Today was going to be a day at Titchwell RSPB site on the North Norfolk Coast, about an hour from the Bed and Breakfast I was stopping at in Thetford, Acer Lodge (reviews can be seen on Trip Advisor HERE).
Arrived at Titchwell at about 9:30am, when I had got myself together I headed out to the reserve, saw a Common Darter at the visitor centre feeders. On the footpath down to the beach I found a Wall Butterfly, on the banking, enjoying the sun we were having at the moment. i found one of the footpath benches vacant so I settled in, giving me good views overlooking the marsh. Nearby was a good size flock of Golden Plover numbering hundreds of birds in various transition of plumage into their winter colours. Other birds seen from here were Little Stint, Avocets, Black tailed Godwits, Black headed Gulls, Dunlin, Ruff, and Redshank, also good numbers of noisy Greylag Geese with smaller numbers of Canada Geese.
On then to the Parinder Hide, stopping outside to the left hand side so I could over look the far side of the marsh, highlights were Grey Heron, Swallow, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Pintail, and Pied Wagtail. From the inside of the back to where I was over looking from the path I managed to pick up the Little Stint again, it then started raining, which lasted about 15mins, after which I went for dinner.
After dinner I headed down to the beach, the tide was out, where I saw Oystercatchers, Bar tailed Godwits, Turnstones, Curlew, Little egret, Great White Egret, and Ringed Plovers, nothing on the sea after much scanning, but a Wheatear on the beach was a nice surprise.
Back at the Parinder Hide the Little Stint was still hanging around along with Snipe, Pintail, and also a fly thro flock of seven Bar tailed Godwits.
After a little break, toilet stop, I came back and plonked myself down on one of the many benches overlooking the marsh, mainly to watch the Golden Plovers but was fortunate to see a Spoonbill come in, but was soon off again heading east and out of sight, only to return, or a different one, flying over the freshwater marsh and heading out to Thornham, another highlight was a pair of Marsh Harriers.
News of a probable Redstart near the saltmarsh had me heading back towards the beach, whilst watching the area I did see a bird but didn’t get satisfactory views to say it was a redstart, however I did see a female Stonechat along with seven Grey Plovers.
I decided on having a last look down on the beach, since I was close, the tide was now in. Running up and down the tide line were Ringed Plovers, Knot, Dunlin and Sanderlings, I enjoyed the moment of watching these birds close by and also took a few photos.
Time had passed it was now 6:30pm, nine hours had flown by whilst I’d been on site, I had enjoyed every minute. On my way back to the car park I sat down near the Island hide and after a while caught up with Bearded Tit, I think now was the time to leave and find a meal.
Bird List : Bar tailed Godwit, Bearded Tit, Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Canada Goose, Cettis Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Curlew sandpiper, Dunlin. Gadwall, Golden Plover, Great Black backed Gull, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Knot, lapwing, Little Stint, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin, Ruff, Sanderling, Shelduck, Shoveler, Spoonbill, Starling, Stonechat, Swallow, Turnstone, Wheatear, Woodpigeon (47)
Butterflies : Small White, Wall
Dragonflies : Common Darter
Huddsbirder 