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: female 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
1st
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)
Between 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)
2nd
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.
The 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: Snow Buntings
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
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