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Leader: Sue Gale Reporter: Jacquie Fenn Species List: Mary Walker Eighteen members of the club met up at the Burgh Castle car park on a clear but definitely chilly morning. Before the walk started, we noted lots of small birds in the hedges and trees around the car park. Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Buzzards were seen surpassed by the surprise fleeting view of a Woodcock as it flew over the nearby housetops. We took this to be a good omen for the rest of the walk. We headed off towards Breydon Water passing the impressive remains of the walls making up part of the Roman fort and port. At our first opportunity, we stopped at a viewing point to look over the water. The tide was at a perfect point for us to see waders and duck. There were large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits feeding in the shallow waters along with lines of Avocets, Shelduck, Wigeon and Teal. Marsh Harriers flew low over the marshes on the opposite bank where Greylags were feeding in the fields. In the distance we did spot several swans but they were too far away for positive identification.
We descended the slopes towards the water but it was decided to double back along the boardwalk hoping to catch sight of some Bearded Tits in the reed bed. They could be heard from time to time but stayed deliberately out of view as they so often do. As we had seen so many birds from the first viewing point, we headed for the Asda car park for a comfort stop and a lunch break. After our refuelling we walked along the Yare estuary and stood under the road bridge to look out over the water. It was a truly colourful spot with the spray-painted graffiti to brighten our view and the rumble of the cars overhead. Who says that birders don't know how to choose the most scenic spots? There were large numbers of birds feeding in the bay including Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Wigeon and some Pintails. A Water Pipit was seen as well as a lone Ringed Plover. Just as we were about to leave Sophie spotted the head of a Peregrine poking out above the boards of a platform only to see its partner nearby. We headed off towards Filby Broad hoping to catch up with Ferruginous Duck and Goldeneye that had been recently seen there. As there were two boats with fishermen in the birds tended to be pushed into the corners of the broad. We did however see good numbers of Goldeneye along with Great Crested Grebe and some of the group saw a Kingfisher flying fast away from us. We crossed the road to investigate Ormsby Little Broad. Here we were sitting on a viewing platform in the full force of a steadily colder breeze but we were duly rewarded by seeing two Sparrowhawks flying over the tree tops, a Great White Egret skulking in the reed margins and finally to cap it all, just to the right of the platform a Bittern took off and flew majestically to the opposite bank to disappear instantly into the reeds. A few people decided to go to St Benet's Abbey for the chance of some owls. We walked up to the impressive wooden cross situated on the site of the High Altar of the Abbey, made from Sandringham oak, and presented by H.M. Elizabeth II. We waited in the lee of the ancient wall looking over the distant fields where we spotted Bean Geese, [probably Taiga], Whooper Swans and a scattering of Chinese Water Deer. A lovely male Hen Harrier was spotted flying over farm buildings briefly. Unfortunately, no owls were seen there but a Barn Owl was spotted flying parallel to the road on our way home just minutes away. Thank you to Sue Gale for leading the group. We enjoyed our day. Species List:- Lesser Black-Backed Gull Greenfinch Rook Woodpigeon Jackdaw Collared Dove Magpie Starling Black-headed Gull Herring Gull Common Gull Skylark Woodcock Goldfinch Chaffinch Robin Buzzard Carrion Crow House Sparrow Great Tit Curlew Redshank Avocet Teal Black-tailed Godwit Shoveller Shelduck Gadwall Greylag Goose Marsh Harrier Little Egret Lapwing Greater Black-backed Gull Grey Heron Mute Swan Wren Cormorant Kestrel Pink-footed Goose Hen Harrier Mallard Blue Tit Peregrine Falcon Ringed Plover Pintail Feral Pigeon Grey Plover Knot Dunlin Water Pipit Pied Wagtail Oystercatcher Bar-tailed Godwit Widgeon Blackbird Pheasant Kingfisher Goldeneye Coot Tufted Duck Great Crested Grebe Pochard Moorhen Little Grebe Great White Egret Sparrowhawk Bittern Linnet Egyptian Goose Seen by a few members who made a stop at St Benets Abbey on the way home Whooper Swan Barn Owl Crane Fieldfare Taiga? Bean Goose Song Thrush Meadow Pipit Dunnock Mammals Seen : Numerous Chinese Water Deer, Muntjac
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October 2024
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