First stop was RSPB Titchwell to meet up with a family friend and after refreshments get the birding weekend off to a start. A lone Eider on the sea was great to see having only seen one before at Slimbridge. Not a lot of birds on the shore, though plenty of Oystercatchers which were at some distance away. Other highlights at Titchwell were Redshank, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Knot, Ruff, Dunlin, Marsh Harrier and Black-tailed Godwit. I have added a photo of the area where the sea bank behind the brackish marsh is being reinforced, vital work as the sea is eroding the land, as many of you will already know.
After a very pleasing walk around Titchwell it was on to Wells-next-the-Sea where we would be based for the weekend.
19th Sept. A short stop at picturesque Morston Quay produced Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Litte Egret, Curlew and Pied Wagtails. Next stop was Cley and the sun was still shining! Bearded Tits were the star bird here, 4 of them flitting about in the reeds! A lifer for me and great views of them. Spotted Redshank, Wigeon, Shelduck, Teal, Wheatear, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and the usual suspects were seen. Next stop was Salthouse and after a cup of coffee (the vendor being highly recommended on BF, it is a very tasty coffee) a walk to see what was about! A mixture of fields, sea, country lanes and heathland was a delight to the eyes! Highlights at Salthouse were Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Gannet, Meadow Pipit, Linnet Swallows and a fly past by a Peregrine! Painted Lady and Small Copper butterflies were enjoying the sunshine.
20th Sept. A walk in Wells Wood to start the day. A wonderful wood in which I could quite happily spend all day. Some of the species seen were Reed Bunting, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Songthrush, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Starlings, Skylark, G S Woodpecker, a Tawny Owl was heard and the star of the show, a Lesser Whitethroat!
Next stop was Burnham Overy Staithe. A place that on our next visit to here we wish to walk the whole length of the embankment to the dunes and beach, we only walked about a third of the way as there was so much to see in the tidal creeks and time being a factor! Highlights were Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Little Grebe, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Linnet, Pied Wagtail (numerous at most places we visited over the weekend), Sparrowhawk and a large flock of Starlings that a Sparrowhawk kept taking a fancy to and setting the Starlings to flight several times.
Holkham Pines and Bay was next to end a super day! The smell of the pines in the warm sunshine was delightful. Highlights were Little Grebe, Collared Dove (not seeing any at home they were pleasing to see), Great, Blue, Coal and Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Wheatear and Goldcrest. Pink -footed Geese (c400) on the fresh marsh were viewed from the George Washington hide also a perched Marsh Harrier. We returned to Holkham Pines before dusk hoping to see Owls as they had been in short supply this weekend. The sun was now setting and a glorious sunset it was too, especially so as large skeins of Pink-footed Geese were first heard and then seen as they flew across the sunset, a magical few minutes and a sight I would never tire of seeing and hearing. Two Barn Owls were seen perched at a distance in one of the fields! A great end to a wonderful sunny weekend in North Norfolk.
21st Sept. On the journey home two Red Kites were seen in the area of Rockingham, a lovely surprise and a bonus added to the weekend!
82 bird species were seen over the weekend, one Muntjac at Titchwell and four butterfly species. Dragonflies aplenty in all areas visited. Common Darter being the only species to settle to enable a positive ID.
A few more pics!
I posted the wrong photo for Titchwell!
Here is the correct one!