Report on birdwatching trip to Norfolk

[stevef]

Hi,
Had a lovely weekend in Norfolk (Sunday lunch to Tuesday teatime is our weekend) last week.
Headed up to Hickling Broad for a look round there, but it was very quiet. The main reason for the visit was the walk from there to Stubbs Mill to see the cranes and raptor roost. After about an hour of watching several marsh harriers we finally struck lucky as a pair of cranes flew straight across about 100 yards away. Hung on until near dusk hoping to see more, but finally had to go as we still had to drive up to Fakenham.
Stayed at Fakenham racecourse site and had a rookery next to the van so it was a bit noisy at about 6.00AM.
Monday first stop was the delightful Flitcham Abbey Farm, one of my favourite little sites. The resident little owl was very obliging sitting out for about 30 minutes giving great views. Last Summer this site was superb for kingfishers with 3 pairs in residence. Sadly they are not yet nesting so we failed to see one. A stay of about 90 minutes gave us nearly 30 different birds.
From there it was on to Titchwell and our first ever Firecrest in Britain (we have seen them in Majorca) He was showing well all afternoon in the bushes between the car park and the visitor centre. We ended up with nearly 50 birds including goldeneye (or a guillemot as one birder was telling other people) , scoter, both godwits, lots of ruff and a siskin.
Finally on our way back on Tuesday we called in at Lynford Arboretum hoping for hawfinch and crossbill, sadly we failed on both these but still enjoyed the walk.
All in all a couple of good quality Norfolk days and the first life tick of the year.
We had intended to take the van away again this weekend but the weather forecast looks so bad I think we will settle for a day at home and if we can get away from the fire a day out at Minsmere tomorrow.

Steve and Ang

[Graham]

Hi Steve and Ang

It sounds as if you had a great weekend in Norfolk, we love going to Norfolk, our favourite place is RSPB Snettisham, its not only good for birding but a nice longish walk as well. Its a shame they have a height barrier to the entrance of the car park but there is room for a couple of vans just before the barrier. Alternatively if that is full up we go and park on the beach there is a height barrier there but the car park is manned and the nice old gent will let you in a side gate but you have to be back before he leaves for the night!

I like the sound of Flitcham Abbey Park we will have to look that one up and give it a whirl, is it a CL?

Regards
Graham

[stevef]

Abbey farm is a working farm in the village of Flitcham. Take the A148 between Kings Lynn and Hunstanton and after a few miles turn left to Flitcham. In the village take a right turn on a bend (I think it is called Abbey Lane) and after half a mile, just after the farm, you will see a small sign on the right to their car park and bird hide. It is only about a 10 yard walk to the hide with views over a few fields and some ponds. On the left you will see a banking with the holes where the kingfishers nest. In front of you is a fallen tree with its roots exposed the little owl lives in there but is well camoflagued. In summer the telegraph wires can be good for turtle dove.
At first glance there does not look to be that many birds but have a good luck and you will find loads of birds lurking in ones and twos. We saw Curlew, egyptian goose, oystercatcher, teal, wigeon, snipe, fieldfare, stock dove, long tailed tit, various finches including bullfinch. The odd raptor such as peregrine, buzzard, barn owl etc. can also sometimes be seen. A garganey had been there a few days before.
It's a beautiful quiet spot especially nice on a Summer evening and you are often alone or maybe one or two others for company.

We had considered a call to Snettisham but it was one of the lowest tides of the month so not an ideal time to visit. Last time there we had excellent barn owl and snow bunting sightings as well as the usual thousands of waders.

Staying closer to home from my bedroom window yesterday I was watching a woodlark flying over the stubble field.

Thanks for the parking tip, lots of height restricters seem to be 7ft 6, one inch lower than the van.

Steve

[Pauline]

stevef said:

Thanks for the parking tip, lots of height restricters seem to be 7ft 6, one inch lower than the van.

Steve

That's a shame, trouble is you don't want to risk trying to see if they have actually done it exact or allowed a little extra!!

You could always let the tyres down and roll through!

Like Graham says there is a nice old chap at Snettisham who will open the barrier to let you through, however there was talk last year of the car park becoming pay and display, if so he'd probably be out of a job and the barrier would stay. Not been yet this year but will report back when we do.

[Graham]

Hi Steve

Abbey Farm sounds great, but I'm a bit confused, you said it was one of your favourite sites, I thought you meant camp sites but I have found a web site for it and it doesn't mention camping. Can you camp there or is it just a birdwatching site?

Cheers
Graham

[stevef]

Sorry to confuse you it is a birdwatching site on a working farm not a camp site.

On the comment about height restrictions, we had a VW camper previously. This just fitted under a barrier in a car-park in Bury St Edmunds. When I came to leave, I heard a nasty sound, it was my roof vent smashing on the barrier bar. They had put a speed hump about 3 ft before the exit barrier which lifted the back end of the van up high enough to hit the barrier. I wrote to the council saying that if I got in, I expected to be able to get out again. Thankfully they paid for the replacement vent without a fuss.

Steve

Steve

[Graham]

stevef said:

Sorry to confuse you it is a birdwatching site on a working farm not a camp site.

That's a shame I thought it sounded a little gem, a campsite with its own bird hide! Never mind its still sounds as if its worth a visit I've made a mental note to pop in next time we are in the area, I'll let you know what we see.

The height barrier story made me smile, fancy getting under then damaging the van going out, I bet they'd not thought of that, but at least they forked up for your repairs.

Graham