Holkham National Nature Reserve (Day Trip)

Summary

The Holkham Estate is becoming a major tour de force in the suite of protected areas that lie along the north Norfolk coast. The range of habitats available to visit can only be briefly dipped into on a single day trip, but we’ll do our best to cover what we can, while enjoying some of the best wildlife that the area has to offer. Park woodland of ancient oaks holds all the usual woodland birds, including Nuthatch, Treecreeper and the very elusive Hawfinch, while the landscaped lake has recently attracted breeding Barnacle Geese. Across the coastal grazing marshes may be found a nice range of waterfowl during winter visits, while a few Brent and Pink-footed Geese linger well into spring. But the most exciting aspect of the grazing marshes during spring and summer will be the breeding colony of herons and egrets that has gone from strength to strength. Little, Great and Cattle Egret have all bred here in recent years and Eurasian Spoonbills also recently joined the party. 

Beyond the marshes lie pinewoods, coastal dunes and extensive sandflats out to the sea, all of which offer amazing wildlife opportunities, especially for migrant birds. A range of chats, wheatears, thrushes and warblers, Firecrest and Goldcrest and much more may be found during autumn migration, while there’s always a nice array of plants on offer, from a plethora of different pine species to coastal dune and saltmarsh plants, several orchid species and the unusual looking Yellow Figwort, among many others. Autumn also has the added attraction of all the pomp and bluster of the Fallow Deer rutting season.

Where we go and what we see will vary according to season, but we’ll always be sure to seek out the prime locations and to enjoy a wide cross-section of what this excellent venue has to offer.

Led by naturalist Mike Crewe or John Williamson, the tour will start from the village car park. We may drive to another location during the course of the day, but only within 5 miles of our start point and aiming to finish our day at 5pm (or prior to sunset, whichever is earlier). Walks may be up to 3-4 miles over the course of the day but will be easy on dirt trails, occasionally with the odd stile to climb over. You should allow up to £10 for local parking fees (in many cases it will be less).

• Remarkable variety of protected habitats
• Grey Herons, egrets and Spoonbills breeding
• Migrant birds according to season
• An extravaganza of geese!
• Interesting and rare flora, insects and more… 
• Led by an expert naturalist guide