My evening

[Mark43]

Just got back from a lovely late evening walk round Old Lodge NR which is situated on Ashdown Forest.

The principal idea was to see Nightjar as i have not seen this bird before.

Was a lovely warm evening and the whole area was full of birdsong.
First off we saw several Redstarts with beaks full of food for the younguns.Walking on i saw my first ever Stonechats who seemed to be dividing there time between the feet of some pennned horses and singing on some fence posts.
The local Cuckoo popped out to give us his song from atop a lightning tree.

Entering into the Pine woods we had 2 Fallow Deer on one side and 4 Roe deer on the other which seemed totally oblivious to our passage.

Exiting the woods gave us a sighting of Tree Pipit and Meadow Pipit.........only told apart by the singing.

Heading back to the car park and the eerie call of the Green Woodpecker followed us then a sighting as he flew past.

The sun was practically down now so we sat down quietly to see if we could hear Nightjar but after 20 minutes or so we gave up.

Walking back the few yards to the car with the light all but gone we flushed a Woodcock which rose over us and away above the trees with its peculiar call following..........my first ever of this bird.

A perfect ending to a lovely evening walk.

[Oy]

Sounds lovely!

Did you get any photos?

[May]

That does sound lovely - all those birds and of course the deer!

[Wild-Woman]

Sounds like you had a great time. I think it's great just as it gets dark when you're out because a whole new bunch of animals are just getting up ie bats, foxes, moths, Hedgehogs!

Keep up the great posts Mark. I particularly enjoyed this one.ww

[Mark43]

Originally Posted by Oy

Sounds lovely!

Did you get any photos?

No i decided not to take a camera with me...........sometimes you can get carried away looking for a shot and miss other things happening around you so i decided to just concentrate on the walk instead.........if that makes sense.

[Alan]

Nice one Mark. Liked reading your report. Hope you get the Nightjar next time

[Mark43]

Originally Posted by Alan

Nice one Mark. Liked reading your report. Hope you get the Nightjar next time

Thanks Alan...........my next chance will be in Norfolk............i hope John is going to let me know where

[Mark43]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Sounds like you had a great time. I think it's great just as it gets dark when you're out because a whole new bunch of animals are just getting up ie bats, foxes, moths, Hedgehogs!

Keep up the great posts Mark. I particularly enjoyed this one.ww

Thank you for your kind words ww.

You should go over there some time as its not that far from you.

It really is a fascinating place..........one i have just rediscovered thanks to bird watching.

I only live 25 minutes drive away but haven't been since i was a kiddie wink but i will certainly be going more............there is so much of it to explore.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Mark43

Thanks Alan...........my next chance will be in Norfolk............i hope John is going to let me know where

I've heard Nightjar around Thetford Forest but Ahem.... How can I put this.
Choose your car park carefully and maybe even don't go alone.......

[Mark43]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I've heard Nightjar around Thetford Forest but Ahem.... How can I put this.
Choose your car park carefully and maybe even don't go alone.......

Hahaha.......i hear what you are saying

[Wild-Woman]

WHY Gill? Don't understand.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

WHY Gill? Don't understand.

[John]

Originally Posted by Mark43

Thanks Alan...........my next chance will be in Norfolk............i hope John is going to let me know where

Nice report Mark. Some excellent birds there, it's just a shame that you missed out on the Nightjar.

Still never mind, I have a guaranteed Nightjar site for you in Norfolk and you only have to walk 200 yards from the car to hear and see them. In fact you could possibly hear them from the car, doubtful you would see them there though.

When are you going to Norfolk?

John

[Mark43]

Originally Posted by John

Nice report Mark. Some excellent birds there, it's just a shame that you missed out on the Nightjar.

Still never mind, I have a guaranteed Nightjar site for you in Norfolk and you only have to walk 200 yards from the car to hear and see them. In fact you could possibly hear them from the car, doubtful you would see them there though.

When are you going to Norfolk?

John

On the 14th June John..........i will be emailing you shortly

[John]

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

[Mark43]

Cheers for that John.

I will email you in a tic anyway.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I've heard Nightjar around Thetford Forest but Ahem.... How can I put this.
Choose your car park carefully and maybe even don't go alone.......

You can park at weeting heath and walk up fire trail 49 into the plantation - night jar are just about guaranteed. no concerns of the type gill alludes to here but make sure the wardens know you arent an egger, or mr plod might greet you when you return to your vehicle.