We began the day at Santon Downham hoping to finally catch up with Woodlark. It had eluded me on the previous visits here this year. This morning I heard the distinctive song having only walked a few steps from the car. Several birds were singing and entertained us with their "parachuting" display flights. At least six birds were seen, with two seen closeby feeding among the stubble.
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| Woodlark |
We Headed through the underpass and followed the path alongside the Little Ouse River. We were delighted to spot two Otters swimming in the river. They followed us all the way downstream until we stopped to search for Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers, leaving them to continue on.
We could hear Lesser-spots drumming and calling quite frequently. Eventually, a pair flew in and the female stayed long enough to give superb views as it searched for food or maybe prospecting for a new nest site?
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| Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (female) |
We left Santon Downham and headed for the Hawk and Owl Trust reserve at Sculthorpe Moor. The reserve has recently been hosting three species of Redpoll. After making a donation we headed for the feeders by the portacabins and began the search. Almost immediately a Lesser and Mealy Redpoll came onto the feeder. However, the Arctic Redpoll was proving to be quite elusive. Most birders were concentrating on the feeders until a lady said she had a very pale bird near the water pool. Thankfully and with some relief this proved to be the Arctic Redpoll! Later we would see it again on the feeders before we headed for Titchwell.
Titchwell was our final stop of the day and it provided some new additions to the year list with Mediterranean Gulls seen on the Freshwater Marsh, Knot and Spotted Redshank on Volunteer Marsh and Great Northern Diver on the sea. At one point we had Great Northern, Black-throated and Red-throated Divers in the same scope view!
Weekday traffic added some extra time to the trip home, but it was another great day's birding.
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