May 24-26th Norfolk group birding 3 day tour

Day One – Snettisham Coastal Park, Thornham Bank, Holme NNR, shore and dunes, Hunstanton Cliffs

Day Two – Burnham Overy Staithe, Stiffkey Flood & Cley NWT

Day Three – Great Cressingham, Santon Downham, Cockley Cley & Lynford Arboretum

Highlights of day one were stunning close views of up to 4 Turtle Doves, a superb singing Nightingale, a nice passage of Swifts, very close views of Marsh harriers plus 2 displaying birds, 2 Spoonbills at Thornham, also there a Ruff, 2 Greenland Wheatear, several swirls of Red Knot over the Wash, plenty of Bar-tailed Godwits, Mediterranean Gulls, nice flight views of Cuckoo. Plus great views of singing Lesser & Common Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warbler.

Highlights from Day two – were great views of Little Terns fishing, a family of Bearded Tit, Cetti’s Warbler singing from a bush top and 2 Bitterns briefly flapping and alighting in the reedbed, several Great White Egrets, 2 Cattle Egrets, up to 12 Spoonbills and also Glossy Ibis.

Highlights from Day Three – Lovely views of a pair of Stone Curlew. Then in the forest good perched views of Tree Pipit and Woodlark in between the showers, Bullfinch & Yellowhammer close by! A Nuthatch feeding it’s young at the entrance to it’s nesthole and a superb showy singing Firecrest.

Unfortunately our intended evening session was thwarted by poor weather – 112 species, complete list below.

Thanks to William Willetts on the tour who provided some nice memories with these images he took.