Work In Progress

What better way to spend a clear, bright Boxing day morning than at Titchwell RSPB? Well we couldn't think of one and and after spending most of the day yesterday consuming excessive amounts of xmas pud, chocs, baileys etc it was clearly time for fresh air, exercise and of course, birds. On arrival we tried for Brambling on and around the feeders, but alas it wasn’t to be, although the feeders were as busy as ever with the expected Tit and Finch visitors and a very festive and friendly Robin scuttling around under our tripods.

There was a Marsh Harrier and a few Little Egret on the walk down to the sea. Wildfowl included Pintail, Gadwall, Pochard, Egyption Geese and Brent Geese. I was keen to look for a Red Crested Pochard (potential lifer), which had been reported a couple of days ago, but I didn't find it and I wasn't sure if it was still about. On the lagoons we had Dunlin, Lapwing tons of Golden Plover, Ruff, Redshank, 7 Avocet and I was very pleased to find two nice Spotted Redshanks. Near the beach we had a flock of Linnets and a couple of Skylark. The beach was good, lots of Knot also Sanderling, Turnstone, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Bar Tailed Godwit, a few Grey Plover and Ringed Plover and GBB Gull. There were a couple of Goldeneye and a Great Crested Grebe close in on the sea.

Later we took my Mum for a walk at Blakeney Marsh. It was a bit galling to see a very handsome, but untickable male Red Crested Pochard as part of a small wildfowl collection there, after trying to find one at Titch. There was the expected array of waders again on the marshes including more Grey Plovers.  A great finish to the day; we had Barn Owl out hunting (a lifer for my Mum) and we walked back watching the sunset over the marshes.

Pics of Blakeney Marshes