2 March 2016

A WET DAYS BIRDING IN NORFOLK

I set off from Cheshire in the the early hours of this morning and arrived at first light at Wolverton triangle hoping to see the Golden Pheasant which has been showing well the last couple of months. After a good hour of waiting I drove around the triangle but there was no sign of this elusive species but a Woodcock by the side of the road was a good addition to the day list.
Record shot from the car
I then moved on Titchwell the weather was shocking and it never stopped raining all the time I was there,but I added some good birds to year list.






 Sanderling were on the beach along with Slavonian Grebe and Long Tailed duck on the sea 



 Up to 30 Avocets were on site


 Black Tailed Godwits were in good numbers
 Ringed Plover




 Grey Plover
Curlew
There was plenty of action around the feeders with Sisken,Goldfinch and a Water Rail.
GREENFINCH




SISKEN
After a hot coffee and drying out I made my way towards Blakeney. I wasn't dry for long as the weather was getting even worse when I arrived but I soon connected with the 5 Lapland buntings that have been present for a while.










 Very wet Lapland Buntings
Other birds of note were Brent geese,Skylark,Little grebe and a fly over Hen harrier




 Brent Geese
 Little Egret
 Reed Bunting
Little Grebe
Moving on from Blakeney I headed to the east bank at Cley behind Arnold's marsh where I soon found the small flock of Snow bunting and thankfully it had stopped raining and the sun came out!












The beach at East bank
Looking from the East bank over Cley reserve.
After a bit of lunch I went back to Holkham where I saw Egyptian and Pink footed geese.


 Egyptian Goose
Pink Footed Goose
Late afternoon was spent at Choseley barns where a flock of 24 Yellowhammer were feeding on seed and good numbers of Red Legged Partridge were around.




 Red Legged Partridge






 Nice to see so many Yellowhammers that are in decline in the Uk
 Pheasant
A Hare and Red Legged Partridge
A view from Choseley overlooking Titchwell R.S.P.B
After Choseley I spent the rest of the afternoon back at Titchwell where I got good views of Hen and Marsh Harrier.


Marsh Harrier
After a good days birding I headed to Hunstanton to my B&B shattered but managed to fit in a few beers around town before a good nights sleep.