Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers’ Minibus Trip - Norfolk

6^th July 2008
Trip Report by Neil Glenn
Photographs by Lynne and Ron Demaine

Several people baulked at the suggested start time but I knew it would be worth it. With a tad of cajoling, we were on our way by 4.40am!

Before we had even reached our first destination, we had seen Barn Owl, Red Kite, Little Owl, Hobby, Sparrowhawk and one or two other bits and bobs. We arrived at RSPB Lakenheath Fen at 6.30am in time to see a Cuckoo fly across the car park.

We made our way onto the raised river bank and headed for the poplar plantations. We soon stopped to locate a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. It posed nicely for telescope views for ten minutes: a good start!

Cuckoos were everywhere, joined by Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings. On the Flash, we saw the usual grebes, swans and eclipse-plumaged ducks. The wind made it difficult to hear any bird song but I was sure our target bird hadn't been calling at all. Still, we made our way further along the bank and were rewarded with Green Sandpiper, Redshank and two distant Black-tailed Godwits.

On the marsh, we located a hepatic form Cuckoo, a rarer brown version of the usual grey birds we normally see. Suddenly, Richard announced he had seen a male Golden Oriole fly into the trees at the back of the marsh and the scanning began.

It wasn't long before PJ and Lynne had located the bird perched in the open. Most managed to see this startling but elusive stunner through telescopes. A female or immature flitted in and out of view also.

Further along the bank, we had superb views of a hunting Barn Owl plus a family of Marsh Harriers. We rested our weary bones out of the wind at the new shelter on the reserve but the birds continued to come thick and fast.

A Kingfisher flashed through, a few Bearded Tits could be seen on the reed edges, more Marsh Harriers floated over the marsh and best of all were the two Cranes that lazily flapped over the bank and landed in the reeds. What a morning!

After a leisurely stroll back to the van (and more fleeting glimpses of orioles), we made our way to nearby Weeting Heath. Some ate breakfast out of the rain in the minibus whilst others walked to the hides.

By the time I joined everyone, they were watching a Stone Curlew, a crazy Stoat diving in and out of the rabbit holes and a Little Owl that opened its wings for a shower every time the heavens opened. A young Stone Curlew joined the adult and they began to call to each other. Just outside this hide, we could see a cute Spotted Flycatcher peeping from a nest box.

The other hide was fairly quiet except for a Green Woodpecker. There was no sign of the Wood Larks that usually frequent this area. More Spotted Flycatchers were seen around the car park.

We next made our way to Great Ryburgh and English Nature's raptor watchpoint. By now, the sun was out again and it wasn't long before a Common Buzzard rose above the trees, joined by a Hobby.

Our target species here was Honey Buzzard and we weren't about to be disappointed. A pair emerged from the wood just as the rain began to fall again. At one point, we could see a Honey and Common Buzzard in the air together with a Hobby. Everyone managed to see the relevant ID features before the rain drove the birds off and us back to the van.

We were certainly on a roll and I hoped our run of good fortune would continue at the next venue. We pulled up at a 'secret' site in North Norfolk (so secret that we could hardly get in the car park!) and waited for the star birds to put on a show.

We were being thwarted by heavy rain showers. During one break in the weather we managed to get distant views of what we had been hoping for: Montagu's Harrier. This bird was a female hunting along a field across the road. More rain forced us back into the van but I advised we wait for the male to return. And return it did! It drifted in from the left, carrying some food. It plopped into the field and we waited with bated breath.

The rain became heavier and we settled down to wait once more. The male flew up again, attracting the female. He dropped the food in mid air and the female turned on her back and caught it in an amazing aerobatic display. The male then landed on a small post at the back of the field. Absolutely superb!

We 'scoped the male but were again sent scurrying into the van by a rainstorm. A few people were anxious to move on but our patience was rewarded when the rain stopped and the male flew within fifty yards of us, then over the road and away. This experience will live long in the memories of the lucky people on this minibus trip!

We made our way to Titchwell for a leisurely last hour's birding. Some made their way to the beach where a Red-necked Grebe in full breeding plumage entertained us, along with Little Tern, Eider and an array of waders.

On the walk back to the car park, we noted a forlorn-looking Brent Goose on the marsh, a Water Rail, more waders, Little Gulls and a Ruff with a ruff. Others had seen a Bittern fly directly over them as they stood on the footpath and a Garganey on the marsh!

We were definitely on a roll so I suggested we had one circuit of the infamous Wolferton Triangle to see the elusive (when Notts Birders minibuses are around) Golden Pheasants. As we pulled into the layby, a couple of male Goldies scuttled into the undergrowth. One or two saw the pheasants from the van but they never returned for everyone to admire them. I am making it my personal task to show everyone on my Norfolk trips these gaudy birds!

Not surprisingly, Montagu's Harrier was voted Bird of the Day. What an amazing day's birding it had been: quality and quantity (100 species exactly but I have probably forgotten to count something!). We had seen some of Britain's rarest breeding birds, mostly managed to stay dry and had caught up on birding gossip to boot.

I told them it would be worth getting up early!

Neil Glenn