North Norfolk Coast Outing
29th October 2006
For late October it was a comparatively mild day at the Norfolk coast. The onshore breeze is always fresh in autumn and the sea was decidedly choppy. But 18 determined birdwatchers headed for the shingle ridge at Cley and looked hopefully seaward. We were soon rewarded with views of some distant adult and immature Gannets plummeting into the very grey waters of the North Sea. Red–throated Divers bobbed up and down in the swell disappearing for minutes at a time and many small groups of Razorbills and Guillemots passed in front of us flying west. One lone Guillemot was almost washed up onto the beach by the waves in between the fishermen’s lines. Drifts of Brent Geese flew over along with Wigeon and Pintail. Cormorants, Bar-tailed Godwits, Greater Black-backed and Common Gulls were also being blown along the coast. Two Common Scoters were spotted quite a way off and just before we left one Black-throated Diver presented itself very close to the shore.
We left the beach satisfied and headed for the N.W.T. Centre. Unfortunately, due to the sighting of a Surf Scoter at Titchwell, and it being the last day of the half term holidays, the area was full to bursting point and we had great difficulty squeezing the cars in. A walk along the East Bank produced views of Marsh Harrier, Brent and Canada Geese, Lapwing, Curlew and Greylags.
A large group of Widgeon were feeding around a small pool to the east of the bank, accompanied by a good number of Shelduck and Teal. In amongst the grazing cattle a flock of 100+ Starlings could be seen circling and landing like swarms of locusts. Scattered around the wet fields were 6 Black Tailed Godwits, I Pinkfoot and 1 Spotted Redshank in winter plumage. Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Pied Wagtails were feeding in the grasses as well as Snipe in the watery pools. One Mute Swan looked decidedly dejected in amongst the ducks. Our second sea watch was not as fruitful as the first but we added 20 Cormorants, Black Backed, Herring Gulls and 15 Kittiwakes to our list.
Walking back from the beach we had good views of a Kestrel perched on top of a post and a possible Merlin which flew so low and fast over the water meadows that it was a hard call. Two people heard a Cetti’s Warbler calling and counted a flock of over 500 Golden Plover at Cley reserve before we turned back to look for White Rumped Sandpiper and luckily saw 2 from Dawkes Hide along with 30+ Dunlin, 2 Little Stint, a female Garganey and over 100 Wigeon.As we left to walk back to the cars we were treated to a great view of a hunting Barn Owl which quartered the field just behind the hide and along the edge of the reed bed. Looking back inland we were just in time to see huge flocks of Pink Feet landing.We had an unexpectedly good day for October and managed to see 58 species by the end of the trip.
Thanks to our leader Alwyn Jackson.
Jacquie Fenn.