24 to 27 February – North Norfolk Leader: Jane Cumming

A group of 18 with some outliers were based in Hunstanton through four days of penetrating north-easterly cold but mostly dry weather. Our hotel was close to the shore and we could sea watch from some bedrooms. Early morning visits saw Fulmars cruising and roosting along the cliffs, Oystercatchers, Turnstones, a Sanderling and Knot on the shore, and Brent Geese, Eiders, Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers and divers at sea. Surrounding countryside was generally full of Lapwing, geese, Stock Dove, hares; and skies of Red Kite, Kestrel and Buzzard.
Our first stop was Welney Fenland WWT. Tree Sparrows were showing their surprisingly brightly patterned heads at a feeder; a Short-eared Owl beyond, and hundreds of Pochard, a score of Whooper Swans, and Pintail on the viewing lake across the river. The first of many Barn Owls appeared, and Goosanders on a drainage river.
Next was Roydon Common. As dusk drew on, eight Red Kites came from nearby woodland on one side to fly low before roosting, and then a magic display of two Marsh and at least five Hen Harriers appeared, almost skimming the ground through low shrubs with the Hens showing ghostly pale. Next day started at coastal Thornham Marshes with creeks, salt marsh and dunes, where we saw great skeins of Brent Geese, Ringed and Grey Plover, both godwit species, Red Kites, Merlin, Buzzard and Marsh Harrier. For the only time on the trip, a sharp hail squall briefly drove us to shelter. Moving on, we had a wonderful view of a Barn Owl lifting up and down amongst orchard trees.
Down the coast at Holkham Fresh Marsh we looked across lakes in front of pine-wooded dunes, where around 100 flying Egyptian Geese showed sharply black and white wings with similar numbers of White-fronted Geese. Round the lake were Greylags and Great White Egret, and three large white gracefully flying birds could only have been Spoonbill!
In fields at adjacent Lady Anne’s Drive we had close views of four dainty Pink-footed Geese showing their neat dark heads, stubby pink-streaked bills and pink legs. Down the coast at the Norfolk Wildlife Centre at Cley, we saw Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Shoveler and Pintail. A sea watch at shingled Coastguards produced distant auks, but the walk to the coast at adjacent Cley East Bank through reed lakes and salt marsh produced Little Grebe, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveller, Grey Plover, a flock of Golden Plovers incorporating some fine Ruffs, Redshank, Water Rail and Marsh Harriers. Final stop was the high grassy cliffs at Weybourne by Holt, to look for Lapland Buntings in adjacent turf and arable fields. These yielded Yellowhammers, Meadow Pipits, Grey and Red-legged Partridge, Pied Wagtail and Reed Bunting. The beach below stretched endlessly with rough grey and white seas laying a veil of fine salt mist across the dunes; in a flock of Gulls immediately below, we could pick Common Gulls from Black-headed by their gently streaked heads – as elsewhere we had been able to see their lovely ‘mirror’ wing markings revealed in low flight.
Next day we visited Titchwell Reserve. The feeding area in woodland by the reception buildings showed a few decorative Bramblings, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Siskin, a Water Rail in the nearby ditch, and a Song Thrush singing. Another long walk out to the sea went past a series of salt marsh lakes, extensive reed beds and the large viewing building, where we saw/heard assorted geese, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Greenshank, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Cetti’s Warblers and Linnets. A sea watch produced mostly very distant scoters, Cormorants, Red-throated Diver and Great Crested Grebe, with Sanderlings along the beach. Then to Holkham Gap Reserve to find Shore Larks. In fields beside the access drive were hundreds of Wigeon and geese; a Mistle Thrush in the same field spot where one had been seen last year – as were two confiding Grey Partridge in their field within spitting distance of the road, very well camouflaged till spotted when their superb lush plumage and male dark belly crescent could easily be seen; accompanied by an equally relaxed Snipe. We walked through the pine woods to the huge extent of open beach, dune and salt marsh beyond, where a fair trudge east brought us to a fenced off area of scrubby grass. Here it was easy to spot a little flock of ten Shore Lark busily scuttling along as they fed, with charming yellow and black patterned heads, and bodies more like a rounded bunting than a rangy lark! A Sparrowhawk flew through the pines on return – our only one.
Driving back as the sun lowered, we stopped at Choseley Barns, a relatively high area of arable fields rich with hares, deer, Yellowhammers, Red-legged Partridge. Here we saw many more Barn Owls drifting across or along the roads home.
On our last day we decided to swap Lynford Arboretum (for Hawfinch) for the chance of Long-eared Owls at Deeping Reserve in Lincolnshire. A quiet place of lakes and woodland by the River Welland, we saw our first Green Woodpeckers as we approached the current Long-eared Owl viewing spot, on a lake edge facing a thickly-vegetated island. A kind birder showed us where two owls were sitting lightly screened by trees there – incredible views of this most nocturnal bird so rarely seen, showing plumage of royal richness, soft cat’s ears erect, and deep gold eyes briefly glimpsed as they dozed through the day.
Total bird species: 116. Huge thanks to Jane for successfully leading us to so many rare species, and to Alastair and new driver Ian for the long drives. Lois Pryce