Norfolk Birders

1st November

3rd November

As I was expecting a builder at lunchtime I stuck close to home this morning and went for a walk on a very soggy Roydon Common. It was deathly quiet if I ignored all the corvids, pheasants and Woodpigeons. As I started my walk a Red Kite alighted from somewhere in the wood and flew off over the common. I cursed at all the loose dogs being taken for a walk.......what is it that the owners don't understand about the sign on the entrance gate about keeping their dogs on a lead? I walked up to the top of the common, where a Hare bounded over the top field and over to Grimston Warren where the builder rang me..........curses........he was much earlier that I expected and I was going to have to rush back home. A tree full of Long-tailed Tits flew along the Oak trees as I quickened my step back down the track. Back near the wood a lone Redwing called from a tree as 4 Yellowhammers flew up off the track. 

4th November

After a brief stop at Burnham Overy watching Red Kites and Marsh Harriers, John and I drove to Salthouse where we walked along to Gramborough Hill but stopped at the small pool as 4 Twite were feeding in the near edge before flying off calling over the field and straight into the sun where we lost them. We waited for a while along with Dave Homan, Richard Webb and Christine but sadly the Twite did not return. I took a photo of a Redshank that was walking around the pool and watched a large flock of Linnet. We stopped to watch 4 Cattle Egrets around the Galloway cows at Holkham before driving back to Burnham Overy where Jim Lawrence joined us. I had sent a message to Jim enquiring whether his sighting of a Little Auk at Cley was his 280th of the year in Norfolk. He said it was and therefore he had beaten the Norfolk year list record wich had stood at 279. I congratulated Jim. A sterling well-deserved effort. 

John and I watched more Red Kites, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards and Barnacle Geese before walking with Richard Campey down to the sea wall where we saw more raptors.

Later at Roydon Jim, Wendy, John and I celebrated Jim's success at a local pub. Well done Jim!

5th November

I opened the kitchen blinds this morning to see a male Sparrowhawk sitting on a fencepost by my bird table. I asked John to stand still whilst I fetched my camera but he could not resist a quick peep and the bird flew to a branch above my bird feeder and immediately flew off. Grrr! I started on a few chores but John was eager to get a hotel and car park booked at Heathrow for the first of our winter holidays. With the weather very miserable outside I can't wait for some hot sunny weather and lots of good bird to look at! My target bird is long overdue! 

I drove to Richard Campey's shop at Burnham Deepdale and he sorted out my camera issue. Thank you Richard. I saw a few Pink-footed Geese en-route and a few Red Kites. I spooked a bird on the way back as I nearly ran over it. Luckily the Jay escaped unharmed. After a small dry period this afternoon I managed to get a coat of paint on one of my picnic tables before receiving a message from Stewart South that he was watching a male Hem Harrier on Roydon Common. I raced up straight away but was too late as I supect it went to roost. However I was in time to see a Marsh Harrier and 2 Common Buzzards. I heard a Common Snipe as 8 Meadow Pipits alighted from the heather as a Red Kite swooped down. It caught a bird and I watched it deconstruct its catch in the air. Feather after feather sailed down as the bird glided around in front of me. It flew off but it was soon back again and repeated the performance once again swooping down again in exactly the same place. It was fascinating to watch. It was now near dusk and it was a shame that the light levels were so poor as I tried to take photos of the event. 

At 3pm I drove up to Roydon Common and watched 4 Marsh Harriers come into the roost. Sadly I did not see any Hen Harriers. A Kestrel spent most of the time I was there hunting unsucessfully whilst 4 Meadow Pipits flew over. Once again rain stopped play.

7th November

As I woke up and opened the curtains I counted 250 Pink-footed Geese leaving the roost on The Wash and flying over my house and heading inland. 

It was another busy day at work and I never cease to be amazed at how many visiting birders are still holidaying in Norfolk, coming all parts of the U.K to visit Titchwell. No wonder as one of our volunteer guides saw 94 species at Titchwell yesterday. What an amazing reserve it is!

As I left work a Little Owl flew from one of the buildings where the Choseley meets the A149. I ought to keep an owl list from this spot as over the years I have seen, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl and Long-eared Owl from this spot. Just Short-eared Owl and Snowy Owl to go then!

8th November

I ran down the West Bank path at Titchwell during my lunch break and joined Peter Dolton who had found a Green-winged Teal along the bund on the Fresh Marsh. However the teal had reshuffled and several birds had snuck into the vegetation and it was not on show. The bund had many Teal and Wigeon along it as well as Black-tailed Godwits. There were 1500 Golden Plover on the bund as well, an amazing count. The Fresh Marsh was heaving with birds but sadly I needed to get back to work and did not have time to admire them all.

9th November

John and I spent the afternoon talking to Chris Lotz sorting out future trips. Some of them will be bespoke trips as we both have iconic target birds and mammals that we want to see. The next few years are going to be exciting travelling with our favourite guides!

I don't often write about non-birding event but John and I joined friends for a meal at the The Parson Woodforde at Weston Longville this evening. What a fabulous meal it was. Fine dining could take a leaf out of this pub's book. The meal was absolutely fantastic, one of the best that I have enjoyed in a pub for a long time. We will be returning!

10th November

As it was a late night last night John, Richard and I did not arrive at the Iron Road, Salthouse very early. Jen stayed behind so the 3 of us battled the wind and arrived at Swan Pool. It was packed with Wigeon and Teal with a lone Redshank in the water. Water leavels have risen since I was last here. On the otherside a large flock of Linnet were feeding in the rough grass area along with a few Skylark and Goldfinch. Down at Salthouse beach we watched a big flock of Linnet but little else except for a few Goldfinch and 3 Meadow Pipits. 

We stopped at Snipe's Marsh where the only bird of note was a Grey Wagtail. We got blown along East Bank and admired a few Black-tailed Godwit as well as Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and a lone Little Egret. Down at Arnold's Marsh there were many Lapwing roosting and more Black-tailed Godwits. Skeins of Pink-footed Geese were in the air as a Marsh Harrier was being mobbed by corvids. Down at the sea 2 Grey Seals popped out their noses before we battled our way back down East Bank.

11th November

John, Richard and I walked down the West Bank path at Titchwell where the bund across the Freshmarsh was festooned with Golden Plover. They were a spectacular sight as their golden plumage lit up a grey dull day. Common Teal and Wigeon were also in abundance along with many Shoveler, Pintail, Shelduck, Mallard and a few Gadwall. Black-atiled Godwits, Ruff and Dunlin all added to the scene as we stopped to talk with friends and work our way through the birds. I located a Common Snipe as we watched all the Golden Plover take to the air but we failed to find what was upsetting them. Down at the beach we set our scopes up and John located a Slavonian Grebesitting on the sea. I located a Red-throated Diver close inshore as well as a Great Crested Grebe. We watched Common Scoter before John located a Guillemot that was preening. Two Red-breasted Merganzers caused us issues for a while before Richard called a diver flying by. Luckily for us it was a Black-throated Diver which Peter Dolton had seen earlier which had drifted towards Holme and was now flying back towards Brancaster.

The beach was like a NarVOS meeting as there were lots of members present today! We walked back up the path and I stopped to take some photos of a Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew whilst a Little Egret preened itself. 

12th November

13th November

14th November

I heard a Yellow-browed Warbler calling from the trees by the Welcome Hub at Titchwell today but sadly I did not have any binoculars handy to try and see it. It was nice to see some Wensum Vallley Birdwatching Society members arrive today who thanked me for my efforts on my recent articles that were published in the latest newletter about my trip to Mongolia. I also had a lovely email from the editor thanking me for my efforts.

15th November

Our new warden Ryan saw the Yellow-browed Warbler today that I had heard yesterday on the reserve. It was a horrible day today weather-wise at Titchwell but Trevor and I had a lot of laughs and it was good to see the Yorkshire crew down for one of their visits. My travel agent has sent me information about my upcoming birding holiday. Not long to go now and it will hopefully be hot and sunny with lots of good birds to look at! I can't wait!

16th November

17th November

18th November

19th November

After John and I had sorted out a few forth-coming holiday issues I drove to Sandringham where the Christmas Craft Fair was taking place. It was packed and I was surprised at how many marquees and cabins had been put up. It was a much bigger event than I was expecting and I was in awe of some of the talent on offer as I admired many of the wildlife artists and paintings. I could have spent a fortune. Some of the sculptures and bird craft items also had me fascinated. Eventually leaving before the rush I made it up to Roydon Common where I hoped to see the harrier roost. It was a beautiful evening. I have always loved sunsets and tonight's was wonderful across the common as the sun dipped below the horizon. Years ago it was possible to see 5 or 6 Hen Harriers coming into roost during the winter months. Nowadays it is more likely to be Marsh Harriers with an occasional Hen Harrier. Tonight was different as I did not see a single harrier or Merlin but I did have 5 Red Kites in the air together before 3 of them settled in a tree besides one another. This would have been unheard of here 20 years ago!

20th November

John and I started our day at Cley where 2 Black-necked Grebes were sat on the sea. There were many Red-throated Divers that flew east during the morning. A Black-throated Diver flew west and settled down on the sea. A male Eider flew west. A few Fieldfare flew in off the sea and a Blackbird just made it onto the shingle. We then all watched as a Redwing struggled to make it across the sea, nearly ditching in it several times. We all willed it to make it to the shore when all of a sudden a Great Black-backed Gull swooped in knocking it down into the sea and devoured it. We noted a flock of Common Scoter, a few Teal and a few Razorbills. 

On my way home I stopped at Cley Spy to try out the new 50 Swarovski Scope as I thought it may do as an alternative for some of our planned short-haul holidays next year where we use some of the cheap airlines. The staff as usual were extremely helpful and it was nice to catch up with former colleagues. However although the scope was bright and clear the magnification would not be enough for phone/scoping photography and would also have adapter issues. The foot to attach to a tripod was also left wanting. I left disappoined.

22nd November

Pink-footed Geese continue to fly over my house out of roost from The Wash early in the morning. Some days they seem confused as they fly over one way and sometimes fly back the other way a few minutes later. They are obviously seeking out fields where they can feed. I spent the day helping in the cafe at Titchwell today and advising on an audit of the reserve where it was necessary. It was a fun day made enjoyable by the staff and volunteer. 

On my way home I spotted a lone Barn Owl hunkered down in a tree by the side of the B1153. It looked quite forlorn! 

23rd November

It was a day of two halves today. It was such a miserarble morning weatherwise so it was lovely to receive messages and phone calls from two former Titchwell volunteeers who are also NarVOS members who have moved away but are also still keen on their birdwatching. One used to live near Swaffham forest who had visited in September who was very disappointed to find so few birds in the forest and met up with friends who said how dire the birding is in the forest now. It makes me glad that I live near the coast, as I found out during lockdown! I'm sure inland birding is getting harder and harder as the years roll on by. 

My afternoon was wonderful as the rain stopped and the sun came out. I had some spare time and needed some fresh air so drove down to Lynn Point as I wanted to be back for roost time at Roydon Common and didn't want to drive very far. The tide was very low and was exposing lots of mud on the riverbed. Ten Redshank were keeping many Black-headed Gulls company as I parked up and watched 5 Redwing alight from feeding in the Hawthorn bushes. The wind was bitter as I donned my boots and made my way along the ever-narrowing muddy access to where I watch from. Two Marsh Harriers were quartering the marsh area putting up all the geese and a few unidentified small birds. Once the geese had settled I started my count, they were mostly Greylag Geese with a few Canada Geese and two Brent Geese. A Common Buzzard was sat in a tree on the bank and kept watch as I searched along the bank. Another Common Buzzard flew along as two Little Egrets flew out of the marsh. A Grey Heron was sat far out as well as 4 Knot and some Dunlin. A flock of Goldfinch flew along the hedgeline. 

The sun disappeared behind a dark cloud and I was keen to get to Roydon Common, so after a quick dash around the supermarket for a few supplies I arrived at Roydon Common where the sun had reappeared but lower in the sky now and was starting a wonderful sunset, making the common look beautiful in the evening light. I was then treated to a magnificent view of an adult female Hen Harrier flying around the common before eventually setting herself down for the night. How people can shoot these amazing birds is totally beyond me. Two Marsh Harriers then arrived and I watched them swirling around before I noticed that a Red Kite had joined in the fun along with a Common Buzzard. The sun went below the skyline throwing spectacular colours across the common when I spotted another Common Buzzard sitting on a tree stump near the road that had watched the event in its entirety. I am so lucky to have this on my doorstep!

24th November

25th November

John and I spent the morning negotiating the minefield of travel insurance premiums. For the last few years it has been a reasonable amount but since the pandemic it has seemingly gone up in price extortionately. As we will be travelling through the USA on our way to some Pacific Islands next year we will have to include the United States in our Worldwide Multi-trip cover. Our age is not doing us any favours either. Having talked with various friends who are also world birding travellers, we are quite clearly not the only ones having problems with some of our friends not able to obtain cover at all! So if anyone has any recommendations??? 

After arriving home I washed my car but was kept company by two Red Kites swooping low over my garden. They are such magnificent birds. 

November 26th

I was kept awake last night by 2 Tawny Owls sitting in the trees in my garden and my neighbours 'hooting away'. I can't normally see them but last night I watched both owls until they flew away.  This morning John and I started down at Methwold where after a couple of minutes we watched the Great Grey Shrike sitting on the telegraph wires. It was harassed rather badly by the Pied Wagtails as it kept flying down to feed on something on the field before flying back uo to the wires again. The shrike was very mobile but always distant. For a minute it sat on the hedgeline but was still distant. It was joined by 3 Mistle Thrushes and often a mixture of Linnets and Chaffinches. A lone Kestrel sat on one of the poles as I walked back to the car. Here I watched 2 Nuthatches and a Robin singing as I drove away. 

I stopped at Boughton Fen where 2 Marsh Harriers were flying over the reedbed. A Water Rail called from the fen as I watched a Wren singing away. Along the road at Eastmoor 6 Bramblings were feeding in a garden so I stopped to take a couple of photos. At Pentney Lake 2 Egyptian Geese and a lone Mute Swan kept the BLack-headed Gulls company but the lake was birdless except for a lone Moorhen swimming. A Redwing flew along a hedgeline as I drove through the village back home. 

27th November

My day started with excitement when I opened the back door to find that I had had a delivery. I opened the packet to find a new field guide for my forth-coming holiday in a short while. Always exciting! At least I shall be able to escape the gloomy winter weather for a while as I had a quick scan through the book and salivated!

I drove up to the common and as usual was dismayed to see all the dog walkers who cannot read, with dogs all over the place and very few on leads despite the signage at the gate. Why are so many dog owners so ignorant, getting responsible owners a bad name!

I set off up to the top fence listening to a Skylark singing above me and made it to the wooded area where I paddled through the puddles. There were a lot of Blackbirds feeding on the grassy area along with 2 Redwings and a couple of Mistle Thruhes. I circumvented them but wasted my time as a noisy grouple of people flushed them off. Once I was up by the fenceline, I more or less had the common to myself and made my way over to Grimston Warren after watching a Goldcrest and some Long-tailed Tits.

I watched a couple of Stonechats before descending down to The Delft where I watched 11 Common Snipe. Many Woodpigeons flew over towards Bawsey Ruins as as well as a few corvids. The ponies all came to join me and I was glad of some maintenance work that has been completed on The Delft as it has been rather neglected during the pandemic. Five Meadow Pipits flew above me before I started my return walk. Back on Grimston Warren I admired 3 Red Kites that were interacting together in the distance over by the house. Back up on the common the Stonechats sat and posed as a Wren called from within the heather. A Robin clicked away as Goldfinch and Blue Tits fed in the trees. Down on the flat area of the common a Red Kite sat on a post as another Red Kite came to join it before they both flew off together.

Thank you to the 89 of you that have liked my Great Grey Shrike photos on the  Birding in Norfolk - rare and scarce birds page of Facebook and the 51 that enjoyed them on Twitter. 

27th November

30th November