Norfolk – winter 2008/09
We’ve enjoyed some absolutely excellent birding with our groups this winter. Covering the Brecks, Broads and the North Norfolk Coast we’ve managed to pack in the very best the county has had to offer throughout the season. We even ventured ‘over the border’ into darkest Suffolk on a couple of occassions!
The early part of the winter had us marvelling at a very obliging (at times) Red-flanked Bluetail at Weybourne followed by our first look at a Black-bellied Dipper at Bayfield. Little did we know at the time but the latter was to stay on the River Glaven until well into March! A fantastic day out was finished with 13 Waxwings at Burnham Overy Staithe and then a lovely fall of migrants at Burnham Deepdale including a Yellow-browed Warbler amongst the numerous Goldcrests and an exceptionally late Spotted Flycatcher.
Other early winter highlights included plenty of Crossbills and a Jack Snipe on our local patch, a female Ring-necked Duck on the dge of Norwich at Whitlingham CP and a wintering Blackcap in Reepham.
The period either side of Christmas and the New Year was fairly quiet but clients still enjoyed Red-necked Grebe at Wroxham, a very confiding Glaucous Gull and Snow Buntings at Salthouse, Black Brants along the north coast, a showy Scaup at Whitlingham CP, Goosanders in the Wensum Valley and a plethora of winter thrushes and Siskins.
Brief sortees into Suffolk were very rewarding with Great Northern Diver, Bewick’s Swans, Smew, Purple Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Goosander, Glaucous Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Waxwings, Water Pipits, Ring-necked Parakeet, Dartford Warblers and Hawfinch.
The Brecks provided us with 2 memorable visits with some lovely friendly groups. That most enigmatic and elusive of raptors the Goshawk was located and watched displaying to ‘oohs and aahs’ whilst Woodlarks, Crossbills and Nuthatches competed for our attention. The wintering Great Grey Shrike at Hockwold Washes duly obliged whilst Hawfinches, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Ferruginous Duck (sadly bearing a ring!) and Caspian Gull were all added to our lists.
On the rarity front we were lucky with 2 different Cattle Egrets (at Matlaske and Strumpshaw) and then in early March the bird of the winter – a splendid but rather controversial male Siberian Thrush at Glandford. The rumour mill about the origins of this bird will turn for years to come!
Our best wishes and thanks to all who have enjoyed the winter with us.
And now spring is here and migrants are starting to pour in. Soon it will be time to embark on our summer programme of tours covering some of our most sought after breeding birds. New Firecrest and Woodlark territories have been discovered on our home patch. Our commons and heaths will soon be echoing to the song of Nightingales and the magical churring of Nightjars whilst our Honey Buzzards and Montagu’s Harriers will be making their perilous journeys north to our woodlands and fields.
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