The transformation of the freshmarsh has continued and is edging nearer completion. 

The two new bunds are completed, though we have left a gap in the north - south bund to allow water to continue to flow through the reserve until we install the new water control structures.

New west - east bund featuring close ups of Ruff, Lizzie Bruce

Thirteen new nesting islands have been created, significantly increasing the available…

This week we have been treated to northerly winds creating the right conditions for some sea watching and a small arrival of migrants.

Car park / visitor centre

At this time of year, a slow walk and pause around the extension car park is worthwhile. Within the tit flocks this week there has been several chiff chaffs, the odd willow warbler, families of blackcaps, 2 garden warbler and several goldcrests. A second pied…

Titchwell was on form this weekend with visiting birders recording more than 80 species in just a couple of hours and with the winds switching to the east combined with rain the first of the autumn migrant passerines dropped in.

Car Park / Visitor Centre

Spending some time slowly walking around the reserve car parks at the weekend, family groups of blackcaps can be seen foraging on the brambles. Other birds of note in…

Since the last update on the Freshwater Habitats Project, the transformation of the Freshmarsh is well underway. 

The pump that was installed at the beginning of August has been working most weekdays to keep the water off the Freshmarsh to allow the contractors to move and shape the material. This has created fantastic feeding opportunities for the wading birds, the ringed plovers are particularly enjoying this with over…

The Titchwell Birdfest continued this week with birds scattered across the reserve but in many cases, especially at this time of year you might need to look a little harder.

Following the breeding season which requires a substantial amount of energy, many of the birds can look a bit rough around the edges. They therefore undergo a moult which in some cases can reduce their ability to fly, therefore they tend to remain…

Our Ringed Plover Project Officer, Wynona, brings you the latest from Plovers in Peril on Snettisham and Heacham South beach...

Photo: Ringed plover nests (photos taken during nest monitoring work)  

These are the jewels on our shingle.

Gifts from a beach nesting birds labour and toil.

Every one of these nests is a legacy for their future but they are our legacy too.

The future of a coast brimming with life lies in these…

On Monday morning we completed our monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and counted the following across the reserve

Reedbed / Patsy's

Coot 58, Gadwall 71, Pochard 15, Mallard 30, Little grebe 2, Teal 3. Shoveler 2, Little egret 2, cormorant 20

 Freshmarsh 

Gadwall 44, Water rail 1, Shelduck 30, Teal 60.  Mallard 34, Shoveler 3, Spotted Redshank 3, Black-tailed godwit 404, Bar-tailed godwit 11, Dunlin 45, Ruff 39, Avocet…

This week was a momentous moment for RSPB Titchwell as the eagerly anticipated Freshwater Habitats Project began. You can find out more about the project here

This spring / summer we have struggled to lower the water levels on the freshmarsh due to the ongoing wet weather so the first step was for a large pump to be installed to speed up the process of removing water from the freshmarsh. 

Image: Phill Gwilliam

Once the…

So many of you lovely visitors have been doing your best to protect these birds by being mindful of nesting birds and young chicks on the beaches at Snettisham and South Heacham, keeping a safe distance away from fenced areas and walking your dog’s responsibly on leads throughout the nesting season (April- end of August). Staff and volunteers have been working hard to give these birds the protection they so desperately…

Hello everyone,

The last week of July has resulted in a steady turnover of waders on the Freshmarsh, an arctic skua chasing the terns on the sea and amazing bittern views.

Car park / visitor centre

Overheard small groups of swallows, house martins, swifts and the odd sand martin whizz about in the air catching flies.

A great spotted woodpecker was calling from one of the dead trees on Monday 26 July and a turtle dove

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the latest installment of what is about at Titchwell Marsh.

As touched on in the previous sightings blog, autumn wader passage has begun. In a normal year we would be manipulate the water levels on a regular basis to create lots of muddy edges for the waders to feed upon. However, this year has been a challenge as we continue to suffer from high water levels because of the wet winter and spring…

Hello everyone,

As Covid restrictions ease around the country, here's an update on the visitor facilities at both Titchwell and Snettisham reserves.

At both reserves, car parks, trails and hides remain open.

At Titchwell, we continue to keep the following facilities open:

• Meet & Greet - Will continue from outside of the Welcome Hub.
• Shop - Open. Please continue to wear masks once inside and maintain distancing…

Hello everyone!

I'd like to introduce a new staff member to you all. Emily joined the team recently and will be working with us as our Reserve Assistant for the next six months to gain valuable work experience in conservation. Here's Emily to tell you a bit about what she's been up to:  

Hello! I’m Emily and I am the Reserve Assistant for RSPB Titchwell Marsh in Norfolk. Within a week of working on the reserve…

Hi everyone and welcome to our recent sightings update.

The big news from the last few weeks is that autumn is officially here (have we even had summer yet?!), with the first returning waders dropping into both Titchwell and Snettisham. It always catches me by surprise just how early the first migrants begin to arrive on the Norfolk coast – likely failed breeders or non-breeding birds. Highlights at Titchwell include…

Hello there! 

It may not feel as though we are in July at the moment but July here we are! Despite it feeling a little calmer, nesting season is far from over with many vulnerable chicks not yet able to fly, many birds still incubating their eggs and even some still gearing up to lay again. So, the beaches will be busy with nests and chicks right up until end of August after which fences, and signage will be removed for…

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 war…

 Thank you for making time to complete our short survey.

Snettisham and South Heacham beaches are home to hidden gems that make them iconic and internationally important. Their importance for wildlife across Norfolk and indeed Globally makes them popular to visit but we are losing the very thing that makes them special.

By giving a few moments of your time to tell us a little about your visit and share your views with…

There is so much talent in the RSPB North West Norfolk family...

Our gifted Ringed Plover Project Officer, Wynona, spends her days protecting and monitoring ringed plovers, supporting her wonderful team of volunteers, engaging with beach visitors, compiling reports and updates, working with our partners and funders and, if this wasn't already enough, in her spare time, she's written a remarkable piece of poetry.…

 RSPB Titchwell Marsh, is home to some of the UK’s most threatened wetland wildlife, including bitterns and avocets. Thanks to funding received from LIFE on The Edge (www.projectlote.life), an exciting project will be delivered at this diverse nature reserve this autumn to improve their fortunes.

The project aims to transform the freshwater habitats that these scarce birds are reliant upon and to enable visitors…

Welcome to the latest recent sightings blog from Titchwell Marsh. After a never-ending winter the summer sun has finally arrived bringing with it an eruption of damselflies and dragonflies and butterflies including wall browns, orange tips and painted ladies.

Car Park / Visitor Centre

The usual suspects have been around the car park and visitor centre but a couple of cetti’s warblers and a reed warbler have been…

RSPB’s Plovers in Peril project started officially in March this year, made possible by funding granted from Kings Lynn and West Norfolk borough council. With it being such a new project, we were at the beginning a little unsure of what the take up would be like when looking to recruit volunteers to support us in our work. We needn’t have worried, we’ve had an incredible response from people within the local community…

Welcome to another weekly round up of what has been seen at RSPB Titchwell. 

Car Park / Visitor Centre / Meadow Trail / Fen Trail

A pair of spotted flycatchers remain in the area around the welcome hub and meadow trail. We have seen an arrival of baby blackbirds who like to walk all over the picnic tables!

In amongst the willows you can see chiffchaffs, blackcaps, a garden warbler has occasionally been heard in the car…

Here's our Plovers in Peril Project Officer, Wynona, with an update on what's currently happening on our North West Norfolk beaches... 

Well what a whirlwind few weeks for both the nesting Ringed Plover and for our hard-working team of volunteers! We have seen challenges from tides, predation and the impacts of summer crowds on the nesting birds, often all at once on the Plovers in Peril stretch and as the crowds…

A warm hello from Wynona,

When I started my post as Ringed Plover Project Officer for the RSPB, I was under no illusion that the ringed plovers on this stretch of beach have a heart-breaking number of challenges to face in order to raise a family here.

For me, what keeps me going is the knowledge that I am part of a project that has the capability to generate real, positive change for a species that is hurtling toward…

Welcome to the latest summary of what has been around Titchwell in the past week. 

Car Park / Visitor Centre

A garden warbler has been heard singing around the back of the car park over the weekend. On Monday 24/5 two spotted flycatchers were chasing each other around the tops of the trees.

Spotted Flycatcher, Les Bunyan

Turtle doves have occasionally been seen on the reserve, but they are not spending much time here…