Wednesday 3 June 2009 - An East Anglian Adventure - Harriers, Honeys & Orioles! - 30/05/09

Saturday 30th May 2009

A Day of East Anglian Birding

We had already planned a days birding in Norfolk but with news of a first summer GREAT KNOT turning up at Great Yarmouth meant that Pezza, Jules and I would need to amend the itinerary slightly.  We had all either missed or dipped the previous British birds so we pencilled in a trip to Breydon Water if it was still present the next day.  Then news filtered through to say that the bird's identity was in question.  A quick look at some record shots on Surfbirds left me disappointed, the bird in the photographs didn't look right for a GREAT KNOT to me.

Harrier-on-the-Hill, Norfolk - Dude Factor: 25%

Whilst heading east, news filtered through on the pager that the Great Knot or Red Knot was present at Breydon Water until around 4.45am but flew off.  With high tide not until mid-afternoon we decided to head over to the worst kept 'secret site' in birding, an area I will call Harrier-on-the-Hill for the purpose of this blog.  Initially a nice pair of Marsh Harriers were enjoyed, whilst Eurasian Skylarks, European Goldfinches and Pied Wagtails sang around us for starters.  We did not have to wait long though for the main course when an adult female MONTAGU'S HARRIER flapped into view.  Not long afterwards an adult male joined the female before finally a 1st summer male appeared.  Superb stuff 3 x Monty's showing well.... and nobody on site disgraced themselves or misbehaved in any way.  Also on site there were good numbers of Painted Lady butterflies passing through.  Dude Factor: 25%

Harrier-on-the-Hill, Norfolk - A bloody good place to see Harriers....as the name suggests.

Swanton Novers, Norfolk - Dude Factor: 78%

With a hunger for 'things with talons' still in our stomachs we then made our way over towards the raptor watchpoint at Swanton Novers.  Initially we picked up around half-a-dozen Common Buzzards circling around in the clear blue skies.  After about 45 minutes though the target species appeared over a nearby woodland - a handsome male HONEY BUZZARD.  The bird displayed briefly before dropping back down behind the tree line.  The only other species recorded here were singing Yellowhammer and Chaffinch.

Fashion in birding is getting worse!  Believe it or not this picture was not taken on the plains of East Africa or in the bush of Australia.... it was taken in North Norfolk.... this pair were not in fact on the hunt for 'big game' but were simply hoping for a glimpse of a Honey Monster

Salthouse, Norfolk - Dude Factor: 6% - Boob Factor: 69%

I'm afraid to say that not a great deal of proper birding was done at this particular site.  Whilst Pezza wondered off admiring a pair of Egyptian Geese, Jules and myself confined ourselves within the car in order to view a gorgeous, young blonde chick collecting shells.  Forget 'category C's', real men prefer watching 'double D's'... what a treat!  In addition to the Geese, a couple of Avocets and Sandwich Terns were spotted.

Cley NWT, Norfolk - Dude Factor: 55%

A quick scan from the car park at this world famous reserve produced two pair of Marsh Harrier, 12 Avocet and around 25 Black-tailed Godwit.

Weeting Heath NWT, Norfolk - Dude Factor: 99%

Despite the throngs of 'robin strokers' and the 'puffin patters' I love this reserve!  It takes me back to my days as a young whipper-snapper and the anticipation of seeing my first ever Stone Curlews, one of the most charismatic birds on the British List.  Unfortunately today the 'Stoners' were not playing ball and poor views of a pair were just about seen in the distance and through a shimmer of heat haze.  On a positive note we enjoyed some superb views of a Stoat hunting rabbits and a pair of Spotted Flycatcher performed well around East Hide.  Other species included plenty of Northern Lapwings (with chicks), a pair of Green Woodpecker and the odd Mistle Thrush.

A typical 'Puffin Patter' lingers around the visitor centre at Weeting Heath NWT... eating ice cream as opposed to looking for Stone Curlews.

Lakenheath Fen RSPB, Suffolk - Dude Factor: 33%

I haven't really had a great deal of luck at this excellent RSPB reserve over recent years but today that all changed!  After a long stroll in the exhausting heat we eventually reached the viewpoint where a kind gentleman put us straight on to a neat, little nest high up in the poplar plantation.  It was the nest of the enigmatic GOLDEN ORIOLE one of Britain's rarest breeding birds.  We could just about make out the female tucked away, incubating a clutch of precious eggs.  She eventually showed quite well as she shuffled around and occasionally left the nest presumably to feed.  It was during one of these absences that a male GOLDEN ORIOLE flew in to protect the area and at one stage even chased off a mischevious Carrion Crow.  The male could also be heard whistling his distinctive song every so often.

Prime Golden Oriole and Great Bittern breeding habitat - a poplar plantation and an extensive reedbed at Lakenheath Fen RSPB.

Also in this area Hobby, Cuckoo and Common Kingfisher were seen and Bearded Tits could be heard 'pinging' their way around the reedbeds.  A Great Bittern also 'boomed' once.  I then made my way over to the viewing platform to join Pezza and Jules for a scan of the area in the hope that we could pick up something else.  Within minutes I picked up a majestic adult Common Crane rising from the reeds.  The bird flew slowly in front of us before landing once again amongst the dense vegetation.  It was a thrill to see one of these elusive birds, two pairs of which are breeding on the reserve this year.  As we were just about to head back to the car park, Pezza picked up a Great Bittern in flight, just one of perhaps three pairs of breeding birds at the site.  To bring our visit to a conclusion a trio of Garganey were nice to see on the main lagoon, consisting of two males and a single female.

Common Crane showing well at Lakenheath Fen RSPB.... not really it's a photo I took of a poster at the RSPB information point.

A Great Bittern's eye view of Lakenheath Fen RSPB.    

The ASBO Crew leave their mark on the sightings board at Lakenheath Fen RSPB. 

After picking up a fish & chip supper from Lakenheath village we then made our way over to another 'secret site' where we all enjoyed fabulous views of 4 Stone Curlew and around 20 Mistle Thrush before heading back to the West Midlands.  A thoroughly enjoyable day all round, who needs a GREAT KNOT anyway?..... well we all do!

Special thanks to Julian 'The Master' Allen for driving from 6.00am to 9.30pm.... with the odd break to look at fine birds.  Cheers mate!