Brian's birding blog: Spanish Spoonbill at Titchwell

Saturday 6 July 2013

Spanish Spoonbill at Titchwell

This morning was one of those "where to go" mornings.
Yesterday saw an Ascension Frigatebird photographed on one of the Scottish western Isles and the Bridled Tern remains in Northumberland but both are well outside my twitch zone so I'll leave them for the die hards.
So with this in mind I decided to head up to Norfolk for some more relaxed birding.

Arriving at Titchwell at 8am we walked to Freshmarsh finding a nice Grasshopper Warbler singing it's heart out on the way and a path covered in tiny frogs too which we managed to avoid as we walked through.
At the hide we quickly found a Spoonbill. The bird was rung FJ9 research shows this to have been born in Sevilla (Casa Neves) Spain in 2007 but it appears to over winter in the UK since as it's been recorded in Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Norfolk. The bird spent much of the time sitting on bended knees but did stand and stretch just long enough for me to grab a picture or two.

Spoonbill

Spoonbill FJ9

The marsh also had lot's of Avocet and some with small chicks from what I suppose are second broods as many of the chicks are almost fully grown now. At least nine Spotted Redshank in fine summer plumage rested in front of Parinder hide with a small group of Knot and a single Greenshank. Little Ringed Plover were moved on by the Avocets as was any bird that got within a few yards of their youngsters.

Avocet chick

Avocet

Avocet (My favourite shot of the day)

Shoveler

Four Little Gulls were swimming around and a large group of Black Tailed Godwits dropped in to join the three Bar Tailed already present. On the beach we witnessed Little, Common and Sandwich Terns going about their routines and a raft of several hundred Common Scoter drifted along on the tide with a few Gannets flying over too. The walk back delivered Bearded Tits and great views of the Gropper sitting on a small bush singing for England.