Trip report – East Anglia and south west England
09th January 2020
Dates: 1st to 8th January 2020
Destination: East Anglia and south west England
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was to visit a number of sites in East Anglia and south west England to get my 2020 year list off to an excellent start.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for birding were:
Essex: Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve
Suffolk: Ness Point, Lowestoft
Norfolk: Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Buckenham Marshes RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Hickling Broad NWT reserve (Stubb Mill)
Norfolk: Wells-next-the-Sea
Norfolk: Holkham
Norfolk: Choseley
Norfolk: Thornham harbour
Norfolk: Hunstanton cliffs
Norfolk: Sedgeford
Norfolk: Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area
Norfolk: Titchwell RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Welney WWT reserve
Gloucestershire: Slimbridge WWT reserve
Somerset: Steart Marshes WWT reserve
Somerset: Greylake RSPB reserve
Somerset: Swell Wood RSPB reserve
Somerset: Westhay area
Somerset: Catcott Lows SWT reserve
Somerset: Ham Wall RSPB reserve
Devon: Exminster and Powderham Marshes RSPB reserve
Devon: Broadsands near Paignton
Devon: Man Sands near Brixham
Devon: Preston near Paignton
Devon: Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve
Dorset: Ferrybridge
Dorset: Portland Harbour
Dorset: Portland Bill
Dorset: Tidmoor Point, The Fleet
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip from Thrifty in Basildon. The 8 day rental, booked with a substantial saving in the Black Friday sale, cost £106.43 reduced by cashback to £98.45
I stayed at Travelodges throughout my trip, all of which were booked with substantial savings during the Travelodge winter and Boxing Day sales. They all provided convenient locations for my target areas for birding.
1st January 2020: Travelodge Acle
2nd January 2020: Travelodge Kings Lynn
4th January 2020: Travelodge Highbridge Burnham-on-Sea
5th January 2020: Travelodge Glastonbury
6th January 2020: Travelodge Torquay
7th January 2020: Travelodge Ilminster
Weather:
New Year’s Day 1st January 2020 started with a temperature of -1°C and thick freezing fog which initially made birding at Abberton Reservoir impossible. Fortunately the fog cleared reasonably quickly to produce a sunny day with a temperature high of 7°C
For the remainder of the trip, temperatures ranged from 5°C to 12°C and most days were mainly very grey and cloudy. On 3rd and 6th January 2020, there was rain until 10:00 and between 13:00 and 14:00 respectively. The worst day was 7th January 2020 where there was light rain, mist and sea fog all day which made a planned trip to Berry Head near Brixham for seabirds completely pointless.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 133 bird species in total (105 in East Anglia and 101 in south west England) and 7 mammal species, an excellent outcome for the first week in January.
Trip list - East Anglia and south west England
However, I also failed to record 21 species that I had expected or hoped to see on this trip: Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Bittern, Spoonbill, Ring-necked Duck (at Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve), Eider, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Common Gull, Little Owl, Kingfisher, Shorelark, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Richard’s Pipit (a potential “lifer” at Steart Marshes WWT reserve), Grey Wagtail, Mistle Thrush, Brambling, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Corn Bunting.
Bird highlights included 4 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: Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Sedgeford, Norfolk (a “lifer” taking my UK list to 352), Rough-legged Buzzard at Wells-next-the-Sea (my 7th UK record), Long-billed Dowitcher at Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve, Devon (my 6th UK record) and Blue-winged Teal at Man Sands near Brixham (my 2nd UK record).
The following summarises the notable species seen on my trip.
Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve, Essex: Great White Egret, Smew, Scaup, Goosander, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Cormorant, Heron, Lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Great Black-backed Gull, Kestrel
A12 south of Ipswich, Suffolk: Common Buzzard
Ness Point, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone
Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Jay, Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard, Mute Swan, Marsh Harrier
Buckenham Marshes RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Eurasian/Russian White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Shelduck, Mute Swan, Heron, Lapwing, Ruff, Common Buzzard, Stock Dove, Chinese Water Deer
Hickling Broad NWT reserve (Stubb Mill), Norfolk: Crane, Bewick’s Swan, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Gadwall, Cormorant, Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Jay
Fakenham to Holkham, Norfolk: Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Kestrel
Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk: Rough-legged Buzzard, Kestrel, Curlew, Lapwing Common Redshank, Mallard
Holkham, Norfolk: Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Razorbill, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Brent Goose, Egyptian Goose, Curlew, Common Redshank, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Snow Bunting, Linnet
Choseley, Norfolk: Eurasian/Russian White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Grey Partridge, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Lapwing
Thornham harbour, Norfolk: Twite, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Little Grebe, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Common Redshank, Little Egret
Hunstanton, Norfolk: Fulmar, Herring Gull, Turnstone
Sedegford, Norfolk: Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Fieldfare
Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area, Norfolk: Grey Partridge, red-legged Partridge, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew, Lapwing, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Brown Hare
Titchwell RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Common Pochard, Mallard, Shelduck, Cormorant, Little Egret, Brent Goose, Egyptian Goose, Avocet, Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Great Black-backed Gull, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel
Welney WWT reserve, Norfolk: Great White Egret, Whooper Swan, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Dunlin, Lapwing, Heron, Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Roe Deer
Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire: Crane (heard only), Bewick’s Swan, Mute Swan, Eurasian/Russian White-fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Shelduck, Water Rail, Heron, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Redshank, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Buzzard, Redwing, Raven, Rook, Rabbit
Steart Marshes WWT reserve, Somerset: Little Egret, Heron, Common Redshank, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Shelduck, Little Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only), Stonechat, Goldfinch, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Roe Deer
Greylake RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only)
Swell Wood RSPB reserve, Somerset: Crane (heard only), Tawny Owl (heard only), Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Roe Deer
Westhay area, Somerset: Cattle Egret, Sparrowhawk
Catcott Lows SWT reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Heron, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Peregrine, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Starling (distant murmuration over Glastonbury area)
Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Little Egret, Heron, Cormorant, Water Rail, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Goldfinch, Grey Squirrel
Starcross near Exeter, Devon: Brent Goose, Oystercatcher
Exminster and Powderham Marshes RSPB reserve, Devon: Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Curlew
Broadsands near Paignton, Devon: Great Northern Diver, Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Cirl Bunting, Yellowhammer
Man Sands near Brixham, Devon: Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only), Green Woodpecker (heard only),
Preston near Paignton, Devon: Gannet, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull
Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve, Devon: Long-billed Dowitcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Curlew, Dunlin, Ruff, Greenshank, Common Redshank, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Mute Swan, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Bullfinch, Goldfinch
West Bexington, Dorset: Kittiwake
Ferrybridge, Dorset: Mediterranean Gull, Brent Goose, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Kestrel
Portland Harbour, Dorset: Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, Meadow Pipit
Portland Bill, Dorset: Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Shag, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Raven
Tidmoor Point, The Fleet, Dorset: Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Mediterranean Gull, Curlew, Common Redshank, Water Rail (heard only)
Destination: East Anglia and south west England
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was to visit a number of sites in East Anglia and south west England to get my 2020 year list off to an excellent start.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for birding were:
Essex: Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve
Suffolk: Ness Point, Lowestoft
Norfolk: Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Buckenham Marshes RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Hickling Broad NWT reserve (Stubb Mill)
Norfolk: Wells-next-the-Sea
Norfolk: Holkham
Norfolk: Choseley
Norfolk: Thornham harbour
Norfolk: Hunstanton cliffs
Norfolk: Sedgeford
Norfolk: Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area
Norfolk: Titchwell RSPB reserve
Norfolk: Welney WWT reserve
Gloucestershire: Slimbridge WWT reserve
Somerset: Steart Marshes WWT reserve
Somerset: Greylake RSPB reserve
Somerset: Swell Wood RSPB reserve
Somerset: Westhay area
Somerset: Catcott Lows SWT reserve
Somerset: Ham Wall RSPB reserve
Devon: Exminster and Powderham Marshes RSPB reserve
Devon: Broadsands near Paignton
Devon: Man Sands near Brixham
Devon: Preston near Paignton
Devon: Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve
Dorset: Ferrybridge
Dorset: Portland Harbour
Dorset: Portland Bill
Dorset: Tidmoor Point, The Fleet
Getting there and getting around:
I rented a car for the whole trip from Thrifty in Basildon. The 8 day rental, booked with a substantial saving in the Black Friday sale, cost £106.43 reduced by cashback to £98.45
I stayed at Travelodges throughout my trip, all of which were booked with substantial savings during the Travelodge winter and Boxing Day sales. They all provided convenient locations for my target areas for birding.
1st January 2020: Travelodge Acle
2nd January 2020: Travelodge Kings Lynn
4th January 2020: Travelodge Highbridge Burnham-on-Sea
5th January 2020: Travelodge Glastonbury
6th January 2020: Travelodge Torquay
7th January 2020: Travelodge Ilminster
Weather:
New Year’s Day 1st January 2020 started with a temperature of -1°C and thick freezing fog which initially made birding at Abberton Reservoir impossible. Fortunately the fog cleared reasonably quickly to produce a sunny day with a temperature high of 7°C
For the remainder of the trip, temperatures ranged from 5°C to 12°C and most days were mainly very grey and cloudy. On 3rd and 6th January 2020, there was rain until 10:00 and between 13:00 and 14:00 respectively. The worst day was 7th January 2020 where there was light rain, mist and sea fog all day which made a planned trip to Berry Head near Brixham for seabirds completely pointless.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 133 bird species in total (105 in East Anglia and 101 in south west England) and 7 mammal species, an excellent outcome for the first week in January.
Trip list - East Anglia and south west England
However, I also failed to record 21 species that I had expected or hoped to see on this trip: Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Bittern, Spoonbill, Ring-necked Duck (at Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve), Eider, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Common Gull, Little Owl, Kingfisher, Shorelark, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Richard’s Pipit (a potential “lifer” at Steart Marshes WWT reserve), Grey Wagtail, Mistle Thrush, Brambling, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Corn Bunting.
Bird highlights included 4 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: Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Sedgeford, Norfolk (a “lifer” taking my UK list to 352), Rough-legged Buzzard at Wells-next-the-Sea (my 7th UK record), Long-billed Dowitcher at Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve, Devon (my 6th UK record) and Blue-winged Teal at Man Sands near Brixham (my 2nd UK record).
The following summarises the notable species seen on my trip.
Abberton Reservoir EWT reserve, Essex: Great White Egret, Smew, Scaup, Goosander, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Cormorant, Heron, Lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Great Black-backed Gull, Kestrel
A12 south of Ipswich, Suffolk: Common Buzzard
Ness Point, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone
Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Jay, Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard, Mute Swan, Marsh Harrier
Buckenham Marshes RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Eurasian/Russian White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Shelduck, Mute Swan, Heron, Lapwing, Ruff, Common Buzzard, Stock Dove, Chinese Water Deer
Hickling Broad NWT reserve (Stubb Mill), Norfolk: Crane, Bewick’s Swan, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Gadwall, Cormorant, Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Jay
Fakenham to Holkham, Norfolk: Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Kestrel
Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk: Rough-legged Buzzard, Kestrel, Curlew, Lapwing Common Redshank, Mallard
Holkham, Norfolk: Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Razorbill, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Brent Goose, Egyptian Goose, Curlew, Common Redshank, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Snow Bunting, Linnet
Choseley, Norfolk: Eurasian/Russian White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Grey Partridge, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Lapwing
Thornham harbour, Norfolk: Twite, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Little Grebe, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Common Redshank, Little Egret
Hunstanton, Norfolk: Fulmar, Herring Gull, Turnstone
Sedegford, Norfolk: Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Fieldfare
Flitcham-Anmer-Fring area, Norfolk: Grey Partridge, red-legged Partridge, Pink-footed Goose, Curlew, Lapwing, Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Brown Hare
Titchwell RSPB reserve, Norfolk: Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Common Pochard, Mallard, Shelduck, Cormorant, Little Egret, Brent Goose, Egyptian Goose, Avocet, Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Great Black-backed Gull, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel
Welney WWT reserve, Norfolk: Great White Egret, Whooper Swan, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Dunlin, Lapwing, Heron, Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Roe Deer
Slimbridge WWT reserve, Gloucestershire: Crane (heard only), Bewick’s Swan, Mute Swan, Eurasian/Russian White-fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Shelduck, Water Rail, Heron, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Redshank, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Buzzard, Redwing, Raven, Rook, Rabbit
Steart Marshes WWT reserve, Somerset: Little Egret, Heron, Common Redshank, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Shelduck, Little Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only), Stonechat, Goldfinch, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Roe Deer
Greylake RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only)
Swell Wood RSPB reserve, Somerset: Crane (heard only), Tawny Owl (heard only), Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Roe Deer
Westhay area, Somerset: Cattle Egret, Sparrowhawk
Catcott Lows SWT reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Heron, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Peregrine, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Starling (distant murmuration over Glastonbury area)
Ham Wall RSPB reserve, Somerset: Great White Egret, Little Egret, Heron, Cormorant, Water Rail, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Goldfinch, Grey Squirrel
Starcross near Exeter, Devon: Brent Goose, Oystercatcher
Exminster and Powderham Marshes RSPB reserve, Devon: Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Curlew
Broadsands near Paignton, Devon: Great Northern Diver, Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Cirl Bunting, Yellowhammer
Man Sands near Brixham, Devon: Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Cetti’s Warbler (heard only), Green Woodpecker (heard only),
Preston near Paignton, Devon: Gannet, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull
Bowling Green and Goosemoor RSPB reserve, Devon: Long-billed Dowitcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Curlew, Dunlin, Ruff, Greenshank, Common Redshank, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Mute Swan, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Bullfinch, Goldfinch
West Bexington, Dorset: Kittiwake
Ferrybridge, Dorset: Mediterranean Gull, Brent Goose, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Kestrel
Portland Harbour, Dorset: Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, Meadow Pipit
Portland Bill, Dorset: Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Shag, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Raven
Tidmoor Point, The Fleet, Dorset: Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Mediterranean Gull, Curlew, Common Redshank, Water Rail (heard only)