Norfolk Bird Watching Main Tour Sites
All the nature reserves that form our guided tours have an excellent reputation for bird watching
throughout the year. During the winter months we generally record between 60 - 75 species each day
this rises to 70 - 90 birds in the spring and sometimes over 100.
The following notes are a brief insight into the nature reserves we visit and the birds we see, this
should help you decide which tour to join. The tour leader visits each of the main sites regularly
throughout the year, thus helping determine where birds are likely to be in different seasons and weather
conditions.
Holkham Pines
Holkham pines and marshes has an unrivalled variety of habitats in Norfolk that are able to offer an
impressive list of species. Thousands of Pink-footed Geese winter here along with numerous other wildfowl,
attracting Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard. The woods are renown for attracting scarce
migrants in autumn such as Yellow-browed and Pallas’s Warblers. The variety of habitat ensures a long list
of birds in the spring including most of our breeding warblers.
Holme Dunes
Holme Dunes is a Norfolk Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve and is a well known migration hot spot with a
fantastic list of scarce and rare birds. The reserve can boast such star birds as Ruppell’s Warbler, Yellow
Breasted Bunting and breeding Black Winged Stilts all of which I was lucky enough to see. In 2008 alone
we saw 2 Pallas’s Warblers there in one day.
Hickling
Hickling Broad Nature Reserve is probably the best site in the Norfolk Broads providing great views of
species such as Common Crane, Bittern, Bearded tit, Marsh Harrier and Cetti’s & Grasshopper Warblers. The
raptor roost during the winter is one of Norfolk’s many spectacular sights with up to 80 Marsh Harriers
often recorded along with a few Hen Harriers, Merlin and the Cranes.
Lynford Arboretum & Thetford Forest
Arguably the best woodland site in Norfolk and is most famous for it’s resident population of the elusive
Hawfinch (see right). Our tours rarely fail to spot this exquisite bird
during the winter and early spring seasons. Other birds seen in the forest regularly include Goshawk,
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Firecrest. The forest also has areas of breckland, which are home to the
Stone Curlew and Woodlark.
Cley
One of the most famous nature reserves in the country, steeped in history. With resident and breeding
birds including Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Cetti’s Warbler, Avocet and Bearded Tit. The place is a wildfowl and
wading bird magnet.
Titchwell
A very popular reserve, its soon obvious to see why, on any day of the year there is always something to see.
The scrapes attract large numbers of waders and wildfowl, the sea in winter is excellent for ducks, grebes
and divers and the reedbeds hold Bitterns, Marsh Harriers and Bearded Tits.
Minsmere
The premier reserve in Suffolk, Minsmere has it all, open Sea, Beach, dunes, wader scrapes, reedbeds,
mature Oak woodland and grassland. In spring its not hard to see 100 species in a whole day here.