Titchwell - 13/5/2022

GODWIT (c) with two AVOCET (l&r)

Although a big beast of a reserve in itself, Titchwell just can't match Minsmere when it comes to bird spectacle. The Freshwater Marsh at Titchwell although similar in habitat to Minsmere's Scrape just doesn't match up with the number of birds. Titchwell is so much quieter, less visceral then Minsmere. But saying that Ticthwell is still a good reserve in its own right, still a good birding destination, just not quite as good as Minsmere. This was my first stop on a week's holiday in North Norfolk, so expect plenty of posts about the other reserves I went to as well.

Family of GREYLAGS. Huge numbers of these geese nest in the various waterways throughout the country.

The Freshwater Marsh is the main focal point to the reserve, a large body of water with several islands, that proves attractive to birds. New islands had been created last year in the Autumn, so its good these new islands are being used by breeding birds this year. AVOCETS, GULLS, and COMMON TERNS were nesting in decent numbers on these islands, little white spots dotted around the brown land. Of interest was a LITTLE GULL, among some godwits, not quite in its summer plumage, with a tatty head. As its name suggests its the world's smallest gull, roughly the size of a tern, much smaller than the other gulls around. Several LITTLE TERNS had arrived back to Titchwell, and again like the little gull these are our smallest tern, with a nice yellow and black bill. The birds have the unfortunate habit of nesting on our beaches, which in summer are overrun with people causing great disturbance. As a result the birds are finding it difficult to raise families in this busy land, and are much rarer than they need to be.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER. To tell it apart from a common ringed plover, the LRP has yellow legs, a more subdued brown back and that huge yellow eye.

The Freshwater Marsh is very attractive to WADERS, and being  the tail end of Spring they were some still migrating, the last of the birds heading north towards their breeding grounds. At this time of year the waders are in attractive breeding plumage, shedding the browns and greys of winter, for reds and blacks. There were around ten or so DUNLIN and TURNSTONE about, both with nice plumages. Slightly more dowdy and browner in plumage, was a single LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and COMMON SANDPIPER.

A herd of BRENT GEESE were still lingering

Faint lingering memories of winter were still lurking around the reserve with a herd of roughly a hundred BRENT GEESE, in various parts of the reserve. Charcoal in colour, brents are our smallest goose, smaller than a mallard. They nest right up above the Arctic Circle, so has to leave their wintering grounds as late as possible, to get the right conditions, so some still hang around even this late. As is usual at this time of year there were small numbers of breeding DUCK about, with GADWALL, SHOVELLER and POCHARD, around the various pools.

SANDERLING were present in small numbers on the beach

Usually the beach and sea are of interest at Titchwell, but that's usually in winter. Today, in May, there were small scattered flocks of SANDERLING, some in their purply summer plumage, some in their white winter. They run around like clock work toys on the water's edge. Two summer plumaged GREY PLOVER flew down the coast, but apart from that there was only the odd gull or tern flying lazily up and down the coast.

A one legged male POCHARD

Returning back from the coast, I had a look around the reedbeds and Patsy's Pool. The most obvious bird, one I couldn't escape, was a very loud CUCKOO calling from the reedbeds. Its constant calling out over the reeds seemed to be mocking me as I looked for the bird in vain. If a cuckoo is calling, then its not moving, so you have to wait for it to be quiet to catch a look. Eventually I did see the bird, speeding off over the Freshwater Marsh. In flight it a dark bird, with pointed wings and long tail, it looks like a bird of prey more than anything.

Island Hide which overlooks Freshwater Marsh

With Spring migration gradually grinding to a halt, it led to a fairly quiet day's birding at Titchwell. A few late waders was all to show really as well as the usual breeding birds. I don't usually come to North Norfolk at this time of year, because its fairly quiet. However with an area like this, anything could turn up anywhere, so things never get boring. As always its the unpredictability of this hobby which keeps me going and coming back for more.