9th March 2024 – Winter & Brecks, Day 2

Day 2 of a 3-day Winter & Brecks tour today. It was a lovely, bright and dry day with plenty of sunshine. The forecast cold E wind didn’t really pick up until later in the morning and even then was nowhere near as blustery as predicted. We spent the day along the North Norfolk coast.

With the wind lighter than forecast, we decided to head first down to the cliffs at Weybourne. As we walked along the clifftop path, several Skylarks fluttered up singing from the grass and one landed on the top of a small clump of bright green alexanders. There were a few gulls out on the sea – a Great Black-backed Gull, a few Herring Gulls and a young Common Gull – and a winter adult Common Gull flew past close in below the cliffs.

Walking up to the edge of the cultivated field next along, we suddenly realised there were several Snow Buntings hunkered down right in front of us, just a few metres in from the edge of the grass. They started feeding, picking around on the bare ground, great views. Then a Meadow Pipit flew over and they took off, whirling round before landing further back.

Snow Bunting – feeding in the field

We continued to scan to see if we could find the Lapland Buntings which have been here for the last few weeks. We could see more birds further over, including more Skylarks, but we were looking into the sun from here, so we decided to walk on up the path. One of the locals who had walked on ahead of us waved us over now. He had found a couple of the Lapland Buntings but they were right over the far side of the field and tricky to see, disappearing in and out of the shallow furrows, so we got our scopes on the right area and concentrated on getting everyone onto them.

There were several Rooks and Carrion Crows along the back edge of the field too, which at times provided useful markers for the buntings! A few Curlew were feeding in the back of the block of fresh green barley nearby and a pair of Grey Partridge were feeding in front of the bank over the far side, very well camouflaged in with the clods of grey clay earth. We couldn’t find the large flock of Linnets here today, but there were still some little groups of them feeding in the field and we managed to locate a very distant Twite briefly too at one point. There were more Skylarks and Snow Buntings feeding here as well, which made it even harder to pick out the Lapland Buntings. A couple of adult Gannets flew east low over the sea behind us.

It was nice here in the sunshine this morning, but it took some time for everyone to get views of the Lapland Buntings that they were happy with. Many of the birds were now starting to work their way closer across the field so we stayed and continued to scan, eventually locating a Lapland Bunting a bit closer. Unfortunately it flew up with a couple of Skylarks before everyone could get a look at it and landed over a ridge in the middle of the field.

Lapland Bunting – came a bit closer

We decided to start walking back along the path, in the direction it had flown. As we got over the ridge, the local we had spoken to earlier now waved us over again, as he had located another Lapland Bunting out in the field. This one was quite a bit closer and easier to see and now, finally, everybody got a good look at it, before it flew again and disappeared.

We walked back along the clifftop. The flock of Curlews flew over and seemed to be heading out to sea, before turning back overhead and dropping back down into the fields. Scanning the sea, we picked up a small flock of Brent Geese flying east close in over the water, presumably starting off on their long journey back to Siberia for the breeding season. They were joined briefly by a drake Common Scoter, which quickly changed its mind and peeled away, flying back west.

Curlew – flew over

Back at the minibus, we drove back west to Cley. We stopped at the Visitor Centre to use the facilities and had a quick scan from the terrace. There were lots of Avocets out on Pat’s Pool, along with Black-tailed Godwits, a flock of Dunlin and a couple of Ruff. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were in with the Black-headed Gulls. A Marsh Harrier swept in and out low over the reeds, landing a couple of times but mostly out of view. We could see some Brent Geese distantly out on North Scrape, but couldn’t see anything in with them. Some more Brents flew in from the direction of Blakeney and dropped down with them, but there was nothing different with them either.

The young Red-breasted Goose which has spent the winter ranging widely along the coast had reappeared at Cley a few days ago and then spent a couple of days feeding with the Brent Geese on Blakeney Freshes. It hadn’t been seen yesterday, but we wondered whether anyone had ventured out to look in the blustery wind, so we decided to try our luck there. As we drove down along Back Lane, a Brimstone butterfly flew over the road in the sunshine, our first of the year. Down by the quay, a male Marsh Harrier flew round out over the grass right next to where we had parked, having a tussle at one point with a Kestrel which had been hovering nearby. Lots of Wigeon were feeding out on grass, whistling.

Marsh Harrier – a male

We saw a small flock of Brent Geese flying over and they dropped down with a larger feeding flock out in the middle of the Freshes. We decided to have a quick look from the top of Friary Hills, just in case the Red-breasted Goose might be in with them. A Greenfinch was wheezing away in the hedge and a Common Buzzard drifted over the trees. Up at the top, there is a great view out across the grazing marshes to Blakeney Point beyond. We could see the flock of Brent Geese clearly now and there was nothing with them. We could also see more Brents over towards the bank by the harbour, and although most of the flock were hidden behind some reeds, a Pale-bellied Brent stood out even at that distance amongst the regular Dark-bellied Brents we could see.

Our initial plan was to walk out on the harbour wall so we walked back down and past the duck pond, which is largely empty now after an outbreak of bird fly last year. Out on the bank, the wind had picked up noticeably now and it was decidedly chilly here. We walked out until we could see the Brent Geese here, but again nothing was with them either. There were a few Redshanks and Curlew in the muddy creeks and a Great White Egret flew over, dropping down out of view on the saltmarsh. It was very busy here now, too many people, everyone seemed to be out walking their dogs today! It meant as well as being cold it was very disturbed, which meant it was rather quiet for birds. We decided to try our luck elsewhere.

Curlew – in one of the creeks

We drove on west and had just pulled up to scan the floods east of Stiffkey when we got a message to say that the Red-breasted Goose was back at Cley with the Brent Geese there (which would be why we couldn’t find it at Blakeney!). We did a quick u-turn and headed back. As we got to Beach Road and got out, all the Brent Geese flew up but thankfully landed again just one field back. We could just see the Red-breasted Goose from the side of the road but from up on the to of the West Bank we had good views of it feeding with the Brents. A very smart goose! A scarce visitor here, which should be wintering in Romania, and one of the highlights of the last few months here.

Red-breasted Goose – taken previously at Cley

When all the geese flew up, one of the group who was looking the other way asked what was the large bird flying over. We turned round and looked up to see a Common Crane in the sky! It flew straight through without stopping and continued off east, later being tracked all the way along the coast as far as Trimingham at least. A great bonus and a proper wild bird here, the Cranes which spend the winter in The Broads often start to wander further afield on sunny days in early spring.

We drove round to the Visitor Centre for lunch. It was a bit breezy in the picnic area, particularly as all the bushes which give it some shelter have been cut right back down, but thankfully it was not too bad in the sunshine. Afterwards, we headed back west along the coast to Holkham. As we got out of the minibus on Lady Anne’s Drive, there were lots of Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler on the grazing marshes in front, along with a couple of scaly-backed Ruff.

The Shorelarks had been feeding west of the Gap this morning but on our way out through the pines we met someone coming back who told us they were not there now. So we decided to try down in the cordon instead, along the path to the east. There were several Meadow Pipits feeding on the saltmarsh as we walked past and we were almost there when we met someone else walking the other way who told us they had just seen four Shorelarks back in the cordon. Good news!

As we arrived at the fence, we saw a Shorelark scurrying towards the deeper vegetation out in the middle, so we turned towards the dunes and scanned from the fence there, but couldn’t see it now. Then we realised there were five more Shorelarks further over, closer to main path. After a quick look from here through the scopes, just in case they flew, we walked round to the other side where they were feeding. We stopped and got the scope on four of them, then noticed another Shorelark was right in front of us, just a few metres away. We had great views now, their yellow faces glowing in the low sunshine. Then the rest of the Shorelarks flew out from the thicker vegetation in the middle of the cordon and joined the five, and now we watched all thirteen feeding together.

Shorelark – stunning views

We walked on to the dunes now and had a quick look at the sea. The Common Scoter flocks were very distant in the mist – we could see long lines of black dots bobbing on the water, too far out to make out anything else in with them today. A Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage was on the water much closer in and when three ducks flew past, we could see they were a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers followed by a female Pintail.

After walking back to the minibus, we drove round to check the grazing marshes the other side. In one of the grassy fields by the road, we could see several Barnacle Geese in with the Greylags but no White-fronted Geese here now, but at our next stop, we did manage to find some White-fronted Geese, feeding on the grass in the distance over in front of the remains of Joe Jordan hide. We could see the white surround to their bills and their black belly bars. Most of the Pink-footed Geese which spent the winter here have departed Norfolk already and headed north, but we did manage to find three very distant Pinkfeet now, over on Burnham Overy Grazing Marshes.

A distant white spot in the trees was a Spoonbill, doing what Spoonbills like to do best and sleeping – we could see its bushy nuchal crest but not its bill. Several more were even better hidden in the sallows but after a while one or two flew round and eventually one perched awake in the open so we could see its spoon.

There were several black-hooded Mediterranean Gulls on the large pool along with a small group of feeding Pintail. A couple of distant Great White Egrets were out on the smaller pools on the grazing marsh, one with a Grey Heron alongside for size comparison. Several Common Buzzards drifted overhead from the trees behind and two Red Kites circled over. Then it was time to head back for tea and cake again, but we still had one more day to look forward to tomorrow.

22nd Feb 2024 – Winter & Brecks, Day 2

Day 2 of a 3-day Winter & Brecks tour in Norfolk. It was another rather wet and windy day, particularly in the afternoon – we managed to dodge the showers in the morning, although there was no escaping the rain later and thankfully the worst of the wind missed us. As usual, we made the best of it.

Having had untickable views of the Tawny Owl at Titchwell yesterday, and with several of the group keen to see one, we headed down first thing this morning to see if we could see our regular one while the weather was OK. A couple of Greenfinches were chattering in the hedge as we got out of the minibus, but otherwise it was quiet and rather breezy as we walked out along the footpath.

Thankfully, we came round the corner and the Tawny Owl was perched at the entrance to its usual hole again, despite the weather. We got the scope on it and had some great views – it was awake and looking at us at first, had a doze for a while, then woke up again when a Grey Squirrel and a couple of Jackdaws landed close to its hole. Once again, it was totally unfazed by our presence on the footpath, a discrete distance away. A great way to start the day.

Tawny Owl – in its usual hole

On our way west along the coast road, we had a scan of the grazing marshes at Stiffkey. The Glossy Ibis which has spent most of the winter here had not been seen this week – after the recent rain, many of the wet grassy areas where it had been feeding have been flooded again and it tends to be easier to locate when the water levels are falling – but we thought we should have a quick look as we were passing. There were lots of Wigeon and Teal on the floods. It has sometimes been feeding with a flock of Curlew, but we could only find one today, and a single Oystercatcher too.

We called in at the pools east of Wells next. We had a quick look through all the Teal and the Wigeon and there were only a couple of lone Brent Geese. Several small skeins of Pink-footed Geese flew inland over Wells and a small ‘v’ came in and flew over our heads. A lot of the Pink-footed Geese have departed north already, so it is always nice to see and hear them still now.

Pink-footed Geese – flew over

The raptors were enjoying a bright spell now and the freshening breeze. A Red Kite and a Marsh Harrier were up over the pig fields and a Common Buzzard was perched on the hedge. Another couple of Marsh Harriers were hanging in the air over towards Wells. A male came in over the stubble field beyond with exaggerated wingbeats and looked like it might start displaying. Sure enough, it gained height, turned, and started to drop sharply, ending with a couple of dramatic swoops before a female appeared below. Smart.

Marsh Harrier – male displaying

We could see dark clouds approaching from the south, so we waited until they were almost upon us. There were a couple of Skylarks singing and a few Meadow Pipits up and down out of the grass. Just as the rain arrived, we climbed in the minibus and drove through it to Wells beach car park.

By the time we had a short break to use the facilities, the rain had stopped but we checking the rainfall radar we could see a big weather front approaching. It looked like we might have 45 minutes before it made it to us, so we walked up to the harbour. Three Red-breasted Mergansers flew off from the shallows beyond the sandbar as we got up past the Coastwatch hut and disappeared off inland.

A Bar-tailed Godwit was very close, just on the near edge of the harbour channel, so we got it in the scope. It found a particularly large worm and while it was wrestling with it, a Black-headed Gull flew in to try to steal it. The Bar-tailed Godwit flew and the gull chased after it for a while before giving up. Once the Bar-tailed Godwit had finished the worm, it flew in and landed again where it had been before so those who hadn’t seen it earlier could now get a close view of the distinctive patterning on its back.

Bar-tailed Godwit – on the edge of the channel

We could see a few Turnstones and a Grey Plover further out along the channel, but there were more waders further in, so we walked round to the site of the old lifeboat station. There was en excavator on a barge working in the channel, so more disturbance than usual today, but there were still lots of waders on the sand and mussel beds beyond. We got the scope on a mixed flock of Knot and Dunlin feeding further back, and several Ringed Plovers. There were lots of Oystercatchers and more godwits, but no sign of any other waders today. A Peregrine appeared briefly out over East Hills before dropping back away over the trees.

We could see the weather front approaching as we walked round the harbour, a very dark and threatening band of cloud. It was getting close now, so we walked back over to the minibus. As we drove back along the beach road, the heavens opened with heavy sleet. We had planned to spend the morning here and go to Holkham for lunch, but we figured we might be able to get out beyond the front by driving further west. We drove round via Burnham Norton and scanned the grazing marshes there from the minibus, but couldn’t find the Cattle Egrets today, just more Pink-footed Geese.

By the time we got to Brancaster Staithe, the rain had stopped so we got out. There was nothing here we hadn’t seen before but it is a lovely spot and it was nice to be able to stand and watch the birds without getting wet. There were more Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Grey Plover, several of them bathing in the shallows after getting wet in the downpour. A couple of Turnstones were almost feeding under the minibus at one point and more were picking around the piles of discarded mussels with more Oystercatchers. Several Brent Geese dropped down in the channel to bathe and we could see more groups feeding out on the saltmarsh beyond.

Turnstone – in the car park

We had planned to go back to Titchwell for an early lunch, but checking the rainfall radar again, we could see that the dry weather might be short lived so we decided to carry on birding until the rain arrived. We drove round via Thornham village and quickly found the Cattle Egrets in their usual grassy field near The Lifeboat, five of them. Round at the harbour, we got out to scan. Unfortunately the Greenshank flew back up the channel and disappeared just as we got out, but there were more Redshanks, Grey Plover and Curlew here. A couple of Rock Pipits flew round calling.

Cattle Egrets – on the grass

Now it started to rain, so we drove round to Titchwell for a welcome hot drink at the cafe and a break for lunch. After lunch, it was drizzling steadily. We had thought we might go round to Snettisham to look for the Snow Buntings there, but they range over a large area so it might not be very pleasant today. A report had just come out of three Snow Buntings on the beach at Hunstanton, so we thought we might be able to find those without having to walk as far. We managed to find somewhere to park not too far away from the jetski ramp and walked over to the promenade. A couple of Fulmars flew past as we got out over the ridge.

There was no sign of the Snow Buntings where they had apparently been by the first set of steps, but there were a few dog walkers on the beach despite the rain so we figured they may have moved further down. There were a few waders on the shore, Oystercatchers, Sanderlings and Ringed Plovers. We set off to walk down to the corner, and the rain picked up a little. When we got to where we could see further down the coast, there were more dogs out on the beach there, and no sign of any Snow Buntings, just a few Turnstones on the seawall.

It looked like we were going to be out of luck, so with everyone getting wet and the conditions rather miserable, we turned to head back. About half way, we stopped to look at a couple of Ringed Plovers out on the beach. A male was displaying, bowing down to a female with its tail spread. When they walked further up the beach, there were the Snow Buntings hiding among the rocks. They were hard to see at first, but we got the scope on them and could see them sheltering from the weather. We walked back along the beach: they allowed us to approach quite close and only ran a short distance when a dog walker with dog off the lead came past very close to them, then flew a few metres and landed on the groyne.

Snow Bunting – sheltering on the beach

The rain wasn’t hard but was persistent and penetrating, so we were rather wet by the time we got back to the minibus. There was no sign of it stopping. The White-tailed Eagle had been reported from Holkham earlier this afternoon, so we figured we could go back to look for that without having to go far from the minibus. We stopped on Lady Anne’s Drive and scanned the trees, but we couldn’t see it – just a single Common Buzzard on a bush west of the north end of the Drive now. A Great White Egret was on one of the pools and there were lots of ducks, Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler, on the grazing marshes, but again we couldn’t see anything different – good weather for ducks!

We drove back out and round to the layby on the A149. We could see a few Spoonbills again out on the grazing marshes from here and lots of Cormorants in the trees, but no sign of anything larger. Checking the forecast, the rain was set in for the evening now. Visibility was poor too and the light was starting to go, so we decided to call it a day and head back for tea and cake in the warm.

21st Feb 2024 – Winter & Brecks, Day 1

Day 1 of a 3-day Winter & Brecks tour in Norfolk. It was a rather wet and increasingly windy day, but as usual nowhere near as bad as the apocalyptic forecast from the Met Office and BBC Weather, and we made the most of the opportunities to get out, particularly when the rain stopped in the afternoon.

Given the forecast, we headed for Titchwell this morning where we could get out of the weather in the hides if need be. We cut across inland on our way there, and stopped to look at a flock of finches whirling round over a field corner sown with a bird seen mix. They were all Bramblings, maybe a hundred or so of them – we could see the white up their backs and the brighter orange shoulders of the males as they twisted and turned in flight. Then they dropped into the crop and disappeared. A couple of Stock Doves were on the verge nearby.

It was drizzling when we got to the car park at Titchwell, so we donned our waterproofs. A quick look in the trees on one side produced a brief Woodcock, which unfortunately disappeared in before we could get a proper view and another was lurking very deep in the sallows on the way to the Welcome Hub, too tricky to get an angle on it, so we decided to try our luck along Fen Trail.

The feeders behind the Visitor Centre were quiet, so we carried on round towards Fen Hide. There was no sign of any more Woodcock along here at the moment and the Tawny Owl was hiding in its usual ivy-covered tree but had secreted itself completely today, probably trying to get out of the rain, so the best we could see was half a wing!

Common Snipe – in the cut reeds

The path to Patsy’s has had some new gravel put down so we were able to get round there despite the rain. There were a couple of Common Snipe in the cut reeds in front of the screen, which we got in the scope, and a selection of Gadwall, Mallard, Coot and Mute Swans out on the water, but the Marsh Harriers were keeping down today and there was no activity over the reedbed.

As we made our way back round on Meadow Trail, we found another Woodcock hiding under the sallows. Again, it was not easy to see but we managed to find a spot where we could get the scope on it. Most of the group managed a look before it disappeared deeper in. The Woodcock were still very active this morning, so we figured we might stand a better chance of getting one more static later in the morning.

Woodcock – before it disappeared in

There was no sign of the Water Rail in the ditch by the main path – there was even more water in there this morning, with all the rain, which probably didn’t help. A couple of Cetti’s Warblers shouted at us from the reedbed and a quick scan of the reedbed pool produced a few Common Pochard, Tufted Duck and a couple of Little Grebes.

It was still drizzling steadily though, so we pressed on to Island Hide. There was a digger working out on the main bund today, and the increasing wind didn’t help, so there had been a bit of a clearout on the Freshmarsh. A large group of Avocets were on the island nearest the hide and flew round before landing again. There were a few Black-headed Gulls too and a single adult Mediterranean Gull with a nearly complete black hood dropped in for a quick bathe before flying off inland. A lone Lapwing was on the bund nearest the main path.

Avocets – numbers increasing

There was still no sign of the heavy rain which was forecast, so we decided to press on and see if we could get out to the beach. There were a few ducks, Teal and Shoveler, in the NW corner of the Freshmarsh, as well as a small flock of Dunlin feeding busily in the shallow water. A single Common Snipe was on the bund by the Dunlin and another five flew up from one of the weedy clumps on the island.

There were a few waders out in the channel on the Volunteer Marsh, so we stopped for a quick scan – Redshank, Curlew and a Grey Plover which we got in the scope. There were fewer birds than usual on the Tidal Pools too – a couple of Black-tailed Godwits in a small pool towards the back, more Wigeon on the islands but only a single drake Pintail in with the Shoveler. Turning round, we realised the rest of the Pintail had decamped to the saltmarsh and were feeding on the grass today, presumably to get out of the wind.

Pintail – feeding on the saltmarsh

The dunes provided us with a little bit of shelter to scan the beach and sea. There were several Bar-tailed Godwits along the shoreline and Turnstones and Oystercatchers on the mussel beds. Three Sanderling flew past. Looking out to sea, there were a few Common Scoter close in and a Great Crested Grebe just off the beach in front of us. A couple of pairs of Red-breasted Merganser more distantly off towards Brancaster were harder to see as they kept diving and the scope was constantly getting wet from the drizzle.

On the way back, we were walking into the wind and the drizzle had a sting to it, so it was a case of heads down and make a beeline for the shelter of the trees. Back at the Visitor Centre, there were now lots of birds on the feeders, so we made use of the shelter (which was no being used) to watch the comings and goings. There were several Bramblings on the ground here now, including two or three brighter orange males and a couple of greyer females. A Greenfinch dropped down onto the feeders but the Redpoll we could hear calling in the trees didn’t come in.

Brambling – a male under the feeders

It was time for lunch and it was still drizzling, and we were very kindly allowed to eat our packed lunches inside the cafe at the Visitor Centre. As we walked back to the minibus to collect our lunches, we spotted a Woodcock lurking under the trees close to the path. They can be surprisingly hard to see, as they are so well camouflaged, but we had fill the frame views in the scope now. It was asleep at first, but then woke up and looked at us, assuming it was well protected and we probably couldn’t see it. We could see droplets of water on its back and after a while it shook itself down and walked further in behind some branches.

Woodcock – on the way to the car park

There had been no sign of the heavy rain which was forecast all morning and we slightly worried it might just be late arriving, but after lunch we went back outside and it had stopped. On the way back to the minibus, the Woodcock was back where it had been before. As we drove east along the coast to Holkham, there were more raptors out now – a male Marsh Harrier quartered a field next to the road, a few Red Kites hung in the air, and several Kestrels were perched on the wires.

As we neared the Park, we looked out towards the pines and could see a flock of white birds flying up out of the trees in the middle and gliding round over the grazing marshes. We parked in a layby and got out and confirmed our suspicion they were Spoonbills. They landed on the grass and we got them in the scope, twenty-two of them. There were four different Great White Egrets on the small pools on the marshes too.

Spoonbills – some of the 22 here

Further off towards Burnham Overy, we could see a larger group of up to a hundred Russian White-fronted Geese loafing in a grassy field with some Pink-footed Geese and through the scope we could see their pink bills with the white surround around the base.

Russian White-fronted Geese – out on the grazing marshes

There is a lot of water on the grazing marshes by Lady Anne’s Drive now, and still good numbers of Wigeon and Teal enjoying it, but we couldn’t see anything else in with them. We walked through the pines and out onto the saltmarsh and turned east. The Shorelarks had mostly been on the beach to the west in recent weeks, but had been reported back in the cordon this morning, so we thought we should try there first and hope for the best.

There were lots of Brent Geese out on the saltmarsh, mostly the regular Siberian Dark-bellied Brents but looking through we found a single Pale-bellied Brent with them. A small group of Rock Pipits flew round calling and landed briefly and a few Skylarks were feeding out on the saltmarsh too. It was still rather grey, and it started to drizzle again now but thankfully it was just a shower and quickly stopped again.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese – on the saltmarsh

As we got out to the cordon, a couple who had walked out ahead of us waved us over. There were nine Shorelarks down at the far end and we got them in the scope, getting a good look at their yellow faces and black bandit masks. They were quite mobile and flew up and round several times, landing back each time in a different place. Fortunately we had chosen the right direction to walk!

Shorelarks – out in the cordon

Having enjoyed the Shorelarks, we decided to have a quick look out to sea. There has been a nice mixed flock of scoter off Holkham this winter, although numbers dropped sharply when most of them moved back west towards the Wash two weeks ago. The Black Scoter continues to be reported though, and had been a couple of hours earlier, although all we have been able to locate here since the number of Scoter plummeted have been a couple of lookalike Common Scoter with more yellow than usual on their bills. Still, we hoped we might at least find one or two Velvet Scoter in the flock, but when we got out to the beach and into the lee of the dunes we found the Scoter were very distant and visibility was very poor. There was no chance of picking out a Velvet, let alone a Black! We did have nice views of a couple of female Common Scoter which were very close in and there were several Red-breasted Merganser and a couple of Great Crested Grebes not too far out in the bay too. A few Sanderling were running up and down on the shore.

Looking back at the cordon, the Shorelarks had disappeared now, so we walked back around the far end and over to the lee of the pines and walked back. When we got back to Lady Anne’s Drive, it was still not raining but we were still rather damp from earlier. It was very cloudy and grey though and the light was starting to go. Everyone quite liked the idea of heading back for tea and cake so we decided to call it a day and head for home. We had done remarkably well, given the weather.

18th Oct 2023 – 4 Days of Autumn, Day 2

Day 2 of a 4-day Autumn Tour. It was a bit cloudier than yesterday, and still rather windy, but it stayed dry all day. We spent the day in north-west Norfolk.

Our destination for the morning was Titchwell. As there were few cars there already when we arrived, as had a quick look round the overflow car park first. A small flock of Redwings flew overhead and dropped into the hedge behind us, and a couple of small groups of Chaffinches flew over calling too. There had clearly been some birds arriving from the Continent overnight.

A small bird flew across and up into the top of one of the big sallows. We couldn’t see it in the leaves, but then it flew up into the sky above flycatching. The elusive Yellow-browed Warbler! Unfortunately it dropped back down into the tree out of view and despite watching for a minute or two there was no further sign. There were a few tits in the hedge the other side, we could see some Long-tailed Tits flitting around which moved quickly back towards the main car park, and it had possibly gone round to follow those.

As we looked over the gate and out to the paddocks beyond, three Fieldfares flew off from the trees at the back and away over the village. There were a few Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits in the grass but nothing else of note. A Kestrel landed on dung heap. Several more Chaffinches flew over.

There was no sign of the tit flock in the main car park, so we continued on round to the Visitor Cente. The regular moth morning was underway and several moths had already been potted up from the first trap – seasonal specialities like Merveille du Jour and Green-brindled Crescent, and a larger Red Underwing. We had a quick look while we were passing and checked the bird list in the Centre.

Out onto the main path, we came across another tit flock at the Meadow Trail junction, but it moved through too quickly to see if there was anything with it. Out of the trees, we could see a Marsh Harrier out towards Thornham, along with several Little Egrets, Curlews and Redshanks on the saltmarsh. Two Common Snipe flew up and several Reed Buntings flew across over the path and dropped into the reedbed, where a couple of Cetti’s Warblers were shouting intermittently. A single Little Grebe was out on the main reedbed pool.

Spoonbills – flew over

As we got up to the Freshmarsh, we looked across to see six Spoonbills flying towards us. They flew up over the path and headed off west, circling out over Thornham harbour, where the tide was still high and there was nowhere to land. Most of the Spoonbills which were here in the summer have already left us for the winter, so it was nice to catch up with some still here. A few flocks of Starlings flew over heading west, presumably more fresh arrivals from Scandinavia.

The water level on the Freshmarsh remains high – good for wildfowl, but not so attractive for waders. Lots of Brent Geese had dropped in to bathe on the first compartment, where a selection of commoner ducks were scattered around the edges and islands. A few Avocets were trying to feed out in the middle, up to their bellies in the water. There was nothing at all on the next compartment today, so we continued on round to Parrinder Hide.

We were hoping to find the Little Stint on the back compartment of the Freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide, but just as we arrived, it walked out of view behind one of the islands. There were more Avocets and a few Black-tailed Godwits roosting on the islands here, but no other waders.

A large flock of Greylags flew in and landed the other side of the bund from us. We scanned through and found the resident White-fronted Goose in with them. The geese all swam into the corner, out of sight behind the bund, but then walked across to the east compartment and swam out to one of the islands. We had a good view of the White-fronted Goose through the scope now, the white blaze round the base of its bill and its black belly patch, before it walked back into the Greylags and went to sleep out of view.

Curlew – close to the path

There was still no sign of the Little Stint reappearing, so we eventually gave up and headed out towards the beach. There were two Curlews feeding just below the path on the edge of Volunteer Marsh, a great view as we passed. Up at the far end, the tide had just gone out and there were lots more waders feeding in the muddy channel – lots of Black-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, more Curlew, a few Dunlin, several Grey Plover. We had thought we might find the Spotted Redshank here, but there was no sign of it.

Then we noticed a Red-throated Diver in the water in the bottom of the channel at the far end. A very unusual place to find one, they are normally out on the sea! It swam towards us, diving repeatedly, but when it got to the slightly shallower water, it turned and headed quickly back away from us.

Red-throated Diver – in the Volunteer Marsh tidal channel

On to the Tidal Pools, there were a couple of very close Black-tailed Godwits right by the path. One pale wader was asleep further back and when it woke up and flashed its needle-fine bill our suspicions were confirmed – it was the Spotted Redshank. We were just watching it through the scope when it flew up and over the bank. We walked back and found it again, now in the muddy channel on the Volunteer Marsh where we had just been looking. A Red Kite had been hanging in the wind over the saltmarsh behind us, and now drifted over. The Spotted Redshank flew off first, and then all the waders flushed too.

Black-tailed Godwit – on the Tidal Pool

We continued on out now. We found a single Knot and a couple of Turnstone on the Tidal Pool now. Out on the beach, the mussel beds were still covered but there were lots of Oystercatchers and several Bar-tailed Godwits out on the shoreline. There were a few Sanderling higher up the beach to our left. Three were standing on a wet patch of sand, unusually stationary for here, so we got them in the scope. Several others ran up to the high tide line and then came right past us in front of us – great close views. A Ringed Plover flew in and joined them.

Sanderling – ran past us

Looking out to sea, there were a few Great Crested Grebes, Red-throated Divers and Razorbills out on the water. We got a small raft of Common Scoter in the scope, mainly pale-cheeked brown females/immatures, but one jet black drake was in with them. Once again, there was a trickle of smaller birds arriving over the sea from the Continent, mainly small flocks of Starlings, but at one point we picked up four Bramblings flying in over the beach.

Two Manx Shearwaters flew past close in, just beyond the breakers. Unusual to see them so close inshore when there isn’t a strong onshore wind, as we watched, they started to tack back out to sea. A winter adult Mediterranean Gull was feeding along the shoreline, and we had a good view in the scope.

It was cool out on the beach, so we started to walk back. The other waders were back in the channel on the Volunteer Marsh but there was no sign of the Spotted Redshank with them now. Two Turnstones were feeding just below the path, turning stones and shells over in the bottom of the muddy channel.

Turnstone – turning stones and shells over

We stopped at the Freshmarsh again for a quick scan from the path with the scope, and picked up the Little Stint now, bathing on the edge of one of the new islands. Once again, it wasn’t going to play ball through, and flew before everyone could get a look at it, landing back out of view from here.

As we made our way back for lunch, a Willow Emerald damselfly was perched on the brambles by the path. We collected our bags from the minibus and sat in the picnic area in the sunshine to eat. After lunch, when we went back to the minibus to drop off our bags we were told the Yellow-browed Warbler had been in the sallows here again apparently, but there was no sign now.

Willow Emerald damselfly – on the brambles

We decided to have a look along Fen Trail, so we made our way back round past the Visitor Centre but the sallows were quiet, and it was quite windy out on the Tank Road, round at the back of the car park. We had a quick stop at Patsy’s Reedbed – there were just a few Coot and a single Shelduck on here today – then continued on down East Trail. There were several Jackdaws in the paddocks now, one with a noticeable pale half-collar, possibly with some Nordic genes. A pipit flew over with a shrill call, not quite as sharpas a Rock Pipit and when we looked up we could see it was cleaner white below, a Water Pipit.

Out to the far end of the Autumn Trail, a Kingfisher flashed over path, and disappeared down into the reedbed. We could hear Bearded Tits calling, and three flew in over the bank ahead of us and dropped down into the reeds, followed by another two. The wind was catching the reeds and blowing the heads back and forth, so there was no sign of them perching up today.

We scanned the back of the Freshmarsh from the end of Autumn Trail and finally found the Little Stint in view, feeding along the edge of one of the islands. They are very small, as their name suggests, and it was still hard to see at times creeping around on the mud, but finally we all got a look at it before it flew round to the back of one of the other islands and out of view again.

The Greylags were starting to wake up now and fly off from the Freshmarsh in small groups, over the bank towards Brancaster. The White-fronted Goose woke up and swam out with some Greylags, right towards us. It looked like it might be getting ready to follow the others, but then all the Greylags which had flown out flew back in. The light was better now from this side and we got an even better view of the White-fronted Goose through the scope than this morning. We picked up a pair of Pintail out on the Freshmarsh from here too.

White-fronted Goose – with the Greylags

As we walked back round, there were a few thrushes in the bushes by Willow Wood, Redwings, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. Back along Fen Trail, we could hear a couple of Chaffinches calling in the trees by the path, and then a Brambling started calling nearby too but flew before we could get on it. There were Long-tailed Tits calling too, but when we stopped to look, the flock passed through too quickly to see if there was anything with it.

Back round at the car park, we were just getting in to the minibus when the Yellow-browed Warbler started calling in the sallows nearby. We walked over for a look and this time it called repeatedly for a minute or so. Unfortunately it remained deep in the bushes and we couldn’t see it, just a Goldcrest and some of the tits. Then everything disappeared back deeper into the trees again. That was as good as it was going to get today!

We had enough time for a quick stop at Brancaster Staithe. Down at the harbour, the tide was out and there were several Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits scattered around. A Grey Plover still in the remnants of breeding plumage, with a dusky face, was on the mud nearby. A single Bar-tailed Godwit was feeding on the sandbar opposite, a Ringed Plover flew past and several Oystercatchers and Turnstones were picking around the piles of discarded mussels. A Herring Gull was trying to crack into one of the mussels by repeatedly dropping it from a height onto the stones.

Rock Pipit – landed on a boat

A Rock Pipit called and flew in, landing on the gunwale of a nearby boat. It dropped down into the boat, possibly there was some rainwater in the bottom, before flying back up again. These are Scandinavian Rock Pipits that we get here in the winter and which like to feed out on the saltmarshes. A large flock of Pink-footed Geese flew in from inland and overhead calling, heading off towards Scolt Head to roost. Time for us to head back too.

23rd Sept 2023 – Autumn Day

A 1-day Autumn Tour today on the North Norfolk coast. There were a few showers about first thing, which was not in the forecast, but we mostly managed to avoid them, then it brightened up late morning and there were some nice sunny spells in the afternoon.

We were heading for Cley first this morning, but as we drove west along the coast road from Salthouse we noticed a white shape in with the cows on the grazing meadow, a Cattle Egret. We stopped in the small parking area at Iron Road and got the scope on it, so we could see its short yellow bill. A Grey Heron flew in and landed with the cows too, and then a second Cattle Egret appeared with the first. A nice start to the day.

Cattle Egret – with the cattle

We looked down towards the pool but could see it was very full of water after the recent rain, no mud for any waders left, and just a few Teal and a pair of Egyptian Geese. A small group of Gannets flew past over the sea just beyond the shingle ridge and one or two Sandwich Terns were in with the gulls. It was starting to spit with rain, so we decided to carry on to Cley. By the time we had got to Walsey Hills and parked, the rain had stopped again.

A quick look at Snipe’s Marsh produced two Green Sandpipers, which we got in the scope for a closer look. We could hear Pink-footed Geese calling and looked up to see a small flock flying towards us over North Foreland plantation and we watched as they headed off inland to the south-east, possibly heading down to the Broads. A Cetti’s Warbler shouted at us from the reeds. Crossing over to the East Bank, the Little Grebe on Don’s Pool was skulking in the reeds today and hard to see. A Marsh Harrier flew across the bank further up, a female, then carried on over the top end of the Serpentine and Pope’s Marsh, flushing everything.

There were several Canada Geese and Greylags out on the grazing marsh and a single Canada x Greylag hybrid. More Pink-footed Geese flew in over the reserve behind us and started to whiffle down onto the scrapes. Another group of Greylag Geese flew in low over the reeds towards us, their industrial honking in farmyard fashion, very different from the yelping calls of the Pinkfeet.

There were lots of ducks out on the grazing marsh and Serpentine too. The drake Mallards are already emerging from their dull eclipse plumage and back into their smart colourful breeding plumage, whereas the Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler are all still rather brown. A couple of Pintail were feeding in one of the ditches towards the back.

We caught a glimpse of some movement in the top of the reeds out in the reedbed and stopped to look. A female Bearded Tit climbed up into view, which we managed to get in the scope before she disappeared back down. The male we only glimpsed and we heard more Bearded Tits calling nearby, one of which zipped over the reeds briefly, but then they went quiet. Further up, there were several Reed Buntings perched more obligingly in the reeds the other side of the path.

The water level on the Serpentine is very high now too and we couldn’t see any waders on here. Two Common Snipe flew over calling. So we continued on, stopping to look at a more accommodating Little Grebe which was in the middle of the blanket weed in the main drain. A Stonechat was hovering over the bank beyond.

There were more waders on Arnold’s Marsh – a nice selection including three juvenile Bar-tailed Godwits on the saltmarsh at the back, singles of Knot and Grey Plover, a Greenshank feeding with the Redshanks, a couple of Curlew and three Dunlin. We were just enjoying all the waders when the sound of gunfire started to ring out from south of the road – the Pheasant shooting season has started! The ducks on the grazing marsh went up first, and everything else followed. We watched as most of the waders flew off west, so we decided to head on to have a look at the sea.

Gannet – a fresh juvenile

There were a few Gannets offshore, with one or two dark juveniles plunge-diving in front of us, and as we stood and scanned a trickle drifted past. We could see a couple of feeding frenzies of gulls and Sandwich Terns out over the sea off to the west, and the Gannets seemed to be joining in with them. We had already seen one distant Manx Shearwater flying east, but when we looked back at the closer feeding frenzy we noticed another Manx Shearwater in with them. It was flying round in circles then landing on the sea repeatedly, presumably feeding, until suddenly several of the gulls decided to chase after it. Presumably it had caught something they wanted, as they caused it to splash down on the water several times before we lost sight of it.

There are still a lot of Razorbills offshore, so we got a small party in the scope as they bobbed on the waves preening. A single Guillemot drifted east closer in. There were a few Red-throated Divers moving east in the distance and then a smart adult still largely in breeding plumage appeared in front of the Razorbills on the sea. It was diving continually but we managed to follow it, and it came closer inshore away to our right where it stayed on the surface a little longer so we could all see it in the scope.

There were a few ducks and waders moving offshore today, always great to watch migration in action. We saw a couple of flocks of Wigeon and Teal and a single Common Scoter passing. A flock of Knot and a couple of small groups of Dunlin flew past too and we turned around at one point to see a Bar-tailed Godwit coming in over the shingle behind us. All winter visitors here, just arriving from their northern breeding grounds.

Knot – migrants arriving

Eventually we had to tear ourselves away and head back. Another small flock of Dunlin had dropped in on Arnold’s Marsh while we were out at the beach, but we couldn’t see anything different in with them. Two Black-tailed Godwits were on the Serpentine now and we stopped to look at a group of Linnets which dropped down for a drink on the edge of the water. It had brightened up now and it was starting to warm up nicely, so we had to shed our coats now back at the minibus.

After a quick stop at the Visitor Centre to use the facilities, we headed out for a quick look at Pat’s Pool from Bishop Hide before lunch. When we got to the Skirts path, we heard Pink-footed Geese calling again – a bit of a recurring theme today, the sound of the winter to come here. This time we looked up over the village to see skein after skein flying in from the fields, a rough count suggested around 1,500 Pinkfeet. We watched them fly over to the scrapes and start to whiffle down, some landed, several hundred circled round and headed off west towards Blakeney and a smaller number flew over our heads and off inland. Fantastic to watch! A single Swallow flew over, the only one we saw today – summer departing as winter arrives.

Pink-footed Geese – over the hides

There were several Black-tailed Godwits feeding in front of the hide and a number of Ruff, a larger group feeding in the water at the back and a white-headed male walking around on one of the closer islands. A Common Snipe was dozing in the edge of the reeds on another of the islands and then a second Snipe flew in and landed on the mud where we could get it in the scope and watch it feeding. A juvenile Little Stint landed on the muddy edge of one of the smaller islands over towards the back.

A couple of darker clouds appeared just as we got back to the Visitor Centre but thankfully they passed over and we ate our lunch in the picnic area in the sunshine. A Willow Emerald damselfly was flying around the sallows by the picnic tables and a Grey Dagger moth caterpillar was feeding on the leaves.

Willow Emerald – in the picnic area

Grey Dagger – moth caterpillar

After lunch, we headed back out to look at the central hides. There were a couple of smart drake Gadwall on the island in front of Dauke’s Hide – like the Mallard, they are already emerging from eclipse. We got one in the scope for fill the frame views of the amazing patterns of its plumage. Not just a grey and black duck! There was a flock of Dunlin feeding in the water in the back corner of the scrape but nothing different in with them today.

Gadwall – smart

Some of the Pink-footed Geese which we had seen drop down here earlier were still sleeping on the grass off to the left of the scrape. We got them in the scope – a couple were awake and preening, so we could see their dark head and more delicate bills, dark with a pink band. They were sitting down, so we couldn’t see their pink legs and feet though. Still, nice to see some on the ground after all the ones we had seen flying over earlier.

Pink-footed Geese – dozing

Turning our attention to Pat’s Pool, a beige-brown Pintail was feeding in the water just beyond the bank. While we were scanning across, we picked up a Yellow Wagtail flying over, so we followed it until it dropped on the edge of one of the islands over the far side. We got it in the scope and although it was tricky to see at first in and out of the reeds, eventually everyone managed to see it. The Little Stint was still on here, but we had a much closer view of it from here.

We couldn’t see anything else which we hadn’t already seen, so we decided to walk back and have a look elsewhere. We headed west along the coast now and stopped at Stiffkey Fen. A Speckled Wood butterfly landed on the hedge ahead of us as we walked down along the permissive path, and six Common Buzzards and two Red Kites were circling up over the wood just inland in the sunshine now.

Speckled Wood – in the sun

Down along the path by the river, a Chiffchaff was calling in the trees and flitted in and out of a hawthorn ahead of us. Further along, we stopped to watch a flock of Long-tailed Tits in the sallows and another Chiffchaff was with them, along with a Goldcrest which we could only hear calling.

From up on the seawall, we had a better view of the Spoonbills which were roosting on the Fen still. We counted twenty-one this afternoon, though we were several hours after high tide now. They were mostly doing what Spoonbills like to do best – sleeping! – but a couple were awake and preening, flashing their spoon-shaped bills. There were lots of ducks and geese on the Fen, but not so many waders now – they had mostly moved back out into the harbour, on the falling tide. There were a few Ruff in among all the wildfowl.

Spoonbills – sleeping!

We walked round and down to the edge of the harbour. We could see lots of Oystercatchers out on the mud, and smaller numbers of godwits, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Knot. Five Brent Geese swimming out in the remaining water in the Pit were our first returning birds of the autumn. We could see all the Grey Seals hauled out on the sand beyond the water. It is a lovely place to while away the afternoon here in the sunshine, but we had one last stop we wanted to make this afternoon so we made our way back.

We drove on west through the village and stopped at the pools just before Wells. The Pectoral Sandpiper which has been here on and off for the last ten days or so was back this morning, so we thought we would have a quick look to see if we could find it now to finish the day. We had just started to scan the east pool, which was where it had been earlier, when two people walking back along the track told us it was not on the back of the pool the other side.

We scanned with the scope from the gate and sure enough, there it was with a juvenile Ruff. It was tricky to see at first, creeping around in the small puddles in the grass, and rather distant, but eventually everyone got to see the Pectoral Sandpiper. A scarce but regular visitor here, possibly more likely in Norfolk from the eastern Siberian population than North America, a nice bird to round off the day.

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!

17th Sept 2023 – Autumn Tour, Day 2

Day 2 of a 3-day Autumn Tour and Wader Spectacular. It was a nice bright and warm start, with some nice sunny spells, before clouding over early afternoon. There was some drizzle and light rain on and off for an hour or so, and then it dried out again. We spent the day in central North Norfolk.

We popped in to Wells North Point first thing. There had been Pectoral Sandpiper and Little Stint here yesterday, the former had been around on and off for several days but had been very erratic, and we arrived to find one of the locals was looking, but had seen no sign of either this morning. There are lots of the margins of the pools you can’t see though, so we persisted anyway.

Scanning from the car park, there were eight Spoonbills out on the east pool, mostly asleep as usual, and lots of ducks, mainly Teal, plus a small group of Wigeon and a few Pintail. Several Common Snipe flew up from the grass and flew round calling. As we walked down the track, two Egyptian Geese flew in and landed on the middle pool for a bathe. Six Pink-footed Geese flew over too, our first of the trip, disappearing off into the fields beyond. We stopped at the end and looked back, but could only find a single Common Snipe on the mud on the edge of the eastern pool.

Several hundred geese erupted from the fields beyond now and streamed overhead, calling loudly – their farmyard honking gave them away as Greylag Geese and we could see their bright orange carrot-shaped bills as they came overhead. It was good to hear them now – we would refer back later, and contrast the noise this morning with the yelping calls of Pink-footed Geese. Some of the Greylags landed on the middle pool and some on the eastern pool. Six Pink-footed Geese flew in too, and landed on the eastern pool with the Greylags. We got them in the scope, the Pink-footed Geese noticeably smaller, darker-headed, with a smaller and more delicate mostly dark bill.

Spoonbills – flew over

As we turned to walk back, three more Spoonbills flew in over the path, and dropped down with the original eight out on the eastern pool. Almost immediately, they all went to sleep too! As we got back to the minibus, there was a Marsh Harrier over the stubble field nearby. As we watched, it was joined by a second Marsh Harrier, and then a Common Buzzard over the hedge just beyond.

We moved on to Holkham. As we got out of the minibus on Lady Anne’s Drive, we could see some small flocks of Pink-footed Geese in the distance, whiffling down onto the grazing marsh. We walked west along the path on the inland side of the pines and we could hear their more musical, yelping calls through the trees – very different from the raucous Greylags we had heard earlier.

Migrant Hawker – hanging out

The sun was out now and there were lots of dragonflies out in the sunshine – Common Darters, Migrant Hawkers and a couple of Willow Emerald damselflies. Several Speckled Wood butterflies fluttered up over the track, chasing each other round in the dappled sunlight. A few Red Admirals and a couple of Commas were flying around and feeding on the brambles.

Willow Emerald damselfly

We stopped to scan over Salts Hole. There were a couple of Little Grebes in between the Mallards out in the middle of the water and one or two more laughing at us from the reeds. Several Jays flew in and out of the trees at the back and a small group of Stonechats flicked up and down from the fence and bushes.

Continuing west, we saw some tits flitting around in the trees ahead of us. With winds from the east, we were hoping for some drift migrants or perhaps a Yellow-browed Warbler here today, and the best place to look here for the latter is in with the tit flocks. We thought we heard a Yellow-browed Warbler calling in the trees now, but just at that moment we had found ourselves surrounded by noisy people and noisy dogs, coming at us from both directions. We stopped to listen but by the time the melee had dispersed it had gone quiet.

We walked on and up the boardwalk to Washington Hide. Scanning the grazing marshes, there was a large and white Great White Egret out on the grass behind the pool. Three much smaller Cattle Egrets flew up briefly but dropped back down in with the cows out of view behind a line of reeds. We could see another Great White Egret in with them, through a gap, but frustratingly not the Cattle Egrets now. There were several Common Buzzards perched in the top of the bushes, scattered across the marshes, including one very pale one. A striking bird, it is often reported as an Osprey or a Rough-legged Buzzard by unsuspecting visitors.

We could see several hundred Pink-footed Geese out on the marshes from the hide, and several more groups flew in, whiffling down to join them. Then we looked east to see skeins of several thousand geese heading towards us from over behind Wells. A very impressive sight, and one which we will enjoy here throughout the winter to come, we watched as they flew in in waves and dropped down onto the pools and grazing marsh. Another ‘wow’ moment!

Pink-footed Geese – flying in

Continuing our quest for migrants, we left the hide and walked on west along the path, but it was a bit quiet in the trees. Past Meals House, we noticed an enomrous dark shape come out of the pines just behind a large oak tree in front of us. White-tailed Eagle! It emerged from round the other side of the oak tree, and we watched it drift out over the grazing marshes, flushing all the geese which flew up calling noisily.

White-tailed Eagle – flew out of the pines

This White-tailed Eagle is a 3rd calendar year female from the Isle of Wight reintroduction project. She had made several visits to Holkham over the last two years and has been here on and off a couple of times over the summer. A very impressive sight!

We continued on to the west end of the Pines where we met another birder on the path watching a tit flock in the trees. He had just seen a Pied Flycatcher with the flock, but all the birds were starting to move into the pines. We scanned through the birds still close to the path and had nice views of a couple of Treecreepers and Goldcrests, but no sign of anything else. We thought they might come out again right on the end of the pines, so we walked round but they just seemed to be disappearing in deeper.

We carried on out into the start of the dunes, but the bushes here were very quiet, exposed to the brisk wind, and there was no obvious suggestion of any migrants having come in overnight. We didn’t have much time now to explore further into the dunes, so decided to walk slowly back.

There was a report of a Yellow-browed Warbler back at the crosstracks now, and another Pied Flycatcher, so it did seem like a handful of migrants had arrived. As we walked back towards the crosstracks, we saw some movement in the pines, so we cut in to see what was there. There were a couple of Chiffchaffs and some tits, and then we noticed some movement in the oak tree above us and looked up to see a Pied Flycatcher flitting around. It was tricky to see in the leaves, and as we tried to all get a good view, we realised there were actually two Pied Flycatchers in the same tree. From back out on the path, we saw them chasing each other through the trees a couple of times.

Pied Flycatcher – one of two

After getting distracted by the Pied Flycatchers, we continued on back to Lady Anne’s Drive for a slightly later than planned lunch. The wind had picked up, but we were still OK to sit out on the picnic tables by The Lookout cafe. While we were eating though, the sky turned greyer and darker and thankfully we had just finished when it started to rain. We ducked into the cafe, and the shower quickly passed over on the wind.

On the way back to the minibus, we looked across the grazing marshes to the west of Lady Anne’s Drive and could see three white shapes on a gate in the distance. They were the Cattle Egrets we had seen earlier dropping down with the cows, so we got a scope out and trained it on them. We could see their short yellow bills.

Cattle Egrets – on a gate

We drove round to Wells beach next and walked up past the lifeboat station for a quick look in the harbour. There was a nice selection of waders on the sands opposite, lots of Oystercatchers, Grey Plover and Ringed Plover. We got a single Knot in the scope, and then turned it on a nicely marked juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit which was feeding along the near edge of the channel in front of us. We could see it looked fairly grey and misty out over East Hills, so it was not a surprise when it started to rain again. We were exposed to the wind here, and getting wet, so we headed back to the car park. By the time we got back to the minibus it had stopped again, though the clouds were still low and grey and threatening.

With rain now on top of an easterly wind, we thought there had to be a chance of some fresh migrants dropping in to the trees. Walking down to the Woods, we stopped briefly to look at the boating lake. A single Tufted Duck was new for the trip list, and there were several more Little Grebes on the water too. It was quiet at first as we cut into the birches, and it was not before we got to the corner of the Dell, before we suddenly found lots of birds in the trees. Suddenly there were birds everywhere and we didn’t know which way to look, Long-tailed Tits and Chiffchaffs.

Long-tailed Tit – lots in the trees

We started to follow the flock, and a bird flew up from the path ahead of us with a flash of red. It landed at the base of a nearby tree – a Common Redstart, just the sort of fresh-in migrant we were hoping for. Then it flicked back away from us and we lost sight of it. The tit flock moved quickly away through the trees and off towards the main path, so we thought we might be able to cut back round and catch them again that side. We got there just as they started to fly across the path – in quick succession, we found a Garden Warbler and then a Lesser Whitethroat with them, but nothing was hanging around to allow us to all get a good look. A Bullfinch flew across too, and disappeared into the hawthorns piping.

The flock disappeared into the birches by the boating lake, then emerged again the far end and cut back across the path towards the birches. We tried to follow again, but they were moving very quickly and we were too slow – by the time we got round to the birches we had lost them.

We carried on round to the Dell and had a look in the trees around the north side, but it was very quiet – all the birds were in the tit flocks. Out into the open area beyond the Dell, we found a few Blue Tits feeding in the hawthorns and then a Lesser Whitethroat appeared briefly. As we walked round to try to refind it, we realised there was another tit flock here, more Long-tailed Tits and Chiffchaffs. Again frustratingly they moved through the trees very quickly and after managing to keep track of them for a while, we lost them when they flew through the birches and out into the trees in the reeds beyond.

It was time to start heading back, but on the way we cut in again round the eastern edge of the Dell for one last look. We were almost back to the start of the birches when we found the first tit flock again in the trees. They were feeding now so not quite so mobile, but we could only see part of the flock and couldn’t find anything new in with them, before they moved on again. Unfortunately we were out of time. With the rain and east wind, it felt like there should be more birds in here. Maybe tomorrow.

16th Sept 2023 – Autumn Tour, Day 1

Day 1 of a 3-day Autumn Tour and Wader Spectacular. After a cloudy start, the cloud burnt back and it was bright, mostly sunny and pleasantly warm. Nice weather to be out birding. We spent the day along the more easterly end of the North Norfolk coast.

To start the day, we headed up to Salthouse. As we drove along the coast road from Cley, we could see a Marsh Harrier over the reeds and as we parked at the Iron Road and got out, it flew over the grazing marsh towards us and then cut across the road. We walked down along the track to view the pool. There were lots of Teal and Shoveler on here today, including a good number of drakes in dull eclipse plumage, all looking rather brown – a recurring theme with ducks at this time of year. Three juvenile Dunlin were in with them, but there was no sign of any other waders on the pool today. A small flock of Dunlin, with a single Common Snipe in with them, flew round over the marshes but headed out towards beach and disappeared off towards Cley.

A Kestrel flew in over the grazing marsh and landed briefly in the top of a tree next to us, before it saw us and flew off again. A juvenile Spoonbill came in high over the marshes from the direction of Cley and carried on west past us. A large flock of Goldfinches was feeding on the thistles and several Swallows and House Martins were hawking over the marshes.

Kestrel – flew in

Back to the minibus, we drove round to park at Walsey Hills. There was no sign of any Green Sandpipers on Snipe’s Marsh this morning, so we walked over to the East Bank. A Little Grebe was diving in the water weed on Don’s Pool. Looking out over the grazing marsh, we picked up a Hobby over the Pope’s reedbed, chasing after a small bird. It was, joined by a second Hobby, then both of them were chased off by one of the local Kestrels.

Up to the Serpentine, there were lots of ducks here too, more brown Teal and Shoveler. Out on Pope’s Pool we could see lots of rusty brown Wigeon and several juvenile Shelducks. The water level has gone up a lot after the heavy rain earlier in the week, and it is now too high for waders, unfortunately. The surprise of the morning was looking across to see an Arctic Skua fly in over the Serpentine past us, flushing all the ducks, before cutting across the reedbed and disappearing off inland. Very odd to see one away from the sea, over the land!

Arctic Skua – flew in over the Serpentine

Continuing on, an adult Mediterranean Gull flew past and disappeared off towards the beach. We could hear a Greenshank calling on Arnold’s Marsh and found it asleep on a small island. Several Redshanks were feeding around it. Looking out the other way, a second Greenshank flew up from the reeds behind us, right past and out onto the middle of Arnold’s where we had a better look at it before it too fell asleep. Otherwise, there were several Curlew on here and a flock of Ruff which dropped in, had a quick feed, then went to sleep, presumably fresh arrivals tired after a long journey. Three Spoonbills were asleep too, more typically.

Looking out towards the sea, we could see a few Gannets flying past beyond the shingle ridge. We set off to have a look from the beach and on the way, we stopped to admire a Grey Heron and a Little Egret which were feeding on the pools right below the path.

Scanning from the shingle, we could see lots of Razorbills out on the sea, and we got a small group of five in the scope. A lone Guillemot swam past very close inshore, but didn’t look well. We picked up a Red-throated Diver on the sea just to the east, making its way towards us just off the beach, diving repeatedly. As we waited, it came right past us, in almost full summer plumage, though its red throat was hard to see unless it turned its head.

Red-throated Diver – close in

It was a very productive stop out here, and every time we thought about heading back, we picked up something else. There were small numbers of birds moving, a couple of small groups of Sandwich Terns came past heading east and we spotted a distant Great Skua heading west. A few ducks arriving for the winter included a flock of Wigeon, and a mixed flock of Common Scoter with a single Pintail and one Teal. We heard Golden Plover and Ringed Plover calling overhead and turned at one point to see a small flock of Knot and Dunlin flying west over the Brackish Pool. A juvenile Marsh Harrier working its way slowly east some way offshore was presumably a migrant too – amazing to watch migration in action.

Eventually we managed to tear ourselves away. We had looked for the regular Pintail on the Brackish Pool on the way out but it had now reappeared. Then back to the minibus, we made our way round to the Visitor Centre to use the facilities and sort out permits for the reserve. We had a little time still before lunch, so we made our way out for a quick look from Bishop Hide.

From the hide, we had good views of several close Black-tailed Godwits feeding in front. There was a large flock of Lapwings just behind, looking stunning in the sunshine, their metallic green upperparts shining blue, purple and bronze. Two Avocet were further back. A Common Snipe flew in and landed on the edge of the reedy island in front of the hide, giving us great views through the scope.

Common Snipe – in front of the hide

There were a few gulls on the scrape, including several adult Great Black-backed Gulls, which allowed us a good comparison with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull alongside.

The long-staying local celebrity Long-billed Dowitcher had apparently been with the godwits earlier but had now disappeared. Scanning round the scrape carefully, we found it asleep hunkered down on one of the islands, looking like little more than a small grey lump in the grass. Not the best of views, we knew what it was mainly because we have seen it sleeping in almost exactly the same place on previous occasions!

We had turned our attention to other things, when one of the group glanced back to see that the Long-billed Dowitcher had woken up. It walked to the edge of the island, where it had a quick preen, then it took off and flew towards us. It landed in the middle of the Lapwings and then walked closer, heading towards where the godwits were feeding. A great view now through the scope. Then something spooked all the waders and they all took to the air – presumably a false alarm, they flew round briefly, then landed again. The Dowitcher landed with the godwits in the middle and promptly went back to sleep!

Long-billed Dowitcher – woke up for a while!

It had been a very productive visit to the hide here too, so we headed back for lunch at the Visitor Centre now. Keeping one eye out over the reserve from the picnic tables, we noticed three more Spoonbills flying past, an adult followed by two juveniles. Afterwards we headed out to the central hides. Walking in through the reeds along the boardwalk, we could hear Bearded Tits calling, but they were keeping down in the breeze.

We headed for Dauke’s Hide first. Apart from more brown ducks, there were a few drake Gadwall which had already emerged from eclipse and were now looking smart, grey and black again. The water level is up here too now though, and the only waders were a couple of Ruff and a lone Curlew. Looking across to Pat’s Pool, we could see five Pintail on the bank on one side, the drakes in eclipse, all beige. Five more Ruff, included four males and a single much smaller female – good to see alongside each other, so we could appreciate how different they are in size. Otherwise, there were just four Dunlin over the far side, up to their bellies in the water with the longer-legged godwits.

There were several Swallows still flying around the hides, so we had a quick look in Avocet Hide, where three juvenile Swallows were still resting on one of the beams right above our heads. While we watched, the adults made a couple of visits in and out to feed them. They should be fledging soon and then will head off south for the winter.

Swallows – still three juveniles in the hide

As we started to head back, we heard Bearded Tits calling and turned to see two fly back past us over the reeds. We walked back to the circular boardwalk and glimpsed one in the reeds briefly, but the others moved deeper into the reeds away from us calling and then went quiet. Typical Bearded Tits! Back towards the Skirts path, there were lots of Common Lizards basking in the sunshine on the rail on the edge of the boardwalk.

We drove round to Kelling for the last stop of the afternoon. As we walked down the lane, there were lots of Goldfinches and tits in the brambles opposite the school and a House Martin overhead. A succession of Chiffchaffs in the hedge were calling and one even singing, taunting us, as they were not doing much in the heat of the afternoon and were hard to see in the trees. Lots of Ivy Bees, Red Admiral and Comma butterflies, Migrant Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies were enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

Spoonbill – a short-billed juvenile

There were just a few Mute Swans on the Water Meadow pool, but from round on the crosstrack we had good views of a juvenile Spoonbill which came up out of the ditch on the Quags with two Little Egrets, possibly even the one we had seen flying in this direction first thing this morning. A Stock Dove was on the grass.

We continued along the path to the Hard, where several Stonechats and Linnets perched up in the brambles as we passed, then turned up towards the gun emplacements, to see if there were any migrants around. Unfortunately there were a couple of people walking round the guns and in and out of all the bunkers, so there were no birds to be seen.

Stonechat – on the brambles

It was time to call it a day and head back now. We would be out again tomorrow.

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!

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.