Saturday, August 19, 2017

πŸ“– Diary Update #46

πŸ’¨ ⛅20C Saturday 19th August 2017 ~ A weekend stay at Kings Lynn gave Dee and I the opportunity for visits to RSPB Titchwell and Frampton Marsh on opposite sides of the 'Wash' estuary.

This Wall Brown has been through the wars!
Today a leisurely stroll around a breezy Titchwell, beginning at Patsy's Reedbed. The highlights here included a Stoat, which ran along the concrete road just after the hide and good numbers of House Martins and Swallows feeding low over the reeds. Only two Swift in among the hirundine's and despite being very worn and battered, a year first Wall Brown butterfly. The pool itself was particularly quiet species-wise with only a single Pochard of note amongst the many Mallard.

Ruff ~ Looking rather windswept!
The Island Hide offered good views over the fresh marsh and feeding close in several Ruff in various plumages, plus the briefest glimpse of a Bearded Tit, which due to the strong breeze stayed low in the reeds! Lots of juvenile Shelducks and plenty of waders to be found which included Avocet, small groups of Dunlin, larger numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, three Ringed Plover and a single Knot, still showing shades of summer plumage.

Black-tailed Godwit
The Islands and spits offered respite from the wind for a couple of Common Terns, plus at least five Meditteranean Gulls, which apparently have nested here. Out towards the centre, we managed six Spoonbills, with one young bird still begging for food from the parent. Across on Thornham salt marsh Little Egrets a couple of Curlew and some small flocks of Linnet.

Spoonbill ~ On the move over to Thornham Marsh
The Tidal Marsh produced a couple of smart summer plumage Grey Plover but nothing further from the above-mentioned.

Sanderling ~ One of many passing along the beach
The beach as you would imagine in the stiff breeze was challenging and even more so with the tide at its furthest point out. We walked along the water line for a while watching some small flocks of Sanderling, Turnstone and Oystercatcher on the exposed areas, a Seal appearing briefly. A small passage of birds over the water included Common Tern, Little Tern and Sandwich Tern, with a Skua Sp. too far out for recognition.