Reader
Well-known member
I pulled away from Birmingham at 03:30 am and 150 miles, and 2 & half-hours later; I pulled into the Wayland Wood Car Park in Norfolk. My quarry, the Golden Pheasant that are resident there. I dipped out on them two weeks previously so I had arrived at the crack of dawn to hopefully track them down by their call, as they are usually vocal at that time of day.
There was a Ford Fiesta parked in the small car park with the driver’s window down and the engine was running. I paid no attention to it, thinking that the driver was probably following the call of nature somewhere in the wood. I sat in the car for a few minutes listening for any calls and still the car engine was running, but no sign of the driver. The wood was full of song. Chaffinch, Greenfinch Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Chiffchaff, Crows, Woodpigeon, Marsh, Great, Blue and Long tail Tits could be heard everywhere as well a couple of Nuthatch and a Green Woodpecker that was yaffling in the distance. Our usual Pheasants were screeching and fluttering their wings all over the wood. A Treecreeper flew across me and seemed to stick to the side of a tree trunk, before flying on further into the wood and out of sight.
Over the far side of the wood I heard a Golden Pheasant call so I was off. I decided not to take my camera, as any sightings of these birds are either a Linford Christie type sprint across a ride or a fleeting glimpse under tangled undergrowth. As I passed the other car I looked in and what I saw was a sight that shook me somewhat. It was a young couple that had fallen asleep obviously mid way through a love making session. This made for a funny story, at the Ship at Dunwich, when I recounted this moment to the other members present.
I had walked a couple of hundred yards when a Golden Pheasant called right by the side of me. First thoughts were to look into the undergrowth but I couldn’t see any movement. It called again and I looked up to see the bird perched about ten feet up on a tree and only about 15 feet away from me. It was posing for me and I hadn’t brought my camera. Jeez that would have been a good one for the gallery. I eased away gently, until it was out of sight, and then rushed back to the car for my camera but when I got back to where the Pheasant had been it had gone. At least I had gotten my first target bird.
My next two target birds could hopefully be located at Lynford Arboretum so that was my next port of call. As I passed Lynford Hall a lovely Muntjac strolled across the path of my car and into the wood to the left of me. I tried for a photo but it was much too dark in there and no images were captured.
I arrived at Lynford Arboretum car park where the trees seemed alive with Chaffinches, as they seemed to be everywhere. I realised that I ought to be looking for photo opportunities for the new competition so I looked skywards, to the top of the trees, but nothing was showing. Still, on a gorgeous sunny morning such as this day, surely opportunities would come my way. A couple of Jays were high up in the tree canopy making a real racket. They moved swiftly through the trees but their noise seemed to echo throughout the woods. A couple of Coal Tit could be seen in the car park and as I watched them I became aware of another bird further back in the trees. It came nearer to the front and it was a beautiful male Brambling, just coming into its summer plumage. The orange and black seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.
I walked back across the road; I had arrived on, and carried on towards the small lake and bridge. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was first bird seen, followed by a Song Thrush in full song. The thrush was situated right at the top of a tree so I had a chance to go for a comp photo but as usual it wouldn’t stay still. I tracked it up and down the branch as it moved, first one way then the other, firing one shot off after another. I managed a few average shots and I have put the best one of them in the gallery.
Moving swiftly on towards the bridge a movement caught my eye. I turned to look at the base of the tree where the Song Thrush had been and couldn’t believe my eyes. 4 Male Crossbills were doing a Treecreeper type walk up the side of the stump. I was so taken aback by this that I completely forgot all about my camera and just watched, enthralled by their antics. By the time I had my composure back it was too late as they had flown towards where my next port of call was. Still it was a nice way to get my 2nd target bird.
Reaching the bridge I noticed a couple of Wrens that were chattering away and displaying to each other. There was never a chance of taking a photo as they were constantly on the move, in and out of the reeds and undergrowth, and you never knew where they would turn up next. A few times they popped up only feet from me but soon dropped back into the depths of the reeds.
Moving on I came to the area well known for my third target bird, Hawfinch. Just past the bridge is a field, on your right, with a row of Hornbeams and it is here, either in the trees or the leaf litter, that you can usually find them. Another birder joined me and we both scanned seemingly every blade of grass, leaf and branches in the vain hope of seeing one of these beauties. All to no avail. A Kestrel swooped over us and as we watched him a flock of birds flew over our heads and into the trees in the middle of the field. They were Crossbills, mainly males, and we counted at least 13 of them. These Crossbills sometimes dropped into the perfect position for me, at the topmost part of the tree, but always moving on when I had aligned the camera on them. The other birder found it extremely funny as I missed chance after chance of getting just one photo of these lovely male Crossbills. After about 90 mins of searching it became a reality that perhaps the Hawfinch weren’t going to show so both of us decided to carry on to Mayday Farm for my next target bird, the Goshawk. On the way back we were treated to more shows by the Crossbills, as they seemed to be following us until they disappeared near to the disabled car park. Once again the Great spotted Woodpecker made an appearance but quickly disappeared from view.
On a day like today, Mayday Farm is a nice place to be. You walk between to rows of pines until you come to a clearing and here is where you find the Goshawk. I will put a more detailed description in the Norfolk County Index.
The other birder (Ivor was his name & hopefully he and his mate will join the forum) and I carried on, passed the bird hide on our left. Along the way we joined up with another birder (hopefully he will join as well). We arrived at the clearing, where, hopefully, the Goshawks would show. Here, on your right, is a small pool of water behind a small fence. It is hidden from view and is totally overgrown, but the birds it attracts are wonderful to watch. Bramblings, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, Yellowhammer , Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Great & Blue Tit, Long Tail Tit all visited whilst we were there. I managed to get a couple of shots of a Yellowhammer, one of which is in the gallery. But where were the star birds?
We didn’t have to wait long. At about 10am the third birder, who had joined us, spotted them in the distance. Pretty soon we were watching a pair of displaying Goshawks and the size difference between the two sexes soon became evident as they came closer. Every now and again they would drift back into the distance only to reappear again close by. This went on for just over 15 minutes before they disappeared totally from view. That is the first time I have witnessed a pair of displaying Goshawks before. Hopefully it won’t be the last time.
That was it in Norfolk for me as I was now about to venture into the southern regions of Suffolk.
Norfolk, for me, was a brilliant few hours in gorgeous weather. Could I better it in the next few hours in Suffolk?
You will have to read Part 2 to find out where I went, and what I saw.
There was a Ford Fiesta parked in the small car park with the driver’s window down and the engine was running. I paid no attention to it, thinking that the driver was probably following the call of nature somewhere in the wood. I sat in the car for a few minutes listening for any calls and still the car engine was running, but no sign of the driver. The wood was full of song. Chaffinch, Greenfinch Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Chiffchaff, Crows, Woodpigeon, Marsh, Great, Blue and Long tail Tits could be heard everywhere as well a couple of Nuthatch and a Green Woodpecker that was yaffling in the distance. Our usual Pheasants were screeching and fluttering their wings all over the wood. A Treecreeper flew across me and seemed to stick to the side of a tree trunk, before flying on further into the wood and out of sight.
Over the far side of the wood I heard a Golden Pheasant call so I was off. I decided not to take my camera, as any sightings of these birds are either a Linford Christie type sprint across a ride or a fleeting glimpse under tangled undergrowth. As I passed the other car I looked in and what I saw was a sight that shook me somewhat. It was a young couple that had fallen asleep obviously mid way through a love making session. This made for a funny story, at the Ship at Dunwich, when I recounted this moment to the other members present.
I had walked a couple of hundred yards when a Golden Pheasant called right by the side of me. First thoughts were to look into the undergrowth but I couldn’t see any movement. It called again and I looked up to see the bird perched about ten feet up on a tree and only about 15 feet away from me. It was posing for me and I hadn’t brought my camera. Jeez that would have been a good one for the gallery. I eased away gently, until it was out of sight, and then rushed back to the car for my camera but when I got back to where the Pheasant had been it had gone. At least I had gotten my first target bird.
My next two target birds could hopefully be located at Lynford Arboretum so that was my next port of call. As I passed Lynford Hall a lovely Muntjac strolled across the path of my car and into the wood to the left of me. I tried for a photo but it was much too dark in there and no images were captured.
I arrived at Lynford Arboretum car park where the trees seemed alive with Chaffinches, as they seemed to be everywhere. I realised that I ought to be looking for photo opportunities for the new competition so I looked skywards, to the top of the trees, but nothing was showing. Still, on a gorgeous sunny morning such as this day, surely opportunities would come my way. A couple of Jays were high up in the tree canopy making a real racket. They moved swiftly through the trees but their noise seemed to echo throughout the woods. A couple of Coal Tit could be seen in the car park and as I watched them I became aware of another bird further back in the trees. It came nearer to the front and it was a beautiful male Brambling, just coming into its summer plumage. The orange and black seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.
I walked back across the road; I had arrived on, and carried on towards the small lake and bridge. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was first bird seen, followed by a Song Thrush in full song. The thrush was situated right at the top of a tree so I had a chance to go for a comp photo but as usual it wouldn’t stay still. I tracked it up and down the branch as it moved, first one way then the other, firing one shot off after another. I managed a few average shots and I have put the best one of them in the gallery.
Moving swiftly on towards the bridge a movement caught my eye. I turned to look at the base of the tree where the Song Thrush had been and couldn’t believe my eyes. 4 Male Crossbills were doing a Treecreeper type walk up the side of the stump. I was so taken aback by this that I completely forgot all about my camera and just watched, enthralled by their antics. By the time I had my composure back it was too late as they had flown towards where my next port of call was. Still it was a nice way to get my 2nd target bird.
Reaching the bridge I noticed a couple of Wrens that were chattering away and displaying to each other. There was never a chance of taking a photo as they were constantly on the move, in and out of the reeds and undergrowth, and you never knew where they would turn up next. A few times they popped up only feet from me but soon dropped back into the depths of the reeds.
Moving on I came to the area well known for my third target bird, Hawfinch. Just past the bridge is a field, on your right, with a row of Hornbeams and it is here, either in the trees or the leaf litter, that you can usually find them. Another birder joined me and we both scanned seemingly every blade of grass, leaf and branches in the vain hope of seeing one of these beauties. All to no avail. A Kestrel swooped over us and as we watched him a flock of birds flew over our heads and into the trees in the middle of the field. They were Crossbills, mainly males, and we counted at least 13 of them. These Crossbills sometimes dropped into the perfect position for me, at the topmost part of the tree, but always moving on when I had aligned the camera on them. The other birder found it extremely funny as I missed chance after chance of getting just one photo of these lovely male Crossbills. After about 90 mins of searching it became a reality that perhaps the Hawfinch weren’t going to show so both of us decided to carry on to Mayday Farm for my next target bird, the Goshawk. On the way back we were treated to more shows by the Crossbills, as they seemed to be following us until they disappeared near to the disabled car park. Once again the Great spotted Woodpecker made an appearance but quickly disappeared from view.
On a day like today, Mayday Farm is a nice place to be. You walk between to rows of pines until you come to a clearing and here is where you find the Goshawk. I will put a more detailed description in the Norfolk County Index.
The other birder (Ivor was his name & hopefully he and his mate will join the forum) and I carried on, passed the bird hide on our left. Along the way we joined up with another birder (hopefully he will join as well). We arrived at the clearing, where, hopefully, the Goshawks would show. Here, on your right, is a small pool of water behind a small fence. It is hidden from view and is totally overgrown, but the birds it attracts are wonderful to watch. Bramblings, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, Yellowhammer , Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Great & Blue Tit, Long Tail Tit all visited whilst we were there. I managed to get a couple of shots of a Yellowhammer, one of which is in the gallery. But where were the star birds?
We didn’t have to wait long. At about 10am the third birder, who had joined us, spotted them in the distance. Pretty soon we were watching a pair of displaying Goshawks and the size difference between the two sexes soon became evident as they came closer. Every now and again they would drift back into the distance only to reappear again close by. This went on for just over 15 minutes before they disappeared totally from view. That is the first time I have witnessed a pair of displaying Goshawks before. Hopefully it won’t be the last time.
That was it in Norfolk for me as I was now about to venture into the southern regions of Suffolk.
Norfolk, for me, was a brilliant few hours in gorgeous weather. Could I better it in the next few hours in Suffolk?
You will have to read Part 2 to find out where I went, and what I saw.
