SOUTH NORFOLK: Little Ouse bioblitz

26th June 2016

I had originally intended to go to Catfield Hall Fen with the NNNS on Sunday, but was asked if I could help at a Little Ouse Headwaters Project bioblitz at Blo Norton, so I went there instead. Blo Norton is right on the border between Norfolk and Suffolk, indeed the Little Ouse river forms the county boundary to the south west (the river Waveney has a source close by and forms the border for much of the eastern part). On the way down there was torrential rain, and the day continued to be interrupted by showers, hindering our recording effort.

On the outskirts of Blo Norton I noticed a Turtle Dove, and pulled over to have a better look. Whilst watching the dove a Barn Owl flew past, so a positive start at least. Having signed in at the village hall, which was being used as a base for the day, I headed off with a couple of other naturalists to Betty's Fen, the closest LOHP site. We spent some time in an area of wet woodland before the site opened up into a reedy area. Unfortunately the riverside path was completely flooded, so we had to retrace our steps. A brief spell of sunshine brought out a few insects, but no butterflies.

We decided to continue along Fen Road and try the next path, which runs between Betty's Fen and Blo Norton Fen. This path was boardwalked, so we got along it OK, but at the end it joined the same flooded path, so in the end we turned round to go back. Heavy rain forced us to shelter, and as it continued we had to just accept getting wet. We did record a few insects during the dry spells, and interestingly but sadly saw the fruiting bodies of Ash Dieback. Back at the village hall we had a welcome cup of tea and had a look at some of the moths caught overnight, including my first Sharp-angled Carpet.

With about 45 minutes left before I had to head back to Norwich one of the other naturalists suggested visiting Broomscot Common, which should be drier. This common has a large heathy area, although as luck would have it the path to it was waterlogged. Nevertheless it was a productive stop, seeing Wild Clary, Gorse Shieldbug, Yellow Brain fungus and a range of other species not seen near Blo Norton. In total I recorded around 100 species, including quite a few plants, and visited some new sites, so a productive day.

NORTH NORFOLK: Burnham Citril Finch

10th May 2015

On the way back from Ashwellthorpe I got a phone call from Ricky, asking if I wanted to go and see the Citril Finch at Burnham Overy. I had been aware of it in the morning, but because I'd been out I hadn't realised that it had settled down and shown well during the afternoon. Cathy kindly gave her assent, so after a quick bite to eat Ricky picked me and Andrew up and we set off for Holkham.

Parking up at Lady Anne's Drive we noted a couple of Brent Geese flying past, along with some noisy Oystercatchers and lots of Woodpigeons. We took a brisk walk along the pines until we emerged at a dell at the edge of the dunes. A small crowd (given the rarity f the bird) of around 30-40 people were watching the Citril Finch as it fed and hopped around part way up a dune. At times it showed well on the bare sand, although it also spent quite a bit of time obscurred behind a bramble.

After watching the Citril Finch for a while we set off back to the car, stopping every so often to scan the freshmarsh in the evening sunshine. On our way back we saw three Barn Owls. The first was flying over the marshes, but the second two were both perched up in trees near the road. The first was a typically pale individual (see photo) but the second bird, which unfortunately flew off as we neared it was buffer on the underparts. Many thanks to Ricky for the lift.

THORPE MARSH: Barn Owls

7th June 2012

Another successful visit to Thorpe.  On my first lap around the Marsh Harrier that had previously been so elusive flew up off the marsh and effortlessly glided past and off to the railway line, where it proceeded to hunt up and down the line.  Further round I caught a glimpse of one of the pair of Garden Warblers that has taken up residence, and a lone Oystercatcher was on the shingle spit.

Later on I spent some time looking over the marsh, and was rewarded with a hunting Barn Owl near Bungalow Lane.  At one point it disappeared from sight, and I thought I had refound it perched up in a tree, only to discover that this was a second bird!  This second Barn Owl flew over the broad, past the Marsh Harrier (now showing at will!) and completed a circuit of the marsh, ending up near the first.  Watching them hunt over the glowing Yellow Flag Irises was an exceptional birding moment.  A hunting Fox along the back of the scrape added some orange to the yellow.