RSPB TITCHWELL 9th October 2004

Photographs by Dave Jennings, report by Stuart Harrison

Bar Tailed and Black Tailed Godwits - but which is which?	Pink Footed Geese against a threatening sky

There was a stiff, cold easterly breeze as we stepped of the coach at our first stop, the Cliff Drive in Hunstanton. we stopped in the hope of seeing Fulmars flying along the cliffs but it wasn't to be. What we did see were a number of Redshank and other smaller waders down on the beach, Gannets and dark geese out to sea and on the lawns by the roadside were Turnstones feeding! A little further on near the golf course a roadside "field" yielded some 60 or so Oystercatcher feeding with Starlings.

And so on to RSPB Titchwell itself, one of our favourite reserves. Near to where the coach parked the first birds we saw were half a dozen Grey Partridge huddled up against a hedge.

The sun was shining but the easterly wind persisted so we had to wrap up warmly  for the walk out to the beach. From the Island Hide we had good views of Black Tailed Godwit and quite a number of Golden Plover as well as some of the usual ducks, Wigeon, teal, Shovelor and Shelduck. Later in the afternoon there was excitement in the lagoon viewable from this hide as a juvenile Long Tailed Duck was spotted. Flying overhead were skeins of Pink Footed Geese and a small number of Brent Geese landed in of the lagoons.

From the Parrinder Hide we saw "Sammy" snoozing initially then he got up on his immensely long pink legs, stretched, preened and then started to feed. We also spotted Avocet and Bar Tailed Godwit. Some of us were lucky enough to see Bar Tailed and Black Tailed Godwit next to each other and really sort them out. In the brackish lagoons we found a few Grey Plover, Knot, more Avocets and Curlew.

It was definitely very brisk on the beach. There were numerous Gannet both adults and the very dark immature birds flying just above the waves out to sea and there were rumours of skuas but the author didn't see one. As usual,  Sanderling were running about at the edge of the sea.

The day was fairly raptor-free but those who lingered longest on the way back from the beach were rewarded with a brief sighting of a Marsh Harrier. All too soon it was getting towards coach departure time; the hours at Titchwell had flown by and many of us didn't have time to hit the shop.

Our sightings for the day included:

Atmospheric shot of one Titchwell's lagoons	Redshank feeding in the shallows