Birdwatching in North Norfolk
Birdwatching is a hobby I’ve neglected in recent years. Growing up as a kid I would go out on a semi-regular basis to different nature reserves, peering at birds big and small through a small pair of binoculars. It was really this that gave the earliest inspiration for my photography, I wanted to capture the birds I was seeing in crisp detail like in the books I was reading. My first proper camera however was an inexpensive Fuji bridge camera and it’s safe to say I wasn’t going to be selling any prints of these. Many years later I do have the gear but as life has taken over, and I’ve branched into many other types of photography, I just haven’t found the time I used to have to do it.
Which is what made my summer camping trip to North Norfolk (which I talked about more generally in last week’s blog) the perfect opportunity to get out and do it. In this part of the country sits two RSPB nature reserves, Titchwell & Snettisham, that I had long wanted to go to but had yet to do so. Being up on the coast around The Wash they are famed for their large numbers of waders, Snettisham in particular for its Wader Spectaculars that are one of the countries great natural wonders. The highest spring tides force the waders to crowd into the lagoons behind the shore until it recedes far enough out to reveal their feeding grounds. Then they erupt into the air in swirling flocks of tens of thousands, a simply staggering sight. Unfortunately, I had missed this by a few days but I still got to see large flocks by any other measurement.
My first day of birdwatching was actually at Holkham but I hadn’t taken my big lens and camera with me as my intention was just to enjoy a walk and a day at the beach. This was a shame as I saw a landed pair of Marsh Harriers side by side out of one of the hides. Sometimes though you just have to appreciate what you’ve seen, rather than worry about capturing it in an image.
My trip to RSPB Titchwell the following day started off on an interesting footing where I was convinced by an enthusiastic, and aptly named, man called Robin to sign up for RSPB membership. I’d really have no excuse now to go out and do a bit more birdwatching. Titchwell itself is a well-equipped site with a decent car park and visitor centre, where you can pick up a hot cup of tea and piece of cake before you make a move, as well as try out a new pair of binoculars. There’s a second shorter path that takes you out on one side of the marshes, but otherwise one long main path leads you all the way through the reserve and down onto the beach through the sand dunes. My highlight of the day, and perhaps the week, was seeing Spoonbills in the UK for the first time. These were largely extinct except for a small number of passing birds, but a colony re-established itself from the continent at Holkam in 2010 and they have thrived and spread since then with Norfolk remaining their stronghold.
Visiting RSPB Snettisham was a very different experience. Parking up at the designated RSPB car park, there’s no facilities like there is at Titchwell. Instead, you follow a path that takes you through a series of fishing lakes and then past the Snettisham Beach Sailing Club to the shore. From there you follow a long path that takes you in between the sea on one side and the lagoons, that shelter the many waders at high tide, on the other. Whilst the hides are right down the far end there is plenty to see on the way down. I’d never seen such numbers of Ringed Plovers in one place in my life and they were joined in large numbers by Little Terns. Other waders and passerines were present, but perhaps the oddest thing I saw was an albino Oystercatcher.
As the tide was retreating at that time of day I did see large flocks of waders swooping down as I walked along the shore but it was nowhere near the scale of a spectacular. I thought however I might still be in luck as there were many Godwits and other waders sheltering in the lagoon, waiting for the right moment. There were two banks of birds and it looked promising when the one furthest away erupted in one great sudden movement, a few birds taking to the air which triggered the rest. Now I just had to wait for the one in front of me. Sadly, it never came. The birds did fly off but in dribs and drabs that steadily thinned out their numbers until any chance of the same effect was gone. One to come back to for a proper Spectacular.
I’d love to say that since then with my new RSPB membership I’d spent large parts of the Autumn sitting in bird hides peering through by binoculars. But apart from a couple of trips to RSPB Fowlmere’s car park for photoshoots I’ve not been out. Life once again getting in the way, it’s easy to happen when you don’t make it a priority. Though perhaps with time off over Christmas it’s a good time to make it back around Fowlmere or Rye Meads, another reserve local to me. If I do get anything good, rest assured you will see them here.
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