Trip report – Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and south west England
14th January 2019
Dates: 5th to 13th January 2019
Destination: Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and south west England
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was to visit a number of sites in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and south west England to get my 2019 year list off to an excellent start.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for birding were:
Cambridgeshire: Ouse Washes, RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Welney WWT reserve
Norfolk: Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area
Norfolk: Snettisham RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Hunstanton cliffs
Norfolk: Thornham harbour
Norfolk: Titchwell RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Holkham Bay
Norfolk: Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Hickling Broad NWT reserve (Stubb Mill)
Gloucestershire: Slimbridge WWT reserve
Somerset: Steart Marshes WWT reserve
Somerset: Swell Wood RSPB reserve
Somerset: Greylake RSPB reserve
Somerset: Ham Wall RSPB reserve
Devon: Berry Head, Brixham
Devon: Broadsands near Paignton
Devon: Stover Country Park, Newton Abbott
Devon: Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve
Dorset: Lyme Regis
Dorset: Portland Harbour
Dorset: Radipole Lake RSPB reserve
Dorset: Lodmoor RSPB reserve
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip from Europcar at Southend Airport. The 9 day rental cost £137.38 reduced by cashback to £126.91.
I stayed at Travelodges throughout my trip, all of which provided convenient locations for my target areas for birding. All bookings were re-allocated from cancelled bookings made in August 2018 for the annual BirdFair at Rutland Water and in September 2018 for a trip to west Scotland.
5th January 2019: Travelodge Kings Lynn
6th and 7th January 2019: Travelodge Norwich Cringleford
8th January 2019: Travelodge Stonehouse
9th and 10th January 2019: Travelodge Bridgwater M5
11th and 12th January 2019: Travelodge Exeter M5
Weather:
The weather was dry and mostly bright and sunny although there were a few periods of cloud and light drizzle. Temperatures ranged from -1°C to 11°C.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 131 bird species and 7 mammal species, an excellent outcome for the first 2 weeks in January.
Trip list - Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and south west England
With regard to birds, I was able to add 52 species to my 2019 list, bringing the year to date total to 136 species.
However, I also failed to record 13 species that I had expected to see on this trip: Scaup, Velvet Scoter, Hen Harrier, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Barn Owl, Grey Wagtail, Black Redstart, Bearded Tit, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch and Corn Bunting.
Bird highlights included 3 rarities, all of which I expected to see given that they were all present at their respective sites for some time prior to my trip: Ring-necked Duck at Welney WWT reserve, Norfolk (my 6th UK record), Yellow-browed Warbler at Broadsands, Devon (my 5th UK record) and Lesser Yellowlegs at Lodmoor RSPB reserve, Dorset (my 6th UK record).
January is always a good time to start recording diver species and the rarer grebe species. However, as far as I can recall, January 2019 was the first time ever that I managed to record all 3 diver species (Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver and Red-throated Diver) and all 5 grebe species (Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe).
The other highlight was the wonderful spectacle of huge numbers of Starlings arriving at dusk at Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset. RSPB staff estimated that over 500,000 birds were arriving each evening during the 2018/19 winter period. There is more information on Starling murmurations here and here plus some amazing photos here unlike my poor effort below.
Photo: Starling murmuration at Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset
Photo: one of the 500,000 Starlings at Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset!
With regard to mammals, the highlights were 10 to 20 Common Dolphins off Berry Head, Devon and 3 Chinese Water Deer and 2 Atlantic Grey Seal at Titchwell RSPB reserve, Norfolk.
The following summarises the notable species seen on my trip.
Ouse Washes RSPB reserve, Cambridgeshire: Whooper Swan, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Tree Sparrow
Welney WWT reserve, Norfolk: Whooper Swan, Mute Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Ring-necked Duck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Common Snipe, Common Redshank, Heron, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel
Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area, Norfolk: Pink-footed Goose, Curlew, Grey Partridge, Red-legged Partridge, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Brambling, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Brown Hare
Snettisham pits RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Goldeneye, Sparrowhawk
Snettisham beach RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Curlew, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher
Hunstanton cliffs, Norfolk: Fulmar, Curlew
Thornham area: Pink-footed Goose
Thornham harbour, Norfolk: Twite
Titchwell RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Shelduck, Cormorant, Brent Goose, Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Water Pipit, Linnet, Skylark, Atlantic Grey Seal, Chinese Water Deer, Grey Squirrel
Holkham area: Red Kite
Holkham Bay, Norfolk: Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Pink-footed Goose, Brent Goose, Common Scoter, Wigeon, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Lapwing, Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier
Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Marsh Tit, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Squirrel
Hickling Broad NWT reserve (Stubb Mill), Norfolk: Crane, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Brambling, Fieldfare, Grey Squirrel
Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire: Crane, Bewick’s Swan, Eurasian White-fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Shelduck, Water Rail, Cormorant, Heron, Lapwing, Curlew, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Redshank, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Buzzard, Peregrine, Grey Squirrel, Rabbit
Photo: Bewick's Swan at Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire
Photo: Crane at Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire
Barrow Gurney Reservoir, Somerset: Long-tailed Duck
Steart Marshes WWT reserve, Somerset: Spoonbill, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Common Redshank, Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Shelduck, Short-eared Owl, Kestrel, Stonechat, Linnet, Skylark, Roe Deer
Swell Wood RSPB reserve, Somerset: Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Redwing, Green Woodpecker (heard only), Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only), Goldcrest (heard only), Grey Squirrel
Greylake RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Little Egret, Heron, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Common Buzzard, Reed Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only)
Photo: Heron at Greylake RSPB reserve, Somerset
Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Bittern, Heron, Cormorant, Water Rail (heard only), Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Kingfisher, Cettis Warbler (heard only), Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Starling
Berry Head, Devon: Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Shag, Common Dolphin
Broadsands near Paignton, Devon:Gannet, Fulmar, Shag, Great Northern Diver, Common Scoter, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Yellow-browed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Cirl Bunting, Kestrel
Stover Country Park, Newton Abbott, Devon: Mandarin, Goosander, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Goldcrest (heard only)
Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve, Devon: Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Heron, Curlew, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Common Buzzard
Lyme Regis, Dorset: Rock Pipit, Turnstone
Portland Harbour (from Portland Marina), Dorset: Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Cormorant, Oystercatcher
Portland Harbour (from Ferrybridge), Dorset: Mediterranean Gull, Red-breasted Merganser
Portland Harbour (from Portland Castle), Dorset: Black-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser
Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Dorset: Mediterranean Gull
Photo: Mediterranean Gull at Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Dorset
Lodmoor RSPB reserve, Dorset: Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Egret, Heron, Cormorant, Teal, Shoveler, Ruff, Dunlin, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only)
Photo: Lesser Yellowlegs at Lodmoor RSPB reserve, Dorset
Destination: Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and south west England
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was to visit a number of sites in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and south west England to get my 2019 year list off to an excellent start.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for birding were:
Cambridgeshire: Ouse Washes, RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Welney WWT reserve
Norfolk: Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area
Norfolk: Snettisham RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Hunstanton cliffs
Norfolk: Thornham harbour
Norfolk: Titchwell RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Holkham Bay
Norfolk: Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Hickling Broad NWT reserve (Stubb Mill)
Gloucestershire: Slimbridge WWT reserve
Somerset: Steart Marshes WWT reserve
Somerset: Swell Wood RSPB reserve
Somerset: Greylake RSPB reserve
Somerset: Ham Wall RSPB reserve
Devon: Berry Head, Brixham
Devon: Broadsands near Paignton
Devon: Stover Country Park, Newton Abbott
Devon: Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve
Dorset: Lyme Regis
Dorset: Portland Harbour
Dorset: Radipole Lake RSPB reserve
Dorset: Lodmoor RSPB reserve
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip from Europcar at Southend Airport. The 9 day rental cost £137.38 reduced by cashback to £126.91.
I stayed at Travelodges throughout my trip, all of which provided convenient locations for my target areas for birding. All bookings were re-allocated from cancelled bookings made in August 2018 for the annual BirdFair at Rutland Water and in September 2018 for a trip to west Scotland.
5th January 2019: Travelodge Kings Lynn
6th and 7th January 2019: Travelodge Norwich Cringleford
8th January 2019: Travelodge Stonehouse
9th and 10th January 2019: Travelodge Bridgwater M5
11th and 12th January 2019: Travelodge Exeter M5
Weather:
The weather was dry and mostly bright and sunny although there were a few periods of cloud and light drizzle. Temperatures ranged from -1°C to 11°C.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 131 bird species and 7 mammal species, an excellent outcome for the first 2 weeks in January.
Trip list - Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and south west England
With regard to birds, I was able to add 52 species to my 2019 list, bringing the year to date total to 136 species.
However, I also failed to record 13 species that I had expected to see on this trip: Scaup, Velvet Scoter, Hen Harrier, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Barn Owl, Grey Wagtail, Black Redstart, Bearded Tit, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch and Corn Bunting.
Bird highlights included 3 rarities, all of which I expected to see given that they were all present at their respective sites for some time prior to my trip: Ring-necked Duck at Welney WWT reserve, Norfolk (my 6th UK record), Yellow-browed Warbler at Broadsands, Devon (my 5th UK record) and Lesser Yellowlegs at Lodmoor RSPB reserve, Dorset (my 6th UK record).
January is always a good time to start recording diver species and the rarer grebe species. However, as far as I can recall, January 2019 was the first time ever that I managed to record all 3 diver species (Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver and Red-throated Diver) and all 5 grebe species (Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe).
The other highlight was the wonderful spectacle of huge numbers of Starlings arriving at dusk at Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset. RSPB staff estimated that over 500,000 birds were arriving each evening during the 2018/19 winter period. There is more information on Starling murmurations here and here plus some amazing photos here unlike my poor effort below.
Photo: Starling murmuration at Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset
Photo: one of the 500,000 Starlings at Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset!
With regard to mammals, the highlights were 10 to 20 Common Dolphins off Berry Head, Devon and 3 Chinese Water Deer and 2 Atlantic Grey Seal at Titchwell RSPB reserve, Norfolk.
The following summarises the notable species seen on my trip.
Ouse Washes RSPB reserve, Cambridgeshire: Whooper Swan, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Tree Sparrow
Welney WWT reserve, Norfolk: Whooper Swan, Mute Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Ring-necked Duck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Common Snipe, Common Redshank, Heron, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel
Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area, Norfolk: Pink-footed Goose, Curlew, Grey Partridge, Red-legged Partridge, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Brambling, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Brown Hare
Snettisham pits RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Goldeneye, Sparrowhawk
Snettisham beach RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Curlew, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher
Hunstanton cliffs, Norfolk: Fulmar, Curlew
Thornham area: Pink-footed Goose
Thornham harbour, Norfolk: Twite
Titchwell RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Shelduck, Cormorant, Brent Goose, Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Water Pipit, Linnet, Skylark, Atlantic Grey Seal, Chinese Water Deer, Grey Squirrel
Holkham area: Red Kite
Holkham Bay, Norfolk: Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Pink-footed Goose, Brent Goose, Common Scoter, Wigeon, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Lapwing, Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier
Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Marsh Tit, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Squirrel
Hickling Broad NWT reserve (Stubb Mill), Norfolk: Crane, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Brambling, Fieldfare, Grey Squirrel
Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire: Crane, Bewick’s Swan, Eurasian White-fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Shelduck, Water Rail, Cormorant, Heron, Lapwing, Curlew, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Redshank, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Buzzard, Peregrine, Grey Squirrel, Rabbit
Photo: Bewick's Swan at Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire
Photo: Crane at Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire
Barrow Gurney Reservoir, Somerset: Long-tailed Duck
Steart Marshes WWT reserve, Somerset: Spoonbill, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Common Redshank, Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Shelduck, Short-eared Owl, Kestrel, Stonechat, Linnet, Skylark, Roe Deer
Swell Wood RSPB reserve, Somerset: Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Redwing, Green Woodpecker (heard only), Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only), Goldcrest (heard only), Grey Squirrel
Greylake RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Little Egret, Heron, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Common Buzzard, Reed Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only)
Photo: Heron at Greylake RSPB reserve, Somerset
Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Bittern, Heron, Cormorant, Water Rail (heard only), Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Kingfisher, Cettis Warbler (heard only), Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Starling
Berry Head, Devon: Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Shag, Common Dolphin
Broadsands near Paignton, Devon:Gannet, Fulmar, Shag, Great Northern Diver, Common Scoter, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Yellow-browed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Cirl Bunting, Kestrel
Stover Country Park, Newton Abbott, Devon: Mandarin, Goosander, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Goldcrest (heard only)
Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve, Devon: Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Heron, Curlew, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Common Buzzard
Lyme Regis, Dorset: Rock Pipit, Turnstone
Portland Harbour (from Portland Marina), Dorset: Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Cormorant, Oystercatcher
Portland Harbour (from Ferrybridge), Dorset: Mediterranean Gull, Red-breasted Merganser
Portland Harbour (from Portland Castle), Dorset: Black-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser
Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Dorset: Mediterranean Gull
Photo: Mediterranean Gull at Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Dorset
Lodmoor RSPB reserve, Dorset: Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Egret, Heron, Cormorant, Teal, Shoveler, Ruff, Dunlin, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only)
Photo: Lesser Yellowlegs at Lodmoor RSPB reserve, Dorset