Apologies on the length guys!!
A very early start got us underway for our first weekend to Norfolk in 7 years, and saw us at Lakenheath at 5:50am.
On the drive down we collected: Rook, Blackbird, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Magpie, Kestrel, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Starling, Grey Heron, LBBG, Stock Dove, Jackdaw, Collared Dove, Swift, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, House Martin & Greenfinch.
Upon Arriving at RSPB Lakenheath we picked up Reed, Sedge, Grasshopper & Garden Warblers all singing. (Loads of Reed Warblers!!) Whitethroat was also ticked off along with Blue & Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Sand Martin, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, GC Grebe, Tufted Duck, Shovelar, Shelduck, Black headed Gull, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Gadwall, Common Tern, Cuckoo, Hobby (4), Sparrowhawk, Golden Oriole (calling only) Cormorant, Lapwing and Wren.
On to Weeting Heath at around 9:40am. No sign of the Stone Curlew unfortunatley! But we managed Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher, Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush, Woodlark & Pied Wagtail.
We the called in at Santon Downham for old times sake and got Green & GS Woodpeckers, (the GS'pecker was flycatching over the river- a very strange sight!) Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Song Thrush were present.
On the drive to Great Ryburgh we ticked off Red-legged Partridge, and once at the viewpoint we ticked off Yellowhammer, Linnet and Skylark. With in 5 minutes of arriving in the gloom and slight drizzle a Honey Buzzard appeard over the treeline infront, not very far away. We were informed it was the best sighting of the day! 2 Egyptian Geese then flew from the bottom of the valley. (Both lifers for me!) Hobby was also present as were Greylag Geese.
After weighing up our options we decided to head to the coast and as we had heard of the Woodchat Shrike at Cromer, we headed there.
Given no instructions as to where the bird was, we thought the Golf course would be a good place to start, and as we got there the heavens opened. A massive storm brew up with torrential rain, hail, wind, thunder and lightning. We had a laugh about it and decided that from a standard birding weekend, we had upgraded to an extreme birding weekend free of charge (not for the faint hearted though- standing exposed at the edge of a clifftop in a thunder storm!)
Anyway, added to the list were Woodchat Shrike, Wheatear, Dunnock, Ringed Plover, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, GBB Gull.
We headed West from Cromer and had a look around the wetlands at Salthouse. We included 5 Little Egret, Sandwich Tern, Turnstone, Dunlin, Avocet and Little Grebe to our list.
To the B&B in Cley to drop some kit off and a quick phone home unveiled a Purple Heron at Cley Marshes, so we dashed over there. No sign of it, though we did tick off Ruddy Duck, Canada Goose, Marsh Harrier (4) and a Barn Owl before another thunderstorm sent us running for cover.
At dusk we went up to Salthouse Heath and finally ticked off Robin!- we couldnt believe it had taken so long!!! We also got Long Tailed Tit, Nightingale (singing, - nowhere near as many as there used to be!) Nightjar (3 churring- but it was very cold so no wing clapping or silhouettes), Woodcock flying and a Tawny Owl calling.
We retired to the pub for a quick pint before bed!
The next morning came with wishes of a dryer day, and quite a lazyday of wandering the banks and sat in hides of the local reserves. Both were granted!
We spent the morning walking aroung Cley Marshes and along the shingle bank to Salthouse wetlands We started by adding Teal to the list, shortly followed by Bearded tits (some brilliant views down the east bank!) Cetti's Warbler singing, Black Tailed Godwits, Little Tern, Grey Plover and Bar Tailed Godwit was a lifer for me (and the 100th bird of the weekend!) Next we got Little Stint (also a lifer) Common Gull, Curlew, Sanderling and just as we returned to the viewpoint, the Purple Heron showed! Great view as it flew around for about 30 seconds! (Just like the Honey Buzzard yesterday we got the best views of the day!)
Finally on to RSPB Titchwell where we rounded the trip off with Pochard, Wigeon, 2 Garganey, Pintail, Little Gull and a Knot. No sign of "Sammy" the Black Winged Stilt though meaning we finished the weekend off with 111 species.
Noteable absentee's were Lesser Whitethroat & Turtle Dove which I would have thought we should have got.
Nevertheless it was a fantastic weekends birding with the Honey Buzzard and Purple Heron being the highlights.
Regards,
Rob
I should have been down that weekend,but had to go a fortnight sooner.Glad I missed the thunder storms and rain,but a bit miffed that I missed the Woodchat Shrike,would have been a lifer for me.Not a bad tally of birds for your trip.
Superb report Rob, sounds like a an excellent weekend