13/01/2019 Day 3/3 Snettisham to Titchwell

Sunday 13 January 2019

Snettisham

On our way to Snettisham, we called in to the area around Choseley drying barns, looking for farmland birds. 

• A couple of Yellowhammers was the best we could do here.
• The highlight of our visit to Snettisham was undoubtedly the 'redhead' Smew on the pit north of the causeway.  It looked glorious as it swam around in the water.

courtesy of Marcus Nash

• Also showing well was a small group of Goldeneye, nearly all of which were drakes.

courtesy of Marcus Nash



• We had a walk round to where the Short-eared Owl had been roosting but there was no sign of it.  Perhaps the noise from the  building work on the foundations for the new hide had disturbed the owl and it had moved on.

 

Thornham Harbour

We headed for Thornham Harbour next.

• It didn't take long to locate the 14 or so Twite in the dead vegetation close to the car park.  They flew off and around the harbour several times but always returned to the same spot.

courtesy of Marcus Nash



 

Titchwell

• At lunch at the tables, in the visitor's centre at Titchwell, we had great views of a Brambling at the feeders.

courtesy of Marcus Nash



• As we moved on to the reserve we saw 2 Water Rails in the ditches, one on each side of the path.

courtesy of Marcus Nash



• From the Parrinder hide, Marcus spotted the Water Pipit on one of the islands and we enjoyed good views of it as it moved around in the cut vegetation.
• Out on the beach we found 3 female Eiders on the edge of the water.  As well as the usual shorebirds there were 3 distant Little Gulls

We finished the day, and our visit, with a spectacular roost watch from the Parrinder Hide.  The harriers were taking advantage of the windy conditions and flying all over the place. 

• At times there were over 40 Marsh Harriers in the air at the same time with a couple of 'ringtail' Hen Harriers in the area as well.

 

Another full day with some spectacular birding!

This trip was right up there with the very best - thanks Marcus!

 

 

 

 

 

Other species added to 2019 Year List: 

Greenshank

Black-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Little Grebe

Yellowhammer

Pintail