The second of two private tours today, with visitors from India. Having done so well with our target list on the first tour on 14th, we were left with some specific things to look for today and we were aiming to get some more photographs of the commoner species.
We started in the car park at Titchwell RSPB, a little later than planned due to delays in transit. There had already been lots of birds around the berry and fruit bushes before cars began to arrive, but once we had met up we still managed to find a good variety – lots of warblers, including several Lesser Whitethroats, Common Whitethroats and lots of Blackcaps. The usual selection of tits, and finches including Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Bullfinch. Several pairs of Woodpigeon were displaying and collecting nest material – providing great photo opportunities – as did the resident tame Robins.
Woodpigeon – displaying in the car park!
From there, we headed on to Holme Dunes, to look for Linnets, a particular target for the day. We had no trouble finding them, but they were reluctant to sit still in the very blustery westerly wind, although we eventually managed to get some reasonable shots of them. The Meadow Pipits were similarly camera shy. A couple of Yellow Wagtails flew over calling. The pair of Turtle Doves we flushed in the dunes, a personal favourite, proved less of a draw.
Turtle Dove – a pair were out in the dunes
We also explored the farmland up behind Titchwell, looking for some of the typical birds of the area. We managed to find several Yellowhammers, but the wind was still not helping us. However, we flushed some birds which had been drinking at a roadside puddle, so we decided to stake it out from the car and see what might come down. A selection of finches provided great material for the camera, but the undoubted highlight was a Grey Partridge which came out of the hedge and spent several minutes drinking right in front of us.
Grey Partridge – though nervous, this bird came out to drink for several minutes right in front of us
After lunch, the afternoon was spent at Titchwell. Two Red-crested Pochard were on the reedbed pool on the way out. At least 12 Spoonbills were (mostly) sleeping out on the freshmarsh, along with a good selection of waders – loads of Avocets still, several Little Ringed & Ringed Plovers, Lapwing, a single red Knot, a small group of Dunlin, lots of Ruff including lots of juveniles, both Black-tailed & Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew, 15 Spotted Redshank and lots of Common Redshank, and a couple of Turnstone still in their breeding finery. As well as more of several of the above, a stunning summer-plumaged Grey Plover was out on the Volunteer Marsh. Out on the sea, a single drake Common Scoter was braving the surf, but the sand-blasting from the wind proved too much to bear, so we headed back for shelter.
Avocet – still lots of these out on the freshmarsh
Ruff – good numbers of juveniles now with the adults
Bloody-nosed Beetle – we saw large numbers of these today around Titchwell
