Birds at Brancaster Staithe and wildlife at Holkham Hall during my last day in north Norfolk - 9th March 2024

I walked along to Brancaster Staithe on my last day in north Norfolk to catch a quick glimpse of the birds there during the early morning low tide before getting the bus to Holkham.

A Black-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage was searching for breakfast in the mud

The Godwit was joined by an Oystercatcher

A Curlew was also searching for breakfast

Brent geese were on the move

 After the quick birding search at Brancaster Staithe, I got the bus to Holkham and walked along Lady Anne's drive to the coast.

View of Holkham Gap from the boardwalk leading down to the beach

I was unlucky this time and didn't see any Snow Buntings in the roped-off area near the beach.  Other people were looking for them too.  Apparently they had moved on to the other side of the Gap.

I then walked up to Holkham Hall and walked round the grounds where I saw a lot of deer

Three Tufted ducks and a leaping Little Grebe were visible on the lake

Two Muntjac deer were wandering along one of the paths

The Coke Monument towered above me

Female deer were gathered together

A stag stared at me

More deer were scattered around the park

I was intrigued to discover that a group of Oystercatchers were visiting the park too

Birds at Cley Marshes nature reserve during the afternoon on 8th March 2024

After a very windy morning walk along the cliff path from Weybourne to Sheringham on the North Norfolk coast, I went by bus to Cley Marshes nature reserve for a few hours in the afternoon.

A pair of Godwits were fighting in front of the Bishop's hide

Some Shovelers and other birds were flying around above the lagoon

A Snipe inadvertently got too close to the bird hide - it quickly scuttled away!

There were lots of Wigeon on one of the lagoons

A couple of Avocet decided to fly away from the small group in the water

Tranquil scene of the stream between reedbeds

I went to Weybourne in the hope of seeing some Snow Buntings. I couldn't find them, but I did find a Snow Bunting in the cafe at Cley!!

 

Snow Bunting-less walk along the cliffs from Weybourne to Sheringham - 8th March 2024

On 8th March I went on the bus to Weybourne and walked along the cliff path to the area where Snow Buntings had recently been seen.  A few other people with scopes were there, but none of us found the elusive little birds!  I eventually gave up looking and decided to walk along the path to Sheringham.

View of the Coastguard cottage on the cliffs at Weybourne

It was very windy - no wonder the Snow Buntings were hiding!

I encountered this steep hill along the edge of the cliff

I then had to climb an even steeper cliff before reaching Sheringham

I managed to see a large fish on the beach!

The usual Turnstones were running around on the promenade - this one posed for me on a wall

Group of Turnstones sheltering from the wind on a large rock

In fact, I really wanted to see the Purple Sandpipers that had been spotted in Sheringham only that morning and which had apparently disappeared between the rocks, but it was so windy along the sea front at Sheringham that I decided to give up altogether.  I ended up spending the afternoon at Cley Marshes nature reserve instead.

Birding walk in RSPB Titchwell Marsh nature reserve on 7th March 2024

 I went for a second visit to Titchwell Marsh in early March while I was staying on the Norfolk coast.

A Dunlin was looking for food in front of the Parinder hide

There was a large group of Golden Plover standing in shallow water during low tide

I came across a male Blackbird in the woodland

A female Chaffinch was perching on a tree branch

A naughty Grey Squirrel was acrobatically feeding on a bird feeder near the visitor centre

A miniature Marsh Frog walked slowly across the path that led down to the beach

Avocet walking across grass near a muddy channel

Goldfinch feeding near the visitor centre

Little Egret in the marshland

Shelduck wondering what I was up to!

Marsh Harrier flying above the reedbed

A pair of Mute Swans enjoying a peaceful setting on the east side of the reserve

Scarlet Elf Cup fungus in the woodland

I was lucky enough to see a male Brambling by the bird hides