Titchwell RSPB 7th May 2016

Titchwell RSPB 7th May 2016

After having settled in at our cottage in the village of Thornham, we decided that we were ready for a full day at the Titchwell RSPB reserve, just a mile down the road. As soon as we arrived we checked out availability of places on the “guided tour” of the reserve led by an experienced birder and with the aim of seeing as many species as possible in one afternoon. This didn’t  start until 1pm so we had a whole morning to cover the reserve ourselves. We set out to see as many species as possible in the time we had.

We headed off down the “east trail” and soon got Sedge Warblers and heard Reed Warblers and Whitethroat. We soon got absolutely fantastic views of a Bearded Tit swinging from reed to reed and showing amazingly well.  This was probably the best view I have ever had of this species and it was a male in pristine plumage. It ran up and down single reeds before jumping to the next reed where it swayed from the top of the reed before stepping down that reed and starting all over again. The day was warm, sunny and still; perfect weather for seeing “Beardies”.

We continued down the path where we started to see Avocets and Common Terns and a Ringed Plover was strolling around one of the scrapes. Marsh Harriers were easily seen and a lovely flock of Brent Geese were on Thornton Marsh which abuts the reserve. Down at the Parrinder hide we looked for a long time for the Temminck’s Stints that had been reported to be seen from the hide on the left of the fresh water lake. We didn’t have any luck; still, we got closer views of many of the species  we had seen from the path and also got a first year Common Gull and some Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper.

We stopped over at the hide that overlooks the salt water pool and here we got a male and a female Grey Plover and a single Whimbrel. By the time we got done with this it was time to head back to the visitor centre for a snack and a cool down. By this stage we had around 36 species including a number of “year ticks ” including – especially – Bearded Tit.

After lunch we did a much more comprehensive round of the site with Richard, our guide. The idea was to get as am y species as possible during the afternoon. Almost as soon as we started we got a “year tick ” in a Spotted Flycatcher. A further exploration of the “east trail” gave us Willow Warbler,  Cetti’s Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaff as well as all the usual species. On “Patsy’s Reedbed” we saw Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe and Common Pochard. On the grass around the edge of the pool there were some Greylag Geese and a lovely Red-crested Pochard, again a “year tick “. Leaving there we got a pair of Red-legged Partridge.

We retraced our steps and started covering the same ground as we had done in the morning. This time we did not see Bearded Tits but the other reed birds we did get again. It’s hard to pick the bird of the day but, after hearing so many cuckoos this last week, it was great to actually see one flying over Thornham Marsh. It was all to brief but still a great view.

We moved on to the Parrinder hide and, after much confusion regarding a pair of Dunlin that were pretending to be the famous Temminck’s Stint, one of the real things came strolling into view and showing well enough to allow a proper identification. Again we got Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover. Satisfied that we had nailed this bird we had to pick up our pace because the afternoon was getting on. We headed towards the sand dunes and got a Wheatear and, with the sea in view, we saw a couple of Sandwich Terns flying out at sea but quite close to shore.

We headed back down the main path getting a Grey Plover and a Whimbrel again and a final Marsh Harrier. We had to get back to the visitor centre as we had been going now for nearly four hours. We sat down at the visitor  centre and did the final tally. During our guided afternoon we had seen 63 species and 68 in total and our holiday list was now up to 106 species. It is getting really hard to remember what is a “year tick ” and what isn’t the birds have been coming so thick and fast. I suppose bird of the day has to be the Temminck’s Stint because it was a “life tick” but the Cuckoo, Whimbrel and Bearded Tit were all great birds  – not to mention the Spotted Flycatcher. The day list speaks for itself.

LifeTick, Temminck’s Stint

Year Tick, Temminck’s Stint, Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Red-crested Pochard, Spotted Flycatcher.

Bird Sightings : 7th May RSPB Titchwell Marsh