I
booked a rental car from 31st January to 3rd February 2026 for a trip away
from home to include visits to various sites in Essex and Norfolk.
This
was my second winter birding trip of the year away from home, after my first in
early January …. see here.
The
main purpose of my trip was continuing to add species to my 2026 UK year
list but also a second attempt to see the Black-winged
Kite which had been present in
north-east Norfolk since 26th December 2025. I had missed adding this extremely
rare species to my UK life list during my last visit to north-east
Norfolk, specifically Ludham Bridge and St. Benet’s Abbey, on 5th January 2026.
The
main highlight of my trip was indeed finally seeing the Black-winged Kite in
the Horsey/Hickling area of north-east Norfolk.
The Black-winged Kite is a species primarily
found in open land and semi-deserts in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical
Asia but it has a foothold within Europe in Spain (where I have seen it) and
Portugal and more recently southern France. The range appears to be expanding
in southern Europe and vagrants in the UK indicate that the species is
moving north.
On
completing my trip, my UK life list had increased to 358 species
and my 2026 UK year list had increased to 126 species.
31st
January 2026 – Strawberry
Hill Pond, Epping Forest, Essex
My
main target species at this new site for me was Mandarin, the Essex
stronghold for this species.
After
a short walk from the car park, I found the pond where there were 9 pairs of Mandarin
associating with the Mallard which were being fed by some other
visitors. This was so easy, especially compared with trying to see this species
at nearby Connaught Water where I have previously had mixed success.
The
highlights during my visit were as follows: Mandarin (9 pairs), Mallard
(c.10), Moorhen (c.5), Ring-necked Parakeet (2)
Addition
to 2026 UK year list:
Mandarin
Photo: male Mandarin
Photo: male Mandarin
Photo: female Mandarin
Photo: female Mandarin
Photo: male Mandarin
Photo: male and female Mandarin
Photo: male Mandarin
Photo: male Mandarin
Photo: male Mandarin
Photo: male Mandarin
Photo: male Mandarin
Photo: male Mandarin
31st
January 2026 – RSPB Wallasea Island,
Essex
After
my visit to Strawberry Hill Pond, I drove back to south Essex to spend the last
2 hours of daylight at RSPB Wallasea Island.
RSPB Wallasea Island is a huge reserve
covering more than 740 hectares. It comprises former arable farming land which
has been transformed into 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 were Short-eared
Owl and Hen Harrier. This is a reliable site for both species, along
with many other raptor species, during the winter months but the numbers
present vary from year to year.
I
only scanned the area from the car on the long approach road to the car park
rather than walking around this large reserve. However, this did eventually
provide me with an excellent view of a single Short-eared Owl but
unfortunately no Hen Harrier.
The
highlights during my visit were as follows: Short-eared Owl (1), Marsh
Harrier (at least 5), Kestrel (2), Stonechat (male and
female), Reed Bunting (2), Linnet (c.20), Skylark (3), Meadow
Pipit (3), Lapwing (++++), Golden Plover (+++), Wigeon
(+++), Teal (+++), Shelduck (++), Brown Hare (6)
Additions
to 2026 UK year list:
Short-eared Owl, Stonechat, Reed Bunting
Photo: Short-eared Owl
Photo: Short-eared Owl1st
February 2026 – Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk
I
made an early start from home and arrived at Lynford Arboretum in Thetford
Forest in Norfolk at first light. This site is a reliable winter site for Hawfinch in
varying numbers and this was the target species for my visit.
I
was successful in seeing a single female Hawfinch plus a wide range of
other birds, most notably Common Crossbill and Brambling.
The
highlights during my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Hawfinch (1 female), Common Crossbill (at least 2 but possibly
3), Brambling (1 female),Treecreeper (1), Nuthatch (several
birds heard calling but none seen), Mistle Thrush (1), Song Thrush,
Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Siskin
(3), Chaffinch (at least 20), Goldfinch, Marsh Tit (1), Blue
Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Common Buzzard (1), Stock
Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Mallard (10), Gadwall
(2), Mute Swan (1), Grey Squirrel (4)
Additions
to 2026 year list:
Hawfinch, Common Crossbill, Brambling, Treecreeper
1st
February 2026 – Flitcham-Anmer-Sherborne
area, Norfolk
In
the past, this area has been productive for farmland birds, most notably Grey
Partridge which was my main target. However, this species is becoming
increasingly difficult to see even in this area and I failed to locate any
birds on my previous visit …. see here.
After
much slow driving along the narrow lanes starting in Flitcham, I again failed
to see any Grey Partridges but I did record a variety of other
bird and mammal species.
The
highlights during my visit were as follows (heard only records in
italics): Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (1), Kestrel (male
and female), Fieldfare (c.75), Chaffinch (at least 20), Skylark,
Brown Hare (2)
Photo: Brown Hare
Photo: Red-legged Partridge
Photo: Red-legged PartridgeBetween
Sherborne and Fring, I saw another Red Kite and 3 more Brown Hares and at Holme, I saw yet another Red Kite.
1st
February 2026 – Hunstanton,
Norfolk
A
visit to the seaside resort of Hunstanton is a regular part of my itinerary in
January or February to add Fulmar to my UK year list. A
small breeding colony of these birds can be seen on or flying over the
low-lying cliffs at the northern edge of the town.
I
parked up where there was a good vantage point to spot any Fulmars
gliding past the clifftop and I was eventually rewarded with the sight of 3
birds, another addition to my 2026 UK year list.
1st
February 2026 – RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Following
my visit to Hunstanton, I drove the short distance to RSPB Titchwell for a very brief visit
and in the hope of again seeing the Siberian Chiffchaff that I had seen on 15th December 2025.
Unfortunately,
I failed to hear or see this rare species in the same area along the “fen
trail” but there was some compensation in seeing a single Firecrest,
another addition to my 2026 UK year list, plus at least 3 Goldcrests.
1st
February 2026 – Titchwell-Choseley Barns, Norfolk
This
minor road running north from the main A149 can be good for birds although the
days of large wintering flocks of finches and buntings seems to be long gone.
The
highlights during my visit were as follows: Red Kite (2), Kestrel
(1), Lapwing (c.30), Common Gull (c.50), Red-legged Partridge
(at least 15), Skylark (1), Chinese Water Deer (9), Brown Hare
(1)
Photo: Chinese Water Deer
Photo: Chinese Water Deer
Photo: Chinese Water Deer2nd
February 2026 – RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
RSPB
Titchwell is
one of my most visited locations on the north Norfolk coast and it is a very
productive site at any time of the year due to the mosaic of habitats
including reedbeds, freshwater and saline lagoons, saltmarsh, sandy and shingle
foreshore, sand dunes, woodland and grassland. It is an excellent site for
breeding birds, passage migrants and winter visitors.
I
had an excellent visit, the only disappointment being failing to locate the Long-tailed
Duck on the sea which had been reported regularly for several days.
The highlights during my lengthy visit to this site were as follows (heard only
records in italics):
Visitor
centre to freshmarsh and brackish marsh: Scaup (1 female), Wigeon
(at least 300), Teal (at least 300), Shelduck (at least 50), Mallard
(at least 50), Gadwall (at least 30), Common Pochard (at least
25), Shoveler (at least 20), Pintail (7), Lapwing (at
least 1000), Common Redshank (10), Black-tailed Godwit (9), Avocet
(2), Little Egret (4), Dark-bellied Brent Goose (at least 200), Greylag
Goose (at least 40), Moorhen (4), Coot (3), Red Kite
(1), Marsh Harrier (1), Treecreeper (2), Cetti’s Warbler
(2 singing males), Meadow Pipit (2), Reed Bunting (male and
female), Skylark
Sea
and beach: Red-throated Diver (1), Red-breasted Merganser (2), Oystercatcher
(at least 150), Sanderling (at least 20), Grey Plover (5), Bar-tailed
Godwit (2), Curlew (2)
Additions
to 2026 year list:
Scaup, Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Bar-tailed
Godwit, Sanderling, Avocet, Cetti’s Warbler
Moving
east from RSPB
Titchwell
and between Burnham Deepdale and Holkham, I saw 5 individual Red Kites.
2nd
February 2026 – NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes, Norfolk
NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes is one of the best-known nature reserves in
the UK. Purchased by Norfolk Wildlife Trust in 1926 to be held “in
perpetuity as a breeding bird sanctuary”, it is a haven for a wide range of
species throughout the year and well known for rare vagrant birds.
In
2012, an appeal helped Norfolk Wildlife Trust to purchase a further
57 hectares, linking their 2 reserves at Cley and Salthouse together to create
a single coastal reserve of more than 300 hectares.
NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes has 6 hides which provide views across reedbeds,
pools and scrapes that are specially managed to attract breeding and passage
birds.
The
main target species during my visit was a Jack Snipe which had been
reported regularly for several days from Bishops Hide. Unfortunately, I failed
to see this very elusive species which was doubtless present somewhere in the
reedbed adjacent to the hide.
The
highlights during my visit to this site and specifically Bishops Hide were as
follows: Wigeon (at least 100), Teal (at least 100), Shelduck
(c.20), Shoveler (c.10), Mallard (4), Dark-bellied Brent Goose
(c.35), Lapwing (at least 300), Black-tailed Godwit (c.30), Avocet
(c.40), Grey Plover (1), Common Redshank (1), Little Egret
(1), Marsh Harrier (1)
After
my visit to NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes, I drove the short distance to Stiffkey. I
failed to locate the long-staying Glossy Ibis but I did see 3 Red
Kites and a single Common Snipe.
My
last sightings of the day were a mixed flock of c.40 Whooper and Bewick’s
Swans at Ludham Airfield and a single Great White Egret between
Great Yarmouth and Acle.
3rd
February 2026 – NWT
Hickling Broad and Marshes, Norfolk
My
day started at NWT
Hickling Broad and Marshes and specifically the Stubb Mill viewpoint
and the area beyond to the pumping station.
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.
All
my previous visits to this site have been late in the afternoon until dusk for
the winter raptor roost but on this visit I started early since I was
determined to finally see the Black-winged Kite which had relocated from the Ludham Bridge and
St. Benet’s Abbey area (where I had already failed to see it) to the
Hickling-Horsey area.
After
a very long, very cold and very muddy walk with several other birders out to
the pumping station, from which the Black-winged
Kite was being regularly reported, I was the one that finally
spotted it! It was very distant but provided extended views. The Black-winged Kite is an exceptionally rare
bird in the UK and this was one of my top UK birding highlights ever.
Photo: distant and heavily cropped record shot of Black-winged Kite
Photo: distant and heavily cropped record shot of Black-winged KiteThe
highlights during my visit to this site were as follows: Black-winged Kite (1), Marsh Harrier
(at least 5), Kestrel (1), Common Crane (3), Lapwing (at
least 200), Mallard (at least 50), Shoveler (at least 50), Pintail
(c.10), Black-headed Gull/Common Gull (mixed flock of at least 150), Red
Deer (2), Chinese Water Deer (1)
Addition
to UK life list:
Black-winged Kite
After
the long slog to see the Black-winged Kite,
I visited 2 other locations on the north-east Norfolk coast for some specific
targets that were present prior to my trip.
At
Sea Palling, I added a single Iceland Gull amongst a mixed flock of c.100
Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls (only my fourth record of
this species in the UK and the first since 2022), Purple Sandpiper (at
least 3 birds) and a single female Black Redstart, all additions to
my UK year list. Other highlights at this site included: Sanderling
(c.20), Turnstone (c.10) and Oystercatcher (4).
Between
Horsey and West Somerton, I had a very distant telescope view of a single Cattle
Egret, another addition to my UK year list.
At
Winterton-on-Sea, I quickly found the flock of c.40 Snow Buntings sheltering
from the very strong wind on the leeward side of a shed plus I saw Gannet
(at least 5) and Kittiwake (at least 10) offshore, all additions to
my UK year list.
Photo: male Snow Bunting
Photo: male Snow Bunting
Photo: male Snow Bunting
Photo: male Snow Bunting
Photo: male Snow Bunting
Photo: Snow Buntings
Photo: male Snow Bunting
Photo: male Snow Bunting
Photo: male Snow Bunting
That was the final visit of my trip but I did have one other sighting on the way home: a very curious and hungry Herring Gull sat on the bonnet of my car at the KFC in Lowestoft!
Love nature .... act now
Restore and rewild our natural world
Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
