Titchwell Marsh 14 April 2025 (with Andy Egan)

 Alarm set at 0400, coffee and toast for breakfast, and set off for the drive at 0450 for Titchwell Marsh,  arriving at 0605 where I met my very good friend Andy Egan for a mornings birding together. This was to be a great morning in the company of a genuinely lovely man.

The birding day began on my drive to Titchwell with a hunting Barn Owl on the roadside just before the village of Great Bircham.

Titchwell Marsh 0605-1030

Beginning with a good catch up with Andy in the car park area, our birding morning began with us being greeted with singing Robin and Blackcap and a visit from a couple of male Blackbirds.

Our morning was spent walking along West Bank in a northerly heading to the beach for a sea-watch, our leisurely return included a productive visit to Parrinder hide followed by a walk back to the parking area for a lovely pasty and tea in the reserve café. 

Andy and I set off along West bank at sunrise and with the absence of cloud the rising sun was quite blinding at times.

The reedbeds close to the path held singing Sedge and Reed Warblers along with resident singing Cetti's Warblers, which, despite locating the source of the loud song, remained typically elusive. Within the reedbed the wonderful booming song of a Bittern was heard.

As we walked North along the West Bank, Andy saw a Spoonbill fly directly overhead and off in an easterly heading, we had really good views of this bird.

A number of isolated patches of Bramble scrub within reedbed habitat on Thornham Marsh were worth checking for migrants, I could not see any migrants, however, both Linnet and Reed Buntings were present in what is good breeding habitat.  Looking beyond this scrub a Marsh Harrier was seen distantly, later, up to 4 Marsh Harriers were seen over the marsh.

Continuing North along West bank we passed the Freshwater Marsh and eventually, the tidal marsh, here, Black-headed Gulls were dominant, and noisy.  A number of Redshanks were seen, for me, this wader is the most well proportioned species of the genus.

Several Meadow Pipits displayed over Thornham Marsh, whilst on the ground, usually amongst Sea blight, Linnet was the most abundant Finch species. 

Looking west along the beach from the dunes at Titchwell 14 April

We eventually reached the dunes and had great views of the beach and North Sea.  For me, the highlight here was watching Sandwich Terns fly out to sea and perform their spectacular dives from height into the sea for food.

Small numbers of Shelduck flew west offshore whilst on the shoreline a few Oystercatchers and Godwits roosted, only to move when the incoming tide forced them along.

Having spent a while in the dunes Andy and I walked South back along the West bank and turned into Parrinder hide, here we spent some time looking out onto the Freshwater Marsh, the light quality here was excellent which in turn led to superb views of the birds.

An initial overview of what we were looking at revealed good numbers of Black-headed Gulls, Duck species, and wading birds.  Interestingly, a single Chiffchaff was seen preening in a small bush next to the hide, the location of this Warbler indicated that this Chiffchaff was a recently arrived migrant.

The Freshwater Marsh at Titchwell 14 April

There was a lot of bird activity on the Freshwater Marsh, especially with noisy Gulls and wading birds. Wader highlights included two Little Ringed Plovers, including one close to on the exposed mud in the above picture.  This beautiful little wader runs fast over the land picking at the ground and in flight lacks any white wing bar (Ringed Plover has wing-bars).  The black and white head pattern accentuates the yellow eye ring. 

A single Common Sandpiper dropped in (an addition to Titchwell's species list for the day), its flight over the water was typically made with exaggerated flicking motion of the wings which were held in a slightly downward bowed position.

Also present was a few Ruff, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, and a single Snipe which flew directly overhead.  A Curlew was heard in song.

Duck species present included Teal and Gadwall, both species were seen very close to and it was possible to appreciate the amazingly delicate vermiculation pattern on the flanks of the Teal, and in the picture shown you can just see a small green patch which is a part of the speculum on the birds wing. The creamy stern is a distinctive feature.  The Teal is the smallest European Duck species. 

Little Ringed Plover at Titchwell 14 April 2025

Teal on the Freshwater Marsh 14 April 2025

An elegant Avocet

Following our success in the hide Andy and myself walked back to the parking area and restaurant for a pasty and tea.  Whilst enjoying our refreshment the waitress said there was an Osprey passing over, however, it appeared to have gone by the time we had a look.

Back at the car park and preparing to go our separate ways we were entertained by a Marsh Harrier at height performing its spectacular 'skydance' display flight.  Marsh Harriers are usually seen passing slowly over the marsh whilst watching for prey below, however, its beautiful and highly spectacular display flight sees the bird performing high speed manoeuvres which includes twisting, tumbling, and rolling, I could watch this all day.

The strong light was perfect whilst watching many Mediterranean Gulls passing overhead, their all white underparts which lacks any black in the wings is stunning and contrasts strongly with the black hood and blood-red bill. 

Following my departure I decided to take a cross-country route passing Choseley Barns and onto the Ringstead Road, Choseley, where I parked up to overview the spectacular and very rolling country to the north.  Many people describe Norfolk as flat, this is not the case. On my home patch in Breckland we have a few very undulating country, however, the road approaching Choseley Barns is a gentle but long climb but beyond Choseley Barns the road descends very steeply for some distance followed by a rise again. I thought Northamptonshire, where we visited the previous weekend, had some decent climbs, and I am sure those visiting Norfolk for the first time will be very surprised by this terrain.   

Looking north towards Choseley Barns 14 April

Looking north from Ringstead Road, Choseley 14 April

My final stop of the morning was on the Ringstead Road at Choseley where I enjoyed these exquisite views looking towards the North Norfolk Coast.

Birds seen here included a lovely male Yellowhammer, singing Chaffinch, and Dunnock in the hedge to the left of this picture.  Several Linnets were also present.  The only evidence of passage seen was of a single Sand Martin flying west.

 

And finally, I extend my thanks to my dear friend Andy Egan for our meet up this morning, it was thoroughly enjoyable.  Until the next time my friend.  Thank you Andy.