Back up into Norfolk today to show around the Marylebone Birdwatching
Society for a few days and I picked up the six ladies bang on time at 1130 at
Kings Lynn but there were no vagrant waders to tempt us on the drive back
through the autumnal countryside colours to Briarfields.
We were quickly in the field and at Titchwell where some car
park time gave us some ‘ear time’ with the local Tits, Finches, Goldcrests and
Treecreepers. Unfortunately only I heard
a Yellow-browed Warbler. We were
molested by Robins on the way down but had shaken them off by the time we emerged
out onto the main path.
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| Robin |
The staff have done some amazing reedbed work in the last
week and the freshwater pool in the reeds is now huge and links up to the next
channel before main freshmarsh. A Great Egret
stood around the edge until a Grey Heron gave it a boot and gave me a chance
for my traditional Essence of Egret shot.
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| Essence of Egret |
Dark-bellied Brent Geese came and went and there was a good
flock of Black-tailed Godwits that were having a half-hearted attempt at
roosting but the Lapwing and Teal were particularly skittish and a young male
Peregrine revealed himself as the culprit sending every bird on the scrape into
the air before heading out onto Thornham Marshes.
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| Dark-bellied Brent Geese |
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| Black-tailed Godwits and buddies |
All the dabbling duck were present and Snipe, Ruff, Dunlin,
Avocet and a swirling, twinkling mass of Golden Plovers made up the additional
waders on this side while there were Redshanks and Curlews on the brackish
marsh which was currently at low tide.
The light was superb and it was good to be able to watch some of these
species at close range.
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| Golden Plovers |
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| Golden Plovers |
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| Ruff |
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Redshank
|
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| Curlew |
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| Curlew |
There were Scandinavian Rock and Meadow Pipits on the saltmarsh and the
odd Reed Bunting and flock of Linnets to be seen while Stonechats were seen on
top of the Sueda. We picked up Fieldfares
and Red-legged Partridges by looking inland where Red Kites and Marsh Harriers
were hunting.
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| Little Egret with some breeding plumes still |
Down at the sea we added most of the beach waders with
Bar-tailed Godwits, Sanderling, Oystercatchers, Turnstone, Ringed and Grey
Plover but no Knot. Brent Geese and lots
Gulls were on the tideline but the sea itself was very quiet with just two
juvenile Gannet and rather surprisingly a female Long-tailed Duck just beyond
the surf which actually gave us good views if you were just patient enough to
wait for it to bob back into view.
The sky was constantly being ripped apart by the deafening roar
of F35s sparring overhead and at times you literally could not make yourself be
heard and once down at the beach they were replaced not by the piping of
Oystercatchers but by a solitary Red Arrow performing crazy manoeuvres above us.
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| F-35s - Thanks Tom |
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| Red Arrow |
The sun was already dipping; what a difference that one hour
change makes to your day and so we slowly walked back and saw a cloud of Pink-feet
get up from somewhere near Choseley and head east while hundreds of Gulls streamed
in to freshen up on the pools before going off to roost. I found a 2w Yellow-legged Gull before we
called time and continued the walk back adding Chinese Water Deer, Muntjac, Kingfisher and an obliging Water
Rail in the process.
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| Chinese Water Deer |
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| And because there is always room for a leaf mine - Stigmella aceris |
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| and Lyonetia clerkella |
It had been a good start.
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