Well firstly thanks to Carlos GY for his suggestions for this trip.
Anyway at about 8:45 on a pleasant Thursday in April I head off from Horsey Mill towards the beach. A good sign for the break is a lone Marsh Harrier in the distance.
The fields are alive with Skylark flitting about and one individual decides to give me a ratjer nice view. Upon turning left at the dimes I come across Whinchat and Wheatear together with a number of Mipits and a pair of Ringed Plover are soon found. Stonechat appear as if on cue at the pillbox.
As I turn left at the gap a male Hen Harrier flies over with a Marsh going in the opposite direction. After a pleasant walk in the mid morning sun, I decide to sit by the mere (pair of Greylag with one chick) and watch Marsh Harriers flying in the distance whilst being serenaded by Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
After checking into my hotel I head to Blicking Hall for lunch. A walk around the lake and through the woods yields the expected Egyptian Geese with the unexpected bonus of 4 Ruddy Duck on the lake. The woods are alive with Warblers and common birds. After 4 miles I reckon I’ve earned dinner.
Friday
Well an early start and off to Strumpshaw Fen. Lots of Warbler and the walk to the fen and tower hides shows that the fen is alive with Cettis Warbler. The Tower hide is a little disappointing just a lot of Black Headed Gulls. The walk back to the visitor centre yields a very noisy Cetti and a cracking view of a Sedge Warbler. There are lots of Marsh Harrier about (I’m getting blasé about them now!).
Stopping at Strumpshaw post office to get a paper I am tempted by a cold can of Shandy and wanting to drink it cold stop fairly quickly. As I pull away I notice a lone bird in the field and blimey at last a Grey Partridge, can you believe I’ve never seen one? Loads of Red Legs but never a Grey! Anyway its orange face is most welcome!
I stop at Hoveton Hall Gardens for lunch. The gardens will be better when the Rhodadendrons are out but the walk gives me a Coal Tit and a Treecreeper and the family of Egyptian Geese is nice to see.
I end up at NWT Barton Broad. The NWT have obviously spent a fair amount of money here, Car Park and a board walk to a viewing platform. This gives a nice view of the broad which has several Great Crested Grebe leking and Common Tern fishing. A good end to the day and the weather is gorgeous.
Saturday
The obligatory early start (the Robin singing at 5am helped!) seems me in Felbrigg Hall woods by 8am. Some nice views of common birds in very good voice (Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Tits, Nuthatch, Treecreeper etc).
The lakeland walk has a nice group of Linnet in the gorse and lots of Egyptian Geese. The lake has the “usual suspects” although more Tufties than anything else. They look very dapper. Walking back to the hall a Skylark perches and sings its heart out.
After lunch I head for NWT Hickling Broad. A decent start, with my first Common Whitethroat of the year. Now a lot of money has been spent here (very nice hides) and yet not many birds (a point made to me later by a local birder). Still great weather and warblers singing and a nice view of a Reed Bunting. There were lots of Peacock butterflies and an Adder. However one of the observation points has very restricted views!
I head to the bittern hide a little disappointed. However opening the hide shutters I find two Common Ceane! Suddenly Marsh Harrier appear and I get a Crane and a Harrier in the bins at the same time with the Crane looking up at the Harrier. Later I get 2 Cranes and 3 Harriers in the bins and a total of 5 Harriers up. Later a Harrier lands close to the Cranes. Magic!
A party of 4 people arrive, the Cranes gradual rightward movement means they won’t all get good views so I offer my seat. I’m not sure how long I was there but I was captivated and I KNOW I had a soppy grin. What a magical way to spend a Saturday afternoon! OK not many birds but feel the quality.
Sunday – and home!! Well I head across the A149 (and a second Grey Partridge on the road at Wells) to Titchwell. I’m accosted by Reader (BF lifer! – and nice to meet you!) in the car park and we head off. The weather is appalling and no Sammy (first time I’ve missed him!). Not much about, some waders for the trip list and my first House Martin of the year. There are no Golden Pheasant at Wolferton either.
I get to Welney for lunch and run into Reader again in the observation hide. There is a Spoonbill giving fleeting views. After Reader goes off looking for Curlew Sandpiper, a pair of Yellow Wagtails arrive and the Spoonbill comes out and gives really good views.
As the weather is really poor I decide that that’ll do.
And yet again Norfolk comes up trumps.
Nice account, nice trip, Pete! I've never seen common crane yet... despite having seen Siberian white and a couple of others! Norfolk has an atmosphere all of its own as well as great birds.
Hi Pete
I didn't get the Curlew Sandpiper after all but I did call into Draycote on the way back home and managed to get Arctic Tern (22 of them) and a lone Scaup.
Nice to meet you and thanks for a very interesting write up on your vacation in Norfolk.
BTW you just missed Jasonbirder by minutes at Titchwell. He had just gotten out of his car as I came into the car park. You must have passed each other at some point.