Wildlife Photo Diaries 2025
A cold New Year bird count in Norfolk......
Jason Nichols arrived to pick me up just after 5.30 (2nd) for our New Year’s Day ‘bird count’ (and anything else we happened upon) and on a very cold day we set off to see what we could find.
We had a change of day (from 1st to 2nd) as the weather predicted for the traditional New Year’s Day travel around Norfolk was far from good, although as it turned out wasn’t quite as bad as predicted!
We decided to start at Titchwell, but just before Bodham we had our first animal of the day; a Muntjac casually crossing the road. We stopped off at Holkham Park for a listen and were rewarded with a Tawny Owl calling and Pink-footed Geese.
A Blackbird was seen in silhouette before arriving at Titchwell car park where Grey-lag Geese were recorded.
Wren, Moorhen, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Marsh Harrier, Lapwing, Cormorant and Egyptian Geese were all recorded on the walk to the beach, along with a Common Snipe heard.
Further additions in the gloom, before we reached the beach were: Herring Gull, Curlew, Little Egret, Shelduck, Avocet, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Mallard, Little Grebe (4) and Great Black-backed Gull.
From the beach with the tide high finding shorebirds was tricky but we found an Oystercatcher and Turnstone. Similarly spotting stuff on the sea was just as tricky but we managed to see a raft of Common Scoter.
The return walk down the track found Grey Plover, Reed Bunting, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Bearded Reedling, Skylark and the apparent escaped Black-winged Stilt which then flew right over our heads to the saltmarsh
Tufted Duck, Coot, Great Tit and a Jay on the RSPB buildings were seen before making our way through the woods to the car park, seeing Goldfinch and Chaffinch on the way. The car park added Blue Tit and Grey Squirrel and from the exit road a Pheasant; one that had not been shot!
With the running total now on 44 we made our way along the coast heading for Hunstanton seeing our first Jackdaws on the way.
At Thornham a Common Buzzard was perched at the edge of the wood and a Stonechat was a bonus (can’t recall seeing one here before). A Rock Pipit and Brent Geese were seen before we continued on our way.
Both Collared Dove and Magpie were added en-route to seeing if we could park anywhere near the reported Glaucous Gull and Shore Larks in the vicinity of the Golf Club, but unfortunately not and the long walk was not justified for 2 species on a numbers orientated day.
Nevertheless, we parked at Hunstanton cliffs and I spotted 2 Fulmar before we even got out of the car. Jason found a Velvet Scoter and Red-throated Diver on the choppy sea whilst I took a few images of Fulmars.
At Choosley we were surprised to see so many Red-legged Partridges had escaped the human killing-spree as these have been very difficult to find on New Year’s Day before, albeit today was 2nd! 2 Chinese Water Deer (the first of 10 recorded on the drive round-a personal record here!) were seen along with 2 Brown Hares. Red Kite, Carrion Crow, Yellowhammer, Common Gull and Pied Wagtail followed before we came across a charm of Finches coming to feed amongst some Maize. Most of these were Chaffinches but a Greenfinch was new for the day as was a very surprising sighting here; 2 Redpolls! A Dunnock was the first one as was a lone Starling and at this point Rook was added to the list.
4 Fieldfare in the Hawthorn hedgerow followed before making our way to Brancaster Staithe.
A spot of lunch ensued in between watching and scanning for birds and this was rewarded firstly with a Great Crested Grebe in the channel; never seen here before and we have been here a considerable amount of times over the years! Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit were added to a list now totalling 70 (although no count was actually made until I arrived home). Finally, a really good bird to see in January was a juvenile Spoonbill flying over westwards.
A Grey Heron was in a field at Burnham Norton with a few cattle and so were 2 Cattle Egrets. A Mute Swan followed at Burnham Overy before arriving at Holkham.
Jason managed to find some White-fronted Geese on the Freshmarsh before we ventured down Lady Ann’s Drive to look for the reported Long-billed Dowitcher. No joy there but a Great White Egret made for an egret hat-trick on the day and 2 Ruff flew over and a Gadwall was on one of the flashes.
Stopping at Wells Pools was worthwhile as Pintail was added to the day’s list and the reported Glossy Ibis was found at Stiffkey.
Our usual stop at Morston was also worthwhile as a Greenshank was once again present and a Lesser Black-backed Gull was also seen. Just around the corner opposite Morston Church at a paddock we have named ‘Thrush Corner’ we found 2 Stock Doves. Not much else and the reason was probably because of a Common Buzzard perched along the hedgerow!
We then for the first time paid a visit to the Wildflower Centre at Bayfield Hall. Not quite what we were expecting but there was several birds coming to the feeders, including Coal Tits and Nuthatch required for the day list.
Last stop of the day was at Ludham Marshes, a sweet and sour experience as always, as this has become an over-populated venue for ‘would be wildlife photographers’ who think that birds are still going to come close with a noisy crowd of individuals stood in the open in the car park here to see Short-eared Owls.
We had already passed 3 Cattle Egrets on a field with cattle but they seemed to be of little interest. Instead there was a packed car park with other vehicles strewn along the approach road. There was 2 Short-eared Owls perched on posts some distance away but after a few photos I returned to the car and eventually Jase returned and we left.
We managed to record 86 species of birds for the day ending just after 16.00; not a bad effort considering the weather and the lack of birds generally; a continuing trend. Thanks to Jase for doing the driving.
New Year Garden Wildlife......
With the New Year’s bird count postponed until the 2nd, it was bird-watch from the kitchen window (1st).
First bird of the year was a female Blackbird, with a male and a 1st winter also paying a visit.
A Dunnock came to search for food underneath the feeders and 2 Great Tits were good to see. At least 8 House Sparrows, 3 Wood Pigeon and a Robin made up the rest of the welcome avian visitors.
Outside the garden, a Magpie and Starling were seen and also a very welcome sight of a wind-blown Bumblebee, probably a queen Buff-tailed.