Titchwell - Norfolk

On Tuesday i was on the reserve just as light was breaking, the bird noise in the distance could be heard from the car park. Eagerly anticipating hitting the beach before meeting with my parents at 9.30, i took a quick walk down the main path, not really paying too much attention to what was going on around me.

Marsh Harriers, Skylarks, Teal, Wigeon, Little Egret about 2500 Golden Plover to name a few on the way down.

Upon reaching the beach i stood and took a look at the shore line; lots of Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Curlew & Redshank.

The previous day on the way up the pager had gone off for a Desert Wheatear for which i called my parents and they connected with it just off the end of the path way with many others. I had forgotten about this so far this morning until a guy appeared asking if i had seen it.

We had a chat and both decided to head left down the beach for a bit as the bird had so far been seen bewteen Holme & Titchwell. After about three quarters of a mile with numerous stops looking ahead for the bird i made may marker and advised him i wasnt going any further than the green peice of rubbish in the sea weed due to having to meet back in the car park with my parents at 9.30am. We stopped and after a couple of minutes scanning ahead i found the Wheatear. A great looking bird with its black eye mask  and throat clearly on show.

Titchwell Beach - Lee's Local Birding

Titchwell beach - Lee's Local Birding

I managed to get 3 digiscoped shots and as per usual, they were awfull. In fact so bad the Wheatear wasnt actually in any of them - o well, i'll improve i hope in time.

3 awful shots of a Desert Wheatear - actually worse than that its not in any shot

Heading back to me the parents we all had a good day with 56 different species; another three life ticks for me: the Desert Wheatear, two Goosanders and three Eiders.

Brent Geese heading over Thornham Marsh

Lee's Local Birding - view over reserve from main path

Lee's Local Birding

We tried to find the Yellow Browed Warbler that had been there for about 3 weeks now and had been seen that day around the picnic area; along with lots of others unfortunatley i didnt get it however all in all i got 5 Life ticks for the day and half in Norfolk along with one i hadnt seen since being a child so a great time was had.

Birds Seen: Desert Wheatear, Eider, Goosander, Brent Goose, Curlew, Sanderling, Mallard, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Pheasant, Shoveller, Snipe, Wren, Little Egret, Skylark, Wigeon, Marsh Harrier, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Ruff, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Grey Plover, Robin, Cormorant, Turnstone, Goldeneye, Slavonian Grebe, Greyalg Goose, Great Crested Grebe, Avocet, Barnacle Goose, Spoonbill, Harring Gull, Common Gull, Water Rail, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Teal, Coot, Magpie, Moorhen, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Collard Dove, Starling, Pintail, Little Grebe