Norfolk Weekender - 19-20.1.19

I was invited to join George, Matt + his wife and Kai on a weekends birding up in Norfolk to try and build the year list up a bit.

We started at Lynford Arboretum where in bracing temperatures we saw 9 Hawfinch, 2 male Crossbill, Brambling and Marsh Tit around the paddock area and on the lake a smart male Goosander showed briefly.


On the way up to the north coast we spotted a small covey of 9 Grey Partridge next to the road near Ickburgh which was a nice unexpected bonus.

At Thornham we saw 14 Twite, Barn Owl and Spotted Redshank amongst others.

Titchwell was fairly quiet bird wise with the best of the bunch being on the sea including Eider, RB Merganser, Long-tailed Duck and 3 Red-throated Diver. A Great White Egret flew over the reserve on our way back to the car park.

Shorelark

At Holkham we saw another GW Egret, 6 Russian White-fronted Geese from the A149 and out on the freshmarsh a nice surprise was a young Dartford Warbler plus 38 Snow Bunting, Rock Pipit, 6 Shorelark and a fly over Red Kite.

From Cley beach car park a Razorbill was the only bird of note.

We finished the day at Stiffkey Marshes and added a female Hen Harrier, Merlin, 2 Barn Owl and our third GW Egret of the day.

We stayed overnight in Sheringham and first thing we went for a wander along the seafront. A lone Purple Sandpiper was on the rocks and out at sea we had Fulmar and Guillemot.

A walk up the East bank at Cley saw Bearded Tit in the reeds and 21 RT Diver went past over the sea.

1 Lesser + 2 Mealy Redpoll

Our last stop before we headed home was Sculthorpe Moor which was the first time I've visited this reserve. 8 Brambling, Marsh Tit, Lesser Redpoll and 2 Mealy Redpoll were the best birds seen. I finished the day on 130 species for the year .