A Few Notes From Norfolk

My wife and I have just spent a weekend in Norfolk from the 13th till the 16th and while it was not a wildlife watching break I did see a few interesting things during that time. Our base was Hunstanton and although we had to endure the now usual mix of rainy spells and wind there were a few sunny periods when we could venture out.

Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed Godwits

Early morning strolls along the beach produced a selection of waders of which the commonest was Oystercatcher. While most British breeders are now on territory there are still plenty of northern birds waiting for the chance to move on, a colour ringed bird from Norway showed the potential origins of some of these birds. Also sharing the beach with the oiks were Bar-tailed Godwits, Redshanks and a Knot. Several small groups of Turnstone were seen including a colour ringed bird and a few Ringed Plovers were also noted. Interesting wildfowl included Common Scoter and Brent Goose.

Colour ringed Turnstone and Knot.

One of the highlights for me was finding a pair of Mediterranean Gulls feeding on a football pitch with Black-headed Gulls in the caravan park next to ours. Gulls are not normally my bag but Sum plum Meds are very attractive birds indeed. Hunstanton cliffs is home during the breeding season to a colony of Fulmars and I spent an enjoyable hour this morning watching their comings and goings.

Med Gulls, Fulmar and Brent Geese.

Most of our time was spent at Hunstanton though we did make it along the coast to Wells where I managed to do a spot of birding before rain stopped play. Three Spoonbills were the best birds with only Marsh Harriers or Pintail offering any competition. I'd hoped to catch up with the wintering Shore Larks but rain literally put the dampeners on that idea. Other wildlife seen during my walk included several Muntjac and a Brown Hare.

Rubbish record shot of Spoonbill, Brown Hare and Muntjacs.