Weather: atrocious, wintery showers, including snow & sleet, with some brightness in between, & a freezing blustery wind. From 3pm.
Afternoon visit to Titchwell hoping the worst of the weather was done, I was wrong & got caught in a wind-blown, horizontal snow storm whilst walking to the first hide!
From the carpark to the visitors' centre: Dunnock, Robin, Chaffinch, Great Tit, & a Song Thrush in the picnic area.
Walking to the first, Island hide on the salt marsh: Tufted Duck, Little Egret, Black-Headed Gull, Coot.
After the snowstorm in the hide: Avocet, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, & a large skein of Brent Geese came in.
Up to the Parrinder hide in better weather: a pair of Mediterranean Gull picked up quickly within the large flock of Black-Headed Gulls & Common Gulls. They were in full summer plumage, a first for me, with black head (not the brown of a black-headed) & a bright red bill. Also Black-Tailed Godwit & summer plumage Redshank.
Good activity in the fringes of the lagoon & reedbed included a few pairs of Teal, a couple of Snipe. As I continued to observe that area other people in the hide called to alert that a Water Rail was flying in from the direction of the Island hide, & I was able to catch a glimpse as it flew into the area I was focused on, & then characteristically disappeared into the reedbed. Although only a glimpse, this was a new species for me.
Continuing to scan the lagoon: Lapwing, Wigeon, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow.
Again whilst observing the lagoon & reedbed area another call was made to alert everyone to the presence of a Spotted Redshank in light gray winter plumage & surprisingly larger than a common Redshank, which showed well for at least half an hour & offered very close views. Another new species for my list!
Whilst observing this new species, the first new species, the Water Rail, reappeared as noticed by a sharp-eyed observer. The small bird scuttled about feeding, showing its blood red bill & grey flanks, before quickly growing nervous & running off round the reedbed away from the hide.
Yet another call alerted everyone to Marsh Harriers quartering the far reedbeds, where up to three were seen, flying with intent.
Over to the left hand side of the Parrinder hide showed large flocks of Oystercatcher & mixed gulls as well as Curlew, a couple of Gadwall, & quite a few Grey Plover, lone Little Grebe & Turnstone.
On the way back to the car: Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Long-Tailed Tit on the centre's feeder, Blue Tit working on a nestbox near the carpark, & a flock of Starling flew in preparing to roost.
Finally leaving the reserve, Grey Partridge in a field opposite the entrance.
A surprisingly productive afternoon, the value of staying put in a hide & having fellow birders' eyes also scanning the area.
41 species including 2 new.
Finally on the way back down the A149 Snettisham bypass I spotted a Barn Owl on a post at the back end of the Lavender field, always nice to see.
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