Titchwell Marsh RSPB, Holmes Dunes NWT and around Thornham 15th May 2022

On the 14th we mainly got settled in at the cottage and got supplies in from the shops in Hunstanton. We did stop off for a bit at the cliffs for the usual Fulmar but also got year tick Linnets there and also a couple of Whitethroats singing in the hedgerows on the edge of the cliff. The 15th was our first real birding around the Thornham area. I started the day with a walk from the cottage to Thornham Harbour going via the reed bed where there were lots of Sedge Warblers singing and showing well. I saw a House Martin which has not been that common this year and other birders have mentioned this as well.

After my walk, we regrouped and set off for Titchwell Marsh RSPB reserve just a mile or so down the road from where we were staying.

Walking along the main strack towards the sea, we stopped off at the “Island Hide” where we got very good views of a pair of Bearded Tits displaying very nicely. This made up for our rather fleeting glimpses at Hickling Broad a couple of days before. Again we heard, but did not see, Cuckoo. A nice flock of Brent Geese added to the more usual Greylag and Canada varieties and their were good numbers of Pochards, Shelduck, Tufted and Mallard Ducks.

The best birds were a pair of Little Gulls flying around showing off their moves; another year tick. We walked down to the Parrinder hide and got apair of Little Ringed Plovers. There were lots of Linnets flying around everywhere here. Other waders included a single Curlew, a Turnstone, oystercatcher, Great and Little Egrets and a lot of Black-tailed Godwit. Down at the sea there were distant views of waders but I could only pick out a single Grey Plover.

We asked about Turtle Doves, because they have a feeding program for them and we got good views of a pair (mating) the last time we visited, but it seems they have shunned Titchwell this year so that was disappointing. The staff said that they though that there were a couple at Snettisham.

We drove from Titchwell to Holme Dunes NWT reserve where we had also previously seen Turtle Doves but again we were disappointed. The track down to the reserve is even rougher than it was the last time we visited and was a bit of a driving challenge. When we got there, there wasn’t much about but we did hear a Bittern booming and there were numerous Marsh Hariers showing very well.

We finished of the day with a visit to Chosely Drying Barns up Titchwell Lane where we had previously seen Dotterel. Bird Guides had noted that small numbers had actually been seen at Thornham itself but they had gone while we were still on the Broads. One reason for the lack of them this year is that one of the main fields we are used to seeing them in has been turned into a pig farm so the dry furrows are replaced with overgrown greenery that is partly trampled by pigs. The whole field is now surrounded by an electric fence and whilst the pigs seem to have a happy life freeranging around, it isn’t suitable for Dotterel anymore. The increase in pig farming in Norfolk is very noticeable as is the building of new houses.

Wee got the feeling here – as elsewhere on this holiday – that we were a couple of weeks late for displaying and singing birds. We did get a Whitethroat but mainly it was Buzzard, Marsh Harrier and Red Kite.

We returned home to have a drink and dinner on our verandah and watched the sun set gloriously over the staithe.

Bird Sightings : Thornham 15th May 2022

Bird Sightings : Titchwell Marsh RSPB 15th May 2022

Bird Sightings : Holme Dunes 15th May 2022

Bird Sightings : Chosely Drying Barns 15th May 2022