A day out at Titchwell

I called the Jims and arranged a day out at Titchwell but needed to be home early as my Grandson had promised me a visit so we left at 5.30 to arrive for first light in Norfolk. It was a joy to be out but the weather has turned and with the coastal breeze it was quite cold. We set off down the west path to view the new scrapes recently created on freshmarsh and it would appear they are going to get lot's of use from the many waders that use the shorelines to feed. A large flock of Golden Plover rested on the new islands along with Lapwings, Avocets and small numbers of Knot and Dunlin. In the distance we could pick out Ruff, Barwits and Blackwits along with a few Redshank. A Grey Phalarope gave us all a year tick as it swam in circles reasonably close to the footpath. A couple of Pink-footed Geese flew over calling to add a frustratingly late year tick. A single Marsh Harrier quartered the marsh and a Snipe was flushed. The volunteer marsh had high water levels and held very little birdlife but there was a decent roost on Tidal marsh which included Curlew, Greenshank, Knot and Turnstone before I spotted a Guillemot preening close to the bank. The bird started to dive and would swim quite a distance under water before finally making its way back to the sea.

Titchwell and the new scrapes

At the beach we walked towards Thornham hoping to chance upon the Purple Sandpiper that's been seen and it didn't take long to find it. I plotted up behind a small boat and waited hoping the bird would come closer and sure enough the plan worked and I managed some very satisfying shots of it. I also got lucky when Jim called a Snow Bunting in the distance and this too came running down the beach and got very close to where I was sitting before another flock of eleven birds dropped to the beach but quickly took flight again towards Thornham point. The Sanderling entertained as they do running along the tide line feeding and a couple of hours watching the sea gave us another year tick with a smart Slavonian Grebe among the many Great Crested. A Small flock of Scoters were seen and a few Gannets, Mergansers and Red-throated Divers. Two small birds flew past in the turbines that were most probably Little Auk but distance prevented a positive ID on them. Hundreds of Starling came in off in small groups but sadly only appeared to be carrying a few Mipits with them.

Me hiding behind the boat for the Purple Sandpiper

My reward as the Sandpiper came ever closer

Purple Sandpiper

Snow Bunting

Sanderling

Sanderling

Purple Sandpiper

The walk back presented another Marsh Harrier and good views of the Phalarope. A Water Rail popped out briefly as we sat watching the Phalarope to make for a splendid day out on the Norfolk coast. To be honest I can't wait to do it all again.

A tiny Grey Phalarope on freshmarsh

A Guillemot on Tidal marsh

Guillemot

So confiding this guy had put don the camera and use his phone

Water Rail

Year list now 225 and still 13 short of my all time worst of 238 in 2010

Nice chatting to Ray who is a volunteer at Titchwell and has good stories of life on the Norfolk coast and the birds he's encountered there especially with his time as a golf pro which gave him garden ticks like Leach's storm Petrel, Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Little Auk actually in the garden one year. (think he said his garden list for the golf house was 225)