Another North Norfolk Day

Another free day to get up to Norfolk, this time accompanied by Gary whom I picked up in Stortford at 5.30a.m. We arrived at Kelling water meadows before 7.30 and immediately had good birds at this splendid little quiet place. Wood and common sandpipers, greenshank and spotted redshank were in amongst black tailed godwits, with a few bar tails, too. 4 curlews flew in and a family party of whitethroats entertained us as we wandered further down the overgrown path. A few birders were met as we headed back to the car. Next stop, Salthouse beach. Here, a brief sea watch gave nothing and a wander to the pools was also fairly uneventful. In the car park, 2 juvenile pied wags begged for food from a parent. Few linnets, meadow pipits and skylarks.
From here to the East Bank at Cley and Arnold's Marsh. It seemed that the birds had all moved on from Monday, with just redshanks, a greenshank and black tailed godwits in evidence. A sandwich tern called as we drove off for a much needed coffee at Reserve HQ. On to the beach car park and swarovski hide. A fair few wheatear in the Eye Field and more meadow pipits. Very few birds on the North Scrape, compared to Monday, but a green sandpiper was new for the day.

Kelling Water Meadows

common blue

whitethroat

migrant hawker

juvenile pied wagtail

From here, next stop Stiffkey Fen where 14 spoonbill were roosting. Great to see. Also common sandpiper in with ruff, godwits, teal etc. 20 redshanks flew in along with another spoonbill. A juvenile spoonbill was working very hard to be fed by a parent, so presumed local breeding has been successful, maybe on Holkham Freshmarsh. A wander back to the car and a drive to Titchwell. We stopped for a much needed pint in the wonderful Red Lion at Stiffkey before arriving at Titchwell.
Into the island hide where ringed plover, little ringed plover, godwits, ruff and 100+ golden plovers were seen. A Mediterranean gull flew over as we wandered to the Parrinder Hide. From here, a whimbrel and a part leucistic golden plover. More spoonbills. On to the beach where a quiet sea watch gave views of a fulmar west and an arctic skua harrying a tern sp some way out. Both good birds before a coffee at the cafe and a quick wait for a few everyday birds at the feeding station to go on the growing list.

black tailed godwit

ruff

little ringed plover

ringed plover

After this we thought a quick detour to Ouse Marshes for the blue winged teal. Eventually we arrived, having bounced the car down the road to The Ship Inn. As we walked to the Stockdale Hide I got a message saying bwt had been seen. However, all the birders leaving the hide had not had a sniff all the time they were present and we couldn't find it. However, 3 crane and 20+ garganey, along with gadwall, wigeon, teal and ruff were great to see. A marsh harrier put the whole lot of birds up. We headed off home, arriving back at gone 8pm. Another great day out and in all 78 species of bird, with arctic skua going on to the year list, taking the total to 184 species for 2013. Good to have Gary along, who enjoyed a fair few year listers and supplied rolls and excellent mini pork pies. Now to plan our next trip.

crane fly past



marsh harrier

3 adult common crane. Great views.

Species list:
little grebe, fulmar, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, spoonbill, mute swan, greylag goose, canada goose, shelduck, (10 sp) mallard, gadwall, wigeon, teal, garganey, red crested pochard, marsh harrier, kestrel, moorhen, coot (20 sp) crane, oystercatcher, avocet, little ringed plover, ringed plover, golden plover, lapwing, knot, turnstone, dunlin (30 sp) wood sandpiper, green sandpiper, common sandpiper, redshank, spotted redshank, greenshank, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit, curlew, whimbrel, (40 sp) ruff, arctic skua, black headed gull, common gull, mediterranean gull, herring gull, lesser black backed gull, great black backed gull, sandwich tern, common tern (50 sp)stock dove, wood pigeon, collard dove, skylark, sand martin, swallow, house martin, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, wren (60 sp) dunnock, wheatear, blackbird, whitethroat, chiffchaff, great tit, blue tit, magpie, jackdaw, rook, (70 sp) carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, linnet, goldfinch, greenfinch, reed bunting. 78 species in total.