Upon getting to Titchwell, we inadvertently bumped into one of my Norfolk contacts, Les who had previously volunteered at this site but was now more actively involved at Wild Ken Hill a regenerative farming site which had been used by BBC Springwatch for the last couple of years. This proved fortuitous as he was very forthcoming about local sightings both at Titchwell and a little further afield. The first highlight and there were many was a Bittern very close to the path, doing what they do best, standing still, in reeds with their cryptic camouflage, photos were taken for the future. A great mix of waders over the various habitats, a few Marsh Harriers drifting over the reedbeds, a Great White Egret stalking its prey, a early call from a Cetti’s Warbler all completed with a Water Rail going about its daily routine in the bottom of the dyke with the eyes of the Titchwell birding fraternity looking down. Some of the Les intel had put us on the spot for a local Barn Owl, not just any old owl but one of the individuals that had been featuring on our screens on winterwatch over the last fortnight. Just magnificent as it moved from post to post, hovering, hunting and resting. To complete the picture it became obvious we were below the Pinkie flightpath as they returned to their overnight wash roost, oh that sight and sound, is it not just the very best of British winter birding.
The third day started with a twitch as we joined the throng at a layby up above the village of Brancaster, the task find a Richardson’s cackling goose (a smaller variety of Canada Goose ) in amongst thousands of Pinkies in a distant beet field, with a little help, and direction from the already assembled throng of men, women and scopes we were able to tick a ‘lifer ‘ for us all. Our next venue at Holkham ,proved to be a challenge, it was Sunday, popular with people and their dogs with the generally no sense of respect and awareness about where and what they were doing, there were even a couple of birders who walked through an area of great sensitivity. Having just finished reading Land Healer by Jake Fiennes( the estate conservation manager for Holkham) I fully concur with his sentiments in that book, just how do you manage 800,000 people, 500,000 cars and 300,000 dogs on an annual basis, an absolute nightmare! There really needs to be a national education and awareness campaign for people to realise just what an impact they are having on our countryside.
To be fair we could not get away fast enough, vowing to never come back on a weekend ever again. North Pools near Wells had a great mix of birds all enjoyed in great light but as a couple came back to their car having been on a walk, their dog inside the car clicked the locks and locked them outside, doing the good Samaritan role we offered to take them back to their home at Binham just a few miles inland. This was a good move as we found a recently opened café at the old priory with just the best homemade sausage rolls I have ever tasted. Returning to Warham Greens to hopefully see the Harriers come into roost, some one called out the Pallid , but it was distant and I was not convinced with the view I had, however a rather splendid male Hen harrier did float by with a couple of Chinese Water Deer in the middle distance. It was here that I bumped into Dawn ((head of Surveys ) at the BTO and Pete we had been together as speakers and guests at the Grant Arms in Scotland just a month earlier.
It was good that we had seen Dawn as she messaged me to say the resident Long Eared Owl had put in an appearance at Cley Spy optical centre the very next morning. Getting there for opening time of 10 am we had great views and yes it was a Brown One ! The associated sales that they must have had from this bird must have been incredible, they were also collecting for a conservation charity.
It was our Cley day, so we ventured out onto the reserve where a Long Billed Dowitcher was in amongst the waders, clearly quite different from the Black Tailed Godwits it was accompanying. With many Wigeon and the pure personification of the duckworld, Pintail in good numbers too, it was a good experience.
After lunch we ventured down to the seafront car park to have a scan through the Brent Geese, whilst I was in the mode of looking for a black Brant through a1000 strong flock a lady a short distance away called that she had a pale bellied individual, these are normally found more to the north and west of Britain. What happened next we were not prepared for, a Barn Owl floated into view, after a while a Kestrel was watching its every move, suddenly as the Barnie appeared to have a successful pounce the Kes homed in and both disappeared into a saltmarsh creek. Eventually the Owl emerged minus its prey, giving great views, the Kestrel followed a little while later having been successful in its kleptoparasitic adventure.
Our day finished with a walk down the east bank at Cley in wonderful late afternoon light to see a flock of about 70 very confiding Snow Buntings which were only a few feet away from us at certain times, someone had been and scattered some seed earlier in the day. The only downside of this day as we walked back we saw a grey seal pup , up on the shingle clearly no longer in contact with its mum so we rang the local seal rescue and hoped that it would be collected later and given a chance for a future life.
So with a final tally of 107 species seen on the trip, some lifers for some and some obvious ones missed it was great trip and a welcome return to my former home county, I just hope the guests enjoyed it !
