24th April 2023 – Spring Migration on Hold

A Private Tour today in North Norfolk, focused more on photography and on visiting sites which could be worth spending more time at over the coming days. With a cold and blustery NW wind, it was a decidedly chilly and unspring-like day, but we managed to dodge the showers and stayed dry.

After our last visit, the number of Shorelarks at Holkham had dropped to one since and there had been no sign of that yesterday, so we thought it might have gone too. Then it was reported again first thing this morning, and since Grey Partridge was also on the target list, we decided to have a look there first.

As we arrived at Holkham, some dark clouds were just pushing inland and we could see blue skies approaching from the north. We parked on Lady Anne’s Drive and set off towards the pines. The pair of Grey Partridges were in their usual place on the grazing marsh, though not as close as they can be at times, and we found a spot where we could some shots. A Willow Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs were singing in the sheltered side of the pines and a Sedge Warbler was display flighting from the brambles.

Grey Partridge – the first of several

It was breezy the other side of the pines and the wind had obviously pushed the tide in over parts of the saltmarsh as it was quite wet looking out at the Gap. A small flock of Brent Geese were feeding out in the vegetation and a couple of Oystercatchers were feeding on the edge of the path. We set off east, and the Beach Warden in his ATV flushed several Shelduck and the Oystercatchers from the path ahead of us.

The sun was out now. There were a few Meadow Pipits on the saltmarsh and ahead of us we noticed a Wheatear too. We stopped to look, and realised there were more Wheatears further up. We counted at least seven in the end, northbound migrants presumably dropping in here to feed rather than heading on out over the sea into the strong headwind. They looked particularly smart in the low sunshine, so we stopped to watch them for a while.

Wheatear – stopping off

Continuing on to the cordon, there was no sign of the Shorelark now (as of the time of writing, it still hasn’t been seen again). There were a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks feeding in the vegetation and a couple of Ringed Plovers down at the far end around the sandier patches. We had a good look, but drew a blank, so we decided to head back and get out of the wind. On our way, we heard a Greenshank calling and looked over to see it drop down on the pools now at the beach end of the Gap path. Another migrant stopping off in the wind.

We were going to have a walk at Burnham Norton, to look for Yellow Wagtails, but when we arrived we could see rain approaching. The cattle were right over by the seawall, so it would be very wet and windy out there shortly. We decided to try something else. There were lots of Avocets and a few Lapwings out on the grazing marshes, a Marsh Harrier quartering out over the grass, and a Spoonbill flew over.

Yellowhammer was another target species, so we headed inland in the minibus to see if we could find any. The weather was not ideal to find birds singing today, but at the first place we visited we heard one as we drove up. We found somewhere to stop and got out, just in time to see the Yellowhammer drop off the wires and down into the field below, behind a high hedge. As we walked back down the road to see if we could see in to the field, it flew out and landed in the hedge the other side of the road, beyond where we had parked. As we walked over to look for it, it came up into the top of the hedge, just enough time to get a few shots, before it flew back to the field where it had been earlier. A pair of Grey Partridges flew across the road and landed in the crop the other side.

We tried another couple of sites for Yellowhammer, but the first was quiet, the seed strip now looking quite bare, and at the second we could hear one calling as we pulled up but it went quiet when we stopped and we couldn’t find it. It was a bit too windy – a project to revisit over the next few days. We decided to head over to Cley.

We drove down to the beach car park first, to look for waders in the Eye Field. There were a couple of Ruff around the pool as we drove down the road and as we drove on towards the car park we realised too late that there were two more, males moulting into breeding plumage, in the near edge of the field immediately beyond the fence. Unfortunately, as we pulled up in the minibus they were too close to the road and spooked.

We could see the flock of twenty or so Bar-tailed Godwits further back in the field, so we parked in the car park and walked up to the fence at the back of the overflow parking area. They were a bit far for photography, but there was no way we could get much closer to them without spooking them, so we had to content ourselves with some more distant flock shots. There were some nice rusty summer males in with them. It was time for lunch, so we drove back to the Visitor Centre. A Lapwing posed for photos on the grass by the road as we left the car park.

Bar-tailed Godwits – in the Eye Field

It was too windy to use the picnic tables, so we sat on the back of the minibus in the shelter of the bottom car park. We had been intending to spend an hour or two in the hides here this afternoon, hoping to catch up with the long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher plus any other close waders and possibly a Spoonbill dropping in. There had been no news on the dowitcher all morning, so we already feared the worst and speaking to staff in the Centre confirmed that it had not been seen today. It has been here for over 6 months, so perhaps it has finally decided to move on. Time for a change of plan for us.

We drove down to Kelling for a walk down the lane towards the Water Meadow. One of the fields at the top of the lane was just being cultivated, so there were no Brown Hares in there today and none in the weedy field opposite either. There were few warblers singing here too, as we walked down to the copse, possibly due to the cooler weather. Looking across from the gate, we could see lots of Hares more distantly on the field opposite still and then we found at least seven hunkered down in the next field by the path. There was a quick burst of boxing activity from two of them, but mostly they were keeping down out of the wind. Another pair of Grey Partridge were in the field here too.

From down at the crosstrack, there were a few commoner ducks on the Water Meadow. A Common Whitethroat flew across but disappeared into the alexanders and brambles on the Quags. A couple of 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls flew over, one called several times and did a quick circuit round over the pool. A Stonechat perched up on the top of the brambles down the lane towards Salthouse.

As we drove back west, we diverted down to the beach car park at Cley again, to see if the waders were any closer. The Bar-tailed Godwits had moved further back, so we turned round and headed on to Morston. There had been a few Ring Ouzels here over the last few days, more migrants waiting for suitable weather conditions to continue on to Scandinavia.

As we walked down the footpath, we could hear a Ring Ouzel calling in the trees and had a brief glimpse of one as it flew out and back in again. We carried on down to the end and installed ourselves by the gate, to wait for them to drop down into the field to feed. They were not particularly accommodating today, and for some time we had glimpses of them flying in and out, and one perched briefly in the bushes.

Redstart – a female

We noticed some movement at the bottom of the hedge across the end of the field, and a flash of red. It was a Common Redstart, a female, a scarce migrant here in the spring. We watched it as it kept dropping down to the ground to feed and then flicking back up into the hedge. There were two more Grey Partridges here too – it was a good day for those today!

Eventually the Ring Ouzels did drop down into the field. Two males fed on the grassy edge for a minute or so, before moving out into the middle with a Blackbird. They didn’t linger long though today, and soon flew back up into the trees. They had been showing really well here with patience in previous days, so another one to try again when the wind dropped later in the week.

Ring Ouzels – eventually dropped down to feed

A Whimbrel flew over and dropped down towards the saltmarsh. We lost sight of it behind the bank, so we walked up and had a look on the pools to see if it was there. There was no further sign of it, although there were a few Brent Geese out on the saltmarsh.

Round at the harbour car park, we found another Whimbrel feeding in the harbour channel. Using the minibus as a mobile hide, we were able to position ourselves for great views of it down on the edge of the water, before it disappeared back into the saltmarsh beyond.

Whimbrel – in the harbour channel

A nice way to end the day. We had some mixed fortunes in the wind, but there were now several places to revisit and lots of things to follow up on over the coming days.

31st March 2023 – Early Spring Tour, Day 1

Day 1 of an Early Spring 3-day tour. It was forecast to rain pretty much all day today, but we were lucky – we had a little bit of drizzle on and off first thing and a heavy shower early afternoon, but otherwise it remained largely dry and the sun even came out at times. We made the most of it, spending the day on the North Norfolk coast.

We headed for Cley first this morning, and drove down Beach Road to the old Coastguards car park. Getting out, we scanned the Eye Field, picking up a single Golden Plover still among the molehills. A couple of Oystercatchers, a Redshank and a Lapwing were around the edge of the pool and another Redshank flew in displaying over the overflow car park and landed on a fence post in front of us. Shortly after, it had a go at balancing on the wire instead, but looked much more precarious!

Redshank – landed on the post first

There were one or two Skylarks and Meadow Pipits in the grass. We were hoping for a Wheatear, but couldn’t see one out in the field this morning, or around the fence. When one of the group saw something flick up and then drop off the pill box further along the beach, it sounded promising so we walked up to look but it had disappeared.

Looking out to sea, we spotted a Peregrine flying in from some way out with prey in its talons. It had probably been hunting for exhausted spring migrants offshore. It came in over the beach, disappeared low behind the ridge in the grass and didn’t come out the other side, so we walked up to top of the field to see if we could find it. There was no sign at first, but when we walked on a few metres it came up from just over crest and disappeared off over the marshes.

Peregrine – in off the sea with prey

We stood on the top of the ridge and scanned the marshes to the south. The Long-billed Dowitcher had been in front of Daukes Hide yesterday and we could just see it from here now, albeit very distantly. We would have a look from the hides later. There was a nice selection of ducks, including a smart drake Pintail. Several Grey Herons were standing statue-like in the field behind the Visitor Centre and five Little Egrets were perched in the top of the neighbouring wood.

One of group had been running late this morning, and now joined us. They had seen a Wheatear as they they walked by the pillbox and so we kept looking back until a female appeared on top. Then we noticed a male Wheatear flick up onto the fence, before it flew out to the beach and then up on to the pillbox too. We thought we would walk back for a closer look, but by the time we got there they had both disappeared again. A second summer Mediterranean Gull flew past over the edge of the sea.

We drove round to Walsey Hills next. Two Chiffchaffs were singing as we got out of the minibus and a quick scan of Snipe’s Marsh produced a few Gadwall, a couple of Coot and a pair of Little Grebes.

From the start of East Bank, we could see a pair of Common Pochard on Don’s Pool. There had been a Sedge Warbler here the last few days, so we stopped and listened but couldn’t hear at first. We did hear Bearded Tits calling, and looked across to see three flitting around the base of the reeds on the back of the pool, two males and a female. A Cetti’s Warbler was shouting from the reedy ditch right in front of us, and unusually kept coming right up into full view, but just as we were looking at something else! The Sedge Warbler then appeared low in the reeds a little further up, flew across the path and started singing from the brambles the other side. Our first of year.

Sedge Warbler – our first of the year

Two Spoonbills circled over the wood across the road, dropped in for a minute, then flew out again and off towards the scrapes. A pair of Marsh Harriers flew round right in front of us too. There was so much activity, we didn’t know which way to look!

Marsh Harrier – right in front of us

One or two Water Pipits had been feeding in the area of cut reeds again recently, so we walked on and stopped to scan. One of the group found a Common Snipe feeding along the back edge, which had us going briefly as it bobbed a couple of times before it came out into view. Then we found a Water Pipit further over along the back, in full summer plumage with pink underparts. It was on a low mud bank, but then walked down into the reed stems and disappeared from view before anyone could see it.

We persevered and eventually two Water Pipits flew up. They chased each other out over the reedbed beyond, one flew off but the other turned and dropped back in. Despite seeing where it landed, we couldn’t find it again at first. While we were scanning though, we did find a real Jack Snipe now. Finally the Water Pipit came out and stopped to preen on a small mound where we could get it in the scope and all get a proper look at it. It was worth the wait – looking very smart now.

Many have already departed, back to Russia for the breeding season, but there was still a good number of Wigeon on the grazing marshes the other side of the bank. One or two Lapwings were displaying, flying round, tumbling and singing. A couple of Ruff were feeding on the cut reeds, but now we had good close views of one on the mud on the near edge of the Serpentine. It was already starting to moult into spring plumage, with some dark patterned feathers in its upperparts, but too early for its extravagant ruff yet.

Ruff – starting to moult

A male Marsh Harrier circled up in the distance, out over Pope’s reedbed, We could see it had something in its talons, so we all watched to see what would happen. It flew over towards the bank in front of us, and a female came up calling from the main reedbed behind. She started displaying, then swooped below the male, as he dropped the food and she caught it.

Carrying on up the bank, we stopped to scan the brackish pools. Another drake Pintail was upending, a bit closer then the one we had seen earlier, and we admired its long pin-tail in the scope. A single Ringed Plover was on the far edge and a Curlew and a Little Egret feeding on the smaller pools below the path. We could see lots of pipits and wagtails on the shingle beyond. We had a quick look out at Arnold’s Marsh from the shelter. There were lots of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Redshanks and a single Grey Plover at the back. A pair of Linnets were feeding on the saltmarsh.

Curlew – on the brackish pools

Just before the beach, we stopped to scan the shingle behind the brackish pools. We found at least three White Wagtails now with a couple of Pied Wagtails and all the pipits, spring migrants stopping to feed on their way north. We could see a male Wheatear on the grass along the remains of the shingle ridge to the east, but someone had just come back and told us there was no sign of any Snow Buntings this morning, so we didn’t walk all the way down.

As we walked back, a pair of Marsh Harriers were displaying over the main reedbed now. It was time for lunch already, so we drove round to the Visitor Centre and sat down on the picnic tables to eat. The sun was out and it was warm in the sunshine now. A Peacock butterfly fluttered around the trees and a Chiffchaff flew in and started singing in the remains of a small willow just behind us. It was too good to last though and a grey cloud appeared overhead and it started to spit with rain. As it got heavier, we quickly finished lunch and packed up, and went in to the dry in the Visitor Centre to get permits for the reserve.

The rain was gradually easing, so we walked out to the central hides. Another Sedge Warbler was singing by the boardwalk and we stopped to watch a Bearded Tit disappearing into the reeds right by the hides. We went in to Daukes Hide, and found several people watching the Long-billed Dowitcher which was now on the bank right in front of the hide. Best views yet! It has been hanging around since mid October now, so it will be interesting to see how much longer it stays.

Long-billed Dowitcher – still here

It was great to watch the Long-billed Dowitcher feeding, together with two Common Snipe at one point giving a nice comparison. A Black-tailed Godwit found a worm on the bank and was chased by a Black-headed Gull, the Dowitcher flying round with it. When it came back to the bank, it went to sleep, giving us a good view of its barred tail and the white extending up its back. There were more Black-tailed Godwits, several already well advanced into rusty breeding plumage, and several more Ruff on here too and a few Dunlin further back.

Long-billed Dowitcher – with a Common Snipe

There had been a pair of Bitterns here earlier, but they had not been seen for at least half an hour. We had been told they were coming out periodically this morning, so we persevered, watching and waiting. Eventually our patience was rewarded. The rain had stopped and as the sun came out, the male Bittern came out of the reeds on the back edge of the scrape. We had great views through the scope as it weaved in and out, – it kept disappearing in, then we could see its neck snaking through, before it came out into full view several times. Fantastic to watch.

Bittern – stalking the edge

Back at the Visitor Centre, we were just packing up when a Chocolate Mining Bee landed inside the back of the minibus. We still had time for one last stop, so we decided to have a quick look at Stiffkey Fen on our way home. As we walked out towards the Fen, a Marsh Harrier was displaying high over the path. A Muntjac was standing bold as brass on the edge of the trees, and a couple of Coal Tits flitted around above. There were several Chiffchaffs and Long-tailed Tits feeding in sallows by path.

Out onto the seawall, we looked across the Fen. There was no sign of the Garganey which had apparently been here yesterday, but we did find two Little Ringed Plovers out on the edge of one of the islands. Through the scope, we could just see their golden yellow eye rings.

Down to the corner of the harbour, a single Grey Plover was on the mud in the channel with the Redshanks. We could see lots of Brent Geese on the edge of the water and picked out a single Pale-bellied Brent out on the mud with all the Dark-bellied Brents. Further out, lots of Turnstones were feeding on the shingle spit and we found Bar-tailed Godwit, Sandering and a flock of Knot on the sandy island in the middle. It is a lovely spot to just stand and watch, but unfortunately it was time to walk back. As we got to the steps at the far end of the seawall, we noticed a Greenshank feeding in the channel further up now. Probably one of the over-wintering birds rather than a spring migrant.

Brent Goose – a dark-bellied Brent

It had been an action-packed first day – more tomorrow…

10th Sept 2022 – Autumn Migration

An Autumn Migration single day tour today, on the North Norfolk coast. It was a rather cool, grey and overcast start, but gradually brightened up through the morning, with some nice warm sunny spells developing, particularly out of the cooler NNW wind. There was a forecast for thunderstorms bubbling up during the day, but fortunately we didn’t see a sign of any.

With the prospect of winds off the continent today, we headed over to Wells Woods first thing to see if we could find any migrants freshly arrived. A quick look at the boating lake produced a few Little Grebes and Tufted Ducks. It was still rather cool and damp in the trees as we made our way in – we could hear Coal Tits and a Goldcrest in the pines, but the birches beyond were rather quiet. A Siskin flew over calling.

We cut back out onto the main track and here we found a small group of Long-tailed Tits feeding on the outer edge of the trees. There were a few Blue Tits and Great Tits too, and then a Lesser Whitethroat flew across the path ahead of us and landed in a small hawthorn. The Lesser Whitethroat disappeared deeper in, but then a Common Whitethroat appeared in the same bush before flying up into the branches of one of the birches where we watched it feeding.

While we were watching the whitethroats, we had lost track of the tit flock but as we cut across to the open area south of the track, we could hear the Long-tailed Tits again calling in a lone pine tree. As they flew out one by one, we could see there was nothing following them now, but then the Lesser Whitethroat appeared in the blackthorn behind us, along with a couple of Blackcaps and we had a good view of them all in the tops of the bushes.

There had been a few Redstarts in the bushes here in the last few days but there was no sign of them this morning as we walked on round – there seemed to have been more departures overnight than arrivals. We did get better views of a Common Whitethroat in the brambles and birches, showing off its bright rusty wing panel, and a couple of lovely lemon-yellow Willow Warblers, presumably on their way south from Scandinavia.

Willow Warbler – a migrant

As it started to warm up, a couple of Red Kites appeared low over the pines, flexing their wings and twisting their tails as they circled. There were more hirundines up now too, with a large flock of House Martins hawking for insects over the trees. It won’t be long now before they leave to head south for the winter.

The sun was on the birches now, so we headed back to the south side of the Dell to see if we could find any flycatchers. When we got there, someone had just seen some in the trees but they had disappeared. We walked up and down through that side of the Dell a couple of times – there were lots of Chiffchaffs feeding actively in the trees now, but all we had was a brief glimpse of a Pied Flycatcher, which disappeared again before everyone could get onto it. We heard a Green Sandpiper call overhead at one point and the same or another Siskin flew over. A Water Rail squealed from deep in the reeds by the back of the boating lake.

We decided to check round the rest of the Dell, but it was all very quiet, so we cut back out to the main path on the far side. As we walked back on the main path, past the south side of the Dell again, we finally found the Spotted Flycatcher now. It eventually showed nicely, in one of the birches by the track and high up in one of the poplars by the lake the other side.

Spotted Flycatcher – eventually showed well

It was time to move on, so we made our way back to the minibus and had a short break for elevenses. It was gloriously sunny now and warm out of the wind here.

We made our way along the coast to Cley next. Having just had a bite to eat, we decided on a decent walk before lunch, so we parked at Walsey Hills and walked over to the East Bank. A Marsh Harrier was quartering distantly out over the reedbed. There had been a nice selection of waders along here in recent days but there were no reports of anything this morning, so we thought it might be a short stop. We were to be pleasantly surprised!

First we stopped at Don’s Pool to look for the Little Grebes – there was a pair on here with two tiny stripy-headed juveniles a couple of days before. We couldn’t see either of the adults at first but then noticed one of the youngsters out on the water on its own. After a while, one of the parents swam out of the reeds with something in its bill but the juvenile showed no interest in eating it, despite the adult trying to feed it repeatedly – presumably it was already full!

Little Grebes – adult & juvenile

Eventually the adult Little Grebe gave up and resumed diving, leaving the juvenile on its own out on the water again. We didn’t see any sign of the second young one or the other parent. A Cetti’s Warbler was shouting from the reeds beyond.

Continuing on up the East Bank, we could see a lot of birds over the back of the grazing marsh around Pope’s Pool, so we stopped to get the scope on them. There were lots of ducks, plenty of Mallard and a few Gadwall loafing in the grass, moulting, and a few Wigeon in rusty eclipse plumage. Closer to, there were several Teal on the near end of the Serpentine. None of the ducks are looking their best at the moment, with the drakes all in eclipse. There were loads of Greylags and Canada Geese too.

Several Curlew and Lapwing were hiding in the grass too, and we could see four Avocets and a group of Black-tailed Godwits distantly out on Pope’s Pool. When we heard Sandwich Terns alarm calling out over Arnold’s Marsh, we looked across to see a juvenile Arctic Skua chasing them. It seemed to get bored pretty quickly, and broke off its pursuit, drifting away over the shingle ridge and back out to sea.

As if that wasn’t good enough, it was only when we walked on a little further that we really didn’t know which way to look! We got the scope first on a juvenile Little Ringed Plover which was feeding on the mud down at the front. While we were watching that, we picked up a single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper feeding further back, so we turned our attention to that next. At one point, we had it in the same view as a juvenile Dunlin giving a nice comparison, the Curlew Sandpiper slightly bigger with a longer, more downcurved bill, neatly scalloped above and cleaner white below.

Curlew Sandpiper – a juvenile

Amazing to think that the Curlew Sandpiper had been raised just a few weeks ago right up in Central Siberia and is now migrating alone all the way down to Africa, the adults having departed earlier and left the young to make their own way!

We hadn’t finished looking at the Curlew Sandpiper when a small flock of Dunlin flew in and landed on the near edge of the water. Two smaller Little Stints flew in with them, so we turned our attention to those. We had some great views, at such close range – the Little Stints about two thirds the size of the Dunlin (which themselves are already small waders!). Through the scope, we could see their pale ‘braces’.

Little Stint – with Dunlin behind

Then we heard a Spotted Redshank call a couple of times and after a quick scan we picked it up flying in. It flew across low over the Serpentine and we could see the cigar-shaped white patch on its back. It landed out of view on a small pool further back towards the road but thankfully didn’t like it there as the next thing we knew in flew in again and landed with some Black-tailed Godwits which were feeding across the other side of the water in front of us.

Now we got a proper look at it, a dusky grey juvenile Spotted Redshank. We could see its long, needle-fine bill and and white fore supercilium extending over the bill. When it eventually flew again, it landed further back on the Serpentine where it was joined by a second Spotted Redshank, this time a paler winter adult. We watched the two of them feeding in the deeper water, sweeping their bills from side to side as they walked.

A juvenile Ruff down on the mud at the front edge was almost overlooked in all the excitement. We had seen a Common Snipe in the wet grass by the godwits earlier and only now did we get a chance to get that in the scope for a closer look. An Avocet dropped in on the Serpentine too. The waders were all rather jumpy and when everything at the back spooked again, we looked over to see a young Sparrowhawk chasing round behind Arnold’s Marsh.

All the time we had been watching the waders, we could hear Bearded Tits calling on and off further up, in the reeds beyond the Serpentine. We had managed an occasional scan, but only now did we see one briefly, just as it was dropping back into the reeds out of view. We walked up to see if we could find it but it had disappeared in. It was a bit breezy here today, not ideal conditions for seeing Bearded Tits.

A Greenshank was calling from Arnold’s Marsh, but when we got up there, we couldn’t see it at first. There were lots of Common Redshanks and a few Curlew. There were no Sandwich Terns on here now, but two flew back in just as we arrived so we got the scope on one – we could see the yellow tip to its long black bill. Nearby, in with the loafing Black-headed Gulls, we picked out a winter adult Mediterranean Gull with its brighter red and more robust bill and black bandit mask. There was a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull hiding in there too and a Common Gull. Then we found the Greenshank in with them too.

With all the excitement out here, we had been longer than planned but after our earlier elevenses, no one was worried if we were a bit late back for lunch. So we continued on out to the beach for a quick look at the sea. There was a feeding frenzy of gulls and terns just offshore, and we picked up a juvenile Arctic Skua bobbing on the sea beyond, possibly the same one we had seen chasing the terns earlier. An adult Gannet was repeatedly plunge-diving around the gulls – very impressive to watch! A Guillemot flew past further out.

Then it really was time to head back for a late lunch at the Visitor Centre, with just a quick stop to watch a Little Egret on the brackish pool below the bank, struggling to subdue a fish it had caught.

Little Egret – with fish

After lunch, we made our way east along the coast road to Kelling. There were some Goldfinches in the fir tree by the school and a couple of Chiffchaffs in the lane, but other wise the hedges along the lane were rather quiet this afternoon. We stopped briefly to look at some Ivy Bees buzzing around a big patch of ivy flowers and a little further on for a Migrant Hawker dragonfly which was patrolling up and down the track and stopped for a rest on the vegetation on the verge.

Migrant Hawker – stopped for a rest

There were a few Teal, a couple of Moorhen and a Little Grebe on the Water Meadow pool and, as we rounded the corner, a family of Egyptian Geese on the grass on one side. A couple of Linnets were perched in the brambles over the far side and the grassy hillside beyond was liberally covered with the local Rooks. A Stock Dove flew over the Quags and dropped down onto the shingle behind the beach.

As we got down towards the bramble field, there were several Stonechats in the brambles along the fence line and dropping down into the short grass to feed. We stopped to watch them and then noticed that a couple of people further along had raised their cameras – presumably the Wryneck was showing. We walked quickly on to where they were standing and sure enough, the Wryneck was perched up on top of the brambles out in the field.

Before everyone could get onto it, the Wryneck dropped down out of view, but thankfully we didn’t have to wait too long before it appeared on top again. Now we could get it in the scope and admire its cryptically patterned plumage. Historically a regular breeder, Wrynecks are now no more than scarce visitors here, on their way between breeding grounds in Scandinavia and where they spend the winter in Africa. This one has been here over a week now, but went missing for a couple of days last week, so it can be elusive at times. We were lucky today!

Wryneck – in the brambles

Having seen the Wryneck without too long a wait, we decided to head on down towards the beach to see if we could find any Whinchats. As we walked up the hillside on the permissive path behind the beach, we looked back across the bramble field to see a Whinchat perched on the brambles on the far side, where the Stonechats had been earlier. Through the scope, we could see its bold pale supercilium and paler orange wash across the breast compared to the Stonechats.

There were lots of Goldfinches feeding on the thistles and teasel in the old sand pit behind the beach (where the owner of Weybourne Camp is now dumping builders’ waste where the orchids used to grow!) and a few Linnets with them. We stopped to scan and noticed a Wheatear running across the remaining area of short grass in the bottom. Before we could get the scope on it, it was flushed by a second Wheatear and the two of them flew back to the fence by the beach, flashing their white rumps.

There had obviously been a small fall of Wheatears here – there were at least another three on the track through the longer grass a little further along, including a smart autumn male with greyer back and more obvious black mask. Another Whinchat was perched on the fence behind them, along with a female Stonechat. As we walked up towards the gun emplacements, there were yet more Wheatears here, hopping around on the gravel tracks, perched on the concrete and one even at one point landing on one of the guns!

Wheatear – one of a small fall

It was time to be heading back, but we hadn’t got far back down the hill before we noticed a message from further along the coast to say that three Long-tailed Skuas had just been seen flying east over Cley beach, heading our way. We decided to wait a little to see if they might come past. Three Bar-tailed Godwits flew high over the Camp behind us and disappeared off east.

It didn’t take us long to pick up a skua coming low over the sea but it was another juvenile Arctic Skua. There were several Sandwich Terns just offshore too, and the Arctic Skua diverted in to chase them briefly, hoping for a free meal, before continuing on east. Continuing to scan the sea to the west, after a few minutes we noticed another skua in the distance, off towards Gramborough Hill, coming straight towards us along the beach. It looked much more promising – noticeably smaller and daintier than the Arctic Skua we had seen earlier, and behaving very differently – but it kept disappearing down behind the shingle ridge out of view.

Before it got to the Hard, the skua came up over the top of the shingle and dropped down over our side, onto one of the big puddles at the base of the ridge. It was still some distance away, and we couldn’t see it because the fence was in the way, so we hurried further down to try to get the scope on it. Before we could get set up, a Black-headed Gull had a go at it and the skua was off again. As it flew up over the shingle ridge again, we could see it was a juvenile Long-tailed Skua.

Long-tailed Skua – a juvenile flew past

It dropped down over the other side of the ridge once more, but then appeared along the top as it flew past us out over the beach and disappeared off east. Long-tailed Skua is the scarcest of the four skua species we get here, so this was a real bonus today. A perfect end to a very enjoyable day of autumn migrants. We paused briefly to look at some Red-legged Partridges and a Brown Hare in the stubble by the lane, as we made our way back to the minibus and then headed for home.

3rd May 2022 – Spring Day in NW Norfolk

A Private Tour today, up in NW Norfolk. It was rather grey and cloudy in the morning, but we had some unexpected bright and sunny weather in the afternoon, although a light NE wind meant it was still a little fresh on the coast.

With a bit of cloud cover this morning, we figured that there wouldn’t be too much heat haze first thing, so we headed up to Ringstead to try to see the Dotterel. As we got out of the minibus, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the hedge and it flew across and landed on the outside edge of a hawthorn so we could get a good look at it.

As we walked down the track, a female Wheatear flicked up ahead of us into an oak tree. It dropped down again into the neighbouring field and was joined by a bright male. A smart male Yellowhammer sang from the blackthorn ahead of us and several Common Whitethroats song flighted up out of the verges as we walked along. A Grey Partridge was standing proud in some spring barley, with a couple of Red-legged Partridges nearby for comparison.

One of the locals was already watching the Dotterel and when we walked over and asked where they were, he pointed right in front of us! Not what we were expecting, they are often very distant, but they had apparently just flown in from the back of the field and landed quite close to the track. Even better, they then proceeded to come closer still, climbing in and out of the furrows straight towards us.

Dotterel – a bright female

Over the course of the next half an hour or so, we were treated to some amazing close views of the Dotterel. There are six of them now, three brighter females and three duller males. They turned and made their way down the field parallel with the track, so we followed. They were moving very quickly, running over the field and then stopping for a few seconds before running on. Eventually they cut further back into the field and we could actually get the scopes on them – they were too close before!

Dotterel – stunning close views

We had already enjoyed great views and were about to pack up when the Dotterel started running straight towards us again, so we stopped and watched a bit longer. They were probably trying to get back to the field they had been in about ten days ago, because suddenly they took off and flew low across the track behind us, landing further out in the crop the other side. We did move on now.

Our next destination for the morning was Snettisham. As we made our way through the gate into the Coastal Park, a Cuckoo was singing from the wires. We got it in the scope and had a good look, before it dropped down and we lost sight of it.

Cuckoo – singing from the wires

A little further in, a Lesser Whitethroat was rattling in the bushes and showed well again briefly. There were several Common Whitethroats song flighting, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing. The first of many Sedge Warblers perched up nicely on the top of a bramble and a Cetti’s Warbler shouted at us from deep in the reeds.

It was rather grey and cool and there were quite a few hirundines hawking for insects overhead and out over the marshes beyond, mostly Swallows and a few House Martins with them. A Common Swift appeared with them briefly, our first of the year. They have been very slow arriving this year, presumably due to the cool north and east winds we have been enjoying, so this was a nice bonus.

We climbed up onto the seawall for a look at the Wash. The tide was going out but had not cleared the beach yet, and just a small huddle of Turnstones and a single Ringed Plover were roosting on the shingle. Continuing on up through the bushes, there were lots more warblers singing, plenty of Linnets, and at least three pairs of Stonechats. As well as the numerous Sedge Warblers, we heard a couple of Reed Warblers too, and had a couple of glimpses as one was chased through the reeds by a Sedge Warbler.

Stonechat – typically obliging

When we got up to the crossbank, we had another look out at the Wash. There was a nice wide strip of exposed mud now and the waders were coming back to feed. There was a nice flock of Bar-tailed Godwits out on the mud, several in smart breeding plumage, bright rusty all the way from head to undertail. In amongst them were five Knot, one just starting to get some orange below.

Two people came along the beach walking six dogs. One was clearly much more lively than the others and running around off the lead. After they had all gone past, it slipped back round behind its walkers and once out of sight ran out across the mud and flushed all the waders. The birds landed a short distance out in the shallow water and the dog lost interest. But once again it just shows how these birds struggle with constant disturbance now.

Dog vs waders

We cut across to the inner seawall and looked out over Ken Hill Marshes. There was a huge flock of Oystercatchers roosting on one of the scrapes and while we stood and watched they started to filter back out to the Wash in lines. There were three more Bar-tailed Godwits here too, including two more looking stunning in their rusty breeding plumage.

What was possibly the same Cuckoo we had seen earlier was now singing from somewhere in the trees at the back of the marshes. A Yellow Wagtail called and flew low overhead, disappearing off south without stopping.

We made our way back along the inner seawall, stopping from time to time to scan the marshes. The first Turtle Dove of the year here had been reported yesterday, but we hadn’t seen or heard anything on our walk. We were almost back to the road, when we looked across and saw a Turtle Dove perched on the wires. We got it in the scope for a closer look. Then it stretched and dropped off into the bushes below. Perfect timing!

Turtle Dove – on the wires

It was time for lunch now, so we made our way round to Titchwell. The sun was out and we sat in the picnic area eating and watching the damselflies basking on the bushes. After lunch, we headed out for a quick look on the reserve.

We hadn’t heard any Grasshopper Warblers this morning (they mostly sing very early in the morning now), so we asked in the Visitor Centre and they confirmed that the ones which have been on the reserve had only been heard early. So we were pleasantly surprised as we walked out along the main path and heard a Grasshopper Warbler reeling. Even better, it was the Grasshopper Warbler which had been reeling previously in a sallow right by the path and it was back. One of the volunteers had already located it in the bush and now we watched it singing from a tangle of branches.

Grasshopper Warbler – reeling in a sallow

We heard one or two Bearded Tits calling from the reedbed, but they were fairly quiet today and remained stubbornly out of view. A Marsh Harrier appeared briefly over the back and a Great White Egret flew over the path and out towards Thornham. A Cuckoo was singing distantly in the bushes.

There were lots of Avocets on the Freshmarsh with many on nests on the new islands now. A couple of Little Ringed Plovers were feeding along the water’s edge, one either side of the new bund. A single Black-tailed Godwit was wading in the deeper water further up. A single drake Wigeon was an addition to the day’s list, a still lingering winter visitor.

There were plenty of Black-headed Gulls but the only Mediterranean Gull we could find today was an immature (2nd calendar year) bird dozing on the bank. We did have good views of a Sandwich Tern which flew in overhead calling and landed on one of the islands. Through the scope we could see its shaggy crest and the yellow-tip to its black bill.

Sandwich Tern – flew in to the Freshmarsh

We walked straight on and out towards the beach. A nice close Curlew was probing in the muddy banks in the bottom of the channel on Volunteer Marsh. There were a few Brent Geese still on the saltmarsh opposite the Tidal Pools. A couple of Grey Plover flew off from the pools towards the beach calling and a Spoonbill flew over heading east.

The tide was out now. There were a few Oystercatchers on the mussel beds but most of the waders were out on the sand distantly up towards Thornham Point. There had apparently been a few Little Terns offshore earlier, but we couldn’t see any now, just some distant Sandwich Terns. A large flock of Common Scoter flew across way out in the haze, towards the wind turbines.

We called in briefly to scan the back of the Freshmarsh from the terrace above Parrinder Hide. There was a single Ruff close in front of the hide, but nothing else we hadn’t seen already, so we decided to head back. On our way back, there seemed to be more hirundines over the reedbed now, lots of Swallows and at least three House Martins. Another Swift was hawking back and forth with them, our second of the day (like buses!).

Jack Snipe had been mentioned as something we might have a look for today, so we thought we might try somewhere nearby to round off the day. There have been a couple still along the coast the last few days, including one at Thornham, but that had only been seen on one day and hadn’t been reported since. Still, we figured there had been lots of other waders there recently, so it was worth a look anyway.

As we walked up onto the seawall at Thornham Harbour, we spotted a small group of Whimbrel on the grazing marshes nearby, so we stopped and got them in the scope. A Wheatear flew up and landed on a post by the path, before flying over to the old sluice where it joined a second Wheatear, both males and both quite richly coloured birds, so presumably heading further north.

Wheatear – one of two males

We walked on up to the flash in the next field. We had a quick look in the harbour on our way – there were several Grey Plover, mostly in stunning breeding plumage now, and another rusty Bar-tailed Godwit. Another Whimbrel flew up from the saltmarsh calling as we walked on.

There were at least seven Ruff on the flash today, in a variety of colours no two alike. One in particular was starting to get its ornate ruff, with shaggy feathers on the front of its neck. The testosterone was rising and they were getting very aggressive, chasing after each other constantly. They will soon be off to Scandinavia to lek, but it was great to watch their antics here.

Three Little Ringed Plovers were on the muddy edges and they were chasing each other round too. A single Ringed Plover dropped in with a smart breeding plumage Dunlin, rich brown edged above and sporting a crisp black belly patch.

Jack Snipe – still here

We had seen a Common Snipe as we were walking out, but there was no sign of it now. We didn’t hold out much hope of the Jack Snipe still being here but as we scanned around the margins of the pool suddenly there it was, half-hidden in the emerging docks, preening. We turned the scope on it and watched it, stopping preening and bobbing briefly a couple of times. Then it started to feed and stalked away into the vegetation. It was our lucky day! We then found the Common Snipe again, asleep behind a clump of rushes on the grass at the back.

That was a great way to end the day, so we set off back well satisfied after a very fruitful day’s birding.

19th April 2022 – Spring has Sprung

A Spring group day tour in North Norfolk today. It was bright & sunny in the morning, before clouding over in the afternoon, feeling quite warm in sheltered spots but cooler in the wind, which veered from ENE round to N in the afternoon.

Our destination for the morning was Burnham Overy Dunes. We parked at the top of the lane and set off to walk down, stopping for a quick chat with Paul, one of the wardens who was just walking up to the road. Just beyond, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing its distinctive rattling song in the hedge. It flew across the track ahead of us and we could just see it through the branches through on the sunny side. The first we have seen this year, newly returned from spending the winter in West Africa.

There were a couple of Chiffchaffs and a pair of Blackcaps in the hedge too. A Holly Blue butterfly fluttered around the alexanders by the path. A little further down, a Yellowhammer was calling but we couldn’t see it. A Kestrel was hovering overhead.

Holly Blue – on the alexanders

We couldn’t find any Ring Ouzels in the fields here today, but six Wheatears were out on the grass. Migrants stopping off to feed up on their way north. A couple of Marsh Harriers swirled round over the reeds beyond, several Linnets perched on the gorse bushes and flew in and out of the hedge and a Brown Hare was grooming itself out in the field.

From the next gate, we could see lots of Greylag Geese out on the grazing meadows, but a smaller goose with a darker head and bill was a lingering Pink-footed Goose. Most of the birds which had spent the winter here have long since departed, on their way back to Iceland for the breeding season. There are normally a handful which spend the whole year here though, typically inured birds which cannot make the journey north.

There was a succession Sedge Warblers singing in the brambles and reeds by the path, as we continued on. They seem to have divided up the path into various territories between them, each one singing and song flighting to advertise its own patch. One or two perched up nicely for us to have a closer look. A Cetti’s Warbler had not read the manual – rather than lurking deep in the vegetation it came out to sing perched right in the open on a briar stem. Unusually good views of this normally very secretive species.

Sedge Warbler – perched up nicely

Stopping to scan the pools, there were several Avocets and we turned the scope on one of the Lapwings for a closer look – such stunning birds! A couple of Black-tailed Godwits were sleeping further along, and a Common Snipe flew up from in front of us and dropped back down out of view. There were a few ducks here too, and a Little Grebe lurking in front of the reeds.

From up on the seawall, we could see the tide was in and the saltmarsh was largely covered with water. There were a few Common Pochard and Tufted Ducks on the reedbed pool and we could hear our first Reed Warbler of the day singing its more rhythmic song down in the reeds below us. There were a couple more Reed Warblers further up, more recent arrivals back from the summer just in the last day or so.

Scanning the remaining exposed area of saltmarsh from a bit further along, a Curlew was roosting between a couple of Oystercatchers and then we found a Whimbrel also asleep nearby – a nice opportunity to compare the two species, even if only the Curlew woke and flashed us its longer bill.

Whimbrel – roosting on the saltmarsh

A male Ruff, already moulting its body feathers but yet to get its oversized spring ruff, was feeding round one of the pools on the grazing marsh behind us. A lone Brent Goose was in with the Greylags beyond. It was cool in the breeze up on the bank, so we pushed on towards the shelter of the dunes. A Skylark fluttered up into the blue sky singing and a pair of Reed Buntings were down in the suaeda below the bank.

When we got to the boardwalk, we turned east into the dunes. There were lots more Linnets here and several more Wheatears on the short grass which flicked off ahead of us flashing their white rumps. There were one or two Meadow Pipits here too. A smart male Stonechat perched up on the bushes the other side of the fence, with food in its bill – presumably it had young in the nest somewhere nearby.

Wheatear – in the dunes

As we came over the next ridge, we could see several Ring Ouzels on the grass below us. There was a dogwalker coming towards us though and the Ring Ouzels flew up into the dunes before we could get the scope on them. We walked down and refound them a little further in – again they were very flighty but three landed on the slope ahead of us where we could finally get them in the scope, two browner females and a single male with a bright white gorget.

Ring Ouzels – two of the four plus today

A fourth Ring Ouzel disappeared round behind the next dune. As we walked on, it flew across and landed on the top of a bush the other side of the fence. One of the other Ring Ouzels flew over our heads to join it – two females again. It was hard to tell exactly how many there were here, but there seemed to be fewer than recent days. Perhaps some had left overnight, continuing on their way north up to Scandinavia.

A Grasshopper Warbler reeled briefly from the bushes a bit further along, but we didn’t hear it again, as we continued on through the dunes to the end of the pines. A pair of Mediterranean Gulls flew over calling and disappeared off towards the beach. We had a look around the feet of the cows out on the grazing marshes beyond the fence, but most of them were out of view in the vegetation. We couldn’t see any sign of the Cattle Egrets from here, but we could see that there were more cows further along, north of the pines.

There was a nice selection of invertebrates and plants here in the dunes too. A couple of Small Copper butterflies were notable. Towards the edge of the pines, we found a few bees – several females of the scarce and localised Early Colletes (Colletes cunicularius) still, going into their holes in the sand, and a swarm of smaller male Sandpit Mining Bees (Andrena barbilabris) – plus a single Hairy Sand Wasp (Podolonia hirsuta). The Norfolk Everlasting Pea shoots are just coming up.

Sandpit Mining Bee (Andrena barbilabris) – female

We could just see a Spoonbill in the trees in the distance, but there was a lot of heat haze and it was little more than a white blob from here. Everyone seemed happy to walk further, and have a later lunch when we got back, so we pressed on towards Joe Jordan hide. As we headed towards the pines, a Common Whitethroat was singing in the bushes beyond the fence and we could see it in the very top of a large hawthorn.

Along the path by the pines, a couple of Willow Warblers were flitting around in the sunshine in a sycamore which was just coming into leaf, one singing its lovely sweet descending scale of a song. The sound of spring! There were a few tits and more Blackcaps here, as well as a Speckled Wood butterfly.

From up in Joe Jordan hide, we got the scope on a Spoonbill which had flown down to bathe in one of the pools and was now busy preening, shaking its shaggy nuchal crest and showing off the yellow tip to its black bill. A second Spoonbill was feeding in a small pool beyond, sweeping its bill from side to side as it walked through the shallow water. One or two more circled in and out of the trees. Much better views from here, than the one we had seen earlier!

Spoonbill – better view from the hide

A couple of Cattle Egrets were stalking around the feet of the cows on the far side of the grazing marsh to the west. Through the scope, we could see their yellow bills and some orange colouring on their heads and backs. Hopefully they will stay to join the other egrets and herons in the colony. Three Grey Herons were hanging around with the cows too. A pair of Egyptian Geese were down on the marshes in front.

Cattle Egret – one of two with the cows

After a short rest in the hide, it was time for the long walk back. A different Willow Warbler by the path was doing a bit of ‘mixed singing’, adding in a little bit of Chiffchaff to the regular Willow Warbler song, presumably just something it learned when it was young. Surprisingly, on our way back through the dunes, we didn’t see any further sign of any Ring Ouzels.

With the tide out, there were more Brent Geese now feeding out on the saltmarsh. A Bittern boomed just three times from somewhere deep in the reedbed and after hearing Bearded Tits calling we had a brief view of one in the tops before it flew off back over the reeds.

It had been a long walk this morning but a very good one. We made our way round to Titchwell now, for a rather later than planned lunch in the picnic area. A couple of Bank Voles were creeping around the bee hotel behind us as we ate. After a welcome sit down and refuel, we headed out to explore the reserve. It had clouded over now and was feeling much cooler in the fresh breeze, so we made our way quite quickly up to Island Hide.

There were lots of gulls on the new bund, a group of very smart adult Mediterranean Gulls in with the Black-headed Gulls. We could see the Mediterranean Gulls‘ blacker hoods, with contrasting white eye shadow, bigger redder bills and white wing tips. Two Sandwich Terns flew round calling and landed in with the gulls briefly – we could see their shaggy crests and yellow-tipped black bills through the scope.

Mediterranean Gulls – on the new bund

There were nice close views of Avocets feeding in front of the hide and several pairs squabbling and displaying on the nearest island. A Ruff was picking round the edge of the island just behind and two Little Ringed Plovers flew over but dropped down out of view at the back. There were several Little Ringed Plovers on the islands in front of Parrinder hide and we had a nice view from them there, in the scope. We could see their golden yellow eye rings.

Little Ringed Plover – one of several

A Temminck’s Stint had dropped in here yesterday and thankfully was still hanging around today and we got it in the scope as it picked its way around the edges of the islands. Compared to the Little Ringed Plovers, and a pair of Greylag Geese and goslings which walked past at one point, we could see just how tiny it really was – one of our smallest waders. Temminck’s Stint is a scarce passage migrant here, passing through mainly in spring on its way up to Scandinavia for the breeding season, so always a nice one to see.

Temminck’s Stint – from Parrinder Hide

There were a few Ruff here too – several males in various states of moult and a single smaller female ‘Reeve‘. They really are one of the most confusing of waders! We had a good chance to compare them with several Redshank here too.

It looked a bit brighter, so we had a quick walk out to the beach. The tide was out and there was not very much on Volunteer Marsh today, and the Tidal Pool is not draining at the moment so was still full after the tide. Out on the beach, there were some waders down on the mussel beds – Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, several Turnstone and Oystercatchers. There were more waders distantly along the beach up towards Thornham Point – including a few Dunlin. A single Great Northern Diver was diving just offshore away to the east. It was rather cool out here in the northerly wind and we were out of time, so we turned to head back.

We were almost back to the Visitor Centre when we came across three people looking out through a scope over the Thornham grazing meadow. They were watching a Short-eared Owl which was perched on a post half way out. It had been seen earlier this morning but had gone to roost down in the grass, from where it had just been flushed by a Marsh Harrier apparently and landed on the post. We stopped to look at it through the scope.

Short-eared Owl – to finish the day

A great way to finish, we then made our way back to the minibus and dropped everyone back where we started.

18th Sept 2021 – Warblers, Wheatear & Waders

A Group Day Tour in North Norfolk today. After the morning mist burnt back, it was bright and warm with some sunny intervals this morning. It clouded over a bit more in the afternoon, and there looked to be some showers to the west of us later on, but it stayed largely dry where we were.

We started this morning with a walk along the coast path at Stiffkey. The weather was not ideal for drift migrants arriving from the continent, but with a light SE wind overnight and mist this morning it was not impossible something might have dropped in. Scanning from the car park revealed a Spoonbill preening out on the saltmarsh which we got the scopes on for a closer look, before it flew off west.

Spoonbill – preening out on the saltmarsh

We hadn’t got much further when the bushes by the path were suddenly full of birds – as well as a couple of Blue Tits, there were several Dunnocks, Robin, Goldfinches, Chaffinch and Greenfinch. There didn’t seem to be anything more unusual with them, so we continued on. A Sparrowhawk flew past and disappeared back into Campsite Wood.

There were lots of waders out on the saltmarsh – lots of Curlews and several Redshanks – plus a good number of Little Egrets. A Great Black-backed Gull flew in and flushed a small group of Golden Plover from the vegetation out towards the beach. A single Common Snipe flew in high over the saltmarsh calling, and we lost it in the sun as it headed inland behind us. Another Spoonbill flew over heading east.

We came across a single Blackcap before the whirligig, but the bushes there were rather quiet today. There were one or two butterflies out, enjoying the morning sunshine, a couple of very fresh Commas and a Red Admiral.

Comma – enjoying the morning sunshine

From the far end of the circular path, we stopped again to scan the saltmarsh. More Golden Plover were very well camouflaged, hiding in the vegetation, unless they moved. A single Grey Plover flew round in the distance, flashing its black armpits. A distant Grey Heron and a Common Buzzard were the first of each for the day.

There had been three or four House Martins over the saltmarsh when we arrived, but now a big flock of 30 or more hirundines came through, heading west. Mostly Swallows, there were a few House Martins in with them. Presumably migrants heading off on their way to Africa for the winter. A Siskin flew over very high, calling, probably another migrant.

Looking behind us, we had a quick glimpse of a Lesser Whitethroat in the bushes just beyond the whirligig so we went round for a look. On our way, we flushed a Common Whitethroat from the edge of the tarmac path which landed briefly in a briar, and then when we got out the other side, we found the Lesser Whitethroat again. We had a good view of it for a minute or so out in the open in the elders and hawthorns.. There were a few Blackcaps in here too.

There didn’t seem to be a lot of freshly arrived migrants here, so we decided to head back and try somewhere else. We drove back towards Wells and stopped at the pools just east of town. As we drove down the track, we could see a couple of partridges in the stubble, so we looked round behind the hedge and could see orange faces and grey necks looking out – a small covey of Grey Partridges.

We stood with our scopes on the edge of our field to scan the pool to the east. A Meadow Pipit flew up from the stubble and landed on the fence. Then we noticed a female Yellowhammer a bit further back. Both kept dropping down into the edge of the stubble. A Wheatear popped up onto the fence too – just a few fence posts back from us, and posing nicely, a great view.

Wheatear – posed on one of the fence posts

There were four more Spoonbills out in the water towards the back, in amongst the Greylag Geese. There were lots of Wigeon out there too, the drakes all still in rusty eclipse plumage. Three Pintail flew in high from the direction of Wells. A couple of juvenile Shelducks were feeding on the mud down at the front. There were lots of Black-tailed Godwits over towards the back too, mostly asleep. A single Ruff was in with all the Lapwings in the grass.

There were more geese on the dry pool the other side of the track. In amongst the Greylags, we found a single Barnacle Goose, a very pretty goose, but presumably a feral bird from somewhere. There were lots of Egyptian Geese on here too, mostly loafing around in the grass.

We had a walk down the track to see if we could find anything else. A Kestrel landed briefly in the bushes and was then hovering out over the grazing marshes. A Marsh Harrier quartered the fields beyond and we picked up a distant Common Buzzard and a Red Kite away to the east. From the corner, we scanned the pools again. A Green Sandpiper on the mud briefly ran round the back of one of the islands out of view before everyone could get onto it, but we did get a better view of several Black-tailed Godwits feeding here, and saw our first Teal of the day.

It was nearly midday already, so we walked back to the minibus and drove further west along the coast to Titchwell, where we planned to spend the afternoon. After lunch in the sunshine in the picnic area, we headed out to explore the reserve.

As we came out of the trees, a Cetti’s Warbler was singing from a big sallow by the path on the edge of Thornham grazing marsh, but typically remained well hidden. A Chiffchaff was calling from the bushes in the reedbed opposite. Just beyond, we stopped to admire a Curlew feeding in the flowers on the saltmarsh close to the bank and a Chinese Water Deer was lurking in the rushes behind.

Curlew – feeding in the flowers on the saltmarsh

It was a nice still day, so when we heard Bearded Tits calling we scanned along the new edge of the water opposite where the diggers have built the new bank and quickly found a smart male in the reeds. We got it in the scopes, a great view as it came out into the open, picking around the floating vegetation disturbed by the digger. When the first disappeared back in, another male appeared a bit further back. A female appeared too and when they finally flew across the water and disappeared into the reeds the other side of the bank, we could see there were four Bearded Tits together.

A scan of the Reedbed Pool revealed a few more ducks – a couple of Shoveler, a single Tufted Duck and a large raft of Common Pochard. Two Little Grebes swam across in front. We could hear more Bearded Tits calling from the reeds a little further up, but they were in much thicker vegetation and remained well hidden. While we were looking, we heard something crashing through the reeds just below the path. We thought it might be an otter, so we waited by the pool just beyond, but nothing came out and it all went quiet.

Pectoral Sandpiper – the juvenile, still on the Freshmarsh

We were told the Pectoral Sandpiper was showing well from the path a little further up, beyond Island Hide, so we headed straight up there next. A small group of waders came up from the middle of the Freshmarsh and we turned to look at them as they flew towards us and on past – four Little Stints and two Dunlin! Unfortunately, they disappeared off west before the rest of the group caught up, having stopped to look at something by Island Hide.

The Pectoral Sandpiper was hard to see, picking around in the ruts in the mud left behind by the digger, but we got it in the scopes and eventually everyone got a good look at it. A scarce visitor here, this bird, a juvenile, will have been raised in either far NE Siberia or North America this summer and should be on its way to South America for the winter!

The weather was so nice, we decided to scan the Freshmarsh from up here, rather than head back into the hide. There were lots of other waders here, so we set about working our way through them. The Ruff were in various shapes, sizes and colours just to confuse the unwary! The Wood Sandpiper flew out from the edge of the reeds but unfortunately didn’t stay very long, before disappearing back in.

Ruff – a juvenile

Further back, we could see a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits roosting and scanning through we found a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits in with them, juveniles with very strongly patterned upperparts. A small flock of Knot flew in and landed with them too and we managed to find a single juvenile Dunlin on the mud nearby.

Several Golden Plover were roosting on the new islands, surprisingly hard to see against the bare mud, but beautifully golden-spangled in the sunshine through the scopes. There were a few Lapwing on there too. Further back, we got the scopes on a small group of Avocets. There were several Common Snipe on the mud over in front of the reeds and a Greenshank flew in calling over Thornham saltmarsh right past us, before dropping down on the middle of the Freshmarsh.

Greenshank – flew in over the saltmarsh calling

We dabbled briefly in the dark arts of gulls too, getting the scopes first on a couple of Common Gulls preening in with the roosting Black-headed Gulls, then comparing and contrasting an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with a nearby adult Herring Gull.

We decided to head on out towards the beach next. There were just a few Curlews and Redshanks in the muddy channel at the far end of Volunteer Marsh, but there were a lot more waders on the Tidal Pools. With the tide coming in out on the beach, they had come in here to roost. A large group of Redshanks were loafing at the back before the bank and just beyond there were lots of Oystercatchers in the vegetation and a tight mass of Knot all down the nearby spit. A Turnstone was feeding nearby, flicking over lumps and mud and vegetation (rather than stones!) to look for food.

A big flock of Linnets kept flying up out of the suaeda bushes on the bank, flying round bouncing up and down, before landing back in the tops of the bushes. A male Stonechat flew in and landed with them.

The tide had already covered the mussel beds out at the beach. We got the scopes first on three Sanderling running along the edge of the waves just to the west of us. Three Ringed Plovers were on the shore the other side, towards Brancaster, but were repeatedly flushed by a dog and flew back towards us. There were still a few Oystercatchers and Turnstones out on the beach too.

While we were looking at the waders, one of the group scanned the sea and quickly located two Red-throated Divers just offshore. One was still largely in breeding plumage, still sporting its red throat, though it was hard to see with a bit of mist still lingering offshore. There were a few Sandwich Terns flying back and forth offshore too and a distant Gannet.

We picked up a single Brent Goose flying west well offshore first, followed shortly after by seven more Brent Geese with a single Wigeon, and then a much larger flock of Wigeon. These are the first Brent Geese of the winter we have seen – birds arriving fresh back from Siberia as we watched – and the ducks were also just coming back for the winter too. Always nice to see migration in action!

There were some rather threatening clouds to the west of us and we felt a couple of drops of rain, so we decided to walk back so we were closer to cover if it did come over our way. As we got to the turning to Parrinder Hide, the Wood Sandpiper flew in and landed in the corner of the Freshmarsh right below us. We had a great view of it now, as it fed in the small pool on the edge of the reeds, with both adult and juvenile Ruff for comparison.

Wood Sandpiper – showed very well on our way back

Scanning the the mud further back, we couldn’t see the Pectoral Sandpiper where it had been earlier, but we did find two Yellow Wagtails feeding around the margins, which we got in the scopes. A little further on, we relocated the Pectoral Sandpiper now out on the mud on the edge of the reeds from Island Hide feeding with the Common Snipe. A second Greenshank flew in over the saltmarsh calling, with the first answering from where we had seen it land earlier. A flock of seven Avocets came up from the Freshmarsh and circled up higher before turning and flying off towards the sea – just going off to feed somewhere else or perhaps heading off south for the winter? Hard to tell, but there are definitely birds on the move at the moment, as we had seen today.

With things coming and going all the time, we could have stayed here all evening, but unfortunately it was time now to call it a day and head back.

12th Sept 2021 – Autumn Tour, Day 3

Day 3 of a three day Autumn Tour today, our last day. We spent the morning in North Norfolk and the afternoon down in the Brecks. There were some nice sunny spells again, particularly in the afternoon, when it was quite warm. It almost felt like the summer we never had!

There had been a Common Crane with the Greylags at Iron Road yesterday, so we swung round via there on our way to Cley this morning. We had a quick scan through the geese as we passed, but there was no sign. It was only when we had parked at Walsey Hills and got out of the minibus that we were able to check messages and saw that it had already flown to the fields east of Salthouse.

We had a walk down the footpath through the bushes. They were ringing this morning, so there was quite a bit of disturbance around the feeders. We did manage to add Great Tit to the trip list and saw a few Greenfinches and Chaffinches flying in and out. One of the group heard a Goldcrest singing and it was only when we walked on a little further and heard Iberian Chiffchaff song that we realised something was wrong! The ringers were using a recording of various songs on a loop to try to lure in unsuspecting birds to the nets. There were on or two real Chiffchaffs in there and we saw one flitting about in the bushes at the far end.

There was no sign of any migrants fresh in, so we walked back to the minibus and made the short drive down past Salthouse towards Kelling. There were some Canada Geese a couple of fields over in the stubble and we eventually found somewhere to get the minibus off the road. A quick scan from the verge confirmed the Common Crane was with them, so we walked up the edge of the stubble to find a safe spot we could view from.

Common Crane – with the Canada Geese today

The Crane looked rather incongruous surrounded by Canada Geese! Presumably this is the same lone bird which has been drifting up and down the coast all year. Always a good way to start the day, with a Crane. There were a few Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits distantly out on the grazing marshes and a female Marsh Harrier drifted down the back of the stubble field and turned over the edge of Meadow Lane before heading off towards the Quags.

Back to Walsey Hills, we could resume the morning’s planned agenda. The young Little Grebes were calling on Snipe’s Marsh, but tucked in behind the reeds out of view. Up on the East Bank, an adult Little Grebe then surfaced in front of us in the middle of the blanket weed on Don’s Pool.

Scanning Pope’s Pool, we could see some distant Ruff. Several Common Snipe came up from the the edge of the Serpentine and landed again in the grass. A group of Black-tailed Godwits was busy feeding in the water. One or two of the Rooks seemed to be delighting in chasing waders – chasing after first a Ruff and then a Curlew. There looked to be some more interesting waders further up, so we walked on to the north end of the Serpentine.

The highlight here was a very crisp, fresh juvenile Wood Sandpiper which looked very smart through the scopes. There were a couple of Dunlin as well, plus more Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits, a lone Avocet and two more Common Snipe on the edge of the emergent reeds on the far side. There had been a Curlew Sandpiper here last night and first thing this morning, but we couldn’t see it now. We checked with some people we had seen out on the bank earlier and were told it had been flushed by a Sparrowhawk and flown off, so we moved on.

Wood Sandpiper – on the Serpentine

There were a few Meadow Pipits in the short grass in the corner and when we stopped to scan we noticed movement on the edge of the reeds just behind. Two Reed Buntings and three different Reed Warblers appeared in the reeds as we watched.

One of the group spotted a Hobby high over the reeds behind us. It was gliding away from us at first, but then turned and started to fly higher still with rapid wingbeats. It caught something, possibly a dragonfly, and proceeded to eat it on the wing, bringing its feet up to its bill.

A small flock of Sandwich Terns on Arnold’s Marsh kept flying round and calling as we walked up. We scanned from the bank in the sunshine. A lone Greenshank was feeding in with the Redshank at the back. A juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit flew up and looked to be heading off west before it looped back round and landed again in with the Black-tailed Godwits. It was joined by a second Bar-tailed Godwit a little later. A single Knot was picking around on one of the shingle bars and two more Avocets were asleep nearby. Two Pintail were upending right in the far corner.

Out on the Brackish Pools, there were a couple of Turnstones along with a few more Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and Curlew. A Water Rail squealed from somewhere in the reeds down the main drain and we could hear a Cetti’s Warbler calling along there too. Two more Knot flew in from the west and dropped down towards Arnold’s.

As we walked up to the beach, a small bird flew from one of the big lumps of concrete on the shingle. A flash of white rump as it landed on the start of the low ridge to our right confirmed it was a Wheatear. We had a nice view of it as it fed on the vegetated slope of the bank.

Wheatear – feeding on the shingle ridge

Scanning the sea, we picked up a couple of juvenile Gannets just offshore, one of which continued past us, and then we noticed an adult flying past a bit further out. A Guillemot was on the sea and then we noticed a Red-throated Diver just off the beach, diving in the breakers a short distance to the east. It was coming out way and we had a great view of it, an adult just moulting out of breeding plumage, we could still see its red throat as it turned and caught the sun.

The Red-throated Diver eventually seemed to see the crowd gathered on the shingle and worked its way a bit further out, drifting with the tide and preening for a while. It came back in towards the beach back to the east but was then disturbed by a dog diving in and out of the waves and drifted off rapidly towards Salthouse.

Red-throated Diver – just starting to moult

It was all action on the beach for a while, but then it went quiet. We couldn’t see anything moving offshore now, so we decided to head back. There was still no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper back on the Serpentine. A large flock of at least 40 Meadow Pipits flew in high over the reedbed and dropped in on the grazing marsh. There has been a big movement of Meadow Pipits down along the Yorkshire coast the last couple of days, so these were probably migrants arriving here. We could see a couple of juvenile Little Grebes on Snipe’s Marsh now.

It was almost midday when we arrived at the Visitor Centre car park. We had thought about having a quick look out from the hides, but there was nothing we hadn’t seen already on the information board and we didn’t have a lot of time now, if we wanted to head inland this afternoon. We had a quick scan of Pat’s Pool from the terrace, but we couldn’t see anything to tempt us to change our plans, so we opted for an early lunch in the sunshine. A smart male Ruddy Darter was basking on one of the picnic tables.

Ruddy Darter – basking on the picnic table

After lunch we headed off on the long drive down to the Brecks. We were hoping to find some Stone Curlew, as now is the time to see them in their big post-breeding gatherings. We found somewhere to park off the road and got out to scan the field opposite. We could immediately see about ten, but they were rather distant and there was still lots of heat haze. It was forecast to cloud over this afternoon but was still stubbornly sunny, and the combination of sunshine and bare flinty Breckland soil always means lots of shimmer. Still, Stone Curlew was a new bird for several of the group so it was nice to see them, particularly when one stood up that was a bit closer to us.

Stone Curlew feed at night and are active at dawn and dusk, spending most of the day roosting. So they can be hard to see here, well camouflaged against the soil when sat down, or hiding in patches of vegetation. As we stood and watched, we realised there were more here than we had first seen, with others appearing as they stood up or moved. Eventually we figured there were around twenty here.

There were a few other birds here – a flock of 53 Golden Plover flew over calling a couple of times. We had a brief view of a chat on an old farm building further down – it looked pale below, like it could be a Whinchat, but it was very distant in the haze and dropped down before we could get a good look at it. We decided to walk down the road to see if we could get another look at it from further along.

As we walked down the road, we had a quick scan of the field the other side. Another Stone Curlew was standing up out in the middle and was quite obvious, so we got the scope on that – the views were slightly better than the others we had seen, if still rather distant. Scanning across we figured there were at least another eight Stone Curlews in here, mostly sat down in the clods of ploughed earth, and probably a lot more we couldn’t see further back.

We stopped in a gateway further down which was directly opposite the old farm buildings, but there was no sign of the chat here now. A few Pied Wagtails were feeding around the edges and a flock of Linnets dropped in. There were lots of Lesser Black-backed Gulls out on the stony ground in the middle too.

There were even more Stone Curlews out in the field here, but they were mostly hidden in the vegetation. At first, all we could see was the odd brown head in amongst the brown dried plants. We got the scope on one and had a good view of a bright yellow iris staring back at us. Again, as we stood and watched birds started to move. At one point, several stood up and started to preen – perhaps mid-afternoon they were starting to get a little restless after a long day in hiding. There were more here that we had realised and some were much closer – now we had some really good views through the scopes.

Stone Curlew – eventually, stunning views

Everyone agreed it had been well worth the drive down to see the Stone Curlews. We totted up and figured we had probably seen around 65 in total, an impressive number, and had some really good views. Always a great way to finish the tour at this time of year, it was now time to head back.

10th Sept 2021 – Autumn Tour, Day 1

Day 1 of a three day Autumn Tour today, and we headed across to the Broads. It was bright with sunny intervals and warm, although we drove into heavy showers on our way back in the afternoon.

Our first destination was Potter Heigham. As we walked down the track from the car park several House Martins were hawking around the trees opposite and we could hear Greenfinches calling.

Across the main road, we scanned the grazing marshes as we walked along. A Kestrel was hovering at the back and a Common Buzzard flew in and landed on post briefly. A Grey Heron flew across and landed in one of the ditches. A big flock of Egyptian Geese were sleeping in the cattle field between the track and the river. We could see a couple of Lapwings on the grazing marsh and our first Marsh Harrier flew across the track ahead of us.

There were lots of dragonflies out in the sunshine around the reedy ditches – Common Darters, Migrants Hawkers and a couple of Brown Hawkers – and a good number of Red Admiral butterflies.

Red Admiral – lots out today in the sunshine

When we got to the first pool, we found a couple of gaps in the reeds to look through. There were lots of geese on the mud beyond the water – mostly Greylags, plus a gaggle of Canada Geese and few more Egyptian Geese. A group of Wigeon were gathered on the near end of geese, with a few Shoveler and a single Tufted Duck out on the water.

A couple of Ruff were in among the geese and we found some more waders tucked down in the near corner on the mud – several Black-tailed Godwits and a single Common Snipe. A small group of Little Egrets were on the bank a bit further back.

We continued on down the track to the corner and took the path up onto the bank. Looking across to the pool opposite, we could see three Greenshanks running around after each other, calling, before they flew off. There were a couple more Common Snipe here and we picked up a single Green Sandpiper over on the far side. We could see a few Black-tailed Godwits on the island, but they were mostly out of view through the reeds from where we were standing.

At this point, we received a message via the news services that the Long-billed Dowitcher which has been here for several days was still present. A few people had gone on ahead of us, so we presumed they had found it and walked on to find them. They were looking out over the next pool, but knew nothing about it! We stopped to look here too, adding another seven Common Snipe to the tally.

We picked up the three Spoonbills which had also been reported as present, distantly out in the middle. We decided to have a look on the pools round on the other side, where we could get a better view of the Spoonbills and see if the dowitcher was over there. On the way round, a Ruddy Darter was in the grass by the path.

Scanning the pools from the river bank, there were lots more Greylags on here. There were more waders too – lots of Ruff and several Common Snipe in the muddy channel in the far corner. We kept adjusting our position to get a different angle over the reeds and see different parts of the pools. We picked up a single Dunlin on the far bank.

Spoonbills – 2 of the 3, asleep

We eventually found an angle from where we could get a better view of the three Spoonbills. They were mostly asleep, but woke up occasionally to flash their yellow-tipped black spoon-shaped bills.

A smart male Marsh Harrier flew in over the pools past us and across the river behind.

Marsh Harrier – flew past us

We received a message from two of the people we had spoken to earlier that they could see a Garganey on the pool with a couple of Teal. We couldn’t find it initially from where we were standing, but eventually located it from a little further up. There were two Garganey now, with the two Teal. We could see the distinctive pale spot at the base of their bills through the scope. A closer Greenshank on the next pool flew off just as we got the scopes on it.

We had intended to walk back round the way we had come, to have another go at finding the dowitcher, but the group was tired after the walk round here now and wanting to head back for lunch. It was a shorter walk back along the river bank, but quieter bird-wise. We had just got back to the car park when we received a message from the others to say they had just relocated the dowitcher asleep on their way back. Too late!

We drove round to Winterton and found a spot to eat lunch in the back of the car park, overlooking the sea. There were several gulls out on the water. An adult Mediterranean Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull flew past. Three Sandwich Terns were fishing just off the sandbar, until they were chased past us by a juvenile Herring Gull. There were several Cormorants and Grey Seals offshore too, but when we spotted a small shape bobbing on the water just off the concrete blocks it turned out to be a Guillemot, which swam slowly past us just off the beach. We picked up a distant Gannet flying past too.

Guillemot – swam past

After lunch, we headed off for a walk into the dunes. There weren’t many birds at first. We could see one or two Marsh Harriers over the bushes inland and a couple of Kestrels. But we did see a good selection of butterflies – lots of Red Admirals, but it was particularly nice to see several Graylings here, and a late tatty Common Blue was an addition to the list.

Grayling – we saw several in the dunes

We were already armed with some up to date information from one of the regulars, and we bumped into someone else who confirmed we were heading in the right direction. A little further up, along the fence line, we found a small group of Stonechats. Scanning across, we spotted a Whinchat with them, paler peachy orange on the breast with a bright pale supercilium. The chats were constantly on the move, and so hard to count, but eventually we managed to see all three Whinchats together that we had been told were present. A lot of migrants move through quickly in this clear, sunny weather, so it was nice to catch up with some while we could.

Whinchat – there were 3 in the dunes

There were a few warblers in the bushes here too, and we had some nice views of a Common Whitethroat which seemed to be following the chats around.

Beyond the chats, we spotted a Wheatear in the dunes so we walked across for a closer look. It was joined by a second and they flicked off ahead of us, flashing their white rumps.

Wheatear – there were two in the dunes

It was nice standing in the dunes watching the Whinchats and Wheatears. We figured that was as much walking as we would be able to manage today, so we decided to head back slowly to the car park. When we got back, we had another look at the sea. The tide had gone out and there was much more sand now. More Sandwich Terns had gathered on the beach with the gulls, several Mediterranean Gulls and Common Gulls as well as the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

It was a long drive back, so we decided it was time to call it a day and head off now. We would have an early start tomorrow too.

21st May 2021 – Three Spring Days, Day 3

Day 3 of a rescheduled 3 day Spring Tour, to take advantage of the relaxation of Covid restrictions this week, our last day. A wet & windy day today. We managed to get some birding in during the morning, but as the weather deteriorated into the afternoon, the vote was for an early finish.

We headed down to Cley for the morning and parked in the bottom car park, below the Visitor Centre. It was dry, but very grey with a rather blustery wind, but not as bad as forecast. We decided to make a bid for the East Bank while we could. There were a few birds in the trees as we set off, including our first Long-tailed Tit of the tour.

As we walked along The Skirts, a bird flew up from the short grass right next to the path, on the left. With its olive-brown back and long rounded tail, which drooped behind it as it flew, it was obviously a Grasshopper Warbler. It dropped back down into the short grass about five metres further on. We took a couple of steps forward, intending to try to find it again, and another Grasshopper Warbler flew up from the right of the path. This one flew round behind us and landed in some low brambles just a few metres away. With its rather bright lemon-yellow throat it was immediately recognisable as the male we watched reeling regularly here at the end of April and beginning of May. Hopefully it has found a mate, which would explain why it has gone quiet now.

Grasshopper Warbler – one of two flushed by the path

After watching the Grasshopper Warbler for a while, it dropped down out of view. We set off again along the path as a pair of Common Pochard flew past the other way, over the reeds. There were lots of Common Swifts and hirundines hawking over the pools in the middles. A couple of Swallows and a House Martin were zooming back and forth low over the coast road, trying to find insects in the shelter of the bushes the other side.

Despite the weather, there were still warblers singing in the bushes – Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, and a Common Whitethroat calling its buzzy call. A Reed Warbler was singing in the reeds behind us, but the Sedge Warblers were sensibly quiet, keeping down out of the wind. A Common Buzzard was hanging in the breeze over North Foreland, until it was mobbed by one of the local Rooks.

Up on the East Bank, there were more hirundines flying round low over the grazing marshes, particularly lots of Sand Martins now. A few Swifts and House Martins flew through, up over the bank and on west, birds on the move despite the weather. Fewer than yesterday, but the movement of Swifts was a real theme of the last two days.

Common Swift – lots on the move the last two days

The grazing marshes here are perfect for breeding waders. The Lapwing chicks which were small bundles of fluff a couple of weeks ago are now getting much bigger. The Redshanks are still displaying – we saw one pair, the male fluttering his wings vigorously and calling, while the female looked disinterested and walked away. There were a few Avocets in the Serpentine and on Pope’s Pool further back.

Lapwing – the juveniles are getting bigger

We could hear a buzzy sound just carrying to us from out on the grazing marshes and careful scanning revealed the source – a Yellow Wagtail. This bird has been lingering here for a couple of weeks now, singing. The song is not much to write home about – just a couple of buzzy notes. We got the Yellow Wagtail in the scopes, a bright canary yellow male, and watched as it worked its way through the thick grass feeding, then climbed up onto a tussock to sing. Yellow Wagtails used to breed more commonly along the coast here, so it would be nice to think that they might return.

Yellow Wagtail – singing from the grazing marshes

We stopped again to scan the margins of the Serpentine and Pope’s Pool. There were lots of Greylags and a few Canada Geese, several Gadwall, Mallard and Shelduck but we couldn’t pick out anything different. The Great Black-backed Gulls were starting to gather to loaf on the islands at the back.

A Yellow Wagtail called, and we turned to see the male fly round over the bank, before landing briefly on the grass behind the reeds below us. It didn’t stay though, flying straight back out to the middle where it had been singing. As it flew back, a second Yellow Wagtail flew up too, but didn’t follow the male, landing on the edge of the Serpentine. We could see it was a female – just a shame she wasn’t showing any interest in the singing male!

Carrying on to Arnold’s Marsh, we got into the shelter, out of the wind, just as it started to rain. A couple of people already in the shelter asked what the wader at the back was. So we set up our scopes to find it was a lone grey Knot (with a limp). There were also two Dunlin, a Ringed Plover and a Turnstone with it. A couple of Curlew were roosting in the far corner and another was sheltering behind a low suaeda bush the other side. There were a few more Redshanks on here too.

Two other Ringed Plovers emerged from the low saltmarsh vegetation at the back – the slightly larger paler one, chasing after the slightly smaller darker bird. Two different subspecies of Ringed Plover, the smaller, darker birds are northern, tundra breeders (race tundrae), compared to the larger paler local breeders (race hiaticula). The Tundra Ringed Plovers are later migrants, passing through at this time of year. Another nine Tundra Ringed Plovers then dropped in just to illustrate the point, along with three more Dunlin.

One of the group spotted a distant Hobby, over the reedbed at the back, flying towards Salthouse, heading inland presumably out of the deteriorating weather. A Little Tern hovering over Sea Pool was similarly distant, but a Sandwich Tern dropped in at the back of Arnold’s, with more flying through past the shelter. A single Wheatear on the sand right at the back was flitting in and out of the low vegetation, trying to feed. There is still a trickle of late Wheatears coming through, dark northern breeders, but this was the first we had seen this tour.

There were several Avocets coming and going from the pool down at the front, with a couple sat down on the bank beyond, presumably incubating. When a female stopped and stood with neck bent down and bill held horizontal just above the surface, the male walked round her preening and flicking his bill in the water. We knew what was coming and sure enough we then watched the pair mating.

Avocets – the pair mating

As the rain eased, we continued on to the beach. We counted nine Little Terns offshore, slowly working their way east, and several Sandwich Terns passed the other way, one with a large sand eel in its bill. We steeled ourselves and turned into the wind for the walk back. We had intended to call in at Bishop Hide on the way back, as this is open again now, but we found several people camped in there already, out of the weather. We scanned from the door and couldn’t see anything of note on Pat’s Pool anyway, so we walked back. A pair of Mute Swans with cygnets were on the channel up from the bridge.

We figured it might be a bit more sheltered at Kelling, so we headed over there next. As we walked into the lane, we could hear a Greenfinch wheezing. Several Goldfinches were feeding on the school playing field and a Chaffinch was singing from somewhere in the school grounds as we passed. The hedges either side were rather quiet, despite being out of the wind. We did hear a Common Whitethroat calling, a Blackcap singing and a Chiffchaff flew across. A Red-legged Partridge ran ahead of us all the way down the lane to the copse.

We stopped to scan from the gate. There were lots of Brown Hares in the field beyond the Water Meadow, in the shelter of the hedge, and loads of Woodpigeons and Rooks. All we could find was a single Robin on the sheltered edge of the copse.

We continued down to the cross track to look at the pool, but there was just a single Egyptian Goose and a few Mallard on there today. It was rather exposed out here in the increasingly blustery wind. We scanned the bushes around the Quags, but everything seemed to have gone somewhere more sheltered. As we turned to walk back, there were a couple of Linnets in the edge of the field and a slightly bedraggled Common Whitethroat feeding in the low alexanders by the path which flew up into the brambles as we passed.

Common Whitethroat – flew up into the brambles

Kelling Heath seemed like a place which might offer a bit of shelter, and there have been Garden Warblers singing here in the last week, but it was windier than we thought in the car park. At least it wasn’t raining, so we had a quick walk round the bushes. A Blackcap was singing from deep in the blackthorn by the car park and a Bullfinch called as we walked round the back.

Then we heard a Garden Warbler across the road, so we crossed over to see if we could find it. It was singing in some dense blackthorn, moving around, and we couldn’t see it before it went quiet. We did find a family of Long-tailed Tits in the bushes, and a Willow Warbler and Goldcrest flitting around in the birches.

It was time for lunch, so we headed back down to Cley to try to find some shelter. We parked the minibus in front of the beach shelter and ate our lunch in there. It was a bit damp on the bench, but standing in one side it was drier and had the added advantage of being able to see the sea. A steady stream of Sandwich Terns flew past, along with one or two Little Terns and a single Common Tern.

After lunch, we drove round to Iron Road for a short walk to see if any waders had dropped in there. There was nothing new on the large pool, but a Marsh Harrier was hanging in the air over the reeds at the back. On the other side of the main drain, over the bridge, we did find a small group of Tundra Ringed Plovers and several Dunlin on the muddy brackish pools. A Yellow Wagtail flew round calling but landed in the long grass with the cows further back, out of view.

The plan had been to finish up at Wells, so we decided to head over there now, with a view to finishing slightly early. The forecast was for heavy rain all this afternoon, and it finally arrived on our way there. The wind had picked up too – it had been forecast to be gusting 50mph+ all day, so we had actually been lucky to have had nothing like that up til now.

We got out of the minibus and started to scan the pools from the parking area. We could see a Little Ringed Plover on the pool west of the track. We thought about a walk down to the far end of the pools to see if there was anything hiding in the rushes, but there was no appetite for even a short walk now. It was already 3pm, and we had made the most of it, so with everyone having a long drive home we decided to call it a day.

It was a good call, as it only got wetter on the way back. But despite the deteriorating weather at the end, we could look back on a very productive three days of spring birding and we had seen some very good birds too.

8th Oct 2020 – Four Autumn Days, Day 1

Day 1 of a four day Autumn Tour in Norfolk. It was mostly a rather grey, damp and breezy day, but the showers were well spaced and no more than very light drizzle and we managed to avoid the worst of them. And it didn’t stop us kicking the four days off in style with some good birds.

It was raining first thing, but it was expected to clear from the west. We decided to head over to Snettisham. It was not a big tide today, but perhaps it would be enough to push some waders in. As we made our way west, we saw several skeins of Pink-footed Geese flying inland from the grazing marshes where they had spent the night to feed. Flocks of Rooks and Jackdaws came up from the fields as we passed.

As we made our way out at Snettisham, we stopped for a quick scan of the sailing club pit. Two Little Grebes and two Great Crested Grebes were out on the water.

When we got up onto the seawall, the tide was still coming in. We could see a large roost of Oystercatchers gathered on the mud up by the sailing club. Several small groups of Golden Plover flew past us, out to the mud in the middle.

Knot – a Peregrine was stirring up the huge flocks

While we stood and scanned the Wash, the huge flocks of thousands of Knot came up from the mud further out and started swirling round over the water, twisting and turning, making different shapes. There had to be something spooking them and there was a young Peregrine chasing after them.

We watched as the Peregrine flew round through the flocks and it quickly managed to get one Knot separate from the rest. It chased after it, up and down, back and forth, for some time. The Peregrine looked like a juvenile, inexperienced, and did not seem to know how to catch its quarry at first. Eventually the Knot started to tire, flew down closer to the water and stopped changing direction so quickly. The Peregrine took its chance and grabbed it, then started to fly in towards the shore with the Knot in its talons.

The Peregrine had just got to the shore when we noticed a second one appeared, flying very low over the mud. It headed straight for the first and when it got close it swooped up. A Peregrine dogfight ensued, the new bird chased after the first for a minute, diving at it repeatedly.

Finally the first Peregrine dropped the dead Knot, which seemed to fall into the grass at the top of the beach, but strangely neither of them went down after it. Both seemed to lose interest and drifted off. One flew towards us along the shore, flushing all the Oystercatchers.

Oystercatchers – flushed by one of the Peregrines

We turned our attention back to the mud in front of us. The Golden Plover had flown off, presumably spooked by all the excitement, but the others slowly started to drift back in. Some of the Dunlin returned to the edge of the channel. We looked through but couldn’t find anything with them today, apart from one or two Sanderling. There were several Grey Plover scattered on the mud, and we got a Bar-tailed Godwit in the scopes.

The bulk of the Knot, the large flocks, settled back down again off in the distance, but a couple flew in and landed on the mud at the bottom of the bank just below us, giving us a closer view. A small group of Ringed Plovers were roosting among the rocks at the bottom of the bank.

There were quite a few Shelduck on the water, presumably lingering birds which had gathered here to moult. Groups of Teal and a few Mallard were scattered around on the mud. A small group of ducks in the shallows on the edge included several Pintail, much larger than the Teal they were with, the drakes still in their drab eclipse plumage.

Despite the weather, there were a few birds on the move today. Several small flocks of Starlings flew over the pits, heading south. A few Meadow Pipits flew past over the beach, one stopping briefly to feed around the rocks. A Rock Pipit flew past calling too.

It was high tide now and there didn’t seem to be much more movement of waders. The rain seemed to have cleared through, so we decided to move on. We headed round to Titchwell next today – given the weather, we had no problem parking today!

Through the new ‘Welcome Hub’, we headed straight out onto the main path. A quick scan through the trees out over the Thornham grazing marshes produced a couple of distant Common Buzzards on the bushes at the back.

Almost up to the junction with Meadow Trail, we heard a Yellow-browed Warbler call ahead of us. We hurried up after it, just as a tit flock came out of the sallows and across the path. We followed it up through the trees by the path, looking to see what was with. We found several Goldcrests and one or two Chiffchaff, but there was no further sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler, before the flock came back over the track and disappeared out into the bushes in the middle of the reedbed.

As we came out of the trees, a wisp of about a dozen Common Snipe flew overhead and out over the saltmarsh. We could see lines of Black-tailed Godwits flying up from the Freshmarsh and over the reedbed, heading inland to feed in the fields.

There was nothing on the Reedbed Pool today, but the channel just beyond did provide a Coot, a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Mute Swans. It started to drizzle now, so we hurried on to Island Hide and donned our face masks to find some welcome shelter.

There was still a sizeable flock of godwits out in the middle of the Freshmarsh, and through the scopes we could see they were a mixture of Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits. Even though they were asleep, we could see the Bar-tailed Godwits were smaller, shorter, with paler upperparts contrastingly streaked with dark.

Four Avocets were sheltering behind the small brick island, the hardiest individuals who will try to stay here for the winter rather than heading off south like most of the others have already done. A large group of Ruff were in the shallow water over towards the reeds. Several Golden Plover were on the grassy island in front of Parrinder Hide, along with a single Dunlin.

Avocets – just four on the Freshmarsh today

There were lots of Teal, the drakes still mostly in drab eclipse plumage though one or two are starting to smarten up again new. One of the drake Shoveler was also more advanced in its moult back to breeding plumage, but the drake Gadwall and Mallard are already mostly moulted back out again. We couldn’t see any Wigeon on here today.

It had stopped raining now, so we headed back out to the main path and continued on towards the beach. The tide was in and the Volunteer Marsh was still covered with water. There were several Curlew and Redshank on the wet mud in the middle and we found a few Wigeon swimming on the channel at the far side.

Over the bank, we stopped to scan the Tidal Pool. It was rather grey and gloomy, but we managed to find two Spotted Redshanks today, asleep at the back, noticeably paler white below than the Common Redshanks. There were several Black-tailed Godwits and one or two Dunlin too. With more Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwits and Turnstones roosting on the spit.

Spotted Redshanks – two were asleep on the back of the Tidal Pool

Out on the beach, the Wheatear was still feeding along the tideline. It worked its way off away to the east as we arrived, but a couple of minutes later then reappeared right in front of us. A great view – still very tame and obliging, it fed completely unconcerned at all the people here. A couple of Skylarks flew in and landed on the tideline further down too.

Wheatear – the very tame bird, still feeding on the high tide line

The tide was just starting to go out here, and there were not many waders on the shore. Looking out to sea, we could see a few Great Crested Grebe on the water. Several Gannets were flying past, white adults and dark juveniles, mostly distant but a couple came through a little closer. We ould see small groups of Common Scoter flying around right out on the horizon, in front of the wind turbines.

As we passed the Thornham grazing marsh reedbed, we heard Bearded Tits pinging. We looked across to see two fly up, skimming over the tops of the reeds before dropping straight back in. That would probably be the best we could hope for today, in the wind.

Back to the Visitor Centre, we turned out along Fen Trail. Along the boardwalk out towards Fen Hide, we stopped to watch a Goldcrest in the sallows. It was busy feeding right by the path, within a few feet of us and totally unconcerned by our presence, too close to focus optics on!

We had a quick look at the pool at Patsy’s Reedbed. There were just a few commoner ducks on here today, plus a few Coot and a Little Grebe, nothing else of any note. As we turned to walk back, several thousand Pink-footed Geese came up from the fields inland, before dropping back down again.

We made our way back round via Meadow Trail, but there was no sign of the tit flock or any warblers now. So we carried on back to the Visitor Centre for a hot drink and a break for lunch. A Brambling called from somewhere back in the trees while we ate.

After lunch, we headed back east. We drove into the drizzle again, and it was very misty looking out over the marshes as we passed Holkham. We turned inland at Wells and then down a minor road through the fields towards Wighton. Despite the weather, there were still a few cars already parked here.

We joined the small group of people on the edge of the field watching the Hoopoe down on the track just beyond the hedge. It was very close today, and we had great views as it fed, periodically pulling a tasty morsel out of the wet ground and throwing its head back to swallow it.

Hoopoe – still lingering in fields at Wighton

Widely distributed across the warmer parts of the continent in the summer, Hoopoes are migrants which mostly spend the winter in Africa, so this bird looked particularly out of place in a cold and damp October day in North Norfolk! They turn up fairly regularly in the UK, mostly as overshooting migrants in spring. There has been some debate about how long this Hoopoe has been here – there were a few records along the coast in spring and one was reported from Wighton back at the start of August.

We carried on east inland, along some narrow country lanes – the only sighting of note being a speeding white van coming the other way, which smashed into the wing mirror of the bus as it raced past. Very annoying! It didn’t stop, so we continued on our way.

We cut back down to the coast road at Salthouse and parked by the duckpond. It had stopped raining now, so we got out and looked across to a small pool in the middle of the grazing marshes. There had been a Red-necked Phalarope here for several days but there was no sign of it now at first. It can be hard to see if it gets tucked in around the edges, so we stood and watched. A Stock Dove flew over.

Four Shoveler swam back out into the middle and started to feed, heads down. The Red-necked Phalarope has often been feeding in amongst them, but it didn’t reappear straight away. We decided to walk out along the footpath across the marshes to try a different angle, but we hadn’t got far along the side of the main road when we looked back and saw a small white bird swimming along in front of the reeds, tucked in the corner.

We stopped and set up the scopes and there was the Red-necked Phalarope. It swam round in circles in front of the reeds, picking at the surface of the water for small invertebrates it stirred up. It gradually worked its way along the back edge of the pool and then swam out to join the Shoveler in the middles. The ducks are obviously doing a good job of stirring up the water themselves, and the Red-necked Phalarope is taking advantage to help it find food.

Red-necked Phalarope – feeding with the ducks at Salthouse

A juvenile, the Red-necked Phalarope has possibly come from Scandinavia. They normally spend the winter out at sea, the birds from there flying all the way down to the Arabian Sea, so it has a long journey ahead of it.

There was nothing of note with the gulls on the duckpond, nor with those loafing on the fields off Beach Road. A large group of Canada Geese were on the grass towards Gramborough Hill. So we headed back west and stopped again just before Wells.

As we got out of the minibus, a couple of Brown Hares were in the far corner of the field in front of the parking area. A Marsh Harrier flew over the field west of the track. We turned our attention to the pool the other side, where a large white bird by the bank at the back was a Great White Egret. Through the scopes, we could see its long, dagger-like yellow bill.

Great White Egret – at the back of one of the pools at Wells

There were lots of gulls flying back and forth over the recently harvested potato field beyond. Most were Black-headed Gulls but two noticeably smaller gulls were in with them. We could see their more rounded pale upperwings and contrasting blackish underwings, two Little Gulls.

There were lots of ducks but not many waders on the pool today and we couldn’t see the Little Stint at first. After a while scanning it appeared from behind the Wigeon, Teal, Lapwings and Black-headed Gulls on one of the grassy islands. It was so small it was easily hidden. It was rather distant, but we had a good view of it through the scope, short-billed with rather clean white underparts, we could see its ‘braces’, the distinctive pale mantle stripes shown by juvenile Little Stints.

It started to drizzle again now, so as time was already getting on we decided to call it a day. We had enjoyed a good start today, and there would be more to see tomorrow.