Excellent day trip with Seals, Marsh Harriers, three different swans and an Iceland Gull as a bonus. Well led and organised and really delivered.
P.W. Hampshire, Dec 20
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Norfolk - Grey Seals & Winter Birds (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR181A Day Trip to the coastline of Waxham and Winterton to view pupping Grey Seals and the wintering geese, raptors and other birds of the Norfolk Broads.
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Summary
Norfolk in autumn is all about bird migration, but as late autumn progresses towards early winter, the focus switches a little towards other wildlife spectacles. Bird migration continues well into November, but with the summer visitors gone, our attention will be drawn towards incoming birds. Flocks of a variety of finches, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Starlings trace along the coastline and drop into Norfolk’s extensive coastal grazing marshes – and Snow Buntings appear as the season advances. Here, they are joined by ever-growing flocks of ducks – Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Pintail – all arriving to escape colder weather on the continent. Lapwings and Golden Plover arrive in good numbers too, while one of the greatest avian spectaculars will be presented by the skeins of Pink-footed Geese that winter here from Greenland and Iceland.
Late autumn and early winter mean pupping time for Grey Seals in Norfolk and we shall spend time visiting a well organised viewing site, where we can enjoy the wonderful sight and sound of these creatures and their silky youngsters. Towards the end of the day, we shall head to a local viewpoint that will give us an opportunity to watch birds of prey coming in to a communal roost site. Marsh Harriers are by far the commonest species to be seen, but a few Hen Harriers and Merlins are typically around too and there’s always a good chance of both Barn Owl and Short-eared Owl during the course of the day. Common Cranes and Chinese Water Deer are now a familiar sight in this area and usually grace us with their presence as the sun draws down in the western sky.
Led by naturalist Mike Crewe or John Williamson, these day trips will start at 9am at Waxham and will cover around 3-4 miles over the course of the day on easy dirt trails. Please also allow up to £11 for car parking charges.
- Pupping Grey Seals
- Flocks of ducks & skeins of Pink-footed Geese
- Lapwing and Golden Plover
- Barn and Short-eared Owls likely
- Snow Buntings on the coast
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We spent the morning watching grey seals and their many different behaviours, and the afternoon chasing Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers, whilst hearing cranes in the distance. It only rained once and for December day it was relatively mild. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
C.A. Suffolk, Dec 20
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