Local patch list

The vast number of birds drawn to The Wash are the main attractions during the winter months. Pink-footed Geese roost out on the mud and are best viewed during the early mornings when they leave their roost to return to feed on winter sugarbeet and other nearby fields. Large numbers of Teal and Pintail can be found amongst the tidal creeks with the pits holding good numbers of Goldeneye and Little Grebe as well as regular Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser. At this time of year the pits offer one of the most reliable sights in N Norfolk for Kingfishers. The end hide (Sanctuary) is probably the best spot to wait as the birds regularly return to rest at the back of the Suaeda (Shrubby sea blite) bushes below and left of the hide. Any of the other branches/brambles may provide them with a suitable perch (check out the area around the boat underneath the 2nd hide). The huge number of ducks and wading birds, along with the grassy areas and saltmarsh, inevitably attracts raptors. Along with Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier and Barn Owl, Peregrine, Short eared Owl and Hen Harrier can be encountered on a regular basis.


Red-throated Diver
Little Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Fulmar
Gannet
Cormorant
Little Egret
Grey Heron
White Stork
Spoonbill
Mute Swan
Whooper Swan
Bewick's Swan
White-fronted Goose
Pink-footed Goose
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Snow Goose (Roosting with Pink footed Geese on The Wash)
Barnacle Goose
Red-breasted Goose
Brent Goose (Including Pale bellied Brent Goose and Back Brant)
Shellduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Pintail
Shoveler
Wigeon
Teal
Garganey
Pochard
Scaup
Tufted Duck
Eider
Common Scoter
Velvet Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Goldeneye
Smew
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Osprey
Red Kite
Black Kite
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Rough-legged Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Goshawk
Kestrel
Hobby
Peregrine
Merlin
Red-legged Partridge
Grey Partridge
Quail (Heard only)
Pheasant
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Common Crane
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Dotterel
Greater Sand Plover
Grey Plover
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Sanderling
Little Stint
Pectoral Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Ruff
Woodcock
Snipe
Jack Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Whimbrel
Spotted Redshank
Redshank
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Turnstone
Great Skua
Arctic Skua
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Little Gull
Kittiwake
Little Tern
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Black Tern
Little Auk
Guillemot
Razorbill
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove
Cuckoo
Tawny Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Little Owl
Barn Owl
Swift
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Wryneck
Skylark
Woodlark
Shorelark
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Rock Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Tree Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Wren
Waxwing
Dunnock
Robin
Redstart
Black Redstart
Wheatear
Stonechat
Whinchat
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Fieldfare
Blackbird
Ring Ouzel
Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Dartford Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Yellow-browed Warbler
Goldcrest
Spotted Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Marsh Tit
Willow Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Bearded Tit
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Great Grey Shrike
Magpie
Jay
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Chaffinch
Brambling
Linnet
Lesser Redpoll
Mealy Redpoll
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Siskin
Serin
Bullfinch
Hawfinch
Crossbill
Reed Bunting
Little Bunting
Yellowhammer
Snow Bunting
Corn Bunting