I promised as I finished yesterday’s blog I’d be heading to Happisburgh first thing but in the end, the journey (90 mins) and the forecast for decent light (or lack of it) put me off. Instead, I opted for a 6 am alarm and a visit to Titchwell. Bearded Tits were the target species and with the calm weather (and wind increasing in the week) today was the only chance.
I arrived at first light and walked along the beach path, the sunrise and colours were beautiful and I regretted not finding a better vantage point further along the coast.
The hides at Titchwell have been improved since my last visit and the full glass wall in Island Hide offered splendid views over the morning. Ruffs and bar-tailed godwits waded near the hide and a kingfisher bombed along the freshwater lake at times, never settling.
In the distance, a Marsh Harrier skimmed the reed beds and, while the photo opportunities were minimal the reserve was still quiet of people and all was well with the world. My phone started waking up to the work morning and muted my work apps and smiled.
A walk to Pallinder Hide, with its sea and freshwater facing hides offered views of a Muntjac Deer feeding on the grass nearby and a wren buzzing the berry bushes.
I chose to return along the path I entered on and decided the reedbeds needed some patience if the Bearded Tit (which isn’t a member of the Tit species, but a reedling), was to be located. It turns out patience wasn’t needed because soon I heard a ping-ping-ping as a flock of small birds flew over the reeds and settled in the reeds right near me. It was immediately obvious these were what I was looking for and my camera shook as I tried to take advantage of my fortune.
It turns out that it was a very good day for the birds, and I was joined by many delighted people to watch as flocks came and went over the next hour, settling on both sides of the path. The light was behind the birds to the right (as you face the sea) offering different views to the light catching those on the left.
I could fill a blog just with photos of these wonderful creatures but here’s a small gallery to peruse until you tire of them:
My processing of the images developed as I worked on them, and I enjoy the dreamy feel to the water shots which complements the light and bokeh effectively.
At this point I needed food and headed back to my van for sustenance (beans on toast) before making the trip to Snettisham. It’s a long walk out the hides and sea at Snettisham but as I arrived at the sea wall a gentleman gave me a tip about some Curlew Sandpiper showing well and so I walked down and lay at the bottom of the wall in the sand and captured a few waders:
I then walked to the wooden jetty further south but on the way I spotted a Snow Bunting, a relatively scarce winter visitor and managed a few shots – albeit my autofocus struggled at this wonderfully camouflaged bird in the shingle.
I then moved to the jetty and captured a few shots, the tide had retreated due to the long walk out and so the misty water I had planned with the big stopper didn’t work out but some moody mono looked okay.
Tired now I walked the hides, seeing 3x red kite but generally not much more of note. The long trudge back to the car was exhausting and it felt like 7pm not 3pm when I finally arrived back.
A short power nap and a coffee invigorated me for the evening and after some deliberation on the best location for sunset I opted for Hunstanton Beach again and some different viewpoints.
My research yesterday into the Sheraton (a wreck on the beach) had been wrong it seems and so I first went to find that, its much higher up the beach towards the cliffs and quite a sight – it was used for bombing practice in the war.
From there I headed south back along the beach and south of the car park to find the beach huts scattered among the dunes. I wasn’t disappointed with sunset – what a spectacular colour. I peppered shots left and right and the colours only deepened after the sun had disappeared below the horizon..
Finally a little time for some ICM but no dice tonight, the best shot being the below…
Thanks for reading. The evening ended with my friend Jim arriving, Jim’s a terrific birder and he’s going to stay a couple of days. Until tomorrow…
