I booked a rental car from 25th to 28th November 2023 for a trip away from home to include visits to a number of sites in Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
The main purpose of my trip was to add further species to my 2023 UK year list before the end of December 2023 although I do plan a further trip before the year end.
This trip was successful and I added the following target species to my 2023 UK year list, these 8 species taking the total to 202 species for the year to date: Short-eared Owl, Canvasback, Velvet Scoter, Scaup, European White-fronted Goose, Barnacle Goose, Waxwing, Common Crane (heard only)
The Canvasback sighting at EWT Abberton Reservoir was especially notable, this very rare duck from North America having only been seen on less than 10 occasions in the UK. This was my third UK record following 2 previous records at EWT Abberton Reservoir in Essex in November 1999 and at Lade Pits in Kent in February 2000
Unfortunately, I failed to record 3 other target species during my trip: Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Purple Sandpiper
Saturday 25th November 2023
After picking up my rental car and driving home, I then drove to RSPB Dungeness in Kent.
Dungeness is a headland on the south east coast of Kent formed largely of a shingle beach in the form of a cuspate foreland. It shelters a large area of low-lying land, namely Romney Marsh. It is one of the largest expanses of shingle in Europe and is of international conservation importance for its geomorphology, plants, invertebrates and birds. This is recognised and protected mostly through its designations as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), a Special Protection Area (SPA), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and part of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) of Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay.
RSPB Dungeness is part of the wider Dungeness area and comprises a huge area of shingle, freshwater pits, wet and dry grassland and wildflower meadows. During the winter months, it is particularly important for large numbers of dabbling and diving ducks plus some of the rarer grebes and divers.
During my visit, I failed to locate the Black-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe, both of which had been reported in the days prior to my visit, but I did have very close views of 2 Great Northern Divers which also enabled me to get my first ever photos of this species.
For many years, RSPB Dungeness was a reliable site for 20 to 30 Smew during the winter months but this species has declined to typically single figure numbers and this winter, to date, none have been reported.
The notable records from my visit were as follows: Great Northern Diver (2), Great White Egret (2), Lapwing (++), Golden Plover (c.100), Teal (+++), Gadwall (++), Shoveler (++), Tufted Duck (++), Common Pochard (c.30), Goldeneye (5), Coot (+), Great Crested Grebe (4), Cormorant (c.500), Canada Goose (++), Greylag Goose (++), Egyptian Goose (1), Mute Swan (4), Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Kingfisher (1), Marsh Harrier (3), Chiffchaff (1 seen and another heard calling), Cetti’s Warbler (1 singing male heard)
RSPB Wallasea Island is a huge reserve covering more than 740 hectares. It comprises former arable farming land which has been transformed in to saltmarsh, mudflats, lagoons and grazing marsh.
To create this magical landscape, more than 3 million tonnes of earth was brought by boat from the tunnels and shafts created by the Crossrail scheme in London. This allowed the land to be raised above sea level and place the soil in a way that created a new 115-hectare intertidal area of saltmarsh, islands and mudflats known as Jubilee Marsh. In addition, Crossrail helped create saline lagoons, a creek network and grazing marsh.
RSPB - Move earth to create a haven
My main target species at RSPB Wallasea Island was Short-eared Owl. This is a reliable site for this species, along with many other raptor species during the winter months. This winter is proving to be an exceptionally good one for wintering Short-eared Owls in the UK and RSPB Wallasea Island has not been exempted from the influx with up to 10 birds being reported on most days.
I had only just passed through the entrance gate to the reserve when I saw my first Short-eared Owl, this being the first addition to my 2023 UK year list of this trip. The directional sunlight was not great for photography so I went back out of the reserve and along a short track which provided a much better view and much better lighting conditions. Over the next hour or so, I was able to watch at least 2 Short-eared Owls which provided exceptionally close views as they hunted plus some excellent photo opportunities.
As I arrived at this location, I recognised Steve Hedges. I have followed his highly recommended YouTube channel for over 2 years now after first seeing his video from EWT Blue House Farm. Steve lives relatively close to me but this was the first time that I had seen him out and about in Essex. After saying “hello”, we had a chat, albeit interrupted regularly by hunting Short-eared Owls.
Steve
subsequently posted a video on his afternoon at
Sunday 26th November 2023
On my second day, I visited EWT Abberton Reservoir in Essex, RSPB North Warren in Suffolk, Ness Point in Suffolk and NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes in Norfolk before staying overnight at Travelodge Great-Yarmouth Acle.
The huge expanse of EWT Abberton Reservoir is one of Europe's top wetland sites. It is of international importance as a safe haven for wild ducks, swans and other water birds, whether resident, passing through on migration or over-wintering.
My main target species at EWT Abberton Reservoir were the Canvasback plus Velvet Scoter and Scaup, all of which were being reported regularly in the days prior to my visit. I successfully added all 3 species to my 2023 UK year list.
I first found the 3 juvenile Velvet Scoters and a single female Scaup by scanning through the large flock of Tufted Ducks off the Abberton Church viewpoint. The Canvasback was typically associating with a flock of Common Pochards off the Layer-de-la-Haye causeway but it did take some time to locate it. Unfortunately, I was unable to get any photos of these species due to the distances involved and/or the lighting conditions.
The notable records from my visit were as follows: Canvasback (1 male), Velvet Scoter (3 juveniles), Scaup (1 female), Goosander (5 females), Tufted Duck (++++), Common Pochard (+++), Goldeneye (c.100), Wigeon (c.50), Shoveler (c.50), Gadwall (c.30), Teal (c.20), Mallard (c.10), Great Crested Grebe (c.100), Cormorant (c.100), Mute Swan (c.30), Greylag Goose (c.150), Egyptian Goose (5), Coot (++++), Moorhen (1), Great White Egret (2), Little Egret (1), Common Redshank (2), Lapwing (2), Common Buzzard (1), Raven (1 heard calling car park from the Abberton Church viewpoint), Fieldfare (3), Cetti’s Warbler (1 singing male heard), Red Fox (1 crossed the path on returning to the car park from the Abberton Church viewpoint)
After my visit to EWT Abberton Reservoir, I drove up to Aldeburgh in Suffolk and nearby RSPB North Warren.
RSPB North Warren is located on the Suffolk coast and is a patchwork of grazing marshes, reedbeds, heathland and woodland. During the winter months, the grazing marshes hold large numbers of ducks, swans and geese.
I spent a short time scanning the northern end of the grazing marshes specifically for European White-fronted Geese and Barnacle Geese. I successfully added both to my 2023 UK year list with c.20 of the former and c.75 of the latter. Somewhat surprisingly, I also saw 10 Red Deer crossing the grazing marshes.
Before moving on up to the north east coast of Norfolk, I visited Ness Point in Lowestoft. Being largely a coastal industrial area, it has nothing to recommend it scenically although it is significant in being the most easterly point in the UK. It is also well known amongst birders as being a very reliable site (usually) for Purple Sandpipers in winter. This species is a relatively scarce winter visitor to the UK from their Arctic breeding grounds.
My main target species was indeed Purple Sandpiper which I had yet to add to my 2023 UK year list. Unfortunately, as in January 2023, I was unsuccessful in finding any but I did see 5 Turnstones and a single Rock Pipit.
Nearby in Lowestoft, I visited a residential area where a flock of Waxwings had been reported regularly in the days prior to my visit. It seems like this is going to be a good “Waxwing winter” with several flocks now being reported in Suffolk and Norfolk after the initial influx in to north east Scotland and north east England.
I successfully found the Lowestoft flock of Waxwings with this species being a further addition to my 2023 UK year list. I did get some record photos although the light was very grey and dismal and therefore unfortunately didn't show off these beautiful birds at their best.
Photo: Waxwings
My day concluded at NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes and specifically the Stubb Mill viewpoint.
NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes is the largest of the Norfolk Broads and is a year-round haven for wildlife and holds a significant percentage of the UK population of Common Crane as well as important breeding numbers of Bittern, Marsh Harrier and Bearded Tit. In winter, large numbers of Marsh Harriers roost in the reedbed north east of Stubb Mill and Hen Harrier, Merlin and Barn Owl can also often be seen. Interesting mammals include the introduced Chinese Water Deer plus Red Deer and Otter.
I spent around 2 hours at the Stubb Mill viewpoint and stayed until it was almost completely dark (a torch is recommended for the long walk back to the car park!).
My main target species at NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes was Common Crane which I had failed to see here in January 2023. Again, I didn’t see any Common Cranes but I did hear their distinctive bugling call on several occasions. The main highlight for me was a male Hen Harrier whilst other birders picked up a Merlin from the viewpoint and flushed a Woodcock on the walk back to the car park.
The notable records from my visit were as follows: Common Crane (at least 1 bird heard calling), Hen Harrier (1 male), Marsh Harrier (at least 20 coming in to roost), Barn Owl (1), Common Buzzard (1), Kestrel (1), Great White Egret (1), Pink-footed Goose (++++), Red Deer (1), Chinese Water Deer (1)
Monday 27th November 2023
After staying overnight at Travelodge Great-Yarmouth Acle, it had been my plan to spend the day on the north Norfolk coast, However, I woke up to heavy rain which was forecast to continue all day across East Anglia.
Therefore, I decided to drive home although I did drop in again at Ness Point in Lowestoft in the hope that there would be some Purple Sandpipers …. there weren’t …. although the Turnstone flock had increased to c.25.
Although this was a disappointing end to my trip, I was pleased to add 8 species to my 2023 UK year list, including the exceptionally rare Canvasback, plus get my first ever photos of Great Northern Diver and my best ever photos of Short-eared Owl.
