Beginners day out in Norfolk (1 Viewer)

What a day!

We got up early this morning with some reservations about the weather, having had mixed reports from different websites. The plan was to go up to Norfolk with the hope of getting some new ticks.

Our first port of call was Lynford Arboretum, where I have been on 4 or 5 occasions now with the hope of seeing a Hawfinch. It was a miserable morning, and there didn't seem to be too much activity. I had checked the forums the night before, investigating Hawfinches and where best to look for them. Well, I looked and looked, and spent a long time scanning the Hornbeams but didn't get a good luck. I did see a few birds fly on to the ground underneath one of the trees and I so wanted it to be a Hawfinch, but I think I go the size slightly wrong and it was probably a Jay ( it was only a fleeting glimpse ). However on getting back to the car in the rear car park, I heard the tell tale call of a handful of Goldcrests and, yes, you guessed it, on further inspection, one was quite clearly a Firecrest. My 2nd ever Firecrest, both seen at the same site.

Next we drove up to Holkham Beach, I had been 'guaranteed' Snow Buntings and Shore Larks, by a friend at work, but had been disappointed by such promises in the past ( Bearded Tits at Fowlmere, Bitterns at Lea Valley - back tomorrow for another go hopefully ). When we got to the beach, we had to chose left or right, having never been right before we gambled, and within 10 minutes I saw a flock of birds in the distance flying low over the mud. My excited feet carried me quickly forward and through my bins I thought and hoped they might be Snow Buntings, they were, about 100 of them. I watched for ages as they flew around just as I had seen on my pc at home. Then from nowhere 17 Shore Larks landed about 25ft behind me - an unbelievable view. I couldn't believe my luck, I was sandwiched between the two birds I had driven all that way to see. I didn't think it could get better, but once we got towards the shore I was shown a Black Throated Diver and some Merganser. Possibly all too common for Norfolk regulars, not for a Cambridgeshire regular like myself.

The day has been so good, I can't wait for another trip up to Norfolk, this time taking the tripod and scope.

Ben

Brilliant Ben , I live in Shropshire and dont get to see any of those ( bar the Firecrest , we had one at our local patch last year for about a fortnight ) , but me and a couple of others are off to Norfolk in the next few weeks so we'll hope to have your luck on our side .
Shore Lark would be a tick on my life list !

Sounds a good day Ben

I'm hoping to head up to Norfolk this month.

How do you find Fowlmere? I've always found it disappointing.

Congratulations Ben, sounds like you had a great day in Norfolk. I can usually find something of interest when I visit. Pity about the Hawfinches, keep trying!

Day 2

Guess what, after I typed in my post yesterday, I checked my email and somebody had seen 4 Hawfinches at Lynford. Could I let it go? sadly I became obsessive and had to go again today.

Success, after talking to a few people their I finally saw my first Hawfinch rooting around in the leaf litter below the Hornbeam tree in the meadow which everybody points out. It took a while, there were lots of redwing,blackbird and great tit also under that tree, but my scope and patience served me well and I watched it for about 10-15 minutes feeling very happy with myself ( thanks to the kind chap who told me he had seen it ).

The luck continued with a big flock of Siskin, 2 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, Common Sandpiper, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Goldcrest ( no Firecrest today ) and 20 odd Crossbill.

Next time I go up there, I will be on the look out for a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

Hopefully of to Welney next Saturday for a glorious sunset ( weather permitting ).

Ben

Boznia,

you're making me green with envyover here in Devon.
Or rather you're making me realise that I'll have to shell out the dosh to get over to Norfolk for some of those nice birds you've seen. We don't get snowbuntings/shore larks here and I'm still trying to figure out how to locate the handful of Hawfinches we are reputed to have.

well done.

Padraig.

I reckon I have just been lucky really, but I am so choughed ( bad joke ) with my last couple of days.

Just to set your minds at rest, I did go down to Lea Valley to see a Bittern ( never previously seen ) and was again guaranteed one by a friend, but this time no luck. I waited for quite a while in the hide and of course there had been one 30 mins before I arrived.

I did however get some Smew while I was there, another first for me.

I am trying to make the most of this area while I live here, as I may be moving away soon.

Oh and Peter, I am never particulary impressed with Fowlmere, I have seen Snipe there once and quite a lot of Bullfinches and Redwings and reed warblers, but not very much waterfowl. On the whole I don't tend to go there 'birding', just walking with friends ( with bins of course ).

Cheers,

Ben

boznia said:

Oh and Peter, I am never particulary impressed with Fowlmere, I have seen Snipe there once and quite a lot of Bullfinches and Redwings and reed warblers, but not very much waterfowl. On the whole I don't tend to go there 'birding', just walking with friends ( with bins of course ).

Cheers,

Ben

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I'm pleased its not only me!! Used to be very good for Kingfisher, yes nice walk but very few birds.

Our Norfolk Trip was just as good. It seems wherever you go in winter there is something to interest us all.

CJ

Pad

You're trying too hard for those Hawfinches! Relax, and they'll find you!!!!

Idleboy,

If only life was so sweet. Come to think of it half of the fun is trying to track down those wretched Hornbeam trees and the other half is trying to locate the little beasties in them.

Padraig.

Padraig said:

Idleboy

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Careful Pad, don't want to upset the newcomers!3

Thanks for protecting me Andrew! I heard tell a comical tale of three birders who went into a pub asking if anyone knew where some Hornbeam trees were so they could locate some Hawfinches. They took a map with them and entered into deep conversation with the locals. One drinker at the bar was apparently an expert on Hornbeams, another on Hawfinches. The hapless trio were given oodles of information and set off on a wildgoose chase that got them nowhere. The moral of this tale is: know where your Hornbeam trees are and Hawfinches ye shall find!!!!!

Or get a decent book on trees!

And to think that I thought that a Hornbeam was an evergreen that bore some resemblance to a Yew.
No wonder Naturalists look at birders and urge them to specialise.

P.

I have a large hornbeam at the bottom of the garden, but I've never seen a hawfinch anywhere. What sort of countryside do they like?

Eliazabeth,

Hawfinches are very localised birds and like a variety of trees in fairly open countryside, or woodland. I'm told that Epping forest, the New Forest and the Forest of Dean are good places but there are pockets of them in many counties.
they like eating berries and hornbeams are their favourite delicacy, hence the association. Tell me if they suddenly turn up in your garden. I promise to keep it quiet!

Regards,

Padraig.

Thanks Padraig - I think it is highly unlikely, though we do have open countryside on the far side of the garden across the bottom of ours. I'll whisper the news to you if............................!!

Elizabeth Bigg said:

Thanks Padraig - I think it is highly unlikely, though we do have open countryside on the far side of the garden across the bottom of ours. I'll whisper the news to you if............................!!

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I'll expect you on the phone if they do Elizabeth and I'll be straight there!!

Out of interest I missed the Hawfinches at Lynford on Saturday(as did everyone else) one guy was on his second week running with no luck.

pduxon said:

I'll expect you on the phone if they do Elizabeth and I'll be straight there!!

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Sixtyseven miles, according to Autoroute - I haven't decided on the entry fee yet!!