The birds of Barnham Broom

I hear a sad little call and look up. Without binoculars I see a large finch with black head, crimson breast, white rump and black tail flying overhead. A similar bird but with greenish breast follows. Bullfinches are one of my favourite birds here at Barnham Broom.

Although 30 miles inland from the north Norfolk coast, this locality has surprised me by being very good for birds. I am no expert but enjoy early morning walks with my binoculars.

Finches in the woods

My usual route has been along the roads and footpaths between Barnham Broom golf club and the villages of Barford and Colton. Much of it is mixed mainly deciduous woodland and the low-lying areas near the river Yare are marshy.

My visits have been in early March and December.

Among the less common birds I have enjoyed watching are four finches: bullfinch, redpoll, siskin and an occasional brambling. Bullfinches are plentiful here and I have once seen eight appear from one bush. I hear them every morning and see them on most. The other three finches feed in mixed flocks of 80 or so.

Delightful surprise

Goldcrests are plentiful and I have seen and heard nuthatches most mornings. There are also marsh tits and tree creepers. A pair of barn owls sometimes appears, and I have seen buzzards, sparrowhawks and kestrels, and heard tawny owls.

Sometimes there are barnacle and Egyptian geese with the Canada geese and greylag. There are green and great spotted woodpeckers, but I have yet to see lesser spotted.

Skylarks and meadow pipits were common in March but seem to have fled last winter’s very cold weather. I have also seen yellowhammers. A delightful surprise this time has been finding two waxwings in the car park oaks.

Deer on the golf course

When the golfers have finished in the evenings, muntjac deer come on the course, and early in the mornings I have seen roe deer on the fairways and nearby fields, and a stoat.

No doubt there are lots of other interesting creatures that I have not spotted, for instance there has to be a kingfisher and probably otters. Site manager Shirley Carr is enthusiastic and has organised a bird track recording site with the British Trust for Ornithology called Barnham Broom. She is very fortunate in having marsh tits and greater spotted woodpeckers coming to her garden bird table. If you are staying here and are interested in birds, do talk to her about this. She will be very pleased to advise you.