With winter now firmly upon us, our cold, wet days were interspersed with some lovely bright sunny days when the sight of skeins of Pink-footed Geese from Iceland and Greenland, along with Brent Geese from Arctic Russia delighted our staff, volunteers and visitors alike. However, most of the birding focus was directed at sightings from the sea as our scoter flock had returned from their breeding grounds near rivers and lakes in boreal forests in Scotland, Iceland and Scandinavia. Hours of scanning out to sea produced a few Velvet Scoters and to the delight of one member of staff, a rare Surf Scoter one day. A Black-throated Diver, very scarce on the Norfolk coastline appeared at the end of the month.
Common Scoter
Photo credit: Phill Gwilliam
Car Park, Visitor Centre, Woodland and Picnic Area
At the beginning of the month, a Tawny Owl was either heard or seen early in the morning and again as it got dark as staff left at the end of their working day. It was seen in and around the staff car park and Visitor Centre. On the 1st a Brambling was seen, which have been low in numbers so far this winter. A Treecreeper was recorded on a few dates up to 14th. An over-wintering Chiffchaff was good to see in the picnic area which are always worth checking out, in case it could be a tristis race at this time of year. A member of staff, who was doing a ‘big’ Titchwell year list was delighted when a Siberian Chiffchaff was reported on 28th until the end of the month. Siskins have also been low in numbers so far this winter, but there were a few around on 4th through to the month’s end. On 4th and 18th, a Coal Tit was noted around the Visitor Centre, but Coal Tits get under-reported. It was joined by a Goldcrest on 5th and 7th but these are also under-reported. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen in the trees on 4th and 30th. The main migration of thrushes is now over but a few birds lingered, including a Redwing on 7th and 11th. A Song Thrush, which was once a common bird have declined dramatically in their numbers, was noted in the car park on 14th, 30th and 31st.
West Bank Ditch
In the winter months, Titchwell has been fortunate to enjoy the presence of one or two Water Rails in the ditch that runs alongside the West Bank Path near the Visitor Centre. This year is no exception as a Water Rail has been seen on many dates in the month. A Common Snipe was also seen here on 2nd.
West Bank Path
A Red-legged Partridge was seen running down the West Bank path on 2nd which is an unusual sighting for the reserve.
Reedbed
Marsh Harriers continue to use the reedbed as a roosting site and can be seen leaving the roost at dawn and returning again at dusk. A count of 35 were seen coming out of roost on 30th. A Hen Harrier joined them on 6th and 30th. A Cetti’s Warbler was seen on 2nd here and a Great White Egret was noted on 11th. Bearded Tits which are probably present all month were reported on 29th. Water Pipits have been seen at the end of the month in the Reed Bed Pool area where the reeds have been newly cut. Up to 4 have been seen here along with Meadow Pipits and Rock Pipits.
Freshmarsh
During the winter months the Freshmarsh settles down to its regular birds and with water levels very high because of the amount of rain we have experienced this year, the ducks noted on the 1st of the month were also reported on many dates throughout the month. These included Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Shelduck, Gadwall and Mallard. However, birders like to see the more unusual ducks. A Pintail was reported on 1st, 2nd and 12th and there was a brief visit early in the day from a Goosander on 2nd. Geese also come and go using the fresh water to freshen up and generally rest, which included Brent Geese, and Pink-footed Geese as well as our more-or-less resident Greylag Geese all month. A few wader species were seen but numbers vary depending on the time of day. Big flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover were present at certain times of the day, all month. A Ruff was reported on 6th with a few Avocets present on most dates. Avocet numbers decrease dramatically in the winter. Black-tailed Godwits are also a regular species all month. A Common Snipe was seen on and off all month. A Water Rail was reported on the Freshmarsh on 16th, which used to be a common sight here, lurking at the base of the reeds in winter months, when the water levels were lower than they are at present.
More unusual birds seen included a female Smew on 2nd with a Siberian Chiffchaff seen around the Island Hide on 22nd.
Volunteer Marsh
A Kingfisher brightened up the day on 13th and a Spotted Redshank was reported here on the same day as well as on 18th.
Tidal Pool
A Spotted Redshank was seen here on most dates early in the month with a Greenshank joining it on 9th,14th and 16th. A Kingfisher was seen on most dates in the first half of the month. A Water Pipit was reported on 1st and 9th, with a Rock Pipit seen on 2nd and 13th. Knot were reported here on 2nd and 6th. More unusual birds for the pool included two Goosanders on 5th, a Cetti’s Warbler on 7th, a Water Rail on 14th and a Pintail on 13th. Teal were also present on 7th.
Kingfisher
Beach and Sea
The sea has provided our staff and merry band of regular volunteers and visitors with the most interesting sightings this month. A huge flock of Common Scoter, estimated at 3200 birds, broken up into several flocks, have lingered just offshore for most of the month. It provides sea-watchers with the challenge of trying to find a Velvet Scoter which has been achieved most days, peaking at 11 birds on 17th. The prize though, went to a member of staff who spotted a Surf Scoter in the flock on 4th.
Other sea birds seen include: Red-breasted Mergansers on 1st and 4th with six seen on16th, Eider on 1st, 6th,16th and 18th, Great Northern Diver 1st, 4th, 16th, Red-throated Diver 11th, 14th and a female Long-tailed Duck on 1st and 16th. Goldeneye are often present in the winter months on the sea and were seen on several dates. Great Crested Grebes are often under reported but are present most days. A Shag, not a common sight in Norfolk was seen on 4th, 7th and 21st. A Black-throated Diver, an unusual bird for the Norfolk coastline, which is often mis-identified in the county, was seen on 30th and 31st. An unusual sight on the sea was a Tufted Duck on 14th. Along the beach, Dunlin, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Knot, Oystercatchers, Bar-tailed Godwit were seen all month. A Rock Pipit was also seen on the beach on 5th.
Our visitors often ask about Snow Buntings as they arrive in the Welcome Hub, but they have been in short supply so far this month, with only a report of a bird on 1st on the beach.
Thornham Marsh
A Hen Harrier was seen on 9th, 11th, 12th and 31st.
Hen Harrier
Photo credit: Cliff Gilbert
Fen Trail
The Fen Trail is often visited by our visitors in the hope of seeing a Woodcock in winter months. On the 7th a Woodcock was seen here. However, the best way to see Woodcock is to stand on the West Bank path at dusk and watch them come out of roost. On 18th,15 were counted coming out of roost. A Coal Tit was seen along the trail on 7th, with a Chiffchaff on 11th. On the 14th a Jay was seen flying through the trees. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are often heard ‘chipping’ but not often seen as frequently, as they are heard or reported to the Visitor Centre, so it was nice to have one reported on 15th along with a Goldcrest. A Redwing was noted here on 16th. On 22nd, a Cetti’s Warbler was noted with a Treecreeper on 24th and a Tawny Owl on 30th.
East Trail, Patsy’s Pool, Old Tank Road area
A Jack Snipe was a nice find for one person on Patsy’s Pool on 1st. One lucky observer saw a Bittern on 6th and a Common Snipe was observed on 7th. A Water Rail was seen here on 22nd and two were reported on 30th.
Grazing Meadow
A Stonechat was noted on the Grazing meadow on 7th.
Thornham Point
One of our volunteers walks down to Thornham point on a regular basis and along with others reports what he sees. Although it is a bit of trek down to the point it can produce some interesting birds. On 2nd a Greenshank was noted but on 15th, besides watching a Black-throated Diver on the sea here, he heard and saw a Lapland Bunting.
Flyovers
Many birds visit the reserve, but many birds simply fly over it, looking for suitable habitat for their needs. Some birds are only heard and never seen because they are simple too high up in the sky but are recognised by their call. However, most are seen and this month a Spoonbill was noted on 1st, 6th, 18th and 19th, a Red Kite on 1st, 4th, 7th and 24th, a Buzzard on 1st and 4th, a Lapland Bunting on 6th, a Merlin on 7th and 19th, a Raven on19th, a Hen Harrier on 7th and 15th, a Bittern on 11th, a Whooper Swan on 11th, a Redwing on 14th, a Peregrine on 14th, a Rock Pipit on 15th, a Barnacle Goose on 23rd, Santa’s sleigh on 24th, a Hawfinch on 29th and a Great White Egret on 29th.
Most mornings just after dawn skeins of Pink-footed Geese are seen flying over the reserve.
Other Wildlife
Scarlet Elf Caps have been putting on a good show this month. They can be found along our access path and along Fen Trail where trees are present.