Norfolk – January 2025
After a (thankfully!) uneventful journey from Cornwall we arrived at our superb accommodation in Norfolk at 1430hrs and once all introductions were complete and our bags safely in the digs, we headed out for a few hours before evening meal to nearby Lyndford Arboretum. The light wasn’t great but we started picking up our first birds for the trip including Marsh Tits, Nuthatches and Siskins. The hoped for Hawfinches didn’t show but we were rewarded with a smart Brambling on the feeders. After a long day we were all ready for a hot shower and excellent evening meal.
Day 2 – Holkham, a Sneaky Twitch and a Harrier!
We always like to get the trip list off to a good start and with lots of good birds reported in the past week we decided to begin our week at the Holkham reserve. On arrival at Lady Annes Drive we parked up and immediately started picking up birds. Both sides of the drive held lots of different species and we were soon adding Red Kites, Marsh Harriers, Black-tailed Godwits, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Brent, Pink-footed, Greylag, Canada and Egyptian Geese and a few Snipe. There were birds everywhere you looked! We counted 10 Red Kites in the air at one time with at least 4 Marsh Harriers! The marshes also held dozens of Muntjac and a few Brown Hares and Water Bucks.
From the drive we called briefly at the visitor centre before heading to the beach for our main target species. Along the footpath we picked up a couple of nice Treecreepers, Coal Tit and Goldcrests and a flock of Skylarks were in the field opposite. As we came out of the woods to view the east end of the roped off area (specifically in place to stop disturbance form dogs) another birder pointed to an area just in front of us. She was indicating the presence of 8 SHORELARKS that were showing really well on the saltmarsh! For the first time in memory there were no Snow Buntings in the area but we were treated to some very obliging Sanderling. On the sea we picked up a raft of Common Scoter, Black-throated Divers, Red-breasted Mergansers and lots of Great Crested Grebes. Back at the van the spectacle continued with hundreds of Geese over head, more Red Kites and a smart Peregrine perched on a tree that seemed to attract every bird of prey for miles around! After a fantastic packed lunch (provided by our hosts) we decided to ‘twitch’ the overwintering GLOSSY IBIS at nearby Stiffkey. Fifteen minutes later we were out the van and watching this beautiful bird feeding in a flooded field. A nice addition to our list and a ‘Lifer’ for some of the group!
As we were now close to Warham Greens we decided to spend the rest of the daylight we had at the harrier roost there. There was plenty to see but the area is quite vast and getting everyone on to the birds was a challenge. Brad picked up a distant Barn Owl, the a male Hen Harrier (that eluded most of us!) the Paul got on to a speeding Merlin that landed a good distance away. Fortunately it eventually came closer giving great prolonged scope views. Tess then casually mentioned she had a harrier in her view that was sporting a white rump. It turns out we were all initially looking way too far in the distance as the female PALLID HARRIER sauntered past at quite close quarters! Thankfully everyone got great views as she flew low over the marsh and inland. A fitting end to a fantastic first day in Norfolk. Species list stands at 86 sp.
Day 3 – Hawfinch for Breakfast!
Our 2nd full day and we started straight after Breakfast with another hour at Lyndford Arboretum. This time we were in luck and a stonking male Hawfinch showed really well (although not close enough for decent photos!) on the ground by the feeding area south of the cafe. Sundays Brambling was back again and we had further great views of Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Redwing and a Great Spotted Woodpecker! Once everyone was satisfied with the Hawfinch experience we headed for WWT Welney.
The track into Welney reserve is an interesting rollercoaster with water filled ditches either side and with lots of birds in the adjacent fields, concentrating is a must! However, we still picked up our first big flocks of feeding Whooper Swans, Curlew and Lapwings and plenty of assorted Deers and Brown Hare. Once parked up the first birds in evidence were Tree Sparrows. They were everywhere and certainly seemed to have increased in number since our last visit. They shared the plentiful feeders with House Sparrow and a good number of Reed Buntings and showed really well for those in our group with cameras! After a visit to the main centre we headed out around Lady Fen, immediately picking up three Cattle Egrets and one of five Short-eared Owls hunting over the marsh. Paul then picked up a distant Common Crane, one of our target species for the day, which thankfully came into the reserve and landed out of sight. Luckily it hung around long enough for us to get good scope views on the ground! Another appeared to land a short time later but that one couldn’t be found. Great White and Little Egrets were also in the shallow pools on the marsh along with a Grey Heron and a couple of Egyptian Geese flew over.
After lunch we crossed the bridge from the visitor centre to spend the afternoon in the main hides. The large heated hide was very welcome after a cold walk in the morning and it was a miracle no-one had a snooze! There was plenty to see though including some stunning drake Pintail and Goldeneye, flocks of Black-tailed Godwits and of course more Whooper Swans. Try as we might we couldn’t pick out an Bewick’s and none came in for the evening feed! A final scan over Lady Fen before we left produced six more Common Cranes and a nice Barn Owl. End of day two and our trip list was at 103 species!
Day 4 – A Tale of Two Halves at Titchwell!
With prior notice of a possible road closure near to our destination we headed off to RSPB Titchwell in what we thought was a different direction. As it turned out our guides continued to recognise landmarks along the way and realised we had been this way on a previous tour. We therefore stopped in a spot where we had previously seen both Red-legged and Grey Partridges and incredibly both species were in exactly the same field! Two more ticks for the trip list!
After a quick loo stop we headed out onto the reserve, enjoying great views of Treecreeper in the wood before we had even gone through the visitor centre! The staff at Titchwell were, as usual, welcoming and friendly and soon had us through the entrance with information about confiding Water Rails and roosting Tawny Owls! Both were soon added to our tally. The birds came thick and fast after that with our first Avocets, Spotted Redshank, Turnstone and Grey Plover. We had initially decided to look at the pools first, go back to the van for lunch, then have a look at the sea in the afternoon. However, as we were so close to the beach, with a good hour before lunch time, we changed that around and went onto the beach to check out the sea first. This turned out to be a lucky decision. The sea was flat calm and made finding ducks, grebes and divers fairly easy, although a scope was generally needed. The large flock of Common Scoter held at least four Velvet Scoter and a first-winter Long-tailed Duck and everyone manged to see them with a bit of help from our guides. Just before we left for lunch a stunning drake Long-tailed Duck came into view. A fitting end to the morning. As we walked back for lunch though, the fog came in. Thick, thick fog! And that was pretty much the end of that for the day, so we headed back for an early shower. Despite the weather, we manged another thirteen species to the list, which was now on 116 sp.
Day 5 – Big Gull Morning and a Disappointing Reserve!
Having prepared for a day of deteriorating weather we headed straight out after breakfast to Old Hunstanton to catch up with the long-staying Glaucous Gull that had been reported there for nearly three weeks. The rain held off for the first couple of hours and as we entered the beach we encountered our first Snow Buntings of the trip. A brilliant flock of 56 birds including some stunning males. They fed quite close by, high up on the beach with the odd Turnstone, Sanderling and Redshanks giving great views. A few hundred meters further on and we found the reported six Shorelarks, again giving great close views and the light was much better than when we had seen them previously at Holkham. As we watched and got a few shots, the hulk of a large creamy Glaucous Gull appeared above the shingle bank and looked to land just out of sight a bit further away. We soon found it again feeding on an a rather non-appetising looking seal carcass. It showed really well before heading to the shoreline, no doubt to wash the rotting seal from its bill! Everyone was elated with he birds so far, but we did get a bit of a soaking as we headed back to the minibus!
Our guides then decided that as we were close to Snettisham we would go there for the afternoon and hopefully pick up a few of the geese and waders reported from the site. None of us had ever been to this RSPB reserve before and after another superb packed lunch we headed out along the sea bank. The tide was retreating and despite there being a lot of waders out on the mud, there were no massive numbers and no ‘murmurations’. The highlight was probably the smart Goldeneyes on the pools by the beach houses, well before the actual reserve. By now the rain had set in and we were looking forward to getting in a hide or two. Sadly , we were very disappointed. There is one newish looking hide (that we didn’t get to) but the others, whilst clean, were quite run down and the pools in front held very little in the way of birds. It is a very very long walk out to the hides and there are NO facilities at Snettisham. This was evident with the amount of used tissue in one or two private areas! With the rain persisting we called it a day and went home for an early bath. Four species added to the tally which now stood at 120.
Day 6 – Fantastic End at an Equally Fantastic Reserve
The Norfolk Wildlife Trust Reserve at Cley Marshes was our final destination on our last day in Norfolk. We had a leisurely start, allowing for some bad weather to pass through, arriving at Cley at 1030hrs. Despite a strong, cold wind the sun was out and we had blue skies above! We spent the morning in the hides on the west of the reserve, out of the wind and picked up a few new species including a White-fronted Goose that had remained asleep and undetected right in front of the hide until Mark caught it waking up and alerted us all to it! We had great views of Marsh Harriers, Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits from here too. After lunch back at the van we walked the East Bank towards the sea. Our first and only Kingfisher shot across in front of us and was sadly missed by a couple of the group! The Easterly wind was strong and bitingly cold on the high bank and we were glad to get into Richardson’s Hide! But not before a flock of thirty Barnacle Geese settled briefly on the marsh before setting off again headed West. We then walked out onto the shingle beach and despite the choppy conditions added Red-throated Diver and Red-necked Grebe to to the list. Time was getting on so we decided to leave, but not before Paul picked up a cracking Caspian Gull on the scrape! A final addition to our bird list, bringing the total to 127 species!
The drive back also produced a lovely herd of Red Deer and a fly over Woodcock! Our Mammal list included Red Deer, Roe Deer, Muntjac and Water Deer, Brown Hare, Common Seal, Brown Rat, Grey Squirrel and Rabbit.
BIRD LIST
Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, GLOSSY IBIS, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, White-fronted Goose, Greylag, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Brent Goose, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, LONG-TAILED DUCK, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, PALLID HARRIER, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, COMMON CRANE, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Snipe, Woodcock, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, CASPIAN GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, SHORELARK, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, TREE SPARROW, Chaffinch, BRAMBLING, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Bullfinch, HAWFINCH, SNOW BUNTING, Reed Bunting.
Many thanks to our wonderful group, Sheila, Mark and Sarah, Tess, Claire and Kaye for lots of laughs and some great spotting! Also a huge thankyou to our hosts and staff at The Crown Hotel, amazing food and accommodation again and to all the RSPB, WWT and NWT reserves staff we visited who made us feel very welcome! Can’t wait to do it all again in December 25!
Paul and Brad