Getting in a bit of training before the BBF and Africa!

The visit by good friends Martha Argel and Humberto Neto from Brazil gave us the perfect excuse to call a halt to the desperate preparations for both the British Birdwatching Fair and the following trips to Africa, Australasia and South America and get out and actually look at some waders and other birds.

 



Humberto and Martha with JC the travelling penguin: Tyrringham church,
Buckinghanshire, England, August 2013

Bird's eye view of birders (not sure why Martha is wearing a gasmask though):
HESC, Buckinghamshire, England August 2013.

We had already seen Green Sandpiper and Northern Lapwing the day before at a local reserve and so our eagerness for more was heightened having got the feel of the bins in the hands again after such a long break.



Doesn`t anyone take birding seriously any more?
Stoke Goldington, Buckinghamshire, England August 2013.

Titchwell was heaving with people , it being August and hot and sunny, but that did not detract at all from our enjoyment of the day. One of the first birds we saw was this lovely Spotted Redshank right infront of the hide. Considering how far away they were when we saw them last time we were there it was lucky to have one so close. It was limpling a little it seemed to me but still feeding and behaving normally. It was just changing out of summer plumage with a few grey feathers appearing.

Spotted Redshank: Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.

We were treated to spectacular views of Northern Lapwing along the path to the beach and on the beach itself we saw a number of different wader species.

Northern Lapwing: Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.

Bar-tailed Godwit: Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.

Ruddy Turnstone: Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.

Red Knot: Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.

Eurasian Curlew: Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.

One very upsetting thing we saw though was a man walking his two dogs off the lead on the beach. These dogs were taking great delight in chasing the waders on the water line...

Uncontrolled dogs cahsing waders: Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.

Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.

and distressingly one of them actually managed to catch one!

Dog with wader in its mouth: Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.

Just to prove that we are not the wealthy globe trotters some think we are, here am I discovering that my trusty 10 year old shoes have developed a hole in the toe!

Can't afford new shoes (bless!): Titchwell, Norfolk England, 14/08/2013.