Coordinator and Leader: Emily Leonard
Reporter: David Laurie
Species list: Nick Edwards

Nine of us met at the How Hill Trust car park for an overcast and mild 9:00 start. Above was the impressive thatched house, built at the start of the 20th century by Norwich architect Edward Boardman on what must be one of the highest points in the Broads. It stands a massive 50 feet above sea level and is now home to the How Hill Trust and its Environmental Study Centre (you can read more at
howhilltrust.org.uk, including the intriguing story of the Olympic Oak).

Leader: Chris Stone
Reporter: Keith Walker

Weather fine but cloudy. Temperature 18/19 C. Very gentle southerly breeze.
An ideal day for wandering around the reserve, but little likelihood of new migrants dropping in.
A dozen members turned up to our traditional Titchwell meeting, which was led with knowledgeable authority by Chris who is a volunteer at Titchwell, and we were fortunate that a further member and long standing Titchwell volunteer, Colin Fenn, joined us, so we had two experts who knew all the nooks and crannies to explore and where the usual bird suspects could be found.

Led and Reported by Ashley Saunders of Oriole Birding

Tuesday 14th– Heavy rain and light E winds, 15C

It was back to the North-east of England this week for a custom tour for Wensum Valley Birdwatching Society, and with east winds and rain for most of the day, we departed Norfolk rather wide-eyed at the prospect of a day’s birding tomorrow at Spurn. But, we had birds to see on the way too as we made a bee-line for Blacktoft Sands again and it’s long-staying White-tailed Plover. Little did we know that during our drive, a Bluethroat had been found here too and this was very exciting and welcome news when we arrived at the Visitor Centre (via the Tree Sparrows on the feeders)! Thinking the plover would be the easier of the two highlight birds to see, we opted to head straight to Xerox Hide where the Bluethroat had been seen twenty minutes previously, but arrived there to a hide full of people who’d not seen it nor knew exactly where it was. There were two shouts though of quick flight views of it over the reeds – this clearly wasn’t going to be easy! A great show of other birds here though included four Water Rails on view at one time, and they were pretty much constantly on show during our whole visit. Common Snipe, at least three Green Sandpipers, twenty Ruff and a lovely juv Spotted Redshank which flew in calling, were other highlights here. With no further sign of the Bluethroat though, we decided to take a walk east towards Townend Hide to see if the plover was about.

Coordinator/leader: Alan Hughes
Reporter: David Laurie
Bird Recorder: David Gibbons

Eight of us gathered in the car park at 8:30 for a visit to one of the RSPB's premier coastal sites. It was an overcast day, chilly at the start and with rain forecast, but as ever this excellent reserve did not disappoint.

Organiser/Leaders: Nick Edwards & Steve Chapman
Reporter: Keith Walker

After three aborted attempts due to unsuitable weather, we finally managed to hold the event. It was well worth waiting for, as the sun shone all day and the evening conditions were perfect, as were the rest of the arrangements from our intrepid organiser Nick Edwards and his learned local expert Steve Chapman.
After parking us prettily, we first saw Stonechats feeding young, Yellowhammers, and Whitethroat as we awaited dusk. Our patience in waiting for the Nightjars to appear was rewarded with at least four males “churring” and three females present, as we heard thebirds clapping. We were rewarded with excellent views and our junior member Matteo recorded his first Nightjar sighting and took some excellent photographs. A magical evening came to a close as the mist eerily starting to rise as darkness surrounded us. Huge thanks to Nick & Steve for making the day special.