My week in Norfolk finally came to an end today. Unfortunately the winds were completely in the wrong direction to bring in the birds but all in all a very enjoyable week.
On the way to Eccles (where we were staying on the east coast) I managed to see one bird I had been after for a few years. An American Golden Plover which started my week off really well.
On the Sunday (30th) I met up with a large group of birders from another forum and spent a day at Titchwell. Birds of the day seen by a multitude of the group were Yellow Browed warbler, Ring Ouzel, Jack Snipe and Velvet Scoters. Supporting cast were birds such as Avocet, Redshank, Snipe, Brent geese, Black tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Ruff, Little Egret and many others.
On the Monday the weather was awful with torrential rain all day but we went for a drive up to the north coast in the hope of a change of weather but it was not to be. on our return to Eccles we went for a longish walk but we got soaked and virtually no birds showed throughout the entire walk with the exception of two Snow Buntings on the concrete sea defences but they were so mobile that I had no chance of any photos of them. Shame as I have no really good photos of one.
From Tuesday onwards the weather defied the nightly reports as it was sun throughout the week. That day saw me & the missus and our two dogs going to the north coast again but via Hoe Rough where an escaped Kookaburra was being seen (reported by one of Wildabouts new members - Kim Fretwell on this thread
Can you identify this bird?)
I spent a fruitless two hours looking for this bird but my reward for walking this small reserve was as a Great Spotted & a Green Woodpecker plus a couple of Jays, a Heron and most of the usual woodland birds, but no Kookaburra. From there we went to Stiffkey in the hope of finding the reported Little Bunting but after looking for a couple of hours without any sightings thought it was about time that we returned to Eccles. Still the dogs had a good walk, as did we.
On the Wednesday I took a walk around the beach area of Eccles with one of our dogs (Max the Alsation x Collie). Out on the sea were loads of Gannets, a few Little Gulls and a couple of Red throated Divers. Flying past them were a small party of Eider ducks and plenty of Auks (possibly Guillemot) as well as the usual gulls. Out on the groynes were quite a few Turnstones plus a lone Guillemot just off the tide line.
On my return Ros & I decided to try for an American Wigeon that had been reported at Hickling Broad. My surprise was its location, Swim Coots. The reported spot can only be reached by boat but I thought the boats had stopped running now. This was confirmed on my arrival at the Pleasure Boat Inn. The boat trips had stopped at the end of September but they suggested I called into the Whispering reeds Boat yard to see if they had anything. Unfortunately all they had were rowing boats and I'm afraid that i can't see me rowing around Hickling Broad in the hope that i might find a duck which is possibly hidden amongst a load of reeds so I decided gainst looking for this bird. The alternative was to go to the southern boundaries of the reserve and walk alomg the Weavers Way footpath. About a mile along this path is an old hide overlooking Rush Hill Scrape, which can be good for waders. On our arrival the first thiong I noticed was that the water level had risen quite a bit and the whiole scrape area was under water. About a 200 yards away was a large flock of Teal and whilst searching through this large flock I came across a couple of Eurasion Wigeon then spotted the American Wigeon. That was a nice surprise which was followed by another nice surprise when a pair of Common Crane started calling from behind the hide. Stepping away from the hide and there they were, about 50 yards away. That was an unexpected surprise, which didn't last due to the fact of a quick disappearance act by them as soon as they saw me.
A Pallid swift was being reported at Winterton, about 8 miles away from where we were. As I pulled the car away a tanker backed up to me and the driver got out, walked to my car and apologised but he had to unload his cargo of fuel at that house and wouldn't be too long. 15 minutes later we were on our way, arriving at Winterton at 13:20. A well known birder was walking away from the church and I asked him if had seen the bird upon which his answer was "above your head mate". By the time I gad gotten out of the car it had disappeared over the houses never to be seen again in Winterton. That tanker cost me the bird after all. One nice bonus was on the way back from Winterton was at walnut farm which is near waxham, where about 500 Pink-footed Geese were busily feeding in a roadside field.
Thursday and I decided to have a day on my own, with just Max as company. A Green winged Teal had been reported at Stiffkey, plus the Little Bunting was still being seen, so I decide to retrace Tuesday's steps and go for both of these birds.
Two fruitless hours at Stiffkey flood produced plenty of Teal, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveller Greylag Geese, an escaped Snow Goose, quite a few Black tailed Godwits & Lapwing but no G W Teal. It was about a mile and a half to the Little Bunting site but having got there I spent another fruitless hour searching for the bird. whilst looking for the bird quite a few Yellowhammer and reed buntings frequented the hawthorn Bushes nearby but no Little Bunting.
I had left enough time to call into Salthouse but just as I was entering Cley a message came up that a Green winged Teal was at Cley Marshes so an easy decision to call in was made and 15 minutes later I was looking at my quarry. A search around Cley didn't bring me anything new for the day so the decision have a quick look around Martham Broad was made. On arrival not too much was seen out on the broad but at least a Marsh harrier could be seen over the Reeds. On my way back along the River Thurne a Kingfisher flew past me at breakneck speeed before disappearing past West Somerton.
Friday was spent with long walks along the beach both morning and afternoon. Not much different birdwise other than a lone Sanderling but three
Grey Seals just off the tide line was a nice suprise to end the week.
A few photos are attached of some birds seen.
Good morning, John, and many thanks for this diary piece. I've so enjoyed reading it - only those of us who are not dedicated bird watchers would have doubted that you could visit Norfolk in November and have such a great time, seeing so many different birds and unique scenery. And you had good weather - what a bonus! The description of sites, plus the photographs you have shared in the past, and from this week, paint a beautiful picture of a lovely British county.
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