A friend came up to do some birding this weekend so I took him around my patch of North west Norfolk.
With a minimum of driving and visiting a half dozen sites on a roughly circular route we started at Hunstanton, moved east along the coast via Titchwell then swung back inland and ended at Snettisham.
Our highlights were Barn Owl- at least 6, a single Little owl, over 1,000 scoter including a dozen Velvets, Red breasted Merganser, Red throated diver, Scaup, Fulmar, Ruff, Knot, Spotted Redshank. 3 Peregrines, 2 buzzards, 8 marsh harriers ( no sparrowhawk anywhere though) . Several flocks of Snow Buntings totalling over 50 birds , 30 Twite and 2 Shore larks. Despite snow and some sites being frozen over our total was about 90 species.
He's probably coming back in April for more :)
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
North West Norfolk SPRING DAYS OUT BIRDING - - the rule is BE FLEXIBLE- stuff turns up anywhere :)
Day 1- Start at first light at Snettisham coastal park- north end in early spring- south end late spring- listen to dawn chorus/ hunt for migrants, Move on to Holme NOA to see what has been caught at the obs - visit NWT depending on news; ( Mid mornng Coffee ) Then on to Titchwell for lunch and waders.
Day 2- Start at Cley and then along coast east or westwards checking any sites where news says there are good birds- local info etc.
Day 3- Drive to Lakenheath for dawn start and work back to Sculthorpe or back up to Cley or Titchwell .
:)
Boosted for Beginners and visitors to Norfolk in Spring
Anonymous said: Hi Craig Will do, and thank you for wishing us a good time - we will make the best of the long weekend we have going for us Regards Kathy and Dave I would go with the planning before you set off. Norfolk has so many different places to visiting for wildlife walks and birding. Have a great time. Craig
Hi Craig
Will do, and thank you for wishing us a good time - we will make the best of the long weekend we have going for us
Regards
Kathy and Dave
I would go with the planning before you set off. Norfolk has so many different places to visiting for wildlife walks and birding.
Have a great time.
Craig
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Hi- Use Neil Glenn's guide to birding sites in Norfolk ( available at Titchwell RSPB shop)
You can't beat it :)
Off to Titchwell and probably Cley today myself weather permitting. The guide sounds useful I'll see if I can pick one up at the shop.
Andrew
seymouraves said:- the rule is BE FLEXIBLE- stuff turns up anywhere :)
How true that is about everything. A thought for today.
Tiger Signature
North west Horfolk AUTUMN BIRDING
August Wader and migrant watching-
Pick your site, Titchwell or Cley/ Salthouse and I suggest the following hints;
Check for migrants early- Holme or Warham Greens then move onto the waders by about 10 am ( Cley isnt open to non members early morning) also the light is not as good from North hide if the sun is bright.
Check with Birdline or other Info service about 1pm and see if anything good has been found.
Remember Titchwell is better to WATCH at after noon ( you look east from the bank) as is Cley North hide because of the sun.
North Norfolk AUTUMN Migrant hunting
The best sites ( unless you want to walk up Blakeney Point) are Warham Greens, Stiffkey campsite wood , Burnham Overy and Holme . Wells woods are great sometimes but the area is extensive and the car parking is expensive especially at Lady Ann's drive.
Check with Birding info services the night before for news and check the weather. NE winds are best - ( if they are really hard NE winds then a sea watch from Cley, Titchwell or Sheringham is suggested) anything with a degree of east is OK.
North Norfolk day out-
I shall be in the field on Monday- starting at Hunstanton Lighthouse for seaduck then on to Holme GC, moving on to Titchwell RSPB the rest of the morning.
If it works- don't fix it
Did a weekend trip into Norfolk with some old Birding buddies- Friday after lunch we drove across to start at Salthouse ( Snow buntings ) , moved to Warham Greens for dusk raptors- ( Peregrine, Hen harrier). Next day started near Cley ( found Waxwings) moved to Titchwell ( Brambling, Siskin, Velvet Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, Black necked Grebe, Spotted Redshank, Merlin, Kittiwake, Fulmar). Next day visited Eldernell ( Cranes ) and went our separate ways at noon .
Seymour,that sounds like a good route must try and keep it on record for our next trip down.Quite like the idea of Warham for raptors,we usually end up at Stubbs Mill,magic spot in my opinion.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can