Saturday 28th January, Barrie & I decided to spend the day birding at various locations along the North Norfolk coast. This was my first trip to Norfolk of 2017, so I knew I would be in for a few year ticks. We decided to start the morning at Holkham, as a small flock of 29 Shorelark had been seen with regularity along the beach to the west of Holkham Gap. It took us around 20 minutes to walk out to the area of tideline where the birds were feeding. Also off shore were small numbers of Velvet Scoter and Common Scoter and out on the fresh marsh large numbers of Wigeon and Brent Geese with several skeins of Pink-footed Geese flying over, the magic of Norfolk!
We then made our way to Titchwell RSPB Reserve, first of all making our way to the sea to look for the large numbers of sea duck off shore. There several thousand Common Scoter, small numbers of Velvet Scoter and only a few singles of Long-tailed Duck and Goldeneye. The Common Scoter flock however was pretty impressive. Plenty of common waders on the reserve, along with the usual ducks and geese expected at this time of year and a few Avocets were feeding out on the fresh marsh.
On route to Holme, we stopped at a fruit farm near Thornham and managed to locate a single Waxwing amongst hundreds of Fieldfare, that were feeding on rotting apples in the orchards. At Holme NWT a Common Scoter was on the Broadwater and I managed to find a juvenile Glaucous Gull out at sea along with 40 Long-tailed Duck and a Red Throated Diver. Year List moves on to 122.
Brent Goose – above 2 images – Titchwell, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
Robin – Titchwell, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
Shelduck – Titchwell, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
Shoveler – drake – Titchwell, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
Teal – drake – Titchwell, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
Black-tailed Godwit – Titchwell, Norfolk – Tony Davison©
