Norfolk – winter 2009/10
Despite being one of the quieter winters in recent years we still managed to enjoy some great birding days out with groups and individuals this winter. In some cases it was certainly a case of wrapping up warm against the elements in what was the harshest winter for many a long year. puu 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 winter period saw us watching an obliging (at times) singing Siberian Chiffchaff in gardens at Shotesham just south of Norwich. This lovely little sunny spot had large numbers of newly arrived Fieldfares and Redwings and a showy Grey Wagtail. Into Suffolk we went in early November to enjoy an elusive Dusky Warbler at Gunton Warren which was joined by Firecrest and 2 Dartford Warblers. It would have been a shame not to have called in at Ness Point at Lowestoft for Purple Sandpiper whilst in the area.
Other pre-Christmas highlights included a great tour around northwest Norfolk taking in Slavonian Grebe, Goldeneye, Twite, Knot and several other goodies a Titchwell, Snow Buntings, Shorelarks and a lucky fly-over Snow Goose with Pink-feet at Snettisham, Great Grey Shrike at Dersingham Bog and finishing with male and female Hen Harriers at the Roydon Common roost.
A single Goosander was on our local patch at Weybread just before the festive period where we also noted Little Egret and at least 5 Kingfishers. These were knocked into a cocked hat by the Little Egret in a field ditch from my bedroom window on 29th December though!
The Christmas/New Year period was busy with a Ferruginous Duck appearing at Barton Broad and then Wroxham Broad and both Black-necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver at Whitlingham CP. On a photographic tour in January we were able to find Smew, Waxwing, Great northern Diver and Red-necked Grebe in and around Norwich before heading out into the Yare Valley for Taiga Bean Geese and White-fronted Geese. Mediterranean Gulls at Yarmouth followed before we concluded at Kessingland where my client was delighted that we managed to find Snow Bunting.
In January Whitlingham CP continued to come up trumps with a Slavonian Grebe completing the set of grebes plus Ruddy Duck, 2 Smew, 3 Goosander and a Scaup.
Into February we had a memorable time at Thorpe Marshes near Haddiscoe. A Rough-legged Buzzard gave in to excellent views while we also managed to see Marsh Harriers, Peregrine, Short-eared Owl, no less than 3 Barn Owls, Stonechat, Stoat and 2 Chinese Water Deer. Nearby at Chedgrave Marshes we added more Marsh Harriers, Hen Harrier, Water Rail and some lovely close-up Bearded Tits.
With Common Buzzards displaying and the first Chiffchaff of the year in our nearby Tyrrel’s Wood it was time to say goodbye to the winter and look forward to those longer warmer days of spring...
Our warmest thanks and best wishes to everyone we’ve had the pleasure of meeting this winter.
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