Information about birdwatching at Norfork areas 31st Oct-1st Nov 2009

Hi ND

Yes, the weather was a bit of bad luck - not your fault at all.  It was passable on Saturday, as the rain was light and not to bothersome at all.  The clouds lifted a bit but it was still dull and grey looking.

No luck with the Snow Buntings even though we brought our Scope with us, and we spent a lot of time in the first hide working out what we could see (the other hide is no more because of the replacement Sea Wall).

There was such a mass of birds of many species.  It would be hard to divide all the species of birds that where seen by many people all at one time. Hopefully we will return and get a better look in the next week or so - we need our car back so it will be the case.

So Snow Buntings we never saw sadly. {sad}

If you hear of any more news regarding the Snow Buntings let me know {thumbs up}

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Shame you had to curtail your trip but at least you got a few pics.  Better luck next time.  We were luckier here in the south as it was a lovely day on Saturday and I did manage to get out and see some birds.  I will post a report later after eating the roast dinner that my OH is busy cooking ;-)

Sounds as though it was a fruitful trip even if cut short Blackbird! Nice pics!

Kezmo - sounds lovely where you live!

Hi Blackbird

Forgot to say what lovely photos!

MarJus - actually it is a nice place to live.  I'm only really just realising how nice it is.  I've always loved wildlife but never had an opportunity to share my interest with others.  Have friends who like animals and appreciate birds but not to the extent that I do (although I don't know much about birds other than those in my garden, but learning every day).  Since joining the RSPB forum and talking to all of you and reading everyone's "adventures", I've started to get more into it and am now really noticing what's right on my doorstep.

Thank you for your replies everyone - really kind and thoughtful {smile}

SB: The weather was slightly wet on Saturday, so it was alright and then  it decided to tank it down on Sunday - so that was a bit unfortunate.  Love to read your report SB anytime, and I will look at your profile and look out for it as from today.

Kezmo: Thank you for your kind comments about my pictures. Yes, we where in Manningtree on Saturday. We have a place we go to get the car serviced MOT - once a year at this time dso it gives us an excuse to do a little birding too in the local area.  The River Stour was full of wildlife and the amount of Swans and Canadian Geese goes without saying.  There where some waders but we where in the car so it was hard to see what they where.

I do not know the Orwell Bridge but will look it up as you have mentionend there are birds to see there too.  We will be back to Manningtree either this weekedn or next weekedn when the car is needign to be picked up once more. So we hope that the weather is better this time.  At least the one day at Titchwell Marsh Reserve was very fruitful indeed - not to say we are tempted to back for another day out at Titchwell Marsh once more.

The RSPB Forum is a great place to chat to likemeinded people and as you say it is the best place for a good old chat about birds and wildlife.  I am on other forums connected with birds too, and I have met one or two people already and there is nothing like it to be honest - just to meet up at a Reserve and have a walk about with interesting people.

Marjus: Thank you the day was just the best as we have not been to Titchwell for a long time now.  People say visiting reserves like Titchwell Marsh is best done in wintertime as you get a better chance to see a larger assortment of birds.  So true, and we would say if you can go there - do so now!

Regards

Kathy and Dave

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A day at Titchwell Marsh - Saturday October 31^st 2009

We started the day with a drive from Bedford to Manningtree, Wix, Essex.  It took us just over 2 hours. This was because our SAAB needed an MOT.  There is a specialist dealer at Manningtree area who deals with our older type of car. 

So at 8.30am, in the morning, we set off aiming towards Manningtree.  The weather was a little wet, and dull looking but nothing to be too concerned about.  It was a little on the windy side.  While we drove along the motorways lots of Woodpigeons, and Crows flew about enjoying the thermals in the sky. 

We arrived, and past by through Mistley, had a cup of tea at one of our favourite spots. The River Stour was full of bird life of all sorts including the numerous Mute Swans and Canadian Geese around the area.   There where some shore birds, but they where a little too far out to see from a moving car.  I would have loved to know what they where but never mind.

Once we reached our destination, we went to the allocated private house.  There was bird song nearby as we parked the car in the car park.  I could see lots of bird feeders in the back garden area, so there are bird lovers living here too.   

I got out of the car, and I could hear, and see a Pied Wagtail flitting about above my head, chirruping as they do.  I looked up and there was one of these endearing little birds sitting on the nearby roof claiming his patch.  He jumped about catching small flies while flicking his tail up and down. He landed on the ground close-by, and flicked his tail although he was telling me something.  He was the boss of his patch, and that he presented himself.

Last year there was a lot of ducklings around this same place and they treated the garage area as their own.  A mother duck taking her ducklings for a walk into the garage.   People love them and their endearing personalities goes without saying.  There is an additional little wild area of water surrounded by Reeds close to the garage so it is ideal habititat for the local water birds to use and enjoy.

So we received our courtesy car, and continued our journey.  We headed towards Titchwell Marsh.  The weather was damp and there was a light misty rain.  So it was alright for a bit of birding.  Once at Titchwell Marsh we got out of the car, and went for another cup of tea  at the visitors centre.  A quick look at the Garden feeders to see if there was any activity.  We looked at a Male Pheasant sitting on the wooden pole where the feeders where.  He was happily preening himself, and not too worried about people being close by at all.  Quite a character, I think!

We then proceeded to the Reserve area aiming towards Island Hide.  A Blackbird made a lot of noise as we past by.  A couple of local Robins where having a neighbourly singing competition all of their own.  The Robin singing in the tree to the left of the pathway, and the other Robin singing in another tree to the right of the same pathway.  I thought there was some dispute going on there as the birds moved about in leaps and bounds while we walked past.  The song beat changed from high to low and high once more.  Lots of moving about the trees and rustling about, as the Robin’s claimed their territories.

The area looked a little dull due to the weather conditions.  Not a bright day, but the area was full of bird activity, and that was the reason why we where at Titchwell Marsh in the first place.  Most of the area of the Saltmarsh was dark, dingy and sad looking.  The area well hidden in lots of clumps of vegetation, so it was hard to see smaller birds in this habitat.  It was easy to see the group of Brent Geese moving about in the Saltmarsh area.  The Brent Geese where very content to remain as a social group of birds throughout our visit.  Others birds joined them as we watched them, and more birds left the group too .

I could hear Skylarks about somewhere though I thought it odd to hear them at this time of year unless it was another type of Lark making similar calls.  Close-knit flocks of Starling flew around us, and they whooshed around above our heads as they did.  They caused us to stop and look up at them, and they produced there own little formations on a miniature scale model of birds, as they flew around the area. 

A Coot makes a call in the nearby reed beds to the right of us as we proceeded along the path.  An odd little ‘baby type cry’ came from the Freshwater area.  Lots of bushy Reeds covered up the bird that was making the ‘sad’ noise.  The noise caused people to stop in their tracks to listen.  Then a debate began between people as to what it could be making the odd ‘sounding’ noise.

Our attention was taken by a distinctive whistling call from a BoP.  A Marsh Harrier was patrolling the area of the Freshwater Marsh Reed Bed in the distance.  We looked at the bird through our binoculars as it disappeared into the Reed Bed.  It swooped down for a second, and then reappearing once more, and flew into the thermals once more.   It looked although it was hunting by the way it was moving about, very skittish in its movements. The activity made it look over active although the bird was on a mission.  What a great find to see, as my OH has never seen one yet to this day. 

There was a significant amount of birds around the Freshwater marsh area.  The noise level was something to hear.   Once at the Island Hide we made ourselves comfortable.  We had brought our spotting scope to get the best benefits from the experience. We shared our experiences with a few likeminded people in the hides, and they with us.

We could see a Male Teal, and the bird in question remained close to the hide. The Shelducks looked a bit strange in their winter plumage.  Their plumage looked a lot more mottled in appearance, so gave an appearance that they where another species all together.  They looked quite scruffy, and mottled in appearance. 

In the distance we could see a couple of Pintail.  They looked really smart along with that distinctive pointed tail.  You could not mistake them at all.  There where male and female birds along beside each other as they liked to remain in a small social group as many want to at this time of year.

A very noble looking male Shoveller looking as large billed as ever moved about.  He remained in one area throughout our viewing session.  A lone Jack Snipe standing all by himself on the far embankment. We looked through the scope at the assortment of birds and there where a lot of Golden Plover standing in a large group spread over the small narrow inlet in the Freshwater Marsh.  Lots of noises, the  ‘Pee-wits’ calls from the Lapwings.  There seemed to be hundreds of the same bird around everywhere that you looked and they thrived so well.

A continuous hub of bird noises filled the air in all direction.  I sometimes thought I was hearing bird noise from another area in the far distance, and the extra ‘invisible’ birds where going to make an appearance anytime.  It was a haunting noise that filled the air for miles away,  and a joy to listen too.

The scope presented lots of Golden Plover flying about here and there along with a lot of Lapwings.  An assortment of gulls including a couple of GBBGs,  and many black Headed Gulls.  Avocet’s where sighted by other people so they where around.  A Curlews haunting call filled the air and they moved around in their twos and threes.  The place was drumming with bird activity.  Lots of Oyster Catchers about verbally staking their claim to the area.

Too many birds to see and it would take a keen eye to see one bird that stood out for the crowd.  The place was hectic with bird life.

We moved on and towards a clump of reeds in the Freshwater Marsh area.  A few people stood around the pathway with scopes set up.  Everyone was listening to the bird that made the ‘baby type cry’  (noted from earlier on).  We stood in wonder, waiting, and there was the appearance of the little bird – a Bearded Tit, or two of them in this case. They danced about the Reed on the waters edge, disappeared into the reeds, made the odd appearance, and disappeared once more.  They moved about fast and furious.  You had to be quick to see them at all.

The same Reeds patch close to the path had a flock of Reed Buntings hiding, flying, and feeding within the Reed Bed.  They danced about along with the Bearded Tits.  One Reed Bunting sat on a stalk of Reed closer to the pathway.  We managed to get a photo or two of the one bird.  The bird appeared not to be bothered about people being so close at all.  It was better to talk quietly as not to scare the bird away and to respect the bird itself.  All due respect for nature at all costs.

We moved on along the pathway and along past the new upgrades of the Sea Wall.  Another area close to the Brackish Marsh had little bird activity but here where odd birds her and there. A pair of Dab Chicks (Little Grebes) moved around close to the area.  An Egret in the distance flashing all white standing as upright as they do looking like statues silent, and motionless.   A couple of Redshank moved about and searched for food.  A Black Tailed Godwit stood and had a preen of its feather before continuing looking for food.  Two birds appeared to be together in a small social group.

The island nearby produced a lovely little flock of Chaffinches, as they landed in a group on the sandy area.  They sat as a group on the sandy island for a couple of minutes then moved on once more.  The flock moved in unison.

In a nearby bush, a Wren made it presence apparent.  It bobbed up and down a bank of green undergrowth next to the left of the pathway.  It was protesting its patch, and disappeared once more.

A Stonechat was noted on other bushes further into the marsh area, and it moved about a bit for some extra attention.  A Male Pheasant calling made us look around to the Saltmarsh once more and a Male Pheasant was strutting about showing his best side.

We arrived at the shore end to see lots more shore birds feeding at the shore side. Lapwings and Golden Plovers showed up well once more. There was other more ‘noted’ unusual birds around and people wanted to wait for that ‘intriguing’ moment for  the big event.  We though of it as cold a wet to hang about for too long so we headed on back to the visitors centre,

As we walked back, the birds situated on the Freshwater Marsh took off in a large flock leaving a large whoosh of noise as they flew up into the air.  The Golden Plover where the first to move as they did. Then the Lapwings joined up, and then groups of Starlings joined in.  The movement of the birds was fabulous to watch.  The whoosh of movement as the birds circled about each other.  It must be like a smaller version of the birds while they take off in a group first thing in the morning and later in the day from allocated Reserves.  Fabulous and mesmerizing to watch.

We went back to the visitors centre as it was getting dark now – the sun had dropped and the moon was up.  A criss cross of sky patterns.  We have a good afternoon, and we will be back again in the near future.

We went to our hotel, and felt we enjoyed the day what it had to offer.  On Sunday the weather was so bad we decided to go home.. so it was a lost cause that day.  We will be back in a week or two for our car so we will see what is on offer then.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

*Excellent* report Blackbird! I felt as though I was right there with you!!

Nicki C said:

I could hear Skylarks about somewhere though I thought it odd to hear them at this time of year unless it was another type of Lark making similar calls. 

Funny you mention that as I have distinctly heard skylarks this last week when watching my hares and also thought it was odd for this time of year!!

hi MarJus

Thank you for your kind comments about the report.

Yes, you have heard Skylarks too - I am sure this is a strange thing going on at the moment.

I wonder about the Larks now. 

There are at least 4 other types of Larks, but I do not know their history at all - or their calls.

Maybe someone here will tell us what is going on.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

I understood you can see skylarks all year round and as they eat insects and seeds, and the weather has been mild, they are still being very active. Our previous house was on a golf course and the skylarks were numerous.