2nd Dec 2023 – Early Winter Tour, Day 2

Day 2 of a 3-day Early Winter Tour in Norfolk. After some more wintry showers overnight, we woke to freezing fog this morning. Depending on which forecast you looked at, either it was meant to be bright with sunny intervals all morning or the fog was due to lift after a couple of hours – unfortunately that was all wrong. The local news last night mentioned that, with light winds, there was a risk any fog could linger, and so it did, all day. Thankfully it lifted a little for periods and we were able to see some good birds, despite the fog.

It was a slow drive up to the coast this morning, the roads treacherous with the freezing fog and an overnight covering of snow which was now turning to slush. When we arrived at Titchwell, it was highly unusual but not a great surprise to see only two other cars already there. We had a quick look in the bushes in the overflow car park and out over the paddocks from the gates at the end, but apart from a few gulls it was quiet. At least the fog seemed to have lifted a bit, so we decided to head out onto the reserve. As we walked down along the path to the Visitor Centre, a Treecreeper landed on a tree in front of us and posed nicely.

Treecreeper – by the path

There was quite a bit of water in the ditches either side of the main path and no sign of any Water Rails there this morning as we passed. Out of the trees, we could see right to the back of the reedbed now. One Marsh Harrier was perched in the dead trees and another two came up out of the reeds and circled round. The pools and channels in the reedbed looked largely frozen, so we pressed on to the Freshmarsh.

Just before we got to Island Hide, we noticed a Goosander on the water behind the closest island. It swam round and straight towards the hide, so we decided to head down in the hope we would get a closer view. Unfortunately, by the time we got into the hide it had flown off, so we set about trying to see what else we could find. Some people in the hide told us there was a Water Rail along the edge of the reedbed, so we got the scope on it. It disappeared back into the reeds, but a little later emerged further along and then followed the edge all the way until we lost sight of it in the corner.

Water Rail – came out of the reeds

There were lots of ducks on the water – Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and three Pintail. A small flock of Brent Geese were over towards the back and we noticed a small duck behind which promptly dived under the surface. A distinctive shape, we knew immediately it was a Smew, so we got the scope on it when it resurfaced. A ‘redhead’, a female or immature, we were watching it when we realised there were actually two Smew out there. After a while, they came together and we watched them catching small fish. A rare bird here these days, we put the news out and it caused quite a stir – a succession of the staff coming out to see them.

Smew – two redheads on the Freshmarsh

Back out on the main path, there were more ducks on the next compartment and a Grey Plover and a couple of Dunlin were feeding in with them. We had a better view of the Grey Plover from the path down to Parrinder Hide, before it then flew off.

Grey Plover – on the Freshmarsh

When we got into the hide, a pair of Stonechats were on the new bund, perching up on the tops of the dead thistles and dropping down to the ground to find food. We were hoping there might be a few more waders on here, given it was just after high tide, but there were only more ducks. A Marsh Harrier appeared, hovering over the reeds just to the left of the hide, before turning and heading back to the far bank.

Marsh Harrier – hovering

We had hoped that the fog might continue to lift, but it was now proving to be more stubborn. We decided to head out towards the beach anyway, and try our luck. We heard the Spotted Redshank call a couple of times as we walked out and it sounded like it was still out on the saltmarsh. We stopped to look through the waders in the channel at the far end of Volunteer Marsh – plenty of Common Redshank, some nice close Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Curlew. A single Black-tailed Godwit down towards the back was the first we had seen.

The Spotted Redshank called again and this time it seemed like the sound was coming from the Tidal Pool, so we walked over the bank and scanned its favourite spots but there was no sign of it there either – another Black-tailed Godwit and a couple more Grey Plover and Common Redshanks. A Kingfisher shot across over the water and disappeared in under the bank ahead of us, but quickly flew back out and disappeared over the bank back towards Volunteer Marsh.

Further up, there were more mixed godwits and several Pintail dozing. We were going to have a quick look at them on our way to the beach, but the fog started to descend again, so we pressed on. Quite a few Reed Buntings were perched on the suaeda before the dunes and a flock of Linnets flew in and landed on the bushes by the old pill box.

The tide was going out now but had still not uncovered the mussel beds. There were lots of Bar-tailed Godwits on the beach and lots of Oystercatchers feeding along the shoreline away towards Brancaster. In with them were a few Sanderling and some little groups of Knot. A seal pup had been left behind by the tide at the top of the beach off to the east of us, but it quickly attracted the attention of several paparazzi who had walked down that way and it made its way quickly back to the water.

The fog was coming and going – at one point there was a patch of blue sky and we could see the sun through the clouds behind us. From the top of the beach, we could only see the first bit of the sea and managed to make out a couple of Goldeneye on the water towards Brancaster and a Common Scoter. We were hoping to see more of the scoter flock, so we hung on for a bit but it quickly became clear that visibility was unlikely to improve.

As we started to make our way back, a Weasel ran across the path ahead of us. Two drake Pintail had now woken up and were upending much closer to the path. A nice view, we could see that neither had yet completely regrown its long pin-tailed central tail feathers.

Pintail – now woken up

There was still no sign of the Spotted Redshank, but passing the Freshmarsh, a small group of Golden Plover flew in and landed on one of the islands so we stopped to get them in the scope. Back at the Visitor Centre, after a quick look in the shop we opted for an early lunch and a hot drink from the cafe. A Siskin called and we managed to find it in the top of the alders with the flock of Goldfinches. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over calling.

After lunch, we headed round to Snettisham. The fog seemed to get thicker as we got round to the Wash coast and when we got up to the outer seawall, we could barely even see any mud beyond the shore or across the pit to the other side. We walked down to Rotary Hide – a few Dunlin and Redshank were on the nearest pools and we could hear Grey Plovers calling in the mist.

There were some other people in the hide and they were looking through their scope. The first bird we got onto was the drake Long-tailed Duck in the gloom, but it dived and disappeared into the murk. The fog was thickening and thinning slightly, and during the marginally clearer moments, when we could almost see across to the other side, we kept refinding the Long-tailed Duck and got some reasonable views of it in the end.

Long-tailed Duck – in the fog

There were lots of Goldeneye on the pit too and some of the drakes were displaying to the females, throwing their heads back. We could see a few Tufted Ducks too and three drake Common Pochard appeared out of the fog.

Goldeneye – lots on the pits

The people in the hide told us they had not seen the Great Northern Diver earlier but a message came through now to say it was visible again from Shore Hide, so we set off down the path to see if we could see it. They did tell us there had been a couple of Snow Buntings down along the shore, so we scanned the gravel on the way down and found them feeding on the stones. They are always very well camouflaged, and all the more so in the mist, but they were very obliging and allowed us close views as we walked past. One Snow Bunting was paler than the other – perhaps the subspecies nivalis from Scandinavia, with the darker one an insulae from Iceland.

Snow Bunting – the paler one

Down in Shore Hide, the fog seemed even thicker that even. There were more Goldeneye and Tufted Ducks from here and a Kingfisher shot past over the water in front of the hide and disappeared into the bank a bit further up. Eventually, the Great Northern Diver appeared out of the gloom further up the pit and although it was diving continually, we eventually all got onto it. It spent a lot of its time swimming with its head held out in front of it, low to the water’s surface. It would snorkel too, with its head underwater, before diving. It disappeared back into the fog and then reappeared a little closer to the hide, where we watched it catch what appeared to be a small crab, although it was hard to see in these conditions.

Great Northern Diver – in the fog

When the Great Northern Diver disappeared back into the gloom again, we decided to make our way back. With the sun starting to go down and losing any of the limited strength it had today, the fog was definitely deepening again and the light was going. It had not been an ideal day for birding, but we had done remarkably well, given the conditions.

18th Sept 2023 – Autumn Tour, Day 3

Day 3 of a 3-day Autumn Tour, and we were heading up to the Wash for the Wader Spectacular today. It was a very grey start, and we had some blustery drizzle on and off for an hour or so in the morning which was not in the forecast, before the sun finally came out. There were forecast thunderstorms in the afternoon, and we could see them away to the west of us as we were finishing up. Thankfully we were on our way back in the minibus as we drove into some torrential rain.

It was an early start, to get up to the Wash in time for the high tide this morning, and the sunrise was just visible through the clouds as we got out to the seawall. There was still quite a lot of mud still visible from here at first, so we stopped to scan. A large group of Oystercatchers was gathered away to the north, by the sailing club, with a smaller number of Bar-tailed Godwits and Redshanks, which we got in the scope.

There were more Oystercatchers in a big black slick away to our left, and some grey flocks of Knot spread out over mud. There didn’t seem to be so many Knot in view initially as we have seen here recently, but we soon realised why when a huge flock came up in the distance. They were currently roosting further round the edge of the saltmarsh out of view.

Knot – came up in the distance

There were fewer small waders on the close mud on the near side of the channel today, so we set about scanning through the birds feeding on the far side of the channel. There were a few more Dunlin here and lots of Redshank, but they were moving fast ahead of the water which was coming in very quickly now. We managed to find a Curlew Sandpiper in with them, a juvenile. We got it in the scope but it was hard to keep track of, disappearing from view down into the shallow pools, and on the move constantly, before it eventually flew and we lost it.

The Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed Godwits peeled up in waves from over by the sailing club, flying low over the water past us and mostly landing on the drier mud higher up. Some of the Oystercatchers gave up already, and continued in over the path, dropping down onto the Pit to roost.

The tide had passed us now already, so we started to walk down the seawall to try to keep pace with it. A Turtle Dove flew in over the pit ahead of us, across the track and looked like it might land on the beach before it doubled back the way in had come and landed in the top of a hawthorn the other side of the water. We got it in the scope and could see its rusty-scaled back and the black and white barred patch on the side of its neck. We couldn’t afford to stay too long, as we had to keep up with the hide, and as we walked on two more Turtle Doves flew up from the vegetation below the bank and disappeared off over the pit.

Turtle Dove – landed in the hawthorn

It was very grey and rather breezy up on the seawall at first, but as we walked down the seawall we could see some darker clouds approaching over the Wash. A rainbow appeared – at first we could only see the two ends of it separately, then it grew complete before turning into a double rainbow. It was very impressive but of course it meant one thing – the rain was upon us! It was light and drizzly, although rather blustery, so we walked on down to Rotary Hide, thinking we could take shelter if need be.

Rainbow – rain incoming!

All the waders out on the Wash erupted and started to swirl round in the drizzle out over the water. There were huge numbers of Knot now and they started to make some impressive patterns in the sky. Scanning across, we spotted the cause – a Peregrine was chasing back and forth through them. After a while, the Peregrine seemed to lose interest and broke off from pursuing the flocks. As it flew low over the mud, it suddenly turned sharply and dropped down, grabbing something from the surface.

As it flew off, we could see the Peregrine had something in its talons, though we couldn’t make out what it was. It flew in and landed on the beach – we adjusted our position so we could see it around the bushes and set up the scope on it, but unfortunately it took off again before everyone could get a good look at it, heading back out over the mud before turning back in and disappeared behind the Pit.

Peregrine – with prey

We turned our attention back to the waders out on the mud. The tide was still coming in very quickly and the Oystercatchers were walking away from the rising water, the flock appearing to flow over the mud like an amorphous slick, but through the scope we could see the individual birds marching in lines. Always a great part of the spectacle to watch.

Oystercatchers – marching

The rain had eased off, so we continued our way down, but another squally shower blew in so we hastened our pace and walked briskly down to the end. We could see some slightly brighter sky heading our way, and after we arrived, it thankfully wasn’t long before the drizzle stopped. The Oystercatchers were now packed more tightly into the remaining area of mud along the near edge of the saltmarsh, continuing to walk away from the water. Some of them started to take off in small groups and fly in over us, piping noisily, and we thought they would continue to do so as they normally do, but today most of them continued to march back into the last remaining corner of mud.

The Knot which had gathered out over view further round the edge of the Wash took off now, and flew in, landing with the others already packed quite tightly into a vast grey flock on the last uncovered mud. They were getting very nervous now and several times they erupted, tens of thousands of birds bursting into the air. The first couple of times, they settled back down very quickly, but as the area of mud shrank and they squeezed in ever tighter, then they took off and started to whirl round over the water, making some impressive shapes in the air, before they eventually all landed again.

Knot – more flew in

Waders – packed in

Waders – erupting

Waders – making shapes

Waders – huge clouds

Waders – filling the sky

There was a brisk SSW wind, and as we approached high tide, it became clear that the wind was holding back the tide enough to stop it from covering the very last corner of the mud. Still, we thought the Knot would come in to the Pit to roost, as a large part of the flock were now up to their bellies in water. Strangely, all the Oystercatchers were packed into the last corner of mud too today, and they all stayed resolutely put. The sun came out now and they looked even more impressive packed in so tightly in the low sunshine.

Waders – when the sun came out

We could see a couple of Marsh Harriers quartering over the saltmarsh beyond and eventually one drifted in too close, flushing all the Knot again. An impressive sight and sound as they all took to the air and the flocks flew back and forth low over the mud, but once again, they settled back down to roost out on the Wash.

Waders – spooked again

Waders – more whirling flocks

Three Common Sandpiper flew round low over the water in front of us before landing on the top of some low suaeda bushes which were sticking up out of the Wash. There were a few Wigeon swimming around the edges of the bushes and lots of Shelduck now gathered a little further out. A Brent Goose swam in towards us and walked out onto the beach – there are two which have spent the summer here, unable to fly back to Russia for the breeding season with the others, but despite looking not in the best of health they have both survived.

We decided to have a quick look in Shore Hide, and it quickly became apparent what one of the problems was. The water level in the Pit was significantly higher now than when we were last here, after some heavy rain in the last couple of weeks. It also hadn’t gone down as much over the wet summer in 2023 as it sometimes does. As a result, the islands on which the waders normally roost had shrunk considerably. The island which many of the Knot normally like to roost on, as well as being much smaller, was now taken up by the Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks, which had moved here from the islands at the other end of the Pit. There wasn’t really anywhere for the Knot to go!

There were ten Spoonbills roosting in the rocks in the middle, out from the hide, and just behind them eight Spotted Redshanks roosting with a single Common Redshank alongside. When the Spotted Redshanks woke up, we could see their longer, needle-fine bills and compare the Common Redshank’s.

Spoonbills – and Spotted Redshanks

Scanning through the waders on the island, we could see there were a few Turnstones and Knot in with the Black-tailed Godwits. As they were much smaller, they were quite hard to see. Then, as the flock shifted a little, we noticed a Curlew Sandpiper towards the back. It was nigh on impossible to see at first, but eventually as things settled down, we found we could just pick it out through a narrow ‘v’ between some of the godwits.

As we walked back out to the Wash, our timing was impeccable. A young Peregrine put all the Knot up and we watched as they whirled round in the sunshine. The Peregrine probably didn’t know what it was doing and quickly gave up, but as it flew off over the saltmarsh it stooped down at a Marsh Harrier in the bushes. As it had a go at it, two more Marsh Harriers appeared and then an adult Peregrine. The juvenile Peregrine talon grappled first with one of the Marsh Harriers, then with the other Peregrine, before they all drifted away in different directions.

Waders – put up by another Peregrine

Waders – more shapes

There was quite a bit of mud which had reappeared already and now the waders were spreading out again, we had a closer look at some of them, some smart Grey Plover and one or two Bar-tailed Godwits still largely in their breeding plumage. We picked out a Mediterranean Gull in amongst the Black-headed Gulls out on the mud. There was a steady passage of Swallows this morning – a constant trickle of birds heading south along the shore and a larger flock which paused to feed for a while out over the Wash. We said our goodbyes to them – they won’t be back until next spring.

Everything had settled down again, so we decided to start walking slowly back. There was no sign of the Turtle Doves now, but a couple were walking round out on the beach with their dog. As we got back to where we had started on the seawall, the tide still hadn’t quite got back to where it was when we arrived this morning. A small flock of Golden Plover flew in calling from the fields inland and circled out over the mud.

We headed round to Titchwell next. After making use of the facilities, there was still time before lunch, so we decided to have a quick look for the Yellow-browed Warbler which had been seen yesterday and again this morning. We couldn’t hear it in the car parks, and there were several other people looking, so we decided to head round and try on Fen Trail. We passed two Willow Emeralds and lots of Common Darters enjoying the sunshine. But although there were a few Chiffchaffs calling in the trees, we couldn’t hear anything rarer. Out on the Tank Road, we stopped to listen again, but all we could hear was a typically elusive close Cetti’s Warbler hiding in the sallows and a Blackcap tacking.

Patsy’s Reedbed was very quiet – a small group of roosting Black-tailed Godwits and a single juvenile Ruff with them. The Autumn Trail is open at this time of year, so we decided to have a quick look round at the back of the Freshmarsh – there were more Avocets and Godwits, a few distant Golden Plover and Ruff, but no sign now of the Little Stint which had apparently been on this side of the Freshmarsh here first thing.

We had definitely earned our lunch now, so we made our way back to the picnic area. We could hear Long-tailed Tits calling in the trees nearby, so listened very carefully, but there was still no sound of anything resembling a Yellow-browed Warbler while we ate.

Long-tailed Tits – several in the sallows

We had an early finish scheduled today, after the early start, but we still had an hour or so before we had to head back, so we thought we would have a quick look at the Freshmarsh from the main path. We were just walking up towards the start of the reedbed when we just caught the sound of a bird calling in the trees. It wasn’t easy to hear, with two US Air Force jets just at that moment chasing each other round and round low over the reserve making a dreadful noise, but we immediately stopped to see if we could hear it again. After a few seconds it did, and it was the Yellow-browed Warbler!

We walked back a short way and cut in along the start of Meadow Trail. One of the reserve staff was on the boardwalk and had heard the Yellow-browed Warbler too, in the sallows. There was a flock of Long-tailed Tits in here, along with Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, but we managed a quick view of the Yellow-browed Warbler in the trees before the flock moved in a little deeper. We tried to follow them, and they came back out and across the main path, dropping down into the trees in the ditch the other side, but the Yellow-browed Warbler had gone quiet now. Eventually, they crossed back over the path and disappeared into the trees towards the Visitor Centre.

We were running out of time now, so we headed out for a very quick look at the Freshmarsh. A Common Pochard on the Reedbed Pool as a late addition to the trip list. We stopped before Island Hide, where we could hear Bearded Tits calling in the reeds, but it was still rather windy and they were keeping well down out of views. There were several Avocets out in the Freshmarsh, where they were trying to feed up to their bellies in the water – the water level here too has gone up a lot after the recent rain.

Golden Plover – great views in the scope

A small flock of Golden Plover flew up from beyond the hide and circled round several times before dropping down again. We walked a little further, up to the bund, and got the scope on them, looking particularly golden in the afternoon sunshine. Another lone Golden Plover was preening on the small island right in front of us, before it got chased off by one of the Ruff. There were at least four Ruff on the edge of the island – two white-headed winter males, a grey winter male and a much smaller brown juvenile female. None of them looked alike!

Black-tailed Godwit – feeding by the path

There were several Black-tailed Godwits feeding just beyond the reeds right below us too. It seemed a good way to wrap up our three days, watching the waders here in the sunshine. We looked behind us, and over towards Holme we could see black clouds and a flash of lightning. There were more dark clouds to the south, heading our way. The forecast thunderstorms were approaching. Thankfully, it was time for us to head back anyway, and we got back to the minibus before the rain arrived. As we headed back inland, we drove into torrential rain – perfect timing!

4th Sept 2023 – Group Spectacular

A single day group Wader Spectacular tour today. There was a small amount of mist first thing but it burnt off quickly and then it was another bright, sunny and warm day.

Every Spectacular is different. When we got out onto the seawall, the waders were much more settled today, sprawled out across the mud in vast flocks. The light was perfect, the slicks of Knot golden in the low morning sunshine.

Waders – glowing in the sunshine

There were lots of small waders on the mud in front of us – checking through them we found three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and at least five juvenile Little Stints today, in with the commoner Ringed Plovers, Sanderling, Turnstone and Dunlin. The tide was coming in quickly and they didn’t linger, constantly flying off and landing again further down. There was a small flock of Golden Plover out on the mud further back, which came in past us and several Mediterranean Gulls flew past over the edge of the water.

The huge flocks of waders were shifting ahead of the tide too – the Knot closest to the edge of the water occasionally rising up and flying over the others to land again a little higher up, the flocks occasionally twisting into different shapes as they flew, flashing dark and light as they turned in the sunlight.

Waders – occassionally whirling round

Waders – twisting in the light

Waders – making shapes

Walking on down, we tried to keep ahead of the rapidly rising water, but we stopped occasionally to watch the birds out on the mud. Through the scope, we could see that the waders were not static but marching away from the tide, the whole mass appearing to flow over the surface of the mud like mercury, a mixture of mainly Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits and a large mob of Oystercatchers.

Waders – marching away from the rising tide

Gradually, the waders were squashed further and further towards the last corner of Wash. The Oystercatchers started to peel off first, coming up in a succession of small groups, flying in overhead piping noisily. The Knot continued to fly up and land again down into an ever decreasing area of mud, becoming packed ever tighter.

Waders – packed tighter into the corner

Waders – occasionally flying up

Eventually the Knot decided they would have to leave the Wash and a huge flock tens of thousands strong took to the air, an amazing sight. They flew towards where we were standing, between the Wash and the Pit, and came low over our heads. All we could hear was the beating of thousands of pairs of wings. Stunning.

Waders – exploding off the mud

Waders – thousands low over our heads

The airspace over the Pit was very congested – we turned to watch the Knot whirling round into the sunshine behind us. We could see smoky lines of birds descending down onto the islands, out of view, while the huge flocks circled above.

Waders – congestion over the Pit

Another huge wave of Knot came up off the mud and in over our heads, but there was nowhere for them to go, so they towered up into the sky. More birds turned back from the Pit – there was obviously not enough room for them down on the islands. We stood or lay on the grass and watched thousands of Knot criss-crossing high above us. Mesmerising.

Knot – towering up out over the Wash

Some of the Knot headed back out over the Wash, others went ever higher to the point they were only just visible when they caught the sunlight, forming into lines, squadrons high in the blue sky. Higher and higher, further and further out, until they were eventually lost to view. They would probably spend the high tide flying up over the water until the mud reappeared.

Knot – lines going ever higher

A single Brent Goose swam past in front of us. We walked down to the hides, stopping to look at the Sea Aster Bees swarming around the short grass as we passed. South Screen looked pretty full so we continued on to Knots Landing which was not as busy as it had been yesterday.

There were more Knot down this end of the Pit today, packed onto the island in front of the hide. They are very close here, through the one-way glass, so we had a great view of them. Some are still sporting different amounts of their orange breeding plumage still, others already in their grey winter garb.

Knot – some still in breeding plumage

The Knot were shuffling and dozing. Something spooked them and a group flew up from the edge, the remainder with their heads up, pushed round, like a wave going through the middle of the throng. Later a Little Egret came round the edge of the island, fishing in the shallow water, and the Knot on the edge scattered ahead of it, causing more shuffling of the flocks.

Knot – shuffling flocks

There were other waders here too. We had great views of a juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper which were feeding along the edge of the shingle right in front of the hide. A Green Sandpiper flew off from the back of one of the islands.

Common Sandpiper – in front of the hide

A Little Stint dropped in on the water’s edge right in front of us too. Wonderful close up views of this our tiniest of waders. It looked around nervously, then picked its way off round the shore to the left of the hide.

Little Stint – fantastic views

There were a few Bar-tailed Godwits in with the Black-tailed Godwits around the edges of the islands too, juveniles, their sandier upperparts with bold dark markings. A single Spotted Redshank was in with the Common Redshanks along the edge of the water to the right of the hide – through the scope, we had a good view of its longer, needle-fine bill when it woke up. Two more Spotted Redshanks were out in the middle with the Greylag Geese further up the Pit. There were only two or three Spoonbills that we could see here today, roosting with the Little Egrets on the bank on one side and mostly doing what Spoonbills like to do best – sleeping!

It was nearly an hour after high tide already, so we made our way back round to the edge of the Wash. The first wave of Knot came out of the Pit as we walked up, over the bank before dropping down to fly low over the water and out to the corner where the mud was already starting to reappear. We positioned ourselves and more Knot came out, in a smaller number of larger waves today, exploding out over the bank.

Knot – exploding up over the bank

Between the waves of Knot coming back out, we scanned the mud. There were more Grey Plover visible now, over in the corner, some still sporting the remnants of their summer black faces and bellies. Several Common Terns patrolled up and down over the rapidly disappearing water in front of us.

Eventually, the flow of Knot out of the Pit dried up, and we decided to walk back. There were lots of Sanderling gathered on the beach further up, so we stopped for a closer look. From a distance they just looked like lots of white pebbles on the rocky shore.

We drove round to Titchwell for lunch in the picnic area. Afterwards, we had a quick look out on the reserve. There was a bit of a breeze when we got out of the trees now, which was nice as it meant it didn’t feel too hot here on the coast. When we got up to the Freshmarsh, we could see a large group of Spoonbills out in the middle. We counted 32 this afternoon, and some were even awake so we could see their spoon-shaped bills.

Spoonbills – not all asleep

There were lots of Avocets feeding out in the water and a good number of Black-tailed Godwits too. A small group of Ruff were feeding close to the path, below the reeds, adult males in grey non-breeding plumage, one with a much whiter head than the others. The ducks are not looking their best at this time of the year, the drakes in their dull eclipse plumage, but we worked our way through them, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Gadwall and Wigeon.

There had been no reports of the American Golden Plover today, and there was no sign of it with the large flock of European Golden Plover which were gathered on the mud on the next compartment up, by the path. We stopped to admire them through the scope, as we double checked. Something spooked them and their whirled round in front of us, before dropping back down – false alarm! We put the scope on a Lapwing on the edge of the new bund, to admire its stunning metallic upperpart colours shining in the sunshine.

The American Golden Plover had been on the further compartment, out from Parrinder Hide, the last couple of days, so we thought we would walk round to double check whether there was any sign of it there. We scanned along the grassy spit and there it was, just where we had seen it yesterday! It disappeared round behind the spit, then came back over the top, having a go at a Golden Plover as it passed and bossing a couple of Lapwings too. It settled down on the near edge of the spit where we all had a good look at it through the scope.

American Golden Plover – in its usual place again

We wanted to have a quick look at the Wasp Spiders by the main path further up (the banks on the Parrinder path have been strimmed and the ones which were along there have now disappeared!). We found a couple of webs on the bank opposite Volunteer Marsh – the first of the Wasp Spiders was on the back side of the web, so we could only see it from underneath, but the second further along was on the right side, even if it was being blown about a bit in the breeze.

There were a couple of nice close Curlew on the mud in the channel at the far end of Volunteer Marsh so we stopped to get those in the scope. Otherwise, we could only see several Common Redshanks in the channel further along. Some locals coming back from the beach told us that there wasn’t much out there today, so with time running out we decided to call it a day and make our way slowly back. Another Spectacular day in NW Norfolk!

3rd Sept 2023 – Private Spectacular

A Private Wader Spectacular tour today. It was a lovely sunny day with light winds – it almost felt like the summer we never had! Beautiful weather to be out watching the flocks of waders.

We met up at Snettisham today. As we got out to the edge of the Wash, the Knot were already nervous and kept flying up and whirling round, making different shapes and patterns in the air. Each time, it was a false alarm though and they quickly settled back down again onto the mud. Spectacular!

Waders – spectacular!

In between the displays from the Knot, we had a chance to look through all the small waders down at the front feeding on the mud ahead of the rapidly rising tide. In with the Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Sanderling and Turnstones, we found at least three Curlew Sandpipers and a couple of Little Stints. A couple of Spotted Redshanks were hiding in a small pool on the other side of the channel. A Yellow Wagtail dropped in briefly right in front of us, with the Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits.

As we walked on down, we stopped to look at all the birds massed out on the edge of the water. Through the scope, we could see they were all walking away from the rising tide, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwits and lots of Oystercatchers, almost like they were flowing across the mud. The Oystercatchers then gradually started to take off and come in in waves, calling.

Waders – walking away from the tide

As we got to Rotary Hide, two Turtle Doves flew in past us and landed on the shore. They looked a bit non-plussed at the number of people gathered here today, but quickly settled down and fed quietly along the edge of the shingle. Great views.

Turtle Dove – landed on the shore

The waders were gradually being pressed in to the far corner, and after getting distracted by the Turtle Doves, we were only just arriving at the far end when all the Knot erupted again. They twisted and turned out over the water, climbing up into the sky, and then decided it was time to come in to the Pit to roost. We watched huge flocks of Knot circling over the Pit, a swirl dropping off the bottom edge and siphoning down onto the islands out of view, while others towered up into the sky, no room in the airspace above the Pit.

Waders – erupted again

We then realised why they were all so nervous, when a juvenile Peregrine flew back past us, with a Dunlin in its talons.

Peregrine – juvenile with a Dunlin

We took our eyes off the large flocks overhead, and thousands of Knot presumably headed off back out high over the Wash – there was no room for all of them on the islands today. It was the day of the WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) counts, and we learnt from the warden later that there were an impressive 59,300 Knot counted here this morning. As all the other Knot disappeared, one was left behind, a lone bird which was feeding along the edge of the gravel right in front of the hordes of people and photographers just a few feet away. Safer here than out where the Peregrine was!

Knot – one left on the shore

We stood for a while out on the edge of the Wash and waited for the initial rush for the hides to die down. A single Brent Goose appeared on the grass in among the photographers on the shore too – it didn’t look particularly well, but presumably it had survived the summer here and was now awaiting the return of the other Brents.

Then we made our way round to South Screen, where there was just enough room for us to squeeze in now. There were lots of waders roosting down at this end of the Pit, a huge mob of Oystercatchers on the shingle bank on one side (7,200 were counted here today!), and lots of Black-tailed Godwits around the islands with smaller numbers of Knot mixed in with them.

Oystercatchers – roosting on the bank

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was down on the shingle in front of the hide and a couple of Common Sandpipers picked their way around the edges of the water below us. There were a couple of groups of Spoonbills further out on the Pit, ten sleeping out in the middle and another seven on the bank on the far side.

Moving on to Knots Landing, a phalanx of photographers had taken up residence on the floor looking through the brush windows, so we sat on the steps and looked out through the glass at all the waders squashed in sleeping on the islands in front. There were several Bar-tailed Godwits, mostly boldly marked juveniles, mixed in with the Black-tailed Godwits, Knot and Common Redshanks. A single Spotted Redshank was dozing on the edge of one of the rocky islands further back. A Little Stint was picking up and down along the edge of the water out to the right of the hide.

It was already an hour after high tide so we made our way back out and round to the edge of the Wash. On the way, we stopped to look at some Sea Aster Bees swarming around the bare earth where the rabbits had been excavating next to the path. We had a quick look in at Shore Hide, where several more Spotted Redshanks were roosting out in the middle with the Common Redshanks and the Knot were still packed on to the islands to the north. Then we positioned ourselves out on the edge of the water to wait for the Knot to come back out.

A couple of adult Common Terns were feeding up and down in front of us, occasionally pursued by one of their begging juveniles. Out over the Wash, we picked up an Arctic Skua circling in the distance, which then landed on the sea. The Oystercatchers started to come back out first, in a series of small groups, just as they had on the way in. Soon the Knot began to fly out too, in lines, coming up out of the Pit, over the bank, then dropping low and out over the water. One wave came right over our heads as they cut back out to where the mud was reappearing.

Knot – heading back out

Eventually, the return of the Knot slowed and we decided it was time to head back. There were large numbers of silvery-white Sanderling gathered out on the mud further up, with smaller numbers of Ringed Plover and Turnstone on the shore – the smaller waders had not come in to the Pit but had roosted out here, along the beach. A Wheatear flitted round ahead of us, flashing its white rump, and landed on a post.

We drove round to Titchwell and had a break for lunch. Afterwards, we had a quick look out on the reserve. The American Golden Plover has been here for the last couple of weeks but is very erratic in its appearances. It had been reported here late morning today, so as it would be a new bird for the group we made a bee-line straight out to see it. It was in its usual place, on one of the islands out from Parrinder Hide, good views through the scope. It tends to keep its own company, but there were quite a few (European) Golden Plovers around it for comparison.

American Golden Plover – with its European cousins

There were quite a few Spoonbills out on the Freshmarsh too – we counted 31 now, but there had apparently been as many as 53 earlier. Then we noticed a young large gull on the next compartment over which looked interesting. Through the scope, we could see it was a juvenile Caspian Gull (moulting into its 1st winter), a nice bonus. We had a good look at it before it took off and flew over the hide, disappeared off in the direction of the beach.

We decided to head out to the beach. We stopped on the way to look at a couple of the Wasp Spiders on their webs on the bank – impressive beasts! There wasn’t much of note on the Volunteer Marsh or Tidal Pools, and there had probably been too much disturbance on the mussel beds in the sunshine so there were not so many waders on here today. Three more Spoonbills flew past.

We scanned the sea from the edge of the dunes. There had been one or two Red-necked Grebes out here earlier, but we couldn’t see it at first. We found a few Great Crested Grebes and a few Razorbills. One of the RSPB volunteers was out here looking too, and just after we found a Red-necked Grebe off to the right, he found the other one to the left. His was easier to see, both smart adults in breeding plumage, distant, but their red necks catching the sun as they turned.

Then it was time to head back. A Spectacular day in the sunshine.

28th-29th August 2023 – Private 2-day Tour

A 2-day Private Tour in North Norfolk, for a couple of recent recruits to birdwatching, looking for a broad selection of our regular birds. The weather was on 28th was much better than expected, with sunshine all day and no sign of the forecast showers in the afternoon. It was cloudier on 29th, still bright in the morning but darker and more threatening, and windier with it in the afternoon. Thankfully the rain didn’t arrive until later in the day, long after we had finished.

On our first morning, we headed for Cley. There were three Green Sandpipers and a couple of adult Water Rails on Snipe’s Marsh and as we set off up the East Bank, an adult and a fully grown juvenile Little Grebe were on Don’s Pool. A Reed Bunting perched obligingly in one of the small willows in the reeds, where a Reed Warbler flicked around in the leaves too, but a Cetti’s Warbler was only heard and remained typically out of view. We looked and listened for Bearded Tits along here today, but it was perhaps a little too breezy.

Six Spoonbills flew west over the bank ahead of us and appeared to drop down on the main scrapes. There were quite a few waders distantly on Pope’s Pool which we scoped from the bank. Most notably a Wood Sandpiper and a single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper in with the small flock of Dunlin. A juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit dropped in too. Further up on the Serpentine, we had much closer views of two more Curlew Sandpipers with more Dunlin, and several nice scaly juvenile Ruff. A single Common Snipe was feeding along the reedy edge.

Curlew Sandpipers – in with the Dunlin

On Arnold’s Marsh, there was a large flock of Sandwich Terns over towards the back. We could see the Long-billed Dowitcher out in the middle, asleep in a group of Black-tailed Godwits, but we figured it would be a better view from the old shingle ridge. A single Ringed Plover was on the Brackish Pools the other side and a Little Egret and several Redshanks on the pools below the bank as we walked up to the beach.

We had a quick look at the sea, but there was not much out here now, so we walked a little further east and had another look at the waders. The Long-billed Dowitcher eventually woke up and flashed its long bill, and we also found a Whimbrel, three Knot and two Greenshank on Arnold’s Marsh from here. Several Linnets and Meadow Pipits flicked around in and out of the grass. On the way back, three more Curlew Sandpipers dropped in with the Dunlin and the other two on the Serpentine giving us some very nice views.

We stopped for lunch back at the Visitor Centre, and in the afternoon we made our way along the coast to Stiffkey. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth flew off ahead of us as we walked along the permissive path by the road. There were a few birds by the river, a couple of Bullfinches flew out calling as we walked along the path, several Chiffchaffs were scattered around the bushes and a small mixed tit flock with a Goldcrest in with them was in the sallows above our heads.

Spoonbills – roosting on the Fen

From up on the seawall, we had a good view of the Spoonbill flock – we counted at least 40 on here today, with some still coming and going on the rising tide, including several juveniles. There were lots of Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks roosting on the pool and three Avocets, including two which we watched bathing in the water. A couple of Green Sandpipers flew round and a Common Sandpiper was feeding on the mud, before flying off past us and disappearing up the creek behind. In among all the geese, we found a few Wigeon and a couple of Pintail, though none of the ducks are looking their best at this time of year.

Spoonbill – one of the 2023 juveniles

Looking out towards the Harbour, a flock of fourteen Whimbrel flew round over the saltmarsh, at least four Stonechats were flitting around on the suaeda bushes and we picked up a very distant Marsh Harrier hunting the edge of the Point. From further up the seawall, we could see four Greenshanks out on the Fen too. There were a couple of Turnstones on the edge of the harbour channel as we made our way round and more on the edge of the Pit. A huge flock of Oystercatchers was trying to roost on the far side of the water but kept getting disturbed, and a large mixed flock of Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot flew round too.

We could see lots of gulls in the harbour and looking through, we managed to pick out a single juvenile Caspian Gull. A couple of Guillemots out on the water were a bit of a surprise, and one in particular didn’t look particularly well as it was carried into the mouth of the channel. A pair of Great Crested Grebes were more expected here.

We could see all the Grey Seals hauled out on the end of Blakeney Point from here and there were lots of Sea Aster Bees (Colletes halophilus). on a bank on the edge of the harbour so we stopped to watch them, lots of males swarming over the holes and pouncing on any emerging females. Then it was time to call it a day and walk back.

Sea Aster Bees Colletes halophilus

The following morning, we headed for Titchwell first thing. A quick look round the overflow car park before it got too busy produced more Chiffchaffs, several Blackcaps, a single Common Whitethroat and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker which dropped in to a dead tree briefly before continuing on its way east. There were lots of Swallows and House Martins hawking overhead and two Red Kites distantly in the dead trees looking across from the gate by the paddocks.

Out onto the reserve, we walked slowly out past the reedbed, scanning the edges of the pools below the path. There were a few Gadwall in the channels, a couple of Common Pochard on the reedbed pool and two Marsh Harriers quartering over the reeds. Two Bearded Tits appeared and showed very well, as they worked their way round the back of one of the pools, a blue/grey-headed male and a browner female. Two Spoonbills flew over the path and off towards Thornham Harbour, as did most of the Golden Plover which had been roosting on the Freshmarsh. A Greenshank flew round calling and disappeared off west too.

Bearded Tit – the blue/grey-headed moustachioed male

We called in at Island Hide, which gave some very close up views of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits, particularly a nice smart juvenile Icelandic bird, and Ruff. A Common Snipe was preening on the edge of the bank. We had a look through the ducks, which added Shoveler to the trip list. There were two more Spoonbills out in the middle, one of which was awake and allowed us good views of its bill through the scope.

Black-tailed Godwit – an Icelandic juvenile

From back out on the main path, there were several more adult Ruff in non-breeding plumage and we stopped to admire the Lapwings on the edge of the bund. Along the path to Parrinder Hide, we found a couple of Wasp Spiders still on their webs in the vegetation on the bank. We scanned the back compartment of the Freshmarsh from the viewing area beyond the hide but could not see the American Golden Plover in the remaining flock of European Golden Plovers now. A pair of Common Terns were still flying in and out bringing food for their young. A juvenile Spoonbill was chasing after its parent begging incessantly.

Wasp Spider – on its web

Continuing on out to the beach, there was not much on Volunteer Marsh – just a couple of Curlews and two Redshanks in the channel on the far side. There were some very nice tame Black-tailed Godwits on the Tidal Pools which we stopped to photograph.

At the beach, the tide was out so we walked down for a closer look at the mussel beds. There were lots of waders, including some smart Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstone and Grey Plover all still mostly in breeding plumage, along with several juvenile Knot. A small group of Sanderling and a single Ringed Plover flew past. We couldn’t see much out to sea now – a few Gannets flying past in the distance and some closer Sandwich and Common Terns.

We had seen a large flock of Golden Plover behind us from the beach, so we had a quick look back from Parrinder Hide, but there were still not the full flock on the Freshmarsh and no sign of anything different in with the ones which were there. A Whimbrel flew round calling and then disappeared off towards the beach. As we made our way back to the Visitor Centre for lunch, a Yellow Wagtail flew over the path ahead of us and off towards Thornham.

After lunch, we diverted inland. There were lots of Red-legged Partridges along the roads – recently released for the shooting season, they are typically very tame and many were reluctant to fly even ahead of the minibus. There were lots of Linnets and several Pied Wagtails bathing in the puddle in the farmyard. A couple of Common Buzzards were over the fields beyond and a lone Marsh Harrier standing in the stubble. A single Stock Dove was in the middle of a groups of Woodpigeons.

We cut across to the Wash coast. It was not a big high tide today, but we hoped still to catch some waders on the rising tide. When we arrived at Snettisham, there were dark clouds rolling in off the Wash and the wind had picked up. We cut in through the Coastal Park, where the bushes were rather quiet. Lots of Mediterranean Gulls of various ages were streaming overhead, heading down the Wash. As we got up onto the outer seawall, there was still a strip of mud beyond the beach which was covered in waders, large number of Bar-tailed Godwits and Knot and a mass of Oystercatchers gathered further up.

The tide was coming in quickly and they were made more nervous by a dog along the shoreline, taking to the air and flying off past us, further down the Wash. Further out, we could see a much larger dark slick of Oystercatchers out on the mud and some huge smoky clouds of Knot which whirled round from time to time making shapes in the air, presumably stirred up by a raptor of some description.

There was still a nice selection of waders on the beach, and and we thought they might be slowly pushed down towards us by a couple walking along from Heacham. We walked down to the sand but the Whimbrel and remaining Oystercatchers flew off calling before we got there and most of the the Turnstones and Sanderlings flew straight past us before doubling back round and landing further up again.

Sanderling – like clockwork

There were still a few birds which were working their way back in our direction along the shoreline so we positioned ourselves ahead of them. We had some lovely views of a young Turnstone which came close past us and a couple of the Sanderlings were just coming towards us when an off-the-lead spaniel came running past and chased all the birds off. Its owner was standing behind and lamely calling it back.

With the weather looking increasingly threatening, it was time to head back. We had enjoyed a very nice couple of days and seen an excellent selection of Norfolk’s birds.

6th Aug 2023 – Spectacular Waders

A Wader Spectacular tour today. It has not been much of a summer and today was no exception – the weather was cool and windy, a cold NNW gusting up to 40mph in the morning, with occasional showers. At least we managed to dodge most of the rain and didn’t get too wet, and we made the most of the bright and sunny intervals to have a good day out and enjoy the waders.

We made our way up to the Wash early this morning, to catch the tide, and it was very blustery when we got out onto the seawall. A Turtle Dove flew across the Pit behind us and appeared to go down into the bushes on the bank, but we couldn’t see it from where we were standing. There was still quite a lot of mud uncovered by water, but the tide was coming in extra fast backed by the wind today. There weren’t many birds gathered on the closer mud up towards the sailing club this morning – we could see a large dark oily slick of Oystercatchers further out in the middle and a smaller tight flock of Knot in front of them, but not as many Knot as we were expecting.

We started by looking through the smaller waders down on the mud in front of us. There were lots of Ringed Plover and Sanderling hiding down in the rocks, the latter in a mix of silvery grey winter and darker breeding plumages, and a few Dunlin and Turnstone beyond, some still sporting bright rusty patches in their upperparts. A Little Stint dropped in very briefly but unfortunately flew off again before we could get the scope on it.

Sanderling & Ringed Plovers – sheltering in the rocks

There were terns out on the mud too and we got the scope on a group including several Sandwich, Common and Little Terns all together, a nice size comparison before they took off and flew further down, ahead of the rising water. A couple of adult Mediterranean Gulls flew past, showing off their white wing tips. Groups of Dunlin started to fly in off the Wash right over us now, so close we could hear the beating of their wings over the wind, and dropped down over the bank behind, heading in to the Pit to roost already.

A much larger flock of waders came up from further out around the Wash now – the Knot had been hiding further round. They twisted and turned, making various different shapes in the air – perhaps there was a raptor having a go at them, or they were just nervous in the wind – before they gradually settled down again over on the far edge of the saltmarsh.

Waders – the Knot making shapes

The mud in front of us was quickly covered with water, so we continued on further down towards Rotary Hide. The Turtle Dove flew round over the Pit in front of us and disappeared down below the bushes on the bank again. We couldn’t see it though and then it flew again, out over the water before disappearing off back towards the car park. We could see quite a few Shelduck now out on the water, probably birds which had gathered here on the Wash to moult.

There were lots more Sanderling and Ringed Plover on the edge of the mud and several Oystercatchers sheltering from the wind behind the tufts of vegetation along the shore. Two leucistic juvenile Oyctercatchers really stood out, creamy straw coloured, their bills not yet fully grown.

Oystercatcher – one of two leucistic juveniles

The tide had reached the waders again now. Rather than walking up away from the rising water as they normally do, the Oystercatchers flew up in lines and landed up in the corner by the saltmarsh. The Knot peeled up in groups from the water’s edge too, flying over the bulk of the flock and landing again on the drier side. Something spooked them again, and they flew up, thousands in the air together – apparently the count was up to 32,000 in the last couple of days, as always a very impressive sight – but they quite quickly settled back down on the mud.

Waders – the Knot spooked again…

…but settled back down again quickly

The tide was coming in very fast now, so we set off to walk down to the end. It was a struggle to keep up with the rising water today, so we had to walk quite quickly, and then we positioned ourselves down on the edge of the Wash where the birds were already being squashed into the final corner of the mud which had not been covered. The Oyctercatchers were gathered closer to us, in among the tufts of vegetation, shifting nervously and walking up higher, with quite a few Curlew in the thicker vegetation just beyond. The Knot were packed tightly on the open mud further back.

Waders – squashed into the last of the mud

The Oystercatchers started to give up first, coming up from the Wash in lines and flying in overhead, piping noisily. Small flocks of Dunlin came flying in too next, low towards us over the water, looking like they might almost have to fly between us at times, before banking and heading off north along the beach. Finally the Knot gave in to the inevitable and began to fly up in huge waves, flying in right over our heads at first, where we could see the orange bellies of the larger Knot and the black belly patches of the smaller Dunlin mixed in with them.

Waders – flying in in waves

Waders – Dunlin mixed in with the Knot

More waves of Knot came up, thousands at a time, and flew in away to our left, turning into the wind and dropping down towards the Pit. We turned to watch them dropping down behind us, but with the sheer volume of birds trying to come in at the same time, the air space was very congested now.

Knot – congested airspace

It was made even worse because the birds all seemed very nervous today, possibly because of the wind, and would not settle. Time and again, the Knot which had already gone down on the Pit flew up again in a whirling maelstrom of birds. There were so many Knot in the air there was nowhere to go for the later arrivals, so they circled over the Pit before several large flocks gained height and headed back out high over the Wash. Quite a spectacle!

Knot – towered back up over the Pit

Eventually all the Knot had left the Wash and the last of the mud was covered. Those that could fit gradually spiralled down and disappeared behind the bank, onto the islands in the Pit. Lots of people had made a beeline for Shore Hide and there appeared to be a queue outside, so we decided to walk down towards South Screen. We stopped to watch several Marsh Harriers out over the saltmarsh, and the flocks of Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit which flew round looking for somewhere they could remain to roost out there.

Thankfully a few people were just leaving when we got to South Screen and we could squeeze in behind the benches, and it gradually thinned out enough for most of us to sit down. There were lots of Black-tailed Godwits gathered on and around the islands in front of the hides this end, with smaller numbers of Knot and Redshank in amongst them. We got the scope on a small huddle of Knot for a closer look – most of them are still in breeding plumage at the moment, with bright orange underparts and black patterned upperparts. A Common Sandpiper worked its way round the edge of the water on the shingle in front of the hide.

There were lots of Oystercatchers roosting on the shingle banks around this end of the Pit, and just beyond them on the right we could see lots of Spoonbills. We counted at least 30 today, including several still short-billed juveniles, presumably having dispersed here from the breeding colony at Holkham. Most of them were asleep, roosting over high tide until they could get back out fishing, but one or two were awake and preening so we could see their bills through the scope.

Spoonbills – some of today’s 30

We went round to Knots Landing to check out the islands in front of there. Three or four Little Terns were dip feeding in front of the hide and more terns were loafing on one of the islands. We got them in the scope, again a mix of Sandwich, Common and Little Terns, but a closer (and less windy!), view than we had of them out on the Wash earlier. Something spooked the Spoonbills and they all flew across and landed on the bank on the other side.

There was the same mix of waders on the islands here, mainly Black-tailed Godwits, with a few Knot, Redshank and Dunlin in with them. A couple of Common Sandpipers were patrolling the shingle edges of the islands here too and one seemed to be defending a small stretch of shore, chasing off the other if it strayed onto its patch.

Common Sandpiper – on the edge of the island

Looking over to Shore Hide, it looked like it had thinned out a bit, so we set off to walk round. We had a quick diversion back into South Screen where the warden kindly showed us the Red Hemp-nettle flowering on the shingle in between the Oystercatchers, a rare plant this is the only place it is found in Norfolk and it doesn’t sound like it is a good year for it this year. Then back out on the boardwalk, as we walked over the top, a very dark bird came in over the saltmarsh towards us, a dark phase adult Arctic Skua. It turned and headed back out again, then north along the shore, a very nice bonus blown into the Wash by the wind.

Arctic Skua – a dark adult

There were several Linnets bathing in a puddle on the path and a few Meadow Pipits around the edge too, which we stopped to look at. A line of Knot came up from the Pit and headed back out over the Wash, but the tide was slow to go out today and there was no mud exposed yet, so they turned and flew back in. When we got into Shore Hide, the corner overlooking the islands packed with Knot was still packed with toggers who had taken up residence, along with their packed lunches and flasks, waiting for the birds to fly, but there was plenty of room in the rest of the hide for us.

There were lots of Cormorants on the various clumps of rocks out in the middle of the water, and a roosting group of Redshanks in the middle of one of them. Through the scope, we could see several Spotted Redshanks in with them, mostly asleep but from time to time one would wake up and flash its longer needle-fine bill. We could see they were a paler shade of grey above too. Eventually we managed to get into the corner of the hide and get the scope on the island where all the Knot were packed in shoulder to shoulder.

Knot – roosting on the island

From time to time they would shuffle and a wave would go through them. A Moorhen walked through the middle of them too at one point, and the parted and left a clear patch in the middle for it. When something spooked all the birds on one of the islands further back, they whirled round over the Pit but it seemed like they quickly realised it was a false alarm. Most of the Knot dropped back in on the closer island now, pushing all the Dunlin off the edge nearest the bank.

Waders – false alarm!

It was well beyond an hour after high tide now, but the mud was only just starting to reappear. The tide was being held in by the wind today, and it was slow to go back out, and the waders were showing no sign of moving yet too. There were dark clouds out over the Wash and it had started to spit with rain again, so we stayed in the hide for a bit before eventually, when the rain seemed to be blowing through, we went back out to check the Wash. Some of the Oystercatchers had gone back out already and spread out on the edge of the saltmarsh, and some Knot had reappeared back out on the mud but still tucked in the corner. A Spotted Redshank called and landed in the channel in front of us, swimming over to the far bank before walking up onto the mud and flying off, showing the lozenge of white up its back.

Spotted Redshank – flying off

A few small wisps of waders started to come up over the bank from the Pit, but it didn’t seem like the bulk of the Knot were in any great hurry to return to the Wash. It was still spitting with rain, so we decided to start making our way slowly back. Up towards Rotary Hide, we stopped to watch a Hummingbird Hawkmoth flying back and forth over the path ahead of us. It landed briefly on a bramble bush next to the path – not really the weather for any self-respecting moths to be out!

Hummingbird Hawkmoth – out despite the wind

We made our way round to Titchwell next, and it was time for lunch by the time we arrived. The rain we had driven through on the way had cleared through and the sun had come back out, even if it was still a bit damp in the picnic area. After lunch, we headed out for a quick look around the reserve. Speaking to the staff at the Visitor Centre, there had been a Green Sandpiper at the end of the recently opened Autumn trail earlier, so we decided to head round that way first. A family of Long-tailed Tits were in the trees just beyond the Centre and there were a couple of Chaffinches and a few Blue Tits and Great Tits around the feeders.

We walked round on Fen Trail. A couple of Common Swifts were feeding out over the reeds north of Fen Hide along with a few House Martins. Out on the Tank Road, several Blackcaps flicked around in an elder bush and a Greenfinch flew out. There were more tits and a Chiffchaff calling in the trees just before the Patsy’s Reedbed viewpoint. We stopped here for a quick look. There were lots of Gadwall on the pool, along with a couple of Teal, a few Common Pochard and a couple of Tufted Ducks. A Little Grebe appeared from behind the reeds right at the front, followed by two small fluffy juveniles, which it proceeded to feed. There were a few Coot on here too.

Little Grebe – an adult with one juvenile

Down to the corner and a Sedge Warbler flicked up out of the sedges by the dragonfly pond. We had talked about eclipse plumage in ducks – none of the drakes are at their best at this time of year – and an eclipse drake Mallard was in the far corner of Patsy’s, so we could see its yellow bill. A fresh second generation Wall butterfly flew ahead of us and landed on the path.

When we got to the far end of the Autumn Trail it was a bit disappointing to find the water level so high there was no mud for any waders now. We could see some distant Golden Plover roosting on one of the islands tucked in out of the wind, but not much else of note, so we decided to head back round to the main West Bank path. It started to spit with rain again so we quickened our step to get out of the wind, but the worst of the rain was away to the west and whatever came our way quickly cleared through. As we walked out from the trees on the main path, a Common Frog was on the path ahead of us and needed to be encouraged to move out of the way of all the feet passing.

Common Frog – on the path

There were a couple of Shoveler in with the Gadwall on the main reedbed pool as we passed and five Spoonbills flew over and out over the Thornham saltmarsh. Several Reed Warblers flicked in and out of the reeds but it was a bit too windy for any Bearded Tits today.

We called in at Island Hide, where several Avocets were feeding up to their bellies in the water in front. There was not much mud for waders here either today, but we did find a couple of Ruff feeding along the bund to the north. Several Common Terns flew in and out calling, and one appeared still to have a juvenile tucked in the vegetation on one of the islands. A Chinese Water Deer ran along the bund at the far side.

Avocet – feeding in front of Island Hide

Back out on the main path, the sun was out again now (the weather couldn’t make up its mind this afternoon) and a Common Lizard was basking on the rail of the fence by the path.

Common Lizard – basking on the fence

A Yellow Wagtail called and flew off behind us, then another flew round and landed on the bund briefly. We stopped on the bank to look at it, but it was intent on chasing a Meadow Pipit off and wouldn’t settle. There were a couple more Ruff on the next compartment but again not much mud here either to tempt in more small waders and consequently not much surprise there was no sign of the Green Sandpiper anywhere on the Freshmarsh this afternoon.

We were just about to walk on when we noticed a large gull which had just landed in the shallow water back on the other side of the bund. It was a juvenile Caspian Gull – we could see its long face and bill, rather pale headed already, and its black tertials with white thumbnail tips. There have been good numbers of them in Norfolk in the last couple of weeks, birds dispersing west from the colonies in Germany and Netherlands at the end of the breeding season. Another nice bonus.

Caspian Gull – this juvenile dropped in

We continued on round towards Parrinder Hide. One of the regular volunteers had told us there were some Wasp Spiders in the vegetation along the bank here and scanning carefully we found one as we walked along the path so we stopped to admire it. Large and boldly marked with yellow and black, they are quite a striking spider and only a recent colonist to this part of the UK.

Wasp Spider – by the path

There were a few more Ruff and several Lapwings on the grassy island in front of Parrinder Hide. We heard a Greenshank call a couple of times, but we couldn’t see it – there was nowhere obvious for it to drop in on the Freshmarsh, so presumably it was feeding in one of the channels on the back of the Volunteer Marsh.

We never have very long to spend here on Wader Spectacular days and we noticed now that time had run away from us and some of the group needed to get back. We had a quick look from the other side of Parrinder Hide – the Caspian Gull was now asleep on the compartment here and an adult Mediterranean Gull, in winter plumage already with black bandit mask rather than black hood, was loafing in with the Black-headed Gulls.

There was one last surprise for us today. As we drove back inland through Choseley we noticed a bird trying to balance on the wires by the road in the wind. As we pulled up to take a look, we could see it was a juvenile Cuckoo! It flew off across the field and into the trees beyond. A nice way to end.

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

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

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

Spoonbills – asleep

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

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

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

Marsh Harrier – a female

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

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

Ruff – moulting

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

Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit – in breeding plumage

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

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

Continental Black-tailed Godwit – subspecies limosa

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

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

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

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

Sandwich Tern – flew past the hide

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

Mediterranean Gulls – adult & begging juvenile

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

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

Barnacle Geese – a small feral group

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

Little Stint – dropped in

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

Whimbrel – dropped in too

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

Spoonbills – some of the 28 here

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

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

Nightjar Evening

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

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

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

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

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

11th May 2023 – Four Days of Spring, Day 1

Day 1 of a 4-day Spring Tour today. It was a bright day with lots of sunshine in the morning. Although it threatened rain over lunchtime, the dark clouds remained mostly to the south of us and when they eventually moved off the sun came out again. It even felt like spring at times!

Our destination for the morning was Snettisham. A Swallow was singing from the wires beside the road as we parked and got out of the minibus.

Swallow – singing on the wires

As we walked up along the road, we spotted out first Turtle Dove of the morning on the wires above the bushes. We got it in the scope, a good view of its rusty scaled back and barred black and white neck patch, but it dropped before everyone got a look. Not to worry. As we walked in through the bushes, another Turtle Dove was purring ahead of us now. It was hard to find an angle to get a clear view at first, but we followed it was it flew up in display flight, and landed again. We just found a gap in the bushes where we could see it when it flew up again, and landed out of view.

A third Turtle Dove started purring now, in the bushes back along the path, so we walked back and found this one showing very well in the top of one of the hawthorns. We got the scope on this one and watched as it switched between purring and preening. We could still hear the one we had just been trying to follow, plus another which had started up behind us now. What a wonderful sound to stand and listen to, and such a shame it has become such a rare occurrence now.

Turtle Dove – purring in the hawthorns

Eventually, the Turtle Dove we were watching flapped up in display flight too, circled round, and landed again out of view. As we carried on through the bushes, two Bullfinches flew out and across the path ahead of us. We came out into the open grassy area, where two Common Whitethroats and a Chiffchaff were singing from the bushes, the latter perching on the top of a tall bare stem right behind us. There was a large flock of Linnets feeding on the ground here and when they spooked and flew round we could see a Greenfinch with them.

We cut across and up onto the outer seawall, as a Stonechat flew past. We scanned the rope cordons up along the beach, but there was no sign of any Ringed Plovers at first, just a pair of Oystercatchers asleep further up. Several Sanderling were feeding along the shore, mostly looking rather dark now, moulting into their very different breeding plumage. Then a couple of Ringed Plovers flew in from behind and landed on the beach right below us, not in the cordons. One started displaying, flying round with exaggerated wingbeats over the edge of the Wash.

Ringed Plover – not in the cordon

Walking on up the seawall, there were several butterflies out in the sunshine now – several Wall Brown chasing round over the marram and a Small Copper briefly feeding on a dandelion. A flock of Oystercatchers flew past over the water, looking like a picture in the sunlight. We looked inland to the north and could see they were being put up off Ken Hill Marshes by a couple of Red Kites circling over. A Meadow Pipit was singing and we looked over to see two on the rope fence of the cordon, which then took off and started fighting over the path ahead of us.

The park here was very badly burnt in a major fire last summer, and we could see all the charred remains of the dead trees ahead of us now. Very few appear to be resprouting, so it will sadly take many years for the site to recover. We cut back down into the middle, where a Reed Warbler was singing by one of the pools and two Sedge Warblers chased round over a patch of brambles which had escaped the fire.

Another Turtle Dove started purring ahead of us, and we watched launch up in display flight and land back down in one the charred and blackened trees. It was sad to see it like this – there were several territories at this end of the park last year, before the fire. A Whimbrel flew past, followed by a Curlew, heading for the Wash. Then surprise of the morning, a Barn Owl appeared, hunting along the base of the inner seawall. It was a bit late in the morning for one to be out, but perhaps it has hungry young to feed somewhere. Interestingly, there was a Barn Owl here last year which was also very active during the day.

We climbed up the bank and onto the top of the inner seawall. A couple of Swifts zoomed back and forth past us low over the bank and a Lapwing was displaying over the marshes beyond. As we walked north, the Barn Owl came back the other way along the bank and out over the marshes past us.

Barn Owl – still out hunting

Barn Owl – flew past us

Up past the kissing gate, we could see lots of Oystercatchers roosting on the scrapes, waiting out high tide on the Wash. Everything was put up by a Marsh Harrier circling over, and a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits whirled round too. We could see a smaller wader in with them now, the Long-billed Dowitcher. Having spent most of the winter at Cley, it has now moved here with the godwits. They all landed again, and we got the Long-billed Dowitcher in the scope. It was hard to pick out from the throng at first, but eventually came out on its own where we had better views, although still a lot more distant here then it was at times at Cley.

Long-billed Dowitcher – out on the marshes

When someone spotted a Barn Owl out over the bank further to the north, we assumed initially it would be the same one, but when we looked over it was clearly a different bird, noticeably browner. It was after 11am now too. Two Yellow Wagtails flew over calling and disappeared on south, but there were not many other migrants moving today. The northerly airflow seems to have put paid to most visible migration at the moment.

The Marsh Harrier flew round repeatedly, occasionally closer to us over the bank and then from time to time drifting back out over the marshes, where it was repeatedly mobbed by Lapwings and flushed all the waders again. The walk back past all the burnt trees was fairly uneventful, although we did stop briefly to watch two Little Grebes swimming across one the pools on the marshes.

Marsh Harrier – above us

As we drove back towards the main road, we could see dark clouds ahead of us and it looked to be raining inland. We thought we would get round to the north of the weather as we headed round to Titchwell, but it was right on the edge of the clouds here and they were not really moving in the very light winds. It was time for lunch now, so we stopped in the picnic area. There was blue sky and sunshine to the north and west of us, and cloud to the south and east, just enough to produce a couple of spits of rain very intermittently as we ate, although thankfully not enough to require covering up.

After lunch, we headed out onto the reserve. A Great Reed Warbler had been found here during the morning and a small crowd had gathered on the bank overlooking the reedbed. It had been singing on and off, but was quiet now. Speaking to one of the locals there, it seemed like it had been singing every half hour, so we figured another burst of song was due at some point. While we waited, a Marsh Harrier drifted over the reedbed and a Great White Egret flew in behind us, over the path and dropped down into the reeds.

Sure enough, we didn’t have to wait too long before the Great Reed Warbler started singing again. Interesting just to hear, very different from our regular Reed Warbler, a pair of which were flitting in and out of the vegetation with nest material. We could just see the Great Reed Warbler singing from the back of a small sallow close to the bank, and we managed to get it in the scope briefly, before it started moving around.

Great Reed Warbler – eventually showed itself

When it stopped singing, the Great Reed Warbler flew out and landed briefly on the edge of the reeds a little further up, before it flew again. It was very active now, flying between the small blocks of reeds around the pools below the bank, and we had a succession of flight views or briefly perched half-obscured in the reeds. Once or twice it appeared in the open for a second or two and thankfully everyone got a look at it.

Just as the Great Reed Warbler came out into the open at one point, a shout from someone alerted to a Bittern which had flown up from the reeds, and was now being mobbed by several Black-headed Gulls. It flew round in front of us trying to decide which way to go, then turned and came right over our heads, disappearing off towards Thornham. We didn’t know which way to look!

Bittern – flew round mobbed by gulls

Bittern – then flew right over our heads

The Great Reed Warbler showed well again briefly, then flew further up and disappeared into the thicker reeds out of view. We decided to move on, and had a look around the pools further up to see if we could find any Bearded Tits. They were not as showy as they have been today – one appeared briefly at the base of the reeds, but then disappeared further in. Two more further back flew up and disappeared off round the edge of the Reedbed Pool.

There were a couple of Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler, and Reed Bunting in the reeds and a Cetti’s Warbler flew across at one point. A couple of the group saw a Water Vole too. It was still a bit cloudy, but a Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly, presumably freshly emerged, was warming up in the grass by the path.

Four-spotted Chaser – by the path

Up to the Freshmarsh, and we got the scope on a couple of Common Terns on the island in front of Island Hide with the Avocets and Black-headed Gulls. We could see the four Little Gulls hawking out over the water, a smart black-hooded adult and three 1st summers with dark ‘w’ markings across their wings. We got the scope on some distant Mediterranean Gulls on the islands right over the back too, admiring their white eyeliner and bright red bills. Several Common Pochard were preening on the edge of one of the other islands, and a pair of Gadwall were right down at the front, where we could see the complexity of their plumage patterns.

Little Gull – a 1st summer

When a Red Kite drifted over, everything went up, and it drifted away pursued by a cloud of Avocets and Black-headed Gulls. Whether that was a sighting mission, a little later it did another circuit, coming in quite high and then dropping steeply to grab a duckling from the water. Again, it was instantly mobbed but this time it flew off quickly with its prey in its talons.

We could see a Spoonbill preening out on the saltmarsh and from the rise in the path by the junction to Parrinder Hide we got it in the scope, It was preening at first, showing its yellow-tipped bill, but then did what Spoonbills like to do best and went to sleep. It was just a brief nap though, as we hadn’t had time to pack up before it took off and flew away towards Thornham Harbour. Several small groups of Brent Geese were feeding out on the saltmarsh too.

We went in to the far section of Parrinder Hide overlooking the Freshmarsh. We were hoping to see the Little Ringed Plovers here, but there was no sign of any at first. A lone Dunlin was on the grassy island, but hiding in a small depression with just its head visible. When it deemed it safe to do so, it came out and started to feed. Two Ringed Plovers were on the edge of the next spit back. A Little Egret appeared right below us and the four Little Gulls landed at one point on the back of the mud in front of the hide.

Dunlin – on its own

We did eventually find a single Little Ringed Plover from the other section of the hide, feeding along the back edge. We got it in the scope, so we could see its golden eye ring. This is as far as we were going today. On the walk back, we stopped for a quick look but there was no further sign of any Bearded Tits and the Great Reed Warbler had now gone quiet too.

We still had time for one last stop, so we headed inland up to Choseley. The Dotterel have been lingering in the fields here for several days now, and someone had just located one out at the back of the field as we drove up. We got it in the scope, although it was very distant and the sun had come out again and there was a surprising amount of heat haze. A second Dotterel appeared nearby and there was a Wheatear out at the back too, but that disappeared just as we got it in the scope, and both Dotterel then sat down and blended in to the background.

Some other people had arrived hoping to see the Dotterel and thankfully after not too long a wait first the Wheatear resurfaced, and then the two Dotterel. A bonus Yellowhammer flew across the field in front of us.

It was time to head back now. It had been an exciting first day – hopefully more tomorrow.

8th May 2023 – Spring Day in NW Norfolk

A Private Tour today for Oldham U3A. It was forecast to rain heavily in the afternoon, but thankfully once again that turned out to be far too pessimistic. It was a nice bright start to the morning and although it clouded over all we had were a very few spits of light rain around the middle of the day.

Our destination for the morning was Snettisham. As we got out of the minibus, there were two Turtle Doves on the wires, so we got them in the scope while we all got ready. One, presumably the male, chased after a third Turtle Dove and once it had been seen off, it returned to the wires, before the pair dropped down out of view.

Walking in through the bushes, there were several Linnets and Goldfinches feeding down on the short grass. A Greenfinch was wheezing from the trees nearby and then perched briefly in the top of a hawthorn. There were various warblers singing too – Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warbler.

Continuing on, we could hear the wonderful sound of a Turtle Dove purring and we found a gap in the bushes where we could set up the scope on it. Great views, as it preened and purred, before it flew up and glided round in display flight.

Turtle Dove – showing well

There were more warblers singing as we carried on through the bushes including a singing Common Whitethroat and a couple of Willow Warblers. A Marsh Harrier drifted over behind us and a large flock of finches whirled around the open grassy area as a Sparrowhawk shot through low – mainly Linnets but a few Goldfinches and a Greenfinch with them.

We crossed over to the outer seawall, where it was high tide on the Wash. Large areas of the beach have been fenced off for breeding birds and scanning with the scope from a safe distance we could see three Ringed Plovers lurking in the dry seaweed along the tide line. Further up were two Oystercatchers. Several people walked up and down the beach below the cordons and even though they had their dogs on leads and were outside the ropes, the Ringed Plovers still ran up the beach as they passed.

We walked a short distance up the seawall. Two Yellow Wagtails flew over calling and disappeared off south. The flock of Linnets landed in a small hawthorn in the middle of the grassy area below us, so we had a look at those in the scope. A Common Whitethroat landed on the brambles beside us. A Meadow Pipit landed on the rope fence nearby with a caterpillar in its bill.

Meadow Pipit – with food

A small flock of waders flew down over the water from further up the beach and landed on the shore below us, a mixture of Turnstones and Sanderling. Some of the Turnstone were started to gain their brighter breeding plumage, chestnut in the upperparts and white faces, but most of the Sanderling were still in silvery grey non-breeding plumage.

Most of the Coastal Park was burnt in a big fire last summer and we could see all the charred bushes to the north. The grass and reeds are growing back below, but it will take years for the scrub to recover. We weren’t going to be able to walk up to Ken Hill Marshes along the inner seawall today, so we cut back down the way we had come. A short diversion in round the pools produced a couple of Sedge Warblers and a brief Broad-bodied Chaser. The Turtle Doves were still purring as we made our way back to the vehicles.

Making our way back round the coast, we stopped next at Thornham. There were a few Redshanks in the harbour, as we made our way up onto the seawall. We stopped to look at some Brent Geese out on the grazing marsh beyond, and noticed the Garganey on the small pool to the south, so walked over for a closer look. There was just the drake here now, swimming round the pool, feeding and calling occasionally. It flew across to another pool, came back in again, and then flew off towards the village.

Garganey – the drake

There were three Ruff on the pool too, all males and all in different stages of moult to bright breeding plumage, though none yet getting their outlandish ruffs. Walking back up the seawall to the corner, there were more Ruff on the large flood in the field, including a small group of females, Reeves. A Lapwing was brooding its young on the edge of the water too. Two Little Ringed Plovers flew off calling from one of the smaller pools out in the middle.

Looking out over the harbour, we got the scope on several Grey Plover, some looking very smart now with their black bellies and faces. A Curlew was feeding on the far edge of the channel and more were roosting out on the saltmarsh beyond. Four Little Terns flew round over the beach.

We went round to Titchwell for lunch in the picnic area. It had clouded over by the time we set off out onto the reserve and it felt like it was threatening to rain. A pair of Stonechats were feeding along the brambles on the edge of Thornham grazing meadow as we passed. A couple of Marsh Harriers were hanging in the breeze out over the reedbed and one male perched briefly in the dead trees at the back. Several House Martins, Swallows and one or two Swifts were hawking low over the reeds, the insects having come low in the cloudy and breezy conditions now.

Despite the weather, the Bearded Tits were showing very well around the pools just below the bank, although they did keep disappearing into the reeds. There was at least one family – a smart moustachioed male, a female and one or two fresh juveniles still with only partly grown tails. We spent some time watching them today and, with a bit of patience, everyone got very good views in the end. There were one or two Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings here too.

Bearded Tit – a male photographed the day before

As we carried on up towards Island Hide, a dark-billed Great White Egret flew in over the bank behind us and dropped down into the reeds. A flock of Black-tailed Godwits whirled round over the back of the reedbed. There were lots of Avocets and Black-headed Gulls on the islands on the Freshmarsh. The Mediterranean Gulls were more distant, on the islands with the other gulls further back. A Sandwich Tern flew round and landed next to a second where we could get them in the scope and see their yellow-tipped black bills and shaggy crests.

There were not many waders on here today, but scanning round the edge we found a Common Sandpiper, and later two flew out and landed on the edge of the islands. We heard a Greenshank calling out over the saltmarsh and watched in fly in over our heads and disappear straight over the Freshmarsh. We stopped to admire a pair of Gadwall feeding on the water right below the bank, where we could really appreciate the complex patterns of their plumage.

As it was still staying dry for now, we decided to head straight on out in case the rain might be arriving later. There wasn’t much to see on the Volunteer Marsh or the Tidal Pools today – there had apparently been a Spoonbill out here earlier, but there was no sign of it now. A Common Tern flew in past us and straight on towards the Freshmarsh. There were a few Brent Geese feeding on the saltmarsh.

We decided to head back and have a look in at Parrinder Hide. There were a couple of Ringed Plovers and several Little Ringed Plovers on the islands – we had very good close views of one of the latter in the scope, so we could see its golden yellow eye ring. We had a better view of a couple of Mediterranean Gulls from here too, as they flew in to one of the nearer compartments to bathe.

We had a quick stop in Island Hide on our way back, where several Common Terns were hiding on the far side of the closest island, behind the Black-headed Gulls. A pair of Common Pochard were on one of the small pools on the edge of the reedbed now.

Common Terns – hiding behind the gulls

Back at the Visitor Centre, we stopped for a tea break. The staff were just packing up but kindly let us know that there was a Spotted Flycatcher now in the picnic area. So after we had finished our refreshments, we walked over to see if we could see it. A couple of locals were there and told us it was regularly returning to the same alder tree and sure enough it flew back in almost immediately. Several times it returned as we watched, and we had good views of it in the scope above our heads. A scarce spring migrant here on the coast, this one was probably stopping off on its way to Scandinavia for the breeding season.

A nice bird to end a very pleasant spring day in NW Norfolk – and we had stayed dry too!

5th Nov 2022 – Late Autumn, Day 2

Day 2 of a three day Late Autumn Tour. It was originally forecast to rain for much of today, which it thankfully didn’t. It was rather grey and overcast all day though, and it did spit with drizzle around midday before some rain finally arrived just as it was getting dark this afternoon.

On our way up to the coast, we drove round via Choseley. There were a couple of Corn Buntings on the wires but typically another car appeared behind us when we were stopped in the road for a look and they flew off. We pulled up a little further along, but there were just a few Linnets on the wires now. A couple of Yellowhammers flew over and a large flock of Chaffinches was put up out of a field further up by a tractor. Several small groups of Golden Plover flew past high overhead.

A Chinese Water Deer appeared through the hedge at the top of the field opposite, and then we saw that it was being chased by a dog. The chase continued across the whole of that field and the next one, the two disappearing into the trees away on the edge of Choseley village some way off to our left. Two other dogs followed. The owners were probably on the footpath about 1/2 mile away in the other direction, on top of the hill, presumably oblivious to what their dogs were up to.

Pink-footed Geese – feeding in stubble

We could hear Pink-footed Geese calling and looked over to see a succession of small flocks dropping down towards the Thornham Road. We drove round, and found them feeding in a stubble field – presumably they are still struggling to find harvested beet fields locally. We had a good view of them from the shelter of the minibus, along with lots of gulls, Woodpigeons and several Stock Doves and another Chinese Water Deer.

Continuing on down to Titchwell, we walked round to the overflow car park but there were already several vehicles parked there and no birds in the bushes now. Looking over the paddocks beyond, it was interesting to see three Lapwings displaying at this time of year, the two males in tumbling display flight and singing briefly. There were several Blackbirds in the hedge at the back and a single Redwing flew over.

Lapwing – displaying in November

As we made our way round to the Welcome Hub, we stopped to watch a Long-tailed Tit in the sallows right above our heads. There were lots of finches feeding in the alders around the Visitor Centre, mostly Goldfinches but we heard Bramblings calling, and then picked out several in the top of one of the trees. When the Goldfinches all flew to another tree, we could see several Siskins feeding with them too.

Brambling – feeding in the alders

As we walked out onto the reserve, we scanned across the reedbed to see if there were many birds moving this morning. A few Chaffinches flew over, along with a succession of small groups of Starlings, a small flock of Woodpigeon and a group of Lapwings. Two Ravens flying through were a bit more of a surprise – still quite a scarce bird in Norfolk.

A Marsh Harrier drifted over the back of the reedbed, a few Reed Buntings flew across the path and we could hear several Cetti’s Warblers singing from deep in the reeds. Stopped by the reedbed pool, a lone female Goldeneye was diving out in the middle, the first we have seen here this autumn, along with a couple of Little Grebes and a Tufted Duck.

Four Whooper Swans flew in over the Freshmarsh, trumpeting, and came right over our heads. We watched them carry on west towards Thornham. Less than 40 mins earlier, they had been seen passing Salthouse and later they were reported again heading south over Heacham, presumably heading for the Ouse Washes for the winter. A Red Kite was up over the back of the Thornham grazing marsh.

Whooper Swans – heading for the Ouse Washes

As we passed Island Hide, we could hear a Water Rail squealing from deep in the reeds. We stopped on the bank to scan the Freshmarsh – there were several Avocets still here, feeding up to their bellies in the deeper water further back. Wildfowl numbers are growing steadily as birds return for the winter – there were lots of Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal, most of the drakes now starting to emerge from their dull eclipse plumage, and several Shelduck.

There were a couple of hundred Golden Plover roosting mostly on the new bund today, remarkably well camouflaged. Even though the weather was overcast, they still looked stunning close-up through the scope. Several Ruff and a Ringed Plover were on the next compartment of Freshmarsh, beyond the bund.

Golden Plover – on the new bund

As we walked round to Parrinder Hide, a pipit dropped over the hide calling. From inside, we eventually found it on one of the islands, a typically dark and swarthy Rock Pipit. Interestingly it was wearing a red colour ring, although unfortunately it flew off before we could read the code. This is from a Norwegian ringing scheme, the source of many of our wintering Rock Pipits here which are of the Scandinavian subspecies.

Continuing out towards the beach, there were several Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks feeding in the muddy channel on the far side of Volunteer Marsh. Another Black-tailed Godwit was feeding very close to the path on the Tidal Pool, but with the tide out at the moment there was not much else on here now.

Black-tailed Godwit – on the Tidal Pools

Out on the beach, the mussel beds were still exposed and most of the waders were feeding out here. We walked down the beach for a closer look. There were several Bar-tailed Godwits on the shore and on the mussel beds which we got the scope on, and at one point had both species of godwit together for a useful side-by-side comparison. There were also several Knot and Turnstone, a couple of Sanderling, and lots of Oystercatchers.

There had been a Spoonbill out here earlier, but it was rather elusive at first, feeding in the pools hidden in the mussel beds. Eventually it appeared and we got a good look at it – a juvenile, with fleshy coloured bill. Most of our summer Spoonbills have long since gone down to the south coast for the winter. When we noticed the waders on the beach all looking skywards, we looked up to see a Marsh Harrier coming in high over the beach, presumably a fresh arrival from the continent.

There were good numbers of Red-throated Divers offshore, many in grey and white non-breeding plumage, but one still had a lot of summer red left on its throat. There were several Great Crested Grebes close inshore and scanning through we found a single Slavonian Grebe with them – much smaller and shorter billed. A large raft of Red-breasted Merganser were further out, over towards the end of Scolt Head.

Curlew – on Volunteer Marsh

On the walk back, as we stopped to photograph a Curlew feeding right next to the path on the Volunteer Marsh, we heard a Lapland Bunting call, but only once and we didn’t see where it was. Then back at the Freshmarsh, we glanced over at the small group of gulls gathered by the small brick island as we passed and noticed an adult Mediterranean Gull in the middle. We had the scope on it, admiring its white wing tips, heavier, redder bill and black bandit mask, when the Spoonbill dropped in right behind.

The Brent Geese were commuting in and out from Thornham saltmarsh, coming into the Freshmarsh to drink and bathe. There seem to be good numbers of stripe-winged juveniles this autumn, hopefully indicating a good breeding season in Siberia this year.

Brent Geese – good numbers of juveniles

It was time for lunch, so we made our way back to the picnic area. Afterwards, we had a quick walk out on Fen Trail. A Goldcrest was feeding with tits by the Visitor Centre as we passed. Patsy’s held lots of Gadwall, a couple of Little Grebe and several Coot, but there was no sign of any snipe in the cut reed down at the front today. As we made our way back, we came across a tit flock with one or two Coal Tits and another Goldcrest. A couple of Brambling landed briefly in the trees.

We made our way round to Snettisham for the remainder of the day. It was forecast to be a fairly big tide this afternoon, although not quite big enough to cover all of the mud, and the brisk southerly wind would hold the tide back a little. Still, we hoped to see some nice flocks of waders gathering.

When we got out onto the seawall, there were lots of Oystercatchers, Bar-tailed Godwits and Knot already gathered away to our right, off towards the sailing club, so we got the scope on them. There were also several Grey Plovers on the mud close in, including one still with lots of summer black on its underparts which flew in. Lots of Dunlin were still busy feeding on the edge of the channel beyond. A single Avocet was roosting with the ducks higher up.

The waders were very jumpy today and from time to time all the larger flocks out on the mud took to the air, mostly Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits swirling round in tight groups, twisting and turning, making shapes out over the Wash. Always great to watch.

Waders – swirling flocks

A Rock Pipit on the sea defences dropped down to feed on the edge of the mud. A flock of twenty or so Linnets flew in and landed in the short saltmarsh vegetation. We could hear Pink-footed Geese calling, and looked out to see a couple of large skeins flying in from the far side of the Wash before dropping down onto the mud in the distance. Half of them took off again shortly after and flew in past us, presumably heading inland for a late feed or off to a different roost site for the night.

The tide was rising quickly now. The Bar-tailed Godwits away to our right gave up quite quickly and flew past, landing on the dry mud higher up. Most of the Oystercatchers stuck it out until their feet were wet, before they started to peel off.

It was rather grey and gloomy anyway and the light was starting to go quickly now, so we continued on down to the end. Another huge mass of Pink-footed Geese flew in across the Wash and landed out on the mud to roost. We had planned to walk down to Shore Hide, but a quick scan from the causeway suggested there was not much different to see on the Pit. It was also finally starting to spit with rain now, so we decided to call it a day and make for home. We had enjoyed a very good day and stayed mostly dry!