A Private Tour today. After an overnight frost, it was a bright day with plenty of sunshine although cool in a fresh N wind. On our way home, we drove into cloud and a light shower – perfect timing! We spent the day in NW Norfolk.
Our destination for the morning was Snettisham. As we walked up to the gates, we saw a shape on the top of the telegraph post. A quick look confirmed it was a Turtle Dove, our first of the year. We got it in the scope and it started purring. A reminder of springs past and sadly a sound much more seldom heard now.
After a while, it fluttered up with tail spread in display flight. As it spiralled down, a second Turtle Dove came up out of the bushes and we watched them both flying off south. Just beyond, we stopped to watch a Wheatear feeding on the short-cropped grass.
Walking through, there were lots of Linnets and Meadow Pipits all the way up from here. Stonechats flicked up onto the bushes ahead of us. We could hear various warblers singing, all just returned for the summer. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs probably from North Africa, Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler from across the Sahara in West Africa.
Our other main target here was Grasshopper Warbler and we had to walk some way today before we heard one. It was reeling from the brambles on the edge of the outer seawall and came up into the tops where we could get it in the scopes. Fabulous views! A second Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in opposition, from the fenced off area the other side of the path.
Cutting across now, we walked back along the inner seawall. The pools are drying out fast now, as we have not had any rain to speak of for some time. We did manage to find a couple of Ruff with the Redshanks. Two lingering Pink-footed Geese were on the grass beyond with the Greylags and Canada Geese. Possibly sick or injured birds unable to make the journey back to Iceland for the breeding season.
Almost back to the road and we heard a Lesser Whitethroat rattling in the bushes. We could see it moving in the leaves in the large hawthorns and with a bit of patience, we had a very nice view when it came out onto the edge. The Turtle Dove was back and we saw it flutter up in display flight again, over towards the entrance.
We needed to use the facilities, so we went round to Titchwell next. Before lunch, we had a look at the paddocks but there were just a couple of Pied Wagtails on the grass today. After lunch, we walked out onto the reserve. There were the usual Common Pochard and Tufted Ducks on the Reedbed Pool. Lots of Sedge Warblers and a few Reed Warblers singing now in the reeds. Sand Martins and a couple of House Martins hawking over the back of the reedbed.
Out on the Freshmarsh, there were lots of Avocets on the first compartment. The Brent Geese were commuting in and out from the saltmarsh. On the next compartment, there were more waders. Ruffs in various stages of moult and a couple of Little Ringed Plovers. We walked round to Parriner Hide for closer views of the Mediterranean Gulls and there were still four Sandwich Terns on the islands here too.
We had a quick walk out to the sea. A Wheatear was feeding out on the back on the Tidal Pool. The highlight at the beach was a Spoonbill feeding out on the pools in the mussel beds, with a Little Egret. A few Sanderling were running along the shore, in and out of the waves.
On our way back, we cut in round on Meadow Trail. The Tawny Owl was back in its usual tree by Fen Trail. Getting harder to see now with the leaves starting to come out on the sallows in front. A quick look on Patsy’s Reedbed pool produced a single Great Crested Grebe out on the water.
We had time for one last stop, so we drove round to Thornham Harbour. Up on the seawall, we scanned the fields and quickly found six Whimbrel feeding out on the grass.
Walking up further, we stopped at the corner to scan the Harbour. We found two or three Grey Plovers out on the mud as usual. On the grazing marsh beyond, there were lots of Black-tailed Godwits feeding in the grass, some now in bright rusty breeding plumage. Looking across to the pools, we found a few Common Snipe and several Ruff. A single Golden Plover was hiding out in the grass. It seemed to have a limp, so perhaps the one we had seen in the dunes at Holme a few days ago.
Then it was time to head back. A lovely day of Spring Migration on the coast.
