senatore
Saturday 16th July 2005, 11:30
Armed with a "birding itinery" kindly prepared for me by BF member "Reader" I set off early on Tuesday to Norfolk basing myself at Old Hunstanton.
Tuesday
I came off the A14 at J38 to go to the RSPB site at Lakenheath but not before heading to a little known site (not Weeting) to try for Stone Curlews.The field in question was filled with singing Skylarks and a Greenwoodpecker squaked at me as it flew off.In the distance I soon spotted 2 Stone Curlews and a little later I spotted another a little closer.Not good views but a lifer for me.Thanks Reader.
I then drove to Lakenheath to try for the Golden Orioles.I soon spotted some birders on the path by the Poplars and as I made my way there I noticed the reeds were full of Sedge and Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings all showing very well.Allthough you can hear the Orioles seeing them is not so easy.After about 90 minutes I was lucky enough to see both a Male and Female fly by in front of the polars.Only a 3 second fly by but a lifer for me.Thank you Reader.Some of the birders missed this as they were not looking at the poplars so do not relax!Also the jets from the local airbase seem to fly right over the poplars constantly.
After checking in my hotel I went for a stroll round Titchwell.As usual there was a large selection of waders and the Marsh Harriers showed very well.I then had a quick look at Choseley Barns where I saw some Yellowhammers but no Corn Buntings.After tea I went for a drive round Sandringham Park and then round the Wolferton Triangle.Did not see much of note but what beautiful places.
Wednesday.
Drove down the A149 to Cley in the morning and was soon reminded what fun it is to drive through Stiffkey and Cley itself specially if you meet a lorry coming the other way.As at Titchwell there were masses of waders and gulls at Cley.Also the Marsh Harriers were showing well.
I then drove inland to the Great Ryburgh rapter viewpoint but I had misplaced Readers map and could not find it.What an idiot!!!! Not deterred I then drove to a little known site to try for Montagu,s Harriers and after about an hours wait I thought I spotted a pair in the distance.Luckily for me 4 birders turned up together and confirmed that they were a male and female.Magic!!!!! another lifer for me.Thanks Reader.
Earlier on when parked in a layby I was scanning the sky and spotted what I thought were 2 smallish falcons flying around above me when they were joined by a third which passed what appeared to be a mouse to one of the others.Merlins ? I was in open arable land with some trees.I needed you by my side Reader.One of them perched on a wire for a while and it had a pale brown chest with vertical brown stripes and the back was a darker brown.
After tea went for an evening stroll round Titchwell and was surprised how few people were there despite it being a warm evening.I had the Island hide to myself and some Bearded Tits showed very well right in front of the hide.
Thursday.
Went early to Titchwell and again was lucky enough to see The Bearded Tits again from the Island hide but as last night there were no males in the group.Also saw 2 Little Gulls flying around the front of the hide and had 2 Spotted Redshanks pointed out to me.Two more lifers.I then headed to the beach platform to try my skills (HaHa) at sea watching.I or rather another birder pointed out a large group of Common Scoters way out on the sea and also 2 seals were not too far out.
Went in the afternoon to Holkham park for a walk round but as a large show was being erected so little was around in the trees but the lake was better with 6 Barnacle Geese ,some Oystercatchers,loads of Greylag Geese Blackheaded Gulls and what must be the largest mass of Egyptian Geese in the country.I then went across the road into the Holkham Nature Reserve which proved to have excellent wood land habitats with lots of bird activity and some good hides.Went in the evening for another evening stroll round a very quiet Titchwell.Absolute magic what a place.
Great few days in a Great County.
MAX>
Tuesday
I came off the A14 at J38 to go to the RSPB site at Lakenheath but not before heading to a little known site (not Weeting) to try for Stone Curlews.The field in question was filled with singing Skylarks and a Greenwoodpecker squaked at me as it flew off.In the distance I soon spotted 2 Stone Curlews and a little later I spotted another a little closer.Not good views but a lifer for me.Thanks Reader.
I then drove to Lakenheath to try for the Golden Orioles.I soon spotted some birders on the path by the Poplars and as I made my way there I noticed the reeds were full of Sedge and Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings all showing very well.Allthough you can hear the Orioles seeing them is not so easy.After about 90 minutes I was lucky enough to see both a Male and Female fly by in front of the polars.Only a 3 second fly by but a lifer for me.Thank you Reader.Some of the birders missed this as they were not looking at the poplars so do not relax!Also the jets from the local airbase seem to fly right over the poplars constantly.
After checking in my hotel I went for a stroll round Titchwell.As usual there was a large selection of waders and the Marsh Harriers showed very well.I then had a quick look at Choseley Barns where I saw some Yellowhammers but no Corn Buntings.After tea I went for a drive round Sandringham Park and then round the Wolferton Triangle.Did not see much of note but what beautiful places.
Wednesday.
Drove down the A149 to Cley in the morning and was soon reminded what fun it is to drive through Stiffkey and Cley itself specially if you meet a lorry coming the other way.As at Titchwell there were masses of waders and gulls at Cley.Also the Marsh Harriers were showing well.
I then drove inland to the Great Ryburgh rapter viewpoint but I had misplaced Readers map and could not find it.What an idiot!!!! Not deterred I then drove to a little known site to try for Montagu,s Harriers and after about an hours wait I thought I spotted a pair in the distance.Luckily for me 4 birders turned up together and confirmed that they were a male and female.Magic!!!!! another lifer for me.Thanks Reader.
Earlier on when parked in a layby I was scanning the sky and spotted what I thought were 2 smallish falcons flying around above me when they were joined by a third which passed what appeared to be a mouse to one of the others.Merlins ? I was in open arable land with some trees.I needed you by my side Reader.One of them perched on a wire for a while and it had a pale brown chest with vertical brown stripes and the back was a darker brown.
After tea went for an evening stroll round Titchwell and was surprised how few people were there despite it being a warm evening.I had the Island hide to myself and some Bearded Tits showed very well right in front of the hide.
Thursday.
Went early to Titchwell and again was lucky enough to see The Bearded Tits again from the Island hide but as last night there were no males in the group.Also saw 2 Little Gulls flying around the front of the hide and had 2 Spotted Redshanks pointed out to me.Two more lifers.I then headed to the beach platform to try my skills (HaHa) at sea watching.I or rather another birder pointed out a large group of Common Scoters way out on the sea and also 2 seals were not too far out.
Went in the afternoon to Holkham park for a walk round but as a large show was being erected so little was around in the trees but the lake was better with 6 Barnacle Geese ,some Oystercatchers,loads of Greylag Geese Blackheaded Gulls and what must be the largest mass of Egyptian Geese in the country.I then went across the road into the Holkham Nature Reserve which proved to have excellent wood land habitats with lots of bird activity and some good hides.Went in the evening for another evening stroll round a very quiet Titchwell.Absolute magic what a place.
Great few days in a Great County.
MAX>