February 2026

We had a holiday in North Norfolk between 23-28 February, something that has become a biannual event. The timing was not great - A Ross's gull appeared in Cornwall the day I left (21st) and a hooded merganser appeared at Pilning on 23rd, the day we left Bristol. The Ross's gull left the day before I returned to Cornwall! The black-winged kite and ferruginous duck were hiding in Norfolk, only to reappear after our departure!

On 24th we waIlked the Station Road in Stanhoe, where we stayed. There were 2 red-legged partridge in the field next to the house, and several brown hares. About 10 yellowhammer were in the hedges. I also saw 2 Egyptian geese, stock dove, and red kite in the area. Up to 4 shoveler frequented the village pond.

At RSPB Titchwell we saw a female scaup, brent and pink-footed geese, a firecrest and two water rail. There were several red-breasted merganser offshore.

We caught up with 24 snow bunting at Holme-next-the-Sea, also seeing knot, and a confiding muntjac.

25th was probably the warmest day of the year so far, perfect for watching the first-winter male Eastern black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros murinus/phoenicuroides/rufiventris from central Asia at Sheringham Esplanade. the bird was very confiding and gave great views. It was singing its quiet song at times. It departed on 3rd or 4th March.

There was a drake long-tailed duck on Arnold's Marsh at Cley.

We didn't see the glossy ibis at Stiffkey, and the marsh was quiet with just one marsh harrier, though hundreds of pink-footed geese flew over.

On 26th we visited Holkham, seeing hundreds of white-fronted geese, pink-footed geese, over 20 barnacle geese and many Egyptian geese. At least 3 spoonbill flew around some distant willows, and several kites drifted over the marsh. I heard crossbills in the pines. We then found a huge flint puncturing a rear tyre at Glandford, and spent the afternoon with the AA and at a tyre repair centre having two replacements fitted.

We revisited Holkham on 27th. There were fewer birds around, though we did see a peregrine. Muntjac below.

We saw around 30 red-legged partridge while driving around the farmland, together with several yellowhammer and a marsh harrier. We didn't see grey partridge however.

Brown hare with wind turbines.

A tawny owl was hooting outside the house during the early morning of 28th. We stopped at Welney WWT on the way back seeing hundreds of whooper swans, cattle egret, and 9 common crane. It took me some time to see a single tree sparrow however amongst 50+ house sparrow. The species seems to be spiraling towards extinction at one of its former strongholds.

There were quite a few changes since our visit in 2024 at the same time of year. Grey partridge were not seen, the Holkham shore lark were not present this winter, and the Welney tree sparrows appear to be in sharp decline. Red kite are now very common. The amount of litter along the main roads in the Midlands (A14?) was shocking.

21st. Bonxie and red-throated diver off The Island.

20th. Adult Caspian gull and adult little gull from Lelant Saltings.

19th: Seven red-throated and 2 great northern diver from The Island, and two bonxies. The usual firecrests and chiffchaffs at Boscathnoe in the morning. The two lesser scaup are still at Helston Boating Lake, and there was also an adult Mediterranean gull largely in summer plumage.

In the late afternoon I returned to Boscathnoe, reckoning that the dusky warbler may return to the north show to roost. At 17.43h in the half light I heard it, and then had a brief but decent view of it calling in the willows on the eastern shore. It took me 10 attempts to see it as it seems to go elsewhere to feed for much of the day.

17th. The Island: 2 great northern, 2 red-throated and a black-throated diver. Six purple sandpiper and a black redstart. Another fruitless trudge around the Boscathnoe quagmire was brightened up by firecrests in lichen-covered trees. At least 6 chiffchaffs and 2 little grebe present too.

16th. Ring-billed gull and a whimbrel at Lelant Old Station.

Little of yesterday's gull excitement from the Saltings, with only 3 argentatus herring gulls and 3 yellow-legged gulls spotted.

15th. No dusky warbler again - the usual firecrests, goldcrests and chiffchaffs at Boscathnoe. On the Hayle Estuary I saw 18 goosander, the adult ring-billed gull, and a presumed dark-mantled argentatus herring gull.

14th. The greater scaup is still at Longrock Pool. ca. 70 sanderling at Marazion, and a male black redstart and 5 chiffchaff at Little London Beach.

11th: Boscathnoe Reservoir: No sign of the dusky warbler. Two firecrest, goldcrest, bullfinch, ca. 5 chiffchaff and 2 blackcap.

Blackcap calling on Barnoon Hill.

200-300 gannets plunging around ca. 50 common dolphins from The Island. Two red-throated and 2 great northern diver too.

10th: There were 26 purple sandpipers on the Island today - the most I've seen there.

The tame rock pipit is always nice to see.

5th: Canada goose over Porthmeor from the walk to the Island. Three great northern diver. Harbour porpoise, and a few common dolphin. Bonxie and a purple sandpiper at lunchtime.

I saw the adult Iceland gull (left hand bird) and the adult ring-billed gull on the Hayle Estuary from Lelant Saltings.

4th: Boscathnoe: several chiffchaff and at lest 2 firecrest at the reservoir. A common pipistrelle flying in daylight. I heard the dusky warbler - or did I? I had the species on the Collins Bird App in my pocket and heard a series of calls. Could the phone have been triggered in my pocket (the icon is very small) , or did I really hear it?. Who knows! No sign of the little bunting on the surrounding farmland. Two bullfinch and 2 snipe there.

There's an eastern-type chiffchaff present too.

3rd. The Island: great northern diver, dunlin, harbour porpoise and a stranded grey seal on Porthmeor Beach.

1st. Bullfinch in Stoke Bishop.