Wildfowl, Cranes & Raptors Tue 28th Nov-Fri 1st Dec 2017

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1 Limosa Holidays Trip Report Norfolk Broads Wildfowl, Cranes & Raptors Tue 28th Nov-Fri 1st Dec 2017 Common Cranes are now a regular feature of our trips to the Norfolk broads Gary Elton/Limosa Holidays Report compiled by tour leader: Gary Elton Limosa Holidays, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham Norfolk NR12 9EJ tel: +44 (0) / 4 info@limosaholidays.co.uk website:

2 Norfolk Broads Wildfowl, Cranes & Raptors Tour Leader: Gary Elton Our trip started with everyone arriving safely and checking in to our accommodation, a warm and welcoming Bed and Breakfast establishment, where we were well looked-after and, at times, thoroughly spoilt! Our first evening meal gave us a great opportunity to get to know each other and discuss what we were to do in the forthcoming days. With the days notably shorter at this time of year the pressure was on to make the best of the time available. The weather proved to be challenging to say the least! With reasonable, albeit chilly and at times windy, weather during the first and last days and with the second day unfortunately cold and wet virtually throughout, producing both sleet and snow on occasion! A good selection of species was seen though, with some excellent views of many of the hoped-for ones plus several surprises: Common Cranes, a flock of Snow Buntings, Long-tailed Duck, Bearded Reedling, Hen Harrier, Purple Sandpiper and Barn Owl. We visited two evening roosts. The first evening visit was made to the raptor roost at Stubb Mill, Hickling where good numbers of Marsh Harriers were watched arriving to roost in the centre of the marsh plus an impressive 34 Common Cranes! And the Corvid roost at Buckenham Marshes, though the rather inclement weather impacted to a degree on this. Day One We started the day with a short, post-breakfast walk, noting commoner species such as Stock Dove, Redwing and Meadow Pipit. The walk out to view the sea and beach at Sea Palling produced the expected Great Blackbacked and Herring Gulls loafing on the offshore groynes. Distant Gannets were picked up through the scopes, along with several Red-throated Divers, while a white shape picked up closer in shore in amongst the waves proved to be a drake Long-tailed Duck, not a common sea duck on the east coast. A short drive took us to our next stop, Waxham, again giving us another opportunity to look out over the sea and watch more of the same distant gannets and divers. The highlight here, though, as we walked onto the sea wall, was a small flock of around fifteen redpolls, feeding in a nearby field. The light on the birds was perfect and with our slightly elevated viewpoint we couldn t have hoped for better views. Whilst redpolls as taxa may be brought together as one again, it was interesting to note two of the birds were clearly paler and larger than the others and thus considered to be Mealy Redpolls with the remainder being Lessers. Our next stop was at Horsey Corner where we walked out to view the large Grey Seal colony, where mother and young seals littered the beach. We scanned the sea and beach as we walked along, with auks more prevalent here, though largely frustratingly distant with only one, a Guillemot found by Terry, positively identified. Also of note were twenty Brent Geese, 16 Eider and four Shelduck. The groynes here were also checked and a brief view of a small wader on one noted by Jane was clearly in need of further attention. We waited patiently for the bird to reappear, which was a good job as it turned out to be a Purple Sandpiper! The bird eventually proved co-operative, giving us all good telescope views. The walk back to the minibus enabled us to add Stonechat and Green Woodpecker to the trip list and an interesting crow, found by Dave deserved closer look. Its lower belly was unfortunately perceived as being too black for it too be a genuine Hooded Crow. We boarded the minibus and made the short drive to Horsey Mill, viewing the surrounding farm and marshland from several roadside stops, the last resulting in a welcome coffee break and lunch. Birds seen here included a large flock of Golden Plover, several Marsh Harriers and another Stonechat. Our final destination of the day was the raptor roost at Stubb Mill, Hickling. After parking at the main car park to the reserve we took the more scenic route alongside the main NWT reserve to reach the watch point. A flock of Fieldfares was very much the highlight of our walk out, feeding on the bank of the adjacent stream, with several Redwings also noted in with them. We arrived at the watch point, which gave us an elevated view out over the marsh in front of us. We noted an almost continual arrival of Marsh Harriers, which roost communally in the centre of the marsh, with around 25 counted regularly in the air together. A hoped-for Hen Harrier was a nice find, spending time in the air amongst the Marsh Harriers and giving us all an opportunity to compare the size and structure of the two species. Several Chinese Water Deer were seen and a Red Deer was a nice surprise as it stood motionless in the reeds. A Barn Owl and three Common Cranes completed a very successful visit and as the light faded Gary returned back to car park to collect the minibus. The excitement wasn t over though, as Gary drew nearer to the car park he could hear Cranes calling, a lot of Cranes! Eventually the birds appeared, flying out towards the marsh and watch point - 21 in total! Collecting the bus he returned to the group hoping they had met with the same success; he needn t have worried, though, as the group had seen the flock of 21 plus a further 10, increasing the total for the evening to an impressive 34 birds! Boarding the bus, our last stop was the 2 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

3 car park near the Visitor Centre where we stood in the half-light hoping for Woodcock as they emerged from their daytime roost to feed on the marshes. Again our luck was in with three flying directly over us, giving us some great silhouetted views. Day Two On waking, it was obvious the day was going to be a challenging one! The forecast was horrendous and unfortunately it wasn t wrong. Our planned destination today was the Yare Valley with several short detours along the way, the first to view a section of the marshes adjacent to the River Thurne at Ludham. On arrival, we drove along the bumpy track, adding Moorhen to our list on the adjacent wet field. Suddenly, a small bird shot across, almost under the wheels of the bus disappearing rapidly down the bank into the adjacent dyke, a Water Rail, not what we expected! We parked and climbed up onto the raised bank and scanned the area in front of us. Three Common Cranes were immediately found at the back of the marsh though as we started to view them through the scopes the brief respite we were enjoying from the weather ended. We returned to the minibus for shelter, noting Great Crested and Little Grebe on the river. The rain eased and we climbed back out to view the Cranes and a scan of the area also revealed a juvenile Peregrine perched on a distant gatepost. The nearby riverbank gave us views of a Sparrowhawk coasting along the reed edge and two vocal Bearded Reedlings eventually gave us acceptable views. Our next stop was Cantley Marshes, where we walked out along a footpath to an elevated spot to view the area. A few hundred Pink-footed Geese and a dozen or so Canada Geese were immediately seen but unfortunately little else and, once again, the short dry spell we were enjoying ended and we turned on our heels and returned to the bus. Our next stop was Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve for lunch. Here we sat and looked out from the visitor centre over the main pool. A mixed flock of Coot and Gadwall were on the pool and a single female Shoveler sat nearby on the bank. At least five Marsh Harriers quartered the reeds and three Bearded Reedlings showed briefly on the reedbed edge. The nearby bird feeders were also busy and several Marsh and Coal Tits were noted amongst the numerous Blue and Great Tits. Our final destination of the day was Buckenham Marshes. Once again the dry spell we were briefly enjoying ended and we about turned and re-boarded the bus, making the decision to do the journey down the reserve track by vehicle instead. A pair of Mistle thrushes were a bonus as we re-entered the reserve alongside the gravelled entrance track and our first stop to view the marsh revealed at least ten Ruff and five Common Snipe in amongst the numerous Golden Plover and Lapwing. Driving the track proved a wise move and we disembarked and spent the next hour scanning the marsh and using a large hide as shelter. A small feral flock of Barnacle Geese was noted out on the marsh, with a hybrid Ross s x Barnacle Goose among them, along with good numbers of Wigeon and Teal. There was already evidence of growing numbers of corvids nearby, with birds gathering on telegraph wires and in the adjacent field to the car park, an encouraging sign as the large roost the area is famous for was to be the finale for the day. We made a short drive to a better viewpoint, watching the birds continue to gather and the numbers steadily increased on the corner of a nearby field. The light and weather were unfortunately very poor which sadly reduced the final impact of the birds rising and heading noisily into the nearby wood to roost. Day Three With today being our final day, bags were packed and loaded in the cars and we set off smartly, aware we had a slightly shorter day ahead. Our first stop was a return visit to the beach at Sea Palling, though the wind made viewing tricky and we quickly left. At Winterton North Beach we wrapped up and headed up the beach against a bracing North wind. Various groups of wildfowl were noted flying past over the sea, these included Wigeon and Teal, a useful size comparison, plus small numbers of Eider and Brent Geese. Just when we thought we were out of luck Snow Bunting wise, a small passerine was noted by Rhona, taking off and landing ahead of us on the beach. Success! The birds were found in the scopes and we enjoyed views before we decide to move closer. The birds at this point took off on their own accord, coming towards us. They landed briefly then took off again, this time choosing to land some thirty feet in front of us and great views were had by all! The walk back to the minibus revealed several small flocks of Common Scoter sat on the sea. A roadside stop for tea and coffee at the car park between Rollesby and Ormesby Broads enabled us to add some of the more obvious omissions to our list such as Tufted Duck and Pochard. Our next port of call was Great Yarmouth s beach and promenade, with a leisurely drive along the sea front in search of Mediterranean Gulls. After several unsuccessful stops, checking through groups of commoner gull species, we eventually stumbled on our quarry, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, all adults, sitting on a stretch of beach. Breydon Water was our next stop, which enabled use of the facilities and allowed an obviously well-overdue shopping trip for several members of the group! The tide unfortunately was a long way out, though with some patience we were able to get reasonable views of the hoped-for waders and wildfowl. Several Rock Pipits were also seen, one briefly perched on the sea wall being a bonus. 3 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

4 We headed back towards base with lunch our next priority which we took in the car park at Ormesby Little Broad. A walk afterwards to view the broad from a small platform revealed a confiding flock of Siskins in the path-side Alders with at least one Redpoll noted in amongst them and several Goldcrests. A redhead Goldeneye was a bonus, though actively feeding and some patience was required to see it. We then made the short drive back to the base, where we said our goodbyes and started our journeys home. ANNOTATED LIST OF BIRDS (100 species recorded) Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus Seen daily, both in flight and on roadside fields. Greylag Goose Anser anser Seen daily, in small numbers at Hickling, Horsey, Cantley and Buckenham Marshes. Canada Goose Branta canadensis Small numbers on the marshes at Cantley and Buckenham Marshes. Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla bernicla Around twenty were noted as flybys at Horsey with a further four at Winterton. Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis A feral flock of nine was noted at Buckenham Marshes, with a Ross s x Barnacle hybrid among them. Mute Swan Cygnus olor Noted daily throughout the trip, with the largest number around fifty at Horsey. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus Noted daily, in small numbers throughout the trip. Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Present in good numbers at Breydon Water and noted off shore at several sites. Gadwall Anas strepera Noted at Ludham, Strumpshaw Fen and Ormesby Broad. Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Large numbers at Buckenham Marshes and Breydon Water. Several small flocks were also noted offshore. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Common, seen at all wetland sites. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata A female at Strumpshaw Fen. Northern Pintail Anas acuta A distant pair were picked out at Breydon Water. Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Comments as Wigeon, with large numbers seen. Common Pochard Aythya ferina Around thirty were seen on Ormesby Broad. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula More numerous than the above with around fifty on Rollesby and Ormesby Broads. Common Eider Somateria mollissima Sixteen were seen in flight at Horsey and a further 37 at Winterton. Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Several small offshore flocks at Winterton. Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis An impressive looking drake was seen offshore at Sea Palling. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula A redhead at Ormesby Little Broad. Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Small coveys of birds were noted on two dates. Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Recorded daily. Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata Several seen in flight during our visits to view the sea. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Noted at Ludham (3), Buckenham Marshes and Ormesby and Rollesby Broads. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Seen at Ludham and on all three broads visited on our last day. 4 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

5 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Several were noted daily. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Seen at Horsey, Stubb Mill and Buckenham Marshes. Northern Gannet Morus bassanus Distant birds, mainly adults, were seen from Sea Palling and Winterton. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Noted daily in small numbers at various sites. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Singles at Ludham and Breydon Water. Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Seen regularly and daily with largest numbers seen at the raptor roost with an estimated 40+ present. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus A ringtail with Marsh Harriers at the Stubb Mill roost. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Noted daily with six seen the first day. Water Rail Rallus aquaticus One seen and also heard at Ludham. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Noted at various sites. Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Seen at Strumpshaw and Rollesby/Ormesby Broads. Common Crane Grus grus A grand total of 37 were seen over the three-day period. At least 34 of these were at the roost site at Subb Mill, with a flock of 21 flying noisily in together, which made an impressive sight. Three more were seen near Ludham the following day. Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus A single at Horsey was followed by larger numbers at Breydon Water. Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Noted daily. European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Seen daily with flocks of c500 seen at Ludham, Hickling and Horsey. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Several in the wader roost at Breydon Water. Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Three seen well overflying Hickling broad car park at dusk. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago At least five at Buckenham Marshes. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Close view of five at Buckenham Marshes with a distant flock of roosting birds seen at Breydon Water. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Several distant birds were seen at Breydon Water Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata Several were seen at Breydon Water. Common Redshank Tringa totanus Noisy birds were noted on the salt marsh at Breydon Water. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Five flyovers at Sea Palling with singles at Horsey and Winterton. Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima On on the groynes at Horsey Gap. Dunlin Calidris alpina Easily seen at Breydon Water where several thousand were present. Ruff Philomachus pugnax Ten feeding alongside Lapwing at Buckenham Marshes. Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Common, seen daily in numerous locations. Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Twelve adults on the sea-front at Great Yarmouth. Common Gull Larus canus Seen daily at various sites during the trip. 5 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

6 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Easily seen at coastal sites. European Herring Gull Larus argentatus Easily seen at all coastal sites. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Several were seen around Great Yarmouth. Common Guillemot Uria aalge Lots of distant auks were seen but only one at Horsey positively identified. Feral Rock Dove Columba livia Noted daily. Stock Dove Columba oenas Noted daily in small numbers. Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Common, seen daily. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Noted daily, primarily as we travelled through the local villages. Western Barn Owl Tyto alba One seen well in fornt of the watch point at Stubb Mill. European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis A calling bird heard and briefly seen at Horsey. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Seen daily. Peregrine Falco peregrinus An immature bird was found perched on a gate post at Ludham. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Noted daily largely as we travelled around. Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Seen daily in small numbers Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Numbers of crows at the evening roost at Buckenham Marshes are hard to estimate, but there seemed likely to be in excess of 30,000 birds. Jackdaws seemed to be the more prevalent species followed by Rook. Also seen daily, primarily in roadside flocks Rook Corvus frugilegus Comments as above. Also noted at various sites, invariably in roadside flocks with the above species. Carrion Crow Corvus corone Comments as above, small numbers were noted throughout the trip at various sites. Coal Tit Periparus ater Seen visiting the feeders at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB and one heard at Ormesby Little Broad. Marsh tit Poecile palustris At least two around the feeders at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB. Great Tit Parus major Seen daily at various sites European Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus As above, seen daily at various sites. Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Several at Buckenham Marshes and Horsey. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Small flocks at Hickling and Ormesby Little Broad. Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus Two seen well along the river at Ludham with three more, again showing reasonably well, at Strumpshaw Fen. Goldcrest Regulus regulus Heard calling at Stubb Mill at dusk, with two seen at Ormesby Little Broad. Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Recorded daily at various sites Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris Common, recorded daily Common Blackbird Turdus merula Common, recorded daily Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Around 100 on the walk out to the raptor watchpoint at Hickling, with smaller numbers noted on other days. 6 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

7 Redwing Turdus iliacus Noted daily in small numbers. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Singles at the Dairy Barns and Cantley. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Three in total at Buckenham Marshes. European Robin Erithacus rubecula Seen daily at various sites. European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola Two at Horsey Gap were followed by three at our lunch stop nearby near Horsey Mill. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Noted daily. Dunnock Prunella modularis A gapping omission with several heard but none seen. Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii Ones and twos daily. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Noted daily at suitable sites. Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus/water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Vocal birds were recorded at Breydon Water, with one seen well briefly on the sea wall. Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Recorded daily, again at a selection of sites. European Greenfinch Chloris chloris Several seen at Ludham. Common Linnet Linaria cannabina A mobile flock of around fifty in front of the raptor watchpoint at Stubb Mill. Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea Two in a flock of Lesser Redpolls. Lesser Redpoll Acanthis cabaret A showy flock of 13, then another single found in the Siskin flock at Ormesby Little Broad. European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Noted daily at various sites. Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus Noted daily with nice views had a flock of around 25 birds at Ormesby Little Broad. Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Nice views of a flock of fourteen birds on the beach at Winterton. Escapes Black Swan Cygnus atratus One viewable from the visitor centre at Strumpshaw Fen. Mammals Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Chinese Water deer Hydropotes inermis Red Deer Cervus elaphus 7 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk