wet weekend in norfolk

[Tony Kennelly]

I went to norfolk last weekend 27th - 29th march with my girlfriend. Stopped at welney on the way there. The water level was so low that nothing was close to show Jo. A few whooper swans were feeding on the far bank. A male corn bunting was singing & showing on the feeder along with a tree sparrow. Stayed in Wells with only a few waders & brent geese along the channel. A coal tit was in the tree outside the room window of my B&B!

Saturday's weather was atrocious - howling winds & driving rain! After a shopping visit to Holt we turned up at Cley. After a refreshing cuppa & cake, I tried birding. funnily enough, not much was showing only waders & brent geese were out. 2 marsh harriers popped up as I was leaving but not for long.

We tried a visit to sandringham but it's closed until easter apparently. However not a complete waste of petrol, as 4 crossbills flew over the carpark & a medium sized raptor was seen from the car on our return, I'm sure it was a juv goshawk!

Sunday morning's weather was glorius so we tried titchwell on the way home. A barn owl was seen just outside Burnham-Overy-Staithe, so we braked hard to watch it hunt for 5 mins before carrying on. tried vainly for bearded tits but marsh harriers were sky dancing. Lots of gulls & waders were feeding on shore after storm had swept up razorshells everywhere.

i got talking to another birder. She'd visited Choseley barns on the way to titchwell & apparently there were birds there!! Corn buntings & yellowhammers seemed to good to be true, but sadly we had to go straight home. Let's hope that they hang around for next year's trip!!

Good birding this easter

[Imber Eye]

At first I thought this may be a belated April Fool with mention of birds at Choseley Barn. As you were unable to visit I have to presume that the lady involved was a stooge for Richard. I can however recommend a few sites around Salisbury Plain for Corn Bunting.