Norfolk autumn 2026

Tuesday 3^rd November

We planned to meet up at Kings Cross for our annual autumn trip to Norfolk but train trouble struck again as our intended train had been cancelled. We rearranged our journey so we could get an earlier train but that had also been cancelled so we hightailed it over to St Pancras to get a Thameslink train to Cambridge. Fortunately, the one which we would have missed was delayed so we made that and changed at Cambridge where a shuttle to Kings Lynn arrived at our original time.

Once we were north of Ely going through the Fens, several flocks of Whooper Swans were seen feeding in fields by the railway. A few Roe Deer were seen along with a single Chinese Water Deer which was a surprise as we’d not seen one that far south before. At Kings Lynn we then got a bus to Hunstanton and checked in at our regular B&B.

As we’d arrived early enough in the afternoon there was time for a walk along the promenade and a look out into The Wash. One of the first birds we saw a juvenile Gannet sat on the sea; they’re relatively uncommon here and had probably been blown into The Wash by the strong NE wind. We also saw a few small flocks of Common Scoter, Brent Geese and some Pink-footed Geese. The tide was almost fully in so there were very few waders around. A short rain shower made us turn back earlier than normal and as it looked like there might be a few more on the way we headed for a café for coffee and cake.

Turnstone

We finally caught up with our other friend who’d only just arrived following a nightmare journey. He was on the train behind us but had got held up due to a broken-down train so arrived a couple of hours later. Later we went to our usual pub which was still bedecked in Halloween decorations.

Wednesday 4^th

We went out for some pre-breakfast birding on the beach. With the tide now low, there were more waders on the beach. In The Wash were several groups of Common Scoter. The juvenile Gannet was still here and some Fulmars were on the sea. A female Goosander flew in and landed just offshore, the first one we’d seen here.

Overhead, several skeins of Pink-footed Geese flew over but there was very little visible migration despite the seemingly good conditions. A couple of small groups of Starlings and one Blackbird were the only birds on the move.

After breakfast we took the bus to Holkham. We ambled along Lady Anne’s Drive, stopping to look through close flocks of Pink-feet and found a few Cattle Egrets. With the lure of a Hume’s Leaf-Warbler in the woods we elected to try that first rather than going to the beach.

Cattle Egret

Pink-footed Geese

Along the way we encountered a couple of flocks which contained Treecreeper and Firecrest. In the Jordan hide we just missed a Merlin but did see some White-fronted Geese. Next up was the Bluetail track where the Hume’s had been seen, although it was pretty elusive and most people had only managed to hear it call. After walking around the track a couple of times we also heard it but it was too far to see it and it had vanished by the time we got to where it had been.

It was sunny enough for the last of the season's Common Darters to be around

Next up was the beach; with a fresh NE breeze we expected to see a few birds on the sea but it was completely devoid of anything so we didn’t spend too long out. We walked back through the woods to the centre and had a hot drink there. We spent some more looking through the birds out on the marshes before heading back to the bus stop. There was one last good bird to be seen asI found a Barn Owl hunting over the marshes.

Thursday 5^th

Another pre-breakfast session at Hunstanton Beach. The wind had switched from NE to E but was still fresh. Unfortunately it didn’t aid migration and very little went over. The tide was a bit lower than yesterday so there were more waders on the beach, while out on the sea three Eiders were new for the trip.

After breakfast we took the bus to Titchwell and spent the rest of the day there. We started going along the East Trail where Bitterns had been reported and two of us saw one briefly fly in and drop into the reeds. Marsh Harriers and Red Kites flew over along with a single Peregrine.

We carried on up the main track and went into the first hide. Brent Geese were on the lagoon and I found a female Goosander, the first one we’d seen at the reserve. Among the waders was a solitary Avocet, normally there’s a decent number overwintering but the rest must have moved on.

Goosander

We found out that there were some Snow Buntings on the beach so we hurried on there. As we took shelter in the dunes from the wind to view the sea, two tame Snow Buntings suddenly appeared and slowly walked past us before flying down the beach.

There wasn’t much on the sea but we did add Red-throated Diver to the trip list. There were more waders on the beach with Knot, Sanderling and Bar-taied Godwits present. We went back to the hides for lunch and added a lot more birds. The best was a Woodcock which flew past the hide and found shelter in a reedy ditch.

This Muntjac wandered past the hide after the Woodcock flew past

We walked back to the centre and had a hot drink and a well deserved rest before heading out again on the reserve. Marsh Harriers had started coming into roost and flocks of waders and geese flew over before we’d had enough and headed back to the bus stop.

Friday 6th

Our last morning and there was time for a quick seawatch on Hunstanton Beach. A single Ringed Plover finally made it on to my trip list and a Red-throated Diver flew past, otherwise it was pretty much the same as previous mornings. There was still no sign of any migrants flying overhead, perhaps they’d already gone over in late October when the weather conditions were more suitable.

After breakfast we packed up and took the bus back to Kings Lynn. Fortunately, all the train problems from earlier in the week were cleared and we had a smooth run in to Kings Cross, seeing plenty of Roe Deer and Whooper Swans along the way.