March 23rd-26th Norfolk 3 Day birdwatching tour

This was a 3 day 3 night tour based from Hindolveston, visiting an array of locations and habitats over the three days.

Day One – Holkham, Thornham Bank & village, Holme NNR, Titchwell Day Two – Swanton Novers, Kelling Heath, Kelling Hard, Cley NWT, Holkham NNR & Warham Greens Day Three – Great Cressingham, Cold Harbour Lane, Santon Downham, Cockey Cley, Bintree Mill

Highlights of the tour were great views of 2 Bitterns, showing intermittently well from a hide in NW Norfolk. Lovely views of 2 Black Redstart. Great views of Goshawk particularly on the second day at Swanton Novers with 3 birds in the air together. Lovely views of the long-staying Shorelarks, at Holkham. A fantastic evening roost on the second evening with Pallid Harrier, 3 Hen Harrier, Short-eared & Barn Owl plus several Marsh Harrier. Day three offered up a showy Firecrest, 4 Stone Curlew and several singing Woodlarks along with a single bonus Hawfinch!

Early returning waders on days one and two included Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff & several Little ringed Plover, Mediterranean Gulls were plentiful and in the breeding finery. A beautiful late flock of c400 Golden Plover, several Snipe, plus on the shore Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Turnstone, Sanderling & Dunlin. Whilst there were still a few wintering Pink-footed Geese, Russian White-fronted Geese, plus plentiful Teal, Wigeon & a few Pintail added to the colour of the tour. We also noted a nice late flock of c110 Fieldfare including a handful of Redwing.

We recorded 115 species over the three days, a systematic list is below.