It was a short night, having waited up for Big Ben and the London fireworks at midnight. It would probably have been better if we'd waited until it was light before setting off. The sun did begin to make its way up from the east behind us, I could see a golden glow in the sky. Looking to the front, it was dark with low cloud which became drizzle and light rain. So few birds about, we'd barely reached double figures by Sculthorpe Mill, our first port of call.
Our first definite identification bird was a Blackbird after a couple of 'might have been' Tawny Owl and Blackbird flash and gone sightings. Not a good augury for the year. In common with many other birders, I like to see a 'good' bird first on the lst. At least the list had been started.
Our usual Tree Sparrow site only had chirping House Sparrows and our second sighting of Red Kite. We had five in total, one swooping down to the road in front of us. In a fairly confined area, they could all have been the same bird. We saw five raptors during the day, Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier. It's the first time I can remember missing out on at least one species of Owl.
Scouring the small mixed flock in the hedgerows at Abbey Farm, we found Tree Sparrows but no Brambling nor Greenfinch nor Yellowhammer. Where are they?
We had Snettisham RSPB to ourselves most of the time. Not a low, low tide, the waders were well scattered across the mud. A flock of 3,000 + Golden Plover huddled low in a long line, not even a gleam of gold showing in the dull light and drizzle,
I don't remember ever seeing a larger flock.
A few Goldeneyes on the pits, Cormorants and Lapwings with the usual flock of Greylag. We depend on here for our wader list, not a long one to-day.
A white bird flying in to one of the large muddy creeks became a Spoonbill, which then actively fed along the channel beloved of Wigeon and Teal. It's feeding action always reminds me of an old Hoover advert. ' It beats as it sweeps and it cleans'.
Sunny Hunny wasn't, but again, the queue of cars from Dersingham onwards and then the no parking left clifftop was testament to its draw for holidaymakers and locals. Driving as slowly as we dared, we both managed to add Fulmar to the list, birds occasionally appearing above the cliff edge.
Bumping, lumping and complaining our way out to Holme reserve was next - to add Magpie and Shoveller.
Would there be room at Thornham? Another favourite place for dog walkers, birders and New Year's Day in Norfolk trippers. No-one had used the muddy area in front of the small car park, until we did. Everywhere else was lined with cars and walkers. We had a look around and thought we'd try the car park as the Twite come down to the puddles to drink. The far end had a very large puddle and no cars so we drove through it and up onto the grassy bank from which we had a good view of the beach and marsh whilst eating our turkey soup lunch. Lovely, no people in the car park and the sun came out for a short while. Then, two women set up their scopes in front of the car !!! Soon after, I saw a few Twite land on the old wooden posts to our left.I was just in time to take a couple of photos before birders appeared from nowhere, pushed past my lens and lined up, totally filling our view. No excuse for that.
We soon left and thanks to Pam's sharp eyes - I only knew when she stopped suddenly near the Coal Barn - we had our first friend ticks of the new year. Sue and Ian and Richard and Julie. They'd got to Titchwell early enough to be able to park and to walk to the sea where they'd seen Peregrine and a Bonxie. The car parks were now jammed with others waiting. That was our next stop to use the loos. The supermarkets were all closed so loo stops were few.
We actually found somewhere to park at Titch. I wish that walking was an option as I reckon on adding 10-20 birds to the list here. The wardens and volunteers saw 103 on New Year's Eve.
Early afternoon and the light was fading fast. The tide was rushing in at Brancaster Overy Staithe, most of the waders were huddled on the far shoreline. Black-tailed Godwits and Ringed Plover were ticks.
Scoping the birds I could see that the gull was a Lesser Black-backed. Despite its very dark wings, it had yellow legs, a Continental race.
A little early for the harrier roost at Stiffkey but it was a dark afternoon. We squeezed in at the far end of the row of parked cars, where Pam could pull forward far enough for me to scope the marsh. It wasn't long before I found a male Hen Harrier, one of my very favourite birds only slightly surpassed in its beauty by a male Pallid Harrier. Engrossed in my marsh sweeping, I nearly hit the roof when Pauline appeared beside me, munching cake and drinking coffee. No hands left for bins ! Peter was already scoping, standing beside someone named Simon. I found another male Hen Harrier and gave them a shout. This bird flew parallel to the car park about a third of the way out giving lovely views. I got a thumbs up from Simon as we left for Cockthorpe hoping for Little Owl. No luck.
Somewhere on our journey we came across a field of pigs and piglets. I asked Pam to stop so that I could look and photograph. It was delightful.
Time to drive home in the dusk to start our new list before going out for supper with Kate and Jim.
A total of 67 birds from the car, Pam saw a pair of Bullfinches. I didn't.
I spent the evening with Harry the Border Terrier on my lap, Pam had Charlie the British Shorthair cat. So good to pet an animal again, I really miss our cats.
Scouring the small mixed flock in the hedgerows at Abbey Farm, we found Tree Sparrows but no Brambling nor Greenfinch nor Yellowhammer. Where are they?
We had Snettisham RSPB to ourselves most of the time. Not a low, low tide, the waders were well scattered across the mud. A flock of 3,000 + Golden Plover huddled low in a long line, not even a gleam of gold showing in the dull light and drizzle,
 |
| About a third of the flock |
A few Goldeneyes on the pits, Cormorants and Lapwings with the usual flock of Greylag. We depend on here for our wader list, not a long one to-day.
A white bird flying in to one of the large muddy creeks became a Spoonbill, which then actively fed along the channel beloved of Wigeon and Teal. It's feeding action always reminds me of an old Hoover advert. ' It beats as it sweeps and it cleans'.
Sunny Hunny wasn't, but again, the queue of cars from Dersingham onwards and then the no parking left clifftop was testament to its draw for holidaymakers and locals. Driving as slowly as we dared, we both managed to add Fulmar to the list, birds occasionally appearing above the cliff edge.
Bumping, lumping and complaining our way out to Holme reserve was next - to add Magpie and Shoveller.
Would there be room at Thornham? Another favourite place for dog walkers, birders and New Year's Day in Norfolk trippers. No-one had used the muddy area in front of the small car park, until we did. Everywhere else was lined with cars and walkers. We had a look around and thought we'd try the car park as the Twite come down to the puddles to drink. The far end had a very large puddle and no cars so we drove through it and up onto the grassy bank from which we had a good view of the beach and marsh whilst eating our turkey soup lunch. Lovely, no people in the car park and the sun came out for a short while. Then, two women set up their scopes in front of the car !!! Soon after, I saw a few Twite land on the old wooden posts to our left.I was just in time to take a couple of photos before birders appeared from nowhere, pushed past my lens and lined up, totally filling our view. No excuse for that.
We soon left and thanks to Pam's sharp eyes - I only knew when she stopped suddenly near the Coal Barn - we had our first friend ticks of the new year. Sue and Ian and Richard and Julie. They'd got to Titchwell early enough to be able to park and to walk to the sea where they'd seen Peregrine and a Bonxie. The car parks were now jammed with others waiting. That was our next stop to use the loos. The supermarkets were all closed so loo stops were few.
We actually found somewhere to park at Titch. I wish that walking was an option as I reckon on adding 10-20 birds to the list here. The wardens and volunteers saw 103 on New Year's Eve.
Early afternoon and the light was fading fast. The tide was rushing in at Brancaster Overy Staithe, most of the waders were huddled on the far shoreline. Black-tailed Godwits and Ringed Plover were ticks.
Scoping the birds I could see that the gull was a Lesser Black-backed. Despite its very dark wings, it had yellow legs, a Continental race.
A little early for the harrier roost at Stiffkey but it was a dark afternoon. We squeezed in at the far end of the row of parked cars, where Pam could pull forward far enough for me to scope the marsh. It wasn't long before I found a male Hen Harrier, one of my very favourite birds only slightly surpassed in its beauty by a male Pallid Harrier. Engrossed in my marsh sweeping, I nearly hit the roof when Pauline appeared beside me, munching cake and drinking coffee. No hands left for bins ! Peter was already scoping, standing beside someone named Simon. I found another male Hen Harrier and gave them a shout. This bird flew parallel to the car park about a third of the way out giving lovely views. I got a thumbs up from Simon as we left for Cockthorpe hoping for Little Owl. No luck.
Somewhere on our journey we came across a field of pigs and piglets. I asked Pam to stop so that I could look and photograph. It was delightful.
Time to drive home in the dusk to start our new list before going out for supper with Kate and Jim.
A total of 67 birds from the car, Pam saw a pair of Bullfinches. I didn't.
I spent the evening with Harry the Border Terrier on my lap, Pam had Charlie the British Shorthair cat. So good to pet an animal again, I really miss our cats.
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