Window to Wildlife

 Today we headed eastwards on the coast road to Cley NWT. Our main target was Long-billed Dowitcher, an American vagrant which has been around the area for several months. We arrived before the visitor centre was open, but were pointed in the direction of a likely hide by a member of staff. We scanned the pool from here noting crisp Pintails on the water and groups of Black-tailed Godwits and Avocet interspersed with a few Ruff, - our first of the year - all roosting on some exposed ridges, heads tucked neatly under their wings, but there was no obvious sign of our target bird. So we next headed off to the east bank, a raised walkway overlooking ‘the serpentine’ wetland area, unfortunately very exposed to the extremely strong winds. We observed plenty of Lapwings and Golden Plover enjoying the wet marshy landscape, but were unable to pick out the Dowitcher as we hunched against the elements and headed for the beach.  It did not take us long to find a roving flock of around 40 ...

 We spent the morning at Holkham Hall, starting with distant views of a Great White Egret and a flock of White-fronted Geese viewed froma lay-by as we approached the area. From St Anne’s Drive, where we parked the car, there were plenty of Wigeon and Lapwing, but no Snipe or waders such as we have seen in previous years.  We set off to Holkham Gap with our first target the Shore Lark. These had been seen on the east side of the salt marsh but had flown shortly before we arrived and their current location was unclear. We eventually spotted them in the midst of the vegetation, but by the time I’d got my scope up they had disappeared again! We trekked across the marshy path behind the dunes scanning the area, and flushing some Redshank and a Little Egret, but could not relocate the Shore Larks, although Skylarks were plentiful. As we walked across the stream which cuts through the middle of the Gap, a birder walked towards and told us he had seen them at the left side of the salt...

 Another annual pilgrimage, to Norfolk with Sue Miles, our eighth year of visiting the county at this time of the year, having an enforced gap in 2021 due to Covid restrictions. We met Sue at Welney WWT car park, where a scan of the bushes revealed both House and Tree Sparrows. Once upon a time we would find our Tree Sparrows in Kent, but not anymore, although apparently a few birds still hang on in the area. So a short pause en route to the coast has been added to our itinerary in recent years. We did not go into the reserve, but as we drove along the lane we spotted a Cattle Egret in flight, and continuing along through the countryside we found a flock of resting Whooper Swans enabling good scope views. Whooper Swans We had an early lunch at the Lavender Tea Rooms then drove along the rural lanes across to Thornham, hoping to pick up some farmland birds. Unfortunately we didn’t find many! However, we did locate a group of Fieldfare and Redwings in a horse paddock and some Red-leg...

 Our last day in the Kent and East Sussex area started with another attempted seawatch at Dungeness Point. We had slightly better views of Red-throated divers in flight and passing auks, but overall this was another disappointment in comparison with previous years. Before long we gave up and set off for Rye Harbour. Our target bird was Slavonian Grebe which we had failed to locate on Tuesday. It was a long walk to Long Pit where the birds had been reported by the Harbour barns.  Nothing was visible here, so following a tip off from another birder, we trudged along to the very bottom of the lake where it was possible to look all the way up the water, with no vegetation to interrupt our views. It wasn’t long till we spotted two small black and white grebes ducking and diving on the far side of the lake. Success at last! We returned to the cafe for tea and cake, picking up a pair  of Mistle Thrush hopping on the lawn as we returned to the car. Our next destination required a...

 It was good to be joined by Andy and John for a spot of birthday birdwatching around the Dungeness area, on a cold but dry day. We had arranged to meet at the ARC hide. Tim and I arrived first, and set off down the track towards the hide. We failed to get a decent view of  a Water Rail which I flushed out of view with an ill-timed sneeze! A single Goldcrest was more obliging, and Tim managed to get a shot of this tiny bird as it fed amongst the brambles. Goldcrest  A lot of work has been done to improve the hide and surrounding area, making it much more open. We walked slowly along the boardwalk through wet woodland carr, encountering numerous Goldcrest and Wren, foraging amongst the low lying deadwood and brambles. Robins, Blue Tits and Dunnock were also present, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker which undulated away from us was my first for the year. Andy and John arrived just as we got back to the hide, and together we scanned the lake and adjacent reedbeds and scrub. Th...

 A rather gloomy day was not ideal for birdwatching but at least it was dry. Pett level initially looked a bit birdless, but as we progressed towards Winchelsea the numbers increased and we observed many birds flying in from the beach area. One of the first birds we saw was a magnificent Great White Egret standing with head held high gazing across the marsh. The usual wildfowl species were spread across the pools, including Pochard, Shoveler and Gadwall as well as the typical Wigeon and Teal regularly seen at coastal locations. A Marsh Harrier flew over several times and as we scanned with our scopes we suddenly spotted a pair of Red-breasted Geese stood on rocks at the edge of one of the pools. These are probably of dubious origin, but nevertheless they are beautiful birds to find. Around the fields we noted Lapwing, Curlew and Redshank alongside a substantial Coot flock. Turning to the shore, the tide was coming in fast and there was little mud exposed, so mainly gulls and Oyster...

With another dry day after so much rain in recent weeks,  we decided to make the most of another birdwatching opportunity. We wrapped up warm and set off for West Rise Marsh with Sue Miles. Sadly there was no sign of any Penduline Tits which have been reported there in recent weeks, but alongside the regular assortment of ducks and gulls, we found our first Meadow Pipits of the year and both Pied and Grey Wagtails foraging on the exposed grassy areas. Water levels continue to be very high across the region- we have observed extensive flooding and waterlogged fields throughout our birdwatching travels this month. Even with wellies on much of the marsh proved impassable. The sun was shining, enhancing the colours of the wildfowl and the open country scene felt spiritually uplifting. A couple of Snipe zigzagged over and landed on the edge of the reedbed before disappearing from view, but there was little else to be found.  Having surveyed the scene with ...