Rod's Birding: A day in West Norfolk

David, Malcolm, Roger and I had decided to have a day in West Norfolk and we left David’s at around 06:40. We didn’t see a great deal on route as we ran into some light rain and drizzle, which had eased as we approached Choseley. We were hoping to find some Grey Partridge but as has been the case recently there was no sign and we had to be content with a few Red-legged Partridge and a Stoat.

We had considered our best option was to go to Holme, where there had been a selection of migrants yesterday but as the reserve was not open until 10:00 we called at Thornham first. We drove around the back of the village before turning down the road to the harbour and saw a Kestrel as we approached the old coal shed.

After parking at the far end of the road and the rain easing I got the scope and scanned the marsh and shore, seeing four Oystercatcher, two Ringed Plover, three Knot and a Turnstone on the shore. There was a flock of Brent Geese to the east and there were quite a few Curlew and Redshank scattered around and a Marsh Harrier flew over to the west.

On arrival at Holme we parked in the NOA car park where we had a Blackcap and a Song Thrush, the Song Thrush being my first since the 12^th of August. It is surprising how scare some species become after breeding until the start of the autumn migration.

As we walked to the NOA visitors centre we saw a Spotted Flycatcher in the pines and after paying for our permits we went onto the footpath behind the reserves. The first bird we had here was a Redstart and a mixed party of birds then began to move through the area. David got on a Yellow-browed Warbler but the rest of us missed it and so we moved further down the path following the mixed flock of birds.

It was quite difficult getting onto anything as they were constantly moving but there were good numbers of Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests. We did have a second Redstart, a few Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Brambling and a Yellow-browed Warbler was called several times but none of us managed to get on it. Redwings were called and I manged to get on one as they flew over the pines, heading inland. We recovered our tracks seeing a couple more Chiffchaff, a Whitethroat and fifteen Black-tailed Godwits dropped onto the marsh. I heard a Water Rail and a Brambling on a few occasions but couldn’t locate it or the Chaffinch calling from the pines.

We saw another Blackcap and Song Thrush whilst having lunch back at the car and then decided we should do another circuit of the reserve. As we stated to walk along the track back there was a small group of birders gathered a little further along. They were watching a Yellow-browed Warbler and we had some decent views as it fed in a Sycamore. It then flew into a nearer Sycamore but remained at the back of the bush before it disappeared. We also saw another Redstart whilst watching the Yellow-browed.

David and I continued to the reserve entrance and when it started raining again we went into one of the hides until the rain had passed. Roger joined us informing us that the Yellow-browed Warbler had reappeared just after we left and that he and Malcolm had, had further views.

We joined Malcolm back on the track where Roger found a Garden Warbler, which I managed to get on briefly before it flew to our right and disappeared. We continued back onto the track behind the reserve but this time found the area almost devoid of birds, except for a party of Goldfinch, a Wren and a Robin. A look out onto the sea produced a few Gannets and a large raft of Common Scoter but with little else we went back to the track. It became clear that most of the birds had moved on and so we decided to go to Titchwell.

The early rain and now gone and it was bright and sunny when we arrived at Titchwell and feeling quite warm. We headed for the west bank track and as David and I approached Thornham Pool we saw a distant Marsh Harrier and heard a Bearded Tit. There was a Chinese Water Deer on Thornham Marsh and I got a few photos before it moved into the reeds.

Chinese Water Deer

Malcolm and Roger then caught us up and Malcolm was taking some photos and we assumed they had also heard the and could see a Bearded Tit but Malcolm was trying to get photos of the Chinese Water Deer before it finally disappeared and they hadn’t heard the Bearded Tit. The Bearded Tit called again and we had brief views before a juvenile posed quite nicely in the reeds.

Bearded Tit

A male then appeared but all to briefly after which we only saw the reeds moving on a couple of occasions and then they were gone. When we reached the Freshwater Marsh, there appeared fewer birds than our last visit but a scan produced good numbers of Golden Plover, four Little Stints, circa ten Dunlin, fifty-plus Ruff, a Snipe, thirty-plus Black-tailed Godwit and five Bar-tailed Godwit. There were also several Curlew and Redshank but surprisingly no Avocets.

The tide was out and consequently Volunteer Marsh was mostly devoid of water and other than a few Grey Plover, a couple of Bar-tailed Godwit, several Curlew and Redshank and a single Turnstone in the end channel it was quiet.

Turnstone

There were more birds on the Tidal Marsh, including more Grey Plover, two Bar-tailed Godwit, a Curlew, a Greenshank, thirty-plus Redshank and circa fifty Turnstone and also three Little Grebe.

On reaching the beach the tide was coming in again and much of the feeding area was covered. There were plenty of Oystercatchers but otherwise it was quiet with just a few Grey Plover, two Bar-tailed Godwit and a few Curlew. The sea was also quiet with a Guillemot being the best but there was also a few Common Scoter and a couple of Great Crested Grebes.

As we walked back there was a Bar-tailed Godwit quite close on Volunteer Marsh but we didn’t add a great deal else, although Malcolm, who had lagged, sneaked another Yellow-browed Warbler near the centre.