Urban birding
David Lindo visits a fine English city where the birding really does ‘cut the mustard’
David Lindo heads to Norfolk for some urban birding in its capital city of Norwich
Norwich, the capital city of the birding hotspot that is Norfolk, is perhaps more synonymous with Delia Smith, Alan Partridge and Colman’s Mustard. Most birders bypass it in favour of the possibilities of good birding on the North Norfolk coast. The city sits on the River Wensum, itself a tributary of the River Yare. Although not well known as an urban birding centre, there is a thriving scene in Norwich. Many of the city’s birders indulge in a garden year list challenge. The winner in 2017 collated an impressive 90 species. There is also regular daily coverage at UEA Broad in the grounds of the University of East Anglia. Naturally, the bulk of the observers at this well-known site are students. In reality, the ‘Broad’ is a lake with reedy fringes and it has accumulated a pretty impressive list over the years. It’s a magnet for waterfowl and is a great spot for wintering Goosander. These days, this handsome sawbill is an irregular sight. The gulls that collect here during the winter are also worth sifting through. The usual suspects include plentiful Black-headed Gulls but a transatlantic Ring-billed Gull has been discovered here and, recently, a Caspian Gull was found on the nearby playing fields. Other winter birds to look out for here include redpolls and Siskin at the feeding station at the eastern end of the Broad and both Brambling and Waxwing get reported, too. During the summer, the large reedbeds attracts Sedge and Reed Warblers, while nearby, in the more wooded areas, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat can be found. Don’t forget to look up for passing Hobby and Buzzard.
Woodland birds
There are also other less well-known sites within Norwich to explore. One such location is Mousehold Heath, an historic area in the north-east of the city. Dubbed by the locals as the ‘country in the city’ its 200-or-so acres largely comprise woodland, although a small heathland area still exists. This site attracts a healthy breeding population of the more common warblers, though in days of old, it also held breeding Wood Warbler. This gorgeous warbler is all but extinct as a breeding bird in East Anglia and is indeed now a description species in Norfolk. Expect to see the usual woodland tits, thrushes and Treecreeper in this area. The Marriots Way woodland running from the city centre is the original location of the Norwich train station and is an excellent refuge for birds, particularly during the winter. The woods screen the river and riverside park from the adjacent industrial and retail units. It is always a good spot for Chiffchaffs in winter, and it has the distinct feel of a site that with enough coverage could produce a decent rare warbler. Keep an eye out for Treecreeper, Siskins, Brambling and the occasional Firecrest. Also, Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail and Water Rail can all be found on and along the river. Controversially, several recent sightings of Ring-necked Parakeet have come from this stretch of the River Wensum. Whitlingham Broad is another good area to visit. Again the term ‘Broad’ is a bit of a misnomer as it is in reality an old gravel pit. The site held Norfolk’s second ever Black-and-white Warbler in November 1996. It must have been amazing for the gathered hordes of twitchers who watched this Nearctic
mega foraging through the trees in its unique Treecreeper-like fashion. More reliable are the breeding Reed and Sedge Warblers and the wintering waterfowl that include Tufted Duck and Pochard and occasionally, among them a much rarer Scaup. It has also hosted Bitterns in recent winters and regularly has Jack Snipe. Thorpe Marsh adjacent to Whitlingham also contains a water body now known as St Andrews Broad, and last winter there was a Black-necked Grebe, resident for a while. Also well worth a visit is Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Thorpe Marshes. It is immediately east of Whitlingham Broad, but reached from the north side of the River Yare. Check the NWT website for details of sightings, but it has breeding warblers include Cetti’s, plus plentiful ducks, and Snipe (and occasionally Jack Snipe, in winter) are to be found. Being on the river valley, it is also good for observing migration.
Look for Waxwing
If you are wandering through Norwich during a good Waxwing winter, it could be worth checking out Dussindale in the southern suburbs. There are good stands of berry-laden bushes in the front gardens although recent winters have not proven to be great for attracting these northern, berry-gobbling beauties. The bushes alongside the River Wensum near the city centre are also worth a gander as they have harboured gems like Firecrests. Standing near the Cow Tower, a ruined military structure dating back to the 14th Century, could result in a Kingfisher sighting. More unusual reports over the years have included Bewick’s Swan, Shag, Goosander and Black-throated Diver. Norwich has finally joined the league of British Peregrine cities, with The Close, the 44-acre area surrounding the cathedral, often being patronised by a pair that perch on the iconic steeple, a prominent feature of the city skyline.