Skip to main content

Binham Priory and Warham Greens

Binham Priory was another historical site I was yet to visit, and with such stunning skies I felt confident I could take in some local history and up the new list too. The Priory itself was set amongst high ground to the north of the village, and along with the pillars and ruins the church itself is still used today for local services. I am not a religious person, but I do enjoy visiting churches and can't help but get caught up in the moment, imaging what might have been occurring here 900 years ago at its inception. There are a few finds inside on display, flint tool heads, even a coffin.
Walking amongst the ruins, I was especially pleased to spot a Buzzard alighting in a bare tree, and then it joined two more on the breeze. Other new birds for my historical sites list included Stock Dove, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch and Collared Dove. 

Of note driving from home to the north coast, 1 Red Kite near Lenwade, and 4 more Buzzard at various localities. 

Moving onto Salthouse, we had lunch at Cookies Crabshack, the usual Crab salad going down a treat. I look forward to a Summer visit when we can sit out the front and admire the view across the marshes. With plenty of light in the day, we headed to Blakeney and whilst I didn't know quite where to look for the reported BNG and GNDs, we saw a smattering of the expected Waders, tonnes of Brents and bumped into my cousin Ben and Uncle Colin who were after the Lapland Buntings, which they got albeit in flight. We instead headed back to the car, and from Blakeney Guildhall I added Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone and Cormorant to the aforementioned 'historic' list. 

Final stop of the day was Warham Greens, which was superb and offered us good views of 4 Hen Harriers, including 1 male. Walking back to the car as the Brents came over calling was, as always, magic. 

 Binham Priory
 Blakeney Harbour
Grey Plover 
Brents over Warham

Comments

  1. Mike11 January 2016 at 14:30

    Binham is worth repeated visits, one late summer day the place was buzzing with Hirundines. Pied Wags nest in the walls, and Owls are easy to come by too. Never seems too busy either!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jim11 January 2016 at 22:49

    Thanks Mike, a mid-summer visit definitely in order for here and any other sites too. Be great to get a feel for the place then, and get an idea of breeders in site.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Grey Phalarope- a new patch bird

The 7th of April was another bitterly cold Spring day, hats and gloves in prime position on pegs and in bags ready to be deployed. A few brave Garganey have been reported north of the river, but it was a bird from the north itself that had me rushing for the thermals and the telescope late in the day.  I was thankful for the local Whatsapp group who were quick to report that a Grey Phalarope had been seen on Rockland Broad. This tiny Wader would have come in on the northerlies over the last few days, although to grace one of the broads is a real surprise, since most stick pretty close to the coast before moving on. Indeed, my experience of the birds has usually been on a sea watch in the Autumn, waves crashing and foam flying, my eyes straining to pick them out as they fly low just above the surf. They are fantastic birds, and now one was here on the patch. I had a brief panic when I realised my scope was in my car at the garage (thankfully I do have a much older spare) but once the ho
Post a Comment
Read more

Foulden Common- Skippers and a Hairstreak

Been meaning to get to Foulden Common for what feels like years, and it probably is that in terms of timescale! I recall being poorly last Spring, and my days put aside for a Butterfly hunt there were postponed. Before long, the mid-summer doldrums had set in and all thought of Norfolk's scarce Skipper species were put on hold until 2019.  And so despite the overcast conditions and lack of some Bird Therapy, I headed out this morning. Arriving from the direction of Mundford, travelling through Foulden village and approaching an S bend, I noticed a small bowl-shaped pull in. Doubling back I parked up, walked through two gates and began searching the common land. The first 45 minutes had me cursing the lack of sun and planning my next free morning before returning to work. A pair of Common Blue and Small Copper gave some hope, and a hoarse Cuckoo and 2+ Garden Warbler were clearly harbingers of warmer fronts moving in.  As the sun threatened to bust through the clouds, I pic
Post a Comment
Read more

Claxton-on-sea!

 Although it was not quite the Christmas we wanted here in the valley, the rain has bought its own gift. A grim vision of the future, perhaps. But right now, the patch is peaking and is alive with birds, and for that I am thankful. On Christmas eve, it was a job to navigate away from the village due to standing water that had left abandoned cars and undelivered presents in its wake. The rain had been persistent and unforgiving, the ground, saturated. Over on the marsh, where there had once been a muddy puddle amongst the pasture, a city had sprung from the leak, with a plethora of new occupants noisily laying claim to a patch of sodden marsh. Wigeon and Black-headed Gulls in their thousands now wheeled and whistled over and amongst the newly formed pools, accompanied by smaller numbers of Teal and Shoveler. A flock of two hundred-strong Lapwing enjoyed feeding on the less damp spots where green grass was still exposed, and thrown in for good measure have been a couple of Ruff, the firs
4 comments
Read more