BirdForum - Norfolk 22.05.03

Having finally moved house on Monday after months of yes / no / sometime soon maybe ..and the subsequent couple of days unpacking boxes/ where's this ? / where's that ? the levels of stress reached unacceptable heights. Hence we decided some alleviation of this was in order, however with the cycles in need of a some planned maintenance, a management decision ( ie ... hers ! ) was taken to break with tradition and hire a car for the day.

Leaving Yarmouth just before 9 we decided not to go to Minsmere, Cley or anywhere similar, rather to have a day in the further depths of our local area. First stop was the Ted Ellis reserve near Surlingham - TG325 057. Large areas around here form the Mid-Yare NNR, which also includes our more usual nature spots of Strumpshaw Fen & Buckenham Marsh reserves, today however we were directly across on the other side of the river. The 2 opposite riverbanks are seperated by a mere 100 yds of water but it's about 15 miles by road. Years ago there was a chainlink ferry across the river but with the increase in holiday boats it was removed. The Surlingham Ferry Inn still stands as a reminder though, and the road still leads down to the former crossing point on both sides.

From here it's about 8 miles to Norwich train station and so is within cycle distance, with the rail link to Yarmouth, but it's quite rare for us to be over this side.

Walking around the reserve was pure peace and seclusion, fantastic, amongst the reedbeds several good views of Sedge Warbler singing from the depths whilst deftly clinging to the stems, the sharp, piercing Cetti'sWarbler call occasionally breaking out. The Cetti's - what can you say about this bird ? A totally unimpressive sight, brown and small .... but the song .... absolutely superb. The song can even be clearly heard from across the river. Added to this were a single Reed Bunting singing from an Alder and a pair of Dunnock, plus the odd one or two Black Headed Gull flying about. A Grey Heron passed over on it's way.
Dotted about were the odd remaining clump of Marsh Marigold still just about flowering, and Yellow Iris looking good. Moving on around the reserve among some quiet backwaters and dyke channels we spotted various waterfowl, inc. Pochard, Mallard and a single Gt Crested Grebe. We noticed several diiferent spiders on the boardwalks, most commonly a compact one - dark ( black ? ) about 1 cm dia ( legs inc.) and quite a fast movement. Out of interest I looked on the internet when I got home and came up with the possible name of Pirata Piraticus, but don't really know much about spiders.
In the wooded areas Bluebells are now past their best, Red Campion still flowering though and Bugle flowers were pushed up through the damp ground. We spotted a noisy Wren, 2 or 3 Blackbird & couple of Chaffinch around and about amongst the trees but the ever increasing denseness of foliage camoflaged what else must have been there.
Not surprisingly there were very few butterfly about, only a single Peacock and 1or 2 Small White. We had hoped possibly for a few more inc. Swallowtail but it really wasn't the weather. A few damselfly were about - Common Blue / Azure ? - I'm new to these and one thing I've noticed is a definite association with these and ( the leaves of) nettle plants. The walk in total was about 3 miles although we didn't cover every possible path.

Moving on late dinnertime-ish, next stop was just up the road at Surlingham Church Marsh RSPB - TG305 065.
Walking from the car park toward the house a Jay flashed past and away into the trees and a Wren sang cheerily in the bushes before flitting off through the adjacent garden. On having just reached the riverside path a loud bird call could be heard, and looking around an Oystercatcher was in hot pursuit of a male Marsh Harrier. As they flew from across the river, twice the harrier flipped over to show its talons, the Oystercatcher seemed pretty relentless though and eventually they disappeared behind the trees. The Oystercatcher returned a short while later, but I didn't see the harrier again. Tail between its legs, no doubt, gone off to poach somewhere else.
From the first hide, a Kingfisher flew over the main pond, accompanied by it's high pitch call. Also a few Gadwall, Mallard and Coot were about. A Kestrel hovered in search of prey, dropping once to the ground but I never saw any 'catch' . Several large clumps of Yellow Iris were in flower and more damselfly were about also, inc Blue Tailed, Azure / Common Blue (they look so very similar it's hard to tell the difference ) and again the association with these and nettle plants was clear. Several Hse Martin, Swallow & a few Swift flew about, Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat called and occasionally flew in and out from the bushes.
Returning to the car for late lunch, after pausing briefly to purchase some locally produced Ivy Honey from the old rectory, we realised what a lovely spot the car was parked in. Looking around we had the old english country church in front, a hedgerow behind and the lane back toward the main road away to the right. Down the lane several birds splashed about in a puddle, occasionally flying back up onto the telephone wires and into the hedgerow. Looking through the scope we made out up to 6 Greenfinch & 4 Goldfinch, a most attractive bird. Several Hse Sparrow, Starling, and one or two Gt Tit & Blackbird. Also flitting around were some Swallow and a Collared Dove poked around on the bankside.

Moving on mid-afternoon we headed via Woodbastwick - TG331 152 - which is a timeless little english country village. Like something from the times gone by the village green is surrounded by thatched cottages and country residences. The only obvious concession to modernity is the tarmac road surface and telephone lines, take those away and you could well expect to see horse & carts pulling through. A very picturesque place.

Next stop was Ranworth Broad - TG356 151 - , a Norfolk Wildlife Trust centre ( for anyone unfamiliar with the term - Broad is basically a local word for lake. The Norfolk Broads are a large area of rivers, lakes and associated wetlands which also include some important wildlife / conservation areas, quite popular with tourists as well ). This area forms part of the Bure Marshes NNR and among other things is home to a large inland Cormorant roost. It's been several years since either of us have been out here and we couldn't remember the tourist centre being there before..... which .... well ???? .. is very informative I guess but really wasn't what we'd expected from their literature.
From the centre we could see several Common Tern above the the Broad, a family party of Coot, and did spot an Orange Tip butterfly but apart from that and some holidaymakers feeding the ducks, geese and swans that was about it for the birdlife. There were some unseen warblers inc. Sedge W singing from the reeds but we felt a bit put off by the touristy aspect of the place so didn't bother with the bins. Flowers in the general area included a few poppy and some purple rhododendron. These non-native, invasive shrubs / bushes are often cut down, roots dug up and burnt as they become a serious problem for the native wildlife if left to run freely. But in controlled, singular isolation they brighten the place up with a vibrant colour display.

Moving on up to Horsey Mere - TG 456 222 - , a National Trust property, we stopped in a layby near West Somerton to watch some Common Crane quite distant but still unmistakeable through the bins. There were also Lapwing and Greylags about. Horsey Mere and the adjoining windpump isn't so quite so 'touristy' as Ranworth, although is still considered a 'visitor attraction' but there is also some lovely riverside walking to be done. Leaving the bins & scope in the car made for a really nice uninterrupted walk, the flat open landscape so typical of Norfolk giving excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

Moving on once more and with tiredness now becoming an issue we decided an appropriate course of action was 'chips & home.' After pulling into Winterton Dunes car park - TG497 197 - and eating said chips, our attention was drawn by a group of 'birders' complete with scopes & bins, obviously deeply engrossed in something. Curiosity finally got the better of us when they headed closer and we could actually see, although couldn't really make out, their subject from the car. Remembering having read reports of some pipit or other around here we decided to ask. A very friendly bunch they were indeed and one pointed out that indeed it was the Tawny Pipit currently perching on top of a black shed, shortly flying off into to a landing among the dune grasses, something I've never seen before.
At that point it seemed as good a time as any to call time and head home, pausing just long enough to watch 3 Linnets and the pipit once more. What better way to end the day !

As for totals - 44 definite bird sp.+ 1 ? -either a Song or Mistle Thrush, some damselfy, butterfly, wild flowers, interesting spiders, plenty of peace & seclusion, very nice walking and countryside. The result - stress levels most definitely back where they should be !

Now ..... which box are the paint brushes in ?