Titchwell, North Norfolk 17 September 2000
by Martin Coates
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PBC Trip Report Titchwell, North Norfolk 17 September 2000 by Martin Coates |
A disappointingly supported field trip was possibly affected by the delayed publication of the meeting point details but most likely by a number of members still being short of petrol! Nevertheless eight members did make it to the RSPB's Titchwell reserve on the north Norfolk coast, for a very enjoyable morning's birding.
With high tide rapidly approaching we quickly departed for the sea, trying to resist temptations to stray along the way. Bearded Tits were calling strongly from the reedbeds but refused to show themselves (and didn't even call on the way back!). The sea-bird watching would have been better with a stiff onshore wind, to blow in an often distant passage of Gannets, terns and skuas, several very active groups of Shelduck and Common Scoter and the season's first returning Brent Geese. We were however treated to superb views of two Red-throated Divers, with their resplendent red throats; numerous waders along the tide line; and a Red-necked Grebe, also out on the sea, but which vanished as quickly as it had appeared!
A more leisurely walk back 'inland' alongside the salt, brackish and freshwater marshes produced a host of waders and wildfowl including Greenshank, Ruff, Little Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Gadwall and Wigeon.
Unfortunately there was no sign of the previous day's Red-necked Phalarope but six Little Egrets, one or two Little Gulls and a Marsh Harrier made for impressive replacements.
Shortly before reaching the carpark, the trip leaders became embroiled in a "what on earth was that debate" (which still goes on), except that I am confident that a hefty raptor plodding westwards was a small pale juvenile Common Buzzard; this despite an unusually large movement of Honey Buzzards along the east coast the following week...
