Hello there!
With our Warden, Lizzie, away I've taken the reins for this week's sightings.
Saturday
Starting around the coast at RSPB Snettisham. If Titchwell is the RSPB's North West Norfolk crown, then surely Snettisham is the jewel in that crown?
On a small incoming tide the mud flats at Snettisham gave us: 2,520 oystercatchers, 206 golden plover, 203 curlew, 140 grey plover, 15 ringed plover, 13 bar-tailed godwit, a great black-backed gull, one greenshank, 182 redshank and 95 Canada geese.
In the Snettisham pits we had a common sandpiper, four common terns, 12 gadwall, 28 lapwing, one little ringed plover, six spotted redshank, two teal and one wigeon and 256 starlings flew though or were perched in the bushes surrounding the pits.
Common sandpiper at RSPB Snettisham by Tony Devenish
11 little egrets were dotted across the reserve.
Two sparrow hawks and one kestrel hunted over the Snettisham reserve and one dunnock, 17 linnets, six meadow pipits, six pied wagtails, 13 swallows and two blue tits were flitting around and feeding.
Thanks to Tony Devenish, RSPB Volunteer and WeBS counter, for the Snettisham sightings.
Over on the freshmarsh at Titchwell we had a little stint, five curlew sandpipers, five spoonbill, a greenshank, a green sandpiper and a hobby and merlin darting about. Plus grey wagtail, yellow wagtail, little ringed plover, spotted redshank and two kingfishers flitting around between the freshmarsh and reedbed. The highlight was perhaps the Lapland bunting that flew over calling from the saltmarsh, had a drink on the freshmarsh and then flew back over to the saltmarsh.
Several siskin were seen passing West.
On the sea at Titchwell a visitor reported red-throated diver, Manx shearwater, great skua and artic skua
Another visitor reported good shows of warblers with blackcaps, whitethroats and a garden warbler. They also had a stonechat, a sighting of the secretive bittern and a juvenile peregrine.
The great white egret was once again seen loitering in the reedbed pools and treecreeper and jay were also seen.
Sunday
Staying at Titchwell the siskins joined the staff and volunteer daily briefing from the trees around the visitor centre.
Over on the sea we had one great skua flying West. Two red-throated divers, 30+ gannets, 12 Sandwich terns, and one whimbrel. On the beach a snow bunting 100m West of the end of the West Bank Path.
On the freshmarsh we saw three curlew sandpipers, two yellow-legged gulls, yellow wagtail, a peregrine and a juvenile Mediterranean gull.
Thornham grazing marsh gave us a stonechat and the Tank Road produced a grey wagtail.
Sunday was rounded off nicely by ringtail hen harrier over the saltmarsh during the late afternoon.
Monday
Much excitement today as a glossy ibis was spotted on the freshmarsh! The question is, how long will it stay around?!
Glossy ibis at RSPB Titchwell Marsh by Tony Devenish
Thank you to Trevor Girling for Titchwell's weekend sightings.
See you soon.
Hayley.
Senior Sites Manager North West Norfolk Reserves