Titchwell

Tuesday January 14

We spent two hours walking the reserve - and sitting quite frequently, adding seven year birds.The first addition was a pair of female Bullfinches in the overflow car park. Good start.

Thank goodness there wasn't much wind, the highest temperature was 3C inland, mostly 2 at the coast after a 0C beginning at lunch time. As we set off , a group of volunteers were returning, all carrying bags or drums or pushing wheelbarrows, containing rubbish. Except for Dave B. I asked him why and he said that he'd worked hard enough. Jax was there too. All in a hurry to have a warm drink and some lunch. Good for them.The west pool was empty again.

A lone Linnet and a few Avocets were the next ticks along with a flight of Skylarks chirping their way across the marsh.

The coast is unrecognisable. The boardwalk is higgeldy piggedly as though dropped from high.

Pam's Photographs - all three

 

 

The dune line has eroded to 10 metres inland, we could step straight onto the beach via a new track. All that remains of the viewing platform is some stumps in the sand.

I thought that the rocky/brick outcrop in the middle of the beach had also altered .

The sea was well out, scoping the only option. Handsome Goldeneye nearest to the shore, a distant flock of  about a hundred Common Scoter , at least one Velvet Scoter amongst them. As I scanned, a great Northern Diver flew through, looking slow and ponderous in comparison with Red-throated. The distant occasional Auk sp. were not identifiable.

Reaching the car park, a Cetti's Warbler shouted. Pam was already in the car so didn't hear it.

A quick - and late- lunch at Brancaster Staithe before a dusk drive home.