May 12 2016
An early morning walk through the reed beds and up to the harbour and along the sea wall early in the morning (well 6.45am actually so not so early) on a lovely sunny morning was another treat and what a holiday when you can walk out of your cottage and within fifteen minutes you have seen Avocet, Whimbrel, Brent Geese and a load of other birds.
May 11 2016
Because of the heavy drizzle first thing in the morning, I did not take my usual morning walk but the evening made up for it. On our walk to the pub, which is timed to be at Barn Owl showing time, we were still getting Reed and Sedge Warblers singing and when we saw a large white shape we thought we were in luck.
May 11 2016
The second half of our day was going to be closer to home. After a snack in Wells-upon-the-Sea, we drove off to Chosely Drying Barns to look for Dotterel again. We did find a few again but they were much more distant and the views were not as good as before. Of greater pleasure was a “life tick ” found sitting on a wire overhead, overhead, and being responded to by another bird.
May 11 2016
Oystercatcher Nest with Eggs at Blakeney Point
May 10 2016
May 09 2016
Holkham NNR certainly knows how to make money at £2 an hour for parking. We paid £3 for 2 hours and started off on the left path that goes through the woods to the hides. There were various birds about and we felt that there should have been Crossbills but we never did see them and, instead, had to settle for a Jay, some Chiffchaff and a Robin. When we eventually reached the hide (is it really only a quarter of a mile ?) this gave us views over some fields and a lake and with shrubbery in the foreground.
May 09 2016
We started off our attempt to check out Holkham by paying a visit to Holkham Hall but this was basically your average stately home and whilst you would be bound to find some birds there, it was such a big site that we felt our energies would be better used elsewhere. Be that as it may, we had a look at the lake and that got us another holiday and year “tick” in the shape of Egyptian Goose of which there seems to be a healthy population – with lots of Egyptian Goslings in evidence.
May 09 2016
We left Chosely Drying Barns for Cley Marshes nature reserve. I asked about Spoonbills and was given a very cagey reply. As far as I can gather the authorities do not want to encourage anyone looking for them during the breeding season. We did meet a couple who told us they had seen them at Holkham but that was a bit vague. Anyway, we had not really come to Cley to see the Spoonbills specifically so we headed off to the hides to see what was about.
May 09 2016
May 09 2016
I started the morning with a walk along the edge of the marsh at Thornham. The Reed and Sedge Warblers were all singing and I got good views of Sedge Warbler and Wren. I immediately heard a Cuckoo calling and on the marsh there were Redshank, Shelduck and the usual Corvids and Gulls
