North Norfolk Coast September '23

 A trip to the north Norfolk coast for four days in late September.

21/09/23 Titchwell RSPB

A wander around the RSPB was nice. We saw 450 golden plover, c. 40+ black-tailed godwit, 3 spoonbill, 1 yellow-browed warbler (still) near the car park, 1 great white egret flying overhead,  5 marsh harrier, 3+ bearded tit, 3 ruff, 20+ curlew, 1 whimbrel, 2 common sandpiper, 5 avocet and 3 dunlin.

On bus back c. 60 pink-footed geese seen in a arable field near Burnham Market.

Golden plover

Ruff

22/09/23 Burnham Overy Staithe

C. 600 pink-footed geese over Burnham Market, and 3 buzzard including a very pale bird above Burnham Overy Staithe.

On the mudflats at Burnham Overy Staithe, we saw 8 ringed plover, 60 redshank, 4 curlew, an oystercatcher, dunlin, as well as little egret and 300 golden plover nearby. On the sand dunes were 80 meadow pipit, and a close wheatear. Another c. 300 pink-footed geese flew over.

From Holkham Dunes, someone next to us with a scope pointed out a Chinese water deer. There was also a large flock of c. 800 pink-footed goose partially obscured by the trees but a very loud cacophony heard from afar. Seven red kite, a peregrine, hobby, 4 marsh harrier and kestrel were seen throughout the day.

  

Pink-footed geese at Holkham

23/09/23 Cley

We went to Cley Marshes and fortuitously bumped into Liam, who let me borrow his scope to closer see a little stint.

There we recorded 350 pink-footed geese, 2 little stint, 2 curlew, 14 ruff, 35 black-tailed godwit, 10 bearded tit, 4 marsh harrier, 3 yellow wagtail, 10 dunlin, 40 lapwing, 4 gadwall, 50 teal, a water rail, 8 shoveler, a snipe.

A woodpigeon waiting for the bus

24/09/23 Holme Dunes

We had hoped to go to Snettisham although the tide heights were not ideal so a local guide had recommended Holme Dunes. There we lucked in on a 350+ knot on the beach, which is less than the thousands at Snettisham, but i was happy with the nice close knit flock. Also on the beach saw 3 bar-tailed godwit, 25 black-tailed godwit, 5 ringed plover, 35 oystercatcher, 2 sanderling, and 12 turnstone. One common scoter and 3 gannet seen on the sea.

Knot

Sanderling with turnstone

At the estuary west of Thornham point were 6 grey plover, 30 redshank, 6 curlew, 7 golden plover, 1 marsh harrier and 50 oystercatcher.

We walked back via Titchwell and there saw 5 ruff, 1 common sandpiper, 40 black-tailed godwit. On the beach we saw 7 bar-tailed godwit, 5 sanderling, 4 dunlin, 30 ringed plover.

Bar-tailed godwit

Whilst waiting for the bus stop at 1740 with evening light dropping a snipe flew into the arable fields to the south, presumably to feed in the subdued light levels.

50 pink-footed geese were again seen roosting in the arable field near Burnham Market and another c. 600 pink-footed geese were seen flying north over.