East Anglia, UK, April 9-12, 2005

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Our intensive four-day birding tour of East Anglia (the bulge north and east of London) included several of the best-known reserves in England, mainly on the coast. Chris Bradshaw (of North Kent Birding) served as guide and chauffeur, picking us up in London Saturday, April 9th, and dropping us at Gatwick airport late on Tuesday for our flight home the next morning.. Our first day was spent mostly at Minsmere reserve on the North Sea, some three hours from London, and we spent the night nearby, at a charming, very rural B&B. Sunday morning, after a brief stop at Westleton nearby, we followed the coast north and then gradually west, reaching Salthouse by mid-afternoon. We then birded around Cley before heading for our next B&B in Thornham, where we spent two nights. Monday morning we birded our way to Holkham Park, before heading back to Titchwell Marsh for lunch and most of the afternoon. Tuesday morning saw us on the way south to London, with stops at Snettisham and Mayday Farm in Brandon plus a brief cultural visit to Ely’s gorgeous cathedral.

We had some 119 bird species altogether.  Highlights included a bittern and water rail (heard), pink-footed geese, snow goose (one), common cranes in flight, stone-curlew (a distant glimpse), Mediterranean gull, kittiwake, sandwich tern (one flyover), kingfisher (one), barn owl and little owl, lesser spotted woodpecker, sedge warbler, yellowhammer. At most locations we had a variety of shorebirds as well as ducks. The photographs include those species that I was able to capture satisfactorily, as well as one or two record shots (e.g. kingfisher and sandwich tern). The captions include the locations, thus giving an indication where we had the best sightings. 
 

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Exterior view of our first B&B, in Bruisyard, near Minsmere. Kitchen of the B&B in Bruisyard, near Minsmere. Little Grebe, at Minsmere reserve. Pink-footed geese, near Holkham Park (east of Titchwell Marsh). These geese are relatively uncommon, and this is one of the few areas to see them. A Greylag Goose (Britain's commonest), on its nest near the main trail at the Salthouse Marshes. Brent Goose in flight at Titchwell Marsh. Until recently this was considered the same species as the North American Brant, but the group has been split into three. This is now the "Dark-bellied" Brent goose (branta [bernicla] bernicla). Eurasian or Common Teal (drake in breeding plumage) at Salthouse Marshes. This is considered the same species as the North American green-winged teal (anas crecca), which differs in a number of plumage details (noted by Sibley). Male Marsh Harrier hovering characteristically, at Minsmere reserve. Red-legged partridge, near Titchwell Marsh. A common resident species in much of the UK, France and Spain. Grey partridge (male), near Thornham/Titchwell Marsh. Same species as in North America (perdix perdix); has declined significantly in Britain. Pheasants are ubiquitous, but generally scurry away. At Holkham Park this male posed nicely. Identical to our ringed-necks, they were introduced centuries ago from Asia, and eventually to North America. Chris had been alerted by his service that a small group of common cranes (very local in the UK) were flying north, as we reached Titchwell Marsh. And in due course we saw them, drawing ever nearer. The quartet flew more or less together, but for a few seconds they flew in almost military fashion. Just a few minutes after we sighted the cranes at Titchwell this message appeared on Chris's pager; the time was spot on! One of the several blinds (hides) at Titchwell Marsh. As an American, I was impressed by the blinds at the refuges we visited--and as a photographer I especially appreciated the wide openings available. Chris informed me that most blinds in England are constructed by a single company. These Eurasian Oystercatchers flew south from the the beach at Titchwell Marsh. Avocets (sometimes called Pied Avocets), at Minsmere reserve. A different species from the American Avocet. An Avocet landing at Titchwell Marsh. Two Northern Lapwings in a mating display over Salthouse Marshes. Common in Britain, this is the same species as the lapwings rarely seen in North America. Common Redshank, with its legs glowing in the late afternoon sun at Salthouse Marshes. General view of Salthouse Marshes Black-tailed Godwit, at Titchwell Marsh. These godwits had recently arrived in migration. Black-headed Gulls are everywhere, but getting a picturesque shot is not easy. Taken at the Salthouse Marshes. Sandwich Tern, a solitary individual over Salthouse Marshes. Barn Owls (same species as in North America) are common, and can sometimes be seen hunting in the late afternoon, as here at Cley Marshes. This Little Owl was perched close to the road in the late afternoon near Thornham/Titchwell Marsh. Our only Kingfisher of the trip, seen in the middle distance from a hide (blind) at Minsmere. Its turquoise and orange plumage is spectacular. Holkham Park: birders in search of a lesser spotted woodpecker, which we had briefly in the middle of the trees in the center. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, at Holkham Park (east of Titchwell). Even a bit smaller than the North American Downy, and harder to see than its larger relative, the great spotted woodpecker. Pied Wagtail, seen from our car near Minsmere--a characteristic wagtail perch. Stonechat, at Minsmere reserve. Chiff-chaff--one of the commonest Eurasian warblers, at Westleton Heath near Minsmere. Willow Warbler--very similar to the chiffchaff, but its pale legs contrast with the latters darker ones. Taken on Westleton Heath, near Minsmere. Sign for Westleton Heath, near Minsmere; it is one of the Narional Nature Reserves Erurasian Nuthatch, at Holkham Park (east of Titchwell). Distinct from North American Nuthatch species. Eurasian Treecreeper, at the Minsmere reserve. Similar to the Brown Creeper of North America. I constantly dream of capturing a Magpie in flight and this time it happened! Taken as almost a reflex, from the East Hide, Minsmere reserve. The American Magpie, incidentally, is a different species. A male Chaffinch, at the Minsmere reserve. The chaffinch is one of Europe's comonest and most widespread songbirds. A male Brambling, not quite in full breeding plumage. Mayday Farm, in Brandon. Closely related to the chaffinch, bramblings are considerably more difficult to find. A linnet, at Snettisham. A Eurasian Siskin (male). Mayday Farm, in Brandon. Male Reed Bunting, nearing full breeding plumage. At Snettisham, I saw this bird perched well ahead of us; I approached slowly as always, pausing at intervals for a closer picture, thinking each would be the last. In the end I made this shot from 40 feet -- astonishingly close!

Bird Photographs by John Van de Graaff