Anser Birding Trip to Norfolk and Suffolk 25-28 January 2006
Anser Birding Trip to Norfolk and Suffolk 25-28 January 2006
Wednesday 25 January
Seven of us set off at 0700 and made Weather Heath in Suffolk our first birding stop. A couple of Stonechats fed from the gorse tops and up to four Buzzard soared over. A Green Woodpecker and some Fieldfare were also seen. Our target bird was a Northern Grey Shrike but it was not present. We called in here again on the way home and once again it was not seen. I found out the next day that it had shifted to the heath on the other side of the road.
We then headed for Horsey Mill passing a flock of 100 Pink-footed Geese and spent some time looking for a Hume’s Leaf Warbler (Hume’s Yellow Browed). A Chiffchaff showed for a long period and the Hume’s called a few times but did not show. A few Siskins perched or fed in the treetops. Marsh Harrier’s could be seen gathering over the reeds. We gave up searching as the winter light faded.
Thursday 26 January
A return to Horsey Mill and a search through the woodland passerines proved successful for a number of species. Treecreeper, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Coal Tit and Chiffchaff were all seen with a clear but brief view of the Hume’s Leaf Warbler. At least 12 Marsh Harrier and one ringtail Hen Harrier floated over the reeds. A flock of Snipe flew past. A large flock of wildfowl on the mere held all the common species. James’ heard some Bearded Tit calling. After loading up we continued along the coast to Caister on Sea again passing 700 Pink-footed Geese. At Caister on Sea we quickly located a flock of 350 Snow Bunting. The blizzard that was these stout and stunning wintering passerines provide a wonderful spectacle. The east wind was blowing the spray and foam up the beach and among the sand and pebbles the buntings were hard to see. When they took off it was a very different story, their wings showed varying amounts of white. Adult males, female and first winter males and females were all showing well. What a great way to see them.
We travelled into the broads again to Herringfleet Marshes where a flock of seven Tundra Bean Geese and a single Pink-footed could be watched. It was a good identification comparison. A Green Woodpecker and c30 Siskin distracted us from the goose watching. A drive around the Yare to Cantley Beet Factory to find the Taiga Bean goose followed. Looking from here and at Buckenham Marshes proved fruitless no Taiga Bean Geese were present. A flock of 12 E.White-fronted Geese and Greylag and Canada were present. A couple of Ruff were spotted by Alan, and the grazing marshes held a single Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Dunlin. MJM saw a Merlin near to some boxing Hares. A Kingfisher perched up on some sedge for us. Between the two marshes a small area of game cover attracted a finch and Reed Bunting flock, James spotted a male Brambling and it showed to all. On all of our travels around the farmland we constantly saw Red-legged Partridge and some Grey Partridge, Egyptian Geese were also seen regularly.
Nearing the afternoon we drove up to Hickling to witness the largest raptor roost in Britain. A brisk walk to the Stubb Mill viewing bank and our hardy bunch waited for the action to start. On arrival 18 Marsh Harrier were already on view as they wheeled and swooped over the reeds. Over the next hour at least two Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, 50-60 Marsh Harrier, 5-6 Hen Harrier including a male, A Barn Owl and an escaped Harris’s Hawk could be seen performing over the roost site. At one point five Hen Harrier flew together. As the light faded the flock of resident Common Crane took off and flew past, we counted at least 30 but it was reported as 36. They dropped into their roost site for the evening. A Christmas present hip flask was used to administer medicinal ‘coffee’ (single malt whisky) in the cold easterly evening wind. Carmel was vigilant enough to find a couple of Yellowhammer in a bush full of Fieldfare. On the return drive to the hotel a Woodcock flew over.
Friday 27 January
As MJM walked out of the front door a flock of 40 Siskin, two Lesser Redpoll and one Goldfinch greeted him, they gave scope filling views. We had decided the night before to head north to the coast of Norfolk rather than down into Suffolk. At Cromer from the clifftop we saw a few Fulmar, one Black-throated Diver, 15+ Red-throated Diver, four Guillemot and three Bar-tailed Godwit. We then drove the coast road to Holkham Bay seeing Dark-bellied Brent and Pink-footed Geese on the way.
Holkham Bay always provides a nice walk and some good birds. A flock of 200 Common Scoter surfed in the waves with five Eider and twelve Red-breasted Merganser. James saw a Long-tailed Duck in flight. We searched through the variety of waders with Sanderling, Knot and Dunlin being the commonest.
Our attention was then turned to passerines in the dunes and we were rewarded with a flight of c50 Snow Bunting low overhead. MJM located the six Shore Lark and a further 15 Snow B’s landed among them. After enjoying these winter stunners we saw a few Skylark flying out of the salt-marsh en-route back to the car. A visit to Titchwell followed and added two adult Black Brant (N. American Brent) with the flock of Dark-bellied Brent. They showed well for us and flew to a drinking pool for further views. Their full neck slashes and other plumage details were noted. Small groups of Pintail and Pochard were seen as well as three Avocet. Up the road at Choseley Drying Barns a flock of c30 Corn Bunting were on the wires and a Grey Partridge. A wild goose chase followed as we tried to locate a big flock of Pink-footed inland but only found two oak-tree perching Egyptian Geese and a showy Barn Owl.
A return to Holkham gave us stunning views of Dark-bellied Brent and another adult Black Brant. On close inspection what appeared to be a Brant x Brent hybrid was also with them and the id exercise was very interesting.
Saturday 28 January
A search for wild swans and a visit to Hickling Broad only added Goldeneye so we visited the North Sea Coast for one last time. A cold wind was blowing in of the sea, Bettie drew my attention to what she thought were Snow B’s and sure enough nine of them tumbled and fed in the dunes. The sea defences here held Turnstone and Oystercatcher and MJM found one Purple Sandpiper but it disappeared among the boulders. A return visit to Cantley and Buckenham Marshes still gave us no Taiga Bean Geese but the E. White-fronted Geese were up to 50. We had a long walk around a rather frozen Strumpshaw Fen where Bearded Tits and a Cetti’s Warbler were heard. Marsh Tits were seen around the car park and wood. We then headed for home ending a good few days of winter birding and noted about 116 species in total.
M.J.McGill (Leader) and James Lees (Co-leader).
Wednesday 25 January
Seven of us set off at 0700 and made Weather Heath in Suffolk our first birding stop. A couple of Stonechats fed from the gorse tops and up to four Buzzard soared over. A Green Woodpecker and some Fieldfare were also seen. Our target bird was a Northern Grey Shrike but it was not present. We called in here again on the way home and once again it was not seen. I found out the next day that it had shifted to the heath on the other side of the road.
We then headed for Horsey Mill passing a flock of 100 Pink-footed Geese and spent some time looking for a Hume’s Leaf Warbler (Hume’s Yellow Browed). A Chiffchaff showed for a long period and the Hume’s called a few times but did not show. A few Siskins perched or fed in the treetops. Marsh Harrier’s could be seen gathering over the reeds. We gave up searching as the winter light faded.
Thursday 26 January
A return to Horsey Mill and a search through the woodland passerines proved successful for a number of species. Treecreeper, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Coal Tit and Chiffchaff were all seen with a clear but brief view of the Hume’s Leaf Warbler. At least 12 Marsh Harrier and one ringtail Hen Harrier floated over the reeds. A flock of Snipe flew past. A large flock of wildfowl on the mere held all the common species. James’ heard some Bearded Tit calling. After loading up we continued along the coast to Caister on Sea again passing 700 Pink-footed Geese. At Caister on Sea we quickly located a flock of 350 Snow Bunting. The blizzard that was these stout and stunning wintering passerines provide a wonderful spectacle. The east wind was blowing the spray and foam up the beach and among the sand and pebbles the buntings were hard to see. When they took off it was a very different story, their wings showed varying amounts of white. Adult males, female and first winter males and females were all showing well. What a great way to see them.
We travelled into the broads again to Herringfleet Marshes where a flock of seven Tundra Bean Geese and a single Pink-footed could be watched. It was a good identification comparison. A Green Woodpecker and c30 Siskin distracted us from the goose watching. A drive around the Yare to Cantley Beet Factory to find the Taiga Bean goose followed. Looking from here and at Buckenham Marshes proved fruitless no Taiga Bean Geese were present. A flock of 12 E.White-fronted Geese and Greylag and Canada were present. A couple of Ruff were spotted by Alan, and the grazing marshes held a single Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Dunlin. MJM saw a Merlin near to some boxing Hares. A Kingfisher perched up on some sedge for us. Between the two marshes a small area of game cover attracted a finch and Reed Bunting flock, James spotted a male Brambling and it showed to all. On all of our travels around the farmland we constantly saw Red-legged Partridge and some Grey Partridge, Egyptian Geese were also seen regularly.
Nearing the afternoon we drove up to Hickling to witness the largest raptor roost in Britain. A brisk walk to the Stubb Mill viewing bank and our hardy bunch waited for the action to start. On arrival 18 Marsh Harrier were already on view as they wheeled and swooped over the reeds. Over the next hour at least two Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, 50-60 Marsh Harrier, 5-6 Hen Harrier including a male, A Barn Owl and an escaped Harris’s Hawk could be seen performing over the roost site. At one point five Hen Harrier flew together. As the light faded the flock of resident Common Crane took off and flew past, we counted at least 30 but it was reported as 36. They dropped into their roost site for the evening. A Christmas present hip flask was used to administer medicinal ‘coffee’ (single malt whisky) in the cold easterly evening wind. Carmel was vigilant enough to find a couple of Yellowhammer in a bush full of Fieldfare. On the return drive to the hotel a Woodcock flew over.
Friday 27 January
As MJM walked out of the front door a flock of 40 Siskin, two Lesser Redpoll and one Goldfinch greeted him, they gave scope filling views. We had decided the night before to head north to the coast of Norfolk rather than down into Suffolk. At Cromer from the clifftop we saw a few Fulmar, one Black-throated Diver, 15+ Red-throated Diver, four Guillemot and three Bar-tailed Godwit. We then drove the coast road to Holkham Bay seeing Dark-bellied Brent and Pink-footed Geese on the way.
Holkham Bay always provides a nice walk and some good birds. A flock of 200 Common Scoter surfed in the waves with five Eider and twelve Red-breasted Merganser. James saw a Long-tailed Duck in flight. We searched through the variety of waders with Sanderling, Knot and Dunlin being the commonest.
Our attention was then turned to passerines in the dunes and we were rewarded with a flight of c50 Snow Bunting low overhead. MJM located the six Shore Lark and a further 15 Snow B’s landed among them. After enjoying these winter stunners we saw a few Skylark flying out of the salt-marsh en-route back to the car. A visit to Titchwell followed and added two adult Black Brant (N. American Brent) with the flock of Dark-bellied Brent. They showed well for us and flew to a drinking pool for further views. Their full neck slashes and other plumage details were noted. Small groups of Pintail and Pochard were seen as well as three Avocet. Up the road at Choseley Drying Barns a flock of c30 Corn Bunting were on the wires and a Grey Partridge. A wild goose chase followed as we tried to locate a big flock of Pink-footed inland but only found two oak-tree perching Egyptian Geese and a showy Barn Owl.
A return to Holkham gave us stunning views of Dark-bellied Brent and another adult Black Brant. On close inspection what appeared to be a Brant x Brent hybrid was also with them and the id exercise was very interesting.
Saturday 28 January
A search for wild swans and a visit to Hickling Broad only added Goldeneye so we visited the North Sea Coast for one last time. A cold wind was blowing in of the sea, Bettie drew my attention to what she thought were Snow B’s and sure enough nine of them tumbled and fed in the dunes. The sea defences here held Turnstone and Oystercatcher and MJM found one Purple Sandpiper but it disappeared among the boulders. A return visit to Cantley and Buckenham Marshes still gave us no Taiga Bean Geese but the E. White-fronted Geese were up to 50. We had a long walk around a rather frozen Strumpshaw Fen where Bearded Tits and a Cetti’s Warbler were heard. Marsh Tits were seen around the car park and wood. We then headed for home ending a good few days of winter birding and noted about 116 species in total.
M.J.McGill (Leader) and James Lees (Co-leader).
posted by Anser Team at Sunday, January 29, 2006
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