10/02/2018. Norfolk with Marcus Nash 2/3

Saturday 10 February 2018

Day 2 and our focus switched to looking for birds on the Norfolk Broads.  So we were off, going inland in a southeasterly direction.  The weather was dry until lunchtime before the light rain arrived and remained for most of the afternoon.  As you will see, this did not stop us from having another very special birding experience.

Cranes

• Marcus had targetted Cranes today.  After having no success at Horsey and then Ludham we met up with them in the fields a few miles further south.  They were feeding on the maize strip, some 150-200 metres away.  Initially, we saw 5, then another 14 were seen flying nearby and, as we looked back to the maize strip, more had emerged from the reeds until finally, we had seen an amazing 29 birds. 6 f the feeding birds took flight and circled the area before returning to the ground, giving us some magnificent views.

Cranes by the maize strip
courtesy of Marcus Nash

Time for a quick flight.
courtesy of Marcus Nash

Geese ( or no geese!)

Next stop was Cantley in the Yare Valley where we were hoping to find some geese.

• A single Egyptian Goose was all we saw and as the poor weather was closing in we headed back to the car.  
• Marcus then spotted a Peregrine by the stack of the sugar-beet refinery - it looked really snug and comfortable.

Peregrine keeping warm at the sugar-beet refinery
courtesy of Marcus Nash

Swans

• Whilst we were at Ludham we came across 6 Whooper Swans and 6 Mute Swans.
• After a delightful stop for lunch at Strumpshaw Fen, we headed out towards the coast and found 4 Bewick Swans on the grazing marshes near Halvergate.

Glossy Ibis

• At Bure Park in Great Yarmouth we twitched the Glossy Ibis that had been around for a week or so.

Glossy Ibis
courtesy of Marcus Nash

Rough-legged Buzzard

• This unbelievable day got even better when we went to "the mound" on Waveney Forest from which Marcus soon found the Rough-legged Buzzard on the adjacent Haddiscoe Island.  It was on the grass rather than its usual position on the gates or posts.  After a while, it took to the air flashing its distinctive white tail with a contrasting black terminal band. It turned into the wind and started hovering, like a giant Kestrel in slow motion. It repeated this several times – Rough-legged Buzzards are habitual hoverers when they hunt, unlike the more familiar Common Buzzard which will hover only occasionally. After hunting for a few minutes, it flew back across and landed again down on the grass close to where it had been earlier.

Rough-legged Buzzard
courtesy of Marcus Nash

Stubb Mill

Despite the adverse weather, we were still up for the visit to Stubb Mill for the roost.

• 2 Cranes were showing as we arrived, followed shortly afterwards by another sighting of 2 more.  We also heard at least 2 more pairs behind us.  Incredibly another 5 flew in and landed on the reserve making a total of at least 42 for the day!

• I lost count of the number of Marsh Harriers we saw.

• A lovely, if distant, male Hen Harrier provided the icing on the cake.

• For the second time this year, I missed the Merlin as it shot across the reserve before I could make the sighting.

What a fantastic day!