|
1. Fishing & Bird watching - Moonriver holiday cottage, Martham, R. Thurne, Norfolk Broads
2. Guide to fishing and angling in East Anglia
2.1 Fishing Season - National flowing water
2.2 Float fishing
3. Night fishing
4. Summer piking on the Norfolk Broads - My Way
5. Martham Broad, Norfolk Broads
6. Day ticket fisheries - Norfolk - contact details
7. Birdwatching Tours in Norfolk - www.birdtour.co.uk
1. Fishing from Moonriver holiday cottage, Martham, R. Thurne
The following freshwater fish can be caught from the garden of the Moonriver holiday cottage - Bream, Roach, Rudd, Pike, Perch, Ruff, Eels, Tench and the very occasional Trout. Pike of 42 & 36 lbs have been caught locally. The best fish from the garden have been, Bream 9+lbs, Pike 26+ lbs, Roach 2.3 lbs, Perch 1.5 lbs, etc. This year fishermen have caught 70 lbs bags of Bream every evening from our garden.
Peace and quiet - no road noise what so ever!
Some of the best fishing is during "slack water", during the hour that the river stops moving when the High or Low tide is at its peak. This is the very best time to fish, particularly if slack water is during the evening, because your ground bait will stay in the same area as your hook bait. This is a great time to fish for any type of fish including Pike, Bream, Perch, Roach and Rudd. The sea / salt water does not reach our section of the River Thurne as we are at its head water, but the river rises / falls up to 18" as you will see on the river bank piles. The Broads Authority Fishing Advisor has informed me that the salt water surges do not reach our area because of the river constriction caused by the small Potter Heigham bridge one mile down stream stops the surges at that point.
The closest fishing tackle shop is `Lathams` of Potter Heigham, this can definitely be classified as a `Fishing Tackle Paradise` as it stocks everything from fresh and frozen baits to rods, reels and accessories - the prices are very good.
Great baits are lob worm, canned sweet corn and bread flake, please do not keep you baits inside our holiday home, there is a bait fridge in the tackle store in the garden.
Kendal Dyke, White Lees, Martham Floating Bridge Pool, Martham Broad, Hickling Broad, Horsey Broad and other excellent fishing marks are within a few minutes of the Moonriver holiday home, all of which regularly feature in the angling press.
2.1 FISHING SEASON - National - flowing water
Coarse Fishing
16 June to 14 March inclusive on all flowing waters / rivers.
This is the National fishing season restriction on all flowing rivers, however you can fish all year round on still waters / lakes, subject to owners rules.
Trout Fishing
1 April - 29 October
2.2 FLOAT FISHING
A simple but very effective method of fishing from our holiday cottage on the R Thurne, Norfolk Broads.
Lift method
It is well worth while to perfect the �lift method� as this can be very accurate and achieve large bags of tench and bream.
Trotting
The flowing water of the River Thurne and other rivers in the Norfolk Broads system will help you catch rudd, roach and chub.
Float choice essentials
Waggler - make sure that it is straight, anything bent, or that will bend with use is not good.
Alloy stem stick - a must for trotting as it helps stability.
Paint / varnish - Too much of either might make for a great display in the fishing tackle shop but will reduce its performance.
Colour - very important but remember that bright colours will not contrast well on certain water reflection. Think about different varieties of sunshine reflection and water colour and what colours will stand out.
Body thickness - when using a large bait you will need a larger float body. But when using a light bait you will want a thin tipped float.
Adaptor - Well worth buying and using. It make changing floats so much quicker, creates less frustration and less damage during the day to your fishing line.
Silicone sleeve - they are cheap, don�t damage the fishing line and make fishing float change easy and accurate.
Wind conditions - use a full bodied Waggler rather than a thin tipped one when it gets windy.
Luminous / chemical tip - great for night fishing.
Size does matter - when its windy use a long one as this will help to ensure that you can sink the fishing line.
Common sense - its not rocket science but you need to look at your tackle box before you go fishing, then consider the likely conditions and write a list of what you want. Don�t buy floats that look great in a fishing tackle display case, we all have those in our tackle boxes and they don`t catch fish!
STILL WATER FLOAT
Best bait - Casters, sweet corn, maggots
You might think that our self catering holiday cottage on the River Thurne at Martham, one mile upstream from Potter Heigham would never have still water fishing conditions. Well we do twice a day for approximately an hour each time.
During "slack water" at high and low tide we enjoy not only still water fishing conditions but also some of the best fishing of the day! If you can only fish for one hour during the day fish during slack water at night. Our holiday cottage is on the headwaters of the River Thurne and therefore does not get effected by salt water coming up river, but the movement of the tide does effect it and depending on rainfall the river can change from a steady flow to still water for an hour.
When fishing for rudd and roach you can use a fine tipped antenna float. Its body form will let you use shot to lower the tip in the water to just the smallest dot which will then have the great benefit of detecting the smallest bite known to man. When setting up your fishing rig you must plumb the bottom. This will let you ensure that you present the bait just on the bottom after the rig and shot have settled in the still water. Be ready to adjust the float depth because in certain conditions the rudd and bream will take the bait on the drop rather than when it gets to the bottom.
As with all fishing you must remain flexible because the rudd and roach may change their feeding depth at any time. So when the fishing bites get slower think about what the fish might be doing and change you depth. It costs just a small amount of effort to make these changes but it will be well worth while.
Don`t disturb the rudd and roach shoal, always cast beyond where you think they are and sink the line with your rod tip. When using a new line drip some washing up soap on the drum of line as this will also help remove the chemicals that have been used when making the line. Floating line will be moved by wind, wavelets, floating debris, etc this will cause phantom bites and move your bait away from the shoal.
LEDGERING FLOAT
Best bait - lob worm, casters, sweet corn, maggots, trout pellet paste
The bream and tench on the river Thurne outside our self catering holiday accommodation usually feed on the bottom. So you want to be sure that your bait is kept on the bottom as the river flow will otherwise bring it off the bottom as it streams past.
Fishing weight choice essentials
Weight / size - depending on the water flow speed you will need to have a variety of bombs in your fishing tackle box.
Locking shot - to be avoided as they pinch the fishing line and create a weakness, this is what causes the majority of line breakages and lost fish!
Drennan ring - the recommended method to attach weight.
TROTTING FLOAT
Best baits - maggots, castors, sweet corn, bread
Our self catering holiday cottage on the banks of the river Thurne is a great location for trotting as the water flow speed is just right except during slack water.
Alloy stem stick - a must for trotting as it helps stability. The super buoyant float is being dragged along by the water flow of the River Thurne with the shot and hook bait behind it, however when you create some drag on the fishing line the set up will change. This will result in the reverse taking place, ie the hook bait will be moving downstream first with the alloy stem stick behind it. The hook bait will therefore present in a far better way as it will wiggle in the current. Another benefit of this method is that you will make a more effective strike.
Due to the nature of the river Thurne, its bottom, depth, water flow speed and width this is a very effective method.
Place your shot at even intervals between the alloy steam stick and the hook presenting your bait.
RIVER WAGGLER FLOAT
Best bait - sweet corn, casters, maggots, stewed hemp/wheat
The Roach and Rudd found in the River Thurne, Norfolk Broads outside our self catering holiday accommodation can be caught using this method.
The straight large bodied waggler float can be set up with the line floating on the surface when there is little or no wind and the rig below the float being over depth.
LIFT METHOD FLOAT
Best bait - sweet corn, bread, paste, casters, maggots
As I said earlier the Bream and Tench on the River Thurne and the Norfolk Broads can be caught using the "lift method" during the slack water period which creates still water conditions for an hour twice a day outside our self catering holiday home.
Set your fishing rig up applying all of your weight near the fishing hook and use a small peacock Waggler float. What you must imagine when fishing is how the fish feeds in the conditions that are occurring at the time. When a fish feeds on the bottom it will be feeding nose down unless it is a barbell or similar fish which has it mouth opening parallel to the bottom. So when a Bream or Tench are bottom fishing its nose and mouth will be pointed downwards. Then when it takes the bait the fishing weights that are all near the hook will be lifted upwards and the float will also lift as it is not being held down by any weight. It is essential that you strike immediately when using this method.
As we all know Bream and Tench do not read fishing manuals so the float can react in other ways as well.
3. NIGHT FISHING
Best baits - lob worm, maggots, trout pellet paste
We recommend night fishing on the river Thurne and the Norfolk Broads, particularly during slack water as was mentioned earlier.
We have installed an external power point outside our holiday cottage on the River Thurne on the Norfolk Broads, however please remember that water and electricity make for dangerous situations and we don�t want anyone electrocuted!
Luminous / chemical tip fishing float - great for night fishing, a must have in your tackle box, ensure that you set your fishing float so that all of the tip can be seen or your eyes will become very tired and you will miss bites.
If you use lob worms at night you will catch eels! So ensure that your fishing rig incorporates a swivel buckle as that will stop your fishing line being twisted and make it easier for you to take one rig off quickly and replace it with another.
4. Summer piking on the Norfolk Broads
My Way - Peter Waller (C) http://web.archive.org/web/20060903032715/http://www.predator-fishing.co.uk/
2006 All rights reserved, no reproduction without prior permission
Let me put my pedigree on the line; I`ve been at it a long time! Seriously, lure fishing has been my passion since the mid 1950`s. In that time I have fine-tuned a successful technique for the Broads, where I live. Success is something that I keep reasonably quiet about. Not because I don`t catch but to do otherwise invites an influx of fish killing part-timers. Not only that, fishing solo, in a small boat, as I do means the required photograph is just not possible. I am not going to tow a pike to the bank, sacked until I can go through the routine of the regulation photo-call. I would rather hand and unhook the pike in the water. So, if you need photographic proof of my ability then sorry, can�t help! All I can say is, read on and judge for yourself. In the meantime, sat on my Black Shakespeare Tackle Box, here is Summer Piking, my Way!
Summer piking is simple. The pike hang round the margins. Watch for the signs, a heron standing in the margin is the number one giveaway. Where he is where the pike are. Mother ducks take their young into the margins to feed. They might feed for half an hour or more, without alarm. But suddenly all hell lets loose as the ducks flee as a pike goes on the feed. Almost all my summer caught twenties have been located because of ducks taking fright. My theory being that it is only bigger pike that eat ducks. Take a note of where other anglers are catching bream. Bream have fixed patrol routes. If these go near that heron you know you will be onto a bigger fish. Cormorants are another giveaway, they feed on what pike feed on, simple. Watch, as the tide drops. There is a magic moment when the receding tide triggers a pike into moving. The reeds part as they leave their lair. Magic, it`s time to catch! A roach, skimming across the surface, like a stone thrown by a kid who is playing "ducks & drakes", determined to escape the hunting pike; an eel twinning itself around a reed stem, lifting itself clear of the water, signs to be savoured. Another, literally stirring giveaway, is rowing along a shallow margin, watching for tail swirls in the mud. Without warning, all around you, sometimes more than can be counted, swirls of mud. And who says pike don`t form shoals!
Some things are better left in to soak, but, during the summer, not a dead bait! I say that with great sincerity as, during that time of the year, pike are inclined to gorge dead bait. Not so with a lure, lip or scissor hooking being more usual. That aside, in my book, summer lure fishing is, without question, a most enjoyable means by which pike can be caught. Successful too. How many soakers of mackerel section can claim to have caught forty and fifty pike in a day? I know that the "pike fishing guide", Charlie Bettell has, as has yours truly.
So, having found your fish, how to catch them. After owning scores of rods and reels I feel that I now have the ultimate outfit for the Broads. Brundall Angling market the Retrieve Technique range of rods. Their number five model, rigged for a multiplier, is a gem. A steely action for setting the hook, a lively tip to flick out even a small bait, backbone for handling bigger lures, the ability to cope with a small perch or the biggest pike around, as I say, a gem. Linked to a Shimano Curado and the combination is complete. I am blessed with living besides the Broads. I am able to fish thirty or forty hours per week during the summer. This is terribly demanding on tackle. The only line that I have found to survive this kind of hammering is Fireline. The surface quickly fluffs up but the strength remains. Some lines, such as those with an outer case and an inner core, can be dangerous for pike. If the "outer" becomes nicked on an obstruction, their integrity is destroyed, their strength suddenly reduced to practically nil.
So what goes on the end? Apart from a good trace, and the Fox ones take some beating, I would suggest being totally unfashionable and clip on a biggish spoon. Above the trace, about eighteen inches from the lure, pop a Roberts tackle lift. It`s a simple device that sea fishermen use to lift their tackle clear of obstructions on retrieve. It planes to the surface, lifting quite heavy tackle. It`s a handy tip for dead-baiters fishing over obstructions. Linked to a big spoon it produces an incredibly versatile and effective lure. Rip it across the surface, let it sink back and drawer it back to the top. Sink and draw style, sub surface, dropped to the bottom and jerked back to life. It catches and goes on catching. The summer fishing grounds of the Broads seldom exceed one meter in depth. This one technique allows you to explore every inch of that water with great success. Cast hard against the reeds, drop into every nook and cranny, expect, and get, adrenaline rushing takes. It`s not for the dickhead or weak hearted. Sound tackle and sound technique is the order of the day. Unfortunately it can be too easy and those who are likely to cause a fish to die can and do catch fish. It`s a time when pike should be released quickly, unhooked whilst in the water, spared the obligatory photo-shoot. Hot days and hard fights are not good news for pike that are kept out of the water one second longer than necessary. Gassing up does not happen to pike quickly returned to their environment.
Okay, so you believe in plugs. Give them a try but, in my experience, a well fished spoon, about four or five inches long, will out-fish any plug on summertime Broadland pike. Its exciting fishing when a pike, even a twenty pounder, hits the spoon with such force that the fish totally clears the surface, then lands with a forceful thrash of its tail, splashing the angler and surging off on a thirty yard dash for freedom. That`s summer fishing, when pike are real scrappers, unlike the winter fish that is tame in comparison.
There is just one other thing. To fish the Broads with consistent success means using a rowing boat. A rowing boat rowed quietly! Not some big, brash, outboard powered fish frightener. If you follow my fish finding advice, approach the fish holding areas with stealth and finesse, then success is likely to be yours!
Take care, tight lines and may your fish be long ones.
(C)http://web.archive.org/web/20060903032715/http://www.predator-fishing.co.uk/ 2006 All rights reserved, no reproduction without prior permission
5. Martham Broad, Norfolk Broads
http://www.norfolkanglers.com
Martham Broad is less than a mile from Moonriver self catering holiday cottage.
The Upper Thurne Broads within northern Broadland have long been recognised as an internationally important area for ducks and geese. Large flocks spend the winter on the open water of Hickling Broad, Horsey Mere and Martham Broads where they feed and roost. At times the Upper Thurne Broads can support up to ten thousand waterfowl.
Martham Broads have long been recognised for their particular levels of purity in a rather hostile saline rich environment have been protected from access to maintain this. They have also been the hub of more recent pike angling interest due to two record pike (captors: Fickling and Amies) having been captured from the river approaching these two Broads.
Angling and boat access has been limited for many years and will remain subject to these restrictions for the foreseeable future.
If you want a pike fishing experience of a life time then take the effort to apply for a permit, details below.
Angling access is available on the North Broad only by permit from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust warden. Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Bewick House, 22 Thorp Road, Norwich, NR1 1RY.
Telephone 01603 625540
Fax 01603 598300
Email admin@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
Or if you want another great location then access this link -
http://hooklinks.co.uk/thurnefisheries/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/2006-horseypermitapplication.pdf
The image here provides an insight into the character of two Broads at Martham and the coloured areas indicate the wildfowl refuges that have been set up for this coming winter period.The South Broad being inaccessible at all times!
Recommended Voluntary Code of Conduct
1: Avoid refuge areas if at all possible.
2: Do not use petrol outboards within the Hickling Broad reserve areas. If available,use electric outboards or oars to move swims within these areas.
2: Approach and navigate sanctuary areas with caution, stay close to the reed beds and try to avoid disturbing flocks of water birds.
3: Go quietly, be seen but not heard.
Please observe the Code of Conduct whenever possible and help both wildlife and angling on the Thurne System in the future!
6. Day ticket fisheries - Norfolk - contact details
Aldeby Hall Farm Pits (Beccles, Norfolk) 01502 677648
Barford Fisheries (Barford, Norfolk) 01603 759624
Bartles Lodge (Elsing, Norfolk) 01362 637177
Barton Broad (Horning, Norfolk) 01692 630740
Bawburgh Lakes (Norwich, Norfolk) 01603 630187 or 01263 732752
Beeston Lake (Neatishead, Norfolk) 01692 630688
Billingford Pit (Billingford, Norfolk) 01362 694428
Blickling Lake (Aylsham, Norfolk) 01263 734181
Booton Clay Pit (Booton, Norfolk) Mr Brownsell 01603 871415
Brickling (Aylsham, Norfolk) 01263 731994
Bridge Inn Fishery (Lenwade, Norfolk) 01603 872248
Bridge Lake (Lenwade, Norfolk) 01603 426834
Broome Pits (Broome, Norfolk) 01986 895188
Buckenham Pits (Ickburgh, Norfolk) 01842 878400
Bure Valley Lakes (Itteringham, Norfolk) 01263 587666
Cantley Sugar Factory (Cantley, Norfolk) 01493 700351
Catch 22 Lakes (Lyng Eastough, Norfolk) 01603 872948
Chapel Road Lake (Roughton, Norfolk) 01263 761369
Chiswick Pit (Stow, Norfolk) 01366 383194
Cobbleacres Park Lakes (Hevingham, Norfolk) 01603 754305
Colton Lakes (Norwich, Norfolk) 01603 432327
Cranworth Carp Lake (Cranworth, Norfolk) 01362 820 702
Cross Drove Fishery (Thetford, Norfolk) 01842 828102
Decoy Farm (Ormesby St Michael, Norfolk) 01493 731294
Diss Mere (Diss, Norfolk) 01379 640430
Dunham Carp and Tench Lakes (Necton, Norfolk) 01760 725286
Felbrigg Hall Lake (Cromer, Norfolk) 01692 403162
Felgrigg Lake (Holt, Norfolk) 01263 712366
Felmingham Mill Lakes (Aylsham, Norfolk) 01263 735106
Felthorpe Lake (Norwich, Norfolk) 01603 754408
Foster`s End Pit (Blackborough End, Kings Lynn, Norfolk) 01553 671545
Fosters End Pits (East Winch, Norfolk) 01366 387114
Fritton Lake (Great Yarmouth, Norfolk) 01493 488288
Gimmingham Lakes (Cromer, Norfolk) 01263 720432
Great Ouse Cut-Off Channel (Hilgay Bridge, Norfolk) 01553 671545
Gunthorpe Hall Lake (Melton Constable, Norfolk) 01263 861373
Gunton Park Lake (Aylsham, Norfolk) 01263 768284
Haddiscoe Pit (Haddiscoe, Norfolk) 01502 716716
Hall Farm (Burgh Castle, Norfolk) 01493 781986
Hall Farm Lakes (Yarmouth, Norfolk) 01493 781986
Havingerland Lake (North Walsham, Aylesham, Norfolk) 01603 871302
Heacham Park (Heacham, Norfolk) 0778 8937338
Hevingham Lakes (Hevingham, Norfolk) 01603 754368
Hickling Broad (Hickling, Norfolk) 01733 565159
Highfields Fishery (Thorpe Abbots, Norfolk) 01379 640430
Hilgay Fisheries (Hilgay, Norfolk) 01366 385661
Hinderclay Fisheries (Long Green, Norfolk) 01379 890110
Holkham Lake (Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk) 01328 710227
Horsey Mere (Horsey, Norfolk) 01692 598314
Lakeside Caravan Park (Denver, Norfolk) 01366 383291 or 01366 387074
Lakeside Fisheries (East Bilney, Norfolk) 01362 861015
Letheringsett Fishery (Holt, Norfolk) 01263 588323
Little Dunham Carp Lakes (Swaffham, Norfolk) 01760 725286
Lyng Pit (Lyng, Norfolk)
Martham Pits (Martham, Norfolk) �5Tickets from Heads grocers at top of Cess Road, Martham
Middle Level Drain, Crooked Chimney to Mortons Bridge (Outwell, Norfolk) 01553 671545
Mill Farm Lakes (Great Ellingham, Norfolk) 01953 452769
Nar Valley Fisheries (Pentney, Norfolk) 01553 841690
Narborough Trout & Course Lakes (Narborough, Norfolk) 01760 338005
Norfolk Broads (Filby, Norfolk) 01692 536471
Ormesby Rollesby (Ormesby, Norfolk) 01493 731441
Pisces Fishery (Welney, Norfolk) 01354 610257
Pocohontas Lake (Heacham, Norfolk) 07788 937338
Ponthouse Lake (Heacham, Norfolk) 07788 937 338
Railway Lake (North Elmham, Norfolk) 01328 862543
Rectory Farm Fishery (Hingham, Norfolk) 01953 850308
Reepham Fisheries (Reepham, Norfolk) 01603 870829
Relief Channel (Stowbridge, Norfolk) 01553 671545
River Ant (Sutton, Norfolk) 01692 536471
River Bure (Coltishall, Norfolk) 01692 536471 or 01603 782453
River Bure (Wroxham, Norfolk) 01603 614114
River Thurne (Martham, Norfolk) 01692 598314 or 01692 670080 or 01493 740565
River Wensum (Elmham Mill, Norfolk) 01362 668107
River Wensum (Lyng, Norfolk) 01603 630187
River Wensum (Norwich, Norfolk) 01603 426834
River Wensum (Swanton Morley, Norfolk) 01692 536471
River Wissey (Hilgay, Norfolk) 01553 671545
River Yare (Beauchamp Arms, Norfolk) 01603 483923 or 07979 001351
River Yare (Brundall, Norfolk) 01603 715289
River Yare (Trowse, Norfolk) 01692 536471
River Yare (Wroxham, Norfolk) 01603 426834
Rockland Broad (Rockland St Mary, Norfolk) 01508 825655
Salthouse Broad (Salthouse, Norfolk) 01603 401062
Scottow Pond (Scottow, Norfolk) 0169 269 671
Scoulton Mere (Scoulton, Norfolk) 01953 851739
Shallow Brook Lake (New Costessey, Norfolk) 01603 747667
Shallowbrook Lakes (Norwich, Norfolk) 01603 747667
Shropham Pits (Shropham, Norfolk) 01603 405341
Snetterton Pits (Snetterton, Norfolk) 01842 764312
Sovereign Lakes (Narborough, Norfolk) 01760 227288
Sparham Pools (Lyng, Norfolk) 01603 870253
Stonegate Lake (Swaffham, Norfolk) 01760 44323
Swangey Lakes (Attleborough, Norfolk) 01953 452907
Taswood Lakes (Tasburgh, Norfolk) 01508 470919
Tatts Pit (Downham Market, Norfolk) 01366 384338
Taverham Mills (nr Norwich, Norfolk) 01603 861014
Thompson Water (Merton, Norfolk) 01953 883370
Tottenhill Pit (Kings Lynn, Norfolk) 01553 671545
Trinity Broads (Great Yarmouth, Norfolk) 01493 368142
Wades Pit (Wymondham, Norfolk) 01953 605505
Walnut Tree Fisheries (Attleborough, Norfolk) 01953 453662
Waveney Valley Lakes (Wortwell, Norfolk) 01986 788676
Wensum Fisheries (Costessey, Norfolk) 01603 423625
Weybread Fishery (Weybread, Norfolk) 01379 588141
Willowcroft (Pentney, Norfolk) 01760 338293 or 07901923
Wilsmore Water (Hempton, Norfolk) 01328 862543
Wood Lakes (King`s Lynn, Norfolk) 01553 810414
Woodlands (Kings Lynn, Norfolk) 07780 673416
Woodrising Water Meadows (Woodrising, Norfolk) 01362 820702
Worthing Pits (Dereham, Norfolk)
Yew Tree Lakes (Wortwell, Norfolk) 01986 788570 |
9. Bird watching Tours in Norfolk & beyond
The Bird ID company – www.birdtour.co.uk
Tel - 01603 440967
E – stuart@birdtour.co.uk
Phone Stuart and book a tour, you will see birds, etc that you would not otherwise see.
2009
20th Oct 09 - Holkham - A fairly quiet day enjoying the scenery and commoner birds, we still saw 20 Snow Buntings, 500+ Brent Geese, 3 Guillemots, Common Scoter, Greenshank, Marsh Harrier, 2 Treecreepers, 3 Chiffchaffs and 2 Bullfinches. After the tour I headed inland from Brancaster and got good views of the white morph SNOW GOOSE with several thousand Pink Feet.
19th Oct 09 - Sheringham & East Runton - En route to the coast I saw a Barn Owl, vis mig at sheringham included 200+ Chaffinches, 10+ Redpoll, Grey Wagtail and 2000 Pink feet. At east runton we had brief but good views of the PALLAS'S WARBLER which was suprisingly vocal. Also 2 Chiffchaffs, male Bullfinch and 2 Crossbills over calling
18th Oct 09 - Strumpshaw & East Runton - A Redpoll was the only interesting bird seen at the former. Late in the day I dashed up to the coast managing a silouhette view of the pallas's warbler in fading light and a nice Firecrest pished in.
17th Oct 09 - Holkham & Titchwell - An excellent tour with a long list of quality species, Holkham produced cracking close views of a Firecrest, also 20+ Siskin, 5 Crossbills, Chiffchaff and Treecreeper. After lunch we headed to Titchwell where we saw the 1st winter GREY PHALAROPE, Little Stint, Bearded Tits, 18 Snow Buntings, Purple Sandpiper, Shore Lark, Jack Snipe, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Cetti's Wabler. Then the day ended with the amazing sight of some 50,000 Starlings coming into roost & several thousand Pink Footed Geese. Earlier I had seawatched at Sheringham seeing Great Northern Diver, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, 10 Bonxies & 2 Arctic Skuas.
16th Oct 09 - Sheringham & Cley - Before the tour I seawatched at Sheringham seeing, 4 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 30+ Great Skuas, 5 Arctic Skuas, c10 Arctic Terns, 15 Manx Shearwaters, Puffin, Peregrine, 50+ Little Gulls, and lots of Kittiwakes, Auks and Gannets. At Cley we saw 2 Pomarine Skuas, 10+ Great Skuas, Manx Shearwater, Kittiwakes, Gannets, Auks, Peregrine, Ruff, Black Tailed Godwits and 2 Snow Buntings. The very strong winds made anything other than seawatching very difficult.
15th Oct 09 - East Norfolk - The highlights today were the confiding PIED WHEATEAR still present and a Shore Lark, suprisingly hard to catch up with these days. Also 1,000+ Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Black & Bar Tailed Godwits, Avocet, Redwings, Song Thrushes, Stonechat, Willow Warbler and to finish the day 16 Common Cranes feeding in a field and flying giving cracking views.
14th Oct 09 - Holkham - A fairly quiet tour highlighted by awesome views of 2 YELLOW BROWED WARBLERS in wells woods, I pished in one bird and as it came to within 15 feet another one joined it! A magical sight, often these birds are seen briefly but we managed to see all the pluamge details, pink base to the bill, pinkish legs, 2 bright wing bars, pale tips to the tertails and primary tips and bright supercilium. Also c1000 Pink Footed Geese, c1500 Brent Geese, Marsh Harrier, Siskins, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Chiffchaffs and a good selection of waders on the high tide. After the tour I dashed over the Horsey to see the PIED WHEATEAR.
13th Oct 09 - West Runton & Cley - Another cracking tour, we had good views of the SHORT TOED LARK on the ground, also the RICHARD'S PIPIT in flight and perched on a weed head and after a short wait obscured views of the BARRED WARBLER. Not a bad morning ! We also saw a late Swallow, Mediterannean Gull, Sparrowhawk, Razorbills, Guillemot and Red Throated Diver. In the Cley area we heard Water Rail & Cetti's Warbler, had brief views of Bearded Tits and saw Spotted Redshank, c40 Common Scoter, 3 Great Skuas, very large flocks of Starlings and a Barn Owl.
12th Oct 09 - Holme & Titchwell - A fairly quiet tour, the highlight for me was the huge flocks of Starlings seen and trying in vain to pick out the rose coloured ! We also saw 3 Great Skuas, 30+ Gannets, Stock Doves, 3 male Bearded Tits, Marsh Harrier, Wheatear, 10 Snow Buntings and a good selection of waders. Before the tour a seawatch at Cley produced, Black Throated Diver, Great Norhern Diver, 20+ Red Throated Divers, Arctic Skua, 10 Bonxies, 50+ Kittiwakes, 15 Little Gulls and 2 manx Shearwaters.
11th Oct 09 - West Runton & Wells - A cracking tour today, we started with a calling flyover Lapland Bunting along the clifftop then while hunting for the RICHARD'S PIPIT which we had good close flight views of, a SHORT TOED LARK was flushed by another birder and seen well in flight. In the middle of the day we had good views of the RED BREASTED FLYCATCHER at Wells along with 2 flyover calling Crossbills. Back at Runton we had good views of the Bunting and Lark on the ground in the late afternoon sunshine. A Barn Owl was seen on the way home.
10th Oct 09 - Holme - A good tour but we had to work hard for the birds, these included a late Swallow, the first flocks of Redwings of the autumn, 1000+ Pink Footed Geese, Firecrest unfortunately only seen by myself, Siskin & a bright male Redstart. Along the coast at Titchwell were a few Eider, good numbsers of Waders on the beach, juv Pomarine Skua along the beach, Wheatear and Water Rail.
9th Oct 09 - East Norfolk - Highlights of the day were the two Firecrests which gave cracking close views attracted in by pishing. Also 3 Manx Shearwaters, probable Sabine's Gull, Kittiwake, lots of Red Throated Divers, Razorbill, Bonxie, Chiffchaff, Marsh Harrier and 200+ Pink Footed Geese.
7th Oct 09 - Sheringham & Cley - A short seawatch produced a close pale phase adult Arctic SKua, Bonxie, Comic Tern, Guillemots and a Great Northern Diver. At cley a short visit to Daukes hide produced juv PECTORAL SANDPIPER, Curlew Sandpiper & a Green Sandpiper.
4th Oct 09 - Day 5 - The Brecks - An interesting day with a different set of birds, we saw 100+ Stock Doves, Golden Plover, c5 Marsh Harriers, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Common Buzzards, a flock of 40+ Common Crossbills including some nice red males and lots of juvenilles, Siskin, Yellowhammer, Mistle Thrush, a juv Sparrowhawk bathing in the river, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and a cracking male Firecrest.
3rd Oct 09 - Day 4 - Holme & Titchwell - The highlight today was definitely the 2 very confiding Jack Snipe right in front of the hide in the company of Common Snipe for close comparison. Excellent. Other birds included 3 Yellow Wagtails, Common Scoter, Ruff, Dunlin, Avocet, Brent Geese, Eider, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzard, Swallow and a few House Martins.
2nd Oct 09 - Day 3 - We started at Holkham searching in vain for firecrests but stumbled accross the YELLOW BROWED WARBLER which unfortunately only showed briefly. Also Blackcap, Reed Warbler, 2 Crossbills flew over, 2 Marsh Harriers, Goldcrests and large numbers of Tits. After lunch we stopped at Stiffkey fen seeing Barn owl, Yellowhammer, 2 Greenshanks, Ruff, Snipe, Black Tailed Godwit, lots of wildfowl including 50+ Brent Geese and Grey Plover. Finally Warham Greens held 2 Marsh Harriers and over the sea 30+ Common Scoter and 5 Velvet Scoter. Before the tour a short sea watch produced juv Pomarine Skua, 8 Bonxies, 3 Manx Shearwaters and a distant probable Long Tailed Skua.
1st Oct 09 - Day 2 - Cley - An early seawatch produced Sooty Shearwater, 3+ Manx Shearwaters, Pomarine Skua, 30 Great Skuas, 10 Arctic Skuas, 20 Red Throated Divers, Gannets, Kittiwakes, Fulmar and a Peregrine dive boming a kittiwake then seeing off a Bonxie! Around the reserve we saw 3 Stonechats, 2 Bar Tailed Godwits, 50+ Black tailed Godwits, 12+ Snow Buntings, up to 15 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 35 Dunlin, Knot, Bearded Tit, 3 Marsh Harriers, Yellow Legged Gull, 20 Brent Geese and Guillemot & 2 Red Breasted Mergansers on the sea.
30th Sept 09 - Day 1 of Five day tour - A slow start at Holkham pines with two tit flocks but nothing rare with them, we saw Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, Treecreepers, Goldcrests, Blackcap and 10 Grey Partridge. Burnham Overy Marsh was more interesting with one pool holding a fine Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpipers, Greenshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Ruff, 20 Snipe, 10 Dunlin, Ruddy Duck, 3 Bearded Tits, Water Rail, 20 Brent Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese and c5000 Pink Footed Geese flying over.
29th Sept 09 - NW Norfolk - A failry quiet tour with Holme producing, Brent Goose, Bar Tailed Godwit, Knot, Grey Plover, Sanderling, Fulmar, Red Throated Diver, 30+ Common Scoter & Guillemot. Choseley yielded a Wheatear and 20+ Golden Plover. Finally at Titchwell we saw Ruff, Dunlin, Sparrowhawk, 2 Avocets, 20 Eider and another 30+ Common Scoter.
28th Sept 09 - Holkham - We walked in from the Burnham overy end seeing Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, 18 Snipe, Black Tailed Godwit & Dunlin on the marsh. There were Gannets & a Guillemot on the sea and Whinchat and Treecreeper at the west end of the pines. Late in the day we saw c5000 Pink Footed Geese head off to roost and a Barn Owl.
26th Sept 09 - Cley - Another good tour in unseasonally warm weather. The highlight came early on with more good views of the SPOTTED CRAKE, also 18 Snow Buntings, Whinchat, summer plumaged Red Throated Diver & 3 Guillemots close inshore, Sandwich Terns, Stonechat, Wheatear, Green Sandpiper, 9 Spotted Redshanks, Curlew Sandpiper, Bar Tailed Godwit, Greenshank, 6 Bearded Tits, 15 Pink Feet and a Garganey.
25th Sept 09 - Cley - A good tour in lovely weather, before hand I had checked stiffkey fen for a reported spotted crake but only saw a Whinchat. Around the reserve we saw at least 35 Bearded Tits if not more, one flock of 21 birds was quite impressive, in the still conditions of the morning they seemed to be everywhere! We also saw Reed Warbler, Stonechat, Greenshank, Snipe, Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Dunlin, Knot, 30+ Snow Buntings, 2 Sandwich Terns and 6 Spotted Redshanks. From the beach 3 Wheatears, 2 Harbour Porpoise, 10+ Gannet, Red Throated Diver, Guillemot & Common Scoter. After lunch 2 more Spotted Redshanks, Green Sandpiper, Ruff, 100+ Black Tailed Godwits, Avocet, Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier and 2 Water Rails. After the tour I had good views of the SPOTTED CRAKE.
23rd Sept 09 - Holkham - A fairly quiet day but nice views of 1-2 Pied Flycatchers, a bright autumn Common Redstart, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Goldcrests, 2000+ Pink Footed Geese and a covey of 10 Grey Partridge nearby.
22nd Sept 09 - Wader Spectacular - An early start saw us at Snettisham well before high tide, we watched the wader flocks out in the wash running from the approaching tide then taking flight, huge swarms of knot looking like shoals of fish turning from grey to white in a ripple through the flock, amazing stuff. Conservative estimates c20,000 Knot, c3,000 Oystercatcher, c500 Curlew, c500 Redshank and 300 Dunlin. Also a Peregrine livened things up catching a wader in the throng and carrying it off to feed. Other birds included 30 Little Egrets, 2 Wheatears, Buzzard and 30+ Egyptian Geese. Moving on we saw c1000 Bar Tailed Godwits, 40 Sanderling & 10 Sandwich Terns on the beach at Holme. Finally 2 Wheatears, Ruff, 3 Little Stints, Buzzard, Avocet, Bearded Tits, 2 marsh Harriers & a Peregrine at Titchwell.
20th Sept 09 - Day 5 - Holkham produced the goods with cracking views of YELLOW BROWED WARBLER, Firecrest, 3 Pied Flycatchers, Common Redstart, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Goldcrests, c500 Pink Footed Geese and 2 Buzzards.
19th Sept 09 - Day 4 - Cley today was all about Bearded Tits with the first still sunny day for a week we saw at least 25 throughout the day, some showed down to a few meters, fabulous. Also 4 Greenshanks, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Little Ringed Plover, Yellow Legged Gull, Green Sandpiper, Snipe and 3 Wheatears. On my way home I stopped at Stoke Holy cross just south of Norwich to see the 3 juvenille GLOSSY IBIS.
18th Sept 09 - Day 3 - NW Norfolk a very pale juvenile Common Buzzard proved to be an education, reported as a rough leg you could see why with a brief view but a thorough examination proved otherwise. Other birds included 5 Wheatears, Yellow Wagtail, male Bearded Tit, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Little Stints, Ruff, Bar Tailed Godwit, Knot, Snow Bunting, willow warbler and to finish the tamest Reed Warbler ever.
17th Sept 09 - Day 2 - Holkham produced Green Sandpiper, 300+ Pink Feet, Marsh Harrier, Wheatear, 4+ Common Redstarts, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps and Sparrowhawk. Stiffkey fen held 100+ Black Tailed Godwits, Ruff and lots of Pintail. Warham Greens had more of the same warblers. After the tour I walked blakeney point as far as half way house seeing the male Snow Bunting again, Kingfisher heard only but no sign of the blyth's reed warbler.
16th Sept 09 - Day 1 of Five day tour - An excellent day to kick off, with a brief stop at Cley we saw Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper & Little Stint. In Wells woods we saw RED BREASTED FLYCATCHER, c6 Pied Flycatchers, Spotted Flycatcher, Firecrest, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Treecreeper and Goldcrests. After the tour I did a short seawatch at Sheringham which produced a fine adult LONG TAILED SKUA with a few Arctic Skuas for comparison.
15th Sept 09 - Sheringham & Blakeney Point - A cracking seawatch this morning the highlight being the relatively close CORY'S SHEARWATER, followed by another distant Cory's and a probable Great Shearwater. The dip feeding juv LONG TAILED SKUA came a close second. Also LEACH'S PETREL, dark phase adult Pomarine Skua, 7 Sooty Shearwaters, Bonxies & Arctic Skuas. Cley reserve produced 2 Little Stints and 2 Curlew Sandpipers. The point yielded migrants in the shape of c30 Wheatears, 10 Song Thrushes, male Snow Bunting and a Redstart.
14th Sept 09 - Sheringham & Wells - Another good seawatch in the morning was had with all 4 skuas being seen, 2 LONG TAILED SKUAS, Pomarine Skua, 20+ Bonxies & 2 Arctic Skuas. Also Great Northern Diver, 25 Manx Shearwaters, very brief views of a probable Leach's Petrel, at least 7 Puffins, commoner auks, Gannets, Fukmars & Kittiwakes. Most bizarrely a Bat flew past! Wells woods produced 2 Pied Flycatchers, WIllow Warblers, Chiffchaffs & Treecreepers.
13th Sept 09 - Sheringham & Cley - A fantastic seawatch off sheringham for the morning produced, 2 LEACH'S PETRELS, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 10+ Sooty Shearwaters, 30+ Manx Shearwaters, 6 Puffins, 20+ Bonxies, 15+ Arctic Skuas, Little Gull, 1,200+ Kittiwakes & 1,000+ Gannets. After lunch we saw the juv RED NECKED PHALAROPE at cley and another short seawatch yielded a Puffin, 10+ Manx Shearwaters, Razorbills and an Arctic Skua
12th Sept 09 - North East Norfolk - En route to the coast we saw both Tawny & Barn Owls. Blakeney point produced very little early on, all the birds had departed overnight. Warham Greens produced Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Buzzards a juv Hen Harrier and the first 100+ Pink Footed Geese of the autumn. The bird of the day was seen in the hand at Weybourne a fine juvenille BARRED WARBLER, one of the locals had caught it in his garden! Very nice.
10th Sept 09 - Sheringham & Wells - A much better day, a morning sea watch produced CORY'S SHEARWATER, Sooty Shearwater, 3 Puffins (not common in Norfolk), 10 Great Skuas, 4 Arctic Skuas, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 40+ Kittiwakes, c700 Gannets, Red Throated Diver, Guillemots, Razorbills, Peregrine and a Shag. Wells produced a Pied Flycatcher in the Dell.
9th Sept 09 - Cambridgeshire & beyond - A daft day today saw me rise at 5.15am for a sea watch only to see the wind in the wrong direction. I went back to bed then made an even more ridiculous decision to try for the pallid harrier in cambs. No sign but I did see 2 Sparrowhawks, Buzzard, Hobby, Kestrels, 2 Marsh Harriers, Mistle Thrushes and a Green Woodpecker. Back in Norfolk I went to Cley and the sea produced a few Kittiwakes and 4 Arctic Skuas.
6th Sept 09 - Cley - A good tour in nice weather, we saw 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Green Sandpipers, Black Tailed Godwits, Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, 50 Dunlin, Avocet, 4 Bearded Tits seen lots more heard, 5 Wheatears, Whinchat, a juvenille Peregrine which buzzed the scrape flushing lots of birds, 2 Marsh Harriers, 6 Spoonbills and a Yellow Legged Gull.
5th Sept 09 - Holme & Titchwell - Before the tour I did a seawatch at Sheringham which was quite productive with an adult LONG TAILED SKUA, 15 Arctic Skuas, 5 Bonxies, Common Scoter, Kittiwake & 12 Manx Shearwaters. Holme was fairly quiet with a Wheatear, Sparrowhawk, summer plummage Grey Plover and a few flocks of Bar Tailed Godwits being the highlights. Titchwell produced a Black Tern, Great Skua, Gannets & 10+ Eider over the sea. On the fresh marsh were 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Marsh Harrier, 50+ Dunlin, 20+Ruff & Black Tailed Godwits. We only heard Bearded Tits and saw a chiffchaff. After the tour I went to Cley for some more sea watching, Arctic Skua, Bonxie, Red Throated Diver, 10 Common Scoter and Wheatear were seen. From the east bank the Ortolan Bunting again and 2 more Curlew Sandpipers.
4th Sept 09 - Sheringham & Cley - A dawn start produced very little on the sea compared to last night, 15 Arctic Skuas, 5 Manx Shearwaters, possible Sooty Shearwater but too distant, 2 Red Throated Divers, Auk sp. and 2 Whimbrel. Cley was more interesting with a very nice 1st Winter ORTOLAN BUNTING the sea was again quiet with just 6 Manx Shearwaters, 7 Arctic Skuas and 3 Whimbrel.
3rd Sept 09 - Sheringham - A short early evening sea watch produced, c200 Manx Shearwaters including some groups of 20+ birds, Great Skua, c40 Arctic Skuas, Gannets, Fulmars, Common & Sandwich Terns, Diver sp. and 2 Swifts.
|
