Great Knot MEGA twitch to Titchwell

Great Knot

A not so Great Knot hiding

The flock take flight

Twitchers delight

Hard to estimate the number of birders who have connected

Flock close up

Black-tailed Godwits

Avocet

Stone Curlew

        

As Wednesdays go, last week was very much as normal until I pressed my RBA app to see the alert reading GREAT KNOT TITCHWELL ! I was only reading the monthy copy of Bird Watching magazine the previous night where they had predicted this bird.

I wouldn't like to estimate how many texts and phone calls were made around the country all saying the same. Have you seen news ? are we going ? if so when ? I'm certainly not a fan of first day twitches so I held fire until Friday as I also wanted to avoid the Saturday twitchers. 

Our tactics were to wait for early morning news and then GO GO GO. Postive news emerged at 6.15am so I was quickly out and on the way to pick up the Warwick Mayor Roland and we made great progress to Norfolk as traffic was very kind. 

As soon as we landed, at a very full Titchell car park, we were marching towards the beach to see a captive auidance focused on a flock of around 200 Knot. There in front of us feeding was Britains fifth Great Knot. A trully mega bird in terms of its rarity but perhaps not in it's beauty.

This north-east Siberian breeder appeared slightly bigger than regular Knots on show, but it was quite distinctive in it's summer plumage. The plummage was in fact similar to a Turstone.  There were many very happy birders and listers coming to and from the reserve unfortnuatley a few did miss out in the afternoon as the flock flew east towards Scolt Head Island.

The reserve was fairly quiet in the morning but we needed stop in to see the regular species of Red-crest Pochard, Black-tailed Godwits, Teal, Avocet and Marsh Harrier. We did get some nice views of a Bar-tailed Godwit in the sea when on the beach. As is now customary we bought a Norfolk pasty that we munched outside the very busy cafe.

On the return jouney we called in at Weeting Heath to see the Stone Curlews with young and a Woodlark wrapped up a cracking day out. 

“Something about?”

Norfolk trip (Day 1) - Titchwell & Warham Greens

Titchwell sea watching

Sanderling

Teal in the rain

Warham Greens

Warham Greens location

Male Hen Harrier

Sunset in Norfolk

Digiscoped Barn Owl in the darkness

End of a great day

Never needing an excuse to return to Norfolk for a couple of days I was delighted when Paul (fellow pit watcher) asked if I fancied heading east to show him the main sites on the coast. With our bed and breakfast booked up well in advance we set off early  Friday morning at 5.30am ahead of the morning rush hour. Sadly the winds were southerly throughout the weekend so the aim would be about trying to see quality birds rather than rarities.

Given the forecast was for rain up to midday we opted to head to Titchwell so at least we could retreat to the hides if the rain got really bad. We went straight down to beach where we were joined by one other birder for some sea watching. Sanderlings, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher and Knot were spread out along the shore line. The Sanderlings got really close a number of times allowing us terrific views.  On the sea we found a nice variation of birds included a Black-throated Diver (unusual for Titchwell), Slavonian Grebe, 46 Common Scoter, Brent Geese, Great Crested Grebes, 5 Red-breasted Merganser and a female Eider. We also walked west where we found a dead Razorbill on the beach and we also came across many Ringed Plovers.  Paul then pulled a beauty out of the bag when he spotted a Great White Egret flying east straight in front of us to end a cracking session of sea watching.

The fresh marsh contained the normal array of goodies including Brent Geese, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Dunlin, Snipe whilst a Marsh Harrier battled with wind on the east bank. As we looked south from the Parinder hide we could see a couple of thousand Pink-footed Geese feeding the fields before being moved on by the farms air guns.  A quick pit stop for the normal Titchwell Cornish Pasty was needed to warm the soul before were headed east.

We had a quick session in at Lady Annes Drive, Holkham were we recorded Egyptian Goose for the day list before we moved towards our final stop at Warham Greens where we hoped to see a Hen Harrier. Having never been to this site before and no signage we did have to back our judgement. As we headed down a very uneven drive, Paul saw a Rough-legged Buzzard feeding on a rabbit on a hay bale. Sadly the bird flushed as we were going for scopes but it was another good bird recorded. As the drive worsened we decided to park up and walk the rest of the way which was in hindsight a great decision as really it was only suitable for Land Rovers.

Initially we though we may have been a little early but just after 2.30pm I picked up a male Hen Harrier quartering the marsh. We were buzzing as the bird hunted looking for a late meal before roosting. The action didn’t stop there as we ended up seeing a total of 5 Harriers, 3 Ring-tails and two fantastic males. They were joined by three Marsh Harriers and finally a Barn Owl hunted about 500 metres to our left. A superb day on the Norfolk coast ending with a brilliant sunset.

Final stop Titchwell - Norfolk October Day Trip (Part 5)

Parrinder Hide

Grey Plover

Golden Plover

Wigeon

Dunlin

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

YouTube video clip of Titchwell

I opted to bypass the Red-flanked Bluetail and head for a couple of hours at Titchwell before heading home. The site was pretty quiet probably due to everyone else looking for rarities. 

The light had improved so I did manage to take a few digiscoped images which was a nice way to round off the day before heading home. Sightings included Brent Geese, Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Avocet plus many more.

Winter nip on Norfolk coast

Black-tailed Godwits & Shelduck

Avocets

Early morning at Brancaster

High water levels at Titchwell

Black-headed Gull twitches the sea watchers

Grey Plover

The Ship Hotel

After such a brilliant Saturday to live up to, Sunday was always going to be struggle as the wind had got up and the temperature had dropped dramatically. We walked from our hotel in Brancaster down to the coast before breakfast. To say it was cold was an understatement of the highest proportion. At the beach we were able to watch the Geese fly over us in large numbers again whilst there were numbers of Sanderling, Oystercatcher Dunlin and Knot.

Titchwell was a rare disappointment in all honesty. The water levels had been increased to flood the islands so there were a lot less birds around than there is normally at this time of year. Sightings included Ringed Plover, Knot, Turnstone, Teal, Wigeon, 2 Marsh Harrier, Brent Geese, Pink-footed Geese, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwits, Shelduck, Curlew, red-throated Diver and a flock of Goldeneye on the sea. So perhaps not to bad a haul ! 

Finally, I must mention the fantastic Ship Inn at Brancaster where we stayed. Pure luxury accommodation, great customer service with amazing food and drink. Well worth a look up if you are heading that way! 

Day return to Norfolk

Wolferton Traingle Car Phone Shot

 Sea watching at Titchwell

 Parrinder Hide at Titchell

 Digoscoped Ruff

Spoonbills at Titchwell

 More Spoonbills this time at Stiffkey Fen

Stiffkey Fen

 Marsh Harrier hunting the reeds at Cley

Cley

On Thursday I headed to Norfolk rather than my original selection of Minsmere that were pretty much the same distance away. An early start gave me some clear passage and given   the time saved I opted to turn into the Wolferton triangle to try and see a mystical Golden Pheasant. I have tried a number of times before and I so nearly just carried on however as I was leaving the triangle a Male bird was strutting round ! Lifer. I did get a poor distance photo shot but I was very pleased to cast my eyes on one of these birds.

It was then on to Titchwell. I headed straight down to the beach but the wind was blowing in the wrong direction so sightings were 2 Arctic Skua's, Sandwich Tern, 15 Common Scoter and a handful of Eider ducks. I did note my first Kingfisher at Titchwell, seen just behind the beach and then moment later a Hobby was giving chase to a late Swift.

Montagu's magic

Woodland walk at Weeting Heath

Stone Curlews

 RSPB Titchwell

 

Little Tern

Cley

On Saturday I headed to Norfolk with Upton Warren birders, Mike, Jarrad and Craig as a spare seat was available. An awful forecast delayed our departure and scheduled route, so we headed straight to Weeting Heath. This small reserve duly delivered it's fantastic Stone Curlews who were very active unlike on my previous visit. Two chicks had been reported in recent days but I could not locate them. In total we observed 4 adult birds including three displaying. On the woodland walk which starts close to the west hide we all heard a recently arrived Stopped Flycatcher which we then located just above us. A superb start the day.

We then headed to North Norfolk's Choseley Barns via the Wolferton Triangle to see 8 Dotterels showing well in a crop field. The area is regarded as Norfolks best site for Corn Bunting but we only managed to locate one at a distance but we did finally see a Grey Partridge (Red Legged Partridge also present) which has been outstanding on my year list. A single Yellowhammer treated us to a couple of fly passes also. 

Then it was the five minute drive to RSPB Titchwell, probably the best nature reserve in England as you never fail to see some amazing birds. I would recommend the Cornish Pasties from the cafe as once again it hit the spot and recharged me for the walk down through the reserve to the beach. 

We got as far as the reed bed pool when two Garganey dropped out of the sky. The male was a real stunner and a target bird of the day. The only time I'd seen these ducks before was at a distance and sleeping so we got good views even though we had to stand on tip toes. Above us the recently arrived Swifts were so close you could have caught them. Yellow Wagtails flew over and a flock of late staying Brent Geese were present on the marsh land to the left of the path.

A Little Tern offered us some superb view as we moved closer to the beach. I managed to grab the above image using the camera I use for digiscoping. Photos were very difficult all day given how strong the wind was. 

Sea watching was very difficult with the swirling sand but there was good passage of Sandwich Terns, a couple of more Little Terns, Gannets, Common Scoter whilst Sanderling and Dunlin could be seen along the coast. Sadly no Eiders or Great Crested Grebes. Other sightings included March Harrier, Spoonbill, Oystercatcher, Avocets, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Pintail, Turnstone, Oystercatcher. Whatever I write it doesn't do justice to a trip to Titchwell.

Next stop was a roadside viewpoint that Craig had researched as a good view for raptors. Within the first five minutes we observed Marsh Harriers displaying and Common Buzzards enjoying the thermals. We were just about to leave when one of the other birders on the other side road called "Male" in which we didn't need any second invitation to see the bird he found was a male Montagu's Harrier. What a bird, simply stunning. The bird really stood out against the greying skies and it was amazing to watch the birds powerful and elegant wingbeats giving an impression of total ease. I'd never seen a Montagu's before and he was a bird I will always remember.

Final stop was Cley Marshes however we dipped a pair of Temminck's Stints which had been flushed an hour before we arrived. Highlights were 5 Little Egrets, Spoonbill, Wheatear and two flight views of a Bearded Tit. A super days birding despite Mike reversing his car into me before heading off to home much to the amusement of Jarrad and Craig.