Trip reports

Wells and Holkham 21st October 2007

Thursday, 25 October 2007

The weather for this trip was warm, sunny and dry, which allowed good views of the birds seen. The group was dropped off in Wells-next-the-sea and the walk to Wells Wood alongside the estuary provided sightings of several wader species, including turnstone, redshank, grey and golden plover and bar-tailed godwit. Other than long-tailed tits, goldcrests and coal tits there were relatively few birds in the wood and no autumn rareties were seen there. Many of the party walked towards Holkham Gap but the fine weather had brought out the crowds so only skylarks and meadow pipits were present on the beach. A few individuals ventured further west through Holkham Pines, to the south of which are some grazing marshes. From the hide there large numbers of pinkfeet and wigeon were visible and at one point they were put to flight by a soaring marsh harrier. A little way beyond the hide a yellow-browed warbler was present and a couple of individuals from the group were lucky enough to see it - several others who made the long trek were not so fortunate. Not a spectacular day's birding but a pleasant day out all the same.