our trip to norfolk

Sprout · #1 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 08:00 AM

well, what can i say. i was reading the thread about 'your highlight of the year', thought about adding to it but decided to make a new thread because the whole of norfolk is the highlight of my year

and a lot of the reason for that is down to you guys who gave me such good advice and information about where to go.
while we were staying near lowestoft we saw sedge warblers and a marsh harrier at minsmere rspb, and little grebes and wheatears at benacre broad. i believe there was a white fronted goose at benacre but we didn't see it.
we moved on to sandringham and saw ruddy duck, grey plover, egyptian geese, hundreds of greylag geese and flocks of beautiful goldfinches on the teazles, all at snettisham, which is our favourite place. we went back there time and time again, so much to see at the different states of the tide.
we went to titchwell and spent an hour just looking at a snipe poking around in the mud. at a country park at wolferton, near sandringham, we saw a green woodpecker and two femal black grouse. back to snettisham on our last day and were delighted to see a whole flock of twite.
we saw many other birds too, particularly waders, but the ones i mentioned are those we were most pleased to see.the only slight disappointment for me is that i didn't see a long tailed tit, i have a feeling this little bird is going to elude me for ever!!!
we chatted to some very helpful and interesting birding people, many allowed us to look through their scopes and we've decided we definately need to get one, and we gained a lot of knowledge. there's something very uplifting about sitting peacefully in a hide with people quietly pointing birds out or sharing their vast knowledge. there were one or two what i would call 'selfish' people, who barely budged up on a bench, or had so much equipment they took up best part of a hide and seemed to think they had more right than anyone else to be there. however, they were in a tiny minority and most people were only too happy to to answer any questions we asked and make room for us.
so thanks guys, your help was invaluable

pammosley · #2 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 08:14 AM

Hi Sprout, sounds like you had a great trip

We`ve never visited Norfolk, maybe we should try it, especially when the Swallowtail butterrflies are around

jaykay · #3 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 08:22 AM

Hi Sprout, great to read up on your visit, I too have put Norfolk on my visiting list this year and it hasn't disappointed me! I've only really visited North with the one exception of Lakenheath Fen. I had that great a time I've visited several times and am due to abandon the family again next weekend. Snettisham and Norfolk Bird Observatory be prepared!!!!

Jonners · #4 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 09:06 AM

Glad you had a good time Sprout and thanks for sharing all of that with us. I'm hoping to re-visit Snettisham later in the year - it can be a bit exposed, but that just adds to its appeal methinks.
Keep your ears open for Long tailed Tits - their calling usually alerts me to them before I spot them, and then I'll see a crowd or family of them pasing through. Haven't seen any in the garden for a few months now, but have when I've been out and about. Super little birds, and they always seem quite unbothered by humans, but manage to keep at a safe enough distance all the same. Hope you see some soon.