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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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
