Waxham and Titchwell Marsh - 16th August 2014

As we were staying in a static caravan in Sea Palling, we thought it would be a good time to get out onto the Norfolk coast, and see what was about. Dad and I headed to Waxham early morning to do a bit of sea-watching. We got a few distant Arctic Skua's, a nice Fulmar north and a possible Sabine's Gull that flew close North but it was very brief.

Later on that day, we headed to Titchwell, hoping for the Spotted Crake. We got out to the Island Hide, and prepared to wait for an hour or so, in hope of the Spotted Crake making an appearance. We were entertained while we waited by Ruff, Golden Plover and Sandwich Terns...

A Wall Brown posed for us outside the hide...

With no sign of the Spotted Crake in the morning, we headed out of Island Hide and to the beach and Parrinder Hide. The sea didn't hold much apart from some Eider close inshore and a Buzzard that came in-off! Parrinder Hide held the usual Spoonbill flock, 19 strong, and a couple of Spotted Redshank which were nice to watch...

We headed back to Island Hide, where hadn't missed the Spotted Crake. Unfortunately, it never showed throughout the day, but we I did spot a Water Rail in the spot where the Spotted Crake had been, which got people excited!

We also got 4 Red-crested Pochards in the Reedbed before the freshmarsh which was a nice Norfolk year tick!

A quick visit to Cley provided us with a distant Little Stint, a Whimbrel, a flock of Spoonbills and the gull flock which held the Franklin's Gull, but we didn't see it...

Happy Birding!!