springtime visit to norfolk

[Sprout]

here to pick your brains again
which two week slot in springtime is the best, in birding terms, for a visit to the north norfolk and wash area? springtime covers 3 months, and much as we'd like to take 3 months over that way, we can't
any help would be much appreciated.

[david156]

Oh what a question. That is so weather dependant. I live up here. picked a weeks holiday and got the wrong week. The following week I ended up on the coast after work every night chasing rare birds.

[aeshna5]

As David says so much will depend on the weather. For migration picking 2 weeks between mid-April- mid May could be fruitful!

[Sprout]

thanks for your replies, looks like last week in april first week in may then
talking of the weather, how does it affect where the birds go? the reason i ask is we were down at slimbridge last week and visited on two different days. the first day, wednesday, was wet and windy and we saw loads of birds, including bewick swans . the second visit, friday, it was calm, sunny and relatively warm....and barely a bird in sight! going by this, does it mean we're likely to see more birds when the weather's bad?

[david156]

Originally Posted by Sprout

thanks for your replies, looks like last week in april first week in may then
talking of the weather, how does it affect where the birds go? the reason i ask is we were down at slimbridge last week and visited on two different days. the first day, wednesday, was wet and windy and we saw loads of birds, including bewick swans . the second visit, friday, it was calm, sunny and relatively warm....and barely a bird in sight! going by this, does it mean we're likely to see more birds when the weather's bad?

Wind direction is one of the main influences up here. I still haven't mastered which way is best at what time of year. I know we had northerlys in july and the following day there was a white winged black tern at cley!
Also if your heading up here in the first week of may remember the bank holiday weekend can be very busy if the weather is nice.
You should have a good time what with Holme, Titchwell, Cley and snettisham all within an hour of each other.
have a great time, david.

[Sprout]

thanks david. had completely forgotten about the may bank holiday, will work round it! we had a couple of weeks in norfolk in september and absolutely loved the whole area, hence the return visit in spring who knows, you may have been one of the very helpful people we got chatting to in some of the hides while we were there