Titchwell Bird Reserve Visit

This week we made a visit to Titchwell Marsh Reserve which was the first for quite some time.

Its on the edge of the North Norfolk coastline and not only is there usually quite a variation in birdlife to be seen during one visit, but a considerable variation throughout the year.

My bird identification ability is limited (as my local birding colleagues will confirm) and not having made much study off them so far, Waders are definitely my weak point.

So considerable studying of the books was needed to ID the first wader here below which I believe to be a Ruff. (Hopefully)

The next species was somewhat easier and is seen below next to the Ruff and is a Little Ringed Plover.

The one bird I did know below,  a 'Lapwing', which I use to see as a boy in the fields of Somerset. 

It was commonly known as a 'Peewit' due to the sound of its call.

As an aside, whilst taking these shots of the Lapwing, I did overhear a couple close by who were looking at the Lapwing and the Lady said, "Thats a Avocet isn't it" and the Gentleman said "Oh Yes".

(One doesn't feel quite so bad about One's abilities sometimes) {:))

The next wader below is a Curlew and its call which I recognised, help me differentiate between it and a Whimbrel which can also be seen at the Reserve.

The shot below is of 14 Little Egrets that took off from a Lagoon and then landed again. 

Unfortunately they didn't fly any closer, but at least I could get them all in the shot.

A squadron of Cormorants that had taken off from the sea and flew inland.

Black-tailed Godwits like the Little Egrets also took off on a short display.

A Racing Pigeon glancing around as it flew over the reserve.

Greylag Geese getting airborne from one of the lagoons.

Canada Geese getting airborne.

Images of the beach area

Although I hadn't realised it at the time of taking this shot of birds on the shoreline, but amongst these were some Sandwich Terns (small groups closest to the waters edge), birds I had not seen before.

Unfortunately the Oystercatchers (Black and White birds) wouldn't take off and provide another aerial display.

A group of Black-tailed Godwits with one Sandwich Tern (foreground left) along with two other smaller waders that I don't recognise.

A really good news story below.

This was a shot I took of an RNLI lifeboat that had travelled from Hunstanton and went by out from the shoreline at a rate of knots travelling East. It was heading for the next bay (about one mile) where it rescued a woman and two children who had been dragged out from the shoreline by the a strong tide. From press reports, they were hanging onto a float and the two children were pulled onto the RNLI craft, whilst another crew member dived into the water and recovered the woman. All three persons were recovering well in hospital subsequently.

The RNLI is a worthy charity and its astonishing to think that a charity organisation run by Volunteers is the front line for our sea rescue services in UK.

Walking back up to the Reserve Reception Centre "Freddie the Frog" hopped across the path.