21st March & 22nd March 2 Day Exclusive guiding

I spent two days with a couple guiding them down in the Brecks and then up in North Norfolk.

21st March – Brecks. This was mainly a repeat performance of last weeks guiding in the Brecks with all the target birds seen but with a couple of nice additions, the pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were were watched boring out a nesthole – Lesser Spotted Woodpecker video here

Also a single Stone Curlew was present elsewhere and afforded the first good views this Spring. Woodlarks were performing brilliantly in the sunshine, singing and showing on the ground, still small numbers of Brambling, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, and a few Redwing but numbers are dropping quickly now. Firecrest, Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Marsh Tits, Yellowhammers were all showing very well! It was almost windless at the Goshawk site, so we did have to wait a while but eventually a young male put in a very nice performance soaring towards us, closer than usual but gaining height on the thermals.

22nd March – North Norfolk. We headed out to Holkham dunes as the clients were very keen to see the Shorelarks, fortunately they seem to be hanging on in the cold Easterlies, reluctant to leave and were present in the usual location. In great light the 4 Shorelarks gave lovely views, coming as close to us as I have seen them all winter! Here’s a video of one of the Shorelarks

We then headed off out at Burnham Overy Staithe, and there was a great selection of geese, still c700 Pink-feet, plus hundreds of wildfowl including some smart drake Pintail, shorebirds and waders, Redshank, Turnstone, Dunlin, Bar & Black-tailed Godwit, Grey & c500 Golden Plover plus several Spoonbills, Great White Egrets, Marsh Harriers, Red Kites, Kestrel and Buzzards.

After Lunch we stopped off at Stiffkey and as well as more wildfowl there was also several Ruff.

A lovely couple of days with 100 species recorded.