Leader & Reporter: Alan Hughes
Species List: David Gibbons
A group of 10 of us gathered at Cley Visitor Centre at 09.45, and we were soon off round the reserve in beautiful spring sunshine, which lasted all day although nicely cooled by a fresh breeze. We walked an anticlockwise route around the original reserve, calling first at Bishop’s Hide where we had excellent views of 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, lots of Black-tailed Godwits mainly in their splendid breeding plumage, and a good number of Avocets many of which seemed paired-up and some were seen mating. 3 Little Ringed Plovers were visible on one of the islands, and we were concerned when a Marsh Harrier landed on this island and seemed to be tearing at something in its talons, but exactly what was hidden by vegetation – could it be one of the LRP’s? It flew off after a short while, not carrying any prey. 2 Swallows also flew overhead.

Reporter: Paul Riley
​Our group gathered in the Pensthorpe car park at 5am
where we were introduced to experts Richard and
Chris who were to lead us around the site explaining
the meaning of the dawn chorus and some ways of
learning the songs.

Leader and Report- Sue Gale

The RSPB advertises the best days to see the waders at Snettisham and this Saturday was the first in 2025.
Needless to say, there were a lot of people attending! We had arranged to meet in the car park at 2.00pm to beat the rush but actually were lucky to find a space before 2.00. The car park was closed shortly after that,
and the beach car park alternative was also closed by 3.30! Several of our members had arranged to arrive later or to park elsewhere and in some cases we never did catch up with them. Abandoning the idea of exploring the bushes round the car park and on the path to the beach we arrived at the shoreline to find the sea looking a very long way away and the wind to be blowing strongly and coldly. By the time we reached the shore we had seen Tufted Ducks, Coots and Mallards on the lagoons and the likes of Buzzard, Red Kite, Greylag and Egyptian Goose and common passerines from the path.

​Leader: Ptolomey McKinnon
Report: David Laurie.
Bird List: Seamus O'Dowd

Fifteen of us met at the Holkham village car park at 9:00 on a clear, sunny but cool morning. In celebration of the date, which is Burns night, Ptolemy generously handed out shortbread and read to us from 'To a Blackbird' by the great man.

'Go on sweet bird, and soothe my care,
Thy tuneful notes will hush despair;
Thy plaintive warblings void of art,
Thrill sweetly thro' my aching heart.
Now chuse thy mate, and fondly love,
And all the charming transport prove;
While I a lovelorn exile live,
Nor transport or receive or give.'

Reporter: Cath Robinson

Thirty of us met up in the village hall on Jan 5th after rather a wet day out birding. There was much less standing water than last year when much of the valley was flooded and wildfowl were hard to find but it was definitely wet. And a bit cold. But not windy.
We weren’t the only team to have coffee in the Pensthorpe café towards the end of the day.
Overall, 11 teams with varying numbers were out and about and I think most people enjoyed the day and the chat and cakes.
Hopefully I can update at the next newsletter when David has crunched the numbers but the team who recorded the most and the winner of the annual trophy was Wensum Losesum: Sacha and Mike with a frankly impressive 77 species. Total overall different number of species seen I think was 86.
No one saw Grey Partridge or Redpoll and no Firecrest this year. Brambling, Yellowhammer and Song Thrush were hard to find. For waders, always tricky on our patch, we managed Lapwing, Golden Plover, Snipe and Woodcock. Great White Egret and Cattle Egret seem to be joining Little Egret as expected birds to find.
And some of us did see a huge flock of Linnets (150+) with a big flock of Chaffinch (40+) alongside. And good numbers of winter thrushes.
Thanks to everyone who took part and especially those who helped setting up and clearing away in the hall.