Moths

Back on the reserve at Titchwell this morning at 6am. Chinese water deer feeding was a nice site as I entered the path. Spoonbills, Cormorants and Egyptian Geese flew over and a Marsh Harrier hunted as the sun came up.
At the sea two Eider and a Common Scoter in the same place I left them yesterday which seems quite amazing. Lot's of Turnstone and several more Grey Plover patrol the beach with the other waders.
Lot;s of Gannets on the move but it's calm and not much else moves by so I head back to see if the Baird's has returned after it was flushed last night by first a Sprawk and then a Hobby.
After searching for an hour and finding Wood Sandpiper and two Curlew Sandpipers I gave up and decided to head home for breakfast. As I reached the visitor centre the warden was given a talk on the moths that had been caught last night so I hung around and grabbed a few photos of some of the more unusual ones.



Burnished Brass Moth

Emerald Green

Angle Shades Moth

After a nice breakfast I headed down to Sheringham and took in the 1940's railway which was good.
Followed that with a nice walk around town which involved some pastry and Guinness I'm afraid and a little sea watching which resulted in Gannets and Terns only.
On the return leg I took in a walk for the dog at Cley which she enjoyed and found something smelly to roll in. (Dead fish or something of that nature....she loved it) and we took a stroll across the marsh at Morston to view Blakeney Point.
Then the rain came down so we parked up at Brancaster Staithe to watch from the car and had good views of Gulls, Turnstone, Redshank, LRP and eight Spoonbill.



Sheringham

Morstan Quay view over to Blakeney Point

BH Gull

Common Gull

Another nice day in Norfolk.

Titchwell Baird's Sandpiper revisited

Popped over to the reserve again this morning where I had it to myself from 6am until 7am when other birders joined me.
In the hour from 6am I had great views of the Bairds Sandpiper as it came in with a small flock of LRP's and proceeded to feed twenty feet from the hide. I took a record shot but it was still pretty dark so the image is very grainy to say the least but proof that it came closer than it had all day yesterday.

Bairds Sandpiper

Pink Footed Geese flew off to feed and Spoonbills flew overhead.
The Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper showed well with the Dunlin and  a Bar Tailed Godwit dropped in to feed with the Black Tails for a short while.

A Snipe splashed about just in front of the hide and a small group of Bearded Tits pinged along the reed bed.
Another birder located a Pied Flycatcher at the edge of the Meadow trail but I failed to see it.

A cracking couple of hours before breakfast and I have to say I love it here especially when I have the whole reserve to myself.

Freshmarsh Titchwell

After a little retail therapy for the wife and a little lunch on the sea front at Wells Next the sea I find myself back at Titchwell where after a few minutes in the hide I decide that with the wind picking up a sea watch is in order.
A good couple of hours in good company revealed a distant Balearic Shearwater on my first watch followed by a close Manx Shearwater on my second shift. Two Great Skua came together and almost flew over our heads. Several Arctic Skua flew past very close top the shoreline and Gannets dived in the distance. Close in we had two Eider ducks and a Common Scoter whilst several Scoter flew past. A diver flew past (possible RT) and a couple of GC Grebes also I called as an Auk flew west. (Opinion was for Guillemot but I'm not sure as it was a long way out)
On the wader front some Grey Plover with one male in full breeding plumage really looking good, lot's of Sanderling, Knot, Oyster Catcher, Barwits etc and good numbers of Spotted Redshank and Greenshank along with a good few Snipe on Brackish Marsh.

All in all a very enjoyable afternoons birding.

Sea Watching from Titchwell



The new viewing screen over Fresh Marsh

Baird's Sandpiper Titchwell

Titchwell tide line

So I've had three hours at Titchwell, I've popped home for breakfast and then we decide we'll walk the dog. Best place to walk the dog has to be Titchwell so by 10.30am I'm back on the reserve and as we walk along the track towards the first hide a group of birders are scoping a distant flock so I ask the obvious "anything good guys" "A Baird's Sandpiper" they reply and within seconds I'm peering through one of their scopes at only my second ever Baird's (first being two years ago at Holland Haven, I had to check my Bubo listing for that) but it's a first for the year so I'm delighted with it. I then get a detailed lesson on telling Baird's from White Rumped by the warden which is useful for future assistance if ever I'm lucky enough to stumble upon one.

The bird is quite obvious being smaller and longer than Dunlin. Lacks the White rump and seems to have a more obvious stripe behind the eye. He says if you see something smaller than a Dunlin it'll be a Stint or a Peep. Once established wing length it's narrowed down to WRS or BS.
A very good little lesson.

A quick return to the visitor centre for a snack and Coffee and time to check out the new ATX scopes before returning to the reserve for some watching from the footpath bench.

Titchwell Twitch

An Osprey flies over the reserve which is always nice and I help the warden locate the Curlew Sandpiper which does my cudos no harm at all. Then I manage to pick out the Baird's in the bins when the scope brigade are struggling which is greeted with no shortage of thank yous.

As we leave I find seven Spotted Red Shank and a tiny Water Shrew along the path.

Water Shrew

The Mariners Arms Hunstanton provides lunch and ale. A nice spot to eat over looking the bay where kite surfers are doing there thing below to entertain us while we eat.

Another cracking day in Norfolk and bird 262 for the year.



Dunlin, Snipe, Pied Wag and Ruff

Titchwell all to myself

As I'm staying pretty much on the reserve I'm on site for sun rise this morning and have the whole reserve all to myself which is fantastic.

I walk to the first hide and stop to see what's about. Four Spoonbill on Freshmarsh and the light is golden as the sun rises across the marsh.

Sunrise over Freshmarsh

Dunlin, Blacktailed Godwit, Knot, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Avocet, Snipe, Ruff and Redshank all feed infront of the hide along with an assortment of ducks. Five Egyptian geese fly over and Egrets are also on the move. There's a large flock of gulls coming and going and a male Marsh Harrier hunts the reed bed.
The whole place is lit up Gold by the rising sun.



Gold

I leave the hide intent on being on the beach nice and early but as I get to the next lagoon seven more Spoonbill take flight from close in and I grab a record shot as they depart. Wish I'd known they were there as I'd have crept up to watch them feed for a while.
Great birds to see and great to think they now breed in Norfolk too.



Spoonbills

Further along I see a nice Spotted Redshank feeding. Mipits and Linnets are very active too.
I reach the beach and the tides is right out so I walk to the shore line across the sand.
Here I see Sandling, Oyster Catcher, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Godwits, Knot, lot's of gulls and Gannets are everywhere. I pick out three Arctic Skua flying by and a possible Manx Shearwater at a distance.
Lot's of waders are coming in off the sea in small clouds.

As I walk back I hear Snipe and look up to see seven flying over head.

Back in the hide and with the sun now a little higher I hope to catch a couple of shots of the birds as they feed. As I scan I find a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper feeding with the Dunlin.

A very nice three hours birding now it's 9am and time for breakfast....luckily I'm only two minutes from home.

Black Tailed Godwit Titchwell

White-Rumped Sandpiper Ouse Wash RSPB

The wife's on a mission today to see how many craft shops she can visit in a day and with one being in Wisbech 10 miles from the reported White-Rumped Sandpiper at Ouse I feel the need to add it to today's shopping list and while she has her heart set on some fancy paper and pens etc I have only one thing on my list and it's a lifer.

Ouse Wash. There's a WR Sandpiper out there.

Arriving at the reserve we cross the river and luckily the bird has been reported from Kingfisher hide which happens to be the first and more importantly the nearest hide so Suzanne and Tia accompany me on the short walk. The hide is full but nobody has the bird in scope partly because it's a hard bird to pick out amongst the Dunlin and partly because the place is awash with other species. (If you'll pardon the pun)

Spoonbill, Egrets, Ruff, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Turnstone (a rarity for Cambridgeshire I'm told) Lot's of Grey Heron but I failed to find the reported Cranes or Glossy Ibis.

Eventually by working with two other birders we find the WRS amongst a small group of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. It's a little cracker and before long the whole hide gets on the bird.

I leave happy but after shopping I feel the need for a little more birding so a stop at Snettisham gives me my fix.

Snettisham

First visit here, must have walked about 2 miles to the first hide on the beach to find large groups of Knot, Golden Plover, Pink Footed Geese, Cormorants, Redshank etc. Not great birds but the thing about this place is quantity not quality.
The only reason I'd make the long walk again would be for a hide tide visit to see the spectacular bird movements on the rising tide or for the Geese moving off to feed in the morning but I'll need to erase the memory of today's walk first.
Beer needed now!

Here come the winter visitors

Back at Holme this morning. On site for 6am and again watching a glorious sunrise.
Two Barn Howls hunt over the misty fields. A pair of Marsh Harrier join them and a young Peregrine is seen.
A single Turtle Dove and again the sea is busy with Gannets and a single diver flies through (BT I think)

Great place.....my new favourite!

Lot's of waders feeding on the beach then 24 Pink Foots fly over heading west. A party of 30 Snipe head over following the coast line west and a cloud of Lapwing follow.
As these birds arrive in numbers the Swallows and House Martins are gathering in readiness to depart.
A lone Swift is seen and then a Whimbrel flies over.
Now down to the serious business.....I want a better view of the Barred Warbler.
I parked up near the bushes it was seen yesterday more so I could use the car to rest my bad back on.

Blackcaps, Whitethroat, Lesser WT, Garden Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Robin, Dunnock all show well. A Yellow Wagtail flies over and a Tree Pipit drops in for a brief rest before moving on.

I can see movement in the target bush, something in there. I get glimpses of the Barred Warbler for over an hour then I get a good view as it stands up before flying off. Shortly after the bird flies back in only this time it sits on top of a Hawthorn sunning itself for about five minutes and I get one of those rare "showing well" moments as far as Barred Warbler goes anyway.

Happy with that I head of home to sort breakfast for me and the good lady. The dog's still knackered from yesterdays outing and might need a little time before I wake her for todays trip.

Onwards and upwards!



Barred Warbler Twitchers from yesterday...it was a little quieter this morning

Barred Warbler Holme

Up early today and out the door for 6am. I make the 3 mile drive to Holme and I'm alone on the dunes before sun up and this means I get to witness a cracking sun rise.

Sun Rise Holme

So I'm on the reserve and I have it all to my self. I'm searching the bushes along the Dunes with Barred Warbler my target.
I pick up Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Meadow Pipit. Two Barn Owls hunt across from the car park. I stop to watch a Stoat hunting Rabbit.
I'm joined by another birder and we do a little sea watching picking out stacks of Gannet, A few Arctic Skua a possible Pomarine and two Bonxies before a small group of Scoters pass close in. The other guy has a Manx Sheawater but I missed it. We have waders all along the shore and they include Sanderling, Barwit, Godwit, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Oyster Catcher, Lapwing, Redshank and Greenshank.
We watch a seal pass by and a Sparrowhawk stops to check out the Mipits but flies off empty handed.
We pick out five Turtle Doves and some are juvenile which is good to see.
As I leave I pick up a Whinchat but another search around the bushes reveals no Barred Warbler.

Home for Breakfast then it's off to Cley where I pick up the Pectoral Sand which shows really well from the hides.  A pheasant poses for a pic.

A nice lunch break follows at the Dun Cow. (Great pub but mobbed today because the weathers so good)
Then news breaks that the Barred Warbler has been located so we journey back.

I plot up with the small crowd while Suzanne enjoys some time with her latest book.
After half an hour the bird pops up but it's all very brief. Another half an hour I watch it make it's way along the bushes and out of site and it's another half an hour before it flies back in but dissapoints as it doesn't feed in view again.
So in two hours I've had three views yet I find myself wanting more...maybe tomorrow?

Right now a quick walk round the dunes with Tia and it's off for some window shopping in Hunstanton before dinner.

With dinner done and still an hour of daylight I pop across to Titchwell to watch the sun set.


Sunset Titchwell

Titchwell reveals some great birds too with 8 Spoonbill in view (23 reported today) 5 Marsh Harriers fly over and 50+ Egrets come in to roost from the west. Good wader numbers. Bearded Tits are seen and a Chinese Water Deer plays in the low reeds....cracking little guy with ears like a teddy bear.
Before I leave I witness 40 plus Pink Footed Geese flying in off the sea.

Right now home for a Lager and a little X Factor.