Norfolk over the Easter Weekend

An extended Easter in Norfolk 2019

It was a glorious 6 days in Norfolk with the sun shining every day. That doesn't mean to say it was Mediterranean, well in fact it was actually warmer in the south of England than the Med, Norfolk reached the low twenties out of the the wind but several mornings I awoke to frost on the car windscreen. The winds were in fact almost what you would like for migrants to turn up, the problem was bad weather in southern Europe was holding up the spring passage. The species creating most of the birding interest was the Ring Ouzel, birds were scattered all around the Norfolk Coast, finding them was difficult away from the hotspots. I did manage to find one in the grazing marsh at Titchwell RSPB reserve. The next top bird was a Black-winged Stilt at Potter Heigham Marshes. Below are some of the images taken during my time there, I posted some video clips on Twitter at parksbirdlondon.

Below are some of the crackers that I saw, not all are frame fillers.

The North Norfolk coastal area is a great place to see Hares.

In the last 3 years a thriving colony of Mediterranean Gulls has established itself in a fenced enclosure on the RSPB reserve 

The fence was erected to protect the breeding Avocets from predation by the local large mammals

I found this female Pied Flycatcher in Sallows on the main path at Titchwell

Another find was this male Ring Ouzel in the grazing marsh viewed from the main path at Titchwell RSPB reserve.

A pair of Black-winged Stilts bred at Potter Heigham Marshes in 2017, in the 2 years since then single birds have visited in April or May but not stopped. The image at the top is normally the view you get, distant. This years bird has shown much better, particularly in the early morning.

This years weather has put the Avocets back, not one bird had a nest yet. The photo below shows what looks like an egg carrying female. That or she likes a pint or two.

Black-tailed Godwits, them and the Avocets are the most abundant waders on the coast.

Common Snipe blending in to the background

Little-ringed Plover at Titchwel, birds were also on show at CleyNWT and Salthouse

Ruff moulting into summer plumage at CleyNWT reserve

Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits arriving from possibly the Algarve?

Whimbrel were also arriving during the last few days. a flock of 24 flew Potter Heigham Marshes.

4 Greenshank dropped in unnoticed at the Avocet Hide

Marsh Harriers are seen over marshes ans agricultural land

Marsh Harriers are chased whenever they come to close, one bird at CleyNWT is very skilled at grabbing Avocet chicks.

I was sitting in my garden when around 24 Common Buzzards and 2 Common Cranes headed SE within an hour.

Bitterns were booming at Cley NWT,  Hickling NWT and Titchwell RSPB reserve.

  

These two drake Aythya hybrids were at Felbrigg Hall lake

Garganey were on show at Potter Heigham and Cley NWT

Yellow Hammers at Choseley Barn

Brambling and Blackcap at Titchwell RSPB

Sedge Warbler and Wheatear were on show at Hickling NWT

This Muntjac was feeding by a hide and had to walk back to the cover of the reeds through some really smelly silt

I never imagined having a Common Pheasant on my garden list almost daily. This bird casually strolls across the road and in through my side gate.