The drive up from Wymondham to Holkham in the half light
produced no Owls but we did see a swirling ball of Jackdaws leaving their roost, a
road crossing Muntjac and a couple of early rising Buzzards and Red Kites. The visibility
was somewhat better than on Wednesday and we were once again greeted by Pinkfeet,
Wigeon and hunting Marsh Harriers and Red Kites. The Grey Partridges were even still in the
same field corner.
Grey Partridge
We went straight down to the beach and as other birders were
going East I went West to where Pat and I saw the larger flock. But there was
not a passerine to be seen and I suspect the early dog walkers had moved
anything on.A deceased Sanderling had
been taken out by a Merlin I suspect with just the breast removed but amazingly
it was ringed and I shall report back on that in due course.
ex-Sanderling - ring retrieved LNHM BT91750 - Roger Ward
A lovely trio of shots by Antony
A showdowy Enid (EB)
The tide was a fair way out and our crew walked closer to
the shoreline before scanning the sea from the last ridge.It was calm with a watery sun and although
there was a fair swell we still managed an excellent session with about 60 Common
Scoter with three drake Velvets amongst them, two Long-tailed Ducks including a
pale immature drake, Red-throated and a single Black-throated Diver that came
quite close in (yes we saw it well), Red-necked and Great Crested Grebes, Goldeneye and Mergansers,
two immature and two drake Eider and two distant Fulmars.Everyone was very happy.
No one had seen the Shorelarks out East either and we were
joined by three other birders to scan the sea.A few minutes later ten Shorelarks flew in from the West and landed on
the strand line where we were standing and afforded all of us wonderful views
as they scurried around across the sand.It was nice to watch them fully in the open rather than tucked in and
out of the Salicornia marsh.
Shorelarks
Sand ripples, ridges and gullies like a dune system from the air or a crinkly brain
Two horses were being put through their paces on the beach
From here we cut through to the Washington Hide leaving Antony
to investigate Carline Thistle heads for moth larva!The Ectoedemia heringella infestation on the
Holm Oaks is truly mind boggling. You could barely hear yourself think by the
hide as two pair of Egyptian Geese were in vocal contest over who would take
over the remains of an old Crow nest high in the Pine canopy and the cacophony
only ceased once the intruding pair departed.It will be a bit of a rough tumble for any chicks born at that height
amongst the branches!
Antony checking out Carline Thistle heads
Egyptian Geese(there are two if you look closely!)
A Great White Egret briefly appeared from a ditch and the usual
trio of big raptors were dotted across the marsh but unlike on Wednesday I was
actually able to find the Russian White-fronted Geese as at least 60 were
feeding on the two green ‘hills’ out beyond the heronry and were easily
identifiable even at that range.
Russian White-fronted Geese
The walk back on the inside produced the usual small birds
again and we could hear Pinkfeet returning for a mid-morning wash and brush up.There was no news on the Brancaster Cackling
Goose at that stage so we checked all that we could see.
Pinkfeet
Antony was suffering from Tripod Trauma but found a suitable naturalistic fix
Back at the visitors centre the Grey Partridges were still
grovelling in their chosen corner and Snipe were dotted around the rills with
the odd Redshank while Black-tailed Godwits and Green Sandpiper were also seen
in the meadows. A flock of Woodpigeons were actually sunbathing on the grass
while Mallard and a drake Pintail dozed behind them.
Muntjac and Wigeon
Lounging Woodpigeonssoaking up some rays
The Firecrest put on a good show in the
biggest Holm Oak and drew a crowd although a seriously arboreal Robin kept
people on their toes with its sudden appearances at height!
Essence of Firecrest - Richard Hanman
Time for an early lunch with Red Kites overhead and stunning
Wigeon grazing just a few metres away and then off through Wells to the North
Point Pools.
Red Kite - Antony Wren
Wigeon
Wigeon
Only Richard had been here before out of the party so it was good
to visit somewhere new.The two lagoons
were full of wildfowl and Brent Geese were flighting in for a wash and drink before
heading back out towards the saltmarsh once again.
North Point Pools
Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Shelduck
Calling Pipits felt like they should have been Water but all
seen well were Rocks while Skylarks were warming up for a sing and Meadow Pipit
and Reed Bunting were also seen along the dividing track.A Barn Owl was hunting the reed bed closer to
the edges of Wells but soon came closer to hunt the Hawthorn scrub around us.
Always a joy to see one in daylight.Marsh Harriers were very active and included a green tagged bird and a
female Sparrowhawk flushed Thrushes from the hedge line.
Barn Owl
Curlews returning from the inland fields
The lack and footpath signs and three potential paths led us
straight on and through a fallow field that, as Enid pointed out, was chock
full of arable ‘weeds’ with Fumitory, Marsh Cudweed, Groundsel, Speedwells and
Mayweeds.We wondered if it was part of
a Turtle Dove plot? The field was alive with small birds with several hundred
Linnet and best part of a hundred Skylark creating a magical spectacle.The well-worn path petered out at the crest
of the field and we stopped to survey the stunning views of the saltmarsh and
its snaky channels off towards the pines of East Hill and Wells Wood.
Looking inland
and out to East Hills
Linnets and a Skylark - Antony Wren
Linnets
It would appear that everyone turns round at this point and
retraces their steps and after watching hunting Red Kites, Marsh Harriers and a
male Sparrowhawk, checking Brent Geese for Black Brants and finding yet another
Great White Egret, we too headed back the way we had come.
Cloud had started to build in the west and I had a feeling
that the concrete pad at the nearby Garden Drove would fill up early given the
numbers of birders on the coast and so we moved the short distance down the
road and parked up for the evening session.
Piglets on the drive in - Richard Hanman
While everyone put on as many remaining layers of clothing
and wellies and drank hot drinks we were surrounded by a vast flock of Linnets
that were feeding on some Sunflower set aside.More parties arrived and I reckon that at least 600 were present along
with a good number of Chaffinches that sought refuge in the adjacent
hedge.The sound was glorious and backdropped
by 500 grumbling Brent Geese that were quite happily feeding in a winter
wheat field around the gas gun designed to scare them off.
Linnets
you could hear the Brents from miles away
It was a little muddy at the top - Antony Wren
Thankfully only the top section of the path was a muddy mess
but even here we found signs of the local wildlife with Black-headed Gull and
many Brown Rat prints.A Mistle Thrush
was seen on the walk down to marsh and there were already handful of people set
up to wait for the Pallid Harrier to appear.
It was likely that we would be waiting for over two hours but as it
happened they were very well spent and we all enjoyed encounters with at least
25 Marsh Harriers, Red Kite, Buzzard, a female Merlin, male Peregrine, four
Kestrels, at least one ring-tailed Hen Harrier and best of all a grey ghost of
a male.
The Grey Ghost - Richard Hanman
Antony once again getting distracted - this time for moth mines in Suada...
A very smart, very dark, white throated female Blackbird
Enid and Julie with prime raptoring perches. It was a bit chilly!
The latter was my first for some years and steadily quartered
the marshes for some time.The crowd
grew to about 40 strong and it was a wise move to get parked early but the
Pallid Harrier did not oblige until its allotted time of 4.30 when I picked it up
coming in low from the east.I shouted
out directions and most of those with scopes managed to get onto it in the
fading light as its delicate shape jinked in towards the roost area.Those with only bins unfortunately struggled to pick it up in the low light.There were plenty of
familiar faces to catch up while watching the raptors, silent hunting Barn Owls
and throngs of noisy Brent Geese. I asked Jim Lawrence about the Cackling Goose
and he said ‘Look above the orange bag to the field behind – seems to like that
spot’ but more of that tomorrow morning.
Barn Owl
Brent Geese
Brent Geese - Richard Hanman
With the Pallid safely tucked away for the evening it was
time to walk back up in the fast fading light and hastily decamp into our cars
to try and bring some feeling back into our extremities after a wondrous day
out. North Norfolk at its best.
Back at Wymondham it was fish 'n' chips for dinner followed by the inspirational combination of hot buttered fruit loaf with salted caramel ice-cream.
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