Norfolk Review (Part 1).

For those who may have wondered about my recent blogging absence I can assure you that all is well in the Early Birder household. A mixture of family commitments, poor weather and hence a lack of photo opportunities plus a great deal of laziness on my part (early winter blues maybe!) led me to take an break from posting so regularly.

A week ago we travelled to the North Norfolk Coast to spend three days birdwatching with two of our closest friends. We initially meet up at Welney WWT and spent a cosy hour watching the wildlife from the heated observatory with masses of Wigeon, Teal, Pochard and Lapwings; a few Whooper Swans plus  distant views of 2 Marsh Harriers, Pintail, Shovellers and Black-tailed Godwits. Kestrel and Peregrine were also observed but regretfully no sign of the Glossy Ibis that had been present for a few days which had probably relocated somewhere nearby after everything was flushed earlier in the day by the Peregrine.   

Continuing our journey we headed to the Titchwell RSPB reserve and as usual the first encounter was a very friendly Robin waiting for a handout along the pathway to the reserve centre. 

The new Parrinder Hide is still under construction (completion due by the end of this month hopefully). Apart from Avocet, Lapwing, a few Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and Ruff plus a single Snipe there were very few waders to be found on the main pools. I did however locate a single Spotted Redshank on a tiny pool on the grazing marsh together with Little Egret and Curlew. A flock of Golden Plover flew over but didn't stop for a rest. During a subsequent visit we did locate a single Smew (Red-head) and a sizeable flock of Twite. With just an hour of daylight left we headed towards the beach.     

 Brent Geese flying off towards Thornham.

 Black-headed Gull.

 Herring Gull lazing about on the brackish lagoon.

A quick scan across the sea produced a number of small flotillas of Common Scoter a long way offshore. Along the retreating tideline we watched Oystercatchers, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstones and Dunlin feeding but too far away for any photos.

Just before we decided to head inland I did manage to capture a couple of images of Sanderling feeding hide up on the sandy beach.

I actually walked nearly a 100 yards to get ahead of a small group as they stopped briefly to search for a meal but every time I settled down to take aim their little legs went into overdrive as they skitted on past me!

The final highlight after logging 7 Marsh Harriers coming into roost was the gathering waves of Starlings wheeling back and forth over the reedbed; the numbers growing minute by minute until eventually they all dropped out of the sky and disappeared into their night-time home.

With the light fading fast and the temperature dropping to nearly freezing point we headed back to the cars for the short journey to our local hotel. The forecast for the next day was better than expected so during our tasty evening meal we decided on a visit to Cley ..... to be continued.    FAB.  

Norfolk Review (Part 2) - Titchwell

No holiday to the North Norfolk coast would be complete without spending some time at Titchwell RSPB Reserve so here are some images from our two seperate visits on day 3 when we met up with our friends Jean and Tony, also on holiday but staying further east near Wells, and day 6 when Anita and I dropped in for a late afternoon stroll. Once again there was a very fresh and breezy north-easterly wind and rain on the radar so we had to wrap up and protect ourselves from the elements in the middle of June! 

The resident friendly Robin very quickly perched on the car wing mirror to see if we had any scaps. My friend Keith at holdingmoments had this chap eating out of his hand earlier this year. As we headed out onto the reserve we had our first sightings of Marsh Harriers quartering over the reed beds plus a Red-Crested Pochard was located on one of the reed fringed pools with Teal, Gadwall, and Tufties.

Plenty of activity overhead with Swifts, Swallows and House Martins. Reed Buntings occasionally perched on the swaying reeds. From the hide Tony and I scoped out the distant ducks and waders including Gadwall, Shoveller, Shelduck, Pochard, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Cormorant, Little Egret, Knot, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Little Gull, Black-headed Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Common and Little Terns. Elsewhere we also saw Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Linnet, Meadow Pipits, Starlings, Wigeon, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler (heard only) and fleeting glimpses of a Bearded Tits flying into the reeds.

The main activity alongside the path were young Sedge Warblers perched precariously in the reed bed constantly begging for food from their overworked parents.

As expected there were lots of (Pied) Avocets on the freshwater lagoons. A very windy walk out onto the beach produced Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and Oystercatchers feeding along the tide line. With a rain front approaching and Tony getting hungry it was soon time for us to head back towards the Reserve Centre for much needed refreshments.

As we crossed the boardwalk a pair of Skylarks noisily alighted on the handrail allowing me a few quick shots.

Check out the length of those hind claws!

Another birder stopped us and asked if we were any good with wader ID to which Tony immediately responded by pointing at me.....no pressure I thought!  Through his scope I located the distant objective....larger than a Dunlin; showed large primary projection; a very slight decurved bill and the heavily streaked breastband that is sharply demarcated against the white unmarked underbelly...a PECTORAL Sandpiper. I reported this sighting at the Reserve Centre and was immeditely referred to the resident warden who suggested that it might be the same bird that was recorded at Frampton Marshes on the other side of The Wash and definitely an unusual record for Titchwell in the spring. (Usually only seen during Autumn return migration). Just a pity I couldn't get a photo as the bird didn't stop long after feeding and I think we were the only 3 people to spot this individual. 

The final encounter on our second visit was this Pheasant eagerly waiting for help from the Pigeon to cadge a titbit that may fall out of the feeder.

N.B. If anyone is thinking of visiting Titchwell later this year the path to the sea will be closed from August to October as work on the Coastal Change Project continues...not sure what effect this will have on all the returning migrants and wintering species that use this stretch of important marsh......FAB. 

Norfolk (Day 2)

The first port of call on day 2 was Salthouse to look for Snow and or Lapland Buntings but there was no evidence that yesterdays flock was still around.

We again struggled against the wind and walked towards the 'Little Eye', that overlooks a small freshwater pool behind the shingle seawall, and located a single Avocet and 2 Redshanks, Curlew in the fields and a Stonechat appeared briefly on one of the fence wires.

Turnstones were quite confiding as they fed around a small pool close to the car park. (For more pics please go to FABirding).

Our main location today was the RSPB reserve at Titchwell. The marsh is under increasing pressure as the sea continues to erode the land and The Coastal Project has commenced which will drastically change the landscape but hopefully protect the freshwater marshes and specific breeding species such as the Bittern.

I regret that I didn't take many photos as it was difficult battling against the constant high winds.

Black-tailed Godwit

Digiscoped view of a wet and bedraggled Little Egret.

Oystercatcher on the beach.

Distant male Red-breasted Merganser on the sea just before a heavy shower forced us to head back to the centre for refreshments and a bit of retail therapy.

Other species seen at Titwell included: Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Wren, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, Magpie, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Redwing, Crow, Jackdaw, Avocets, Cormorant, Coot, Moorhen, Curlew, Red-throated and Great Northern Diver, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shelduck, Shoveller, Dunlin, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Knot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Creasted Grebe, Little Grebes, Slavonian Grebe, Lapwing and Brent Geese plus a brief glimpse of a Bearded Tit as it dropped deep into one of the reedbeds.

Our mid afternoon walk took us across the tidal marsh from Thorham to Holme. A mixed small flock of finches were seen flying around and then seemed to disappear into the vegetation. Using the scope I eventually located them and first to reveal itself was a Lapland Bunting (ID was its reddish brown wing panel framed by narrow white wing bars), and then a Linnet but the others were very indistictive, suggesting Twite? As the flock moved on to its next hideaway we distinctly heard the 'tveeiht..tveeiht' calls confirming that they were indeed Twite.  Two other mature gentlemen birders had been searching during their walk and were delighted to get a reasonable but brief view through my scope before the flock finally flew far away.

Thornham Marsh at low tide.

I hate to think how much energy was expended to insert these new 6 foot poles into the sand to provide a natural barrier to help prevent the constant errosion of the dunes at Holme by the sea!

Overhead a flock of Pink-footed Geese were moving to their overnight resting place.

Our return walk to Thornham was graced with another beautiful sunset over the marshes towards Holme.

See you next on Day 3.  FAB