new bund, a group of very smart adult Mediterranean Gulls in with the Black-headed Gulls. We could see the Mediterranean Gulls‘ blacker hoods, with contrasting white eye shadow, bigger redder bills and white wing tips. Two Sandwich Terns flew round calling and landed in with the gulls briefly – we could see their shaggy crests and yellow-tipped black bills through the scope.
Mediterranean Gulls – on the new bund
There were nice close views of Avocets feeding in front of the hide and several pairs squabbling and displaying on the nearest island. A Ruff was picking round the edge of the island just behind and two Little Ringed Plovers flew over but dropped down out of view at the back. There were several Little Ringed Plovers on the islands in front of Parrinder hide and we had a nice view from them there, in the scope. We could see their golden yellow eye rings.
Little Ringed Plover – one of several
A Temminck’s Stint had dropped in here yesterday and thankfully was still hanging around today and we got it in the scope as it picked its way around the edges of the islands. Compared to the Little Ringed Plovers, and a pair of Greylag Geese and goslings which walked past at one point, we could see just how tiny it really was – one of our smallest waders. Temminck’s Stint is a scarce passage migrant here, passing through mainly in spring on its way up to Scandinavia for the breeding season, so always a nice one to see.
Temminck’s Stint – from Parrinder Hide
There were a few Ruff here too – several males in various states of moult and a single smaller female ‘Reeve‘. They really are one of the most confusing of waders! We had a good chance to compare them with several Redshank here too.
It looked a bit brighter, so we had a quick walk out to the beach. The tide was out and there was not very much on Volunteer Marsh today, and the Tidal Pool is not draining at the moment so was still full after the tide. Out on the beach, there were some waders down on the mussel beds – Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, several Turnstone and Oystercatchers. There were more waders distantly along the beach up towards Thornham Point – including a few Dunlin. A single Great Northern Diver was diving just offshore away to the east. It was rather cool out here in the northerly wind and we were out of time, so we turned to head back.
We were almost back to the Visitor Centre when we came across three people looking out through a scope over the Thornham grazing meadow. They were watching a Short-eared Owl which was perched on a post half way out. It had been seen earlier this morning but had gone to roost down in the grass, from where it had just been flushed by a Marsh Harrier apparently and landed on the post. We stopped to look at it through the scope.
Short-eared Owl – to finish the day
A great way to finish, we then made our way back to the minibus and dropped everyone back where we started.
Our inaugural Scotland Tour, which had been postponed for the last two years due to Covid, was finally able to go ahead in 2022. We were blessed with glorious weather – lots of blue skies and sunshine and temperatures often into the mid-teens. If you like what you read and are tempted to join us in 2023, we have dates available already for next year so just let us know. Looking forward to it already!
Monday 21st March
Half the group met in Norfolk – we set off from Hindolveston early afternoon and stopped to pick up again in King’s Lynn. It was a typically slow journey west through the Fens, although there were lots of Rooks to watch in the fields by the road, gathering nest material and perched in the trees atop their nests. There were a few Red Kites and Common Buzzards up in the warm sunshine too.
Apart from a brief hold-up due to an accident on the A1, we had a fairly uneventful journey north to Darlington, which was only punctuated by a problem which developed with the diesel particulate filter self-cleaning on the minibus on the last leg. We stopped at the Premier Inn for the night, and made arrangements to pick up a replacement minibus in the morning, then went out to get something to eat in the town centre.
Tuesday 22nd March
We had a very early start this morning, to get up into the Pennines before dawn. As we drove out onto the moors, it was only just starting to get light – there was just the merest hint of a paling in the sky to the east. We pulled up and opened the windows, to be greeted by the most amazing soundscape – against a backdrop of silence, all we could hear were Black Grouse bubbling, Curlews calling and a Common Snipe drumming. Mesmerising!
As it got light enough to see, we trained the scopes on the Black Grouse as they emerged from the gloom. They were all males, puffed up, their lyre-shaped tails spread and their white undertail coverts fluffed out, lekking. We watched as they postured, occasionally facing off against each other, and even one or two fighting. There were 23 male Black Grouse in the main lek, with two more separate males on their own, one still a young male. We could hear Red Grouse calling too, and looked over to see a pair walking round on the hillside a little further over.
Black Grouse – males on the lek
A female Black Grouse (a ‘greyhen’) flew down from the hillside behind us and landed down by one of the lone males. The male started to display more actively, but after a few seconds she flew again, across and into the main lek. The males there got very excited, chasing round after her, but she lost interest and flew back to the lone male and then up onto a nearby fencepost. Three more females appeared in the distance, on the slope beyond, and the lone male flew over and started displaying over there instead.
Black Grouse – a female, or ‘greyhen’
When the Black Grouse in the lek suddenly scattered, flying off in all directions, we looked over to see a male Merlin coming over low. We watched it fly off up the hillside. Hardly a threat to the grouse, but more so to the Skylarks and Meadow Pipits which were singing and song-flighting all around us now, as the sun came up.
It was a wonderful way to spend the morning, watching the comings and going at the lek, but we had a long journey ahead so we decided to move on. As we drove up to the top of the moor, a pair of Golden Plover flew past and a Woodcock flew over over the road and dropped down into the valley below, landing down in the long grass. It came up a couple more times, before it finally settled and disappeared for good.
Red Grouse – great views by the road
At the top, we stopped to admire some Red Grouse very close to the road and could now see the pair of Golden Plover standing in the heather behind, along with a few more Curlews. Dropping down the other side, there were several Common Snipe standing on various fenceposts by the road in the sunshine.
We dropped back down to Darlington to pick up the replacement minibus, and then continued our journey north, stopping for a late breakfast at Durham Services. We planned to break the journey in Musselburgh and finally arrived there early afternoon, a little later than originally planned.
Two pairs of Goldeneye were in the channel as we walked up towards the Esk Mouth, where quite a few waders were gathered along the shore ahead of the rising tide – large groups of Bar-tailed Godwits and Oystercatchers, along with a few Redshank and one or two Dunlin.
Goldeneye – in the Esk channel
There were lots of ducks out on the sea beyond, rafts of Common Eider and scoter, along with a good number of Long-tailed Ducks. A few Gannets and Kittiwakes passed by offshore and we could see Guillemots and Razorbills too.
Looking through the scoter flocks, there was a nice mix of Common Scoter and Velvet Scoter here, with some smart male Velvets sporting a white spot under the eye and bright yellow edges to the bill. The stunning male Surf Scoter was easy to pick out, with the big white patches on its forehead and the back of its neck and its swollen orange bill, but the female with it was more subtle. We couldn’t find the regular White-winged Scoter with the Velvets off here this afternoon, but it was hazy offshore away to the west, and we could see more scoter off in the distance that way. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to look from further along the coast this afternoon.
We continued our journey up, and had a smooth run up to Carrbridge, where we settled into our guest house and met up with the rest of the group, just in time for dinner.
Wednesday 23rd March
For those that rose early, we had a quick morning walk along the river before breakfast. There were lots of Greenfinches singing in the village and a pair of Bullfinches flew up into the top of a larch behind the guesthouse. We stopped to admire the old bridge before taking the footpath along the bank. It was a cold and frosty start and we found several Siskins, Mistle Thrushes, and a Song Thrush perched in the tops of the trees here in the sunshine. We heard a Grey Wagtail calling and found a couple of Pied Wagtails in the paddocks. We crossed the river at the footbridge, and stopped to scan but we couldn’t find any sign of a Dipper today.
We walked back along the road. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming and flew out and perched in the sunshine as we passed. We could hear Common Crossbills calling from deeper in the trees and a couple flew out over our heads ‘glipping’. A Treecreeper posed nicely on the birches by the footpath and a distant flock of Pink-footed Geese circled over beyond the village as we walked back to the guesthouse for breakfast.
Given the risk of disturbance to Capercaillie, we would not be going out actively looking for them on this trip and in particular not visiting particular woods early in the morning, despite our visit being outside the traditional sensitive period of April-May when they are lekking. There is still an outside chance of coming across one later in the day, walking on the public paths, when we would be looking for other pine forest species like crossbills and Crested Tits. The birds’ welfare comes first.
So after breakfast, we drove over to an area of forest for a walk. The small pool in the field opposite held a couple of Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Wigeon and Teal, with Oystercatchers, Lapwings and couple of Redshank in the muddy margins. A pair of Mistle Thrushes were feeding in the field in front and small groups of Meadow Pipits and Linnets flew up onto the fence. Another skein of Pink-footed Geese came over calling.
As we walking in through the trees along the main ride, we could hear a crossbill singing ahead of us and as we got closer two birds flew across the track calling. The flight call sounded Parrot/Scottish type and we could see the birds looked heavy-billed. One was now singing in the trees across the path and we managed to find an angle where we could get it in the scope. Its bill looked intermediate in depth, thicker than a Common Crossbill but not as bulky as the Parrot Crossbills we occasionally see in Norfolk during periodic irruptions from the continent, more consistent with what we would expect on ‘Scottish Crossbill‘.
Crossbill – bill dimensions looked consistent with ‘Scottish Crossbill’
The crossbill dropped from view but we could still hear it singing. After a minute or so it flew back across the track where it landed in the top of a pine right next to the path. We were looking into the sun here, but we could still appreciate the size and structure of its bill and even though it remained rather mobile we had a good chance to study it from various angles.
Historically, the only accepted method for conclusively identifying Scottish Crossbill was to record a so-called Type C excitement call, but even this has recently been shown to be unreliable. Just this month, the Scottish Rare Birds Committee has announced that it has stopped considering records of Scottish Crossbill until any alternative identifying characteristic can be proven. So there is no way we can conclusively identify these crossbills either! ‘Scottish Crossbill‘ remains our best guess, but regardless of species they remain fascinating birds and it was great to watch and listen.
Continuing on round on the path, it was rather quiet in the trees. A Comma butterfly fluttered up from the side of the track in the sunshine. As we made our way back towards where we had parked, we heard a Crested Tit calling ahead of us, but by the time we got up to where it had been it had gone quiet. When the Crested Tit called again it was much deeper in the trees and we couldn’t see it.
We moved on and drove over towards Dorback next. A Red Squirrel ran across the road and up into a tree beside the minibus. A bit further along, we stopped for coffee in the sunshine. A couple of Common Buzzards circled up and a Merlin drifted over. Scanning the hills, we picked up a distant Golden Eagle which we watched in the scopes as it circled up, our first of the trip.
After a quick stop in Nethy Bridge to use the facilities, we drove on to Loch Garten. The visitor centre was still closed for refubishment, but the car park was open and full of toads! We stopped for lunch down by the loch and afterwards, walked down to Loch Mallachie. There were lots of finches in the pines, Siskins and Chaffinches, and stopping to look through them we found lots of smart Bramblings too. There were plenty of Coal Tits here too, but no sign of any Crested Tits today.
Down by the Loch, there were lots more toads, some mating in the middle of the path, and we had to watch where we were walking! There were a few ducks and geese over at the back – Wigeon, Mallard, Greylags and a single Goldeneye. Back through the trees on the other side of the loop, it was a bit more exposed to the wind, and quieter but along the path back to the Loch Garten car park we did come across a Goldcrest and a Treecreeper.
Back in Nethy Bridge, we went to see if we could find the Waxwings. They had been around since early February and were seen late yesterday afternoon, but we couldn’t find them today – it later became clear they had obviously departed overnight and were not seen again. We did see some nice Bramblings around a garden with some feeders, although a Goldfinch asleep on one of the perches didn’t look well. A close Goldcrest was flitting around in the hedge.
Brambling – in Nethy
On our way back to the minibus, we stopped to scan the river. One of the group spotted a Dipper over by the far bank, but before everyone could get onto it, it flew and we lost sight of it behind some trees. We thought it probably hadn’t gone very far, but despite walking down along the footpath to the next bridge, there was no further sign.
We drove back via Broomhill bridge and stopped for a quick scan of the river. Several Goldeneye were down on the water and a lone Pink-footed Goose flew over calling, and dropped down towards the fields behind the trees. From the other side of the bridge, we found over a thousand Pink-footed Geese feeding in the fields. Then it was time to head back for dinner.
Thursday 24th March
We took a short drive out of Carrbridge for our (optional!) walk before breakfast this morning. At the end of the road, we got out to scan the fields. There were just a few Greylag Geese out on the grass here this morning, so we walked on down the path towards the river. A couple of Song Thrushes flushed out of the grass ahead of us and a Mistle Thrush was feeding along the fence line. There were lots of Common Gulls and a few Oystercatchers down by the water. It was not forecast to rain this morning, but we could see low clouds over the hills beyond and it started to drizzle so we walked back to the minibus to shelter.
On our way back to the minibus, a couple of Redpolls flew over calling and now we realised there were more in the trees behind the bus. As the shower eased, we walked up the slope to look in the trees. There were lots of finches in here, feeding on the cones – Siskins and Goldfinches, as well as the Redpolls. They mostly looked like Lesser Redpolls, but one looked to have paler tramlines and a paler ground colour to the rump. Unfortunately they would not stay still long enough for closer examination.
A flock of Common Crossbills flew over the hillside beyond and landed in a group of pines up on the top. By the time we had run back down to the minibus and grabbed the scope, the Crossbills had dropped down out of view but we didn’t have to wait too long before one or two came back up into the tops, included a typically small-billed, bright red male. Then we had to hurry back for breakfast – no time to stop to admire the Red Deer on the edge of the trees.
After breakfast, we had a quick walk in the woods nearby. More crossbills flew over the trees calling and a Jay flew across the path in front of us. We were still hoping to catch up with a Crested Tit, but once again all we found were lots of Coal Tits. As we got back to the minibus, a Goldcrest was singing nearby and a Treecreeper was climbing up the trunks of the trees.
Dipper – flew back in
Our destination for the morning was the Findhorn Valley. We stopped a couple of times to scan the river on the drive up and the second stop we found a Dipper on a little stream under a bridge. It flew out to the river and landed on a large rock before dropping down into the water, then flew in towards the bank below us. We parked a little further up and walked back. There was no further sign of the Dipper at first, then we heard it flying down stream along the river towards us calling, and looked over to see two chasing after each other. They had obviously flown off further downstream, but eventually one flew back in from the river calling and landed on a rock in the stream, where we had a great view of it.
The sun was shining and it was warming up nicely now here, where we were out of the wind. Scanning the hilltops, there were several Common Buzzards circling up, plus a Red Kite, and our first Ravens. We continued on up to the top of the valley where we stopped for coffee. There were a few clouds now, and it was a bit breezy here, so it felt decidedly cooler. A Raven tumbled over the tops, and a couple of Common Buzzards were hanging over the tops. A Meadow Pipit was singing and displaying behind us.
We were going to move on, but we could see the sky clearing again so hung on a little longer. As the blue sky reappeared, a Peregrine appeared right overhead from behind us, drifting down the valley before stopping to tussle with a Buzzard, which responded by stooping sharply down to the hillside out of harm’s way.
Peregrine – drifted overhead during coffee
The warmth also brought out a Golden Eagle, over the top of the hillside lower down the valley. As we watched, it dropped down in front of the face and flew across until it was lost from view. We thought it might be worth another look lower down, so we packed up, and drove down. We stopped and scanned, but at first there was no further sign of it where it had gone down.
Then the same or another Golden Eagle appeared over the tops back where we had first seen it. We got it in the scopes and watched it circling up. It was joined by a Buzzard, which looked tiny by comparison, and when another raptor circled up from below we realised it was a ringtail Hen Harrier. Amazing what a bit of warmth will do for raptor activity!
We drove further down, back to where we had earlier seen the Dipper, and stopped for lunch by the river. There was no sign of the Dipper now, but a Grey Wagtail was singing from the rocks along the stream. It was a lovely spot to sit and eat in the sunshine.
After lunch, we drove up over the Farr Road. As we got out onto the moorland at the top, we could see another Golden Eagle circling over the road ahead of us. By the time we had got up to there, it was drifting away over the valley but after a quick dismount we had great views of it circling against the hillside beyond, this one an immature with bold white patches in the base of the primaries and the tail.
Golden Eagle – an immature
It drifted down the valley and back across towards where the road was much further down, so we decided to give chase. We caught up with it and stopped again, everyone getting out very quickly this time – after a bit of practice! The Golden Eagle was circling in front of us, then it was attacked from above by a Buzzard. Eventually it drifted away to the crags beyond, with the Buzzard still in pursuit.
We continued on down the valley and then round to Loch Ruthven. A Reed Bunting came up from the side of the road and a male Stonechat was perched in the top of the trees opposite the car park. A couple more Red Kites were circling over the hillside beyond.
Walking down the path to the Loch, the first thing we found was a Little Grebe. Then scanning more carefully we found our target here, a pair of Slavonian Grebes. They were right at the back, and rather distant views even through the scopes, but we could see they were in breeding plumage. Another one appeared nearby, not yet fully moulted and still looking more patchy. There were several Goldeneye out on the lock too.
Continuing on down to the hide, a Treecreeper was singing in the trees and once again we had to tread carefully to avoid all the toads on the path. The pair of Slavonian Grebes had come much closer now, and the light was better from here so we had a much better view of them now. We could see their bright golden yellow head tufts. Very smart and very different from the black and white winter birds with which we are more familiar.
Slavonian Grebe – already in breeding plumage
We still had a little bit of time to play with, so we drove quickly back to Aviemore and up to Cairngorm base station. We had been told that the first Ring Ouzels had arrived back yesterday and figured if we could find one this afternoon, it would give us a bit more time tomorrow. But we could only have a quick search now, before we had to be back, so we needed a bit of luck. We walked all round, beyond the buildings where they had been yesterday, but we couldn’t find it so we thought we were out of luck.
Half of the group were already in the minibus, and we were just waiting for the last person to walk back, when we heard something behind us and looked round to see a male Ring Ouzel on a small pine tree on the far side of the car park. One of the group didn’t believe the shout at first until someone else announced ‘this is not a drill!’ and quickly everyone piled out again. Just in time – we had a good look at it, then had to head back quickly to Carrbridge where we were very nearly late for dinner.
Ring Ouzel – appeared just as we were about to leave
Friday 25th March
We wanted an early walk in the woods this morning, as we still hadn’t caught up with Crested Tit, but we couldn’t go in some of the local woods for fear of causing disturbance, so we had a quick drive back down to Loch Mallachie as we knew they had been seen here recently. It was meant to be sunny today, but it was a cloudy and cool start and slightly misty around the lochs. It made for a lovely view across Loch Garten from the trees.
It was perhaps a bit too early for birds though and it was quiet in the trees at first. A Crossbill flew over calling and there were the ubiquitous Siskins and Chaffinches up in the tops of the pines still. A pair of Goldeneye were at the back of Loch Mallachie now. It was only as we walked back to the minibus that the morning sun started to penetrate the clouds, and suddenly the tits were more active. We stopped briefly to watch the Coal Tits, Great Tits and Goldcrests in the trees by the car park, and then we had to head back for breakfast.
We were heading up to the Moray Coast today, but we decided to call in for a quick look at Lochindorb on the way north. On the way, we noticed a Golden Eagle circling over the hillside across valley and it turned and started to glide over our way. We managed to stop the minibus ahead of it and got out (we had lots of practice at rapid exits from the minibus by now – once again, it was not a drill!) and we had great views as it drifted right over us. An immature, clearly older than the one we had seen yesterday with much smaller white patches in the primaries. We were doing well for eagles on this trip, but were still not ready for what was yet to come.
Golden Eagle – came low over the road
Along the minor road down to Lochindorb, one of the group spotted the head of a Red Grouse in the heather close by. We pulled up as those of the group who hadn’t journeyed up in the minibus still hadn’t seen one, but it was not obvious and well camouflaged until you realised where it was hiding.
We stopped further up to scan the loch, but a paddleboarder out on the water probably didn’t help. We noticed a Red Kite over the moors at the far end and when one of the group asked “what’s that raptor”, we assumed at first they meant the Kite. But when we looked across the water, we noticed it was actually a young White-tailed Eagle circling over the hillside beyond. We got the scopes onto it, and two juvenile Golden Eagles appeared with it, followed by another White-tailed Eagle, all circling together and chasing each other round over the hillside! A distant diver flew through the same view, but it was high and flying away from us, and we were slightly distracted. As if that wasn’t already being greedy, as the eagles drifted away yet another White-tailed Eagle joined them – five eagles together in the same scope view!
Our first destination on the coast was Cullen. There had been some White-billed Divers here earlier in the week and we hoped one or two may still be lingering. It was beautifully sunny when we got out onto the clifftop, and we set up the scopes to scan the sea. The gorse in front of us was in flower, and a lovely male Yellowhammer appeared in the yellow flowers. A couple of Linnets flew over.
There were lots of birds on the sea – rafts of Eider and Long-tailed Duck. A selection of auks, with lots of Razorbill and Guillemot and we eventually managed to pin down a couple of Black Guillemot out on the sea too. There were a few Gannets and Kittiwakes passing offshore and Fulmars coming into the cliffs further along. We managed three diver species off here – three Red-throated Divers close in, a single Black-throated Diver and a single Great Northern Diver, but no sign of any White-billed.
It was a lovely spot here in the sunshine, so we got the lunch and coffee stuff from the minibus and stopped here to eat on the grass overlooking the sea. Perfect! After lunch we had another scan of the sea, but the birds were much the same as we had seen earlier. From the other side of the gorse, looking down at the harbour, we could see just how many Long-tailed Ducks were off here today – we counted at least 300, but they were flying round and there were quite possibly a lot more. Impressive stuff, particularly with so many adult drakes amongst them.
Long-tailed Ducks – some of the 300+ offshore
We made our way back west along the coast road next and turned off just before Elgin, pulling up in a layby overlooking Loch Oire. There had been a drake Ring-necked Duck here a few days ago but it hadn’t been reported recently. Still, as we were passing we thought we would take a luck. There was no sign of it at first – quite a few Tufted Ducks, a few Wigeon and Teal, a handful of Goldeneye. A Chiffchaff was singing from the trees in the sunshine – a new bird for the trip list.
We thought we might be out of luck, but then the Ring-necked Duck appeared from behind the island at the far end. We just got the scope on it but it disappeared back in before everyone could get a luck. We walked down the road, but the trees were too thick further along to see round behind the island. Thankfully, as we walked back to the layby the Ring-necked Duck appeared again and swam round to the front of the island. This time we got a much better look at it – a really smart bird and always instructive to see it next to the drake Tufted Ducks for comparison, with its much more striking bill pattern, peaked back of the head and two-toned flanks.
Ring-necked Duck – a very smart drake
After a quick stop at Tesco in Elgin to refuel, we continued on to our last stop at Roseisle. We only had about an hour here, but it was a lovely place to stop. We stood on the top of the dunes on the edge of the trees, looking out across Burghead Bay in the late afternoon sunshine. There were some nice scoter off here, although the heat shimmer on the water made it a little difficult to pick out much at any distance. We did get some nice views of both Common Scoter and Velvet Scoter though, including a nice drake Velvet showing off the yellow on its bill and white crescent under its eye.
Then it was time to head back. We still had one last bonus to end the day though. As we drove into Carrbridge, a pair of Goosander were on the river right below the bridge so we stopped and got out for a look. We thought they might spook, so approached very carefully, but instead they just swam about on the river below us.
Goosander – on the river
Saturday 26th March
Before breakfast this morning, we had a quick drive out to see if we could find some Black Grouse for those members of the group who had not travelled up with us. It was a bit misty this morning, but we could hear the bubbling of the Black Grouse as we pulled up and we could make out some black shapes out on the grass. It was rather atmospheric in the mist!
When the fog rolled in and we couldn’t even see the black shapes any more, we decided to try something else. We drove back round towards Lochindorb, and back out into the sunshine. At least three Red Squirrels were along the side of the road on the way down to the loch and scurried up into the trees as we passed. Further along, there were a pair of Oystercatchers and a pair of Redshanks along the shore, but there were two cars and people camping here now.
As we made our way back, we swung round via the Black Grouse again and the mist/fog had cleared now to beautiful sunshine. The light was perfect and we counted at least 10 males out on the grass, with some stunning views through the scope viewed from a distance. Then it was back to Carrbridge for breakfast.
Black Grouse – stunning in the sunshine
After breakfast, we headed out west. Past Inverness, a couple of Red Kites hung over the road and one of the group spotted a diver on a loch but we had cars behind and nowhere to turn round. We figured we would have another look on the way back. We had a quick stop at Lochcarron and while everyone was waiting to use the facilities, we got a scope out and scanned the water. There were lots of Red-breasted Mergansers out on the loch, including two pairs displaying, the drakes with their spiky punk crests raised and throwing their heads back. Twelve Whooper Swans at the far end were presumably stopping off on their way north. There were two or three Common Seals on the rocks in the middle too.
We took the minor road towards Applecross and there were lots of Red Deer on the hillside as we wound our way up towards the pass. It was a bit cloudy up at the car park at the top, so we donned coats and appropriate clothing as we set off to walk to the weather station. Two distant Golden Eagles drifted over the hillside beyond.
By the time we got to the top, the clouds had cleared and it was glorious sunshine again. Scanning all around we picked up a distant adult White-tailed Eagle circling over the hills. It didn’t help that it was warm and sunny now, and it was already midday after the long drive over, and other than the eagles it was rather quiet bird-wise up here. Half the group walked all round the top, but the only thing we could find was a Mountain Hare which ran out from behind some boulders.
Mountain Hare – flushed from the rocks
When we got back to where we had left the rest of the group enjoying the stunning views over the surrounding hills, they had heard a Ptarmigan calling. Unfortunately they thought the sound had come from down the sheer face in front. We tried searching the boulder field nearby, but there was nothing there now besides a lone Raven and, rather more surprising up here, a Woodcock which flushed a pile of rocks. Another distant Golden Eagle circled up in the distance.
We had run out of time and had to head back down for a late lunch. While we ate back in the car park, another White-tailed Eagle, a young bird this time, circled overhead. A Raven flew in and landed on the rocks in front. Perhaps both having smelt our delicious tuna mayonnaise sandwiches?
White-tailed Eagle – circled overhead
After lunch, we dropped down over the pass to the village of Applecross and stopped to use the facilities. Again, we got the scopes out for a scan while we waited. A single Common Scoter was just offshore with a small raft of Eider. There were more Red-breasted Mergansers here including a flock of nine displaying over by the far shore. At least six Great Northern Divers were mostly still in non-breeding plumage, but one already had acquired the black and white chequerboard back. There was a single summer plumage Red-throated Diver too and five fantastic Slavonian Grebes, again mostly in breeding plumage already.
There were two Hooded Crows on the beach when we arrived and first one then the other came in to bathe in a stream flowing down the beach right in front of us. A Rock Pipit was feeding in the rocks down on the shore and a second dropping in higher up the beach in front of us. What a productive stop, again with a stunning view and bathed in glorious sunshine. Not typical conditions for the west coast at this time of year!
Hooded Crow – bathing
We carried on the long way around the coast from here, again taking in the fantastic scenery, the stunning views out to Skye and then across to the Outer Hebrides beyond. Another quick stop revealed more Great Northern Divers offshore, at least 15 here feeding in the Inner Sound. Several Stonechats perched on the fences and there were more Hooded Crows.
We stopped again looking out over Loch Torridon and it appeared to be rather quiet here at first, although we were quite high up and a long way from the water. Scanning with the scope, we did find two more Great Northern Divers, several Red-throated Divers, three Slavonian Grebes, a raft of Eider and a couple of Wigeon right over the far side.
Another impromptu stop further on to scan an enticing looking Loch by the road produced just what we had hoped it might – a stunning summer plumage Black-throated Diver out in the middle, of which we enjoyed some lovely views through the scopes. Three redhead Goosander flew up from the edge of another loch further on, and a Red Deer was grazing right by the road, oblivious to the tourists stopped to photograph it. As we were passing, we diverted the short distance back to the loch where one of the group had seen the diver earlier, but there was no sign of it now. However, a Greenshank in the shallows here was a nice bonus for our efforts.
It was a great trip round admiring the amazing west coast scenery, but now we had the long drive back to Carrbridge and we phoned ahead to confirm the arrangements for a slightly later than normal dinner.
Sunday 27th March
The clocks had gone forward overnight, and as we were leaving today too, there was no time for an early walk before breakfast. A couple of the group had taken an early flight back, as they wanted to get home for Mother’s Day, but the rest of us packed up after breakfast and headed into the forest for one last walk, still hoping for a Crested Tit.
The track to Forest Lodge is now gated, and although the sign is rather mealy-mouthed and woolly in its wording, we assume it means we now have to walk in. We hadn’t gone far when we heard Bramblings singing and when we stopped to look, picked up a couple of crossbills in the top of the pines. We got them in the scope, but just at that moment a car came the other way down the track, and we had to move out of the way. Even worse, the driver decided to stop to ask us what we were looking at. By the time they drove on, we had only just got the scope back on the crossbills when they flew off. They didn’t call but again looked rather intermediate-billed, presumably more Scottish Crossbills?
Continuing on, there were lots of Siskins in the trees again, plenty of Coal Tits and a Treecreeper, but nothing else of note. By the time we got to Forest Lodge, we didn’t have a lot of time left to explore the trails today. We took a short walk down one of the tracks but it was warm and sunny now and very quiet here so we turned round and started to walk back.
We were almost back to the gate, when one of the group calmly announced ‘Crested Tit‘ and we looked up to see one in the trees over the track just ahead of us. It flew over the track and landed low down in the pines the other side we had a lovely view of it now as it perched in the opens for a few seconds. A second Crested Tit flew over the road to join it, a pair, and the two of them then moved silently deeper into pines and quietly disappeared. Success – right at the last!
Crested Tit – not the best photo, but we had better views!
We said goodbye to another member of the group now, who was heading off south, then the remainder of us drove up to the Aberdeenshire coast at Portsoy. After we had drawn a blank the day before, there had been 11 White-billed Divers reported yesterday, 7 off there and 4 off Cullen, so we figured we should be able to find at least one.
It was nice and clear off Portsoy when we arrived, although a bit cooler on the coast than inland. We took our packed lunches up to the benches by the dolphin statue and ate while we scanned. There were a few Eider and Long-tailed Duck offshore, rafts of auks on the sea, and Gannets passing by close in. Scanning further out, we came across several Red-throated Divers and at least six Great Northern Divers, but a diver some way off to the west instantly looked different, long-necked and with its head and bill angled upwards. It was a White-billed Diver, paler-headed than the Great Northerns and its pale bill seemed to disappear against the bright background, but it was very distant.
Eider – a smart drake, off Portsoy
As we finished our lunch, one of the group picked up a Peregrine on the cliffs away to the west. Then we packed up and drove along the coast to Findlater’s Castle, hoping to refind the White-billed Diver a little closer. There were a couple of Yellowhammers in the fields on the way down to the castle, and Skylarks singing. Scanning from the clifftop, it was a bit misty further offshore now. We picked up yet more Great Northern Divers, including a stunner in full breeding plumage already, but no sign of the White-billed. A couple of Fulmars were flying in and out from the walls of the castle below.
The divers seemed to be gradually drifting west with the tide, so we drove round to Cullen for a quick look just in case. There were at least twenty Great Northern Divers off here now, but likely with some overlap as we picked up the same breeding plumage bird again off to the east. Their grey bills were catching the bright sunshine, and some were looking rather pale offshore in the bright light – easily mistaken for a White-billed Diver by the unwary – but we didn’t have the imagination to turn any of these into something rarer. We would have to make do with just the one today.
Unfortunately, we were out of time now, and we had to set off for the long drive back. After a stop to eat on the way, we arrived back in Darlington late in the evening at the Premier Inn.
Monday 28th March
After dropping off the replacement minibus and picking up ours early this morning, we set off back south. With a quick stop for breakfast at Wetherby, it was an uneventful journey notable only for the rain we drove into on the A1. We had been so lucky with the weather, and now it was turning – next week was forecast to be very cold, wet, windy, and with some snow in the north. Unconcerned by that now, we were back in Hindolveston in time for lunch.
What a great trip. The weather had been fantastic, the scenery was stunning, and the birds were pretty good too. Same again in 2023? We are looking forward to it already!
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.
A Private Tour today, in North Norfolk. It was a cloudy but bright morning, with lighter easterly winds than of late, and although the cloud thickened and it started spitting for a time in the afternoon, thankfully the worst of the rain held off until after we were finished.
We started at Cley. Before we even got out of the car park, we could already hear the Grasshopper Warbler reeling and as we crossed the road we could see it perched on a curl of brambles in the reeds by the path. We stood and watched it for a while. It was amazingly obliging, perching up in full view just a couple of metres from the path. Olive-brown above, streaked with black, this Grasshopper Warbler is particularly bright lemon yellow below, its long undertail coverts with black arrowhead marks. Fantastic views at close quarters, which really allowed us to appreciate the finer details.
Occasionally it would drop down to the ground to feed, disappearing in the tangled vegetation, but after a short while it would reappear again and start reeling once more. Reeling is the name for the some of Grasshopper Warblers, if you can call it a song. It sounds more like a cricket, a mechanical repetitive clicking. It was amazing how long it could sustain a burst of reeling, the volume rising and falling as it turned its head from side to side.
Grasshopper Warbler – reeling continually
There were other things to see as we stood transfixed by the Grasshopper Warbler. A couple of Marsh Harriers circled over the reeds. A Little Ringed Plover flew over calling and dropped down towards the car park. A couple of Sedge Warblers were singing too, one repeatedly song-flighting up from the reeds, and a Cetti’s Warbler shouted a few times from further up.
Marsh Harrier – circling over the reeds
Eventually, we had to tear ourselves away from the Grasshopper Warbler. One of the aims for today was to have a bit of scope tuition – a new purchase needed setting up and some advice in getting used to using it. So we walked back to the car park and got everything out, setting up the scopes in the picnic area and starting with a scan of Pat’s Pool. We could see lots of Avocets, a few Black-tailed Godwits and a single Ruff around the water. A couple of Great White Egrets were chasing each other around, out in the middle of the reedbed, flying up and around. One or two Bearded Tits zoomed past over the reeds.
Great White Egret – one of two chasing round in the reedbed
There seemed to be more warblers around the car park this morning. A Blackcap was singing from the hedge by the road, but a second male was flitting around the edge of the picnic area at the same time. Likewise, a Common Whitethroat was singing from the brambles and we watched another flitting around in the alexanders on the bank below the Visitor Centre. A Willow Warbler sang briefly too, somewhere around the houses further along.
The theme continued as we made our way east along The Skirts path, past the Grasshopper Warbler which was still reeling away. There were lots of warblers in the bushes beside the road, another two or three Willow Warblers, a couple of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Common Whitethroats. It felt like there had been a small arrival this morning. We heard several Reed Warblers singing – more seem to have arrived here in the last few days, but they remained hidden down in the reeds. Some of the Sedge Warblers were more obliging, perching up in full view as they sang.
Sedge Warbler – there are lots in and busy singing now
There had been a couple of Swifts earlier, over the East Bank, and we had seen a big flock of hirundines hawking over the front of Walsey Hills as we walked that way, but by the time we got there, they had all disappeared. We set off up the East Bank and stopped to look out over Pope’s Pool with the scopes. There were still lots of ducks here, Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon, plus some smart Gadwall. A pair of Common Pochard flew past. As well as the breeding Redshank and Lapwing down in the grass, we found a single Bar-tailed Godwit out here too.
A Spoonbill was feeding in one of the wet channels down in the grass, mostly hidden from view until it broke off and lifted its head. Eventually it worked its way out of the channel into a pool nearer the bank, where we could get a better look at it. A smart adult, with yellow-tipped black bill, bushy nuchal crest, and mustard yellow wash across its breast.
Spoonbill – feeding in the wet channels off the East Bank
The hirundines had obviously drifted off east, as we could see some in the distance now, over the back of Arnold’s Marsh. As they gradually came closer, we could see a mixture of Swallows and Sand Martins, the latter presumably birds from the sand cliffs along the coast to the east. Scanning higher we spotted several Common Swifts with them, with their swept back wings and slim, cigar-shaped bodies. Our first Swifts of the year. Eventually we had some of them right above our heads, with other breaking off to continue on their way west.
Common Swift – our first of the year today
As we continued up along the bank, we heard a Yellow Wagtail call and looked over to see two flying in over the grazing marsh. One continued on west, but the other appeared to drop down onto the Serpentine. We carried on to see if we could find it, but it took off again just as we walked up. It had obviously dropped in with a second Yellow Wagtail which was already on the ground, as we watched the two of them now flying off west.
We stopped again to look out over Arnold’s Marsh. There were several more Bar-tailed Godwits on here, some now fully in bright rusty breeding plumage. A little flock of Dunlin were flitting between the islands, and on the shingle spits on the edge of the water we could see several Ringed Plover and a very smart breeding-plumaged Turnstone, properly justifying its full name of ‘Ruddy Turnstone’ now, with the rich chestnut stripes in its upperparts.
We decided to have a quick look at the sea, but there didn’t appear to be much moving today – a couple of distant Sandwich Terns and we just caught the back end of two Red-breasted Mergansers disappearing off east. So we decided to head back. The Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling next to the path as we walked back to the car park, so we couldn’t resist stopping again for another listen. Bird of the day!
Grasshopper Warbler – still reeling by the path on our walk back
We drove west to Wells next. There were several Brown Hares in the fields as we parked. Scanning the pool to the west of the track first, we could see a couple of Little Ringed Plovers and a single moulting male Ruff out that side, along with all the breeding Lapwing and Redshank. A Common Sandpiper was right over the back of the pool the other side, with another Little Ringed Plover nearby.
Walking down the track, we continued to scan the pools. There had been a couple of Jack Snipe here earlier, feeding around the clumps of rushes, but we couldn’t find any sign of them now (they had presumably disappeared into the vegetation and gone to sleep, as Jack Snipe tend to do during the day!). We could still see several Common Snipe though.
Several of the pairs of Lapwing here already have young and we had a much better view of the tiny balls of fluff on long legs from the path. A flock of Whimbrel flew over and headed out towards the saltmarsh.
Lapwing – an adult with one of its tiny young
After a break for lunch in the car park, we carried on west. A couple of House Martins over the road at Holkham were our first this year. We were planning to spend the afternoon at Burnham Overy, but the weather had deteriorated now and it was rather cooler and greyer. Still, we set off down the track. There had been some Ring Ouzels first thing this morning, in the fields by the stile, but there was no sign of them here now. A Lesser Whitethroat was rattling from the hedge just beyond, another fresh (and slightly late) arrival.
Scanning the grazing marshes further up, we did find two Wheatears out on the grass, a very smart male and a browner female. A single Brent Goose in with the Greylags seemed to be having an identity crisis, and was calling loudly while the rest of the Brents flew round and settled out in the harbour. There were a few Tufted Ducks asleep by the reeds.
We had heard several Mediterranean Gulls on the walk out, and now we found one down on the grass which was quickly followed by a second, both smart adults with jet black hoods and bright red bills. Obviously a pair, we watched as they pecked at the grass and tapped each others’ bills. A pair of Little Grebes on one of the pools appeared to be building a nest platform.
Continuing on to the seawall, the tide was out in the harbour. There were a few waders on the mud, including a single Knot and a couple of Grey Plover, but they kept disappearing into the deep channels. We turned to scan the grazing marshes the other side and managed to pick out a distant pair of Barnacle Geese and a couple of Pink-footed Geese scattered in amongst all the Greylags.
Looking back towards the road, we could see a small flock of Starlings feeding down in the grass way off in the distance. As we scanned past them, another black bird dropped down from the hedge and we caught a flash of white on its breast. When it hopped out into view, we could see it was a Ring Ouzel. It was a long way over, but we could see what it was in the scope. A second Ring Ouzel dropped down onto the grass nearby and we thought there might be one or two more out of view- presumably the birds from this morning having moved further along the hedgerow where they couldn’t be seen from the track.
There were no reports of anything more exciting coming in from people out in the dunes, so we decided against walking out all that way with it starting to spit with rain now. As we made our way back along the track over the grazing marshes, a Yellow Wagtail flew over calling and dropped down by a pool at the back of the grass by the reeds. Through the scopes we could see it was a lovely canary-yellow male, feeding down on the grass with a Pied Wagtail.
There had been two Dotterel reported from Choseley earlier, so we decided to head over that way to see if we could see those. There were a few people already standing by the field when we arrived and they were able to quickly point us in the direction of the Dotterel. They were very hard to see at times, disappearing into dips and furrows in the rough ground, but we eventually got a good view of them in the scopes as they worked their way round the field a bit closer. We could see their bright white supercilia meeting in a ‘v’ on the back of the neck, the white breast band with orange below grading to dark brown on the belly.
Dotterel – one of two in the field today
Dotterel are migrants here, passing through on their way from the winter in North Africa to Scandinavia for the breeding season. They stop off at traditional sites in spring and Choseley is one of those places where they appear regularly in late April and May. Numbers vary from year to year and some years there can be very few, so it is always good to see them while you can!
The rain was threatening to get heavier now, so we decided to have a quick drive round the fields to see if we could find any other birds. A narrow strip of bare ground between a field of oilseed rape and a maize game cover crop along the margin had a couple of game feeders placed in it. Several Yellowhammers were flying in and out of the neighbouring hedge, dropping down to the feeders. A large flock of Chaffinches flew up into the hedge from the maize as we pulled up. But surprise find here, was a Chinese Water Deer – not the sort of place you would routinely expect to find one of these!
There was nothing in the hedge or on the wires by the drying barns. It was cool and windy now, with the rain starting. It was time to call it a day now anyway, so we turned round and headed for home.
A small group day tour with a socially distanced difference today. Rather than using the minibus, we met on site in the morning and walked out to explore the dunes. As there were only a few of us, we then travelled on in convoy in the afternoon to visit a couple of different places. The weather was good – sunshine and blue skies for most of the day, although the light NE breeze had a slight chill to it, coming in off the North Sea.
We met in a small car park looking out over the grazing marshes. A couple of Red-legged Partridges were out in the middle of the field behind us and Skylarks were singing in the blue sky. A Red Kite circled lazily over the field on the other side of the road. We could see a Great White Egret on the grazing marshes way off in the distance.
Heading down the track, a Chiffchaff was singing and a male Blackcap flicked up onto the top of the hedge ahead of us. At the bottom, looking through the gap in the hedge we could see a pair of Grey Partridges in the next field, the male standing upright, its orange face visible above the long grass. A distant Spoonbill flew high west, presumably heading out onto the saltmarsh to feed. We could hear Bullfinches calling in the hedge and a Song Thrush was feeding out on the grass.
Continuing on down the track, the blackthorn is in full flower now, but the Lesser Whitethroats are not in yet. They are late this year, a lot of migrants seem to be delayed by the persistent cool northerly airflow we have had for the last couple of weeks. Out on the grazing marsh opposite, we could see lots of Greylags and Linnets, several each of Avocets and Lapwings. At least the Sedge Warblers are in already and singing – one was belting out its song from a patch of briar next to the path.
Sedge Warbler – singing by the track
Cetti’s Warblers are resident here all year round, but they are always one of the most elusive of species, normally skulking deep in thick cover and heard more often than seen. So it was a surprise to see one perched up in the top of the brambles by the track today and even more of a surprise that it stayed there, out in full view, for several minutes.
Cetti’s Warbler – unusually showy today
We could hear a couple of Mediterranean Gulls calling, and picked up a young bird (in its 2nd calendar year) circling high over the grazing marshes. Around the pools, we could see a nice selection of lingering winter ducks – Teal, Shoveler, a few Wigeon still – plus a drake Common Pochard. A Little Grebe was swimming in the water. A Little Ringed Plover appeared on the mud with a couple of Avocets and we could see its golden yellow eye ring. When it flew round, we realised there were another two Little Ringed Plovers further back and there was a bit of territorial aggression.
Up on the seawall, the tide was in. A small group of waders was visible roosting on a small spit on the saltmarsh, amongst the vegetation. In with a couple of Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank, we picked out one paler grey Knot. A Grey Plover further out in the harbour flew across.
Most of the Pink-footed Geese which spent the winter here have long since left, back to Iceland for the breeding season. Most of the geese here in the summer are Greylags, but distantly beyond the reedbed pool and half hidden behind a line of reeds we could just see two smaller geese, with darker heads, two lingering Pinkfeet. One clearly had a very mangled wing, and probably both birds had been shot and winged and are now unable to make the long journey back to Iceland. The Brent Geese always linger longer and there were still quite a few out on the saltmarsh, although it won’t be long now before they too are off, back to Russia for them.
A Reed Bunting perched on top of a bush on the edge of the reedbed calling. A small group of five Golden Plover circled in the distance, dropping down in front of dunes. We walked on to the last corner of the seawall for a closer look. A couple of Lapwings were displaying overhead, always a great sight and sound at this time of year. A big female Sparrowhawk was feeding on a kill out on the grass.
When we got to the boardwalk, we turned east through the dunes. This is usually a good place for migrants and to see migration in progress, but it was disappointingly quiet. There were lots of Linnets and Meadow Pipits but not much else today, not even any Wheatears in their favourite place or any hirundines on the move. The NE wind was obviously holding things back still. We continued on to the end of the pines and scanned out to sea. Two very distant Sandwich Terns were offshore. The view wasn’t bad too!
Dunes – a great view, looking out towards Holkham Beach
There were no obvious migrants in the bushes at the end of the dunes, so we stopped to scan the grazing marshes the other side. A small group of Curlews were feeding out in the grass and a slimmer, darker bird was nearby but obviously separate from them, doing its own thing. It was a lone Whimbrel, a passage migrant which passes through here in spring.
It would be more sheltered on the southern edge of the pines, so we carried on east along the path to see if there was anything fresh in along there. We heard another Sedge Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs singing. Then as we got almost to the crosstracks, we heard a Reed Warbler. It seemed to be close to a path in through the reeds, so we headed in to see if we could see it. It was keeping well down at first, but just as we were turning to leave it appeared in a low sallow bush. The first one we have seen or heard this year, a fresh arrival back from Africa just in the last day or two.
As we got back to the main path, we heard a Willow Warbler singing in the sallows ahead of us, and we could see it silhouetted against the sky. Having sung a perfectly normal Willow Warbler song several times, it then sang again and added some Chiffchaff song at the end. It is not unusual to find ‘mixed singers’ sometimes. A bona fide Chiffchaff was singing nearby and the Willow Warbler then set off after it, chasing it round and round, in and out of the bushes and all the way up into the pines beyond, which we haven’t seen them do before. Perhaps its mixed song was also leading to some species confusion!
Willow Warbler – an interesting ‘mixed singer’
All hides are still closed at the moment, but we walked on to Joe Jordan Hide and looked over the wall below. A Great White Egret flew in from the west, low over the pools out in the middle. It had a noticeably dark bill, not the usually bright yellow dagger, which they develop just in the breeding season, a pitfall for the unwary!
Two Spoonbills were already on the further pool when we arrived, busy bathing and preening. After a while, another Spoonbill dropped out of the trees onto the nearer pool and started feeding, sweeping its bill from side to side in the shallow water. We had a good view of it now, we could see its shaggy nuchal crest and, when it lifted its head, its yellow-tipped bill, both indicating it was an adult in breeding condition.
Spoonbill – a smart breeding adult
After a snack and a short rest, we set off to walk back. The Willow Warbler was singing again in the same place we had seen it earlier. We stopped to listen to it, hoping to hear more mixed singing, but at first all we got was the beautiful descending scale of pure Willow Warbler song. Eventually, it switched and we got several variations, of mixed chiffs and chaffs.
Back on the seawall, the two Pink-footed Geese were a little easier to see now. Another Great White Egret flew past, heading out across the grazing marshes, it too sporting an all dark bill with bright facial skin.
Great White Egret – flew past on our walk back
Back at the cars, it was time for a late lunch in the edge of the field, looking out across the grazing marshes, in the sunshine. Afterwards, we headed east along the coast road to Wells.
Scanning from the car park, we quickly picked out a Ruff on the closest pool, disappointingly grey and still not really showing any sign of acquiring breeding plumage. There were a couple of Common Snipe on here too.
At the back of the pool the other side of the track, a large white shape was another Spoonbill, standing preening. There were lots of gulls on here too and in among all the Black-headed Gulls, we picked out an immature Common Gull and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, their yellow legs catching the sun as they swam past. A male Marsh Harrier drifted over, flushing quite a few birds from the water and attracting the ire of the local Lapwings, which chased it over in our direction.
Marsh Harrier – chased towards the car park by the local Lapwings
Two wagtails dropped in by the cattle pens. They both had grey backs and sharply demarcated black crowns, although one was slightly patchy in the middle. One stopped to bask in the sun and we could see the grey of its back extending down between its wings. Two White Wagtails, the continental equivalent of our Pied Wagtail, stopping off on their way north.
We walked on down the track to the far corner and looked back across the pool to the east. It didn’t take long for the Grey Phalarope to appear in its favoured corner, swimming out from behind the rushes. Still in grey non-breeding plumage, it looked like a diminutive gull from a distance, grey and white and swimming around on the water. Through the scopes, we could see its black mask. These arctic-breeding waders normally spend the non-breeding season out at sea off W Africa, and are rare here in spring. After northerly gales a couple of weeks, several were blown in and have lingered along the coast.
Grey Phalarope – swimming around right in the far corner
We walked on through the bushes, which were rather quiet, a distinct lack of migrants and freshly arrived warblers here too, a recurring theme it seems today. We climbed up onto the small bank overlooking the western pool and scanned the margins. Another male Ruff was over the back, this one starting to moult into breeding plumage with extensively black patterned head and neck.
A Swallow zipped over and was joined by a second over the field beyond. Then two Sand Martins appeared with them. Had they just arrived or have they been lingering here, finding insects around the pools? Our first hirundines of the day, and a very welcome sign that spring migration is still happening, birds are getting through despite the cold airflow.
A small wader flew up from the middle of the densely vegetated island – a snipe, but rather small and with a shortish bill, a Jack Snipe! It landed before anyone could really get onto it and disappeared into the vegetation on the far edge. We scanned the place it had landed and after a few seconds a Common Snipe walked out. Surely we didn’t get that one wrong – the first bird definitely looked too small?
We climbed up onto the seawall, a little further away but we had a better view of the island from up here. We could see the Common Snipe again, and then we saw some movement in front of it and the Jack Snipe showed itself. A bit smaller, and significantly more secretive, the Jack Snipe could completely disappear in the low vegetation but at times we had a great view of the two snipe species side by side. As well as being smaller with a shorter bill, we could see the Jack Snipe‘s more contrasting golden mantle stripes and the different head pattern, lacking the Common Snipe‘s central crown stripe.
We still had a little bit of time to play with so we headed back to the cars and decided to move on for one last stop. Further east still, we parked by the quay at Morston. There had been a Ring Ouzel in the field by the car park, but it had been spooked by a flyover Red Kite before we arrived and flown into the hedge. There were still several Blackbirds and Song Thrushes out on the grass.
While we waited for it to arrive, we walked on to the harbour, where a Whimbrel had been feeding on the mud right down at the front. We arrived just in time to see it spooked by a photographer, but thankfully it landed on the saltmarsh behind. A little later, another one appeared on the mud on the far side of the channel. We could see its striped crown. A Greenshank was busy feeding in the channel a bit further along.
Whimbrel – feeding on the mud in the harbour channel
There was still no sign of the Ring Ouzel emerging from the hedge, but two more Ring Ouzels had been reported earlier, a little further along the coast path, in the horse paddocks. We walked down for a look, but we couldn’t see any there either. Then we received a message to say the Ring Ouzel was back out by the car park. We turned and could already see it distantly on the short grass, so we walked back for a better look.
Ring Ouzel – finally showed well in the field by the car park
The Ring Ouzel performed very well now, feeding on the grass. A smart male, like a Blackbird with a bright white gorget, pale silvery wing edges and scaly fringes below. Ring Ouzels are scarce passage migrants here, these ones probably on their way from their wintering grounds in the Atlas Mountains, up to Scandinavia for the breeding season. They are normally mountain or moorland birds, but stop off here in fields along the coast before heading out across the North Sea. One we had hoped to see today, and we managed to squeeze it in right at the last.
The Red Kite drifted over again and the Ring Ouzel flew back up into the hedge. It was time for us to call it a day and make our separate ways home.
A Private Tour today in North Norfolk. After 6 months (to the day!) since our last tour, with everything in between cancelled due to COVID restrictions, it was very nice to be able to get back out again. The plan was to try to pick up some lingering winter visitors, as well as try to find some early spring migrants. It was mostly bright, with sunny intervals, cool in the morning particularly in the northerly breeze but warming up nicely in the afternoon, and with just a brief shower at lunchtime.
We started the day at Snettisham. Stopping by the entrance to the car park, a Barn Owl was hunting over the grass down along the inner seawall, flying across the road in front of us and disappearing off into the Coastal Park. A pair of Goldcrests were flitting around in some conifers by the pavement, the male singing and fluffing out its bright gold and flame-coloured crown feathers.
The fields either side of the road here can be good for Ring Ouzels at this time of year, but all we could find this morning were a couple of unringed Ouzels (also known as Blackbirds!). There were lots of Curlews feeding out on the grass too. We set off to walk up to the gate into the Coastal Park and a Greenfinch was singing and doing its fluttering song-flight over the garden of the nearby cottage. The sweet, descending scale of a Willow Warbler drifted out from the bushes. We could hear the distinctive call of Mediterranean Gulls too.
As we got to the gate, a couple with a rather lively dog were just ahead of us, the dog running in and out of the bushes either side of the path, significantly reducing our chances of seeing anything. We diverted up onto the outer seawall, and looked out across the Wash. We received a message to say that an Osprey had been seen over Ken Hill Marshes, just behind us, but had flown south. So we scanned across that way and picked up a large bird or prey way off in the distance, hovering slowly. Even through the scopes, it was right at the limit, too far to make out any detail, but as it broke off from hovering and turned, we could see it was very long-winged, a distinctive flight silhouette – the Osprey, but not the best views of one we have ever had!
The tide was in. Some more dogwalkers down along the beach further up flushed several Ringed Plovers as they walked along. There were lots of birds out on the water, but rather than seaduck they turned out to be several rafts of Teal and Wigeon, along with a small party of Cormorants and, further out, lots of large gulls.
Chaffinch – this very smart male perched up beside the path as we passed
As we dropped back down off the seawall and onto the path through the Coastal Park, a couple of Sedge Warblers were singing, and we eventually found one perched half way up a small bush in the reeds. There were lots of Chiffchaffs and one or two Blackcaps singing too, the early returning summer breeding warblers, although number of returning birds have probably been held up by the cold northerly winds over the last couple of weeks. A very smart male Chaffinch perched up on the top of a Hawthorn as we passed and there were lots of Linnets all the way up. We came across the Barn Owl again, hunting over the grassy area in the middle of the Coastal Park.
Linnet – a male; there were lots in the Coastal Park
There was a distinct lack of migrants moving overhead today, again a consequence of the northerly winds, but as we got up towards the crossbank, we heard a Yellow Wagtail calling and picked it up high in the sky approaching from the south. The first couple of calls sounded pretty conventional, but the next two or three had a distinctly rasping quality to them. Yellow Wagtails come in lots of different forms, and it would have been interesting to see this one on the ground, but unfortunately we watched as it flew off north into the distance.
Walking across to the inner seawall, we climbed up to the top and scanned the grass to the north of the crossbank. There were no cows out, which explained why the wagtail didn’t stop. The Barn Owl was out hunting here now. There were lots of Meadow Pipits and a couple of Skylarks, along with a pair of Grey Partridge. Two smaller, slimmer, shorter-billed birds in with a small group of Curlew were confirmed as two Whimbrel through the scope. They were a bit distant, but turning our attention across to Ken Hill Marshes the other side, we realised there was another Whimbrel on the grass just beyond the ditch. We had a really good view of the striped crown on this one.
There were lots of Avocets, Redshanks and Lapwings on the new pools. Scanning carefully, we found several Common Snipe around the vegetated islands too. There was a nice selection of wildfowl, lots of ducks including a single pair of Pintail. In with the commoner geese, we found a single Pink-footed Goose, its smaller size, dark head and more delicate and mostly dark bill distinguishing it from the nearby Greylags. Most of the Pink-footed Geese which spent the winter here have long since left, although a few are still lingering, some having been shot and winged and unable to make the journey back to Iceland. Our first Marsh Harrier of the day was hunting out over the water.
Barn Owl – out hunting all the time we were in the Coastal Park
The Barn Owl seemed to be following us! It flew back south over the crossbank as we turned to head back along the inner seawall. Most of the way, it kept flying off ahead of us, before coming back again. Great to watch, but it must have been hungry to be out mid-morning, and we didn’t see it catch anything all the time it was in view. A single Swallow and a Sand Martin flew past, surprisingly the only hirundines we saw here this morning. Back to the minibus, another Grey Partridge was out with the Curlew now and a Sparrowhawk came in low from the direction of the marshes. There was still no sign of any Ring Ouzels in the paddocks though.
One request for this morning was to try to see some waders, and there is no better place than Snettisham for that! The tide was already going out fast by the time we got down to the pits and up on the seawall by the Wash. Looking out across the mud, we could see thousands of birds out here still, loads of Knot, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank and Oystercatcher. A Grey Plover moulting into breeding plumage looked very smart with its black face and white-spangled upperparts. There were lots of Black-tailed Godwits feeding in the mouth of the channel, most already in their orange summer attire, feeding up before heading off to Iceland to breed. A similarly dressed Bar-tailed Godwit further up on the water’s edge was noticeably different, with the rusty colour extending right down under the tail.
Wash Waders – there were thousands of birds out on the mud still
Unlike many of the other waders, the Avocets don’t spend the winter here but there are already lots back. There was a liberal scattering across the mud all the way down to the hides. We just wanted to have a quick look at the southern pit today, which has been taken over by hundreds of breeding gulls. Scanning from the causeway, in amongst the more numerous Black-headed Gulls we found a few Mediterranean Gulls, with their more extensive jet black hoods and white wing tips, and a single Common Gull too.
Avocet – there are lots back already
We had lots we wanted to try to pack in today, so we moved on. A brief check of some paddocks at Hunstanton, where there had been Ring Ouzels a few days ago, failed to produce any here either. Rounding the corner of the coast, we drove into some dark clouds and a sharp shower. It had already stopped by the time we got to Holme, but it was now rather cool and cloudy and a couple of brief stops listening for Grasshopper Warblers drew a blank. We did manage to get a hot drink down at The Firs and stopped to eat our lunch. A young Peregrine flew through quickly towards Thornham before circling back more slowly a little later and five more lingering Pink-footed Geese were out on the grazing marshes.
Our next stop was at Titchwell. We wouldn’t have long here today, but we wanted to have a quick look at the Freshmarsh at least, so we headed straight out. As we got out of the trees on the main path, a Red Kite drifted out across the reedbed and another was hunting out over the dunes. A few Pied Wagtails were feeding out on the former pool on Thornham grazing marsh. The reedbed pool produced a few Tufted Ducks and Common Pochard, but a Little Grebe remained hidden in the reeds and we could only hear it laughing at us. There were still quite a few Brent Geese here, commuting between the Freshmarsh and the saltmarsh the other side of the west bank. In the next month or so, they will be off back up to Russia to breed.
Brent Geese – still here, commuting between the Freshmarsh and saltmarsh
We stopped on the bank by one of the benches to scan the Freshmarsh. Apart from several Avocets, there were no many waders on here. The water level is still quite high, and there is not much exposed mud. On the small area which has appeared in front of Parrinder Hide, we could see two Little Ringed Plovers which have returned already for the breeding season. With the hides closed, they were not particularly close but we could see their golden yellow eye-rings through the scopes.
Little Ringed Plovers – these two were out in front of the closed Parrinder Hide
The large, fenced off island has been taken over by gulls again, with several pairs of Mediterranean Gull in among the Black-headed Gulls. We were hoping to find some Sandwich Terns on the Freshmarsh, but there weren’t any now – there had been earlier, but presumably they had gone out to the sea. Some very smart Teal were feeding just below us, on the near edge of the water. A couple of the drakes were squabbling and the more aggressive displayed too, squashing itself up before throwing its head back. Sometimes, one or two may stay all summer but most will be moving on soon.
Teal – displaying just below the main path
A small falcon came in high over the Freshmarsh now, grey-brown and compact, a Merlin. It carried on across Volunteer Marsh and when it got out to the dunes it turned and disappeared off to the east. Another lingering winter visitor here. We decided to make a quick dash out to the beach to see if we could find a Sandwich Tern out there. A single Redshank was hiding in the channel at the front of Volunteer Marsh and there were a few Curlew in the wide channel at the far end. We couldn’t see anything of note on the Tidal Pool today.
The sea was quiet. After a couple of minutes scanning with the scopes, we did manage to pick up a Sandwich Tern flying past – mission accomplished! A single Great Crested Grebe still out on the sea was a nice bonus. Most of the waders were further up along the beach towards Thornham Point, and despite the shimmer we managed to pick out a few Sanderling in the haze. A couple of Turnstone flew in and landed on the mussel beds, along with a flock of Knot.
With time getting on now and a few more things to try to squeeze in to the itinerary this afternoon, we decided to head straight back. As we walked back past the reedbed, we could hear a Bittern booming out in the reeds.
Continuing on east along the coast road, we stopped past Burnham Overy at the top of Whincover. There had been four Ring Ouzels seen from the track earlier this morning, so we thought we would try our luck as we were passing. With no further reports since, it was probably no surprise we couldn’t find them where they had been and another lone Pink-footed Goose and a Little Grebe were the best we could find out on the grazing marshes.
We were just about to give up and head back when we received a message to say that three had been seen again somewhere nearby, although the location given didn’t make sense. We had an idea where they might mean and thankfully we guessed right – we were almost down the seawall towards Burnham Overy Staithe when a revised message come through with the right directions.
Scanning the field, we thought for a few minutes like our luck might be out again. We could see a couple of Blackbirds, two Mistle Thrushes and a Song Thrush, but no sign of any Ring Ouzels. They do have a habit of disappearing into cover when they are disturbed though, so we carried on down the seawall and kept looking. Thankfully it didn’t take too long until a smart male Ring Ouzel appeared on a fence post on the edge of the field. It dropped down onto the grass and started feeding, and through the scopes we had a good view of its bright white gorget and silvery-edged wings.
Ring Ouzel – we finally managed to catch up with this male
With another target in the bag, we set off back along the seawall towards Whincover. A Great White Egret was flying away from us across the grazing marshes – we could see that its bill was dark, rather than yellow, as the colour changes in the breeding season which can be a pitfall for the unwary. Back along the track across the grazing marshes, a Sedge Warbler was singing away in full view now in one of the briar clumps.
Sedge Warbler – singing from the briar patches by the track
Our last destination for the afternoon was going to be back at Wells, but on the way there we made a very brief stop. We had surprisingly failed to come across any Spoonbills on our travels so far, but now we could see several distantly in the trees and flying in and out. As it was, we needn’t have worried.
There was meant to be a Grey Phalarope on the pools at Wells, which we were hoping to see to end the day. It had apparently flown off at dawn but had thankfully reappeared after a couple of hours. We knew it was favouring the far side of the pool east of the track, right in the far corner and only visible from further down, but as we walked down the track towards there we met a couple looking through their scope the wrong way. They told us that the phalarope had apparently flown off again, across the pool west of the track, just a few minutes before we arrived. Our hearts sank – we were just too late! We stopped anyway and lifted our binoculars and the first thing we saw was the Grey Phalarope flying straight towards us! It came right over our heads, and then flew back to its favoured spot over in the far corner.
Grey Phalarope – flew right over our heads on its way back to its favoured corner
A large white shape over at the back of the pool to the east was another Spoonbill. Before we could get to the corner, it took off and flew straight towards us, passing over the track just behind us. A much better view than the ones we had seen on our brief stop on the way here.
Spoonbill – flew off over the track behind us
From the edge of the track at the far side of the pools, we set up our scopes again and looked back into the far corner. Sure enough, the Grey Phalarope was back in its favourite spot in the south-east corner of the eastern pool. It was swimming round in between several Avocets which were busily upending in the deep water, presumably stirring up the mud at the bottom and bringing food up for the phalarope to pick up.
It was a nice way to end the day, and it was now time to head for home. Despite the cool northerlies, we had succeeded in seeing a very selection of spring migrants, as well as picking up a good number of lingering winter visitors. It was great to be out again – hopefully we can now slowly get back to normal and resume a full programme of tours as planned in the coming months.
If you would like to come out birding in Norfolk, we are ready to go!
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