Norfolk, 23/2/97 trip Report
Peter Jones
Introduction:
This was a Winter Day trip to Norfolk solely for birdwatching. 63 species seen, it turned out to be one of my best days in the UK.
Morning and early afternoon spent in Titchwell and Hunstanton, Late afternoon spent at Wicken fen.
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
2 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
1 adult winter at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00. At Sea. .
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
6 at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
3 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
c.40 adult winter at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00. At least two were very smart examples of the European race (Silensi). White streaks on head and white thighs..
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)
c.30 at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
Pale Bellied Brent Goose (Branta bernicla hrota)
135 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
c.7 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
c.10 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
c.100 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
11 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
2 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Common Teal (Anas crecca)
c.25 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
c.20 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
2 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
c.20 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
c.30 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
c.10 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra)
c.310 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00. At Sea.
Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca fusca)
c.1 adult winter male at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00. White Wing bar seen when drying wings briefly..
Goosander (Mergus merganser)
1 adult winter female , 1 adult winter male at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
c. 3 adult winter female , 2 adult winter male at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00. Arriving at ~16:00 to hunt and roost. (Dark at 18:00).
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00. Probable. Silhouette in distance flying high. ~Lapwing size, with pointed wings, very fast flapping. Very fast flight..
Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
4 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
3 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
c.10 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
4 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
20 at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
c.10 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
1 adult winter at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00. The Long staying individual. This time seen in a pool on the marsh..
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
1 adult winter at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
1 adult winter at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
c.15 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
c.80 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
c.12 adult winter at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
c.10 adult winter at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
1 at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
6 adult winter at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
5 adult winter at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
1 adult winter at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
3 adult winter at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
c.10 at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
c.20 at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
Stock Dove (Columba oenas)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
c.10 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
c.40 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00. Short sharp Screech. Like a squeaking gate. Sounded typically bird of prey like. Heard in vicinity of farm buildings in darkness. Reports of 1 in area. .
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
1 heard at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30. Drumming.
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
1 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00. Performing Display flight..
Shore Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
2 adult winter at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
4 at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
1 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)
1 adult winter female at Snettisham on 23/02/1997 at 14:00.
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
1 at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
6 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
3 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
6 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
c.5 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Coal Tit (Parus ater)
2 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Great Tit (Parus major)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
c.20 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
c.100 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
1 at Hunstanton on 23/02/1997 between 10:00 and 11:00.
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
2 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
1 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
1 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
c.10 at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
c.12 at Wicken Fen on 23/02/1997 between 16:00 and 18:00.
Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
1 female , 1 male at Lynford Arboretum on 23/02/1997 between 7:10 and 9:30.
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
15 c. 4 adult winter male at Titchwell RSPB on 23/02/1997 between 12:00 and 14:00.