Description

Join us for an Autumn Day out on the North Norfolk coast searching for and watching returning migrant birds

North Norfolk is a fabulous location for bird watching. There is a section of path we will visit during our morning walk at Cley where there has been more rare birds seen than anywhere else in the UK. That one fact sets the scene for our day. The weather plays an important part in what birds we will see but we hope there may be such birds as a Wryneck moving south from Scandinavia. Or maybe a Yellow browed Warbler which should be making its way down the East coast of China. The number of this species occurring has increased in line with the breeding range spreading Westward. It really is unpredictable what species we will encounter.

Generally speaking, the paths are good, but walking boots are recommended as the paths can be uneven There are quite a few slopes involve. There are no hills and no steep slopes.

We will meet in the car park of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Reserve Centre at Cley next the Sea. This wonderful reserve may hold species such as Cattle, Little and Great White Egret along with the occasional Bittern. Raptors will be well represented, and it wouldn’t be outlandish for a Hen Harrier to pop up over the reserve among the Marsh Harriers. At sea we have the chance of seeing Skuas, Divers and Scoters of varying species. We will walk the whole perimeter of the reserve before returning to the Reserve centre for lunch.

In the afternoon we may visit the hides on the reserve to see any waders that may be around but afterwards we will travel in our own vehicles to the nearby Salthouse Marshes; a migration hotspot. A journey of just a few miles.

We will then walk among the various bushes and vegetation on the sea wall where Stonechats and Pipits; Water, Meadow and Rock may be found. It may be a rarer pipit such as a Tawny or Richards Pipit will put in an appearance.

We will then walk back to our vehicles to finish our day.