Griswold’s Vacations 2022 (2 Viewers)

[ClarkWGriswold]

Planning on a week in Norfolk with the family for February half term. Just booked the ferry for North Uist at the end of May. Have chosen the Uig to Lochmaddy crossing this time. I’ve been told it’s less likely to be cancelled than the the Mallaig to Lochboisdale route. Hope this is the case. The less time the hound is on the ferry the better.

Trip with friends is undecided at present. A mate who’s not a birder would like a pub within walking distance. None of us are arguing with her Flamborough in Autumn is a possible.

I suspect I’ll have a couple of nights away with my youngest at some stage as well. Toying with a night in Devon in a couple of weeks. Maybe go for Cirl Buntings and stop at Ham Wall on our way home.

Rich

 

[KC Foggin]

I hope all goes well and you have a great time Rich

 

[Julie50]

Ham Walls always worth a trip Hope all goes well

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Cheers both.

Rich

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

First (very) mini break booked tomorrow. Setting off at 5:30 for Labrador Bay. Then over to Arne and back to Wells for an overnight stay. Was just going to be me and the youngest but the old man decided he’d like to come along as well.

As such we’ll probably give the Baikal Teal a miss. He’s 76 and I don’t particularly want him in a packed hide. Plus I’m not great with crowds. So we’ll likely end up at Westhay and Ham Wall. Love both those places so no hardship.

Have a meal booked at The Crown Hotel in Wells so hopefully that’ll be decent. It’s where they filmed some of the Hot Fuzz scenes - Yarp

Hoping to add Greylag to my year list

Rich

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Sounds good Rich, look forward to seeing how you get on. Good luck.

 

[Lisa W]

Have a great time.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Cheers both.

Rich

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Cracking couple of days with my youngest and old man. Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

Left Neath at 5:30 and made good time to Labrador Bay. Quite quiet there tbh but a couple of fields to the West held double figures of Cirl Buntings. Always good to see.

Now it was off to Arne. Again, quiet around the reserve. Some very friendly volunteers at the look out and good to get some year ticks - Avocet, Blackwits etc.

Checking BirdGuides showed Studland Bay had some interesting stuff. A quick dash over past Corfe Castle and we were there. Our first visit here. Great place. Very popular with dog walkers. Out in the bay we immediately picked out the GND. And then once we got our eye in a few more species started appearing - Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Red Breasted Mergansers and Common Scoter. Time to back to Wells. The countryside in this area really is beautiful.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

We stayed at The Swan in Wells which is a Best Western. Very central and really decent rooms. Would definitely stay there again though would probably go elsewhere for breakfast. It was not very generous though the coffee was good.

In the evening we had a meal at The Crown. Several scenes from Hot Fuzz were filmed outside. A great film if you haven’t seen it. Food was decent. Though if you’re going to serve pork belly the skin should be crispy IMO. Good selection of beers though I limited myself to one Doom Bar.

The Crown At Wells

www.crownatwells.co.uk

The Swan Hotel, Wells | Book Direct For The Best Prices

Over 600 years old, The Swan in Wells, Somerset is a stunning hotel which merges the classic history of the city and modern amenities.

swanhotelwells.co.uk

 

[Lisa W]

Sounds like a great couple of days, had to look up Blackwit in OPUS, surprised to see no photos.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Sounds like a great couple of days, had to look up Blackwit in OPUS, surprised to see no photos.

Sorry Lisa. Shorthand for Black-tailed Godwit.

Rich

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

So this morning we headed down to Ham Wall. Some stunning views of Marsh Harrier and the local Barn Owl has been using the Avalon Hide to feed on its prey. Evidently Starlings are a favoured prey item. Might not want to open up the photo below as it’s a tad gruesome.

A few Great White Egrets were around along with ChiffChaff, Shovellers, GCG’s etc. One of my favourite places to visit.

Next it was off to Westhay. Another brilliant little reserve but we only visited 2 hides today. Highlights were another Marsh Harrier and a squealing Water Rail.

Next it was off to Tealham Moor. Quickly located the Canada Geese where BirdGuides had given directions to but the views were obscured. Quickly worked out we’d have better views back up the road. Sure enough, we immediately located the Tundra Bean Goose. A superb looking bird. Another birder pulled over and also enjoyed the great views. She’d been having a great day with the Plover, Ring Ouzel and now this. Then a tour group pulled over and they quickly got on to it.

Now it was off to Burnham on Sea. Driving past a field Max noticed the bill on the egret was yellow/orange. Sure enough he’d found a Cattle Egret and he was more than pleased. We later passed a field with double figures of them. At Burnham the tide was out so we quickly gave up. I’m off the week after next so might give the Plover a go then. We early on decided not to go for the Baikal Teal. My old man is very fit but he’s 76 and I didn’t want him in a busy hide. Later spoke to someone who’d been there and said that it was relatively quiet. Again, might give it a go next week when I’m on my own.

Ended the couple of days with 75 species. Had a great time and Max is looking forward to our next night away. He wants to go back to Ham Wall in Spring. I’m ok with that.

If squeamish do not open the photo below

 

[Lisa W]

Sorry Lisa. Shorthand for Black-tailed Godwit.

Rich

Thanks, Rich. That makes sense now.

 

[Farnboro John]

Thanks, Rich. That makes sense now.

So you won't have any trouble with Barwit or Hudwit then....

John

 

[KenM]

If you don’t mind Rich, I’ll resist viewing the Starlings last moments, however a good selection of birds seen so far keep up the good work and envy the Cirl Bunts. haven’t seen those for years.👍

Ken

 

[Lisa W]

So you won't have any trouble with Barwit or Hudwit then....

John

Well let’s see - Hudwit is Hudsonian Godwit and Barwit is Bar-tailed Godwit. I might be old but can still intuit some things.

 

[Stu57]

Cracking couple of days with my youngest and old man. Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

Left Neath at 5:30 and made good time to Labrador Bay. Quite quiet there tbh but a couple of fields to the West held double figures of Cirl Buntings. Always good to see.

Now it was off to Arne. Again, quiet around the reserve. Some very friendly volunteers at the look out and good to get some year ticks - Avocet, Blackwits etc.

Checking BirdGuides showed Studland Bay had some interesting stuff. A quick dash over past Corte Castle and we were there. Our first visit here. Great place. Very popular with dog walkers. Out in the bay we immediately picked out the GND. And then once we got our eye in a few more species started appearing - Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Red Breasted Mergansers and Common Scoter. Time to back to Wells. The countryside in this area really is beautiful.

Hi Rich

Wow sounds like a busy but very productive couple of days some great spots 👍.

I was at Ham Wall Saturday it really is a fantastic place so many different varieties of waders and Ducks etc.

Did you try the bacon and sausage rolls at the Avalon Marsh Centre? very tasty.

Avalon hide looks like a scene from a horror movie it put me right off my sandwiches lol 😆.

Me and my wife did Arne and Corfe Castle a couple of years back for our wedding anniversary it was stunning.

Cheers Stu

 

[Owene]

The Avalon hide's been like that for a few weeks now, the volunteers warned about it but I was expecting something a lot more subtle than the carnage I actually discovered when I went in. The Owl has been very busy.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Hi Rich

Wow sounds like a busy but very productive couple of days some great spots 👍.

I was at Ham Wall Saturday it really is a fantastic place so many different varieties of waders and Ducks etc.

Did you try the bacon and sausage rolls at the Avalon Marsh Centre? very tasty.

Avalon hide looks like a scene from a horror movie it put me right off my sandwiches lol 😆.

Me and my wife did Arne and Corfe Castle a couple of years back for our wedding anniversary it was stunning.

Cheers Stu

Hi Stu. Thanks for the tip on the sarnies. Will have to give it a go. Have stopped previously at the cafe by Westhay which was decent enough.

I enjoyed reading your write up of your Saturday trip. Such a great reserve. The boy is talking about going back in May to hear the Bitterns booming.

Rich