Wensum Valley Birdwatching Society

Archive for the ‘Field Trips’ Category

Sunday 27th June – The Length of the Valley – Part 1, Sculthorpe Moor & Great Ryburgh

On what promised and proved to be a sweltering hot day 19 members gathered in the car park at Sculthorpe Moor HOT (Hawk and Owl Trust) Reserve.  After putting on the suncream and paying our donations we set off.  Even before we got to the boardwalks a Barn Owl was spotted flying, with prey in its talons, towards Sculthorpe village to where it presumably has young in the nest.  Read the rest of this entry »

Twenty members enjoyed a convivial evening at the Marsham Arms before progressing on to Marsham Heath towards dusk to view the summering Nightjars that have become established there over recent years. Read the rest of this entry »

Member’s trip to Scotland – Monday 10th May to Saturday 15th May 2010

We all arrived at Grantown during Monday afternoon and after settling in and a meal decided to make an early start next morning for the RSPB site at Loch Garten.

We arrived at the visitor centre at 05.15 to find a considerable queue already forming, all hoping for views of capercaillie which after a hesitant start finally obliged. However whilst waiting we were able to watch the Osprey activity around the nest and also Red Squirrels and Redstart in the surrounding woods. What better way to start a holiday? Read the rest of this entry »

Twenty-nine members met in the car park of the NWT Sparham Pools Nature Reserve in the early morning light surrounded by the sound of bird song. Setting off we appreciated the fine tone of a singing Garden Warbler, which remained in full cover as we passed by.  Further along the path we stood to listen to a Blackcap and were able to distinguish the delicate differences between its song and that of the very similar Garden Warbler.  The remarkable song of a diminutive Wren came drifting through the early morning air. Read the rest of this entry »

What a treat to arrive at Horsey Mill and to see the newly returned Swallows flying about the car park, deciding whether or not to nest under the thatched roof of the toilets. Read the rest of this entry »

The carpark was filling up rapidly as we arrived at Lynford and a later count revealed 34 members had turned out for this popular walk. The weather was fine but cool. We set off past the Arboretum, ears and eyes on alert and the list soon began to mount. Our target birds were Hawfinch,Crossbill and Firecrest but anything could turn up. Read the rest of this entry »

The weather forecast had predicted a fine day earlier in the week but we woke to a dark, wet morning. No problem! We birders are made of stern stuff. We reached our meeting point at Morrison’s Fakenham and as we gathered it was still drizzling, and did so all the way up to the Norfolk coast. Read the rest of this entry »

On a bright frosty morning seventeen members met in the car park of the Welney Wetland Centre to share a day’s birding together. Some of the group got straight down to business by identifying the birds around the car park environs.  Before moving into the Centre itself 35 species had been found including Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Fieldfare and circa 50 Linnet and that was without going anywhere! Read the rest of this entry »

Where do I start?  7.30 transport arrives, wet and gloomy; 9.00 bright and sunny but a cold wind at Sandringham;  10.30 Dersingham Bog;  12.00 a very cold north wind at Snettisham (never has a hide been more welcome!); 3.30 Roydon Common.  Another action packed day with WVBS.  What treats had Ray in store for us?  He might even have surprised himself!  Read the rest of this entry »

As we left Cherry-Tree carpark just after 9 a.m on June 28th it was already warm and sultry.  We got to Weeting Heath reserve even before the warden had arrived and opened up.  He soon got organised and told us the latest news.  We approached the West hide quietly and were rewarded with a good view of one Stone Curlew with another pair just visible.  A Stoat was racing around up to no good and a Buzzard was in the far trees.  Read the rest of this entry »