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Originally Posted by Mark43 On the 14th June John..........i will be emailing you shortly  |
It's allright Mark. It is not a sensitive site as many birders know about it. Quite a few RSPB groups have been seen there from time to time. That is how I found out about it nearly 10 years ago when I tagged along with a group from Essex that contained one of my mates.
I have given a link to where the site is.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.sr...=newsearch.srf
It is right by Sandringham. It is on a road that is opposite the Golden Pheasant site at Wolferton (known as the Wolferton Triangle). You will see the triangle to the left of the arrow.
I will use the direction coming from Titchwell. Stay on the A149 through Hunstanton and past Snettisham towards Kings Lynn. Eventuall that road comes to an island where the A149 has to turn right. Go right with the road and take the 2nd left. Drive up here until you see some wires going over the road (2-300 yards up the road). As soon as you see the wires look for a dirt track car park on your right. It is big enough to hold at least six cars. (you will see on the map a white area called cat's Bottom. That's the Nightjar site). Park up and once out of the car follow the wires (away from the road) and after about two hundred yards you are in Nightjar territory. It might pay you to walk a little further along the wires then stop and listen. You need to be there possibly about 30-45 minutes before it gets dark. They sometimes co-operate and land on the wires. You can't mistake there Churring call but that means they are perched. When flying you may hear their wings clapping together with a slight whistling short call that starts off on one note and descends in tone at the end.
As I said, the Wolferton Triangle is famous for supporting a few Golden Pheasant but they are not a bird where you get out of your car for. You actually drive around the triangle, stoppin every now and again. Don't forget to look at your rear view mirror as they could be behind you. A bit more to the left is Dersingham Bog and this can be a productive walk also.
If you want to end at the Nightjar site I know it will mean that your area of birding should concentrate on the western side of noth Norfolk. There are Nightjar sites over at Salthouse Heath but I have found them a bit erratic at times and much prefer the site I have mentioned.
To kick start your day you could start at Brancaster Marsh. You can start the walk part way dopwn the road to the golf club. You can just about park two cars opposite the walk which will be on your right (you walk towards Holkham). Choseley Barns would be next and as I said in another reply, it is only a couple of miles away from Titchwell. I have given you a link to the site.
I have given a link to where the site is.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.sr...=newsearch.srf
It is worth concentrating on the concrete pad by the barns as well as all the wires. Quite a few Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers are here, with a fair chance of Tree Sparrow as well. Many other birds turn up here so don't be surprised if a rarity turns up anywhere around here. There is a public footpath that goes both sides of the road and a walk along either side can be productive.
Next would be Titchwell but the only downside for a morning visit is that the sun will be in your eyes because you look eastwards on the reserve. An alternative that many birders forget about is Gypsy Lane. This is on the eastern side of Titchwell and is situated here.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.sr...rch.srf&dn=717
You can walk to the coast from here then at the beach walk back to the Brancaster Golf Club.
You have two alternatives here. Stay coast side or go inland. If you stay coast side it might pay you to visit Holme. There are three reserves here. NOA Holme Observatory (I think there is a £2 charge here). NOA Redwell Marsh I think is for NOA members only and then there is the NWT Holme Dunes NNR. I think this is still a free reserve but I haven't been there for a while.
I don't know if you have seen Fulmar yet this year but there is a breeding colony at Hunstanton Cliffs (behind the lighthouse). Plenty of flight shot opportunities here but you can't see over the edge of the cliff as there is no access. You can scan the sea to see if there is anything about.
I will send you a couple of sites inland sites that are possibly doable within this itiniary. I don't want to put one of them out publicly so i will e-mail you with them.
See what you think of that lot and if it doesn't seem right let me know and i will see if I can come up with something else.
John