Norfolk Custom Tour For Two Day Three Holkham Glandford And Weybourne 27 February 2023

Certainly bird of the day a Long-eared Owl that showed so well - library photo.

The Barn Owls showed off before breakfast again allowing us to enjoy enchanting views of three of these most gorgeous birds. It was lovely to hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming away, Spring is coming despite the cold. Two Spoonbills flying west over the hotel garden where a nice surprise before the thought of a cooked breakfast got the better of us.

After another wonderful breakfast seeing Red Kite, Marsh Harrier and more Barn Owls as we ate, we headed east. A different viewpoint overlooking Holkham Marsh was our first stop. We immediately saw the birds we had hoped would be here – Russian White-fronted Geese at least sixty of them. We had wonderful views of these beautiful winter visitors in the sunshine as they grazed the marsh. Lots more to enjoy here including Egyptian Geese, Great Egrets, Ruff, so many Northern Lapwings, and the now expected Red Kites, Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards.

On to Holkham itself and we parked at Lady Ann’s Drive where huge numbers of Eurasian Wigeon fed close to the track a wonderful sight and sound. Walking out to the beach it was cold with a strong northerly wind and we failed to see the wintering, Shore Larks. We did see plenty of Skylarks along with Rock Pipits and Linnets. We headed back for hot drinks at the car park, very welcome indeed. As we enjoyed our warming drinks we heard some great news, a Long-eared Owl was showing at nearby Glandford. This bird had been seen on and off the last few days, but not yesterday, we had hoped it would reappear. We were greeted very warmly, as always, at Cley Spy Optics in Glandford and within a minute we were watching a beautiful Long-eared Owl. Oh wow! This was not any Long-eared Owl this was a Cley Spy Long-eared Owl, none of your usual twigs, branches and leaves in the way! This owl was showing off in the sunshine and looking amazing what a thrill. Huge thanks to all at Cley Spy Optics for sharing this stunning bird with birders, best views we have ever had of this species. We enjoyed lunch at the deli opposite Cley Spy – great place this!

Some birds can be trickier than others to find - Lapland Bunting being one of those - library photo.

We then headed east in search of another unusual species, Lapland Bunting, at Weybourne to the east. The information we had stated the two birds were in a ploughed field east of the beach car park – sounds straight forward. We parked at the beach and walked east, oh, then we saw the field. The field was huge! Two small birds somewhere in there hmmm needle and haystack came to mind! But, we were there so we walked along the edge of the field and scanned the huge area of recently ploughed soil. Not a bird to be seen at first, then we spotted some Skylarks so moved closer. As we walked the field edge some other birders appeared from the opposite direction. Alan walked over to the other three and one of them, the lady, had spotted a Lapland Bunting! It was very tricky to give directions in such a vast field with no landmarks just earth. Then Ruth spotted one too! Alan hurried back and thankfully was able to get onto the Lapland Bunting too, whew! Now with two scopes focused on the bird we could share it with John and Lynn and keep tabs on the bird as they took it in turns to have a look. The Lapland Bunting was very mobile, like a mouse scurrying about in the furrows, we kept losing it and then finding it. After a little while we realised we were actually watching two Lapland Buntings, one had a mottled black chest the other didn’t! Wonderful, we really didn’t think we had much chance when we saw the size of the field. One of the other birders came over and joined us and we all had great looks at these very scarce birds. A great day.

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