
Holkham NNR
16 November 2019
08:50 to 15:20
Holkham National Nature Reserve is increasingly visitor friendly, with ample parking the length of Lady Anne's Drive, The Lookout cafe and toilets provide easy access paths connecting Holkham Bay and Wells-next-Sea. It is very popular with dog walkers in particular. Despite all this it remains a magnet for rare, scare and indeed all birds. It comes alive in late autumn/ early winter when the geese return, standing water collects in the fields and there are still warblers and migrants to be found in the bushes. We timed our late autumn/ early winter visit perfectly to pillage the best of both seasons…
We parked on Lady Anne's and then walked west to Joe Jordan hide and the migrant trap bushes beyond towards the Burnhams. We had a constant accompaniment of Pink-footed Geese overhead, a Great White Egret was one of the first birds to fly over and all standing water is attended by Lapwing, Teal, Wigeon and the odd Ruff. We also had a covey of nine Grey Partridge right next to the car. I love seeing these, now localised, game birds. Our first quarry species of the day was Hume's Leaf Warbler - a lifer for three of our party of four. Initial scrutiny of the area in question wasn't successful, we retired to the to Joe Jordan hide watching commuting geese, Marsh Harrier and Red Kites reinvigorated us for a successful second attempt - with all of the party achieving really good views of the eastern sprite.
Lifer-drunk we strolled back to The Lookout for a coffee and vegan sausage roll hit. Fuelled we strolled out into Holkham Bay the seaward side of the pines. We located feeding Shore Lark, six of them in total, the yellow-black face is stunning - especially backgrounded by drab salt marsh and in the steel light of a winter’s day; one of the star species of winter birding in Norfolk.
Pleased with Shore Lark we turned our attention to the sea. Almost the first bird I saw was a diver in the slack of the breakers and close to shore. An initial bin view before it dived showed a 'bumped' forehead which reminded me of Great Northern or Black-throated. Eventually, the whole group gained good views and we confirmed Black-throated Diver. Always wonderful to see - especially in the company of Red-breasted Merganser, Common Scoter, Eider and Slavonian Grebe. Our walk back to the car garnered better views of the feeding Shore Lark and feeding Stonechat.
Finally, we all piled into one car and headed east to the Wells-next-Sea side of the reserve to view a perched Rough-legged Buzzard. Complete with an attendant Great White Egret! The Med meets the Arctic on the Norfolk coast!
A fitting end to wonderful days birding.
Visited Sites
General Travelling Information
Species List
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Graylag Goose Anser anser details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Brant Branta bernicla details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Canada Goose Branta canadensis details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve (Introduced)
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Mute Swan Cygnus olor details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve (Introduced)
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Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Gadwall Mareca strepera details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Mallard Anas platyrhynchos details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Green-winged Teal Anas crecca details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Eider Somateria mollissima details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Scoter Melanitta nigra details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Gray Partridge Perdix perdix details sounds
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Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve (Introduced)
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Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Stock Dove Columba oenas details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Coot Fulica atra details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Redshank Tringa totanus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Ruff Calidris pugnax details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Gull Larus canus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Herring Gull Larus argentatus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Arctic Loon Gavia arctica details sounds
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Northern Gannet Morus bassanus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Little Egret Egretta garzetta details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Egret Ardea alba details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Gray Heron Ardea cinerea details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Red Kite Milvus milvus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus details sounds
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Common Buzzard Buteo buteo details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Magpie Pica pica details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Rook Corvus frugilegus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Carrion Crow Corvus corone details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Coal Tit Periparus ater details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Tit Parus major details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris details sounds
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Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Goldcrest Regulus regulus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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European Starling Sturnus vulgaris details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Fieldfare Turdus pilaris details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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European Robin Erithacus rubecula details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Dunnock Prunella modularis details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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White Wagtail Motacilla alba details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Brambling Fringilla montifringilla details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Linnet Linaria cannabina details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus details sounds
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Last updated: 17 November 2019