Year Ticking in North Norfolk

A visit to North Norfolk early in the year really kick starts the year list, and Sunday 7th January was no exception. We arrived at Titchwell early morning with plenty of common ducks and waders on view, including a small flock of wintering Avocet. From one of the hides a number of Shoveler were giving good views for the camera. Drakes are particularly splendid at this time of year and their characteristic head bobbing, in display, was evident today. A good selection of common waders, Little Egret and hundreds of Brent Geese were all on view from Parrinder Hide. It was extremely windy and so the best place to be was in one of the hides. Amongst the common ducks were a sprinkling of Pintail, with Gadwall, Teal, Shelduck, Wigeon and Mallard in good numbers.

We moved on to Holkham and Norfolk’s Geese. There were thousands of Pink-footed Geese roosting on the fresh marsh fields and many hundreds of Brent Geese. Plenty of Wigeon also and a few Egyptian Geese. At Burnham Overy we located a couple of wintering Rough-legged Buzzard and several Barn Owl and Marsh Harrier were also seen during the day.

The winter sunshine produced some great photographic opportunities and our new kit was certainly put to the test during the day.We Finished off our year ticking at Roydon Common, where we saw two Hen Harrier (including a grey male) coming into roost and two hunting Barn Owl. The year list moved on to 90.

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Shoveler – drake – above four images – Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

 

Shoveler – female – Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Grey Plover – winter plumage – above two images – Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

 

Lapwing – Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Wigeon – drake – above three images – Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Black-tailed Godwit – “The Clash of the Titans” – Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Black-tailed Godwit – A little mud splattered after the ordeal but victorious – Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Marsh Harrier – Burnham Norton, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Brent Geese (dark-bellied form) – Choseley & Titchwell, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Pink-footed Geese – Part of the huge flock at Holkham, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Pink-footed Goose – Holkham, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Wigeon – drake – Holkham, Norfolk – Tony Davison©

Pink-footed Geese – Holkham, Norfolk – Tony Davison©