Hello
Welcome to the latest sightings roundup from RSPB Titchwell.
On Friday like much of the east coast we were battered with gale forced northerly winds and torrential rain. This resulted in the water levels rising dramatically across the reedbed and Freshmarsh, despite the outlet pipes being wide open. Nonetheless when the rain stopped, and the wind dropped over 80 species were recorded on Sunday.
The wind dropped slightly on Saturday and in these conditions’ sea watching is the best place to start as many seabirds are pushed into The Wash. Sea watch totals: 21 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 4 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Little Gull, 1 Kittiwake, Red-breasted merganser and 70 Gannet.
On the beach was a Wheatear and a Purple Sandpiper. As expected with a rise in water levels duck numbers increased on the reserve including 37 Pochard and 30 wigeon.
On Sunday there was another opportunity for some seawatching birds recorded include 7 Arctic Skua, 22 Dark bellied brent geese, 160 Gannet, 1 Storm Petrel, 1 Sabine’s Gull, 5 Grey Phalaropes plus Fulmars, Red-throated Divers, 5+ Little Gulls, 2 Arctic Terns and Great Skuas. On the beach was a Snow Bunting, a Wheatear and 2 Purple Sandpipers. Highlights from the rest of the reserve include Great White Egret, Hobby, Spoonbills and Caspian Gull.
Grey phalarope, Phill Gwilliams
The wind completely dropped on Monday creating a sense of post storm calm and revealing a large wreck of shellfish on the beach. This has resulted in a huge number of gulls and waders feasting on the razor clams, crabs and cockles. In the morning the 5 Grey Phalaropes remained on the sea and Purple Sandpiper numbers increased to 5. On tidal marsh there was a small flock of Grey Plovers, Black-tailed Godwits and Bar-tailed Godwits. Seventeen Spoonbills, a Great White Egret and a Spotted Redshank were on Freshmarsh along with flocks of Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler. Around the meadow trail a Yellow-browed Warbler was seen flitting amongst the trees along with a couple of Chiff chaffs and a Reed Warbler. The Red-backed Shrike that was first seen last week reappeared on Thornham Grazing marsh, it appears to have discovered the bee hives that are located further along the fence line.
As always do let us know what you have seen either by speaking to a member of the team on site, tagging us on Twitter using @rspbTitchwell or email us: titchwell@rspb.org.uk
See you soon
Lizzie
NW Norfolk Reserves Warden