Well we’re off, even if it wasn't a particularly auspicious
start. I really thought we’d have seen a Northern Lapwing or two on the way up
to Norfolk this morning, but it wasn't to be. Once we arrived at Titchwell the
day looked as if it was going to go from bad to worse as the water levels were
high and the glowering sky kept light levels to a minimum so rubbish for photography. We managed Common Snipe as our first species, then Common Redshank and
single Northern Lapwing and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits, things were not
looking good. However when we got to the beach we had a wader-lover’s bonanza!
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Black-tailed Godwit |
The predominant species was Eurasian Oystercatcher, all
along the beach were large collections of them which would occasionally rise in
noisy confusion, also in small loose bands were Ruddy Turnstones and dotted
among them Eurasian Curlews.
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Titchwell beach alive with waders |
Along the beach one way we came across a single Grey Plover in
among the other species, but when we turned and looked the other way there were
loads of them dashing about the beach. There was a positive profusion of
Sanderlings, these fantastic, busy, little birds seemed to be everywhere whizzing
along chasing back the retreating tide. Among this throng were scattered mini
packs of Red Knot, a few Dunlin and the odd Bar-tailed Godwit.
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Mixed flock of waders |
Returning to the centre, after a warming cuppa and a visit
to the shop to buy a copy of
Birdwatching
Magazine and a copy of Alan and Ruth’s entertaining book,
The Biggest Twitch (second copy, first
copy got lost in the move from Brazil) we had a chance to stop and talk to the
warden Paul Eele. We did a short, filmed interview with him as he talked about
why Titchwell was so good for waders, and my amateur status as a presenter was
not in danger of being upgraded any time soon when I forgot to introduce him!
We did a remedial piece to camera that I hope will allow for some not very
subtle editing later on to cover my blushes. We left Titchwell with 12 species
on the list.
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Sanderling flock in flight over the sand |
From there we whizzed up to Cley and the famous Norfolk
Naturalist’s Trust reserve, on discovering that we were not members (we thought
we joined in the summer) we joined straight away. From there we went to the
Bishop's Hide overlooking Pat’s Pool to look for the 2 White-rumped Sandpipers
reported there.
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Pat's pool from Bishop's Hide. there's a White-rumped Sand or two out there, honest! |
As we
entered the hide we were confronted by an unusual question from the occupants,
“Do you know what you are looking
for?”
It turns out this was not
someone taking the Micky, but a genuine plea for help, there were three people
in the hide asking for assistance to locate the White-rumps. I assured them
that I did indeed know what I was looking for (you can fool some of the people…
etc.) and set about looking for said sandpipers. After five minutes I was
beginning to think that perhaps I didn't know what I was looking for after
suspect after suspect revealed itself to be a Dunlin, when suddenly, there was
a White-rumped Sandpiper conveniently preening itself and showing its white
upper tail coverts, I then triumphantly told the swelling crowd in the hide of
my find. We watched it for some time and noted a few other waders; a pair of
Pied Avocets, several Ruff and then in flew around 50 Golden Plovers bringing
our total after the first day to 16 species.
At Salthouse, we came across a group of Ruddy Turnstones feeding on the shingle near the car park.
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Ruddy Turnstone |
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Small group of Ruddy Turnstones with a European Starling or two. |
Excellent start Elis & Rick! Keep it up and keep us posted. :)
ReplyDeleteWish you all the best for the rest of the year.
Best, Szimi
Thanks for your support as ever Szimi, we're off to Thailand tomorrow when the excitement really starts as we search for the elusive jewel in the crown of Wader Quest, the Spoon-billed sandpiper.
DeleteThanks again for all your support.
Cheers.
Rick and Elis.