North Norfolk - 13th & 14th September 2018

We spent two days in Norfolk, but we had other reasons for visiting than specifically birding as I would not chose a period of pro-longed SW to make a visit to the east coast and we were not expecting anything as a result.

13th September

As it was sunny weather we took advantage of it to look for Willow Emerald Damselflies.

As we headed towards Titchwell, we took a short detour off the A1065 to Hempton Common, finding an area of pools in a small area of the common next to the garden centre and The Bell, a nice looking Free House I had never found during previous visits to Fakenham. Willow Emeralds were hard to find initially but subsequently at least 5 were seen, with two pairs in tandem. A few other Dragonflies were present with Southern Hawker and Ruddy Darter, along with Speckled Wood, Comma and Small White.

Southern Hawker

Ruddy Darter

Willow Emerald Damselflies in tandem

Speckled Wood

Comma

Moving on to Titchwell, Willow Emerald Damselflies had also been reported previously in the car park, but we found several present around the main pond, including a pair in tandem and as we left found a single in the car park.

Birdwise it was quiet, with a few expected waders present, Avocet, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, a few Golden Plovers and Dunlin, a single Spotted Redshank, with the usual waders on the beach except there were no Sanderling seen. There was little evidence of migration, it was low tide so the sea was empty except a lone Arctic Skua heading north and a single Rock Pipit on the beach.

Willow Emerald Damselflies

Common Darter

Avocet

Red-crested Pochard

Shelduck

14th September 

We initially dropped into Holkham Meals - Wells Wood which was not expected to reveal any hidden gems, but was rather more surprising in that even more of the paths used by birders looking for migrants in the woods had become overgrown in an area that was often good for finding interesting species, showing signs of a quiet autumn so far, and hopefully not a lack in coverage of the site.

Long-tailed Tit in one of the mixed species flocks seen,

mainly made up of Tits.

Cley was also quiet with the only waders present the usual species which were similar to those present at Titchwell the previous day, with only two Spotted Redshanks being anything out of the norm. A single Wheater was present and a raptor went through and low over the east bank, which initially on size we were expecting to be a Harrier, turned out to be a very large heavy, barrel bodied Goshawk.

Spotted Redshank

Black-tailed Godwits

Wheatear

Little Egrets

Afterwards an early pm visit to Stiffkey Fen was a pleasant brief diversion. Two Spoonbills were still present from the 33 seen am, 13 Greenshanks were present along with a Common Sandpiper and nine Pintail.

Spoonbill