DAY OUT: Blakeney Point, Norfolk
Echoes across the marsh
As autumn begins in this North Norfolk reserve, wildfowl and waders arrive in their thousands, joined by flocks of snow buntings, continental thrushes and the occasional hen harrier, says Ajay Tegala
After the bustle of summertime, the National Trust’s Blakeney National Nature Reserve comes into its own for autumn. Saltmarsh vegetation turns to shades of russet, rivalled only by fiery sunset skies.
The autumn moon reflected in the harbour is a peaceful sight. Although the place is anything but quiet. Curlew calls echo across the marsh, punctuated by resident redshanks. These wader calls are too beautiful to be haunting.
The seasonal soundtrack also includes wildfowl fresh from their northern breeding grounds; the whistling of wigeon can be heard alongside the soft burbling of Brent geese.
Look for skeins of geese arriving from their breeding grounds in Iceland. This mediumsized goose is pinkishgrey with a dark head, pink bill and pink feet.
ROAMING THE POINT
Hour-long boat trips from Morston Quay will take you through the harbour to the end of Blakeney Point and back. Keep your eyes peeled for pintail ducks.
Morston’s look-out tower, above the National Trust’s information centre, is a great place to set up a telescope and scan the harbour for wildfowl and waders. You might spot a hunting barn owl, perhaps a spoonbill flying over, or even the odd hen harrier heading west to roost at Stiffkey with resident marsh harriers.
For the more adventurous, a trudge along the shingle spit of Blakeney Point itself has the potential to be rewarding. Easterly winds may produce migrants from across the North Sea. When conditions are right, there can be large ‘falls’ of continental thrushes.
Walk out westwards from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Cley Beach car park. Birds sheltering in shrubby sea-blite bushes will most likely be European arrivals. Flocks of snow buntings are synonymous with the shingle at this time of year. If you’re really lucky, there could be shorelarks, too. Strong onshore winds in October can make for good sea-watching.
When I was a National Trust ranger on the reserve, I would, if time allowed, help record each migrant on the point. The Plantation, not far from the Lifeboat House, is a prime spot. From the end of October, grey seals pup at Blakeney, so access to the beach and parts of the dunes is restricted for their protection. The best way to see seals is by boat from Morston in mid/late November. But, for birds, be brave and grab your walking boots.
Tune in
In an episode of BBC Radio Four’s Living World, Ajay and Trai Anfield walk along Blakeney Point. bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03sr5qx
National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala is the author of The Unique Life of a Ranger.