Trip reports

Coach Outing to RSPB Titchwell & Holkham NNR

Sunday, 17 February 2008

Yet again Holkham and Titchwell came up trumps with 96 bird species recorded. If you have ever considered joining us on one of our outings you cannot go far wrong with this annual trip to these two excellent North Norfolk sites.

The outing led by Mike Oakland was attended by 35 members, which included several 'first timers'. The weather was cold but dry and with a full day of bright sunshine, meant the light was excellent for viewing birds.

Holkham:

We could not have had a better start to the day, within minutes of leaving the coach we were getting outstanding views of two insomniac barn owls flying around the fields at Holkham. Not to be outdone, a tawny owl was later heard calling from Holkham Pines just after midday. It seemed to be a day of excellent views with a group of sanderling busy feeding within 20 feet of the path by the salt marsh, oblivious to passers-by.

Titchwell:

The outstanding views theme continued at Titchwell. Black-tailed godwit, spotted redshank and common redshank, instead of being distant views way out on the mud were within yards of the footpath. brambling and a 'hide and seek' woodcock, near the Visitor Centre, were seen by most people.

The mammals list was also quite respectable, with seven species seen.


Bird species recorded :

Little grebe, great crested grebe, gannet, cormorant, little egret, grey heron, Mute swan, pink-footed goose, greylag goose, Canada goose, Brent goose, Egyptian goose, shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, pintail, shoveler, tufted duck, scaup, eider, common scoter, goldeneye, red-breasted merganser, marsh harrier, kestrel, red-legged partridge, grey partridge, pheasant, water rail, moorhen, coot, oystercatcher, avocet, ringed plover, golden plover, grey plover, lapwing, knot, sanderling, dunlin, ruff, snipe, woodcock, black-tailed godwit, bar-tailed godwit, curlew, spotted redshank, redshank, turnstone, mediterranean gull, black-headed gull, common gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, stock dove, woodpigeon, collared dove, barn owl, tawny owl (H), skylark, meadow pipit, rock pipit, pied wagtail, wren, dunnock, robin, stonechat, blackbird, fieldfare, song thrush, redwing, mistle thrush, goldcrest, bearded tit, long-tailed tit, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, treecreeper, magpie, jackdaw, rook, carrion crow, starling, house sparrow, chaffinch, brambling, greenfinch, goldfinch, siskin, linnet, snow bunting and reed bunting.

Other wildlife:

Hare, Fox, Fallow Deer, Muntjac, Rabbit, Squirrel, Common Seal.

Many thanks to Mike for leading this popular outing.