North Norfolk, late April 2024
We had a lovely short break in a hotel near Holt at the end of April. The weather was not kind, wet and with a bitter wind from the North but we enjoyed ourselves nevertheless.
Weeting Heath
We stopped at Weeting Heath NNR on the way up and the way back to watch the Stone Curlews (a first for us). We had good views on both visits, spotting 5 birds on the way and 6 on the way back. They had a well sighted webcam on one nest and the birds swapped incubation duties regularly.
The Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), also known as the Eurasian Thick-knee, is a distinctive, nocturnal wader found in the UK, particularly on dry, open grasslands and heathlands. With its large, yellow eyes, upright stance, and cryptic plumage, it blends well into its arid habitat, feeding primarily on insects and small invertebrates. In the UK, its breeding range is mainly confined to the southern and eastern regions of England, with conservation efforts helping to stabilize its population. Currently, there are estimated to be about 360 breeding pairs in the UK.
West Runton
Birdguides pointed us at a Ring Ouzel (another first) in a paddock at West Runton, very near to our hotel. The bird was exactly where it was indicated although quite distant, at the far end of the paddock.
The Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), also known as the mountain blackbird, is a striking thrush found in the upland areas of the UK during the breeding season. Distinguished by its black plumage and distinctive white crescent on its chest, it inhabits remote, rocky hillsides, moorlands, and crags. It closely resembles the common blackbird but has more prominent wing markings and a different song. In the UK, it primarily breeds in Scotland, northern England, and Wales before migrating to southern Europe and North Africa for the winter. The population has declined in recent years, with estimates of around 5,000 to 7,000 breeding pairs remaining in the UK.
Cley Marshes
Dull and rainy weather. The Long billed Dowitcher was still present although mobile and I even managed to view a Wryneck through a birders scope.
The Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) is a medium-sized wading bird that occasionally visits the UK, typically as a rare migrant. Native to North America and eastern Siberia, where it breeds in tundra wetlands, it winters further south in North America, Central America, and Asia. Characterized by its long bill, which is used to probe mudflats and shallow waters for invertebrates, it closely resembles the Short-billed Dowitcher but has a longer bill and different vocalizations. In the UK, it's a scarce visitor primarily sighted during the migration seasons on estuaries and freshwater wetlands. Their numbers vary yearly, but only a handful of individuals are typically reported each year
Enjoyed our visit as usual to Sculthrope Moor reserve. Close up views of Muntjac deer and distant views of Roe deer.
Comments
Post a Comment