Day trip to Norfolk/Suffolk (1 Viewer)

[Phil Owen]

Could anybody please help.

My friend and I had planned to do a long weekend in Norfolk but unfortunately due to commitments, I have had to change this to just ONE DAY.

I am travelling down from Manchester early hours ie 3-4am and would be grateful if somebody could suggest a few good birding sites.

On my wanted list are:-

Montagu's Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Honey Buzzard
Nightjar
Nightingale
Stone Curlew
Golden Oriole
Bearded Tit
Golden Pheasant
Turtle Dove

I know I won't be able to get all these in a day but any suggestions or other species would be welcome.

It is my first visit there so if somebody could suggest a few sites bearing in mind I only have a day, then even better.

Thanks

 

[cjay]

Best to just visit either Cley or Titchwell and burn the area and just enjoy the day. You may have a wish list but in a day you wont get these species. a week with a local birder may help you locate these birds.

You will find that by birding "normally" you will have a much better day than exhausting yourself chasing the birds on your wish list.

 

[Phil Owen]

I agree.

OK, if we did Titchwell, is the viewpoint nearby for the Montagu's Harrier and Honey Buzzard??

We could visit Titchwell in the morning followed by the viewpoint.

Then finish off with Common Crane or Nightingale somewhere and then Nightjar maybe??

Any further suggestions??

 

[cjay]

Nightjars are not here yet maybe July for Nightjar, I am not aware of any Honey Buzzard or Monties viewpoints, Nightingales can be found near Cley

 

[Tideliner]

The honey buzzards will not be here for another couple of weeks , but if you are down at the end of May try the Wensum Valley or Swanton Novers watch points. First nightjars in at Dersingham Bog I am told and you might get lucky with golden pheasant there too.

 

[cjay]

Wayland Wood or the Sandringham Estate for Golden Pheasant too.

 

[Phil Owen]

OK, thanks for the useful info, it's starting to piece together now. Late June/Early July is the time so Titchwell first then onto the viewpoint for the Honey/Monty's. How far from Titchwell is the viewpoint??

Marsh Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Nightingale, Common Crane, Bearded Tit, Cetti's Warbler, Nightjar,Golden Oriole, Turtle Dove, Stone Curlew and Golden Pheasant are on the list.

Where can we see these bearing in mind we will be around the Titchwell area first or which ones should we eliminate??

Cheers

 

[cjay]

All of the birds listed are found in and around Titchwell at some time or another, why not ditch the wants list and do some old fashioned birding.
In the days before the internet we birders just arrived at a chosen site and made the best of the day, I think we were felt we had accomplished more than chasing uncommon birds all the time.
Yes I twitch but not as much as I used to. Now I prefer patchworking

 

[Phil Owen]

I see what you are saying and agree with you there but since I have only one day to spend there, why not make a wanted list??

You have to remember that the chances of seeing the majority of these birds where I live is pretty remote to say the least!!

I do patchworking at home yes, but this is a chance I want to make the most of so need some advice where the best sites are.

 

[DaveN]

Phil, I'll send you a PM.

 

[mr.sim]

Ive also PMed you Phil!

 

[DaveN]

Have PM'd you, Phil, although you will probably find Mr Sims' PM more helpful as he will have more knowledge of the area than me.

 

[cjay]

Found Sim's web site but does not seem to have been updated since January

 

[Cortonbirds]

The advice of a trip in July is a little offputting imo. Norfolk in late May is superb and you will have a chance at most of your listed species. Im presuming those pms are going to tell you the Montys site as obviously that cant be posted on an open forum. Nightjar btw IS guaranteed in late May and yes they will have arrived.. If your coming from so far away of course your going to want to see the specialities so imo some of the advice here is somewhat offputting..
This would be my late May itinery for you:

Dawn: Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve. You should at least hear and probably see Golden Oriole. Chance of Common Crane, numerous Hobbies (if you stay long enough for them to be in the air), chance of Garganey. East Anglian reedbed specialities.
Then a quick stop at a Brecks site for Stone Curlew. Foxhole heath would be my preference but many would chose Weeting Heath. Btw there are only 2 semi reliable spots for Golden Pheasant now and in May your chances for anything other than hearing them call is very slim..probably best to miss this target. I think they have gone from Wayland wood.?/ Wolferton triangle may produce but the most reliable site is strictly private but you may hear them at dawn from a public road ...if you really are desperate for that tick pm me but I suggest skipping this species.
Onto Titchwell RSPB reserve a superb spectacle and the second best reserve in the country (after Minsmere..where 100 species were noted by a team from ONE VIEWPOINT last May). Enjoy the good views of waders etc at Titchwell and may a surprise or two. Afterwards head to the Montys spot and hope for luck. Then head to Great Ryburgh raptor watchpoint for a good chance of Honey Buzzard if the pair has returned.
Nearing the end of the day head to Cley for a site tick (everyone has to visit Cley at least once...)Cettis Warbler should have been seen somewhere by now as it is thriving now. Then on to a Nightjar site such as Salthouse/Kelling heath where Nightingale should also be noted and you may jam in on a Turtle Dove tho these are scarce everywhere now.

 

[mr.sim]

Becclesbabe - my diary is what I update now - www.freewebs.com/simsdiary
The other site is a group site and we're thinking of scrapping it...

Nightjar has only just been recorded from Dersingham Bog this year. It's apparently extremely early but there should be plenty more by late May...

 

[James Emerson]

Cortonbirds has suggested a good itinery. I'm going to be taking part in a "big day" style birdwatch in late May, and our route will start at Lakenheath and the Brecks, up to the North Norfolk coast around Titchwell, spend the early afternoon at raptors watchpoints and the back to the coast around Cley.

To summarise some sites for you:
Marsh Harrier - you should see loads, no need to target.
Montagu's Harrier - watchpoint which you have probably been pm'd
Honey Buzzard - Swanton Novers or Wensum Valley raptor watchpoints
Nightjar - Dersingham Bog, Salthouse Heath, Buxton Heath, Winterton (might not arrive until mid-late May)
Nightingale - Salthouse Heath, Foulden Common
Stone Curlew - Weeting is recommended, although last year they spent a lot of time out of sight of the hides
Golden Oriole - Lakenheath, you should definitely hear them, but I haven't seen one in three visits, a sighting will require patience!
Bearded Tit - You should hear some, seeing them may depend on the weather. Lakenheath, Titchwell, Cley are all good.
Golden Pheasant - Wolverton Triangle, although many look a bit mutanty!
Turtle Dove - there is often one at Titchwell near the car park or fen hide, and Stiffkey Fen sometimes has sme.

 

[Two Jugs]

Gentlemen, this is also a great thread for me, as we will also be doing this exact thing in late May, but we are travelling a little further - from Toronto, Canada.
Should anyone feel like sending me some of the specifics in PM, they would be appreciated.

Tony

 

[laurie langan]

I also have a week in Norfolk, 1st week in June. All the info in this thread is perfect for me, I am pretty confident that I can find all the birds I need except Monty's. If someone could PM me some info it would be very much appreciated.

 

[Big Rob]

I should be doing the same journey in late May too, just from Essex though! James' post a couple up from mine was very informative, but I was wondering how many of these were easily accesible by train or bus at a push, as I don't drive. I'm not adversed to a lot of walking though from site to site, if that would save money, and it wont cripple me!

 

[mr.sim]

King's Lynn has a train station (at the other end of the London King's Cross line). Also along this line is Ely, where you can get the train to Lakenheath and Norwich. At this latter station, you can get the train North to Cromer, West Runton, and Sheringham, and East to Great Yarmouth.
The main bus company is Norfolk Green and visits almost everywhere along the coast. The Coasthopper bus runs between Hunstanton and Cromer and is also run by Norfolk Green. Bus routes can be traced back to King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Norwich, and Cromer, and as all of these have train stations, it is quite handy.

See: www.norfolkgreen.co.uk for bus routes, and
www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk for trains

Here is a page with all the bus routes: http://www.norfolkgreen.co.uk/timetables/index.aspx

Hope this all helps!

You may also want to keep an eye out on the Norfolk - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=59348&page=256&highlight=Norfolk+Birding - thread where quite a few Norfolk locals put there sightings...they will also be happy to give directions and tips on birding in Norfolk!

All the best when you visit! (I never knew so many people came birding in Norfolk!)

Sim