-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Golden Pheasant sites (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter akbenbow
- Start date
Locostella
Guest
I have visited Wolferton around 15 times since moving to Norfolk and have only managed a single male in the evening time around April (would have to check notes to confirm a date) I know people who have connected several times consecutively, to my frustration haha.
I know that most people (if not all) do not take the Sculthorpe birds in to account when discussing Norfolk's GP population, but there is a small wood near Watton that I think is NT and they have a population of 'tickable birds' as far as I am aware. Although I have never seen them. I am sure someone will confirm the name of the wood, it slips my mind.
Another idea would be to explore the roads adjacent (east) of the triangle as they look suitable for GP and a good friend of mine has had success there.
I am pretty new to Norfolk, I am sure someone will be able to add further to my advice and correct any falsified information given.
Regards Kieran
Locostella
Guest
Wayland Wood....Its has come to me.
Kieren Allinson
Well-known member
Wayland wood. But I don't think they still have a population there.
Locostella
Guest
Kieren let me know if your planning any more long distance twitches and want a fuel share. Although I am glad I missed you message for the WTR. Obviously very sad you guys didn't connect though.
Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried Wayland Wood in the past (and also Sculthorpe) with no success. This is really my bogey bird - I even went to Longleat Safari Park at the weekend and failed to see one in their walk through aviary!!
I was hoping there were a couple of hidden sites - or even tips for Wolferton...
I was hoping there were a couple of hidden sites - or even tips for Wolferton...
Locostella
Guest
Patients and luck would be my only suggestion in regards to tips for Wolferton. You see a lot of birds being reported in January, early morning. Year listers may be the reason for this though.
aucarius
Marcus
My Wolverton Experience
I've been to Wolferton Triangle a few of times recently (often on my way to Titchwell), early morning i.e., before 8am, & connected a couple of times just by driving slowly along the road. Turn off the A149 at the Wolverton sign then turn right at the crossroads (which will take you back to the A149). One time I saw two males scuttling into the undergrowth but it's obviously hit & miss. Good luck!
Kieren Allinson
Well-known member
dwatsonbirder
Well-known member
Im afraid that the Wayland wood population has dwindled for the past 5 years & there have been no positive sightings for the last 2 years. I can recommend the track that leads down to Thompson Water, as the rhodi beds on either side often hold the odd individual. PM me if you want more details.
Locostella
Guest
Just batter the triangle through January, your bad luck will break in the end buddy. I also have heard more birds being reported from the north road of the triangle, this may just be coincidence, but I did have my single male there too.
Regards Kieran
kittykat23uk
Well-known member
Hiya, Out of interest, why isn't the sculthorpe bird tickable? We saw him crosing the bridge once. It's a gorgeous bird! I know they still have sightings of him fairly frequently so if you're desperate to see one, might be worth another look..
P4097723 golden pheasant by kittykat23uk, on Flickr
P4097723 golden pheasant by kittykat23uk, on Flickr
O.Reville1989
I started off with nothing and I've still got some
Hiya, Out of interest, why isn't the sculthorpe bird tickable? We saw him crosing the bridge once. It's a gorgeous bird! I know they still have sightings of him fairly frequently so if you're desperate to see one, might be worth another look..
P4097723 golden pheasant by kittykat23uk, on Flickr
Fantastic photos!
From what I have been told the Sculthorpe GP's once belonged to a large estate near by (Rainham?) and were "released" (dumped) at Sculthorpe and have been there ever since!
If you aren't into lists they are a fantastic bird to see and won't get a better chance or easier opportunity of seeing GP.
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Weren't all Goldies basically 'dumped' originally, anyway....? Tick away! 
And agree, it is a fab looking bird and so much easier than Wolferton!
And agree, it is a fab looking bird and so much easier than Wolferton!
O.Reville1989
I started off with nothing and I've still got some
Weren't all Goldies basically 'dumped' originally, anyway....? Tick away!
And agree, it is a fab looking bird and so much easier than Wolferton!
I must admit before I knew the story of their origin I ticked them! Before deciding to retract it.
As you say I'm not sure what makes the Wolferton ones tick worthy and these not? Period of release perhaps? or successful wild breeding?
I'm sure someone knows
James Emerson
Norwich Birder
I must admit before I knew the story of their origin I ticked them! Before deciding to retract it.
As you say I'm not sure what makes the Wolferton ones tick worthy and these not? Period of release perhaps? or successful wild breeding?
I'm sure someone knows
The Sculthorpe ones are very straightforward - they aren't 'tickable' because they were raised in captivity and released there. Its the equivalent of ticking a Budgie that someone down the road has got bored of and let go.
Most people deem the Wolferton (and other small populations) tickable because they have been present for 40+ years (Birds of Norfolk suggests 1967 as a release date in this area). The individuals you see were born in the wild, to parents born in the wild etc etc. There is a grey area as to when an introduced population becomes self-sufficient, and indeed the amount of inbreeding is a problem for some people, so not everyone will count them, but that is personal preference.
kittykat23uk
Well-known member
Thanks for the information. Either way you still need a lot of luck to see the Sculthorpe bird(s). I know there were two but one seems to have absconded to the other side of the river apparently. I go there withmy non-birdy partner (he's more into photography). I told him to look out for the golden pheasant. To which he asked what it looked like. I just said you'll know it when you see it! And there it was!
If I might resurrect this thread, does anyone know about seeing GP's in the Brecklands? In LGRE's Site Guide book he says that Thetford Forest and East Wretham are good sites with the former supposedly holding 19 birds. Does anyone have any knowledge of this area such as where exactly to go etc?
TIA
Adam
TIA
Adam
