Norfolk 19/02/2012
February 20, 2012 in Holiday and Trip Reports by Jim Steele
Every so often you just get a right good birdy day out!
I met up with my Brother for a Winter day out in North Norfolk – never been at this time of year and we’d been planning it for a while.
Called in at Wolferton near Sandringham for Golden Pheasant for the Nth time but no joy. Walk out on Dersingham Bog – superb habitat but very cold and nothing to report except 3 Buzzards.
On to Thornham and a wintering Greenshank was a pleasant surprise. Fantastic close views of Grey Plover and my first singing Skylark of the year.
At Wells drove out toward the Beach when several dozen Brent Geese flew across and landed in the fields next to us and a scan over the grazing marshes revealed 4 Marsh Harriers. Stopped off for chips in the town and lunch was accompanied by several Dabchick in the quayside channel and a Ringed Plover and Turnstone on the mud. Several hundred more Brent Geese on the salt marsh.
Parked at Holkham NNR on Lady Ann’s Drive and walked out to Holkham Gap. Hundreds of Pink-footed Geese on the marsh, and very close views in bright sunlight of a pale Barn Owl, 4 Muntjac Deer and another 3 Marsh Harrier. Several dozen Lapwing and Golden Plover were strewn out in the fields, then suddenly air-borne when a lone Sparrowhawk sailed across. Out on the saltings no joy with Snow Buntings but some really rufous-coloured Skylarks, a bunch of Rock Pipits and several Golden Plover. Back to the car and I was getting disappointed not to have connected with Rough-legged Buzzard that was my ‘target species’ for the day, having been seen here regularly for some weeks. I finally tracked the big bird down, parked up in a distant Willow Tree giving superb front views and then it took to the air and was joined by not one but two more Rough-legs, one of which was very pale and looked for all the world like a giant, dirty-white Hen Harrier! Watched them soaring and hovering like miniature Eagles. Amazing to think that these three birds represented about half of all the birds seen in the country that day!
Along the coast back towards Burnham and stopped alongside some guys with very large camera lenses. No fewer than 5 Barn Owls were hunting between two fields, 3 more Marsh Harrier and 9 Brown Hares were boxing in a single field.
Daylight fading, dropped into Wolferton for yet another go for Golden Pheasant and bingo! Two males strutting their stuff on the roadside. Finally!
A fine day out. You folk with the cameras would have loved it!
Jim
Sounds a great day Jim. Was it French’s or Plattens for fish and chips in Wells?
Must have been exiting to see so many RL Buzzards in one go and five Barn owls. I’ve seen two or three regularly down near Holt but never 5! I think you need to drift a little further down the coast for guaranteed Snow buntings. Always in the car park at Salthouse.
I’ll be in the area on Wednesday and Thursday. Only problem is I’m working. Tends to get in the way of a good days wildlife watching
What a brilliant day you had Jim. I am green with envy. Next time you go I’ll give you my camera:-)
Paul, your knowledge of the chip shops in Wells is admirable. Plattens for the chips. Don’t do French’s. Good lining on the stomach ready for the RLB’s!
Yes, I think Salthouse is the best spot for Snow Buntings as you say, but they are at Holkham and Snettisham – although as they say ‘highly mobile’!
Thanks for the offer of the camera, Maggie. I will leave the picture taking to you, as you are far more able, and I’m too busy scanning for raptors! It was quite a day, for sure.
Jim
Looks like you had a good day out Jim. I’ve never seen the pheasants at Wolferton when I’ve been there. That chippy in Snettisham Village is nice as well, the one on the road down to the RSPB office.
Don,
I’ve never seen the pheasants at Wolferton before, either, and I’ve been there looking for them over the many years at least ten times! I finally got lucky – I have heard that dusk is the best time, whilst others say dawn, but during the day you have to be extra lucky methinks.
I feel a ‘Norfolk Chippy Group’ coming on. Anyone want to convene?!
Jim
We got Snow Bunts last week at Holkham so they are there. Dipped on Lapland and Shore Lark though.
My mate was trying to convince me that Wolferton was a waste of time but I insisted on going. Drove round the corner and jammed the brakes on as it was sat on the roadside verge. Another then strolled across the road, both males. Stepping out of the car and wandering down towards where it put in we got stopped by Sandringham Estate security.
I didn’t give the buntings and larks much time and it was freezing cold in any case out on those saltings in the North wind.
Oh really – why were you stopped? Were you just on the public road, in which case seems a bit odd?! I know it is frowned upon by some in the birding fraternity to wander about there but that’s a different issue I guess…unless of course it was the ‘Bird Police’?!
Jim
Sculthorpe Moor is the place to go for Golden Pheasant. Always around the feeder in the woods.
Lady Amhersts Pheasants down near Pensthorpe too.
At least it was only security that stopped Simon. If Harry had have been around he’d probably have shot you. Mind you there’s no law against royals shooting things they shouldn’t apparently!!
Off to the tower now.
We’d just parked on the side of the road an started walking rather than crawling along in the car. I think they just wanted to check we weren’t up to no good. They were very pleasant about it.
Are they genuine Lady A’s? If so would be interested in a location, e-mail if necessary, I know they can be sensitive.
Apparently so. We were told they are a little self sustained breeding group. We’ve seen them at Pensthorpe but they do frequent the Little Ryburgh area. There’s no set area I’m afraid.
I was told by Mark last year it wouldn’t count on an official list as it’s not listed as a breeding bird.
A bit arbitrary this ‘official list’ it always seems to me. I think it comes down to birds breeding and being self-sustaining for a reasonable period of time before they end up on the ‘British List’.
By the way, I know of folk who have also tried several times at Sculthorpe for Golden Pheasant and not been lucky! Wolferton appears to be fairly reliable at this time of year at dawn and dusk if you can dodge the bullets from over the road!
Jim