Welcome to this week’s edition of what has been seen at Titchwell recently. After a short spell of sunshine, we are back to the cold, grey weather that has become the norm for this year.
Car Park / Visitor Centre
On the bird feeders are the standard garden birds that you would expect to see including blue tits, great tits, goldfinch and chaffinch. Whilst in the scrub there have been young blackcaps and reed warblers spotted. Chiff chaffs and cetti’s warblers can be heard blasting out their song amongst the willow.
Great tit, Les Bunyan
We have had a few people ask about the turtle doves; this year they continue to be quite elusive despite the supplementary seed we have putting out for them. They are more regular at Snettisham if you are wanting to see one.
Reedbed / Patsy’s/ East Trail
Within the reedbed the marsh harriers have continued to fledge young with at least 7 youngsters identified including two that are very dark brown with almost black heads and tiny orange markings on the back of their head.
Bittern sightings have reduced, but you might catch a glimpse of one making a brief flight over the reeds. Two great white egrets continue to lurk amongst the reeds or pop out on Patsy’s reedbed to catch a fishy snack. On the 16th June several lucky visitors sighted a purple heron as it appeared on a bush in the reedbed before disappearing into one of the hidden pools, however it wasn’t seen again.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have noticed an increased in duck broods including tufted ducks, pochard, gadwall and shoveler. A pair of little grebes on reedbed pool have two chicks and occasionally a great crested grebe appears.
Another species we are asked about is the red-crested pochards, the max count this year has been 4 males and 1 female, however this summer we are mainly seeing just the two males, but they are not regular.
Bearded tits are about but with the adults back on nests raising a second brood, they are become a little bit harder to spot as they dart across the reeds.
Marsh harrier, Les Bunyan
Freshmarsh
Wader numbers have been steadily increasing in recent days including 270 avocet, 11 little ringed plovers, 150 black-tailed godwits, 4 ruff, 7 spotted redshanks and a greenshank. We have also observed an increase in duck numbers who are starting too look a bit shabby as the males moult out their finery including 94 gadwall, 23 shelduck, 37 teal and 6 shoveler.
On the 17 June a female pintail appeared on the Freshmarsh but more surprising was a female long-tailed duck on the Friday 18 June in front of the island hide.
The grey weather has resulted in the swifts darting low over the Freshmarsh and dashing past your head, which is impressive to witness.
Greenshank, Les Bunyan
Volunteer Marsh / Tidal Marsh
Delightfully we have seen another brood of redshank chicks crossing the west bank path from Thornham saltmarsh onto volunteer and tidal marsh, we wish them luck.
A careful scan of volunteer marsh at low tide will reveal small flocks of lapwing amongst the saltmarsh vegetation and curlews hunting for crabs amongst the muddy creeks.
On Tidal marsh, wader numbers are increasing here with small flocks of avocet, oystercatchers, grey plovers and turnstones roosting on the islands. Other highlights on here include spoonbills, little egrets and common terns.
Redshank, Les Bunyan
Beach / Sea
This week we have watched the first two ringed plover chicks make flight, which is great news however it has been a real battle for these birds. We have seen nests predated, nests covered in sand and nests washed out. Though there is still time for ringed plovers to lay a final clutch of eggs so please do keep your distance from the cordons and watch your step.
On the sea distant flocks of common scoter have started appearing whilst closer in you can expect to see sandwich terns, common terns and little terns diving for fish and small numbers of eider have also been seen.
Eider, Les Bunyan
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