Took an early morning drive across to the Norfolk coast on Wednesday starting off at RSPB Snettisham for the morning high tide. Absolutely stunning sights with
Knot,
Godwits,
Plovers and
Oystercatcher blackening the skies. It was nice to see several families with young kids set up picnic style to witness the amazing waderfest!
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| Bar-headed Goose - An increase in the UK feral population apparently! |
Other highlights included
Mediterranean Gull,
Fulmar and watching two
Arctic Skuas at reasonable distance harassing a couple of
Common Terns, the later of which managing to escape with their food still in tact. The surprise of the visit was my first UK encounter with a
Bar-headed Goose, a bird which seems to be increasing in feral population, apparently even managing to breed in the Manchester area!
RSPB Titchwell next and firstly a walk around to Patsy's Reedbed, managing a couple of
Red-crested Pochard and some brief views of
Bearded Tit. Unfortunately the
Red-backed Shrike reported in this area the day before seemed to have departed. We also managed 17
Spoonbill from the end of the track looking back across the freshwater marsh and a couple of
Marsh Harrier.
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| Wheatear at Snettisham - Not the most prolific day on the camera! |
A better look at the Freshwater and Tidal Marsh's from the West Bank Path produced the usual selection of waders, including
Black-tailed Godwit,
Snipe,
Little Egret,
Avocet,
Curlew,
Ringed Plover, many
Ruff, (3)
Greenshank and both
Golden and
Grey Plover still sporting most of their summer plumage. Unfortunately a huge exodus, including
Heron's and
Spoonbills by an unknown culprit put paid to any chance of
Little Stint and
Curlew Sandpiper, a couple of target birds for the visit. The beach produced
Peregrine and incredibly another two
Arctic Skuas but little else in the way of passage birds. On the shore
Turnstone, more
Grey Plover,
Sanderling and a lone
Bar-tailed Godwit.
A quick visit to the Cley beach area before heading off was a little more lucrative with a dozen or so
Sandwich Terns, single
Little Tern, (4)
Common Terns and (8)
Gannet, including several juvenile!
