A pre-christmas holiday was enjoyed in Norfolk from 12.12.09 to 19.12.09, it was so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas shopping! Our holiday was extended by an additional day due to the heavy snow that blanketed Norfolk on the 17th, the roads were impassable so it wasn’t worth attempting the journey home so our extra day was spent getting more provisons and a nice walk through Wells Woods!
Strumpshaw Fen 13.12.09
It is always nice to visit this reserve as even if there aren’t too many birds to be seen the scenery more than makes up for it!! We were greeted at the reserve by a large flock of 40+ Goldfinch and Siskin’s that were feeding in the Alders near to the reception hide, we had been told that there were Redpoll in amongst the flock but we were unable to pick them out, this was partly due to the distance away from us and also that we had an afternoon visit to the reserve so the light wasn’t that brilliant for using the scope! The majority of birds seemed to be buzzing around the new feeders that have been put up near to the reception hide with Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Blue & Great Tits and the obligatory Pheasants at the bottom of the feeder hovering up the spilt seed! One nice surprise was a Marsh Tit that was quite content watching the other birds zipping to and fro to the feeders! The number of waterfowl was fairly low with Mallard, Shoveler, Swan, Teal and coots being the main sightings together with a very showy Water Rail directly in front of the Fen hide which more than made up for the quietness out on the water!! As we had a late afternoon visit we were treated to some super sightings for the raptor roost with 7 Marsh Harriers all being up in the air together but the highlight was a stunning male Hen Harrier that flew over the reserve and over to Surlingham Marshes! We also saw and heard the rooks heading for their corvid roost at nearby Buckenham Church, the sound was eerily spooky!! The other highlight for me was seeing one of the resident Barn Owls perched on the edge of their nest box in the woods!
Burnham Overy Staithe continued.....