Relaxed Norfolk, 5/6

A slightly slower pace to our Norfolk travels today, after last weeks wanderings from the Jones' Norfolk pad, we took a day trip with Will's Dad today in the hope of nailing Bittern to the year list.

We started off at Titchwell RSPB which seems the better choice these days with connecting with Bittern, we spent most of the morning sitting around waiting for one to show, with a few pieces of entertainment along the way. From the Fen Hide we enjoyed excellent views of a couple of Beadies sat on the tops of the reed, preening and a few Marsh Harriers were knocking about as well.

Eventually we moved out onto the main track which seems the best spot for viewing Bittern as you have a greater field of view. Along the boardwalk a few Southern Marsh Orchids were out along with Ragged-Robin.


Southern Marsh Orchid, Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, 5.6.05 | © Will Bowell


Ragged-robin, Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, 5.6.05 | © Will Bowell

From the main track Josh located a couple of adult Med Gulls (on call!) as they flew over- nice one! The most bizarre sight was a pair of Corn Bunts coming down for a drink in the middle of the reedbed- both the wandering birders have never seen this before and presumably these are birds from nearby Choosley Barns. A Marsh Harrier alerted us to a brown bird in the reedbed, which was clearly a Bittern. Eventually, tired of the hassle from the male Harrier and a few Black-headed Gulls the Bittern lifted out the reedbed revealing blue lores proving it to be a male.

The bird flew ever closer to us, and plopped down into the reeds out of sight- crackin' views of an ace bird!

We then moved onto to Salthouse where the weather was pretty changeable, going from sunny to peeing with rain in seconds. The wandering birders spent most of the time blasting a Meadow Pipit and a confiding flock of Dunlin.


Meadow Pipit, Salthouse Marsh, Norfolk, 5.6.05 | © Josh Jones


Dunlin, Salthouse Marsh, Norfolk, 5.6.05 | © Josh Jones


Dunlin, Salthouse Marsh, Norfolk, 5.6.05 | © Will Bowell

Stay tuned for more pix in our newly designed Bird Gallery due to be released later this week!