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. The Spring & Autumn are excellent for birding in Norfolk with our daily total reaching 70 - 90 birds and sometimes over 100. Occasionally we visit nearby sites if a good bird has been found and we also may make a short detour to look for local birds of interest.
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 four sites regularly throughout the year, this helps him determine where birds are likely to be and what species might be expected in certain weather conditions and in different seasons.
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 diversity of habitats enables a wide range of species to be seen especially in migration times. 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. Last year 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 40 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.
Other sites regularly visited include Cley and Titchwell both in Norfolk and Minsmere in Suffolk. Cley is a Norfolk Wildlife trust reserve steeped in history. The other two are probably the most famous RSPB reserves in the country.
