randombirder

A really great few hours at Titchwell with my buddy Graham which as usual held a few interesting species most notably a grey phalarope that had been present for a few days continually spinning round close to the the main path.  Such incredible birds, the feeding behaviour of this taxa is a wondrous thing and always a crowd pleaser. A confiding common guillemot was feeding at close range suggesting that it may not have been in great condition.  Hoping that's not the case as it was great to see it up close. A single snow bunting was present on the beach where an assemblage of common waders were feeding along the shoreline.  A little stint was present along the muddy fringes on the freshmarsh, a  spotted redshank flew low over, and a merlin dashed through.

So the new year was spent idly loafing around a couple of sites on the North Norfolk coast to kick-off the year list.  Titchwell is always productive and the wader species count sped into double figures with Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Golden Plover, and Avocet amongst a selection of common waders. The highlights were to be found on the sea, with a small group of Long-tailed Duck bobbing on the modest swells, a single Slavonian Grebe coursing through the currents, a serene Great Northern Diver , and small groups of Red-breasted Merganser , Common Scoter , and Goldeneye . Heading up to Holkham Gap, the crowds were out in force, and with the torrential rain of recent days, it made parking a little tricky. Once on the beach, the walk was pleasant, and around a ten minute walk took us up to an area of shingle where eight really smart Shore Lark were feeding voraciously away from any disturbance. Thornham failed to produce the resident Twite but the views from there across...

Another enjoyable day at Titchwell with a few highlights that included at least three Yellow-browed Warbler that at times showed well around the visitor centre with another low down along Meadow trail. The continuing Pectoral Sandpiper strutted along the near shoreline of the freshmarsh totally oblivious to the many onlookers lined along the path. Of course there were plenty of waders again, 20 species in total seen throughout the day that included Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper in addition to the Pec. A single Pied Flycatcher sortied for insects from trees along the main path and a single Swallow flew over the marsh. Small groups of Redwing passed through and Goldcrest were foraging for insects after their impressive voyage across the sea.   Brambling were also present close to the visitor centre. Reports of a Black-browed Albatross moving along the North Norfolk coast had birders hopping into a frenzy.  Lining up along the beach, a few cl...

It was ultimately a lacklustre weekend at Titchwell RSPB, an assessment made purely on the lack of returning migrants, and the absence of any autumn rares.  The trip was more in anticipation of what is to come over arguably the most exciting period for a UK based birder. The chance of an encounter of a rare vagrant, a UK mega, forcing local birders away their patches for a week or two for the outer isles where birding bounties lay in wait. It is always a joy being in this part of the world but alas, my arrival was inevitably a little premature.  The freshmarsh is always a hive of activity regardless of the seasons.  The sea however drew most of the interest with a bracing northerly blow that was forcing seabirds reasonably close to shore.  I however opted spend most of the time in the relative shelter of the reserve. It ended up being quite a lethargic couple of days, content with just mooching around, sitting in hides, and convivially bidding everyone a good day...