Sea watching was "challenging"!
"It's a lovely day tomorrow
Tomorrow is a lovely day"
Well, that's how the song goes! I decided that I needed some Norfolk air in my lungs so at 0330hrs, I was on the road to Titchwell. The forecast was "iffy" but it was the best day for me. I arrived in a near deserted car park at 0600hrs and made my way in the early morning gloom to the beach. Along the way, a Spoonbill was close to the path, but it was too dark for images. Later, ten were on the freshwater pools, distant from the awful Parinder Hide. When I arrived at the beach, the tide was coming in and the waves and wind would be "challenging". The viewing platform has gone and six brave souls had beaten me to it and were huddled in the shelter of the dunes. At least forty Great Skuas and ten Arctic Skuas went through, the beach holding good numbers of Knot, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Bar and Black Tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Curlew.
A few spots of rain began to fall as I headed back through the reserve, which was to become quite persistent for the rest of the day. It was enough to cause me to enter that awful Parinder Hide for an hour or so! Along the path, a single Yellow Legged Gull was seen. It was from the Parinder Hide that I attempted, in poor light to photograph the waders. Distant, were ten Spoonbills, adopting their typical "asleep" pose!
Black Tailed Godwit
Curlew
Little Stint
Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Knot
Ruff
Curlew Sandpiper
Taking my chances, with waterproofs donned, I headed for the Fen and Meadow Trails, missing out the Island Hide, which I now regret, as A Jack Snipe was showing well! The Meadow Trail produce a couple of surprises, one being a female Pied Flycatcher and the other being Paul Cashmore! While we were looking to re-find the Pied, Paul located a Spotted Flycatcher. The Fen area and Autumn Trail produced heavy and persistent rain, but the first viewing screens allowed sight of a female Red Crested Pochard plus a Garganey. The walk back gave fleeting glimpses of Bearded Tits and a Cettis Warbler. A singing Chiffchaff was also present.
Leaving Titchwell, I drove up to the Choseley Barns. Initially, it appeared devoid of birds but eventually the hedgerows and fields produced scope views of two Corn Buntings, five Yellow Wagtails, eight Yellowhammers and five Golden Plovers.
A poor day for photography but a good day for birding!
Today's Sightings:
Golden Plover; Yellow Wagtail; Long Tailed Tit; Yellowhammer; Corn Bunting; Grey Lag Goose; Canada Goose; Shelduck; Mallard; Gadwall; Shoveler; Wigeon; Teal; Garganey; Pochard; Red Crested Pochard; Tufted Duck; Common Scoter; Pheasant; Dabchick; Gannet; Cormorant; Little Egret; Spoonbill; Kestrel; Marsh Harrier; Buzzard; Moorhen; Coot; Oystercatcher; Avocet; Ringed Plover; Grey Plover; Lapwing; Knot; Sanderling; Turnstone; Dunlin; Curlew Sandpiper; Little Stint; Green Sandpiper; Redshank; Spotted Redshank; Black Tailed Godwit; Bar Tailed Godwit; Curlew; Ruff; Arctic Skua; Great Skua; Black Headed Gull; Common Gull; Herring Gull; Yellow Legged Gull; LBB Gull; GBB Gull; Common Tern; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Swallow; House Martin; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Robin; Blackbird; Cettis Warbler; Reed Warbler; Chiffchaff; Wren; Spotted Flycatcher; Pied Flycatcher; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Magpie; Jackdaw; Rook; Carrion Crow; Starling; Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Greenfinch.
A few spots of rain began to fall as I headed back through the reserve, which was to become quite persistent for the rest of the day. It was enough to cause me to enter that awful Parinder Hide for an hour or so! Along the path, a single Yellow Legged Gull was seen. It was from the Parinder Hide that I attempted, in poor light to photograph the waders. Distant, were ten Spoonbills, adopting their typical "asleep" pose!
Black Tailed Godwit
Curlew
Little Stint
Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Knot
Ruff
Curlew Sandpiper
Taking my chances, with waterproofs donned, I headed for the Fen and Meadow Trails, missing out the Island Hide, which I now regret, as A Jack Snipe was showing well! The Meadow Trail produce a couple of surprises, one being a female Pied Flycatcher and the other being Paul Cashmore! While we were looking to re-find the Pied, Paul located a Spotted Flycatcher. The Fen area and Autumn Trail produced heavy and persistent rain, but the first viewing screens allowed sight of a female Red Crested Pochard plus a Garganey. The walk back gave fleeting glimpses of Bearded Tits and a Cettis Warbler. A singing Chiffchaff was also present.
Leaving Titchwell, I drove up to the Choseley Barns. Initially, it appeared devoid of birds but eventually the hedgerows and fields produced scope views of two Corn Buntings, five Yellow Wagtails, eight Yellowhammers and five Golden Plovers.
A poor day for photography but a good day for birding!
Today's Sightings:
Golden Plover; Yellow Wagtail; Long Tailed Tit; Yellowhammer; Corn Bunting; Grey Lag Goose; Canada Goose; Shelduck; Mallard; Gadwall; Shoveler; Wigeon; Teal; Garganey; Pochard; Red Crested Pochard; Tufted Duck; Common Scoter; Pheasant; Dabchick; Gannet; Cormorant; Little Egret; Spoonbill; Kestrel; Marsh Harrier; Buzzard; Moorhen; Coot; Oystercatcher; Avocet; Ringed Plover; Grey Plover; Lapwing; Knot; Sanderling; Turnstone; Dunlin; Curlew Sandpiper; Little Stint; Green Sandpiper; Redshank; Spotted Redshank; Black Tailed Godwit; Bar Tailed Godwit; Curlew; Ruff; Arctic Skua; Great Skua; Black Headed Gull; Common Gull; Herring Gull; Yellow Legged Gull; LBB Gull; GBB Gull; Common Tern; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Swallow; House Martin; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Robin; Blackbird; Cettis Warbler; Reed Warbler; Chiffchaff; Wren; Spotted Flycatcher; Pied Flycatcher; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Magpie; Jackdaw; Rook; Carrion Crow; Starling; Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Greenfinch.
Well, the 'awful Parinder Hide' gave you some good shots of some good birds Kevin.
ReplyDeleteI quite like the new hide. It does the job.
I just find the design and in particular the window system irksome. I like a traditional hide! Still, it sheltered me from the rain for a while!
ReplyDelete