Titchwell Marsh 12 August 2025 (0440-1030) with Darren Cowles.

 At 0300 on Tuesday 12 August I was picked up by my dear friend Darren Cowles for visit to Titchwell Marsh on the beautiful North Norfolk Coast.  Our journey to Titchwell slightly longer than expected due to a couple of road closures on route.  Our detour had its benefits when we saw a beautiful Barn Owl fly over the road at Holme Hale. 

0440 We arrived at Titchwell in calm and warm conditions and despite a few light spits of rain the day eventually became very warm and sunny on the coast but later, inland, the temperature exceeded 30 degrees Celsius. The wind was a moderate easterly.

Birding essentially began straight away with a male Tawny Owl calling in trees in the car park area, the bird flew directly over us and into a Willow wood and then back again right above me.  I eventually located the Tawny Owl visually in some branches where it continued to call and despite the low light Darren and I had reasonably good views mostly of the silhouetted bird.  A Song Thrush was alarm calling, probably in response to the Owl.  As we made our way through the woodland Darren saw a second Tawny Owl fly in front of us, this was also a male bird with a not so well refined call, perhaps this was a juvenile bird.

Titchwell Marsh 12 August 2025. The stunning view which greeted us at dawn (unedited) 

Darren and myself ten set off along the path towards the beach, stopping off at the two hides to enjoy the views over the freshwater lagoons.  We were without doubt struck by the stunning sunrise which gave a pale violet hue in the sky which in turn reflected off the lagoon.

Gull on the freshwater lagoon made their presence known with a cacophony of calls whilst overhead several small flocks of Little Egrets headed west.  Common Terns are beautiful, delicate appearing, and very far travelled birds, these were numerous at Titchwell and often made flights off shore to gather fish for their young, a few which were seen on the freshwater lagoon.  A visit to Island hide gave us the opportunity to have close views of several Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits whilst at distance at the far side of the lagoon Darren saw 14 Spoonbills.  Without doubt, the noisiest birds were the three-figure numbers of Greylag Geese on the freshwater lagoon which let us know when they were departing inland.

Ruff feeding in the freshwater lagoon at dawn

 

Ruff on the freshwater lagoon showing one of the variations in plumages

Overlooking the marsh and lagoons from the path saw an interesting selection of birds including Ruff, Lapwing, Avocets, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, and of course, noisy Redshanks.  Wildfowl seen included Mallard, Gadwall, Shelduck, and Teal.  Turning to look over Thornham Marsh we saw two Chinese Water Deer.

Walking along the path towards Parrinder hide a couple of Meadow Pipits shuffled along on the ground ahead of us, this species breeds on Thornham Marsh, their numbers increase with winter visitors which arrive late summer and autumn.

Meadow Pipit at Titchwell 12 August 2025

A visit to Parrinder hide was productive, especially so with the rising sun more or less behind us. From here further sighting of Gulls and wader species were had and distantly, a single Great White Egret flew onto the marsh.  Passerine species in the hide area included two or three Reed Buntings and a single Sedge Warbler moving about in reeds.  A single Grey Heron walked stealthily on the muddy fringes of the lagoon.  A Greenshank was heard.

Having left Parrinder hide Darren and I walked north towards the beach, a small isolated stand of Elder and Bramble looked good for migrants, however, only a single Reed Bunting was seen.  A brief look over the beach and sea saw a few Sanderlings running along the shoreline.

Having checked the beach Darren and I walked south along the path in order to explore the fruit bearing bushes, reedbed willow scrub, and trees around the visitor centre, fen and meadow trail, and lastly, the overflow car park.  The willow scrub held a couple of singing Cetti's Warblers and deep within cover a Water Rail called.  We reached the beautiful viewing area overlooking a large area of water and reedbed, here, at least 4 Pochard, Coot, and Little Grebe were on the water.  Darren and I were sitting quietly overlooking the site when I said "Look, Bittern" at the edge of the reedbed, I was initially quite excited at this sighting, however, it soon transpired that my Bittern was an old bird table hidden in the reeds doing its best to fool me DOH!!!!

Making our way back to the visitor centre, we sat for a while watching the feeders and had great views of Blue, Great, and Coal Tits, as well as a couple of juvenile Moorhens and a very bold Muntjac.

Blackcap at Titchwell (overflow car park) 12 August 2025

Darren and I finally decided to explore the overflow car park for migrant birds, the wealth of habitat here lends itself to passage visitors wanting to feed for migration. Our waiting paid off when looking into tangled habitat including Elder, here at least 6 Blackcaps were seen, a mixture of male and female birds which fed upon Elderberries (including the above female Blackcap in Elder), also Tit species, Treecreeper, one Collared Dove, Chaffinch, and Dunnock seen in this area.

This was a fantastic visit to Titchwell Marsh with my dear friend Darren Cowles, and I thank you Darren for taking me to this wonderful location.