Oriole Birding Day Trip

I had a very successful trip with Oriole Birding to the Norfolk broads, with Jason Moss as our guide, and it actually turned out to be one of my most successful days of birding.

We began at Haddiscoe, where we heard Jays and saw many Goldcrests in the pines. We went to high ground to get a view over the marshes and the tour leader eventually found the Rough-legged Buzzard on a post - my first lifer of the day! It wasn't clear it was this species until it flew and showed the clean white band in the tail, which was very different from the pale Common Buzzard that was near it. There was also a smart male Merlin sitting on a post, and many Kestrels in the fields. Bearded Tits called from the Reeds and Reed Buntings gave distant views as they flew over. A Marsh Harrier also flew through.

We then stopped to look at Breydon Water where the waders were exciting to watch when they got scared by something. The wader species included Lapwing, Curlew, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Redshank, Dunlin, Knot, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit and Avocet, and there were also large number of Wigeon and Teal, with some Pintails mixed in. A Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harrier flew by past the water too. 

The next stop was Great Yarmouth where we had good views of Mediterranean Gulls. It was good to compare them with Black-headed Gulls as they flew around showing the completely white wings, thicker beaks and the dark mask behind the eye instead of a spot. 

Next we went for a Glossy Ibis that had been seen recently, and immediately as we got out of the van, Jason spotted it by some bushes, and it was my second lifer of the day. It was showing quite well at first, but I did not expect it to fly from the bush line and land just a few metres away! Amazing!

Glossy Ibis - Showing Well!

We then went to some wet fields around the Broads, where we almost immediately found a flock of nine Bewick's Swans. I had only seen these before at Slimbridge, where they are fed, but I realised that I prefer seeing them much more in natural habitats such as the fields. I enjoyed watching them and also realised how different from Whooper swans they looked.

Bewick's Swan

Along the road there was a close flock of Fieldfares, more Kestrels and another Sparrowhawk. Both Little and Great-crested Grebes were on the water, and a Cetti's warbler called and sang from the reeds, but didn't want to show itself.

Next we got a different angle on the fields, and this time saw a flock of Whooper swans, which showed differences in size and bill pattern from the Bewick's earlier. A Barn Owl also hunted over the field and sat on a fence post, giving good views, and a Female Sparrowhawk also sat on a post.

Jason soon spotted a distant flock of Cranes flying over, but then soon noticed two in the field close to us! Everyone got excellent views through a gap in the reeds as they fed. 

Cranes - Photo Was Taken by Jason, the Tour Guide

It was getting late now, so we drove a short distance up the road and located the huge flock of Brambling that had been around...and I didn't realise there was going to be so many! Over 100 showing well in the trees and flying around, showing the distinctive colours. Definitely a highlight!

Brambling - The Light Was Fading

The last stop of the day was Hickling raptor roost at Stubb Mill. Dozens of Marsh Harriers flying around in the air at the same time was exciting to watch, and huge flocks of Fieldfares flew over. Two Cranes showed quite well from the fields, and more called distantly - great sounding birds. 

In the last few minutes of daylight, someone noticed a female Hen Harirer flying through distantly, and I only got very brief views of this, but just a couple of minutes later someone called out saying there was a male Hen Harrier flying through! I didn't manage to get onto it until it flew past a lot of Marsh Harriers, and it turned in the air showing its pale grey upperside and black wing tips clearly...a really great bird to end the roost with!

The last bird of the day was a Tawny owl that called as we walked back to the van.

An extremely good day, where the guide, Jason, found all the targets, and a huge variety of species was seen. I definitely want to go on more trips like this in the future!