Paul Matson's Birding Blog: Monday 8th May

A very welcome break from work and my first few days off since Christmas, I decided to go to Norfolk, realising that I had not spent any time there in Spring for many years. I left home at 4am, determined to miss any M25 rush hour and duly arrived untroubled at Lakenheath Fen at 6.30am

I hadn't really bargained for the weather, it was very cold with thick black cloud with a strong and strengthening Northerly wind. It was freezing, requiring several layers plus a winter coat and topped off with wooly hat and gloves.

It is a wonderfully developed reserve since I first visited here some 20 years ago when it was mainly a focus for the Golden Orioles which used the Poplar plantations, now the last Golden Orioles were recorded breeding in 2009 but they have successfully managed the water in the fens the birdlife is abundant although still sounds a little incongruous with the F16 US fighter jets from RAF Lakenheath and the trainline which runs parallel to the reserve both creating a slightly industrial background noise.

Despite the inclement weather, as soon as I was out of the car the warblers were in good voice, albeit buried at the bottom of any bush hiding from the elements In the vicinity of the car park, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Garden Warbler backed up by a Cuckoo, gave a cacophony of sound that invited the sun to appear (it didn't !). At the Washland viewpoint a Glossy Ibis stood briefly all alone before heading off and immediately a Black Tern flew up the river then away and a Greenshank called loudly overhead.

Along the riverbank Little Egret and Grey Heron were in the margins and walking on the main embankment footpath the warblers continued their songs Sedge, Reed , Cettis, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat in abundance, but shelter was a bonus at least there was a little relief off the main path toward the Fen viewpoint, although there were not any new species added here.

I continued walking to Mere Hide, set in the reeds, for a bit of shelter a Coot, Reed Bunting and passing Marsh Harriers were added before I continued on towards Joist Fen, the farthest viewpoint. There have been reports of up to 50 Hobbies hawking over the reeedbeds late afternoon but the only falcon I saw was a Peregrine. I heard a Bittern booming on the walk not far from the path, hidden in the reeds then I spent 45 minutes at Joist Fen viewpoint, lots of Marsh Harriers, Swifts, Swallows, Sand and House Martins. Then finally 2 Bitterns took flight and headed towards the railway track.

Back at the car by 9.30am I then drove to Welney WWT, which is not far. There had been no reports for a couple of days of the Black-winged Stilts that had been reported before the weekend so I was surprised to find 2 Black Winged Stilts fairly distant on the small pool at the back of the field known as Lady Fen, a few hundred yards of the reserve entrance. When I mentioned this on arrival the reserve staff seemed indifferent as if they didn’t want guests to know, my guess is they have seen some potential breeding activity and want these birds protected. Elsewhere, more Sedge Warblers were vocal and it was nice to see plenty of Tree Sparrows, 3 smart Ruff were in the lagoon from the centre and from the main hide 8 Ringed Plover 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper and as many as 10 Whooper Swans who have obviously decided not to migrate back to colder climes- today I can understand this.

I then drove up to the Norfolk coast first heading to to Choseley on news that Dotterel had been seen in the morning. Exact directions were a bit odd, which obviously confused other birders, but there was only one obvious (very large) Pea field which initially held no birds. Then 4 Dotterel flew in & landed fairly distantly but enabled good scope views, after spending a good while with the Dotterel until they had enough wandering around and settled down amongst the peas I went to Titchwell. It was still freezing as I walked out along the main footpath the wind seemed to have strengthened, the water levels on the freshmarsh appeared high for waders, holding only 3 Ruff and 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper with the breeding Avocets which were everywhere, but the higher water in the marsh was obviously good protection or the breeding Black-headed Gulls and a few Mediterranean Gulls. The sea was choppy and cold and the distant Common Scoter flock was barely visible. A Hobby flew over on way back to the car.

I drove to Stiffkey late afternoon, where I was staying and it had been a great day with 100 Species recorded..