In the hide at Titchwell

Click for bigger version (it's almost like being there, but less windy)

This was a view from Island Hide at RSPB Titchwell Marsh this afternoon, where I spent most of the day, it seems. Hordes of Black-tailed Godwits, in a variety of adult summer, winter and juvenile plumages, showing splendidly. It's a shame that the sun felt unable to show itself at the same time, but that's the British weather for you.

[There is a bit of writing at the bottom of this post, if you're getting bored of waiting for the photos]

Warning: you are now entering the Wader Zone


[Don't click on the rest, they won't get any bigger]















Avocets, in various poses. Though some people whinge about their habits of chasing other birds away, you can't beat Avocets for striking good poses.


"It's too windy here; I want to go somewhere else"




Lapwing. Truly gorgeous, especially when the sun was out.






Ruff. A motley assortment of different plumages, some neater than others.






Black-tailed Godwit. On reflection, I think this is probably my favourite wading bird. Hard to digiscope today because of the rapid feeding action.


Bar-tailed Godwit. Spot the difference.


Juvenile Redshank.

Not waders:

Sedge Warbler, just outside the hide, but swaying around wildly in the wind.


Juvenile Shelduck. Not quite as attractive as the adult birds.

Titchwell is always an interesting place to visit. I think it's the most popular reserve in the country, and is usually full of visitors - birdwatchers, photographers, walkers, aimless wanderers, Sunday drivers and children. Some birders sneer at it, but Titchwell is just a great place.

Some observations:

It seems that everybody has got a digital SLR these days. There was an astounding array of photographic gear on show at the reserve today. Almost as astounding was a telescope which seemed to be held together from gaffer tape.

I had a chat with a Small Boy (around eight years of age). No, make that an interrogation. He hit me with a barrage of questions, some of which included:

• What's the biggest bird you've seen today?
• What's the smallest bird you've seen today?
• Is the Dunlin the smallest British wader?
• Is the Island Hide a good hide?
• Is the other hide any good?
• What kinds of ducks have you seen today?
• What kinds of gulls have you seen today?
• Which kinds can I see flying around now?
• What are those birds? [Ruff]
• Where did you see the Little Egret?
• Why did all the birds fly off? [Sparrowhawk]

It must be great to have such an inquisitive mind. I always enjoy encouraging the young birdwatchers of tomorrow. It's very refreshing.

One of the best things about Titchwell - certainly from a digiscoper's point of view - is that the birds there are so used to people walking about on the raised footpath and clanking about in the hides that they pay very little attention. So there's very little call for fieldcraft, because they've seen it all before.

It makes a pleasant change from watching waders at many other sites, where they're skittish and fly off at the first sign of 'trouble'.

I took just over 250 pictures in total today, and have deleted 50% of them after closer inspection on the computer. Most of the remainder are 'mystery bird photo competition' fodder, but some were OK.

digiscoped photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 62 with 16x eyepiece

The longest evening

Black-tailed Godwit. What a bird!


Snipe


Ladybird


Fly thing on thistle


Sedge Warbler with food.

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 62 with 16x eyepiece

Ringing: Ferry Meadows CP

A day off work enabled me to join Chris at Ferry Meadows this morning for CES visit #2. Though it wasn't quite as productive as visit #1, there was plenty of interest.

The Sedge Warbler pictured above was a control. That means it was ringed by someone else at another site. We don't know where yet but the BTO will pass on details to Chris.






Dunnocks are seriously under-rated birds.


Male Whitethroat

We also caught last week's Jay again! Its bill was bloodstained - a reminder that it's not acorns that Jays are eating at this time of year... A female Reed Bunting we caught had rather unusual head markings - lots of black and could easily have been mistaken in the field for a male, but she had a whopping great brood patch.

Strangely for May, there was a significant air and ground frost when we started this morning. Couldn't resist a few macro shots between net rounds...







And closer in:

Quite jewel-like, I think.

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk

With some time off work I decided it would be nice to go to RSPB Titchwell for some digiscoping. Everything's close there, isn't it? All the birds seem tame.


Highlight was this male Ruff which showed well close to the main path. That's a real ruffy Ruff. And if that's not a mullet, I don't know what is...


I made numerous attempts at photographing Avocets (which were plentiful), but in 90% of my shots, the birds had their heads underwater. Never mind.


A very showy Sedge Warbler perched by the entrance to one of the hides and sang right out in the open, until it was flushed. That's the only problem with Titchwell - it's very busy.


There wasn't a lot on the beach, except for a few Oystercatchers.


A couple of summer-plumaged Spotted Redshanks looked smart but were a little distant for me.

What's in my CD player: Being There - Wilco