Titchwell Marsh 22 October (0645-1030)

Firstly, I must apologise for the lateness of this post, this being due to my current heavy workload. For this particular post I am writing about a mornings visit to Titchwell Marsh where I met my very good friend, Andy Egan.  It was a dry morning but the moderate westerly wind was cold.

I turned off the coast road on to the approach to the parking area at Titchwell where the first bird of this visit was a Woodcock seen in the car lights on the road.

Andy arrived a short time after me and as we prepared for our visit Greylag Geese, Pink-footed Geese, and Curlew passed overhead and inland.

Before heading onto the marsh we decided to firstly walk around the overflow car park to check for any overnight Thrush arrivals, a few Blackbirds and Robin were noted.

Myself (left) and my very good friend Andy Egan at Titchwell 22 October.

Walking north along the west bank we overviewed Thornham Marsh where a distant Marsh Harrier was seen close to Thornham village. A check of some lovely patches of bramble scrub on Thornham Marsh did not reveal any migrant birds.

The freshwater marsh was full of life with wildfowl being most prevalent with Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, and Mallard.  A couple of Grey Herons were seen which alighted in dead trees in the marsh. A Great White Egret was present along with 3 Little Egrets, one of which was seen a little later alongside the Great White Egret offering good size comparison.

By the time we arrived at the beach the tide was well out and revealed the demolished remains of the WW2 military control tower along with the prehistoric remains of an ancient submerged forest which once formed part of a land bridge joining Norfolk to Europe when water levels were much lower.

A scan of the distant shoreline produced several wader species including Oystercatchers and Sanderlings, also, a single Little Egret was at the shoreline.  A couple of Meadow Pipits were on the brick structure and along the dunes and beach scrub at least 30 Linnets fed.

The cold westerly wind meant a check of isolated patches of bramble scrub in the dunes for small  passerine species sheltering was our next target.  Approaching a bramble patch movement was detected, this was at least 3 Reed Buntings using the thick cover for shelter.

Reed Bunting (One of 3+ birds) sheltering from cold wind in exposed bramble scrub 22 October 2026

Back at the reedbed and willow scrub at the southern end of the west bank, Andy and I walked the trail where a flock of Long-tailed Tits passed through, also noted was a Chiffchaff.

Following refreshments in the cafe, Andy and I went our seperate ways, thank you Andy for a great morning and your company.

Choseley (Titchwell Road)

Following visits to Titchwell I like to finish off by driving inland to a random site to overview the land for its birds.  On this occasion I stopped on the Titchwell Road at Choseley to look back on the wonderful rolling landscape to the north, east, and west.  This short visit produced two Marsh Harriers, one which was quite close and hunting alongside a hedgerow.  In excess of 30 Skylarks wandered the land and a single Lapwing flew west.