20/04/2019 Norfolk Spring Migration Tour Day1/3 Ring Ouzels and a Grasshopper Warbler

Saturday 20 April 2019: Easter Saturday
Burnham Overy and district

 

A splendid start to the weekend with lots of migrants around after the recent cold spell.  Temperatures were around 19C, a little cooler than most of the country but ideal for birdwatching with clear skies and not much wind.
 

• The poster bird species had to be Ring Ouzel; we saw at least 3 and probably all 4 of the birds known to be around today.  They were in the dunes just west of Holkham Woods.  There were at least 2 males and at least 1 female and we enjoyed prolonged views for a lengthy period of time on the outward journey and short but very sweet views on the return leg.

 

courtesy of Marcus Nash





•  Not far behind in the pecking order was the splendid Grasshopper Warbler we saw, 15 minutes or so after we left the car at the crossroads on the A149 and headed towards the dunes.  Obviously it announced its presence with its song and we were soon on to it with our bins, scopes and cameras!  It's quite remarkable how such a shy bird turned up on a public pathway to the sea and stuck around after so many obvious disturbances.  This bird was on my wish list but I never expected to see it where we did.

courtesy of Marcus Nash



 

• The next bird in my personal pecking order had to be the Cuckoo.  We saw our first one on the way out to the dunes in the morning, not far from Holkham Woods - being chased by a Meadow Pipit of all things!  At least 20 minutes later we saw the same scenario but the Cuckoo finally appeared to rid itself of the menacing pipit. 

courtesy of Marcus Nash



 

Later on, in the afternoon at Burnham Norton, we saw another Cuckoo in a dead bush by the stream.   Unfortunately a walker was approaching but thankfully, when flushed, the bird flew our way and we enjoyed smashing views as it flew the 100 metres or so past us.

• The next group of birds, all migrants, were new to me this year:

Lesser Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

Bearded Tit

House Martin

Sand Martin

Yellow Wagtail

Willow Warbler

Sedge Warbler

• There were also lots and lots of Wheatear

As well as the migrants there were other highlights:-

• As we approached Holkham Woods in the morning we saw a Bittern flying west over the reeds; on the return leg we heard a "booming" Bittern.  At Burnham Norton in the afternoon we heard a second "booming" Bittern.

• Several Spoonbills showed up and we watched them in flight as well as feeding close by.

courtesy of Marcus Nash



• Raptors were much in evidence with Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, Buzzards and Red Kites.

• There were lots of geese including at least 100 languishing Pink-footed Geese, lots of Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese and a few Egyptian Geese.

 A great start!