Wednesday 29th January 2025: Norfolk Day 3, Holme, Titchwell and Thornham

 We were out before breakfast today and in position at Titchwell by 6.45 ready to watch for Woodcock coming in to roost. It’s barely light at this time, so it’s not always easy to identify incoming birds in a few fleeting seconds! However, at least one bird was recognisable by its structure and rapidly whirring short wings. A mystery raptor seated in a nearby tree was identified by a passing birder as an escaped Harris Hawk!

After breakfast we set off for Holme beach, hoping to find the regularly reported Glaucous Gull. Coincidentally we arrived at the same time as Richard, who joined us for the morning, and we greatly valued his expertise. There was no sign of the gull on the seal carcass, although the five Shore Larks provided some good entertainment while we waited, and a striking male Goosander zipped past in flight. Eventually another birder informed us that the gull was sat on the beach, just beyond the shingle ridge where we were positioned. Moving across, we quickly found the bird, definitely the one we had seen in flight on Monday, with its large stature, distinctive biscuit colouration, and lack of black markings making it stand out from the Herring Gulls roosting near by. Also on the beach were a tight group of Knot, a troop of Oystercatchers huddled close and a few scattered Bar-tailed Godwits, our first of the trip. A Fulmar was also seen flying low over the sea.

Glaucous Gull (Richard Allan)

Returning via the riverside path, we found Skylark on the path, together with Meadow Pipits, Linnet and Snow Buntings bouncing around the saltmarsh.

Our next stop was back at Titchwell RSPB, always a favourite venue for us. Walking through the woodland between the car park and the visitor centre we picked up plenty of the smaller birds, and a Redwing.  We very quickly found the usual Water Rail in the small stream near the visitor centre, Richard noting it seemed to be keeping close to a Teal also feeding here. Following the path to the sea, we stopped at Parrinder Hide, where there were hundreds of Golden Plover roosting on the mudbanks, and a single Dunlin hiding amongst them. We scanned for a Water Pipit but had no luck, although both Meadow and Rock Pipits showed well. At the beach the tide was too far out for seawatching, so we returned to view the obscured Tawny Owl roosting in an Ivy clad tree by the boardwalk. Not the greatest of views, but good enough for a tick! 

Water Rail

Golden Plover (Richard Allan)

After lunch, we set out for one of our favourite walks, along the sea wall from Thornham Harbour to Holme reserve. There were plenty of noisy Wigeon on the marshy fields, but the highlight as we approached the reserve was a beautiful Short-eared Owl hunting across the field. As we were enjoying this spectacle, a sandy Barn Owl appeared, and incredibly I had both birds in my binoculars at the same time as they quartered the field, allowing me to note the differences in colour, patterning and wing length. It felt a very special moment, certainly something I shall remember for a long time. Arriving at the bench overlooking the river, we enjoyed the sight and sound of skeins of Pink-footed Geese pouring overhead. We retraced our steps in the fading light after a tiring but satisfying day.

Thornham