Norfolk birding (10 Viewers)

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell March 12th

Today's highlights

Red crested pochard - 2 in reedbed
Hen harrier - ringtail over reedbed mid-afternoon
Marsh tit - 1 on feeders
Med gull - 3 on fresh marsh this morning
Slavonian grebe - 1 offshore
Snow bunting - 6 on beach west of access point
Avocet - 43 on fresh marsh

Paul

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell March 14th

Today's highlights

Short eared owl - 1 hunting over grazing meadow late afternoon
Great Northern diver - 1 offshore
Snow bunting - 2 on beach west of access path but mobile
Avocet - 56 on fresh marsh
Brambling - 2 on feeders
Red crested pochard - 2 pairs in reedbed
Greenshank - 1 on tidal pool

Paul

 

[Huwgo]

I'm making a first ever visit to Norfolk on Friday with the intention of visiting Titchwell, Snettisham and other places in the area. Looking at the high tides, they aren't the highest but will the Waders be easily viewable despite this? Hoping to see Grey Plover, Sanderling and Bar Tailed Godwit..

 

[Farnboro John]

I'm making a first ever visit to Norfolk on Friday with the intention of visiting Titchwell, Snettisham and other places in the area. Looking at the high tides, they aren't the highest but will the Waders be easily viewable despite this? Hoping to see Grey Plover, Sanderling and Bar Tailed Godwit..

You should get all three of those on Titchwell beach more or less whatever the state of the tide. Snettisham is all about numbers, but you should also get good views at high tide there: not sure about Sanderling there though.

John

 

[nigelt]

I'm making a first ever visit to Norfolk on Friday with the intention of visiting Titchwell, Snettisham and other places in the area. Looking at the high tides, they aren't the highest but will the Waders be easily viewable despite this? Hoping to see Grey Plover, Sanderling and Bar Tailed Godwit..

It's always worth turning off the A149 at Harbour Way, Brancaster Staithe. You can view from the car if you wish, and should get Barwit and Grey Plover amongst the commoner waders. There's been a Red-necked Grebe there over the winter which may not have moved on yet. I've also seen Red-breasted Merganser, Goldeneye, Hen Harrier and Kingfisher there recently.

 

[Paul Eele]

I'm making a first ever visit to Norfolk on Friday with the intention of visiting Titchwell, Snettisham and other places in the area. Looking at the high tides, they aren't the highest but will the Waders be easily viewable despite this? Hoping to see Grey Plover, Sanderling and Bar Tailed Godwit..

The tides on Friday won't be great for Snettisham. They are not high until the afternoon and are not very big ones too so the waders probably won't come very close. There were some nice med gulls on the pits late last week though.

All of the wader species you are wanting to see should be seen at Titchwell at the moment along with a nice selection of other species. If you haven't already seen my updates, keep an eye open for them on a daily basis.

Have a good trip

Paul

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell March 15th

Today's highlights

Snow bunting - 3 still on beach west of access point
Woodcock - 1 flushed from Meadow Trail
Greenshank - 1 on tidal pool

Paul

 

[Geoff Pain]

Is it best to park at Blakeney Harbour for the Lapland Buntings?

 

[Huwgo]

Thanks everyone, looks like Titchwell it is.

 

[gillian]

Is it best to park at Blakeney Harbour for the Lapland Buntings?

Yes, then walk straight along the sea wall till you reach a gate where the sea wall bends, enjoy!

 

[Geoff Pain]

Thank you Gillian.

 

[Captain_of_Crunch]

Two Ravens in Thetford today:

https://twitter.com/TL88Q/status/710035808154226689

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell March 16th

Today's highlights

Brambling - 2 on feeders
Avocet - 65 around the reserve
Peregrine - 1 around the reserve all day
Greenshank - 1 on volunteer marsh
Red crested pochard - 11 in reedbed
Marsh tit - 1 on feeders

Paul

 

[Tim P]

Lapland Buntings

Great views of Lapland Buntings today at Blakeney but no sign of the Wensum Bean Geese. More on the website https://hethersettbirdingblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/16/local-buntings-and-some-from-lapland/

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell March 17th

Today's highlights

Slavonian grebe - 1 offshore
Red kite - 1 east late morning
Red crested pochard - 3 in reedbed
Short eared owl - 1 hunting over grazing meadow late afternoon

Paul

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell March 18th

Today's highlights

Avocet - 63 on reserve
Bittern - 1 in flight over reedbed
Brambling - 2 males on feeders
Water pipit - 1 on grazing meadow
Slavonian grebe - 1 offshore
Jack snipe - 1 flushed on Patsy's reedbed. Note, East Trail is still closed until March 25th

Paul

 

[dennis.c]

Hi Dennis.

There isn't necessarily a best place to see it, because it moves between the Bowthorpe and Earlham sides. If it hasn't been reported before you go looking then it might be best to scan the marsh on both sides from the bridge over the river (Tollgate Way) to locate it. Be aware that if it is in the area of wet woodland south of the pools at Bowthorpe then you won't see it from the main road.

Good luck.

Thanks James.
Finally managed to catch up with the egret at Earlham today.

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell March 19th

Today's highlights

Brambling - 5 on feeders
Ruff - 1 on fresh marsh
Peregrine - 1 over the reserve
Water pipit - partial summer plumage bird on grazing meadow
Greenshank - 1 on tidal pool
Red crested pochard - 3 (2 males) in reedbed
Velvet scoter - drake offshore
Chiffchaff - 1 in carpark
Red kite - 2 west over the visitor centre @ 13:00#

Paul

 

[Stratton Birder]

Good birding at Strumpshaw Fen this morning with time well spent there. The three main highlights for me were the Jack Snipe from Fen Hide which showed well briefly early morning before creeping back in to cover, a large and impressive adult female Peregrine which spent two or three minutes over the reserve, and my first singing Chiffchaff of the year along the river.

Lots of Cetti's Warblers were singing, a good variety of ducks included one female Goldeneye, a pair of Pintail and Wigeon, eight Pochard and a pleasing count of 84 Gadwall.

Apart from more usual things like Siskin, Bullfinch and Goldcrest, the most unusual bird of the day was an aberrant Carrion Crow - wholly chocolate brown in colour and showing a faint silvery wash to its upper-wings and tail when seen in flight.

An hours birding in the Hempnall area in the afternoon got me my first local Red Kite of the year over fields east of the village. I usually get two or three a year these days. The bird then headed low north west over the main street and anyone popping along to the shops at this moment could surely not have missed such a fabulous bird over their own village.

Steve.

 

[Paul Eele]

Titchwell March 22nd

Today's highlights

Avocet - 57 around the reserve
Greenshank - 1 on volunteer marsh
Rough legged buzzard - 1 hunting over Thornham Marsh @ 10:30
Water pipit - 1 on grazing meadow
Long tailed duck - 2 offshore
Red kite - 8 west over the reserve this morning
Barnacle goose - 5 west @ 09:05
Spoonbill - 1 over carpark
Red crested pochard - 10 in reedbed
Slavonian grebe - 1 offshore
Great Northern diver - 1 offshore

Hen harrier - 2 ringtails roosted last night with 14 marsh harriers

Paul