Choseley, Titchwell Marsh R.S.P.B and Flitcham Abbey Farm, Norfolk. 29th May 2016.
The weather today was disappointing for this time of the year, it was overcast, misty and the cold northerly wind made it very cool especially in the mornings. I decided to have a trip to Titchwell as its been awhile since my last visit. The journey was quiet for this time of the year, no doubt due to the unseasonable weather. On the way I stopped at Choseley hoping that the trip of Dotterel were still about. As i was looking for the Dotterel i noticed a pair of Red Legged Partridges feeding, taking no notice as i drove up beside them it enabled me to take some shots. I stopped at the bend in the road next, this is were i took the shots of the Whitethroat as he was dashing from hedge to hedge singing and displaying as he was trying to impress the local females.
The next stop was Titchwell, the car park again was quiet. I then walked the Fen Trail seeing Marsh Harrier and Cuckoo before reaching the nearest screen, here i saw the common species of ducks and geese, however 2 male Red Crested Pochard a sleep on the island was a good year tick.
I then continued down the bank to the island hide, i sat and watched Avocets, Redshank gulls and ducks, the swifts, swallows and martins were busy feeding over the freshmarsh so i decided to have a go at photographing them as they flew low over the water catching insects. A quick walk around the car park before leaving was rewarding, as a male Blackcap sang from a nearby tree.
On the way home i dropped into the bird hide at Abbey Farm Flitcham to try a catch the Little Owls, two people were already there and one birder - who came from Scotland- had been there for 2 hours without any luck. As we were waiting for them to show a Wren and the Marsh Harrier were the close encounters of the day.
