Images from Norfolk part one
Images from Norfolk part one
When we arrived in North Norfolk winter held the UK in a tight grip and everywhere was frozen. Not often you see Avocets on ice! RSPB Titchwell, where we met the group, was full of birds despite the bitter cold. Barnacle Geese fed in a grass field where a Barn Owl hunted along the fence line, Bramblings were on the feeders behind us!
We walked out along the footpath towards the beach and were joined by this very friendly Robin. As we reached the lagoons, mostly iced over, we met some more friendly chaps.
Can you reckonise Martin Garner of Birding Frontiers and Tormod Amundsen from Norway? We were birding in North Wales the previous week and now we bump into them on a seawall in Norfolk, small world.
We made it out to the beach at Titchwell and enjoyed thousands of waders and gulls on the beach and plenty more birds offshore. Even in the bitter cold a Skylark sang above the dunes, just wonderful, and a hint that the weather may change?
Back on the reserve we enjoyed wonderful views of waders on the Volunteer Marsh including this confiding Grey Plover.
At nearby Thornham Harbour we soaked up lovely view of dark-bellied Brent Geese on the saltmarsh. We counted nine Rock Pipits here, at high tide, but where are all the Meadow Pipits? Hardly any Meadows were seen during our Norfolk House Party and there are very few back home in North Wales. Has the population crashed or have they moved out? Very worrying that such a common bird can vanish so quickly, anyone else noted the lack of these pipits?
You need to be well wrapped up for winter birding along the Norfolk coast, but given the right gear you can be really warm and enjoy the birds. Thorham Harbour is a wonderful birding location and we always visit when over in Norfolk, of course we have the very fond memory of finding a Caspian Tern here on a previous tour. If you time your visit to coincide with a rising tide thousands of wildfowl, waders and gulls are pushed closer by the incoming sea.
Not far away we were very lucky indeed when, after only a few minutes looking, we saw this gorgous male Golden Pheasant! You spend many an hour looking for these birds without even a glimpse so to see one our first attempt, and so quickly, was brilliant! The Golden Pheasant fed on the edge of the bushes for several minutes then melted back out of sight, leaving us elated at the sighting.
Norfolk is a wonderful location for birding throughout the year, and has some amazing food to enjoy after your day in the field. Come and join us on one of our guided birdwatching trips soon.
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