Hi thereWe will get up on Saturday, and leave at 7.30am on the morning. We will be heading towards Essex area. ..Manningtree (near Mistley) to drop of the car for its MOT and we will have another car to tide us for a couple of weeks or so - (then we will go back to Manningtree for another visit to pick up the car once more) - more bird watching perhaps we will see. o:)o:)o:)So this weekend OH has got us a B & B at Kings Lynn for Bird watching purposes. If we need to get up at the crack of dawn to see anything interesting we will. OH has suggested visiting Cley but there are other places of interest too ie Titchwell.Anyone know of any interesting birds around in these areas mentioned at the moment - it is autumn and it is a great opportunity to see all sorts.Any advice/information would be appreciated.RegardsKathy and DAve
Hi Blackbird, I don't know the area at all I'm afraid but I just wanted to say I hope you have a good weekend.
You are lucky. I have a hard job prising my OH away from golf and football and have to go birdwatching on my own. Still, I enjoy the peace and quiet and usually find someone to pass the time of day with.
Have fun and I look forward to seeing the photos.
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
Hi SB
Thank for for your kind comments about my trip.
I have been to Titchwell at Norfolk in the past, but it was a year or two ago. We visited Cley briefly and that is only Reserves we have visited in that area.
So we are looking forward to seeing more this time. So it will be a busy weekend.
Yes, the camera and the bins will be out with us no doubt {smile}
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Unknown said: Hi Blackbird, I don't know the area at all I'm afraid but I just wanted to say I hope you have a good weekend. You are lucky. I have a hard job prising my OH away from golf and football and have to go birdwatching on my own. Still, I enjoy the peace and quiet and usually find someone to pass the time of day with. Have fun and I look forward to seeing the photos.
Hi Kathy, what about Pensthorpe?
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
hi Squirrel
Never thought of that one LOL, and it is really close to Kings Lyn (from what I can see on the reserve map) - autumnwatch country
Thank you and another place to consider.
Even if we do not do what we want this time there is another time coming up in the near future
We will be going back that way when our car is fixed so it is an open book at the moment.
Squirrel B said: Hi Kathy, what about Pensthorpe?
Sounds as if you have a full itinerary of places to visit Kathy, so do enjoy yourself and have a great weekend.
Both Titchwell beach and the shingle bank at Cley have been good for snow buntings recently, Jack Snipe have been at Titchwell for several weeks, and a snow goose with the pink-foots in the Brancaster area (only a couple of miles from Titchwell). Bearded tits have been showing well at both places too (aslong as it is not too windy)
If you are staying at Kings Lynn then a trip to Snettisham is always a great day out, timing is everything though, unfortunately the tides are probably not good for spectacular wader displays, and you need to make a really early start (I mean in the dark) for the best views of pink-foots leaving the roost, unfortunately we are coming up to a full moon which is also a problem as the geese will carry on feeding in the light rather than return to the roost.
The other thing you need to remember about Snettisham is that there is no visitor centre or toilet facilities like Titchwell and it is a long walk (over a mile) from the car park, if you don'y know your way around it is probably not a good idea whilst it is still dark, although there are plenty of lagoons and other good bird habitat along the way, and there should always be something to see. Wrap up warm as even by Norfolk coast standards this is a fairly bleak location especially if the wind is from the north or east.
Apart from the reserves there are plenty of other locations along the coast road and there is a good chance of large geese flocks almost any where and possibility of Marsh Harrier, Holkham and Wells area are often very good and can be linked by a walk along the beach and through the woods (Can recommend French's in Wells for excellent fish n chips).
Check the weather forecast, if it's not so good then agree a trip to Pensthorpe could be a good idea (guaranteed Cranes, if you're prepared to cheat a bit???) but a great location if you want to practice a bit of photography as plenty of other birds too.
If you want to see Cranes in the wild the best location is go to Hickling and walk to Stubb mill (afternoon is best), but that's the opposite end of the county (Norfolk Broads) to Kings Lynn, there have been 4 or 5 cranes at Welney WWT recently and that isn't too far from Lynn, also should be lots of other ducks and geese, I understand a few whooper swans are back but the bulk are still in Iceland.
Whatever you decide I hope you enjoy your weekend in 'Bird County'
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag" Mary Poppins
Another thing to remember about Titchwell at the moment, and this shouldn't spoil your enjoyment, but there is a fair bit of work going on with the new tidal defences so may not be as you remember, unfortunately it also means that one of the hides has been demolished.
hi Brenda
Thank you I will enjoy myself a lot and I hope that the weather is on our side too.
There are a lot of places to visit and it is choosing the best one to see the best birds.
Will report here once back {thumbs up}
Unknown said: Sounds as if you have a full itinerary of places to visit Kathy, so do enjoy yourself and have a great weekend.
Hi ND
Thank you for your interestining and detailed reply. Lots of food for thought there.
I think if the wehater is not good ( I think the weather is high winds and rain) as you and Squirrel have mentioned together, Penthrope would be a good idea too. Never seen a crane close up at all. Love that a lot as I hear the Cranes in Norfolk being mentioned continualluy in TV and in all sorts of media - so now must live it instead.
Snow bunting ... now that ould be something else to see - are they still in their dark plumage at the moment?
Thank you for the warning about the lack of tiolets at Snettisham - got to have our mod cons to keep us going {eek}
We will be dressed in the winter woollies when we go to Norfolk as that prevailing wind of the coast is freezing - better being safe than sorry,
OH will like the thought of those fish and chips. Ideal cold weather food in the making - yum.
So when Dave comes back on Firday night we will have a good old chat about it, and show what has said on this thread, and see what we decide to do ..... either do Plan A and Plan B style of course.
Thank you once more
Nicki C said: Snow bunting ... now that ould be something else to see - are they still in their dark plumage at the moment?
They are still in winter plumage but a charming bird all the same, often hang about in small flocks of about 10 -15.
Although they move about quite a bit you stand a good chance of seeing them at Titchwell or Cley, at Titchwell walk along the main path to the beach and then toss a coin to decide if you go right of left:-) or look for small groups of people on the beach that appear to be looking at nothing, as the birds are well camouflaged in the sand and shells, there is often somebody at the viewing platform who will tell you if they have been about.
At Cley they tend to favour the shingle bank at the Arnolds Marsh end of the East Bank, pick up a map from the impressive new visitors centre (great views whilst you drink your coffee) and you should be able to find your way about.
I Have included a link for Bird Guides, if you are not a subscriber you cannot access all the info but I think (not sure about this though) you can access 'todays' sightings, If not I will have a look later today and let you know what has been about, although many reports are just passing through others are reported for several days/weeks.
http://www.birdguides.com/home/default.asp