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
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Brant
Branta bernicla
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
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Holkham National Nature Reserve (Introduced)
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Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
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Holkham National Nature Reserve (Introduced)
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Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Gadwall
Mareca strepera
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelope
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Green-winged Teal
Anas crecca
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Scoter
Melanitta nigra
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Gray Partridge
Perdix perdix
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Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve (Introduced)
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Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Horned Grebe
Podiceps auritus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Stock Dove
Columba oenas
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Wood-Pigeon
Columba palumbus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Coot
Fulica atra
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Curlew
Numenius arquata
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Redshank
Tringa totanus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Ruff
Calidris pugnax
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Gull
Larus canus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Arctic Loon
Gavia arctica
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Northern Gannet
Morus bassanus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Egret
Ardea alba
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Gray Heron
Ardea cinerea
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Western Marsh Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Red Kite
Milvus milvus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopus
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Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandarius
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Jackdaw
Corvus monedula
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Rook
Corvus frugilegus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Carrion Crow
Corvus corone
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Coal Tit
Periparus ater
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Great Tit
Parus major
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestris
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Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensis
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Hume's Warbler
Phylloscopus humei
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cetti
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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European Stonechat
Saxicola rubicola
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Dunnock
Prunella modularis
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Common Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Brambling
Fringilla montifringilla
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Linnet
Linaria cannabina
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus
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Holkham National Nature Reserve
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Last updated: 17 November 2019