Spoonbill
(Platalea leucorodia)
Tuesday
12th April saw our first Outdoor Workshop of the year – Migrating
Birds. With a steady flow of both passage and breeding migrants already showing
up along the Norfolk coast all 5 members of the workshop were excited and keen
to explore the National Nature Reserve to see what we could find.
We
didn’t have to wait long as our first ‘decent’ birds gave us excellent views
without us having to leave the car park on Lady Anne’s Drive! A pair of
Mediterranean Gulls was partaking of some parallel walking as a show of
affection on the grazing marsh, an unexpected spot in this part of the county.
Following them up came an absolutely splendid Spoonbill, a real Holkham
speciality, which showed off its breeding plumes and yellow colouring
beautifully only a few yards from the parked cars. As if this wasn’t good
enough, we then caught flight views of the long-staying Great White Egret
gliding overhead – surely, along with the Spoonbills, another sign of the
impact of climate change.
Our
next treat came again before we even left the car park, when a pair of Barn
Owls (one who I am sure was called Hooty!) drifted ghostily along the
embankment looking for voles. Happy with our start, we headed along the back of
the pine woods, checking the avenue of pines, holm oak and scrub for
interesting passerines (small perching birds). We discussed the importance of
recognising bird song and using this as both a tracking and identification
device. With all the snazzy kit in the world, it’s no use if you can’t first
find the birds with your ears and eyes. So, it was with the mantra ‘eyes, ears,
bins, scope’ ringing in ours that we found and observed some great little
birds: Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Robin, Wren and a
gorgeous and aptly named Treecreeper.
Treecreeper (Certhia
familiaris)
As we
reached Salt’s Hole, a brackish pool bordering the grazing marsh, we could see
several small and extremely busy water birds diving and popping up repeatedly.
This was the family of Little Grebes (known in Norfolk as Dabchicks) that bred
successfully here last year. Up to 6 can be seen on Salt’s at any one time.
Accompanying them were some Gadwall, Shelduck and pretty Teal.
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus
ruficollis)
Out on
the grazing marsh Redshank were claiming territory very noisily and we caught
sight of another distant Spoonbill. A couple of Common Buzzard were also
circling high above us and then drifted off towards the Monument, no doubt in
search of rabbits.
The
drizzle had turned to a heavy shower and so we ducked into Washington Hide for
some shelter and a great view across the scrub, lagoon and reedbeds.
Marsh Harrier
(Circus aeruginosus)
The
main highlight from here was the Marsh Harriers, fantastic raptors often taken
for granted here in Norfolk. Several were busy collecting nesting material,
flushing wary waterfowl from the lagoon. As the rain began to lash down they
seemed happy to perch on a stump and wait it out, much as we were doing. A
vociferous Chiffchaff dropped onto a bare sycamore right next to the hide and
we also made out the songs of Sedge and Cetti’s Warblers from somewhere in the
depths of the reeds and scrubs. Alas they did not emerge to show themselves and
we were a week or too early to hear the ‘reeling’ Grasshopper Warbler.
Thankfully
the rain eased up after a short time and we moved back out into the field in
search of a rare passage migrant or two. Passing Meal’s House we came across
some feeding parties of mixed tits, which held a few tiny and very cute
Goldcrests and we heard but again did not see the Willow Warbler. The cold,
damp air seemed to be keeping these spring migrants huddled deep in the foliage
and out of view.
Next
stop was the Joe Jordan Hide, which overlooks the ancient Iceni fort, the large
lagoons and lush grazing marsh. Immediately more Spoonbill activity was
apparent, with several birds wheeling around in their characteristically
stoop-necked flight poses. Another was feeding in the shallows of the lagoon,
along with a group of 16 elegant Avocet, fresh in for the season. Probing for worms
to the left was a large group of Curlew, also recently arrived, some Egyptian
Geese (not actually a goose at all, but a type of Shelduck) and a pair of
Red-Legged Partridge. The pair of the more impressive Grey Partridge that
normally hangs out here did not, unfortunately, show. Amongst the busy and
brilliantly noisy Curlew, sat in the middle of a patch of sedge was a huge
Brown Hare.
Avocet
(Recurvirostra avosetta)
Looking
out again to the Cormorant roost, we spotted a lot more Spoonbill activity –
probably in the region of 10 individuals – a truly fantastic sight. Also a
group of 5 Little Egrets flapped past and more raptors were present in the form
of Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards.
Firecrest
(Regulus ignicapilla)
Next
we headed out towards the dunes of Burnham Overy in the hope of some Ring Ouzel
and Wheatear action. Before we got there, however, another little technique
proved invaluable - simply stop and wait for 10 minutes and see what birds come
to you. Pausing by a couple of lovely Holm oaks and a stand of bare-branched trees,
it was soon apparent that there was a lot of small bird activity. More
Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were followed by 3 superb male Blackcaps, singing
mellifluously. Then Peter, one of our group, noticed a flash of green and fire
in the bare trees. Firecrest! What a magnificent bird it was, darting around
after insects and giving us lovely views. Undoubtedly the highlight of the day.
Great spot, Peter!
Natterjack Toad
(Epidalea calamita)
Our
trek through the dunes produced almost no avian action, save for a Song Thrush
overhead, but we did get lucky with a rather rare amphibian. ‘Running’ across
our path was a beautiful (in our opinion) Natterjack Toad, a small population
of which is present and protected here on the NNR. Its orange-brown nobbles were
dissected by a striking yellow line and it seemed happy to pose for a few
pictures.
Tree Pipit
(Anthus trivialis)
Deciding
to leave the dunes in favour of the path along the edge of the pines, we
managed to bag a few more excellent spots before we arrived, happy but
exhausted, back at Lady Anne’s Drive. One of the Tree Pipits that I had scouted
on previous recces was perched up at the top of a pine sapling and gave us
excellent flight views, which diagnosed it as a true Tree Pipit and not its
much commoner Meadow cousin. Numbers of Linnet flitted around searching for
seeds and we again heard Sedge and Willow Warblers. Back by the marsh we
watched some handsome Pochard before our final treat, a close encounter with a
pair of Muntjac Deer.
Looking
back at our list of species seen, we had clearly had a very productive morning,
with sightings of many fantastic birds and other wildlife. I can’t wait to get
out on the next migration workshop, when the birds make the return trip in
October! Please see our website for booking details.
