THE NORFOLK WINTER EXPEDITION with IOLO WILLIAMS

Norfolk Winter Expedition with Iolo Williams and Theo de Clermont : 16th-20th February

Wildlife Summary:

16th - first afternoon

We met at our base, the Lodge hotel in Old Hunstanton and headed straight off in the early afternoon to RSPB Titchwell, to our surprise in the sun! A detour on the way into Titchwell, to see a flock of Geese in lovely light containing Greylags, over 100 White-fronted Geese and a Tundra Bean Goose. The UK has seen a huge influx of these scarcer grey geese this winter so it was great to see some for ourselves!

Heading to the RSPB reserve we saw Pochards, Tufties, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallards, Pintail and Shelducks on the marshes as well as 4 Avocets, lots of Golden Plover and Lapwings. Working our way up to the beach a female Scaup was showing very well on the Tidal pool as well as a more elusive Slavonian Grebe. Out on the beach we had more common waders including Sanderling and Dunlin as well as Red-breasted Merganser and Great-crested Grebes offshore. Walking back, all the birds lifted off the marsh and a high up Peregrine came through at speed chasing a poor Golden Plover, which eventually escaped.

As the light started dropping, the Golden Plover began circling the marsh and Marsh Harriers quartering the reedbed. A calling Water Rail brought an end to day 1.

17th - Day 2

Leaving the hotel we headed to NE Norfolk and to Kelling Heath, no sight or sound of any Woodlarks, however we were treated to lovely views of a male Dartford Warbler (a real trip highlight for the group) in the flowering Gorse and a pair of Ravens flying around.

On from there we headed to Sheringham on a twitch. At The Esplanade we had superb views of a rare male Eastern Black Redstart, the central asian subspecies of our nominate Black Redstart with its bright red belly. It was joined by a nominate female Black Redstart for a short while giving great comparison views.

Back along the coast we stopped in at Stiffkey to see 3 Glossy Ibis feeding away happily on the floods as well as a nice flock of 90 Black-tailed Godwits and some flyover flocks of Brent Geese.

Next onto Blakeney Harbour for lunch, a brief Kingfisher was the highlight there. After a tea stop in Wells we had a drive down Lady Anne’s drive where we saw a Stonechat, 5 Great-white Egrets and a flock of 35 White-fronted Geese joined by 10 Barnacle Geese along with a few Egyptian Geese. A Barn Owl was also out early there and on our way to the next stop at Thornham we had not 1.. Not 2… but 3 different Barn Owls in the road side fields.

A walk up the bank at Thornham harbour to finish the day yielded us more common duck species and more Black-tailed Godwits and more extended views of a Barn Owl to see the day out.

18th - Day 3

We started the day with a scan of the sea from Hunstanton lookout - relatively quiet with a big distant flock of Common Scoter, Fulmars, common waders and a few Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebes there.

Heading back to NE Norfolk to Cley, we had a windy walk along the East Bank with a couple of Marsh Harrier flybys of note. 2 gems were waiting for us at the end in the form of a pair of Snow Buntings feeding really close in the shingle. Back to the centre for a well earned hot drink and some lunch, a flock of Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets were on the scrapes.

Heading back along the coast we had our 2nd twitch of the week for a drake Ferruginous Duck which had been found earlier at Holkham park, we got distant views in the scope of the duck actively feeding, along with 2 Goosander and lots of other dabbling ducks. A Marsh Tit was calling in the woods there and our first Mistle Thrushes of the week were in the grounds with the Fallow Deer herd. Heading back north we winded through the country lanes seeing plenty of Red Kites, Barn Owl, Brown Hares and Roe, Chinese Water and Muntjac Deer before heading back to the hotel.

19th - Day 4

With poor weather at the coast we decided to head to the Fens for the day. Starting down at Southery, the fields were full of wild swans; we saw in excess of 500 Whooper Swans and over 60 Bewick’s Swans. Lots of Roe deer were in the fields along with Brown Hares, a Great Egret, a few Corn Buntings perched on the wires and a small covey of Grey partridge. After a coffee and cake stop we head back over to Welney, more wild swans here and a big flock of over 50 Corn Buntings, a rare sight these days.

There was huge flooding on the Ouse Washes with thousands of ducks distantly on the floods. 4 Cattle Egrets were closer in on the banks. Heading back towards the coast through the countryside we had good views of a Barn Owl and a pair of Grey Partridge before ending up back at Thornham Harbour for a wander along the seabank. From here we watched another Barn Owl, a pair of Marsh Harriers, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Rock Pipits and Pink-footed and White Fronted Geese. On our way back to the hotel we saw yet another Barn Owl.

20th: Last day

We headed to Titchwell once again. A Grey Wagtail was at the visitor centre and a Water Rail showing well in the ditch.

We headed straight down to the sea before the rain came in and we found 9 Long-tailed Ducks, a Great-Northern Diver, a Goldeneye, 2 flocks of Eider ducks, Great-crested Grebes and Red-Breasted Mergansers. We had further views of the Slavonian Grebe and Scaup on the pools as well as Avocets, Pintails and a large flock of Brent Geese on the Freshmarsh.

Walking back to the centre for a hot drink, there was time for one last good bird when a Firecrest appeared in the ditch brambles, showing superbly as it hopped around in the cover.

We headed back to the hotel for lunch as the rain set in. After lunch at the hotel, we said our goodbyes after a great 5 days.

Species list: 119 birds species and 9 Mammals