North Norfolk Trip: 3rd September 2026

With the school holidays at an end and the weather cooler,  it's time for a trip to the coast. For the last few days reports of Pied Flycatcher, Wryneck and Little Stint amongst others have been popping up along the coast so there were high hopes for something interesting. So it was up by 5 am and off by 5.20 to be at Kelling just after sunrise.

And as always the wind directions shifted over night and on arrive it was apparent that there was little going on! Walking down to the Meadows produced a single ChiffChaff and a very noisy Buzzard. 

Buzzard (Digiscoped)

The pool held Teal and Mallard. Three Mute Swan were also present but little else. A search for Whinchat was unsuccessful but did produce three Stonechat.

Welcoming sign!

Walking back I spotted five Cattle Egret had dropped in along the edge of the pool. Talking to local birders they were excited by the numbers but having had 101 at Welney two days before   it didn't seem too exciting.

Cattle Egret (Digiscoped)

Cattle Egret and Mallard (Digiscoped)

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S389435605

I moved on to Cley arriving before the centre opened so parked up and headed out to Bishop's Hide. I was surprised to find that I had the place to myself and only four people came in during the time I was there.

The pool in front of the hide was busy with the usual wildfowl and there was a group of at least eighteen Spoonbill on the far side. Some of the young were still busy asking for food.

Spoonbill (Digiscoped)

Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit were present in good number with one Godwit ringed but only able to get the left leg (L:R^G). There was also six Little Stint mixed in with Dunlin and Ruff.

Full sightings list:https://ebird.org/checklist/S389435340

By ten o'clock my stomach told me it was time for breakfast so I adjourned to the Centre for a sausage and breakfast roll and a latte. A visit to Cley Spy resulted in the purchase of a new
travel scope (Hawke) which I gave a good testing over the next few hours!

After breakfast I wandered over to the other hides but there was little to add.

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S389416674

I moved down to the beach, which was pretty quiet not only of people but birds but did find a Razerbill in post breeding plumage.

Lunch was taken at Stiffkey, sitting in the hut looking out over the marshes and then walked down to the whirligig. This area has the reputation for being good for migrants but was very quiet but did have one moment of excitement when I got the briefest glimpse of a harrier that looked like a Monty or Pallid. Sadly too short a look to decide!

Curlew: Stiffkey Marshes

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S389364338

Final stop was Titchwell RSPB. My recent visit have not been great with large crowds everywhere and over zealous volunteers. So I was a bit tentative about this visit. However the place was so quiet it was unbelievable! Empty hides, no queues and the beach deserted! 

I had the highest number of Avocet I've every counted with at least 349 birds present. There was also good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Greylag and Black-headed Gull, and a single Spoonbill.

Black-tailed Godwit

There was a nice little collection of Dunlin but no sight of the Curlew Sandpiper reported. On the beach were eleven Ringed Plover as well Oystercatcher  and Curlew.

Ruff

Dunlin

Amongst the Greylags was a single Barnacle Goose.

Barnacle Goose

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S389435097

Week commencing 16th August 2026

 Tuesday 18th

Day spent at Welney doing the nest box checks and other duties. Plenty of Ruff and Snipe on the main lagoon. At the back were three Green Sandpiper  and later in the day a single Glossy Ibis and a couple of Little Egret. 

The Swallows and House Martins are beginning to collect in large numbers and there were a few Sand Martins mixed in.

A single Golden Plover was at Lyle and a Hobby was resting on one of the gates and a Water Rail was showing at Friend's.

There was an impressive number of Yellow Wagtails gathered in front of the Main Hide feeding.

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384667479

Wednesday 19th

Rain over night only the second rain we have had for a while. The weather is now much cooler and more pleasant but we need a lot more rain.

Went out to the new pools at Burwell Fen. I was surprised to see how low they have got in the last few weeks but where the water was it was up to the bellies of the Highland Cattle who seemed to enjoy standing in the pools that remained. While the water levels were low at least the mud areas look very inviting for migrant waders fingers crossed.

Walking slowly along the centre path I was able to get a good luck at the various parts of the pool. Three Green Sandpiper were feeding on the far side and there was a good number of Lapwing in the area. A couple of Black-headed Gull were also present but no wildfowl seen at all. A group of eight Swift were feeding over the water

On reaching the cattle pen areas a scan produced a single Yellow Wagtail and a number of Whitethroat.

Whitethroat (Digiscoped)

On the way back I was able to locate two Ringed Plover, one of which was a juvenile on the pool and five Ruff flew over, circled a couple of times then moved on! 

Full sightings list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S384911416