North Norfolk - 9th - 12th September 2014

Wells Next The Sea - sunset

A few days camping in North Norfolk based at the camp site at Stiffkey. Not long enough for any intense birding, but the opportunity to relax and enjoy what was about where we were walking. My ideals of not twitching or chasing after birds makes for an enjoyable time, on this occasion, spent at Titchwell Marsh, Stiffkey Salt Marshes, Cley next the sea and Blakeney. Of particular interest, were the high tides which occurred during our stay. I have never seen the saltmarsh off Wells and Stiffkey completely covered in water. Indeed, the water just breached the quay in Wells, but at Blakeney, the water engulfed the road by the quay to a depth of c2 feet! This post is a little"bitza" but does include a list of birds seen (end of post). More will follow when I have ploughed through c600 images!

Wells Sunset

Home sweet Home!

"Armchair Birding" or "I see no ships"?

A fantastic Austin at Stiffkey Saltmarsh

In the lyrics of Atomic Kitten (and of course Blondie!) -

"The tide is high

but I'm holding on,

I'm gonna be your

Number one"

Stiffkey Saltmarshes at low tide

High tide in the Thursday "murk"

Sunshine on the day we return home!

 Titchwell Beach in the gloomy sea fret!

 Sightings:

Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Buzzard; Black Headed Gull; Carrion Crow; Magpie; Jackdaw; Rook; Robin; Starling; Blue Tit; Pied Wagtail; Mute Swan; Coot; Grey Heron; LBB Gull; Mallard; House Martin; Kestrel; Dunnock; Pheasant; Swallow; Red Legged Partridge; Moorhen; Great Tit; Chaffinch; Bittern; Dabchick; Cettis Warbler; Ruff; Spotted Redshank; Bearded Tit; Lapwing; Avocet; Little egret; Shelduck; Black Tailed Godwit; Teal; Dunlin; Meadow Pipit; Snipe; Reed Warbler; Redshank; Grey Lag Goose; Turnstone; Grey Plover; Oystercatcher; Cormorant; Herring Gull; Common Tern; Great Crested Grebe; GBB Gull; Sandwich Tern; Eider; Bar Tailed Godwit;  Ringed Plover; Shoveler; Whimbrel; Wigeon; Greenshank; Little Stint; Hobby; Gadwall; Tufted Duck; Goldfinch; House Sparrow; Wren; Shag; Linnet; Kingfisher; Reed Bunting;Blackcap; Wheatear; Tawny Owl; Chiffchaff; Pink Footed Goose; Blackbird; Common Scoter; Spoonbill; Canada Goose; Greylag Goose; Long Tailed Tit; Knot; Little Ringed  Plover; Sparrowhawk; Marsh Harrier; Egyptian Goose; Sand Martin; Red Backed Shrike; Yellowhammer; Golden Plover; Peregrine; Merlin; Sanderling; Green Woodpecker; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Spotted Flycatcher.