Titchwell Marsh RSPB 6th May 2019

The weather held up in the morning and we felt we were in for a great day of birding. Although we planned to go to a few sites during the day, after Chosely it seemed logical to drop in at RSPB Titchwell. We were glad we did because we got an excellent year tick among the forty species we saw in a couple of hours.

We started out walking down the west bank path towards the sea. There were good numbers of a variety of Geese – Brent, Greylag, Canada and Egyptian and ducks – Gadwall, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal. On the scrape there were Common and Sandwich Terns and, among the gulls were Kittiwake and Mediterranean Gulls.

Among the waders were Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Avocet, Oystercatchers and a single Dunlin and a single both in brilliant breeding plumage. A Common Kestrel and a couple of Marsh Harriers flew around above our heads.

On the second of the salt marsh pool on the seaward side of the Parrinder hides we found the Spoonbill that we had missed yesterday and down at the sea it was mild enough to set up the scope and just wait for anything interesting to appear. It was here that we got perhaps the best bird of the day (which is quite something considering the year ticks we got everywhere this day), a summer plumage Great Northern Diver, close in towards the shore and showing for a good fifteen minutes, before drifting off. There were also a few Grey Plovers out by the edge of the water

We returned back down the west bank path to reception and the singing birds included Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Linnet, Song Thrush, Wren, Greenfinch etc and overhead Swifts squawked as the cut through the sky.

With a few other places to visit we decided not to stay too long and, with the weather holding out, we wanted to try our luck for Turtle Doves at NWT Holmes DUnes, just down the road

Bird Sightings Titchwell Marsh RSPB 6th May 2019