jforgham
Birding for fun
Yesterday (26.03.08) myself and fellow birder in Bishop's Stortford, Graeme, left the town at 5.30am for a full day's birding along the North Norfolk coast. We drove through light drizzle, but upon arriving at Cley coastgauards, the weather was dry, if a tad chilly. Immediately we were into good birds. A barn owl was quartering the field towards Blakeney harbour and soon was joined, if somewhat briefly, by a short eared owl. Lapwings were abundant and meadow pipits appeared to be rising and falling everywhere. A solitary stonechat was recorded on the wires along the beach road.
Off in search of shore larks and buntings on the shingle. No sign as we arrived at the North Hide. Previous to this we had scanned the sea but there appeared to be only gulls and easterly moving turnstones. More of the latter were scurrying around the beach, largest numbers of these I have ever seen at Cley. The hide offered good views of ruff, especially a colour ringed one that we noted in Cley bird book. (right leg: bottom white, middle red, top white, left leg: white above yellow). Redshanks called, wigeons whistled, avocets swept and dunlins flocked. Two marsh harriers rose majestically from the reeds opposite the central hides, flushing ringed plover and brent geese. Shelducks and a solitary pink foot remained impassive. A little grebe was registered in the drainage ditch to the left of the hide as a common gull completed the list of the obvious gulls expected.
On to Arnolds and the East bank: regular birds (moorhen, oystercatcher, gadwall and coot etc) were observed bringing the day total to 50 and it was still only 8.30am. A check in the small pond at the bottom of Walsey Hills failed to offer all but greylags although we had heard a cetti's was present.
Off to Kelling Heath for the great grey shrike. We were not diappointed, connecting almost immediately and received splendid views near the railway line. Here we were joined by several other birders. The car park proved tricky for the MG but the undercarriage remained intact. Back to Cley for a coffee and scan over the reserve. As there was nothing of real note we headed off to Warham Greens, Stiffkey. Here, I have had good success with migrants in previous years, but the weather, now calm and warmer, and the previous few days of cold, meant not too much had arrived. A solitary yellowhammer called from the metal gibbert roundabout as chaffinches and a pair of bullfinches were observed. A stock dove near the campsite mingled with 100's of wood pigeons. Having commented that curlews are a regular here, we instantneously picked up several. Little Egrets were ubiquitous. Upon arriving back at the car park another great bird put in a brief appearance. A ring ouzel, in bushes behind the "wooden hut/hide" at the beginning of the path heading west. It flew along the path with the paler wings clearly visible and the white horseshoe seen as it emerged from the bush. A 15 minute search to relocate it proved fruitless, but by now Graeme was on a roll. Three stops, 3 lifers, one at each (SEO, GGS, RO). So, with spirits uplifted and high hopes we popped into Holkham Estate. En route a fly over common buzzard took the total to in excess of 70. A quick drive through offered the expected Egyptian geese as well as tufted duck and shoveler. No woodpeckers were noted here and so on to Lady Anne's Drive and a walk west to the Freshmarsh. A drowsy pink footed geese made photography easy for my 55mm lens. We checked the beach for buntings etc and were rewarded with views of 2 rock pipits consorting with a somewhat muddy meadow pipit. A treecreeper and GSW called from the pines before we picked up the track to the Washington Hide. Goldcrests squeaked and, after much searching, a firecrest was seen at close quarters in trees on the path just before the hide. 4 stops and now 4 lifers for Graeme!! He was becoming excited! Several coal tits were also seen as jays squabbled in the holm oaks.
Into the hide gave up pochard on the lake. Another marsh harrier rose, at least the 5th of the day. In the distance a single green sandpiper was flushed by either the harrier or our second barn owl. A search over the fields towards Wells failed to give up another short eared owl, so, into the car for the drive to Titchwell. A barn owl was spotted from the car, presumably the one already observed from the hide. The total was now nearing 80, so a good session in fading light at Titchwell could break the 100. Also, could Graeme make 5 stops with each one offering a lifer? A quick scan for feeding finches around the centre only gave 1 brambling although we knew redpoll and siskin were present. Time was of the essence, so into the 1st hide. Black tailed godwits added to the list, as did 2 pintail but little else.The 2nd hide gave up a distant snipe but a 15 minute search for med gull proved difficult to virtually impossible as most gulls (1000's) were roosting in close quarters. A possible beady eyed, sloping foreheaded caspian was noted but not added to the list. On to the beach and straight into red breasted mergansers (12+), goldeneye, single long tailed duck and the first great crested grebe of the day. A small party of scoters (common) were also picked out riding the waves. On the beach grey plover and sanderling boosted the total even more tantalisingly towards 3 figures, but we were still 9 short.
Back on to the path where somebody told us a hen harrier had just gone down. No use but then.. over from the west, flapping and gliding emerged a female hen harrier. Another lifer for you know who. 5 out of 5. Great day. A search for finches around the centre was unsuccessful, as was a hunt along the path to the car park for woodcock. So: a day total of 92, including 5 lifers for Graeme. Fish and chips at Hunstanton which steamed up the car only added to the enjoyment of a superb day's birding as we headed home through Ely and on to the M11 in what was now unpleasant rain. A couple of jars in the Nags Head, Little Hadham sealed the day.
Absolutely brilliant day. To add to the 5 lifers, Graeme also recorded his highest count of birds for one day. Thanks for a great day out, mate.
Jono
Below; 2 poor quality photos. Stonechat with grey heron at Cley and Pink footed at Lady Anne's Drive
Off in search of shore larks and buntings on the shingle. No sign as we arrived at the North Hide. Previous to this we had scanned the sea but there appeared to be only gulls and easterly moving turnstones. More of the latter were scurrying around the beach, largest numbers of these I have ever seen at Cley. The hide offered good views of ruff, especially a colour ringed one that we noted in Cley bird book. (right leg: bottom white, middle red, top white, left leg: white above yellow). Redshanks called, wigeons whistled, avocets swept and dunlins flocked. Two marsh harriers rose majestically from the reeds opposite the central hides, flushing ringed plover and brent geese. Shelducks and a solitary pink foot remained impassive. A little grebe was registered in the drainage ditch to the left of the hide as a common gull completed the list of the obvious gulls expected.
On to Arnolds and the East bank: regular birds (moorhen, oystercatcher, gadwall and coot etc) were observed bringing the day total to 50 and it was still only 8.30am. A check in the small pond at the bottom of Walsey Hills failed to offer all but greylags although we had heard a cetti's was present.
Off to Kelling Heath for the great grey shrike. We were not diappointed, connecting almost immediately and received splendid views near the railway line. Here we were joined by several other birders. The car park proved tricky for the MG but the undercarriage remained intact. Back to Cley for a coffee and scan over the reserve. As there was nothing of real note we headed off to Warham Greens, Stiffkey. Here, I have had good success with migrants in previous years, but the weather, now calm and warmer, and the previous few days of cold, meant not too much had arrived. A solitary yellowhammer called from the metal gibbert roundabout as chaffinches and a pair of bullfinches were observed. A stock dove near the campsite mingled with 100's of wood pigeons. Having commented that curlews are a regular here, we instantneously picked up several. Little Egrets were ubiquitous. Upon arriving back at the car park another great bird put in a brief appearance. A ring ouzel, in bushes behind the "wooden hut/hide" at the beginning of the path heading west. It flew along the path with the paler wings clearly visible and the white horseshoe seen as it emerged from the bush. A 15 minute search to relocate it proved fruitless, but by now Graeme was on a roll. Three stops, 3 lifers, one at each (SEO, GGS, RO). So, with spirits uplifted and high hopes we popped into Holkham Estate. En route a fly over common buzzard took the total to in excess of 70. A quick drive through offered the expected Egyptian geese as well as tufted duck and shoveler. No woodpeckers were noted here and so on to Lady Anne's Drive and a walk west to the Freshmarsh. A drowsy pink footed geese made photography easy for my 55mm lens. We checked the beach for buntings etc and were rewarded with views of 2 rock pipits consorting with a somewhat muddy meadow pipit. A treecreeper and GSW called from the pines before we picked up the track to the Washington Hide. Goldcrests squeaked and, after much searching, a firecrest was seen at close quarters in trees on the path just before the hide. 4 stops and now 4 lifers for Graeme!! He was becoming excited! Several coal tits were also seen as jays squabbled in the holm oaks.
Into the hide gave up pochard on the lake. Another marsh harrier rose, at least the 5th of the day. In the distance a single green sandpiper was flushed by either the harrier or our second barn owl. A search over the fields towards Wells failed to give up another short eared owl, so, into the car for the drive to Titchwell. A barn owl was spotted from the car, presumably the one already observed from the hide. The total was now nearing 80, so a good session in fading light at Titchwell could break the 100. Also, could Graeme make 5 stops with each one offering a lifer? A quick scan for feeding finches around the centre only gave 1 brambling although we knew redpoll and siskin were present. Time was of the essence, so into the 1st hide. Black tailed godwits added to the list, as did 2 pintail but little else.The 2nd hide gave up a distant snipe but a 15 minute search for med gull proved difficult to virtually impossible as most gulls (1000's) were roosting in close quarters. A possible beady eyed, sloping foreheaded caspian was noted but not added to the list. On to the beach and straight into red breasted mergansers (12+), goldeneye, single long tailed duck and the first great crested grebe of the day. A small party of scoters (common) were also picked out riding the waves. On the beach grey plover and sanderling boosted the total even more tantalisingly towards 3 figures, but we were still 9 short.
Back on to the path where somebody told us a hen harrier had just gone down. No use but then.. over from the west, flapping and gliding emerged a female hen harrier. Another lifer for you know who. 5 out of 5. Great day. A search for finches around the centre was unsuccessful, as was a hunt along the path to the car park for woodcock. So: a day total of 92, including 5 lifers for Graeme. Fish and chips at Hunstanton which steamed up the car only added to the enjoyment of a superb day's birding as we headed home through Ely and on to the M11 in what was now unpleasant rain. A couple of jars in the Nags Head, Little Hadham sealed the day.
Absolutely brilliant day. To add to the 5 lifers, Graeme also recorded his highest count of birds for one day. Thanks for a great day out, mate.
Jono
Below; 2 poor quality photos. Stonechat with grey heron at Cley and Pink footed at Lady Anne's Drive
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