Broadwater Warren

This was my third visit to this rapidly developing new reserve, and I am really starting to love it. There is a marvellous patchwork of habitats including heathland, Alder dominated mire woodland, Birch woodland, stands of Scots Pine and some ancient woodland.

A splendid male Common Crossbill.

I also saw Marsh Tits, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodcock (a lifetime first for me) and a fantastic flock of 50+ Lesser redpolls.

Birch woodland.

Scots Pine.

Lesser Redpolls.

The iron rich stream in the mire woodland stains the water orange. In the foreground of the second picture is a clump of Greater Tussock Sedge Carex paniculata.

February Half-term 2017: Bird List

I managed to see 101 species this half-term. This was a new record, exceeding the previous total of 86 species from the same period last year. It is also the highest total for a half-term holiday, my previous best being 98 from Whitsun last year.

Singing Nuthatch, Oxburgh Hall Norfolk.

There was one lifetime first, which was the Cuckmere Haven Twite, my 427th species.

Goldcrest at Oxburgh Hall Norfolk.

In addition to the Twite, there were several new species added to my year list:
Waxwing
White-fronted Goose
Red-legged Partridge
Marsh Tit
Crossbill
Hawfinch
Egyptian Goose
Pink-footed Goose
Hen Harrier
Barn Owl
Golden Plover
Gannet
These species took my year total to 126.

Siskin at Felbrigg Hall.

Full Bird List:

Mute Swan	Cygnus olor
Pink-footed Goose	Anser brachyrhynchus
White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons
Greylag Goose	Anser anser
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis
Brent Goose	Branta bernicla
Egyptian Goose	Alopochen aegyptiaca
Shelduck	Tadorna tadorna
Eurasian Wigeon	Anas penelope
Gadwall	Anas strepera
Eurasian Teal	Anas crecca
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata
Common Pochard	Aythya ferina
Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula
Goosander	Mergus merganser
Red-legged Partridge	Alectoris rufa
Grey Partridge	Perdix perdix
Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus
Northern Fulmar	Fulmarus glacialis
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested Grebe	Podiceps cristatus
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
Northern Gannet	Morus bassanus
Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo
Red Kite	Milvus milvus
Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus
Hen Harrier	Circus cyaneus
Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus
Common Buzzard	Buteo buteo
Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Coot	Fulica atra
Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus
European Golden Plover	Pluvialis apricaria
Northern Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus
Purple Sandpiper	Calidris maritima
Jack Snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus
Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus
Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla
Black-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Common Gull	Larus canus
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus
Caspian Gull	Larus cachinnans
Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus
Stock Dove	Columba oenas
Woodpigeon	Columba palumbus
Feral Pigeon	Columba livia
Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto
Barn Owl	Tyto alba
Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis
Green Woodpecker	Picus viridis
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos major
Magpie	Pica pica
Jay	Garrulus glandarius
Jackdaw	Corvus monedula
Rook	Corvus frugilegus
Carrion Crow	Corvus corone
Raven	Corvus corax
Waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus
Blue Tit	Cyanistes caeruleus
Great Tit	Parus major
Coal Tit	Periparus ater
Marsh Tit	Poecile palustris
Skylark	Alauda arvensis
Shore Lark	Eremophila alpestris
Long-tailed Tit	Aegithalos caudatus
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus
Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes
Nuthatch	Sitta europaea
Treecreeper	Certhia familiaris
Starling	Sturnus vulgaris
Blackbird	Turdus merula
Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris
Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos
Redwing	Turdus iliacus
Mistle Thrush	Turdus viscivorus
Robin	Erithacus rubecula
European Stonechat	Saxicola rubicola
Dunnock	Prunella modularis
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus
Pied Wagtail	Motacilla yarelli
Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis
Rock Pipit	Anthus petrosus
Water Pipit	Anthus spinoletta
Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs
Greenfinch	Chloris chloris
Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis
Siskin	Spinus spinus
Linnet	Linaria cannabina
Twite	Linaria flavirostris
Common Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Reed Bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus
Corn Bunting	Emberiza calandra

February Half-term 2017: Highlights

Nine days of exciting experiences in the natural world.

Mute Swans at Holkham Pines NNR.

The weather this half-term has been very kind, and after a cold start the mild temperatures have enabled me to get outside a great deal. I even caught the sun a little on Saturday 18th, which is probably a first for me in February.

There have been many highlights. I was delighted to see Brown Hares on three different occasions on my trip to Norfolk, my first for years. In addition I also saw Muntjac and Sika Deer.

A visit to Lynford Arboretum, also in Norfolk, generated Crossbill, Hawfinch and a Marsh Tit.

Distant view of four Hawfinches at Lynford Arboretum.

After seeing Purple Sandpipers for the first time in January I had great views of a pair at Sheringham.

Purple Sandpipers at Sheringham.

A visit to Holkham Pines National Nature Reserve on the north Norfolk coast is always rewarding: Three Red Kites lifting thousands of Lapwing and an incredible group of about a dozen Snipe that circled over me several times, huge flocks of grazing Wigeon which were remarkably approachable, and Marsh Harriers too.

A Red Kite causing panic among a flock of Lapwing at Holkham.

I was lucky enough to have great views of a Peregrine at Norwich cathedral, as it perched on the spire and sporadically harried the local pigeons.

Peregrine on the spire of Norwich cathedral.

I also had distant but thrilling views of my first male Hen Harrier near Horsey. Previously I have only seen juveniles or female birds

All in all a fantastic week. Here are my top five Wildlife Wonders:

#5 Hunting Barn Owl, Horsey 15th February.

Close views this marvellous species hunting in full daylight. The bird silently quartered an area of rough grassland occasionally hovering and then diving down.

#4 Twite, Cuckmere Haven 11th February.

A lifetime first, my 427th species. Such perfect camouflage it was impossible to see until it moved. Fantastic yellow beak.

#3 Shore Larks, Holkham Pines NNR 15th February.

I was delighted to find this reported flock of over twenty birds. Only the second time I have seen this beautiful species.

#2 Waxwings, Bexhill 11th February.

I am amazed that this only makes second place, so delighted was I at finally seeing some Waxwings after so many failures. What incredible birds.

#1 Seal colony, Horsey Gap 16th February.

This was a complete surprise for me. Hundreds of Grey, and a few Common Seals, hauled out along the beach. It was magical to be so close to such a large number of big wild mammals. Unforgettable.

Seals at Horsey Gap

What an amazing experience this was. A half hour walk south along the dunes from the Horsey Gap car park and suddenly, there are hundreds of seals hauled out along the beach between the groynes. Most of the seals were Grey Seals, but some of them were Common Seals.

The seals had an amazing range of colours.

This is a Grey Seal pup born in the Autumn. Almost adult sized it still has it juvenile coloured coat.

 The classic profile of a Grey Seal

From time to time, some of the Grey Seals would arch up for a stretch, and a bit of a look around.

The Grey Seals seemed content to lie very close to each other. The Common Seals tended to be slightly apart from the main group.

 A juvenile Grey Seal.

Two more Common Seals. Less than 10% of the seals present were from this species.

The colour variation of the Grey Seals was remarkable. This orange individual stood out.

A Common Seal.

The photos of the two Common Seals above show the characteristic 'v' shape made by their nostrils. Grey Seal nostrils are more parallel.

 A lovely sky with seals in the foreground.

A rare empty stretch of beach.

Please note that I am happy to be corrected over my identifications of Grey and Common seals.

Norfolk

This half-term I visited Norfolk, which is rapidly becoming one of my favourite places and has started to rival Penwith. It was a lot of driving and luckily the weather seemed to change from winter into spring during my visit.

 Nuthatch, My Lady's Wood at Oxburgh Hall.

 Turnstone on the seafront at Sheringham.

 Roosting Purple Sandpipers on the seafront at Sheringham.

 A drake Shoveler in the marsh at Holkham.

 Grazing Wigeon at Holkham.

 Two views of the beach at Holkham Pines NNR.

 A pair of Egyptian Geese at Holkham Pines NNR.

 Subadult Mute Swan at Holkham Pines NNR.

 Bathing Robin at Holkham Pines NNR.

 Drake Gadwall at Felbrigg Hall.

 Male Chaffinch at Felbrigg Hall.

Winter tree line at Felbrigg Hall.