Titchwell's October Sightings 2023

by           Sue Bryan

Most unusually the fine warm, sometimes hot weather continued until the middle of the month. It was very unseasonal for the time of year which meant that some birds stayed on the reserve perhaps a bit longer than usual. Blackcaps and Bearded Tits continued to be seen on still sunny days and sightings came in thick and fast because our visitors enjoyed their visit and came into the shop to report their sightings. Sea-watching continued by our dedicated staff and volunteers who put in many hours watching the birds flying out at sea. A mass migration event took place over the days of 8^th, 9^th and 10^th with vast numbers of Redwing, Brambling, Siskin, Meadow Pipits and Short-eared Owls as well as many other common species, adding to the delight of birdwatching at Titchwell with all its usual birds present on the reserve itself. The middle and late part of the month produced a lot of rainfall, meaning that the water levels in the Freshmarsh rose leaving many of our islands under water, or at least partly covered, leaving less room for any migrating waders.

Redwing Photo by Phill Gwilliam

Car Park, Visitor Centre, Woodland and Picnic Area

A Swallow and a Sparrowhawk were seen around the Visitor Centre on the 2^nd as well as a Chiffchaff. A little more unusual was a Treecreeper which was seen on several days between 9^th and 15^th. A Tawny Owl is quite clearly present around the Visitor Centre and car park area, as not only is it heard, but on 16^th a group of birds could be heard mobbing it. The owl was reported from the beginning of the month until the end of the month. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen on 15^th and 17^th. However, the bird that causes excitement to the birdwatchers is a migrant bird that is sought for birdwatchers’ year-lists at this time of year. This Yellow-browed Warbler was not keen to show itself and although it was heard many times, patience was the name of the game to see it. It was seen on many dates between the 10^th and 28^th. A Firecrest, which is always a delight to see was seen on 23^rd by a member of staff at the Meadow path/West Bank path junction. During the winter a Water Rail can often be seen in the ditch alongside the West Bank path in the ditch, so it was nice to know that one was seen on 25^th here. Woodcock arrive from Scandinavia and Russia at this time of year and one was spotted around the car park on 27^th and 28^th. A Hawfinch was photographed in the car park on 28^th.

Reedbed

Water Rails, which are more frequently seen and heard in the winter months were heard in the Reedbed between 3^rd and 8^th with 4 different individuals accounted for on 8^th. A late Hobby was seen over the Reedbed on 3^rd. A Great White Egret was seen in the Reedbed on 4^th. Still, sunny days are best for seeing Bearded Tits and that was certainly the case at the beginning of the month during the spell of good weather between 5^th and 8^th.They were also reported to the Visitor Centre on 25^th.  A lone Kingfisher was seen here on the 5^th and was joined by another on 8^th. Excitement was caused on 7^th when a Bittern was seen here.

Freshmarsh

Passage waders are always exciting to see as Ruff were encountered on 2^nd and 7^th along with Golden Plover, Common Snipe on 3^rd and 4^th respectively, Spotted Redshank on 5^th and 14^th, Wood Sandpiper on 9^th and 11^th, Greenshank on 10^th and 11^th. Little Stints have been intermittent all month along with a few Dunlin. Jack Snipe were present on 11^th and 12^th with a brief Pectoral Sandpiper on 14^th. A few Avocets have lingered all month.

The first winter ducks arrived on 3^rd and included Pintail and Wigeon. Pintail were also noted on 21^st and 23^rd. A lone White-fronted Goose also arrived on the 3^rd and lingered around the reserve for most of the month. Six Whooper Swans were seen on the Freshmarsh early on the mornings of 14^th and 15^th.   Spoonbills were seen on 3^rd, 7^th and 28^th. A Kingfisher was noted on the 7^th.Other notable birds seen on the Freshmarsh included a Rock Pipit on 7^th and 24^th. Several Yellow-legged Gulls were coming into roost late in the day from middle of the month onwards. Yellow-legged Gulls tend to arrive after the Visitor Centre has closed, so they are possibly under-reported.

Volunteer Marsh

A Spotted Redshank was seen on 4^th, 7^th and 9^th of the month and a Rock Pipit was noted here on 21^st. A Merlin was seen here on 26^th.

Tidal Pool

Waders that were seen on the Tidal Pool included a Greenshank on 2^nd, 3^rd, 15^th,23^rd, 25^th and 27^th along with a Grey Plover on the 3^rd, Dunlin on 5^th and a Spotted Redshank on 15^th and 17^th. Other birds included a Kingfisher on 3^rd, 23^rd and 27^th and a Great Crested Grebe on the 8^th. A Goosander was noted here on 28^th.

Beach and Sea

Sea watching was popular this month with some northerly air flows producing some good sightings on several dates.  The most exciting sightings were probably the sightings of Manx Shearwaters that were seen between 3^rd and 19^th on many dates. Sandwich Terns lingered until 7^th. Red-throated Divers were seen all month. Huge numbers of Razorbills were reported right along the Norfolk coastline and Titchwell was no exception at the beginning of the month. Arctic Skuas were reported between 2^nd and 8^th with the 2^nd adding Red-breasted Merganser and Red-necked Grebe. A Red-necked Grebe was also seen on several dates towards the end of the month. A passage of Gannets was reported between 3^rd and 7^th and a Great Crested Grebe was seen on 4^th.Sanderling and Eider were seen on 5^th and Common Scoter were reported on 7^th. Two Black-necked Grebes were seen on 7^th and again on several dates at the end of the month. Common Terns were seen on 7^th and a Slavonian Grebe was noted on 23^rd and 28^th.  

By the 8^th Short-eared Owls were being seen on their migration along the coastline and 10 were seen flying in off the sea at Titchwell, before flying towards the dunes. Great Skuas have been badly affected by bird flu so it was good to have two birds seen on the 8^th with another on 12^th. A Peregrine was also seen on 8^th here. Long-tailed Skuas are a scarcity along the Norfolk coastline, but a member of staff was lucky to see one on 11^th. A Barnacle Goose was added to the sightings board on 12^th and more sea sightings included a Velvet Scoter on 14^th and 23^rd. A Mediterranean Gull was noted on 14^th.

The 21st of the month saw a big passage of Little Gulls along the Norfolk coastline with 30 birds being noted at Titchwell flying by with a few lingerers the following day. A Long-tailed Duck was seen on 21^st, 23^rd and 30^th, which brings hope that more will be seen as the winter sets in, as this species is always a delight to see. A Snow Bunting was seen on the beach on 22^nd which is also an indication that winter is on its way. Winter-plumaged divers can be tricky to identify and Black-throated Divers are often mis-identified as well as being scarce on the Norfolk coastline. However, one was seen on 19^th, 23^rd and 28^th.

Brent Geese are still arriving this month and were seen on 23^rd. Another arrival along the coastline later in the month, included the arrival of Shags, some of which roost along the coastline at Hunstanton cliffs, so it was no surprise that one was seen on 26^th and 28^th but they are still a scarce sighting for Titchwell. Much scarcer birds included sightings of a Little Auk on 27^th and a Black Guillemot on 29^th and 30^th.

Black-necked Grebe Photo by Phill Gwilliam

Fen Trail

A Bullfinch graced the Fen Trail on the 3^rd which always adds colour to the day along with a Goldcrest. On 7^th Jay, Siskins and a Chiffchaff were seen here.

A lucky member of staff, who had been alerted earlier in the day on the 16^th, by a volunteer to a Yellow-browed Warbler’s presence along the Fen Trail, went out after work and not only saw one Yellow-browed Warbler but two of them! Both of them were very vocal. It soon became obvious that an owl was present (probably a Tawny Owl) as Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins and Blackbirds were raucously mobbing something hidden deep in the bushes. A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen on many dates up until 28^th here. A Sparrowhawk was seen on the trail on 19^th and a Tawny Owl was seen on 22^nd. The 29^th recorded a Hawfinch along the trail for a few lucky observers.

Meadow Trail

The Meadow Trail can often throw up some surprises and it was good to hear that some Lesser Redpoll were seen along it on 2^nd along with a Kingfisher on 4^th and a Chiffchaff on 5^th.

East Trail, Patsy’s Pool, Old Tank Road area

A Barn Owl and Tawny Owl were seen in the area on 2^nd. A Blackcap and joined them on 2^nd and again on 5^th. A Great White Egret was present on 3^rd. One of our volunteers noted 51 Cormorants on 4^th along with a staggering count of 151 Lesser Black-backed Gulls that had roosted overnight here. Patsy’s Pool hosted a Yellow-legged Gull on 5^th as well as a White-fronted Goose. By the 15^th a Bittern was present and two Yellow-browed Warblers were around the Old Tank Road area. A Scaup was seen on the pool on 25^th.

Autumn Trail

Autumn Trail has been open and two Yellow-browed Warblers were noted along here on the 8^th.

Paddocks

A Barn Owl was seen quartering the ground here on 4^th.

Grazing Meadow

A Hen Harrier was seen on two dates over Thornham Marsh on 4^th and 10^th. A Rock Pipit was seen on 5^th with 3 being reported on 8^th. Another Short-eared Owl was seen over the grazing marsh on 10^th and a Wood Sandpiper was seen out in one of the pools on Thornham Marsh on the same date. A migrating Firecrest was seen on Thornham Marsh on 21^st. A Stonechat was seen on the grazing meadow on 29^th along with a Peregrine.

Short-eared Owl Photo by Phill Gwilliam

Thornham Point

A Stonechat was seen on the point on the 5^th. These birds are often post-breeding birds that spend the winter on the coast away from their inland breeding sites. A ringtail Hen Harrier has been seen on many dates over Thornham Marsh mainly in the early mornings and coming back into roost late in the day. A Buzzard joined it on 7^th. Winter is surely on its way when a Water Pipit was seen on the 9^th and a Snow Bunting on 12^th. A migrant Wheatear graced the point on 13^th. Even more indication that winter is on its way is when the Brent Geese return from Arctic Russia and were seen arriving on the 14^th. A Merlin was seen on 14^th, another delightful little raptor that spends its winters on coastlines after the breeding season is over. One of the volunteers counted 72 Ringed Plovers at Thornham Point on 19^th. By the 25^th a Short-eared Owl was seen arriving over the point.

Roost

The evenings and very early mornings can be a special time at Titchwell, as birds come into roost and leave the roost located at various points around the reserve. The Reedbed and surrounding trees can hold many egrets, herons and harriers. Little Egret counts soared to 72 on 8^th, Cattle Egrets counts maximised at 22 on 10^th, Great White Egrets 2 on 9^th and Marsh Harriers 31 on 17^th.

Flyovers

The early part of the month saw a wonderful migration taking place and the sky was full of birds right along the Norfolk coastline. Titchwell was no exception. A Common Snipe was observed on 2^nd increasing to 20 on 11^th, a Grey Wagtail on the 3^rd, and a Great White Egret on 7^th. By the 8^th, a day of a huge number of birds migrating, saw 14 Spoonbills flying over, thousands of Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 20 Song Thrush, 6 Brambling, Redpoll, Siskin, a Green Sandpiper and a Swallow. The 9^th added flocks of Pink-footed Geese and a Lapland Bunting. A Grey Wagtail flew over on the 10^th and 22^nd and 20 more Redwing on 11^th. A Merlin was seen on 15^th and the Hen Harrier was seen again on 17^th and 21^st. Two lucky observers saw a Hawfinch flying over on 17^th. The 19^th produced a Mediterranean Gull in flight. By the 22^nd a hundred Chaffinches were seen migrating.

One lucky observer witnessed an Osprey flying over the reserve on 23^rd. This date also produced a Short-eared Owl, Brambling, Lesser Redpoll and 25^th saw Hawfinch and 6 Whooper Swans arriving. Waxwings can be an irruptive bird meaning that some years the U.K see big flocks of these birds and some years very few at all; so seeing one fly over on 27^th and 28 and 30^th was lucky for the observers.

Other Wildlife

Muntjac, Chinese Water Deer continued to be seen all month. One of the volunteers spotted some Collared Earthstars (Geastrum triplex) by the barrier of the staff car park on 30^th.

Collared Earthstar (Geastrum triplex) photo by Sue Bryan