Wednesday 26th January: Titchwell and Burnham Norton

 A big change in the weather today, with glorious sunshine making a huge difference to both the temperature and visibility. We started our day back at Titchwell RSPB, hoping to locate some smaller birds in the wooded area around the visitor centre. Unfortunately we were unable to locate any Siskins, but our first Greenfinches of the trip were feeding at the top of the alders, their rich green framing a gold flash of wingbar  in the early morning sunlight. The treetops were alive with Chaffinches and Goldfinches dancing amongst the topmast branches, bright colours glowing against a crisp blue sky. But the highlight here was a tiny Goldcrest foraging amongst the leaves of a pathside shrub. 

We set off along the footpath overlooking a series of lagoons. Having visited here yesterday, we did not plan to spend long scanning these pools, but a Pochard was new for the trip and in the saltmarsh we found a Spotted Redshank with diagnostic supercilium highlighted by the bright light.

Spotted Redshank

At the beach, in optimum seawatching conditions of bright sun and calm waters, we scanned the sea and quickly found around half a dozen Goldeneye, gleaming in the sunshine. Further out, a Slavonian Grebe also showed well, bobbing then diving in front of several Great crested Grebes. A Long-tailed Duck obligingly flew towards us as we tracked it in the scope and landed on the sea immediately in front of us. This was a stunning male, with colourful markings and a noticeable tail, but unfortunately just too far out for photos.

We wasted considerable time on our way back to the centre, scanning the muddy bunds for Rock Pipit or Water Pipit without success. However, there was excellent compensation, as we were in the right place at the right time to be alerted to a White-tailed Eagle approaching the reserve across the saltmarsh. A splendid and unexpected sight. A little further along we stumbled across a Water Rail skulking in a ditch near the visitor centre.

Water Rail

In the afternoon we headed to Burnham Norton which backs onto a wide open area of marshland leading to the sea, one of our favourite walks. As we approached along the road, I noticed the sky suddenly full of birds, with geese and ducks swirling in all directions. Sue stopped the car to see what the cause of the commotion was and we were delighted to again pick up the White-tailed Eagle before it drifted out of sight below the trees. 

Around the Marsh there were flocks of Wigeon, Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese, whistling and calling in an atmospheric manner. Several Fieldfare were running around the grass and we picked out a lovely male Reed Bunting swaying on a tall reed. On the home straight in fading light, I thought I could pick out the orangey-red legs of a Ruff amongst a cluster of Lapwing,  but failed to convince the others as the colour drained away with the disappearing sun.