Norfolk Weekend November 24th - 26th 2006

November 24th

After almost a year in the planning the day eventually dawned when the trip would begin and 21 of the Hemel Hempstead group set off for a weekend of birding in north Norfolk.

Our first stopping point was at the WWT reserve at Welney on the Ouse Washes. The new visitor centre had been opened in the spring and it was that the first time that many of us had seen this impressive

building. From the first floor cafe windows we were able to watch Whooper Swans feeding in a nearby field.

Looking over the reserve, the water level was high and rising and we were told that it was to prevent the possibility of flooding in Bedford and Milton Keynes. From the accessible hides we were able to watch good numbers of Black-Tailed Godwit and Lapwing plus a few Redshank and Ruff. Also there were large numbers of Whooper Swans, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Wigeon. Near the main observatory, there were two female Scaup and a male Scaup-Tufted Duck hybrid. At the northern-most accessible hide we also spotted a female Goldeneye on the water and a large number of Golden Plover in the air. Even here the water was lapping over the boardwalk up to the hide.

As darkness started to fall, we watched the mid-afternoon feed then retreated back to the cafe for refreshments before heading north towards our overnight destination the YHA hostel at Hunstanton.

Saturday 25th November

Saturday morning dawned overcast and blustery. An early morning walk along the promenade yielded a flock of wary Sanderling and some very confiding Turnstone on the boat ramp.

After an excellent breakfast, we headed off towards NWT Cley Marshes but had to stop near Holkham to watch thousands of Pink-Footed Geese landing in a harvested sugar-beet field. Among them was a single Snow Goose.

At Cley we saw three Marsh Harriers together patrolling over the reedbeds as well as Avocets, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Common Snipe and a solitary White-Rumped Sandpiper. On the way back to the cars we had good views of a pair of Stonechats. From the beach we saw many Common Scoter on the sea and a good number of Brent Geese on the marsh. While we were having lunch at

the beach car park, a very heavy rain and hail shower passed overhead, the only wet weather we had all weekend.

After lunch we headed back towards Holkham stopping at Holkham Pines where from the sand dunes we saw many Common Scoter with an Eider among them and possibly an Arctic Skua on the sea. We also saw a flock of about 40 Snow Buntings in the area in front of the dunes. As the sun went down we observed a beautiful sunset and heard the honking of many Pink-Footed Geese as they headed from their feeding grounds back to their roost. The sight of the geese against the darkening sky and their sound was an experience to remember.

Sunday 26th November

We left the hostel after breakfast heading for the RSPB reserve at Titchwell. It turned out to be a sunny day with a blustery wind.

At Titchwell too the water levels in the lagoons were high leaving little exposed mud for waders. Knot, Grey Plover, Black and Bar-Tailed Godwits were present but most of us headed for the beach to catch the high tide. There were many waders on the beach including Godwit, Sanderling, Redshank and again, very confiding Turnstones. On the sea, as well as a big raft of Common Scoter, we saw Slavonian Grebe, Red-Throated and Great Northern Divers.

After our picnic lunch, we decided to head off to Heacham to try to add Purple Sandpiper to our list but we were stopped in our tracks by several Egyptian Geese in a field adjacent to the road at Hunstanton. At Heacham we were looking over the beach at low tide against the light of the slowly setting sun. We walked up and down the sea wall hoping to see Purple Sandpipers near the groynes but there weren’t any present but we did see Bar-Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Turnstone.

Overall it was a super weekend that everyone enjoyed and I think that everyone was surprised by the gastronomic delights on offer at the hostel.